Hello, beautiful world!
This fic was inspired by a true story of my late rabbit. If you wish to read the long story, you're free to visit my shared AO3 account galaxy_in_your_eyes where I have updated this fic.
This might develop into little one-shots, depending on how the story is received. Also, I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistake. I did my best.
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Once upon a time, there lived a rabbit named Izuku.
Though his name would come and change over time, it was the name befitting to him by his first owner. He didn't quite remember much about her, just the silhouette of a woman with big white gloves and a messy bun in her head. She was lovely, that he knew. But he was only weeks old when he was abruptly separated from her and his mother, too young to understand why they never came back.
The coppery smell never left his mind since that night; it was a scent that followed him in lonely nights, warning him of despair and anger.
He might not have many memories of them, but he remembers them fondly.
He was adopted soon after by a man whose grin was huge and booming laugh was warm. His presence was overwhelming, but Izuku felt safe and loved with him. They lived near the outskirts of the city, where a small comfortable farm surrounded by sunflowers became his new home for his childhood years.
Izuku was small and fluffy, he would fit his whole body in the hand of Mr. Yagi as he happily fed him carrots and broccoli. The tall man had to be careful not to step into the little animal whenever he tended to the crops; so eventually, Izuku climbed to his shoulder whenever they were outside. His sleeping arrangements turned from one of the slippers of his caretaker to a pillowed shoebox to eventually sleeping in his own pillow in the bed next to him.
He was strange looking for a house rabbit, with his black coat that had a green hue to it when the sun shined upon it and emerald eyes that sparkled in happiness whenever Mr. Yagi returned from his work. He didn't know where he went every day, only that he returned with this irony dust around him that made Izuku sneeze a lot.
Mr. Yagi would only laugh and pet him as he changed clothes and prepared dinner.
Izuku was often called 'my boy' by Mr. Yagi. He liked the pet name, it made him feel closer to this human who was full of love. And Izuku loved him in return.
His days would consist of waking up at dawn, having a healthy breakfast with the usual drama - because no, bananas are bad for you my boy, eat this apple instead-, then he would climb into Mr. Yagi's shoulder as he went to water the plants before nibbling at his blue pants as the man prepared to leave for his work.
Izuku once tried to follow him, but Mr. Yagi had quite the fright when he saw the little ball of fur sitting next to the driving seat. Izuku was grounded on house arrest, but that's okay because he hid underneath the couch for the whole day, puffed by the injustice of the situation.
Mr. Yagi didn't leave the house that day and instead tried to coax him out with little treats and soft words. It shouldn't have worked, but it did.
The world was too big, he didn't feel brave enough if Mr. Yagi wasn't with him. So he remained in the house, napping in the sun, scaring birds and snacking on some lettuce leaves till his human returned.
smelled like sunflowers, it was a scent that soothed him as the human held Izuku close to his chest after a long day. So whenever he was feeling lonely, he would lay next to the yellow flowers and bathe in the sun until Mr. Yagi returned home.
Only that one day, Mr. Yagi didn't come back.
It was stressful. Izuku remembers hopping around the farm in search of his beloved human for hours, even when the night came and went and the sun left again, Mr. Yagi was gone. The feeling of loneliness and grief consumed all desperation. He curled in the big cold bed and slept, wishing for his human return.
He woke up before the front door was opened, his ears managing to track the sound from outside even while sleeping. His heart was hammering as he jumped and ran towards the living room, only to freeze on spot.
There were strange people in blue uniforms on the farm, taking things and searching for stuff. Izuku bit one of them in the leg, trying to defend his home from the intruders. That got him a startling kick that made him growl and arch his back in warning.
He jumped and scattered as they tried to grab him, hurriedly sliding under the couch with ease. All these people had the same dusty scent that makes him sneeze, but Izuku held it by twitching his nose again and again.
He watched the humans come and go, carrying things in plastic bags and shuffling around destroying his home. He would growl anytime someone dared to get closer, a sound that sounded more like a squeaky grunt instead of a ferocious warning, but at least it was working. Except for one human.
He had the authority apparently, commanding and moving the other humans around. He was the only one wearing black clothes and a weird long coat that Izuku couldn't understand the function of. When most of the humans had left the living room, the man approached the couch and knelt down slowly. He stared at Izuku with soft eyes and called him in gentle words, beckoning for him to come out of his hidden place.
It really shouldn't have work, but it did. Slowly and with wide alert eyes, he crawled out of the couch. He tensed as soon as the man raised a hand, flattening himself till his tummy was glued to the floor. The man stopped his advances and reassured him in the same calm manner. When Izuku didn't move - and he really should have - the man patted his head softly and when he uncurled his form from the ground, he was lifted into strong arms.
"Hey little guy, you must be worried for Toshinori, huh?" The man said with a small smile on his face. Izuku remained tense, ready to squirm and jolt at any sudden moment. But the man was doing a great job at calming him down.
"The idiot had a pet?" someone asked. And when the man turned to address the speaking voice, he saw a small old person walking around the living room with a cane.
"He's very well taken care of. He must have been lonely waiting for him" The man carrying him continued to soothe his ears and back with a gentle motion.
"Animals aren't allowed in the hospital," Said the small human with a shake of his head "I'm old, I can't take care of him"
"I'm afraid I can't either…" The man sighed, and it was a sound that sounded so depressing and tired, Izuku lowered his ears by just hearing such a deflating voice.
"I know a guy who is good with animals. I can ask for a favour, just while the idiot recovers"
"Okay. We finished inspecting the area. Nothing's amiss here, we will continue the investigation" The old man nodded and walked away, stopping only to stare at one of the pictures framed on the wall. The man holding him patted his back one last time before he secured his grip over his body so that he wouldn't fall as he was carried out of his home.
"Sorry, little guy. But you're coming with us. Everything's going to be fine"
They climbed into a car, the dusty scent intensified to the point he was consumed by an attack of sneezes. It distracted him long enough for the car to come alive and drive away. Only when the man holding him opened the window to perhaps let him breathe better did he realize he was being pulled away from home. Standing over the man's lap and holding for dear life at the door, he stared with teary eyes at the window till the sunflowers disappeared from view.
He was taken to a person who treated him kindly.
There were many animals who shared his story, where their beloved owners disappeared one day and never came back. Izuku spent the first days crying and mourning, not eating despite the kind person's best efforts. The animals who were born in that place reassured him that there was nothing to fear, that he needed to eat to regain strength, that together they could become a family.
It took time, but eventually, he started eating and socializing with the others. But it wasn't the same, no one could ever replace Mr. Yagi. The dusty and coppery smelt that followed him was gone. The sunflower colour and smell were gone.
Maybe a year later, it's how much time has passed. Izuku became friends with all the animals, especially the hamsters. Sadly, there were no other bunnies for him to interact, but it was okay. He learned to share food and attention, although there were still days when he would curl down and mourn. The missing piece in his heart never really healed. There were many days, more than he can count where he would dream, than Mr. Yagi would walk through the door and take him home. On fewer occasions, he had wild thoughts of running past the door to try to find him. The fear of disappointment always ruled over any feeling of courage.
People from all ages came and went, picking and taking and leaving animals every day. But not Izuku. Kids loved to pet him, girls would always coo and hold him which made him squeak. He's only ever been held and cooed by and that in itself was a huge difference between soft arms and high-pitched voices. But no matter how much they liked him, they never took him with them. It was like he was exclusive or forbidden. He didn't know how that made him feel.
The man with the long coat and the small old man never returned. The kind person who took care of all the animals made sure to give the same amount of care and attention, he really made his stay in that place easier. But then the kind person was replaced by a new one who didn't quite know all the quirks of the animals and the shelter.
So one cloudy day, a woman with beautiful white hair came to visit.
She looked around for a long time, not really knowing what she was looking for. She seemed tired and sad, perhaps that's what made him approach her and rub his head in her leg. She was startled but knelt next to him with caution. Her fingers were cold as she scratched his ears but her eyes held a warmth he was missing. But there was something else in her eyes, it was like she was screaming and Izuku wanted to help her.
So he let her pick him and soon he was being taken to a new home. He would never know the distress he left behind when the kind man returned to his shelter a few days later to find him gone.
His next owner was a child with two furs for hair. Izuku loved chewing the strands thinking that they would taste different - they didn't, both tasted like peppermint- but it made the child laugh in delight so he kept doing it to cheer him up.
He was renamed "Midoriya". There was even a green ribbon with his new name written on his neck to baptize him. It took him a while to react to that name, but the happy timber and childish excitement the child held in his voice was enough for him to run and jump into the tiny arms that held him with so much care.
Shouto wasn't Mr. Yagi, but he loved him nonetheless.
This poor kid lacked love and attention, he was awkward when it came for caring for a pet but he tried his best to be a responsible and gentle owner so Izuku, now Midoriya, made sure to cuddle and shower him with as much affection he could give.
Shouto lived in a huge house. He got lost the first time he was let out of the kid's room. Apparently, Shouto got lost too because Izuku - Midoriya - found him crying by the stairs. Shouto was so relieved to be found, he hugged him tightly and refused to let him out of his sight from then on.
Izuku -Midoriya- didn't mind, he liked the attention he was given. They spent afternoons playing by the gardens, just running and being free. At night they would sometimes stargaze or Izuku -Midoriya- would curl in the kid's lap as he read big books that looked way too heavy. Shouto had a cage that was meant for him to sleep inside, but he never used it. His little rabbit form snuggled perfectly in the pillow next to the dual-coloured head, together they shared warm and comfort through lonely nights.
Izuku -Midoriya- also found a new favourite food; spinach. Because Shouto hated them but was forced to eat them every night at dinner, the kid would sneak the green leaves in a napkin and feed them to him later at night. They were delicious.
They were inseparable for a long while, Izuku Midoriya treasured every moment spent with the sweet child, truly believing he had found a new home with him. That is until his father returned to the house in a whirlwind of fury and kicked him out.
Izuku Midoriya had never met someone so tall, angry and evil as this man. He was woken from his nap by loud yells and cries, he panicked as soon as a burning hand grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and wiggled him around. Shouto was there, crying. He was distressed and Midoriya couldn't do anything but struggle despite the tight grip.
He had heard sad stories from some animals back at the shelters, on how sometimes parents didn't let their kids keep them and thus were abandoned. It was clear this angry man wasn't going to allow his son to keep him.
It was a heartbreaking farewell, well… it wasn't even a farewell. Midoriya was thrown inside the unused cage in a hard movement of grunts and screeches. He was only glad he managed to bit and scratch the bad man a few times in the arm, it earned him a cut in one of his paws that managed to nick some fur off but it was worth it.
From the cage little windows, he saw the beautiful white-haired woman, and she looked sadder than the first time he met her. She was hugging the crying Shouto, and oh how much he wanted to join them. Shouto didn't stop crying as Midoriya was carried away from the newfound place he called home. His heart ached towards the little boy who hurt so much, he didn't stop crying either despite the harsh man's words to silence him.
He was taken to another shelter, this one smaller and with a smelt of sick and pain. He was locked away at a corner and as soon as the bad man appeared he left without looking back. He didn't talk or approached anyone for a long while, and bit and scratched the man in charge of the shelter whenever he attempted to stick his hand inside the cage he resided in.
It was a meaningless attempt to hope and dream, but Izuku waited days and nights for Shouto to rescue him, but he never came. And so he mourned.
Out of pride, he would nibble and eat the food that was left on his cage when the lights were out and no eyes were on him but at mornings, he would just curl and ignore the world. It was a sad life, he knew Mr. Yagi and Shouto wouldn't like for him to waste his days just sleeping and rotting away like the rest of the animals there.
Humans rarely came to the shelter but animals disappeared anyway. It was scary and alarming. Izuku Midoriya knew that if he didn't get his act together, he would be next.
So one day he escaped.
When his cage was opened to be cleaned, he bolted and ran towards the door as fast as he could. His resolve being finding the people he loved the most, reuniting with them and being happily forever after. It was a thought that made him survive rainy nights huddled in bushes and hiding from stray animals in alleys.
His little legs ached with effort every day, but he didn't stop running. The world truly was big and scary, his heart never stopped racing whenever he ventured further into the city, but he endured it. He had to. It took time, but he soon learned to live in the streets. Where it was okay to feed and sleep and the perfect time for him to travel without grabbing attention. It would have been just as easy for him to approach a person to be picked up and chaotic if he ventured further into the streets and caused people to panic in trying to grab him.
It's not that he didn't want someone to help him, but he didn't want to get his hopes up. His little heart couldn't handle another heartbreak. So he gathered his strength to survive. His nose was bombarded by millions of scents, it made him dizzy the few days but he managed to focus. It was easy to recognize a hostile or anxious odour and take a bolt out of there.
He also learned to fight. His blunt teeth could be as sharp as his claws. It was a do or die situation, he had to adapt fast. So he followed his instincts as best as he could. But most of all, he followed the smell of sunflowers and peppermint.
Summer went and winter approached again. He was lost in a neighbourhood when a woman found him.
He put up quite a fight, but eventually, she won him over with gentle words and fresh vegetables from the grocery. It really shouldn't have worked, but it did. He was tired and hungry, his search was becoming difficult by the drop of the weather, there was only so little warm his fur coat could give him. He wanted to blame the weather for his lack of results, he didn't want to stop searching for them, but deep down he knew it was an impossible task.
He wasn't giving up his memory of them, but perhaps it was time to just… settle down. He was tired of running. So when a kind woman picked him up from the bushes and cradled him gently, he melted in tears. He was so desperate and lonely for affection, he didn't put any resistance as the woman took him to her home.
It wasn't big like Shouto's house or was filled with crops like Mr. Yagi's farm, but it was homely. And they had a huge garden filled with grass and frogs and plants, it was heaven. On his first day, he was so happy he flopped down making everyone panic in alarm, but he was glad to have found a new safe place.
The family there were lovely too, the woman having three kids who loved him in return, especially Tsu-chan. She would feed him every morning and play with him when she came back at noon, chasing him and the frogs till the sun went down.
His ribbon had become dirty to the point half of his name wasn't visible, with the letters only reading Midori, so he had to get used to the new nickname. It wasn't that difficult.
He lived there for three years and it was a struggle at first but soon found himself a place in the family.
He bonded quickly with Tsu-chan, but he was still wary of the others. Even if the woman who picked him didn't let him eat the plants from her garden. She swatted at him the first time she caught him eating some flowers. It wasn't his fault, no one had ever prohibited him from eating nature before, he actually felt betrayed when she removed some ferns and other tasty flowers from his reach. But she always gave him fresh coriander, so it was alright.
The family was loud and cheery, it was a different way of living but a welcoming experience.
Because it was a suburb neighbourhood, there were many pets and strays around the area. He didn't interact with anyone except the birds who flopped down to drink some water from the pond and the frogs who lived with him. Cats were nasty beings though, but he fought back. His legs had developed muscle from all the running in alleys that made it possible for him to kick the felines in the face. A good kick and they would scatter in pain, never to return. Midoriya basked in the victory of protecting his new home with pleasure.
There were nights when he would flop down next to Tsu-chan and dream of summer sunflowers and winter stars. Tsu-chan always made sure to scratch him behind his ears and hug him tight whenever he felt sad. It was impossible to forget his beloved owners, both leaving abruptly and without saying a proper goodbye. His heart ached and hoped that wherever they were, they were okay and happy. That's all he wanted.
So maybe this life wasn't so bad after all.
Until a white puppy suddenly appeared and threatened his peaceful way of living.
It was a fight of instincts, to protect his home. He didn't mean to hurt the little pup, but when a white fluff suddenly ran at him barking he dropped a kick and ran. Marking his territory did nothing, the puppy wrecked his way all around the garden and kept cornering him. Midoriya Izuku was left with no other option but to hide behind the washing machine and wait for the white terror to disappear. Only that it didn't.
The mother had adopted a puppy. And while the kids were delighted, Tsu-chan was a bit distant and kept Midori company whenever she could. She would try day and night to coax him out of his hiding place and make him eat. He only did when it was her feeding him, if anyone else tried to approach he would growl. Call him resentful, but he felt replaced, sad and angry. There were so many emotions his little heart couldn't handle.
"It's not because of the puppy. I just want my garden back" He heard the mother discussing the new living arrangement with Tsu-chan. They had many discussions throughout the week, the family was breaking apart and there was nothing he could do to mend it.
He wanted to hate the white terror but he couldn't. He could recognize the sad eyes anywhere, understand the happy feeling of being adopted to a new home. He was glad the puppy had found a new home that would take good care of him, even if it meant he had to go away for that to happen.
Izuku didn't understand what was happening at first, but Tsu-chan was sad.
She cried while she petted him one night and he could do nothing but to nuzzle and bump into her to stop her from being sad. She kept making promises he couldn't understand, and with one last kiss in the head, she went away. Midoriya Izuku flopped down in the grass and slept, not knowing that it was going to be his last night at the gardens.
Next thing he knew, while the kids were in school, the woman who found him in the bushes put him in a box and drove away. He had lived the same story to understand what was happening. And sure enough, he was taken to another place filled with animals. At least it smelt better than the previous one.
But that didn't change the fact that he was being left behind. Only this time, Izuku didn't watch from his cage window for someone to rescue him, he flopped down in his belly, and mourned his broken heart.
He remained curled for days, not eating. Just sleeping and dreaming of Mr. Yagi and his mom and the woman with the big gloves. He dreamt of Shouto and Tsu-chan and what a life with all of them could have been.
People came and went, but they never approached him. One look at his crumpled form at the back of his cage was enough for everyone to wander away. He wasn't a little ball of fluff as he used to be, he was bigger and weak and sad, there was no way someone could ever choose him.
The caretaker was a wonderful woman with a joyous laugh, he was sure that if he wasn't feeling so miserable he would have shared her cheery enthusiasm. She didn't force him to socialize with the other bunnies or pets and was really gentle in trying to make him eat. He took some bits of carrots if only to stop the sad tone in her voice from infecting her happy laugh.
But it wasn't enough. He felt weaker every day, the little bits of food he took was not helping either. And it's not like he wanted to starve, he just couldn't make himself to eat anymore. He was tired, both physically and mentally. It got easier to ignore the world from around.
"Rabbits can die of loneliness, you know"
Ah, so that's what it was. He was dying.
"I want him"
"Are you sure? It's an old rabbit. And it looks so weak, it's probably best if-
"Are you deaf old man, I said I want him"
"Well alright, it's your choice"
He was picked up by warm hands. He didn't fight back, too tired to kick or bite. Instead, he curled into the warmth source and closed his eyes, feeling nice at the fingers petting his ears.
"Oh, you're so sweet taking Midori-kun!" The caretaker exclaimed happily "We were starting to worry, he hasn't eaten in a while you see. He is mourning. He was abandoned before the previous owner left him here. Bunnies need love and attention to live healthier. So please take good care of him"
"Of fucking course, I will"
"Katsuki! Watch your damn language"
"Shut up old hag!"
Izuku Midoriya startled himself awake. In what mess did he get into?
He flattened his ears and hid into himself as the new family drove him to his new home. He was glad he was inside a friendly cage otherwise, they would have seen him shake. The ride was filled with yelling, it carried on and on even when they arrived at the house. He didn't smelt any fear or anger so maybe it was a common thing in this family?
With heavy steps, he was taken towards the boy's room and set on the ground. The blond spiky guy opened the cage and demanded at him to come out, all the while threatening him that if he even peed somewhere in his room he was a goner. But he also set a bowl of fresh broccoli and coriander and waited for him to approach. Izuku didn't, he was scared and still mourning a heartbreak.
But the blond waited. Crouching down and hugging his knees, he glared at the rabbit for not touching his food. His apparent new owner was a gruffy loud guy who smelt like sugary apples. Izuku really liked apples, so maybe this guy couldn't be that bad… right?
This guy, ka...kachu...kachi...
Kacchan it is.
Apparently, Kacchan had enough. He huffed loudly and grabbed him out of the cage, making him squeak in surprise. He was hushed and placed in the blond's lap, and the next thing he knew was that a coriander stem was forced towards his face.
"Eat" It took him some minutes for his heart to calm down, but the blond didn't remove his hand. He waited until the rabbit stopped shaking and stretched his neck to sniffle at the green leaves. Once he was sure everything was alright, he nibbled the coriander till he finished the stem. Kacchan was ready and holding another one that he greedily ate, his nose and whiskers twitching by the action.
"You're such Deku. I'm not spoiling you, you piece of shit. So don't get used to it"
Kacchan renamed him Deku. It was probably mean because he didn't eat unless he was in Kacchan's lap. But he liked the fond way the blond would always hold him, the warmth he emanated and the fingers scratching his ears, so the nickname kinda stuck fast. Kacchan's mom was as loud as her son, but she was kind and funny. She let him jump around her legs while she prepared dinner and fed him some spinach for a snack. Kacchan's father, however, was the polar opposite. He was quiet and humble, and Izuku Midoriya also Midori - now Deku - loved to sleep on his lap while he read some newspaper or watched tv.
He was happy.
And he was happier to discover that Kacchan liked to give him bunny kisses.
Some weeks ago, Kacchan was held hostage by a thief. He was bound and gagged, suffocating to the point of seeing black spots until a police officer rescued him. It left the blond shivering at night and struggling to breathe for days. The therapist suggested getting a dog to help his PTSD, and if he wanted to enter the police department, what a better way than to get a canine helper.
The world will never understand why the blond picked a mourning rabbit as his companion.
But when he was stressed or woken from a nightmare, he would hold the ball of fluff to his chest and pat his soft fur until his fingers stopped trembling. And Deku would give him bunny kisses in return.
Deku was a smart bunny and Katsuki was proud of the little shit.
He could kick; hard. Whenever he, his mother or even the cats from the neighbourhood approached him silently when he was sleeping or eating and didn't want to be disturbed; he would drop a kick so powerful, Katsuki's mom had red marks for a week and the cats never returned.
He also had a great sense of smell. He could track things with just by one sniff, and could always find Kacchan whenever he tried to hide from him in minutes. He was also a fast learner, so Kacchan made him learn many cool tricks. He jumped higher than before and ran faster because the blond made him run with him every morning. He was evil for waking so early, but it had its merits. Kacchan would carry him home, talking about his plans for the future.
He was going to be the best FBI agent the world has ever known, whatever that meant. But the way the blond talked, so sure of himself and excited by just imagined it made Izuku believe every word. Together they would rule the world, Kacchan said. And Deku couldn't wait for it.
Two years later; Kacchan was packing.
There was an incident no one liked to talk about. A week ago, Kacchan left for some days for something school-related. Izuku didn't understand what it meant, but the blond made sure to reassure him - even if he didn't know the rabbit could understand him - that he was coming back. Kacchan left with bunny kisses and soft pats, a bag slung on his back. His parents made sure to give him lots of cuddles to reassure him that he was coming soon.
But Kacchan didn't come back.
Some bad guys took him, he remembers Kacchan's mom hugging him tightly as she cried over the news. He didn't separate from her, nuzzling and letting her squeeze the life out of him, sharing comfort in one another as they worried over the blond. The three of them spent sleepless nights, just huddling together on the couch waiting when they weren't at the phone yelling and demanding answers.
And suddenly, Kacchan was home. Hurt and tired, but he was home. Once his parents released him from an emotional hug despite the blond angry protest, he jumped into his arms crying and clinging for dear life. Kacchan had trouble trying to pry him off, no matter how much he yelled and tugged, Deku refused to let go of him, scared he was going to disappear.
Eventually, Deku had to release him because the blond needed to shower and eat. Kacchan didn't sleep that night, he spent it sitting in his bed and playing with Deku's ears. Every time his eyes would glaze over and stare at nothing, Deku would stand up and nibble at his nose to bring him back to reality. The blond would only swat him down and hug him closer, not yelling or saying a word. Deku never felt more useless, being so close but unable to do anything more.
Kacchan spent some days at home, his mother was an overprotective force that cuddled him with blankets and hot chocolate despite his angry yells and disagreements, but at least the spark was coming back to the blond. It was afternoon when it happened, Deku was napping in Kacchan's bed, dreaming of sunflowers when the blond returned to tell him the news. Kacchan was leaving, and Izuku knew that he wouldn't survive another heartbreak.
And now here they were. Izuku stayed curled over Kacchan's pillow as the blond put action figurines and posters down in a bag, clothes and socks followed books and shoes. He was moping, even if the blond left and he stayed in the house with Kacchan's parents, it wouldn't be the same. Nothing would be the same if Kacchan wasn't there.
He was tired of being left behind, he was sad and distressed over loving someone and then being abruptly parted with them. He spent years wishing for someone to rescue him, he spent years searching for someone familiar and now that the blond was leaving he wasn't just going to watch him go without a fight. So he sneaked inside the travelling bag and remained there for hours.
Of course, it gave the blond a heart attack, the poor boy spent the whole afternoon yelling and searching for him. Deku couldn't hold it anymore, he climbed out of the bag, all the while creating a mess in the bed and under Kacchan's startled eyes. Deku had the nerve to twitch his nose adorably as if the surprise appearance would calm the impending doom.
Kacchan exploded.
He hugged him tightly, berating him for pulling that stunt, calling him an idiot and other mean words while he threw everything inside the bag again with one hand while he used his whole other arm to hold the rabbit to his chest. Then Kacchan laughed, making fun of him and calling him dramatic. And that -of course you're coming along, stupid Deku-. Apparently, while he was hiding inside the bag, Kacchan packed his travelling cage and stuff for his journey too.
Deku didn't process the meaning of the action until the next day when he was saying goodbye to Kacchan's parents. He had to be truthful, he was going to miss them dearly but so long as he had Kacchan and Kacchan had him, everything was going to be alright.
Kacchan moved to another house, and for the first time in his life, instead of being left behind Izuku went with him.
The school made the students live in dorms to protect their safety, it also gave them the opportunity to focus on their studies and bond with their fellow comrades. They were allowed to bring anything they could need to make their stay as comfortable as possible, pets included.
"Bakugou brought a pet?" Someone asked in surprise.
Deku was dozing through all the trip, emotionally tired after yesterday's night and this morning's events. He was roused when he heard a commotion of many voices talking at once. But Kacchan didn't smell threatened, if only he was annoyed. So Deku took his time to yawn and stretch, and next thing he knew, a red face was hovering over his cage window with a wide smile and giving him a fright.
"Oh my god! is that really Deku!? Bro! I've been dying to see him! Can I hold him?"
"Back off! Your ugly face will scare him!" Kacchan moved around the room, holding the cage away from prying hands or eyes.
"You have a pet bunny?" A girl with a kind voice asked. Deku couldn't make her face through the cage window but he thought her voice was sweet and nice.
"Yeah, got a fucking problem?"
"No! No! It's just… you don't seem like a bunny type…"
"Deku's a badass, so fuck you"
"Bakugou!" Someone reprimanded him and Deku's whiskers twitched at hearing someone else besides Kacchan's mom reprimand the blond. Deku liked that guy too. After some minutes of discussions and yells, everyone parted ways to set up their own rooms, promising and making the angry blond bring his bunny pet to the common area later.
Deku was let out of his cage as soon as the blond entered his new room. He sniffed and explored the new place, quickly claiming a spot in the bed as he watched the blond set up his things.
"You're a lazy shit" Was the only thing the blond offered when he fell on the bed next to him, suddenly feeling tired. He knew there was going to be pandemonium when he walked to school with a rabbit; hell, shitty-hair laughed for days when he found out he had a pet rabbit, that is until he showed him a picture and was then demanded daily to meet the ball of fluff.
His image and reputation were going to be stained, but it was too late to back down. And he wasn't a coward. And Deku wasn't a flower rabbit no matter how cute he looked, the little shit could kill a cat if he wanted too. He was better than any stupid mutt; with his kicks and nose and Katsuki's very own strength and intellect, they will solve any crime and claim the number one spot.
Feeling a weight over his chest that made him snap out of his thoughts, he looked down to see Deku blinking back at him, probably demanding food. He needed to cut on the apples, he was getting fat. As if hearing his thoughts, Deku grunted and nibbled at his shirt. Katsuki pried him off and stood up, it was time to face the circus or whatever. So he hugged him and walked down the stairs, flattening the rabbit's ears to calm his boiling nerves.
Everyone stared at the blond holding a rabbit to his chest, the girls almost cooed and the guys almost laughed at the sight of their most violent and rude classmate holding a fluffy rabbit with so much care. Keyword being Almost; if it wasn't for a yell.
"Midoriya!?"
"Midori-kun!"
Well, make that two.
The class was surprised when Shouto Todoroki; their quiet and reserve classmate that unexpectedly went into a rescue mission along others to save (read: aid) the blond from his kidnapping (read: escape) without asking anything in return, shot up from his seat once his eyes landed on the bunny in Bakugou's arms. His cool facade was broken into that of a hurtful hope, not believing what he was seeing but wanting it to be true.
Not only that but Tsuyu, their kind and helpful classmate also jumped at the sight of him, covering her mouth in surprise while her eyes glazed over in tears.
Katsuki didn't understand why these two extras were looking at his rabbit like that, but he didn't like it. He even hated it when Deku started struggling and crying in his arms.
Everyone started panicking when they heard the squeaks and mewls coming from the rabbit, moving in action to try and stop the pain and asking what was wrong. Bakugou found himself backed to a wall, cradling HIS Deku to his chest, glaring and barking at everyone to back off and hushing at the little shit squirming in his arms to stay put.
Koji Koda; an animal whisper, reassured everyone that Bakugou wasn't hurting the rabbit, that he was just bursting in emotions at having been reunited with his previous owners, much to the shock of everyone in the room. Thank goodness that Tokoyami was able to translate the sign language.
No one could have understood just how happy and overwhelmed Deku felt at the moment. It was so unexpected, he was drooling on Kacchan's shoulder when suddenly his ears raised up at hearing familiar names, names that defined him and made him who he was today by voices he thought he wouldn't recognize, and yet he did. He tried to jump from Kacchan's arm, but the blond tightened his grip on him. There was already a commotion happening, everyone was standing and speaking over one another.
Kacchan exploded, hugging him tight to his chest and threatened everyone to stop hogging him away, when in fact he was the only one doing that.
In his struggling, he caught glimpses of the humans he wanted to see. And wow, was Shouto tall! His little kid was huge! Taller than Kacchan but… but there was a red mark on his face, and he looked so sad, it reminded him of the beautiful woman with white hair. How did that happen? Did someone hurt Shouto? He wouldn't rest until he made sure Shouto was free and happy again. Now that he was here, real and breathing, he would cuddle with him and nibbled his hair to make him laugh again!
And Tsu-chan! Tsu-chan was as pretty as he remembered! She also was a little taller and her hair was longer but her eyes were just as kind as all those nights before! He will get to stare at the stars again with her! He couldn't wait to show her all the cool tricks he knew to make her smile happily again.
There was a guy who apparently was able to understand all the trainwreck that was his mumbling mind and managed to calm everyone. And also reassured him that -no little guy, you're not dreaming-. Kacchan had no other choice but to lower him to the ground, and once his paws touched the floor, he bolted. He started running around, jumping high in the air by kicking his legs and sprinting in circles.
"What the fuck?" Bakugou stared incredulously at the crazy rabbit running like a lunatic around the living room.
"Rabbits dance when they are happy!" Exclaimed Ashido merrily as she recorded the scene with a happy glee in her face.
Bakugou had to hold back an ugly curse because Deku never danced with him around. And now he was happy to see the extras who abandoned him? What the fuck?
It was Shouto who moved first, he knelt slowly and raised a hand to beckon the rabbit. Deku didn't need to be told twice, he dashed towards him and jumped to his chest, climbing over his shoulders to swat and nibble at his dual hair. It still tasted like peppermint.
With a shaky hand, Shouto slowly patted the soft fur of his back and scratched his ears, once he was sure this was real and Midoriya wasn't going anywhere, he let himself sigh in relief and hug the rabbit closer. Midoriya nuzzled him in return and it melted something inside his heart, Shouto used the rabbit's nuzzling to wipe the sudden moisture in his eyes.
Tsuyu approached him after a few minutes, smiling happily at the hyperactive rabbit. She scratched somewhere behind his ears that made the rabbit melt in his arms, he was only glad he was holding him tight otherwise he would have fallen to the ground in delight. He was close to purring, it was a welcoming sight that made everyone step closer to admire the rabbit.
Shoto didn't know what happened to his beloved bunny. He asked for days and months but his father was strict, he was forceful in his teachings and training to be a detective, whenever he asked for his bunny, it meant double harsh training. And then the situation with his mother happened and there was no time to search for the ball of fluff. Even when he printed cartels and searched for animal shelters. It was a guilt and pain that remained with him while growing up.
He was just so glad Midoriya was able to found another family if his reaction to Tsuyu was any evidence of the close bond they shared. Who would have thought they would all be reunited again…
And for Midoriya to end up in the hands of their most violent and unimaginable student to take care of a bunny... Who would have thought, indeed.
Once the emotional reunion was over and Shouto finally let the rabbit down, the girls took action and sat in a circle, each taking a turn to pet and cuddled with the soft rabbit. Soft and joyous laughter filled the room, the presence of one single rabbit lighting up the atmosphere. Any thoughts of the kidnapping event, the criminal syndicate and any other monsters hiding in the dark were gone. They let themselves be young and carefree and enjoy the moment.
Deku was shy at first to meet all these new people, but with Tsuyu's and Shouto's reassurance he interacted with each and every one of Kacchan's new friends. He took a quick liking to the girl with the sweet voice, Ochako. She smelt like sweet herbs, it was calming. Iida; the guy who reprimanded Kacchan and everyone else, was also a kind guy. He smelt of old books and fresh cleaner. What a dedicated person, he thought.
"I call dibs to feed him"
"What!? No way!"
"He's so cute! can he sleep in my room?" Mina asked while she hugged him like a teddy bear. He was fine with being touched, but all this girl cuddling was making him dizzy. He wanted apples and to sleep.
"We should have a sleepover!" Hagakure was a girl with such a low presence you could forget she was even there. She scared him with her unexpected appearance, but once he got a good sniff at her leaf scent, he was able to keep track of her. All girls were really kind, he was glad Tsu-chan was able to make such great friends.
"A sleepover with bunnies"
"Die!"
Not something that can be mutual with the boys. There was a purple guy who smelt like raisins, Deku hated raisins so he stayed far away from him. But he was also introduced to the self-proclaimed best friend of Kacchan, Kirishima. Deku stared at him with wide eyes as he let Kacchan hit him and laugh at all the curses and threats directed his way as he cuddled with the rabbit. This guy is amazing if he's able to laugh at Kacchan's death threats. Or an idiot. Both are fine.
"He should be class 1-A mascot!"
"He's mine you fucking extras, he's not under negotiation!"
Kacchan had enough social interaction for a day. With his patience running out and mood soured, he ripped the rabbit from Kirishima's arms and stalked towards the kitchen for some food. There was a small oven in his room, he could survive one night with rice and meat. Deku could beg for fresh apples all night, he deserves it, the little traitor.
"Oh come one Bakugou, you just started a revolution by bringing him here. What were you expecting?" Sero pointed out, nodding towards the rest of the class who just wanted to monopolize the ball of fluff.
"You can't keep him all to yourself!"
Deku was hungry. Yeah, he was happy at having been reunited with Shouto and Tsu-chan and was really blessed at having met all these wonderful people too. But he was hungry, and Kacchan was stalling and if he knew the blond as well as he knew him, he was mad and that meant he wouldn't give him dinner until he begged for it. So Deku pulled his trump card, he held onto the blond's shoulders and twitched his nose together with Kacchan's.
Everyone else quieted down, it was an action that lasted seconds but it was enough to freeze everyone except for Kacchan. He had the gall to look smug, Deku will bite him later if he didn't give him apples soon.
"There, he's mine. Deal with it"
Kacchan walked away, together towards their new room, leaving behind his friends and classmates in a state of distress and conflicted emotions.
"I don't know whether to feel threatened or to squeal! That was so cute, oh my god!" Mina yelled in her hands.
"ALL OF YOU! SHUT UP!"
They had forgotten of the ogre living with them. Aizawa glared at them with red-dry eyes for a moment, before disappearing as soon as he came. Quickly, they all jumped in fright and quiet down, choosing to prepare some dinner while others retired to their rooms. Content despite their teacher's scoldings.
It sure was going to be lively from now on.
Mina stressed over dinner with the girls - and some of the guys- on how they should make a calendar to spend time with the rabbit, despite Bakugou's refusal. While Iida made a formal petition to make said rabbit a member of their class. Tsuyu, despite her emotional speech over how scared and useless she felt when she found out some of her friends risked their lives to rescue Bakugou, was smiling and feeling relieved.
Shouto slept soundly, no frown marring his face.
And Kacchan, well he angrily chomped over his fried rice, nursing a bite on his finger while Deku was munching fresh-cut apples by his feet. He could rule over the world alright.
Next day, it only took 2 minutes of staring before Deku won Aizawa over.
And so, Izuku Midoriya became the honorary member of UA class 1-A.
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*BONUS*
It was a warm afternoon, the type where the sun painted the world in warm colours of oranges and yellows, bringing an atmosphere of comfort and new beginnings.
At the teacher lounge, Toshinori Yagi laughed warmly as Aizawa told him how his problematic child brought his pet rabbit to the dorms and caused his whole class to start a revolution over bunny privileges. He listened with a nostalgic smile as the present tale intertwined with his past memories.
He has not forgotten his little ball of fur, not a single day has gone past without a fond memory of him. It was regrettable that after his fight with the villain syndicate leader, All for One, the hospital where he was admitted for over a year didn't allow pets inside. It was the first thing he asked as soon as he woke up. Gran Torino then told him that Tsukauchi found and took his beloved pet to a friend vet so that someone would take care of him while he recovered.
It took longer than expected, but he was updated that his little one was eating and socializing with other animals. So he focused on getting better so that he could get out of the hospital, return to his farm and live his retirement days with his beloved pet. But when he went searching for him, Izuku was no longer there, having been adopted while the owner was away on vacation.
It was bitter, but Mr. Yagi was glad Izuku was adopted and not alone.
His memories of them together were a treasure he kept dear to his heart till this very day. He could only wish, pray and hope that his little one had found a family that loved and cared for him. And maybe; just maybe, one day they could meet again.
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Thanks for reading!
Everyone, love your pets and cherish their memories