They didn't find the tooth. Midoriya and Uraraka searched until the light grew thin and the shadows long, and nothing came up but rocks, sticks, and the occasional startled animal. At one point, Midoriya found some churned up earth, right at the top of the incline; presumably where he'd tripped and fallen. There was a root yanked out of the ground, and what almost looked like massive gauge marks in the dirt.

Yet, no tooth.

The two trudged back side by side, Uraraka's strange staff giving off a pale pink glow and lighting their way through the twilight. They didn't speak; Midoriya's throat was clogged and his tongue a twisted mess. He couldn't have said anything if he tried. Uraraka stayed quiet too, as though sensing that idle chatter wouldn't help. The forest filled the silence between them with the songs of the night. A pair of barred owls called back and forth to each other, their common cries devolving into the wild raucous that always had chills running up Midoriya's spine. He could hear branches swaying in the breeze, the pitter patter of small paws against the leaf litter, and the occasional flit of a bird's wings in the night sky.

Amidst all the noise, Midoriya felt...lost, somehow. Like he was drifting, anchored to the ground only by the constantl presence of Uraraka by his side. Her arm brushed against his every so often, bringing his unraveling mind back to the present, to the woods, and the sounds, and the feeling of his boots scuffing against the earth. They made it back to the cave in what seemed like a blink of the eye. Uraraka paused at the entrance to leave her staff beside Hadou's, and Midoriya trundled on, feet slipping against the smooth earth beneath him. The glow of the fire softened the edges of the shadows and warmed his skin against the chill that had settled there. He passed by the lump that was Hadou and collapsed onto his makeshift cot.

Midoriya sighed. The loss of his prized tooth hurt. It was like the universe was twisting a knife in his gut, over and over again. He felt lost, like a lamb without its mother. He had nothing to call his own; no home, and no belongings aside from the pants and boots he wore. The fafnir tooth was the last thing, the last tie to his old life. Who was he, without it?

Uraraka appeared around the bend, slipping off her cloak and setting it in a heap beside the fire. She looked to him, then, the sadness in her gaze thick and muddy. "I'm sorry," she murmured. Midoriya shrugged. What was there to be sorry for? It wasn't her fault it was lost. That blame lay on him and him alone. He bit his lip, blinking at the sting in his eyes. There was a soft sigh, and Uraraka murmured a soft, "Goodnight," before settling down beside Hadou. Midoriya sat, staring into the fire for awhile longer before exhaustion got the better of him and he curled up and drifted off.

That night, he dreamed.

Midoriya dreamed of home. He dreamed of his father, his prized tooth. "Izuku, this here is my lucky tooth." He could see his father's warm eyes. Blue, like the sky on a sunny day. Their edges crinkled with a smile that stained his lips, a smile Midoriya always found comfort in. "This tooth has brought me great fortune; hopefully it can do the same for you."

He clutched it to his chest, beaming happily. "I'll always keep it with me! Just like you!"

Those warm eyes grew stormy, the smile gone. "You lost it, didn't you?" he said, anger rolling like thunder in his voice. Midoriya blinked.

"What?"

"The tooth," his father said. "You lost it."

Midoriya looked down at his hands, and the tooth was gone. All he could see were the scars the tooth's serrated edges had cut into his palms, now angry and red and oozing blood. "No," he gasped. "No, wait, it can't be gone!" He looked up, quaking under his father's gaze. "I'm sorry!" The cry came out like a sob. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

But then his father was gone. Instead, his mother was there, tears streaming down her face. Midoriya blinked up at her, his face screwing up in confusion. "Mom?"

"Oh, Izuku," she murmured. She reached out, her fingers grazing his cheek, and then he was pushed away. Midoriya stumbled, quaking under the glares of his fellow clanmates.

"Mom?" he cried. But the clan pushed her further and further away, and he couldn't reach her. They stared as they had after his trial, solemn and judging. Midoriya tried to push through them, to get back to Inko, but no one budged. Midoriya screamed, launching himself at the crowd again and again, each time falling to the dirt and no closer to his mother. There was a shout behind him. Midoriya whirled around, eyes widening at the sight. Looming up over him was the sludge being, eyes wicked and unfocused as it grinned its manic grin.

"Deku!"

Bakugou's voice yanked his attention downwards. In the belly of the monster, the being, was him, trapped like the day of the Trial. Bakugou squirmed, desperate, his eyes wild and terrified. "Deku, you piece of shit! Get the hell out of here!"

Midoriya couldn't. His feet were frozen. He shook his head. "N-no! Kacchan, I'm not just gonna leave you!" There was a weight in his hands. Midoriya looked down, gasping. The cutlass was there, firm in his grasp. But it was larger, heavier, and on the blade was something…

Another scream. Midoriya looked up. Bakugou was writhing on the ground, light popping from his palms. Looming over him, over them both, was a beast, a monster. A monster with glowing eyes and gleaming teeth, drool dripping from its jaws. Midoriya trembled, but his grip on the cutlass was firm. He could hear Bakugou screaming his name. "Deku! Deku!"

"Deku, wake up!"

Midoriya bolted upright, sweat dripping off his brow. A scream tumbled from his lips and the blankets he slept with were bunched in his fists. The monster, it was going to kill him, kill them both-

"Deku, it's okay." Uraraka's warm gaze filled his line of sight, and Midoriya felt himself relax. She reached up to brush at his sweaty bangs, those ochre eyes shimmering. "It's okay," she repeated. Midoriya closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, breathing.

"Thanks," he murmured. Uraraka said nothing, instead sitting at the edge of his makeshift cot in silence, gently running her fingers through his hair as the fire crackled nearby.

~#~#~#~

"That should do it." Hadou straightened up, nodding to herself as she surveyed the packs. "Go ahead and take these out to the mouth of the cave, would ya', Ochako? Deku?" she said. Uraraka obliged, her hair bouncing as she slung two out of four packs over her shoulder. It was bizarre, really, how her tiny frame was capable of carrying such heavy weight. Midoriya himself strained as he tried to haul just one of the tightly stuffed packs, wondering quietly to himself just what exactly Hadou had stuffed in it.

Sunlight warmed Midoriya's face when he stepped out of the cave's mouth. He dropped his pack with an, 'oof', rocking back on his heels. His gaze fell to Uraraka, who was swiping the sweat from her brow and staring out into the forest. Midoriya followed suit, surveying the scene before them. It was a nice day out, much like yesterday. Warm rays of light filtered down through the trees, patterning the ground in bright spots. There was a nice breeze ruffling the undergrowth and tickling his hair. It was, according to Hadou and Uraraka, a good day to 'head out'. His heart squeezed in his chest. At this point, he was healed up and there was no reason for Uraraka and Hadou to stick around. They had a life to get back to, after all. Just this morning, the two had sat hunched by the fire, talking in low tones, no doubt discussing their plans to return to the city and their kingdom.

He grimaced. What did he have, exactly? Midoriya looked at the trees and the scrub and the leaves littering the ground, and found no answer.

"Deku?"

Midoriya jolted, his gaze shooting to Uraraka, who was peering curiously at him. He blinked, owlish. "Y-yeah?"

"You okay? You were sorta staring and making a face…"

Embarrassment sizzled in his blood, and his face grew hot. Midoriya forced himself to nod, looking away. "S-so-sorry," he said. The stammering had his face burning hotter, and Midoriya shoved down the urge to duck his head. He hated how words sometimes got stuck in his mouth, refusing to come out without a battle with his lips. It was embarrassing. A nervous habit, he supposed. Midoriya stared at the rotting leaves underfoot, wishing they'd fall away and the ground would just swallow him whole. Maybe then his problems would all disappear.

There was a quiet pitter patter of footsteps on the leaves, and a soft, gentle touch on the scarred skin of his shoulder. Despite the feather-light touch, it burned. Midoriya sucked in a breath, flinching and whipping his gaze up. Uraraka stared back with wide eyes, sadness thick like mud. "It's okay," she murmured. "You don't have to apologize." She drew her hand back, hesitant, and bit her lip. "I, uh, I don't know where you were heading, you know...before. But...you could come with us."

Midoriya stared. Uraraka stared back, toying with the sleeves of her dress, her already pink cheeks looking even pinker. Go with them? Him? Hope blossomed like a flower inside the hole in his chest. Uraraka and Hadou had been kind to him. They were wonderful people, and he found he didn't want to leave them. His lips curved into a grin, and he bobbed his head, eager. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thank you, Uraraka."

Her posture melted, tense lines disappearing, and a radiant grin lit her features. Midoriya felt warm all over. It was like the sun itself was giving him a hug. His arms twitched, and he was overwhelmed with the idea that he should hug her. Midoriya wanted to laugh and and cry and hug her and spin. Was this...were they friends now? Was this what having real, true friends felt like? Fuzzy and warm and wanted? Midoriya sucked in a sharp breath, an unbidden thought of something else, something more, tickling in the back of his mind. He shoved it away. It didn't matter. Only the present did; Uraraka's grin shining before him was like a beacon of hope, and he basked in its radiance.

"Oh-kay, I think that's everything." Hadou dropped the last pack at her feet. She nodded to herself, her hair bouncing with the movement. "Can you think of anything else we need?"

Uraraka furrowed her brows, her lips drawing into a thoughtful pout. "I don't think so…"

"Good." Hadou ducked back into the mouth of the cave, returning with both staffs in her hands. "The wind's blowing in our favor today, thank the gods. So we should have an easy time with it." She tossed Uraraka's staff to her, which Uraraka caught with ease. Hadou frowned at their packs. "How do we wanna do this?"

Uraraka shrugged. "Uh. Like usual? Tie the packs between us and go slow?"

At this, Hadou hummed. She looked between Midoriya and their packs, before quirking a brow at Uraraka. "Okay, but what about him?" she asked, jerking a thumb at him. Uraraka tilted her head. Confusion knit into her expression, bringing out an adorable pout. Midoriya bit his lip and looked away, suddenly warm.

"I thought he'd just ride with one of us?"

Hadou blinked. A wicked grin split her face. "Oh, I see. He can ride with you then." She busied herself with rearranging the packs into a small pile, uncoiling a large piece of twine and using it to tie the packs together. Uraraka stood by, her face growing red. Midoriya glanced curiously at her. She seemed a bit flustered, but he wasn't sure exactly why. The whole exchange was a bit confusing, really.

"What are we riding?" he asked. They couldn't be riding an animal. There wasn't any around. He was at a loss, and he stared dumbly at the two women as they shared a bemused look. Hadou straightened, twirling her staff in her hands.

"I suppose we should show him, eh?"

Uraraka grinned. "Yes, I suppose we should."

They both held their staffs out, perpendicular to the ground, and shouted, "Vitae!", releasing them from their grasp. The stones on the thicker ends of the staffs started to glow brightly, and before Midoriya's eyes, he watched them shudder and shake and change their shape. On their ends sprouted stiff bristles, like brooms. The staffs remained in the air, levitating off the ground. Midoriya gawked at the sight, understanding dawning on him. Brooms. Magic. Uraraka and Hadou were witches?

He watched, awed, as the two of them scrambled to prep for flight, tying their packs to the two brooms and adjusting a few knots here and there. It was an oddly complex setup; the four packs were tied in a square and rigged between the two brooms. Which they were going to fly on. In the air. Midoriya sucked in a breath, knots tying in his stomach. What was it like to fly? He'd always wondered, watching the birds in the mountains, but Midoriya never actually imagined he'd get to really fly. And on a broom no less. His legs felt like jelly at the thought.

Uraraka and Hadou both tested and retested their knots, ensuring everything was secure. It was mesmerizing watching the two of them work in tandem. They were so perfectly in sync, not once bumping into each other or needing to even speak their intentions.

"Okay," Hadou said, "that should do it." They both straightened up, dusting off their hands and both looking rather pleased with themselves. Hadou turned to him then, eyes sparkling. "Have you ever flown before? It's quite fun, you know. The wind in your hair and face, the bird's eye view; it's priceless. Unless it's stormy out. Then it's not very fun. The first time we flew through a storm, Ochako nearly-"

Uraraka shot into Hadou's space, waving her arms wildly, a flush staining her rosy cheeks. "Okay, okay, I think that's enough, yeah? Let's just get on with it." She turned on her heel, snagging Midoriya's wrist and dragging him over to her floating broom, her bangs falling forward and obscuring her face like a curtain. Midoriya tossed a helpless glance over to Hadou, who merely shrugged.

"Here." Uraraka tugged her cloak off of her shoulders, shoving it roughly into his arms. Midoriya blinked. He looked from the bundle of cloth in his arms to the girl standing before him, baffled. She merely kicked at the dirt, still looking anywhere but him. "The um, the sky is colder, up there," she mumbled. "You'll want an extra something to keep warm."

It was Midoriya's turn to flush. Something fluttered in his chest, and he bit his lip. "Bu-but, won't y-you be cold then?"

She hit him with a sharp look. "You don't have a shirt."

Midoriya bit his lip, looking down to the bundle of cloth in his arms. She was right; he had nothing to cover his shoulders. But, glancing to her thin sleeves, he felt horrible for taking her thick cloak. Especially after how much she'd already helped him; she'd given so much, it felt wrong to take more. "I-I can't…" He tried to give it back, extending the bundle towards her. Uraraka's look softened. She smiled, soft and kind, and pushed the cloak away.

"It's okay, really. You can give it back when we land, okay?"

Under the warmth of her reassurance, his resolve crumbled. Midoriya sighed, cheeks warm. "O-okay," he said. He tugged it over his head, the material soft against his skin. Of course, the cloak barely made it to his elbows, leaving his midriff free to the air. Midoriya flushed, embarrassed, ducking his head as Uraraka tugged at the edges of the fabric. She hummed quietly before stepping back.

"Better," she said. There was a loud cough, and the two of them whipped around to stare wide eyed at Hadou, who was perched atop her broom, whistling at the trees. Midoriya felt like he was aflame and that his heart was about to beat out of his chest. It was confusing, but he didn't have time to dwell on it, as Uraraka, looking noticeably pinker, nabbed his wrist again and turned his attention to her broom. "So, riding this is pretty easy. You just cross your ankles and hold onto me. Got it?"

Midoriya blinked. Hold onto her? "Uh, o-okay," he stammered, his stomach churning in anticipation. His hands curled and uncurled reflexively, and Midoriya stood by, shoulders stiff, as he watched Uraraka climb onto her broom. She tossed a look over her shoulder, grinning at him.

"Come on!"

He sucked in a breath. Welp. This was it. Midoriya stepped up, clasping a hand around the worn wooden handle. It was strangely smooth, despite the knobbiness. He threw a leg up and over, scooching up close so that he was only a hairsbreadth from Uraraka. Face burning, he reached up with trembling hands and clasped her shoulders. "I-I'm ready," he stammered. Uraraka let out a snort, her shoulders bouncing. She turned to peer at him over her shoulder, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Deku, when I said hold onto me I meant wrapping your arms around my waist," she said with a laugh. "You know, so you don't fall?"

Midoriya blanched. Around her waist? Wasn't that too...forward? He already felt awkward, pressed so close to her. How did people stand it, being so touchy like this? His palms were sweaty and he felt jittery, like he'd vibrate right off the broom. The only person he ever hugged was his mother, which didn't exactly count for much. Bakugou wasn't much for hugs; the most he did was throw punches. And even Utsushimi was never gentle when she interacted with him. Midoriya sucked in a breath and wrapped his shaky arms around Uraraka's slim waist, feeling as though he might implode on the spot. She made no comment on his stiff posture, though, instead dipping her head in a sharp nod.

"Ready."

Hadou grinned. "Hold on tight, Deku."

He tightened his grip, heart hammering. One beat, two beats, and all was still. Midoriya frowned, brows furrowing in confusion. They were still very much on the ground. The only change was the distinct rattling of leaf litter scattering at their feet. He watched the dead leaves roll, the small breeze starting to pick up. Cool gusts of air blew the leaves in a cyclone around them, tugging at his trousers and cloak, raking through his hair. The strange gust picked up the pace, whipping air around them. Midoriya could hear the creak of nearby trees as their branches swayed. Suddenly, their feet lifted off the ground. He gasped, clinging tightly to Uraraka. They rose, higher and higher and higher, the gale whipping around them all the while. Midoriya clung so tightly to Uraraka that his fingers were already starting to grow numb. He could feel Uraraka's laughter rather than hear it; her whole body vibrated with it. "Cross your ankles!" she cried. Midoriya gulped, obliging. He risked a glance over to Hadou, who had a look of glee splashed across her features. Her long hair blew all over the place, curls bouncing in her face and mouth, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Seeya later, mountains!" Hadou cried. And then they were off. Midoriya couldn't help it; at the lurch of their broom, he yelped and buried his face in Uraraka's back, holding on for dear life. He could feel the terror like ice in his veins. Oh, gods, this was a terrible idea. He wasn't a bird, he couldn't fly! He was going to fall and die and oh, he was going to puke. His stomach pitched and rolled, and he squeezed Uraraka tighter, his previous hesitations left with his heart on the ground.

Moments passed, and Midoriya felt a feather light touch on his knuckles. "Deku," Uraraka whispered. Her voice was colored with amusement, sending a spike of embarrassment burning in his veins. "Look."

He sucked in a breath. And another. Steeling himself, he pulled his head up, blinking into the warm morning sun. His eyes widened in awe. "Gods," he breathed. The view was absolutely stunning. Low hanging clouds drifted past, and the horizon ahead was a calm, smoky blue. Midoriya risked a glance down to his right and gasped, feeling dizzy. Below them, the forest zoomed by, looking like little more than mottled green moss. Though, if he stared hard enough, he could see the canopy shift beneath his feet, and the realization made him feel breathless.

They were flying. They were really flying. On a broom, no less. Laughter bubbled up in his throat, and Midoriya threw his head back. Uraraka's laughter mingled with his own, and she yelled out a 'whoop'.

"See?" Hadou yelled, her hair whipping wildly in the wind. "I told you this was fun!"

Midoriya just grinned.

~#~#~#~

Flying was painful. As soon as they touched down, Midoriya somehow managed to peel himself away from Uraraka and all but collapsed on the dirt. His legs hurt, his back ached, and Midoriya didn't even want to think about the way his nether regions felt. He groaned, head hanging. Never again. Never again did he want to sit on a broom for what seemed to be hours on end. Truthfully, they'd been flying since dawn. Now, the sky was pink and orange again, and according to Uraraka they were just at the edges of their kingdom. Midoriya pressed his forehead into the dirt, trying not to think about how much farther they had to go.

A fit of giggles broke out above him. Midoriya grit his teeth, garnering the strength to raise his head and toss Uraraka and Hadou both a glare. The action merely earned him more giggles, and Hadou nearly toppled over, she was laughing so hard. His face grew warm and he looked away, stubborn.

"Hey, it's okay," Uraraka said. She bent down to his level, holding out a hand. "First time's always the worst. I can show you some stretches to help get out some of the kinks."

Midoriya sighed. He looked from her outstretched hand to the warmth of her gaze, his stubbornness crumbling. "Okay." Unsurprisingly, it took little effort for her to yank him to his feet. Midoriya winced and rubbed at his shoulder. Her strength was seriously going to wrench his shoulder one of these days. He watched as Uraraka and Hadou untied their luggage from the brooms in the same coordinated effort it took to tie it all up in the first place. Once that was accomplished, they both tapped their brooms and said, "Stillabunt," and the brooms shuddered and shook and reverted back to their staff shape.

Hadou leaned on her staff and stifled a yawn. "Well, while you two stretch, I'm gonna pop into town and set up our arrangements for the night." She didn't wait for an answer, instead stooping down to swipe one of their packs and slinging it over her shoulder. Hadou set off along the dirt path, waving her staff. "Just meet me at the inn when you two jelly-legs are ready!"

Midoriya made a face. Jelly-legs. The fact that his legs really did feel like jelly almost made the jibe worse. Then again, how could his legs not feel like jelly? He could feel pinpricks in his skin all the way from his thighs to his toes, like little needles stabbing into his skin. Midoriya winced, wiggling his tingly toes. He hated when his limbs fell asleep like this. Usually it happened when he was crouching on a rock ledge, watching the sheep.

"Here, let me show you those stretches," Uraraka said, pulling him from his reverie. She showed him her little routine, which mostly consisted of basic stretches and lunges, and they worked in silence. The mini workout helped ease the pins and needles in Midoriya's legs, and he couldn't help the relieved sigh that fell from his lips when he could wiggle his toes freely. Uraraka grinned at him, her rosy cheeks seemingly glowing in the low light. "Better?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, thanks."

"Of course!" Uraraka stooped, then, plucking her packs from the ground. "Come on, I think we've killed enough time at the side of the road."

Midoriya grabbed the last pack, and they walked side-by-side along the dusty path. Tree branches hung low overhead, as though shading the road for weary travelers. The road was narrow, but seemed to be well used, if the compacted earth beneath their boots was anything to go by. He cast a glance over his shoulder. Behind him was the rise of a hill, and a never ending wall of tree branches. Of course, it was autumn, and the leaves were a swirl of vivid colors that matched the bleeding sky of dusk. Still, from the foot of the hill, he couldn't make out the line of mountains. It was...strange, to not see them there, ever present and looming.

Uraraka sighed beside him. "Ugh. I can't wait to sleep. All that flying's worn me out." She adjusted the packs over her shoulders, her boots dragging in the dirt as she walked. Midoriya could see how she stifled a yawn, and the way she seemed to sag under the weight of the packs she carried. He frowned.

"I ca-can carry one, if it makes it easier for you."

She slowed, eyeing him curiously. Another yawn bubbled to the surface, and Uraraka smiled sheepishly. "You know, it would. Thanks, Deku." Her words did funny things to him. His stomach flip-flopped strangely, and for once, the name made him feel...warm. Midoriya shrugged it off and took the extra pack with a smile. Of course, the pack was even heavier than the one he already carried. He tried not to topple over under its weight, grunting a bit under the strain. Gods, what did they have packed in here? Stones?

Uraraka giggled. "Got it?"

"Yeah," he said, voice thin, "I'm good."

She raised a brow, but shrugged and kept walking, leaving Midoriya to stagger after her. The walk itself wasn't too long; just two bends and another hill before the town came into view. Midoriya squinted down at the cluster of houses in the shadow of the hill. It was a small village, from the looks of it. The houses were different than the huts from home; instead of sticks and mud, they seemed to be made from stout logs, laid atop each other. Smoke curled from stacks of stone jutting from the roofs, and Midoriya could see people darting about the mucked streets. The gap in the treeline widened as they approached the village, the forest slinking further and further away from the edge of the road the closer they got to civilization. Midoriya couldn't help but feel a bit exposed. Back at home, their village was practically on top of the trees. Here, though, the trees kept their distance.

Midoriya followed Uraraka's lead as they staggered amidst the buildings. Their presence garnered a few curious glances, but thankfully no hostility. A tenseness Midoriya wasn't aware he was carrying drained from his shoulders, and he felt himself relax, some. Men carrying strange sticks with curved blades wandered the streets, talking quietly amongst themselves with bowed heads. Their clothes were worn and stained with sweat. Midoriya peered at them, curiosity bubbling inside him. "What's that they're carrying?" he asked, voice quiet. Uraraka followed his gaze.

"Oh, scythes? They use those to harvest grains. This town is mostly a farming town. You'll see the fields tomorrow once we pass through."

He jutted his lip out as he turned the information over in his head. Scythes. Interesting name. The blades were somewhat unnerving, with how they curved just so. It was a wonder that they were used for something so...menial.

Uraraka led them past a handful of buildings to what Midoriya guessed was the center of the small town, to a building just a bit larger than the rest. A few large animals were tethered out front, munching tiredly on what appeared to be dried grass. Horses, Midoriya realized. They hadn't had horses back at home, but he'd seen some, once or twice. The large heads, pointed ears, and thick manes of hair tickled at his memory. These ones were dull brown, with mud cakes to their muscular legs. One swished its tail lazily, swatting away the fat flies that zipped around them. On the porch lingered a few men, smoking something that smelled bitter, and a woman with skirts covered in patches and dust. They murmured amongst themselves, their voices low and urgent. Uraraka led him past, nodding to the group as they pushed through a pair of swinging wooden doors.

The inside was dark. Tables littered the main floor, many of which were occupied by men and women socializing after a long day. Fat candles made up the centerpieces, each one with a small, flickering flame cozying up the atmosphere. A savory smell hit Midoriya's nose, making his mouth water. Meat. It smelled remarkable, and his stomach growled with vigor. Uraraka snickered beside him, and he ducked his head in embarrassment. "Sorry," he muttered. She waved a hand.

"Don't be, I'm hungry too."

He followed Uraraka to the bar, where a boy about their age stood drying out a glass. He was tall despite his youth, managing to tower over most of the patrons, and had thick, muscular arms. Uraraka didn't seem all that intimidated by his large stature, however. She practically skipped up to him, waving eagerly. "Hey, Satou! How's business?"

Satou grinned. "Uraraka, hey! Things have been good 'round here. You guys just coming back from the mountains?"

"Yep!" She gestured to their stuffed packs. "We were low on a lot of inventory, so we had to stock up." Uraraka leaned on the bar, eyes sparkling in the low light. "Did Hadou already check us in?"

"Yeah, y'all are upstairs, in your usual room," Satou said. His gaze slid to Midoriya, and he paused his cleaning. "I don't think we've met before." His demeanor seemed pleasant enough, but Midoriya couldn't help the flash of nervousness that struck him like a bolt of lightning. He ducked his head in an awkward bow.

"C-ca-call me Deku," he stammered. Satou chuckled.

"Nice to meet you, Deku. Name's Satou, my parents run this joint. You a friend of Uraraka's?"

Midoriya sucked in a breath, mind ablaze. Every instinct he had begged to say yes, but doubt shadowed his mind and snagged his tongue. Was he? They hardly knew each other, really. After all, they'd only just met. Was it too soon to consider each other friends? What if he said yes, and Uraraka said no? Everything was spinning, and Midoriya tried to wrestle down the growing panic that flooded his system. Just say something, he told himself, say yes, say-

"Yes, he is!" Uraraka chirped, clasping his arm gently and with a touch of familiarity. She looked up at him and beamed, that kind, gentle look in her eyes. "Deku's just joining us in the city. Right, Deku?"

He managed a wobbly but relieved grin. "Right."

Satou eyed them curiously, but smiled. "Ah, I see." He leaned closer then, the smile fading and a serious glint shimmering in his eyes. "How was your trip?"

Uraraka shrugged. "Fine," she said. "There wasn't a whole lot of horsetail, but we made due. Why, want some herbs?" Her voice held a teasing lilt that had Midoriya smiling. Satou, however, seemed unaffected.

"You didn't see anything unusual, did'ja?"

She frowned, sharing a look with Midoriya. An uneasy feeling curled in his stomach as the images of bright, glowing eyes flickered in his thoughts. He shuddered.

"No, why?"

Satou looked grim. "There's been talk about monsters lurking at the edges of the forest. Deadly ones. Some folks that passed through earlier said that they saw a beast as black as night, with eyes that glowed with the fires of hell itself."

Midoriya gulped, trembling. It couldn't be. Could it? He could feel Uraraka's gaze on him, but he felt frozen in place. She reached out, grazing his arm with her fingers lightly before responding. "Well, I don't know what sort of rum they were drinking, but we didn't see anything weird out there. Come on, Deku, let's set our stuff down." She turned to Satou, leveling him with another grin. "Save us some food, would'ja?"

He snorted at that. "No promises!" Satou's amusement seemed to vanish as Uraraka turned away, and Midoriya could feel the boy's questioning gaze settle onto him. He managed a wobbly grin, before Uraraka snatched his wrist, dragging him towards the stairs hiding back in the corner.

"This place has the best food. Satou's mom can make a killer steak, and their sweet breads are to die for." She didn't mention the monsters, and for that Midoriya was grateful. The mention of food was also an excellent distraction; Midoriya's mouth watered at the thought. All they'd had to eat were simple fireside foods; mostly dried meat and stale bread. So a nice sit down meal sounded divine. Midoriya bit his lip, memories of his mother's cooking drifting to the forefront of his mind. She always made the best stew. Hearty meat, usually from the rams, wild onions, and plenty of carrots or potatoes imported from their trade efforts. He remembered nights helping her stir the stew over the roaring flames, and the few times she showed him how to add the many ingredients. His heart twinged in his chest, and he tried to shove those thoughts aside.

The staircase was narrow and rickety, with old wooden planks that creaked with every step he took. Midoriya held onto the walls and followed closely behind Uraraka. They went up one flight to the second floor, where the small rooms of the inn stood. There were some lit lanterns on either wall, giving off warm pools of light. The floor up here was just as creaky, with every other floorboard squeaking as Midoriya picked his way down the hall. Their room was apparently the second one on the right, and Uraraka practically kicked the dull red door open. "Hadou, we're here!"

"Oh, finally! Took you two long enough."

Midoriya poked his head into the small room, taking it in. The walls were a pale yellow, though the paint was peeling in numerous places. Two straw beds were crammed into the limited space, with perhaps an arm length separating them. On the wall in the space between the two beds was a tiny little hole of a window. Little light shone through; the sun had practically set by now.

Cautiously, Midoriya set the tow packs he carried onto the floor, letting out a relieved sigh. Oof, finally. He rolled his shoulders and stretched, trying to rid himself of the kinks he'd accumulated. A yawn threatened to burst forth. Gods, he was tired. The prospect of a warm meal and a nice night's sleep were certainly appealing.

Hadou clapped her hands together. "Okay, dorks, I'm starving. Let's get something to eat, yeah?"

Midoriya couldn't agree more.

At long last, an update! Hopefully this was worth the wait! :3 Thanks for the read guys!

-Kat