When they returned to camp, the rest of the party was already there, covered in blood but visibly relieved as Rosie smiled tiredly and waved. They had been worried.

"We're glad you're back," Uraraka said with a soft smile.

"It's good to be back," Rosie replied, her voice rough and hoarse.

Katsuki, still carrying her in his arms, grunted. "Round face, get me her stuff."

Uraraka nodded, quickly moving to Rosie's pack on her horse, handing it over. Without another word, Katsuki took it and started walking towards a nearby lake. Rosie winced when he set her on her feet, the pain in her legs apparent. Katsuki noticed immediately.

"What's wrong?" His voice was gruff, concern laced within.

"He made me dance for hours on end," Rosie muttered, her body aching all over. "Everything hurts."

Katsuki stared at her for a moment, then without hesitation, he began to kick off his boots. Rosie blinked in confusion. "Katsuki?"

"I'm going to help you bathe," he said bluntly, pulling his shirt over his head. "I won't look. Get in first."

"I know you won't," Rosie replied, her tone soft as she unclasped his cloak and let her skirt fall to the ground. She slowly walked into the cool water, wading in until it reached her waist. Behind her, Katsuki entered as well, careful not to look at her directly.

Rosie felt the grime and dried blood coating her body, from her feet to her arms and tangled hair. When she turned to Katsuki, his expression was heavy with guilt and sorrow. He was carrying more than just the physical burden of battle.

"Let me," he said, his voice hoarse and unsteady, as if asking for permission to help in more ways than one.

Rosie nodded, understanding. She dipped her head beneath the water, letting it soak through her hair. Katsuki's hands were gentle as he carefully worked his fingers through her tangled locks, washing away the blood and dirt. His touch, though delicate, carried the weight of his unspoken remorse.

"Wash," he muttered when she resurfaced, handing her the soap. "I'll turn around."

Rosie watched as he turned his back to her, focused on washing his own hair and body. He was covered in blood too. She found herself staring for a moment, her cheeks heating up at how good he looked, even covered in dried blood and sweat. Shaking her head, she quickly focused on cleaning herself, eager to be done, as exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

Once they were finished, she winced as she stepped onto the shore, her muscles still sore. Drying off behind a rock, she dressed quietly while Katsuki did the same. He picked her up again without hesitation, carrying her back to camp. This time, she didn't protest. She could sense that he needed to do this—not just for her, but for himself. It was his way of taking care of her after everything that had happened.

Back at camp, Rosie noticed how Katsuki never left her side, even as the girls went off to bathe and the men took their turn. When everyone had gathered again, the girls prepared a simple meal, but the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. The group sat around the fire in silence, the day's events weighing heavily on them all.

Rosie had a feeling that much of the tension stemmed from Katsuki's behavior. As the others drifted off to sleep one by one, Rosie lay awake. Katsuki was still brooding near the fire, his eyes distant. She could sense the storm brewing within him. She sighed softly. She wasn't going to let him sit with that guilt.

She glanced at the rest of the party to ensure they were asleep. Uraraka, Momo, and the others were curled up in their blankets, their faces softened by sleep, but the silence between Rosie and Katsuki lingered, heavy and unspoken.

She knew he was carrying more than just the burden of her rescue—there was something else, something deeper gnawing at him.

Rosie turned her head slightly to the side, catching sight of him sitting by the fire, arms crossed over his chest, his face barely illuminated by the flames. His brows were furrowed, his usual scowl deeper, lost in his own thoughts.

She frowned, chewing on her lip. She knew that look. He was brooding, his mind a storm of guilt and anger, directed inward. With a small sigh, she quietly pushed herself up and began to crawl over to him, her movements slow and deliberate. The damp ground was cool against her palms as she moved closer to where Katsuki sat, eyes locked on the fire.

When she reached him, she poked his arm. Once. Twice.

Nothing.

"Katsuki…" she whispered, poking him again. "Oi, Katsuki."

He didn't respond, his body tensing slightly, but otherwise, he didn't acknowledge her.

Rosie scowled at his stubborn silence and poked him harder. "Katsuki!" she hissed.

With an annoyed grunt, Katsuki finally glanced down at her, his eyes narrowing. "What?" His voice was low, barely above a growl, though not directed at her.

She sat back on her heels, crossing her arms as she looked up at him, her expression softening. "It's not your fault," she said quietly.

His eyes flickered, but he didn't respond, his gaze shifting back to the fire as if trying to ignore her words.

Rosie wasn't having it. She reached out and poked him again, harder this time. "Hey. Did you hear me? What happened—it wasn't your fault."

Katsuki's jaw tightened, his muscles tensing even more. "Stop," he muttered, his voice strained.

"No," Rosie said firmly, sitting up straighter. "I'm serious, Katsuki. You need to stop blaming yourself for this. I got captured because of the vampires, not because of anything you did or didn't do."

He let out a harsh breath through his nose, his hands clenching into fists. "You don't understand," he growled, still refusing to meet her eyes. "I should've been there. I should've been faster, smarter. I was too slow. I let you—" His voice broke off, frustration and guilt cracking through the edges.

Rosie's eyes softened even further as she watched him. "You can't control everything," she said gently. "You did your best—"

"My best wasn't enough!" Katsuki snapped, his voice harsh. His fists tightened, knuckles white as he finally turned to face her. His eyes were blazing with a mixture of anger and pain. "You were tortured, Rosie! Made to dance like a fucking puppet while that bastard…" His voice trembled, a rare vulnerability breaking through. "He touched you, did things to you that make me want to kill somebody for... I let him hurt you."

The raw emotion in his voice made Rosie's chest tighten. She could see the weight he was carrying, the way it was crushing him from the inside. He blamed himself for every bruise, every moment she had been trapped under the vampire's control.

Rosie shook her head, reaching out to gently place her hand on his arm. "Katsuki," she said softly, "what happened to me wasn't because you failed. It was because we were up against something none of us could've predicted. You came for me. You saved me. That's what matters."

His jaw clenched, his body stiffening under her touch. "I should've been stronger," he muttered, his voice lower, almost broken. "I let him take you because I wasn't good enough to stop it. If I had been paying attention, you wouldn't have needed to push me out of the way."

Rosie moved closer, crawling between Katsuki's legs and placing her hands gently on his thighs. Her eyes softened as she pushed her face toward his, their foreheads nearly touching. She frowned, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't regret saving you, Katsuki. We're partners, and that means we look out for each other. I'll never blame you for what I chose to do. You shouldn't blame yourself either."

His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed in frustration. "That bastard touched you right in front of me," he said through gritted teeth, anger barely restrained. "He kissed you, made you sit on his lap, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. I had to sit there, watching while you were forced to do nothing. It was disgusting. What's worse is that every time I close my eyes, I see it—him, his hands on you, and me, just standing there. Helpless."

Rosie stayed quiet for a moment, understanding the torment he was going through. He was right about what happened—it had been terrible—but she still refused to let him carry the blame. "Then take it back," she said softly, her fingers tightening around his legs. "If it bothers you that much, touch me where he did. Kiss me where he did. You can erase it, Katsuki. Replace it."

His eyes widened slightly at her words, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She could tell he wasn't going to argue, not this time. Instead, his hand reached out, his fingers curling around her chin as he brought her face toward his, their noses brushing. His eyes roamed over her, taking in every detail before he leaned in, pressing soft, lingering kisses beneath her jaw where the vampire had once dared to touch.

The tenderness in his movements made Rosie shiver. His hands, now free from their tension, lifted her gently into his lap, pulling her closer as her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. His mouth explored the column of her throat, tracing each inch of her skin with deliberate care, erasing the memory of the vampire's tainted touch. Rosie let out a quiet whimper, her cheeks heating up, her hands tangling themselves in Katsuki's hair.

A gasp escaped her lips when his sharp fang brushed against her neck, teasingly close but never too harsh. "Katsukiii..." she moaned breathlessly when he nipped at her flesh.

He didn't stop, his kisses deepening as he moved along her throat, each one lingering longer, more deliberate. The heat between them grew as her body responded to his touch, her heart racing. She could feel herself squirming slightly in his lap, unable to stay still. Her ears twitched uncontrollably, her entire body on edge, as if it was attuned to his every move.

"Katss…"

Hearing her like that made something primal flare inside him. His grip on her waist tightened, his kisses growing longer, lingering, leaving marks where his lips had been. He nipped at her skin, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make her squirm in his lap. Rosie's breathing grew heavier, her cheeks flushed, ears twitching erratically as his hands roamed her body with a new sense of urgency.

Katsuki finally pulled back, though his lips hovered near her skin for a moment, savoring the sensation. When he leaned away, he was met with the sight of Rosie—her face flushed a deep crimson, her ears twitching rapidly, her lips parted and her chest heaving from the intensity of the moment. She was trying to catch her breath, her eyes hazy with a mixture of exhaustion and something deeper.

"You okay?" His voice was rough, tight with restraint as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

Rosie nodded slowly, biting her lip. "Yeah," she whispered, her voice breathless. "I was just trying not to wake the others."

Katsuki glanced over his shoulder, quickly scanning the camp. Everyone else was still fast asleep, oblivious to what had transpired between them. He had known, of course—he would've heard it if anyone had stirred—but he didn't tell her that. Instead, he held her closer, cradling her in his arms. The tension still weighed on him, the guilt gnawing at his conscience like a beast refusing to be tamed.

He sighed heavily, resting his forehead against hers.

"You can't carry all of this on your shoulders forever." Rosie whispered, "if you want to blame someone. Blame me for my recklessness, blame my lack of impulse control."

He stayed silent, his jaw tight, but she could see the cracks in his armor. He was struggling, the weight of his guilt pulling him under. Rosie shifted slightly in his lap, cupping his cheek with one hand.

"I don't blame you," she whispered. "And you shouldn't blame yourself. I survived because of you. Don't take that away from me."

For a moment, there was only the sound of the crackling fire and the distant rustle of the night around them. Katsuki's shoulders sagged, his harsh exterior softening ever so slightly as her words sank in. He closed his eyes, his breathing uneven as he tried to fight off the emotions swirling inside him.

"I'm supposed to protect you," he muttered, his voice thick. "I couldn't even…"

"You did," Rosie interrupted, her voice firm. "You did protect me. You're here now, and that's what matters. We're both here."

Katsuki didn't respond immediately, but his gaze softened as he looked at her, his usually hard eyes filled with something deeper. He let out a long, ragged breath, the tension in his body easing just a fraction.

Rosie offered him a small, tired smile. "And for the record, you look good covered in blood," she teased, hoping to lighten the mood just a little.

Katsuki blinked at her, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. "What?" he asked, his voice incredulous.

Rosie's smile widened. "I'm just saying," she said, her tone playful. "Not many people can pull off the whole 'blood-soaked hero' look as well as you."

Katsuki snorted, shaking his head slightly, but there was the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. "You're an idiot," he muttered, though his voice lacked the usual bite.

"And you're a broody mess," she shot back, her hands still in his hair. "But we'll figure it out. Together."

Katsuki glanced at her, the tension in his expression easing just a little more. He sighed, leaning back against the log he was sitting on, his gaze drifting back to the fire. "Yeah," he muttered after a long pause. "Together."

Rosie smiled as she nestled into Katsuki's lap, the weight of the night finally lifting. The silence between them wasn't tense anymore; it felt warm, safe, a quiet understanding passing between them. Katsuki would always brood—it was in his nature—and she would always find a way to break through that wall of his with her teasing and care. But they had each other, and that was enough for now.

But then Rosie's lips quirked up in a mischievous grin. She couldn't resist the urge to poke at him, just a little. "Actually," she said, her voice light with amusement, "I've got a question for you, Katsuki."

He eyed her warily, already sensing something brewing. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret this…"

She giggled, blinking up at him innocently. "Does this make you my pet dragon now? If so, can you breathe fire on command? Like a dog would sit or roll over?"

Katsuki's eyes widened slightly before narrowing in a mixture of irritation and amusement. He snorted, his lips curling into a half-smirk. "So, you heard what he said, huh?"

"It wasn't exactly hard to figure out after I saw you walk out of that burning building, all those scales and your horn," Rosie teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I just didn't say anything right away... but when he kept calling you 'dragon,' well, it kind of confirmed it."

Katsuki sighed, running a hand through his hair as if the admission was a burden he had to let go of. "Yeah. I'm a dragon. But I'm still young, so I can't fully transform into one. Not yet, at least—not until I reach full maturity." His hands on her hips tightened, almost as if he expected her to pull away now that she knew. "But I'm old enough to start exhibiting dragon traits. It's not something I can hide forever."

Rosie stared at him, taking in his words, but her eyes were warm, not afraid or shocked as he might have expected. She tilted her head slightly. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked softly. "And why did Shoto and Izuku help you keep it a secret?"

Katsuki glanced away for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the fire as if it would help him find the right words. He let out a slow breath. "There was a war a hundred years ago. The dragons... we showed everyone what we were capable of. People got scared. They started treating the dragons like monsters, it's only because of our current monarch that the fear isn't as it was before." His jaw clenched, anger flashing in his eyes at the memory. "I didn't want to put you through that fear. Didn't want you looking at me like... like I'm a monster."

Rosie blinked at him, surprised by the depth of his concern, the vulnerability in his voice. She understood now why he had been so secretive, why Shoto and Izuku had played along. He was afraid—afraid of losing her, of being seen as something monstrous. But Rosie… she couldn't be afraid of him, not now, not ever.

Her lips twitched as she tried to hold back a giggle, but it burst out anyway, light and airy. Katsuki's eye twitched with annoyance as he glared at her. "What the hell are you laughing at?" he snapped, but there was no real bite behind his words.

Rosie waved her hand, trying to stifle the rest of her laughter as she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. "I'm sorry," she said between giggles. "I just think it's silly, Katsuki. You... you thinking I'd be afraid of you."

She pulled back, meeting his gaze head-on, her expression growing serious. "I could never be afraid of you, Katsuki. Not after everything we've been through. You're not a monster to me. You're... you've become my faith. The one thing I believe in." Her voice was steady, but there was a vulnerability there too—a confession of sorts, something deeper than her words could fully convey.

Katsuki's breath hitched slightly at her words. For a moment, he was at a loss, staring at her like he couldn't quite believe what she'd just said. His grip on her waist tightened, but his gaze softened in a way that was rare for him. He wasn't used to hearing words like that, especially from someone like Rosie, who never shied away from danger, who always saw him for more than just his strength or power.

"You're such a damn idiot," he muttered, but the roughness in his voice was undercut by the tenderness in his eyes. "I'm not something you should have faith in."

Rosie's hand gently cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing over his jawline. "You're everything I have faith in," she said firmly. "You saved me back there, Katsuki. I don't care if you're a dragon or whatever else. You're you, and that's all that matters to me."

Katsuki's throat tightened, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. No one had ever looked at him the way she did—like he was more than his power, more than his bloodline or the weight of being a dragon. He had spent so much time hiding that part of himself, afraid of how people would react, but Rosie didn't care. She accepted him, every part of him, without hesitation.

"I don't deserve you," he finally whispered, his voice low and rough.

Rosie shook her head, her eyes glistening in the firelight. "We deserve each other," she said softly. "We're in this together, remember?"

Katsuki held her gaze, his heart pounding in his chest. She was right, of course. They were partners, equals in this chaotic, dangerous world they found themselves in. And maybe, just maybe, he could let go of the fear that had been haunting him for so long.

Without another word, he leaned down, pressing his lips to her forehead, a quiet promise of everything he couldn't yet say aloud. And for the first time in a long time, Katsuki felt like he could finally breathe.

"Now let's get some sleep, I am exhausted." Rosie yawned, leaning her head on him.

"I'm not your pet," he grumbled.

"Just my husband," she giggled, waving her hand in his face where her ring shone on her finger.

"I'm regretting that choice."

She snorted, "you insisted."

"Don't remind me."