Perlyington was alive with the scent of flowers, the streets bustling with vendors selling vibrant bouquets, lush plants, and petals of every imaginable color. As they rode into town, Katsuki couldn't help but notice the instant joy in Rosie's eyes, her excitement palpable as she dismounted her horse to examine the floral displays. Katsuki held the reins of Dynamite and Divine, following after her with a subtle sense of protectiveness, though he'd never admit it out loud.
"We should stop in the next town," Rosie had said earlier, her excitement about Perlyington's famous flowers hardly dulled by the events of the night before.
She hadn't shown any signs of fear or hesitation since, much to Katsuki's relief. He'd barely slept, having spent most of the night outside her tent, keeping watch to ensure her safety after the close call with the mercenary. But now, watching her flit from booth to booth, her energy lifted some of the weight off his shoulders.
"This is such a beautiful flower," Rosie exclaimed, her eyes landing on a booth filled with delicate white blooms that shimmered faintly in the daylight. "What's it called?"
The girl behind the booth, a brunette with short hair and big brown eyes, beamed at her. "Those are called moonbells. They glow at night. They're pretty rare."
"They're gorgeous," Rosie gushed, clapping her hands in delight. "How much?"
"Ten silvers," the vendor smiled, her eyes warm with pride over the rare flower.
Without hesitation, Rosie pulled out a gold coin and placed it on the counter. "Here you go!"
The vendor blinked in surprise, her eyes wide. "That's too much! This is only worth—"
Rosie waved her off, smiling kindly. "Then just give the next nine away for free if it bothers you that much."
Katsuki rolled his eyes, a familiar grumble escaping his lips. "Idiot," he muttered under his breath.
Rosie ignored him, cradling the moonbell flower in her hands like it was a treasure.
The vendor laughed, still a little flustered. "Are you an adventurer?" she asked curiously, her gaze flicking between Rosie and Katsuki.
"We are," Rosie replied with a bright smile. "Just finished a mission and we're looking for another."
The woman behind the booth lit up. "I've always wanted to be an adventurer!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm genuine.
Rosie extended her hand, her kindness always at the forefront. "I'm Rosie, and this is Katsuki."
Katsuki nodded gruffly, crossing his arms as he gave the vendor a brief, assessing look.
"My name is Uraraka Ochako," the woman said, shaking Rosie's hand with a beaming smile.
Before they could continue their conversation, Deku arrived at their side, looking slightly out of breath. "I was wondering where you two ran off to," he said before turning to the vendor. The moment his eyes landed on her, his face went crimson.
Rosie, ever perceptive, grinned slyly. "Deku, this is Uraraka. She said she's always wanted to be an adventurer."
Deku's blush deepened, and he stammered, "R-Really? That's… that's cool."
Uraraka smiled at him, her own cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "Yeah! I'm actually a ranger. I can use magic and communicate with animals."
Deku's eyes widened in awe. "A ranger? That's amazing! I've never met a ranger before."
Rosie, clearly pleased with the budding connection between the two, chimed in, "We're heading to the guild later to find another job. If you're interested, you should join us!"
Uraraka's eyes lit up, her excitement barely contained. "Are you serious? You'd really let me join your party?"
Rosie nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Meet us at the tavern tonight if you're up for it."
Uraraka's smile grew even wider. "I'll definitely think about it! Thank you."
As Rosie moved on to the next booth, Katsuki stayed back for a moment, glaring at her. "What the hell?" he grumbled under his breath. "Why did you invite her?"
Rosie gave him a sidelong glance as she admired a display of vibrant tulips. "Deku has a crush on her," she said with a teasing smile, "and besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a ranger in our party. Her skills could be useful."
Katsuki scowled. "You're too damn soft."
Rosie just shrugged, plucking another flower from the booth and handing over a coin to the vendor before moving to the next stall. Each stop was the same—she'd find a flower she liked, exchange some coins, and carefully cradle the bloom as if it were a piece of priceless art.
Finally, after she'd bought at least five different flowers, Katsuki couldn't hold back his annoyance any longer. "What the hell are you doing?" he snapped, watching as she lovingly wrapped another delicate bloom in cloth. "Why are you buying so many flowers? You can't carry them all, and they're just going to wilt."
Rosie turned to him, her eyes soft, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I want to remember them," she said simply.
He frowned. "What?"
"I want to remember these moments, these towns, the places we visit," she explained, holding up a small, colorful flower. "Each one of these flowers will remind me of where we've been. Even when they wilt, I'll press them in my journal. That way, I'll always have a piece of the journey with me."
Katsuki stared at her, at the quiet sincerity in her voice. He wanted to tell her it was ridiculous, impractical even. But something about the way she said it made him pause. Her excitement, her love for every little detail—it was part of what made her so different from him. And as much as he hated to admit it, that difference was also why he cared so damn much.
He huffed, turning away before she could catch him looking too soft. "Do what you want," he muttered. "Just don't slow us down with all that crap."
Rosie laughed lightly, her warm voice cutting through his gruffness. "I won't. Promise."
As they continued to stroll through the flower-lined streets of Perlyington, with Rosie collecting memories. He realized he didn't mind following Rosie on these seemingly aimless adventures, as long as she stayed smiling.
The tavern bustled with life as Rosie, Katsuki, Deku, and Uraraka sat together around a sturdy wooden table. The smell of roasted meats, fresh bread, and the sound of lively chatter filled the air, creating an atmosphere that felt both relaxed and warm. Rosie leaned back in her chair, a smile tugging at her lips as she glanced over at Deku and Uraraka, who were already deep in conversation about the mission they had just completed.
"I'm really glad you could join us, Uraraka," Rosie said, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth as she caught the ranger's attention.
Uraraka returned the smile with an eager nod. "Thank you for the offer! I promise I'll hold my own in a fight. I've been training for a while now, and I'm excited to see what adventures lie ahead."
Rosie waved a hand dismissively, her tone light. "No need to worry about that. We're happy to have you, and we'll all have each other's backs. Besides, it'll be good to have a ranger with us for a change of pace."
Katsuki, sitting beside Rosie, grunted into his ale mug. He wasn't particularly interested in the conversation but kept a close eye on Deku and Uraraka. Deku, ever the talker when it came to explaining things, was going on about how they'd caught the mercenaries and rescued Rosie the night before.
"The mercenaries were tough, but once we figured out who they were, it was pretty straightforward," Deku explained enthusiastically, leaning forward, his eyes bright with excitement. "Rosie helped us a lot with her signals, and Katsuki was incredible in the fight."
Uraraka looked genuinely impressed as she listened, her eyes wide with admiration. "Wow, that sounds intense. I can't wait to get out there with you guys and help. I'm pretty good with a bow and close combat too, so hopefully, I can pull my weight!"
"You'll be fine," Rosie assured her with a smile. "We'll take care of each other."
As the food arrived—plates filled with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread—the four of them dug in. Rosie ate eagerly, her energy never seeming to wane, while Katsuki sat silently beside her, drinking his ale and keeping to himself. His eyes, however, would occasionally flicker toward her, making sure she was okay, though he'd never admit it.
As they ate, the conversation shifted to their plans after lunch. They were heading to the next town, where the guild hall awaited them with fresh missions.
"We'll head to the guild hall in the next town after we finish up here," Rosie explained as she sipped her drink. "We can pick something more challenging this time since we'll have Uraraka with us. A bigger party means more opportunity."
Deku smiled brightly at Uraraka. "You're going to love it! The guild always has interesting jobs, and with your skills, we'll be able to take on some bigger missions."
Rosie noticed Uraraka's cheeks turn pink under Deku's gaze. She seemed a little shy but clearly excited. "It'll be great to have someone with your abilities around," Deku added, practically glowing with excitement.
Once the plates were cleared and the last of their drinks finished, they gathered outside the tavern, ready to head to the next town. Katsuki walked ahead, securing the horses as Rosie checked their provisions. It was then that she noticed Uraraka standing awkwardly to the side, eyeing their mounts with a mix of admiration and uncertainty.
"Do you have a horse, Uraraka?" Rosie asked, catching the new ranger's hesitant expression.
Uraraka shook her head, her blush deepening. "I don't… I, um, haven't been able to afford one yet. I've mostly been traveling on foot."
Katsuki, who was busy tightening the saddle straps, glanced over his shoulder with a scowl. "Tch. She can ride with Deku," he stated.
The moment Katsuki suggested that Uraraka ride with Deku, the blush on Deku's face deepened to a near crimson, his hands fumbling nervously as he tried to stammer out a response. "I-I, uh, I mean, sure, if Uraraka's okay with it!"
Rosie had to bite back a laugh as she noticed the flustered look on Deku's face. She turned to Uraraka, who seemed equally embarrassed. Rosie took pity on the two and smiled, "No worries! You can take Divine," she said with a bright smile, offering her own horse. "I'll ride with Katsuki."
"Are you sure?" Uraraka asked, "I don't want to be an inconvenience."
"Katsuki doesn't mind," she smiled and then turned to him as he was already mounted atop of Dynamite. "Do you?"
His only response was leaning down, wrapping his arm around her and hoisting her up onto the saddle in front of him. "We're wasting time, get on the horse and let's go ranger."
Katsuki was clearly not amused by the matchmaking, but Rosie just shrugged it off with a grin. She was determined to let Deku have a chance to bond with Uraraka, and if that meant a little teasing along the way, so be it.
As Uraraka mounted Divine, they set off, the group fell into a comfortable rhythm. The town of Perlyington disappeared behind them, its vibrant flowers and bustling streets becoming a memory as they traveled toward their next adventure.
As they rode out of Perlyington, the evening sun bathed the path in a warm golden hue. Rosie was comfortably settled in front of Katsuki, her back pressed lightly against his chest. His strong arms were on either side of her, holding the reins, and she could feel the subtle tension in his body, though his hold on her was secure and steady.
The rhythmic clop of the horses' hooves filled the air as they traveled, with Deku and Uraraka riding just a few paces ahead, lost in their own conversation. Rosie could see how nervously Deku stole glances at Uraraka every now and then, causing a small smile to tug at her lips.
Feeling Katsuki's body heat against her back, she leaned her head slightly to the side, glancing up at him with a soft smile. "Thanks for letting Uraraka join us," she said, her voice gentle.
Katsuki's grip on the reins tightened slightly, and he let out a low grunt in response. "Whatever. It's not like I had a choice," he mumbled, though there was no real irritation in his voice. It was more of an automatic response—one she was used to by now.
Rosie chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she settled back more comfortably against him. "I knew you'd be fine with it," she teased lightly.
Katsuki raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her with a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "Yeah? Or maybe you just wanted an excuse to ride with me. Couldn't stand the idea of being away from me for a while, huh?" His tone was teasing, his voice rumbling low in her ear.
Rosie's eyes widened in mock disbelief, her cheeks flushing slightly at his boldness. "Excuse me?" she said, turning in the saddle to look up at him more directly, though she couldn't hide the smile creeping up on her face. "I only gave up my horse because Uraraka didn't have one. You're delusional if you think I wanted to ride withyou."
Katsuki's smirk widened, clearly amused by her reaction. "Sure, elf. Whatever you say," he replied, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. His crimson eyes gleamed with a knowing look, as if he could see right through her words.
Rosie rolled her eyes at him, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. Without warning, she elbowed him gently in the stomach, her action more affectionate than aggressive. "You're impossible," she muttered, though the smile on her face gave her away.
Katsuki barely flinched at the nudge, his smirk never faltering. "Hah, you didn't deny it, though," he teased further, leaning down slightly so that his breath brushed against her ear, making her shiver despite herself. "Admit it, you like being close to me."
Rosie felt a rush of warmth spread across her cheeks, but she wasn't about to let him win that easily. She glanced back at him with narrowed eyes and a playful grin of her own. "You really are full of yourself, aren't you?" she quipped, tilting her head slightly. "I'll admit, riding with you isn'tcompletelyawful… but don't get used to it."
Katsuki chuckled softly, a rare sound from him, but one that made Rosie's heart skip a beat. "Too late. I think I'm getting used to it already," he shot back, his voice low and teasing.
Rosie shook her head, biting her lip to suppress a laugh. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"
"Maybe. But you wouldn't have it any other way," Katsuki replied, his tone softening ever so slightly, though the teasing edge was still there.
For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them as they continued to ride, the sounds of the forest and the soft murmurs of Deku and Uraraka ahead filling the air. Rosie's heart felt light, despite the banter, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of peace with Katsuki so close.
After a while, Katsuki's voice broke the quiet again, softer this time. "You're special, you know," he said, echoing her earlier words. There was something genuine in his tone that caught her off guard.
Rosie blinked, surprised by his sudden sincerity, and glanced up at him. "Oh? What makes you say that?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Katsuki's eyes stayed focused ahead, but there was a flicker of something warm in his gaze. "Not just because you're an elf or whatever. You… you've got guts. And you're not annoying—most of the time," he added with a smirk.
Rosie laughed softly, shaking her head. "Well, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Katsuki," she teased, though she appreciated the sentiment behind his words.
"Don't let it go to your head, elf," he muttered, though there was a faint softness in his voice that betrayed his usual rough exterior.
Rosie just smiled, feeling the warmth of his presence as they continued riding together. It wasn't often that Katsuki let down his walls, but in moments like these, she felt like she was seeing a side of him that few ever got to witness.