Rosie sat atop a large rock, her flute resting lightly in her hands as she played a soft, lilting melody that echoed through the quiet clearing. The gentle notes blended with the rustling of the forest, a peaceful contrast to the usual hustle of their adventuring group. It had been a while since she had taken the time to play—always mindful of disturbing her companions—but now, with only the wind and trees for company, it felt like the perfect moment to reconnect with her music.

She paused, letting the last note linger in the air as her thoughts wandered. Katsuki and Uraraka were off deep in the Goshimini Forest, searching for the elusive Pinkliblossom flowers. It was dangerous terrain, too treacherous for the entire group to traverse together, and Rosie had volunteered to stay behind and set up camp. Izuku had gone to the nearby town for supplies, and with any luck, he'd return soon.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the camp, but Rosie's thoughts were already turning to the coming night. The forest was notorious for its dangers, especially after dark. Still, she trusted her friends and their abilities to handle themselves.

As if on cue, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Rosie lowered her flute, looking up with a smile as Izuku came into view, his arms loaded with sacks of supplies.

"I'm back!" he called out, his face flushed but cheerful as he approached the camp. "Sorry it took so long. The town was a bit farther than I expected, and I had to haggle with the merchant."

"No worries," Rosie replied, hopping down from the rock to help him unload the supplies. "You made it just in time for lunch."

Izuku grinned as he handed her a sack of fresh bread and cheese. "Great! I'm starving. I grabbed some extra dried meat and fruits, too, just in case we need them for the road ahead."

The two of them quickly set up a small meal, laying out the supplies on a flat rock near the firepit. As they sat down to eat, the conversation flowed easily, filling the camp with warmth and companionship.

"You know, I never knew you could play the flute," Izuku said between bites of bread. "I heard you earlier—it was beautiful."

Rosie smiled, feeling a little bashful at the compliment. "Thanks. I don't play often, but sometimes it's nice to just... unwind with some music. It helps clear my mind."

Izuku nodded thoughtfully. "I can imagine. You're really talented, Rosie. Maybe you should play more often. It's soothing."

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the forest around them, punctuated by the occasional crackle of the fire. As the afternoon wore on, the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows across the camp. They both watched the sky turn shades of orange and pink, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment.

Suddenly, a loud rustling from the edge of the camp snapped them out of their tranquility. Rosie and Izuku both stood up, their senses on high alert as the sound grew louder, closer.

"Izuku…" Rosie said quietly, her eyes scanning the treeline. "Something's coming."

Before either of them could react further, a pack of enormous, glistening spiders emerged from the forest, their many eyes gleaming in the fading light. The creatures were as large as horses, their long, spindly legs moving with terrifying speed as they closed in on the camp.

Rosie drew her sword, her heart racing. Izuku quickly moved into a defensive stance, his fists sparking with energy. "Get ready!" he shouted, just as one of the spiders lunged toward them, its fangs dripping with venom.

Rosie dodged its attack, slicing at one of the spider's legs as she moved. Izuku punched another spider, sending it flying back with a burst of energy. The battle was chaotic as more spiders swarmed the camp, their webs flying through the air as they tried to trap their prey.

Rosie narrowly avoided a sticky web as it shot past her head, rolling to the side and slashing at another spider. "These things just keep coming!" she called out to Izuku, who was busy blasting away two more of the creatures.

"We have to take them down before they overwhelm us!" he replied, dodging a web that nearly entangled him.

Rosie dodged one of the large spiders, her sword flashing as she slashed at its legs. She and Izuku had been fighting off the pack for what felt like hours, but the creatures kept coming. The ground was littered with twitching spider bodies, yet more seemed to emerge from the dark corners of the forest. They were holding their own, but just barely.

Rosie's breath came in short gasps as she parried another attack, the spider's fangs barely missing her shoulder. In the chaos of the fight, one of the largest spiders skittered toward her with terrifying speed. Before she could react, its massive legs slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. The world spun as the spider loomed over her, its fangs dripping venom and poised to strike.

In that split second, Rosie felt a rush of panic. Just as the spider lunged, a blast of ice shot across the clearing, freezing the creature in place mere inches from her face. The sudden cold sent a shock through her system, and she blinked in surprise as the spider cracked and shattered, falling to the ground in pieces.

A man stepped into the clearing, his presence commanding. His hair was striking—half white and half red—and his eyes, one a deep blue and the other a light gray, were locked on her with intense focus. His hands still glowed faintly with the remnants of frost and fire as he approached.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice calm but filled with genuine concern as he reached down to help her up.

Rosie, still dazed from the fall, blinked up at him, her heart still racing from the close call. "I—I think so," she stammered, her wide eyes meeting his.

The man gently took her arm, his touch firm yet careful as he checked her for injuries. His gaze softened slightly as he looked her over. "You'll have to accept my apology," he said, his voice steady but tinged with regret. "These spiders are a menace. I've been tracking them for days but hadn't realized they'd found new prey."

Rosie managed a small smile, shaking her head. "You couldn't have known, really. There's no need to apologize. You saved me."

He frowned, clearly not satisfied. "I should've done a better job scouting the area. I didn't expect them to attack this close to the edge of the forest."

Before Rosie could respond, a furious voice cut through the clearing, filled with unmistakable anger.

"Get your damn hands off her, you icy hot bastard!"

Rosie's head snapped toward the voice, her stomach flipping as she saw Katsuki storming into the clearing with Uraraka by his side. His face was twisted with rage, his eyes fixed on the man standing next to Rosie. Sparks of explosive energy crackled around his clenched fists as he stomped toward them.

The man didn't flinch, merely raising an eyebrow as Katsuki approached. "I just saved her life, Bakugou."

"I don't care!" Katsuki growled, his fists still sparking. "Back off, Todoroki!"

Rosie quickly stepped between them, placing a calming hand on Katsuki's chest as she felt the tension between the two men. "Katsuki, calm down," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "He saved me from the spider."

Katsuki's glare didn't soften immediately, his crimson eyes still locked on Todoroki, but he reluctantly stopped his advance. "I don't like the way he's touching you," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Todoroki, unfazed by Katsuki's fury, stepped back and gave Rosie a polite nod. "You're safe now. I'll be on my way."

Rosie, sensing Katsuki's lingering anger, glanced at Todoroki and then back at her furious companion. "No, wait," she said, her tone softening. "You saved both Izuku and me. The least we can do is offer you dinner. Please stay."

Todoroki hesitated for a moment, glancing briefly at Katsuki, who looked like he wanted to object but held his tongue. Finally, Todoroki nodded. "If you insist."

Izuku approached the group, having finished off the last of the spiders with a quick punch. His eyes lit up with recognition as he saw Todoroki. "Todoroki! I didn't know you came out this far," he said with a grin, wiping the sweat from his brow. "What brings you out here?"

"Tracking those spiders," Todoroki replied simply, gesturing to the fallen creatures around them. "I didn't expect to run into you."

Katsuki scowled but said nothing, his attention still fixed on Rosie as he pulled her closer, clearly not pleased with the situation. "You're really okay?" he asked, his voice softening as his gaze shifted to her, checking for any signs of injury.

Rosie nodded, offering him a reassuring smile. "Just a bump on the head and a bruised arm. I'm fine, Katsuki."

Katsuki's expression softened slightly, though frustration still simmered beneath the surface. As they returned to their camp, he kept close to Rosie, his presence looming protectively beside her. Izuku chatted with Todoroki as if they had known each other for years, clearly familiar with him, but Katsuki remained withdrawn, his usual gruff demeanor even more pronounced. He glared at Todoroki's back as if the mere sight of him was offensive.

Rosie, kneeling by the fire and preparing dinner, glanced over her shoulder at Katsuki, who refused to leave her side. He hovered nearby, arms crossed, his gaze flicking occasionally toward Todoroki with a scowl.

"Katsuki," Rosie said, turning her attention back to slicing vegetables. "He's your friend, be nice. Go talk to him."

"He's not my friend," Katsuki snapped, his voice low but defensive.

Rosie raised an eyebrow, not buying his excuse. "Izuku's your friend," she pointed out.

"That's different," Katsuki grumbled. "The Icy Hot bastard and I just grew up together. Doesn't mean we're friends."

With an exasperated sigh, Rosie turned her full attention to him, resting her hands on her hips. "Katsuki, you're being childish."

"I'm not," he muttered, his scowl deepening.

Rosie stepped closer, her voice softening but her words firm. "He saved my life, Katsuki. I would've died if he hadn't shown up when he did. You don't have to like him, but at least talk to him. If not for yourself, do it for me."

That seemed to finally get through to him. His scowl faded, and he let out a reluctant grunt of acknowledgment, shoving his hands in his pockets. Giggling softly at his change in attitude, Rosie turned back to the meal, making quick work of cooking dinner. Uraraka soon joined her, helping to serve the venison with sautéed mushrooms and roasted potatoes.

"Thank you," Todoroki said softly when Rosie handed him a plate, his voice calm and almost shy.

Rosie beamed at him as she took her seat beside Katsuki. "You're welcome. My name's Rosie. And thank you again for saving my life."

She extended her hand toward Todoroki, who shook it with a polite smile. "Shoto Todoroki," he introduced himself, his grip firm but gentle. "And you're welcome."

As soon as their hands parted, Katsuki immediately grabbed the hand Rosie had shaken Todoroki with, holding it tightly in his. Rosie blinked at him in confusion, her gaze shifting to their joined hands, but Katsuki said nothing. He held onto her hand for a solid minute before finally releasing it, his expression unreadable. Ignoring his odd behavior, Rosie turned her attention back to Todoroki.

"Are you traveling alone?" she asked curiously, her eyes still on him.

Todoroki nodded. "I am. I've been tracking those spiders for a while and scouting the region."

"You should join us!" Uraraka chimed in with a bright smile, her enthusiasm contagious.

Izuku, who was seated on the other side of Todoroki, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, we're on a mission right now. It'd be great to have someone with your skills."

Todoroki tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "What kind of mission?"

Rosie smiled as she listened to the exchange, quietly eating her meal. Todoroki was indeed striking, his features sharp and his manner calm, almost calculating. There was something about him that felt oddly familiar, though she couldn't quite place why.

As the conversation continued, Rosie felt Katsuki's eyes on her. She turned to look at him just as he leaned closer, his voice low and gruff. "Why the hell are you staring at him?"

Rosie raised an eyebrow, amused by his possessiveness. "Why can't I?"

Katsuki's intense crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "If you're going to stare at someone, then stare at me."

His gaze was so intense that Rosie felt a flutter in her chest, her face flushing as her ears twitched slightly in response. Katsuki had that effect on her—his raw, unapologetic intensity always made her heart skip a beat.

Before Rosie could respond, Izuku spoke up, pulling her back into the conversation. "So, Todoroki, we're heading to the Eastern Ocean tomorrow. We're looking for a pearl that is being guarded by creatures in Lanmarina."

Rosie nodded, confirming Izuku's words. "Yes, we're gathering our last item for our current mission. Once we have it, we'll be delivering the items to our client before we take on our next job."

She smiled warmly at Todoroki. "You're more than welcome to join us, Shoto."

Katsuki tensed beside her, his jaw clenching slightly, but he said nothing. His eyes remained locked on Todoroki, clearly not thrilled about the idea. However, Rosie's invitation had been extended, and Katsuki wasn't about to openly object in front of everyone. His silence was enough to show he wasn't pleased, though.

Todoroki, sensing the tension but unfazed by it, glanced at Katsuki before turning back to Rosie. "Thank you. I'll join you, but I have a few things I need to take care of first. I'll meet you in Lanmarina."

"We're happy to have you," Rosie replied with a radiant smile.

Katsuki's hand tightened slightly around his spoon, his gaze flicking to Rosie's face, watching the way she smiled at Todoroki. The quiet, simmering frustration in his chest grew stronger, though he forced himself to stay calm.

That night, as the campfire crackled and the group settled in for the evening, Katsuki kept Rosie close—closer than usual.

Rosie, ever observant, noticed his unusual behavior but chose not to comment, finding his protectiveness somewhat endearing. She leaned against him as the stars began to twinkle in the dark sky, content in the warmth of his presence, even as Katsuki shot occasional glances in Todoroki's direction, his sharp eyes never fully relaxed.

As the fire burned low and the others drifted into quiet conversation, Katsuki shifted.

Just why the hell did he care so much about her being near the Icy hot bastard?