5DOUBLE UPDATE WOOO! GO BACK AND READ PREV CHAP
It felt as though his arms would fall off. His hands cramped as he twisted long green locks together.
Izuku sat at a pace before him, with her eyes closed and feet crossed. She was finishing a braid over her shoulder and attaching a small feather he had given her. It had taken him ages of combing her hair with his fingers to get small snarls and tangles out.
She had stopped wearing the large antlers or too many sharp things in her hair as they were prone to accidentally poking him, as she wasn't used to being around someone of his height. It especially posed trouble when sleeping next to one another.
A warning hiss came from her as he slightly tugged too hard. He huffed and continued on. Eventually coming to the end of her hair, he twisted it up and pinned it on top of her head with long thin and sharp pieces of bone she had handed him. "Done."
When she turned around to fully face him., he grinned triumphantly as it didn't look bad at all. She patted his hand. "Thank you"
She reached up and ran her hands through his golden hair, causing shivers to run down his spine. He immediately looked away and stayed still as he could as she got closer to braid a small piece of his hair on the side. She reached into a pack at her hip and pulled out something he couldn't see and braided it into the end of the hair. He felt it touch the side of his neck and slowly reached up to feel it as she backed away.
"A feather?"
It was a small smooth item that felt akin to the shape of a feather. She nodded and smiled, showing slightly sharp teeth. He loved it. He would never take it off. He grinned back and leaned back onto his other hand as he continued fiddling with the item. It had to have been made out of antler, as he had seen her doing her carvings recently on their downtime.
A small chirp left her and she scooted backwards and dipped her hand into her pack again. This time she pulled something else that immediately caught his eye. She reached forward again and grabbed his hand from his hair, and placed it in his hand.
He opened his hand and looked at the small carving of the sun, that was so intricate, he had no idea how she could have carved it without more delicate tools. It was beautiful. It had a long string around it, and he immediately put it on. He leaned forward.
"This is beautiful, Izuku. Thank you."
A satisfied him left her and she stood finally, stretching.
He did the same and began packing up their belongings. Glancing up at the sky and shielding his eyes from the sun, he whistled.
"The snow has melted long ago. Do you plan on keeping all the furs you have been carrying? I haven't really brought it up, but I really feel like we can condense what we have." She had been carrying a large amount - from bedding use, to furs she would craft clothing with. But she carried so much with her that it almost seemed too much now. He understood when the snow and cold could dip extremely with no protection, but now it was too hot to travel during the day with so many items bogging him down.
She shook her head and frowned motioning at the pile of rolled up furs that leaned against a tree next to them. "I will not get rid of them unless necessary. You never know when you may need them. I shall carry them myself if the burden is too much. Let me gather my own items going forward."
Keigo grumbled and waved her off. "I was just curious. I shall carry them for you. No need to worry. Though one day I'll be sure to get you a proper big blanket, softer than this coarse damn fur…" She tilted her head as if asking a question, but he ignored her and began gathering any small items and packs as well as the rolled up skins.
He despised the deer skin she would sometimes have them lay on, depending on the ground. It was so coarse and scratchy. He itched just thinking about it.
—-
As they traveled side by side, Izuku would stop every so often and run her hands along the barks of trees and whisper so low he couldn't make out her words. Since the snow has melted it was like she turned into a much more confident being. He thought she was agile in snow, but without the buildup on the ground, she was extremely fast and quick. He was in awe watching her traverse without an issue and much quicker than he ever could.
She had slowed herself greatly to try and match his pace, but he could tell she was frustrated at first. He took it as a challenge at that point and felt as though he's gotten a bit better, if only a tad.
Eventually they stopped for the evening as the sun was dipping below the horizon.
Keigo dipped his hands in the shallow creek and splashed water onto his face. As he glanced up, he froze.
Smoke?
"Izuku, we need to be careful." He spoke low as he rose and motioned for her to follow him. She followed without question. They traveled quite a distance before he stopped. His breath was quick. Why was he anxious?
Her small hand reached up and grabbed his arm. "Are you okay?" She looked up at him with confusion.
He took a deep breath and nodded, feeling comforted by her touch. She went to withdraw her hand, but he caught it and held it between both of his.
"Izuku, listen. I saw smoke earlier, which could mean we are close to other people. This could be a good or a bad thing. I have no idea where we are currently. I want you to stay here and let me scope out the area okay?"
She nodded her head and smiled. "I trust you. I shall stay here and wait." He released her hand and nodded. He felt his chest tighten at the comment. He dropped their packs as the tree and went back from where they came.
It didn't take long for him to come upon a small treeline that broke to see a small homestead. He took note of the surroundings as best he could. There was a small old house with an old rickety carriage. That meant there was a road! He spotted the horses and livestock in the distance as well. However a carriage meant there was a road or path!
The smoke stemmed from a small bonfire where scrap pieces of trash seemed to be burning. He cups his hands around his mouth while starting to approach.
"Hello! Is anyone there?"
He hears a faint racket and the door opens to an older man holding a hunting rifle up.
"Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing here?"
His hands shoot in the air and he freezes. Not the best start.
The man bumbles down the steps from his porch. "My name is Keigo! You're the first person I've seen in a really really long time. I'm a traveler and just looking for information on the surrounding area."
The man stops and lowers his gun. He looked him up and down. Keigo internally winces, knowing he looks rough for wear. He didn't notice the gaze lingering on his wings.
"Where you from boy, I haven't seen anyone in these parts the whole forty years I've lived here. This is so damn deep in the forest of course your lost. Come in and have some coffee."
Keigo followed slowly keeping a distance. The man led him inside and Keigo felt as if it was a culture shock almost, being around normal modern things. Furniture, decor on the wall, ect.
The man motioned to the couch as he went into the kitchen. Keigo could immediately smell coffee brewing. The smell was almost so strong it made his stomach turn. It seemed to only take a moment for the man to come back with two mugs and plop one on the table in front of him.
He sat back in an old recliner and took a long sip. "So what brings you to these parts stranger?"
Keigo places his cup back on the table, still feeling nauseous from the smell. "As you could tell earlier, I'm a bit lost and have been for a while. Just looking to know more about these parts."
The man looked him up and down again. "For a traveler you travel awfully light. Where's your stuff."
Keigo glanced around at his surroundings and almost felt he could sneeze at the dust built up.
"I have my things safe, like I said I'm just looking for information."
He turned his eyes back on the old man just as he caught a strange look he couldn't decipher. The old man placed his coffee down.
"Is that so? How do I know you're not some thief or bandit? I could shoot you where you sit boy, be truthful."
Keigo took a deep breath. He felt oddly uncomfortable. But he also needed any information he could get. "My traveling companion stayed with our supplies. It's just me and one other. Again, we are not hostile, just looking for info. I can be out of your hair as well if you're not comfortable."
He went to stand but the man shook his head. "Sit back down. I just need to protect myself and my own is all. Tell me, "What do you need to know?"
Keigo sighed slightly in relief. If worse came to worse he could follow the road and see where it took them. However the last thing he wants to do is get closer to civilization without knowing more.
"Just what town is closest if you would."
The old man eyed him over his cup for a few seconds as if thinking. "Well there's Astra Point which is about 2 days by carriage or a hell of a long walk . That's the closest thing for days."
Keigo nodded and began to rise to his feet. "I genuinely appreciate it. I'll be on my way."
The man waved his hand. "Nonsense. Have your companion come by and I'll treat you both to dinner. I can't offer much, and can offer a ride unfortunately. My old trucks almost out of commission. Least i can do."
Keigo mulled the thought around for a moment. It seemed the man lived alone as he didn't hear anyone else in the home. He was a bit more trigger happy than he would like, waving his gun around earlier. However It could just be that he's a lonely old man.
This would also be an opportunity to hopefully expose Izuku to someone else. Rather than coming across a town, maybe it was good they stumbled upon a singular household.
"I may take you up on that offer. I'll have to discuss it first though. I may see you shortly."
The man opened the door for him and let him out.
Keigo left with haste, as it was getting dark.
He took to the skies after leaving the man's eyesight and flew back to Izuku with quickness. He spotted her resting curled into the same tree he asked her to stay by.
He felt happy, knowing she trusted him that much.
He swooped down and landed near her, yet she didn't jump. Just pushed herself up and looked at him expectantly.
"I discovered an older man who lives alone. He helped give me directions to the nearest settlement. I would like to know more about where we are, but don't feel comfortable asking him, as I'd like to go to a more populated area to get information."
She nodded along obviously not entirely sure what he was speaking about. "I see. Are you traveling somewhere in particular? I do not recall it being mentioned. I thought you were traveling to explore as I was."
"Not entirely. Originally I was heading somewhere due to a job, but now I would like to start gathering more information as to where we are and the surrounding area. Information is key. Settlements can range from a small town with only a few hundred people to a large city, which has thousands and thousands of people. Society is different everywhere, as there are different beliefs, society norms, and ethnicities everywhere. Not everyone is kind to outsiders."
Izuku seems to have perked up listening to him intently. Anytime he begins talking more about humans, she becomes intrigued. She just wishes she understood more about what he was saying. He seemed to understand this and slowed down.
"The more we know about where we are, the safer we are."
"Ah- I understand. Shall we rest for the night and begin going that way when dawn comes?"
He shook his head.
"Actually I have an offer for you. The man offered us residence in his home tonight. He offered to let us rest there for the night before we went. This is entirely up to you. I will be with you the whole time and feel like it would be a good experience for you to meet another person, before we stumble into a more populated area."
Izuku seemed extremely surprised by the offer and crossed her arms.
"Is it normal to invite strangers into your den? It is different when traveling. Your den is for you and your pack, no one else. However, I shall accompany you. I shall meet this other man."
Keigo grinned and started packing up their supplies while chuckling. "You are not wrong. Everyone is different, however where I'm from, it's normal to invite guests to your home."
She trilled and helped pick up the smaller packs. He couldn't help but feel light on his feet, at how she seemed excited. Curious and excited. HE could tell she was deep in thought. He glanced down and stopped.
"Oh! Oh, hold on Izuku, come here."
He had originally been traveling extremely light to begin with, however he did have an extra set of clothes. He had offered them to her before, but she refused to even touch them, and continued to wear her furs and such.
"I know you dislike them greatly, however, just for tonight, can you wear these please? It's not common to see women showing as much skin as you are. I don't want to cause any disrespect. However, if you are not comfortable doing so, I understand completely, and we will be on our way."
She stood there for a moment extremely disgruntled, with her nose scrunched up and swaying side to side as if weighing her options. Eventually she sighed and he heard a low annoyed groan come from her. It made him almost laugh at the absurdity. She had never shown that much annoyance with anything he had done or said before. Yet it was clothes that set her off.
She grabbed the clothes from him and stood there, unsure what to do. He blinked before realizing. He took the clothes back and paused as well. HE had been side by side with her for months. There had surprisingly never once been an issue so far with her nudity, as she always stayed covered. During cleaning sessions, they always took turns to watch their belongings.
"Here, turn around."
Yet again, she did so without question and waited. He took the deerskin off her shoulders and had her raise her arms. He quickly fit the shirt over her head and it draped off her shoulder due to its size. For the pants he showed her how to put them on, and let her do it as his back was turned. Once she was done, he rolled up the pant legs as best he could, as well as the shirt sleeves. He also tied the shirt in a knot to keep it from looking baggy.
When he was done, he took a step back and stifled a laugh. She looked ridiculous. She was quite small, he knew this, but his clothes drowned her. It looked more manageable being rolled up and the shirt folded up, tucked and tied though. The pants were almost a lost cause, but he made sure they were tight as they could get with a long piece of twine.
Her lips were pressed tightly together yet she hadn't uttered a peep. She trudged behind him carefully, moving awkwardly in the clothing. They left some of the furs bundled up to retrieve later.
As they got closer to the house, she perked up and was surveying her surroundings with slight awe. She was staring so hard at all of the equipment around the house and ended up full on stopping just to stare at everything. After a moment he tugged her forward.
When they got up to the door, and he knocked, he felt Izuku tense up as the door creaked open. While she was plagued with curiosity she was still a little unsure and weary.
The man opened the door and looked them both up and down.
"Welcome back traveler. You're right on time. Come on in and shut the door behind you."
He opened the door wider, and motioned for them to follow him. Keigo went in behind her and pulled the door close. They followed the old man into the kitchen and had them take a seat at the long table. Izuku was stiff the entire time. She was silent and watching the man's every move.
The old man noticed and plopped a bowl of food in front of her with some bread. After serving everyone, he sat as well. "What's your name lil miss? You seem awfully small in their clothes."
"We had a time previously and all we had was a spare of mine unfortunately. Next time we travel through a town, I plan on trying to find some replacements. But as I said prior, we have to locate the next town first." Keigo stated. He tapped the table lightly to draw her attention. But he kept his eyes on the man as he spoke.
Izuku said nothing, keeping her eyes trained on the man and nodded once to show she agreed. Keigo grabbed a spoon and slowly dipped it into the bowl and brought it to his mouth. She mimicked his movements and awkwardly brought the spoon to her mouth and grimaced when the food touched her tongue. It was disgusting.
"I might have some old clothes in my daughter's room. She was about your size when she passed."
"You really don't have to do that. Like I said we can find some in a town. But thank you for the offer." Keigo quickly added, noticing Izuku's discomfort with the food.
The old man nodded, not seeming to mind Keigo's attempt to steer the conversation. "I understand. Just thought I'd offer, in case it makes your travels easier." He gave Izuku a sympathetic look before turning back to Keigo. "My daughter's clothes have been kept in decent shape. I haven't touched them since… Well, it's been a while.
Izuku looked up at the old man with a mix of curiosity and cautiousness. Keigo could see her open her mouth and close it, unsure what to say in this situation. Wanting to ask more, yet not wanting to offend the human. The dinner was quiet, filled only with the sounds of utensils against bowls and the occasional murmur from the old man about past events. During this time he was heavily eyeing Keigo's wings and Izuku. Eyes constantly glancing between the two.
As the meal continued, Keigo noticed Izuku's eyes darting around, taking in the various objects in the house—the pictures on the walls, the worn-out furniture, and the assortment of knick-knacks. She was clearly fascinated by everything.
The old man, catching her gaze, chuckled softly. "Curious, aren't ya? Not much to see, really. Just the remnants of a life lived in solitude."
Izuku nodded, speaking for the first time. "There is much to see."
Keigo watched the exchange with a mix of anxiousness and frusteration. He wanted this interaction to go well, but he had a sinking feeling in his stomach. She herself was tense as could be.
When the meal was finished, the old man offered them his daughters old room. He mentioned maybe having them stay a few days.
"Feel free to go through the wardrobe. Take what you want clothes wise. I have no use for them anymore."
As the old man lets them be for the night, Keigo and Izuku shut the door and stand there silently for a moment listening to the man walk away.
Her voice was very low and her eyes glinted in the candle light. "Keigo, something feels off. I don't feel safe in this den."
Keigo sighed and pulled the chair from the desk in the corner and propped it under the door handle. There went his hope for genuine hospitality. He spoke in a hushed tone. "I know this is a lot to take in as is Izuku, but this is definitely a dangerous situation. We are not safe."
"Why are we not leaving then?"
Keigo ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. Information. He needed information. Anything the man said could be a lie. "I was far far too optimistic, I haven't been as careful as I should have. It hasn't been that long since I've been away from people?"
He walked toward the wardrobe and began flipping through the clothes. Izuku sat on the floor, with her back to the wall, eyeing the door in discomfort. She felt naked without her supplies. Her knives. Her sharp nails tap her leg.
Keigo pulled several items from the wardrobe and flipped through the drawers as well. He paused when he found undergarments. Debating what to do, he grabbed a handful as well. They were clean. He would buy her better ones later. Same with all of these.
He held out one hand while holding the bundle of clothes in the other. She took it slowly and let him pull her up. "Turn."
She obediently turned and he began undressing her. She raised her arms as a dress was pulled over her head. He handed her the undergarments and explained they go one the same way pants do. Despite being an agile creature that's more of a predator in the forest, she almost trips trying to get them on. A low rumble left her chest as he snickered.
He folded the other clothes, some dresses and some other items onto a small bag he found tucked away in a drawer. He pulled her over to the bed, and she moved less awkwardly than she had in his clothes.
She sat next to him and she looked down when she bounced, unsure of what she was sitting on. He shook his head, some other time.
"I'm worried the information I got earlier was wrong. However, he has horses and a carriage. SO there has to be a settlement somewhere. All roads lead somewhere. I want to leave as soon as possible, however I am concerned that he has a gun. A gun is a weapon that can injure you at a distance before you have time to react. Good aim means you're dead instantly. So it's important we tread carefully. I don't know what his aim is, but I really really don't like the way he was looking at you."
Izuku nodded and leaned into Keigo, resting her head against him. "I am unfamiliar with these things, Keigo. You have gained my trust, so I trust you to guide me. I am from the forest. I am of the birds and the trees. Humans are so vastly strange and different, and I know nothing other than what you've told me. And my mother has told me such terrible things. But you are something I hold dear, and care for deeply. So I will listen to you with earnest ears." She murmured. "What shall you have me do Keigo?"
Keigo was still. He could hear the sounds of their breath and his heart thundered in his chest. Before he knew what he's doing, he slid to the floor and turned, kneeling in front of her. He grabbed both of her hands as he spoke.
"Izuku I promise you, I will show you humans are capable of being kind and generous. You have come to mean more to me than anything and anyone else. I will show you my world, the good and the bad, as you have shown me yours. Thank you for trusting me, Izuku."
His eyes searched hers, and in a moment of unspoken emotion, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. The gesture was gentle, more intimate than a simple touch, yet not overwhelming. It was a tender acknowledgement of his feelings.
Izuku's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected gesture. For a moment, she was still, absorbing the warmth of his touch. Then, with a genuine smile, she leaned forward and returned the gesture, pressing a gentle kiss to the same corner of his mouth. Her touch was tentative, more an instinctive response than a deliberate act. Mimicking the touch.
She pulled back and looked at him with a mix of curiosity and sincerity, her eyes reflecting her trust and affection. "I'm grateful to have you by my side, Keigo. I am still learning much about your world, but I trust you."
Keigo's heart raced, both surprised and moved by her response. The simple, tender exchange had deepened their connection in a way that words alone could not express.
Keigo pulled back, his own emotions in turmoil. His protective instincts were in overdrive, especially after the unsettling interaction with the old man. He needed to be careful, to keep them both safe, and to ensure that Izuku remained unharmed.
Not even a moment later, they hear the door handle start to move. They both glanced at each other. Keigo made a dash to the window, and began trying to pry it open. "Everything okay in there? Just checking in."
It wouldn't budge and he eyes the nails in the window, so he slammed his fist into the window to break it. Shards of glass cut into his arm and he broke off the bottom pieces of glass. He threw the small pack of clothes out the window, and motioned for Izuku to go through. She slipped through the window easily and waited outside for him, grabbing his hand to help him down.
"What was that noise? Open the door." The man began hitting the door and trying to kick it in. Just as Keigo tumbled head first out the window, struggling due to his wings, Izuku's sharp tug pulled him through.
A loud gunshot caused Keigo to grab Izuku and take off in the air. The boom went off again, and She heard faint screaming as they got higher and further over the treeline. Keigo was wobbly in the sky, and stopped where their supplies were and grabbed them and took off with Izuku in his arms and their supplies as well.
They flew for half an hour, slightly following the road he had seen but at a very large distance. When he went to land, he stumbled and almost dropped Izuku. She caught herself and turned quickly.
"Are you okay? I couldn't hear a word you said up there due to the wind."
He placed his hands on his knees and wheezed. "I haven't flown a long distance in so long, I think my wings are out of shape, that made me way too dizzy."
He winced as he went to stand straight again, and flying to his midsection, She glanced down and felt horror wash over her at the blood freely dripping from the soaked shirt. He slowly pulled it up to see the exit wound of a bullet hole.
"What the fuck." He murmured.