Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Into the Woods

He wants to prove himself a successful hunter by the next full moon or lose his place in the lineup to be the next chief of the clan. It's not expected of him to bring home a large kill during the winter, but he had to prove to everyone, if only himself, that he is worthy of the title of chief. 

The snow came up past his ankles as he trudged through it, following the trees' tribal marks, which guided him to the game traps. The wind whistled through the dense forest, forcing him to wrap the shawl tighter around his nose and mouth while the thick, woolen hood helped to keep it in place. He was dressed in his best heavy mountain sheep furs and leathers that covered him from head to toe. He carries a dagger, a small pouch of cheese and bread, and a hatchet on his waist. On his back rests a quiver of arrows, and slung over his other arm is his bow, strung and ready to aim. 

Checking each trap only to find them empty, Hitoshi was almost ready to give up hope and turn back. No creature in its right mind would venture out into this cold, frosty bite of winter. And then, his eyes settle upon another mark in a tree. This tribal mark, he realizes, is unlike any of the others. Resting a black-gloved hand against it, Hitoshi looks down the dark, seemingly endless hollow of thick trees. Hitoshi swallows hard, knowing that the path leads to a different kind of hunting trap, one for magical beings. 

As a child, Hitoshi and the other children loved to listen to the stories of the Ancient Ones. They are a race of different creatures and elementals that had lived in the surrounding areas long before humans inhabited the land. Hitoshi remembers cuddling with the others under thick woolen blankets in front of a large fire as the village elders shared tales of those many creatures. His favorite story was that of the Deer People, a herd of deer that could take the form of humans with the features of a doe or stag. These descriptions would vary from elder to elder, some telling of the lower body of a deer and the torso of a human, or a human body with cloven hooves, antlers, deer tail, and ears. 

These woods, he knew, are sacred, and humans should not set foot upon its holy grounds. However, their current leader, Chief Aizawa (his adoptive father), has ventured into these dark woods to set traps. It is said that to catch an elemental or forest spirit is to have them grant a wish of bountiful food for the long winter season. This was said in old stories when the humans made a truce with the forest spirits. However, it had turned into a game and a battle of wit. The forest spirits were always one or two steps ahead of humans. 

Still, he could not let his uneasiness of the dark sacred forest keep him from seeking a bounty of food for his people. There was a chance that the traps set there could hold a forest spirit. Hitoshi pulled an arrow from the quiver and readied it as he entered the hollow. 

The woods were quiet all around, with only the sound of his boots crunching against the snow. Hitoshi made sure that he did not stray from the path of marked trees. Though the further he went, the more uneasy he became. Hitoshi could feel that this forest had a different energy than the ones he was used to hunting. For a moment, he felt a change of heart and wanted to turn back. But no, he convinced himself. His people were hungry, and he did not want to return home empty-handed. 

When he thought the trail would never end, Hitoshi came upon one of the game traps. It was empty though it HAD been triggered. Hitoshi reset it then continued on the marked trail. His body shivered when an icy wind blew through him, almost like an attempt to push him back. Still, Hitoshi pushed on, forcing his legs to keep moving.

And then, the air suddenly became warmer.

Hitoshi almost dropped his bow when he saw the sight before him; a forest of springtime. His tired eyes widened as he took in the warmth of the sun through the green trees, the aroma of flowers, and thick, mossy earth beneath his boots. Hitoshi knew that he had walked into the home of the spirits, for they only lived in springtime. 

'Should I...continue?' Hitoshi asks himself. 'Did the chief plant any traps here? No, he wouldn't. Would he? Or did I stray from the path?' 

Unable to resist the springtime warmth, Hitoshi pushed the conflicting thoughts from his head and stepped into the sun. The rays kissed his chilled red cheeks, warming them with their glow. How wonderful it would be to live in constant springtime, he thought. And then, he heard something to his right. Hitoshi hesitated for a moment then followed the sound. Finally, he came upon a small clearing where, in the middle, stands a young stag caught in a trap. 

The stag struggles to free its back leg from the snare while making pitiful sounds of pain and distress. Hitoshi saw the opportunity to snag a kill, and he readied his arrow, sneaking closer to get a better shot. But he paused when he remembered that he was in a sacred forest and that stag could be a spirit or an elemental. As he lowered his bow, the stag started to sparkle, and it changed shape. Hitoshi watched, transfixed, as the stag body turned into a human.

A naked young man sits on the mossy ground and attempts to pry the trap open. He looked just like the elders had said; cloven feet, a deer tail, deer ears, and antlers. Two long prongs grew from a head of messy green curly hair, each with a smaller prong sticking out from the center. Fading white fawn spots litter the man's cheeks, nose, shoulders and continue down the center of his back, giving the illusion of freckles. Hitoshi couldn't look away from the sight of the beautiful, ethereal man. He must have made some sound because the man became alert and looked in his direction. 

Hitoshi's gaze met with the most beautiful and stunning pair of big green eyes. They were the color of fresh moss with the warmth of the sun. Hitoshi lowers his bow, placing it slowly on the ground beside him, and holds up his hands, showing the deer-man that he did not intend any harm. How could he? The being before him was too beautiful to kill. Hitoshi did want to free him from that trap, but would the handsome young man struggle more to try and get away? 

The deer-man looks from Hitoshi to the trap, then back at Hitoshi. The green eyes seemed to plead with Hitoshi, silently asking him to remove the trap. Hitoshi took a cautious step forward, waiting for a reaction. The young man doesn't move, so Hitoshi steps closer. Soon, he is standing over the naked man who has the same look of stupefied awe as him. Hitoshi couldn't help but let his eyes travel along the pale toned skin, lingering on the dusty pink nipples and patch of white deer near covering the man's groin. Hitoshi felt a lustful, curious need to want to touch the fur down there as it was not the kind that humans have. He has felt deer fur many times, always noting that the underbelly fur was softer than the rest. Would that fur feel as smooth, he wondered? 

Crouching down to the deer-man's level, Hitoshi pushes down on the release latch. The iron wrongs open, and the deer-man moves his wounded ankle, sliding a few inches away. Hitoshi waits to see if the other will run away, but the young stag man stays. Those green eyes look upon him with strange curiosity and a hint of fear. Hitoshi hoped to win the other's trust and slowly reached into his pouch to pull out a strip of cloth. He points to the wound on the man's ankle and gradually moves to wrap it, watching for a reaction. The other didn't make a move, seeming to trust him. Hitoshi gently wraps the wound, tying it into a tight knot at the top. His eyes stayed on the hoof where a human foot should be in the other's present form. 

When Hitoshi lifts his eyes to the other's face, he is met with a gentle smile. Hitoshi feels a flush on his cheeks as the man's deer ears twitch and wiggle. The deer-man was both handsome and adorable. 

Then, the green-eyed spirit reached out a hand to touch Hitoshi's face. Hitoshi allowed him to do it, removing his hood and shawl to reveal his messy purple hair. Hitoshi let the other feel and stroke his face as if the deer-man was studying him. The hands were soft and smooth, something Hitoshi didn't think a spirit living in the woods would have. He wanted to feel those hands on the rest of his skin. The thought made his heart start to race, and it quickened when the other placed a hand upon it. Hitoshi's heart skipped a beat when that hand stayed. What was the spirit doing, he wondered. 

From nearby came a bellowing sound like that of a wild boar or another cloven animal. The deer-man's ears shot up in alert and then flattened in fear. Hitoshi stood up to shield the other and looked in the direction of the bellowing. A massive stag with flaming antlers runs towards them, darting in and out of the trees. Hitoshi barely had a chance to react when the stag was upon him, rearing on its back legs to viciously kick at him with the fronts. A hoof struck him in the jaw, sending Hitoshi stumbling to the ground. The snorting and bellowing of the stag did not cease as a torrent of heavy hooves started to trample him.

The pain came to a stop when a different bellow filled the area around them. Hitoshi, twitching with pain, looked up to see the other had transformed back into a stag and was standing over him. The two stags faced each other, with the larger one baring large teeth and snorting rapidly through its thick nostrils. The larger stag with flaming antlers was the dominant one as the other was cowering yet standing bravely. To Hitoshi, it seems that they were talking to one another until the large stag rears again and its red eyes so wide that Hitoshi could see the white around them. 

Hitoshi had no choice; he had to run. He was a human in a sacred forest with magical beings he couldn't fight. Hitoshi forgot about his bow and ran back in the direction he came, forcing his pain-wreaked body to keep moving. Behind him, he can hear the galloping of the large stag and its rage-induced bellows. Hitoshi glances over his shoulder to see the flaming antlers pointed right at him as the beast comes closer. Hitoshi knew that those prongs would pierce through his clothing and flesh like nothing and set his insides on fire. He can feel the heat of the flames behind him but finally escapes into the bitter cold of snow. 

Stumbling into the frosty white powder, panting wildly, he checks behind him to see that the massive stag had stopped. The giant animal reared again, kicking its front legs and thrashing its head back and forth. Hitoshi understood the actions as a warning not to approach or come back. Then, he sees the other stag he saved from the trap behind the other. It stands on three legs while keeping the wounded one off the ground. His ears and tail were lowered in defeat and sadness. Hitoshi watches as the big stag drives the smaller one away with the flaming antlers, herding him back into the woods. 

Hitoshi remained in that spot until the glow of the fire antlers was gone, and he could feel his legs again. His body ached from head to toe, but he would need to make it back to the village before moonrise. It was a very, very long, freezing walk.

~*~

Hitoshi was grateful no one saw him returning as he went into the chief's hut. Chief Aizawa was already asleep, so Hitoshi quietly made his way through the main area and to his room, sliding the linen curtain closed. He lights a candle and begins to undress, biting back his hisses and grunts of pain. Once fully naked, he examined his body and noted all the welts and bruises. His body was littered with them. He could do nothing for now but get some rest and try to sleep the pain away. 

Slipping on his linen nightshirt, he settled into the bed of wool and furs. He tried to take a deep breath, but his chest hurt too much to do it, so he gave up. Now that he had time to think, his thoughts turned to the stag with flaming antlers. Hitoshi remembers hearing a story about the creature. At the beginning of time, the Great God granted elemental powers to certain animals of the sacred forest, the leaders of packs and herds. So the deer had a stag with flaming antlers that would light the way for the herd and always bring warmth and protection. Hitoshi also recalls some elders saying that the gifts are passed down through bloodlines while others say they are immortal. It was impossible to know. 

But the green-eyed stag that he saved...what power did that one possess? Hitoshi shifts under the blankets, rolling over onto his other side in an attempt to get comfortable. Though his body was tired, his active mind would not let him sleep, for his thoughts are filled with the sweet deer-man's human form. 

Hitoshi had never been popular with the young, eligible women of the tribe or with other men his age. He saw this as a type of blessing, though, because Hitoshi had never been attracted to women. As far as he knew, no other men his age felt that way, and Hitoshi always wondered if something was wrong with him. However, he had never given it too much thought until today when he set eyes upon the deer-man's naked body. Did the deer-man feel that way about him, too? They trusted each other at the least, and the deer-man had touched him, placed a hand on his heart. Hitoshi could remember the hands on his face, gently stroking and exploring. He had missed that feeling. 

Making sure he was indeed alone, Hitoshi rolled onto his back and started to palm the growing ache in his groin. He let his mind fill with images of the fawn-freckled body and bright smile of laughing green eyes and twitching ears. Hitoshi pictures the other nuzzling against him like the mountain sheep do when they're ready for mating. The other's skin would press against his, rubbing their lengths together and make sweet sounds of pleasure. He could finally feel the softness of that white fur at the other's groin beneath his hand. Then he would mount the other like the animals do, claiming the deer-man as his own. He wished he knew the other's name if they even had one. 

He couldn't finish the fantasy, though, because the welts on his body couldn't take the arching and stretching. Hitoshi regrettably had to stop. Instead, he pictured himself with the other in this bed of furs, cuddling together to sleep away the nighttime. Hitoshi can see himself sharing his life with the other. But, he was a human and the other a forest spirit. They were from different worlds. And that other stag with the flaming antlers...

Hitoshi tossed and turned all night.

~*~

“Stupid Deku! What were you doing so close to a human?” 

“I’m sorry, Kacchan!” Izuku allows himself to be herded away by Bakugo, their herd leader. “I was caught in a trap and he helped me and-”

“A trap humans set!” Bakugo shouts. “Now you’re limping, and that makes you more useless than usual!” 

“...he helped me out of the trap though…” Izuku stopped talking when Bakugo bellowed loudly at him. He fell behind Bakugo, keeping his head, ears, and tail lowered as they returned to the herd. 

Izuku was met with taunts and laughter from others in the herd when it was told what happened to him. He was, after all, the only spirit in the herd that did not have an elemental power. Aside from transforming into a human (which they all can do) he’s only a regular stag- no- a deer. He isn’t allowed to call himself a stag with being powerless as well as the lowest herd member. Izuku could only ignore their taunts as best he could while going to his assigned thicket. He lay his weary body on the grass and moss, stretching out his bandaged leg. 

He thought about the kind human with soft purple hair and tired eyes. Izuku had always been fascinated by humans but warned of the dangers they can bring. The human man was dressed in the furs and skins of dead animals, something that always frightened and upset him when he was little. At his age now, he understood that humans have a hard existence and they need to resort to killing for food. That’s why the man had such tired eyes, Izuku thought, because he had to struggle to survive. In this place, everything is provided for them, and it’s especially easier for the spirits that don’t eat meat for they never have to leave the forest for the human realm. He should be grateful to live  in such a special place, and he is, but…he’s also restless. 

Izuku cranes his neck to sniff at the bandage around his ankle and could smell the human. He closed his eyes, taking in the scent and picturing the human man tending to him. He wanted to see the man again. The human was the first to ever show him any type of tenderness. Izuku remembered the man blushing, and it in turn made him blush as well. Humans always wore clothes and they didn’t, so maybe the man  was just embarrassed because he was naked. But then there was the heartbeat, which beat quickly and was the same as his. Izuku thought, like many others, that humans don’t have beating hearts because they are vicious and cruel. Yet this man’s heart beat the same as any of them. And he felt a connection with the human, too. 

‘I want to see him again,’ 

TBC

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: The Pond

Hitoshi strolled through his village, ignoring most of the people as they went about their daily chores. Some of the young men, near his age or younger, whispered or chuckled as he passed. He may be the next chief in line, but as far as proving himself to the people, if they don’t want to follow him, they won’t have to; that’s when a munity will arise. Besides, he had returned from the hunt empty-handed yesterday from the hunt while others hadn’t. There were fresh kills from quails to deer. Seeing the dead deer reminded him of the deer-man in the sacred forest, and how much he wanted to see him again. 

The day went by slowly with Hitoshi walking to the lake to help check for any fish. Only one fishing hole had caught a large fish, and it wasn’t HIS fishing hole. The other hunter who had successfully caught the fish boasted about it to Hitoshi and the others. Hitoshi tried to not let it get to him because it was all by chance that the fish bit, not from any winter-fishing skill. Another young hunter joked that maybe he would one day wear the chief’s ceremonial, ancient necklace as if Hitoshi wasn’t even there. Hitoshi ignored it. 

If he had been born from a union with Chief Aizawa and a woman, then these types of insults and jabs would likely not exist. However, Chief Aizawa never married, yet one day declared Hitoshi, an orphan, as his son and heir. When Chief Aizawa steps down, the necklace will be passed over to him. Hitoshi remembers seeing the necklace for the first time one autumn during the Harvest ceremony. Ancient beads of red, black, and brown threaded through a leather tie with three specific items, each one linked to the race of humans. 

One was a yellowing fang from an ancient animal no longer living in this world and had been the first kill of the first successful hunt of the first people. It represents the promise of successful hunts and the survival of the tribe. The second was a piece of bone from the body of the very first chief. That was to symbolize unity and leadership. And finally, the third item, a large blue stone given to the humans by the Great God of the elementals as a symbol of peace between them all. The stone was even called the ‘Symbol of Peace.’ However, for all that the necklace represents, Chief Aizawa rarely lets it show. Hitoshi asked him one time why he won't wear it and the reply was that, unlike past chiefs, he doesn’t need a necklace to prove what he can do or who he is as a leader. Chief Aizawa let his leadership skills speak for themselves. 

Hitoshi hoped that one day, he could feel the same level of confidence as his adoptive father.

Poking at the burning logs of the center of the fire, Hitoshi sits alone, thinking about his place in the tribe as well as the deer-man. He didn’t hear the sound of footfalls behind him until the person spoke.

“Why are you out here all alone?” It was Chief Aizawa. “It’s cold. All the others are in the main hall listening to stories.  You should go.”

“I want to be alone with my own thoughts,” Hitoshi replied. In the winter season, since the nights are long and cold, the village would often gather together to hear stories and play music. It gave light during the cold, dark nights. “I thought I would go and check the flock, too.” 

“I just came from the pasture,” Chief Aizawa said. “Every ewe and ram is accounted for,”

Hitoshi pokes at the fire again.

“Something on your mind?”

“Just…thinking about the hunt tomorrow.”

“The hunt? You just came back from one,” Chief Aizawa placed a gloved hand on Hitoshi’s hooded head. “Take a break. You don’t always have to work so hard to prove yourself.”

Hitoshi looks up at him. “How can I prove myself a future chief if my hunts or my gatherings are less than fair?” 

Chief Aizawa moved closer to the heat of the fire. “You don’t see me out hunting and trapping, do you? It’s something I can do, yes, but that doesn’t mean I like it,” he said. “I give our people the courage and moral support to have a successful hunt. So, don’t push yourself this hard,” 

Hitoshi sighed. “I guess…”

“Leave the fire and go to the main hall,” Chief Aizawa gently commands him. “Spend time with your people, not away from them.”

Hitoshi smirked and asked, “Then, why aren’t you there?”

A small smile touched Chief Aizawa’s lips. “I never said we have to spend ALL our time with our people.”

They shared a soft, quiet chuckle between them.

~*~

Izuku watches Bakugo sleeping beside him in the thicket, both in their human forms. Bakugo always fell asleep after they mated and would stay until he felt like leaving. Izuku was used to it. Bakugo was their herd leader and alpha, which gives him the mating rights to anyone. Izuku is no exception to that rule regardless of being born powerless. Normally, he didn’t mind when Bakugo would come to his thicket for a mounting, but this time it was different somehow. Izuku had felt the urge to resist rather than submit, which was unlike him. Bakugo hadn’t liked that and Izuku quickly corrected himself. The only thing Izuku could think of that changed was meeting the human who helped him from the trap. Even during mating, he kept thinking about the human man. He wondered if he went back to that spot, he might see the man again.

When Izuku was free of Bakugo’s presence, he transformed into a stag and made his way to the spot, this time being mindful of any possible traps. Humans were not supposed to hunt in the sacred forest, but Izuku knew that not everyone followed the rules; even in his realm. In fact, he was breaking one of their own rules; do not mingle with humans. But this human man seemed different; he didn’t appear to be a cold-hearted beast like humans are said to be. Izuku did wonder, however, if that human was the one who set the trap. The human was a hunter, after all. 

‘Maybe I should turn back,’ Izuku thought to himself. ‘But…if he wanted to kill or capture me, he would have done so already. Instead, he let me go.’ He continued on to the spot.

~*~

Hitoshi approaches the mouth of trees where he had first entered the sacred forest. This time he had only a hunting knife for protection. Instead of his bow, he brought his fife and a piece of dried fruit. After taking Chief Aizawa’s advice, Hitoshi went to the main hall to listen to the stories, and he was glad that he did. He was reminded that elementals like to accept gifts and offerings from humans. Deer did not eat meat, and the only thing he had to offer was the dried fruit, which he hoped the deer-man would enjoy. 

Following the tribal marks on the trees, he once again steps into the warmth of springtime. He looks all around, noting the butterflies up in the trees and kissing the flowers on the ground. There seemed to be more activity this time around. Stepping carefully, he goes to the trap to see that it hasn’t been reset. He figured that the deer-man would come back here if he wanted to be seen again. Hitoshi sees a moss-covered log and goes to sit on it, silently waiting for the deer-man to come. 

Hitoshi waited. And waited. And waited. The sun was beginning to set and he knew he had to leave to get back to the village before dark. Disappointed (but not surprised) he got up to leave when he heard something walking behind him. Hitoshi turned to see the outline of a small stag with average size antlers. Hitoshi knew those antlers- it was the deer-man! He then beckons the stag over, his heart beating rapidly as he slowly approaches. Hitoshi was able to see the full, magnificent form of the deer-man as a stag, and there was no mistaking those green eyes.

The stag turns into the deer-man as he steps out into the glen.

Hitoshi stares at him.

Izuku stares back. 

“H-Hello.” Hitoshi said, hoping the deer-man spoke his tongue.

“Hello,” 

Hitoshi sputtered a little as he was trying to find the next words to say for he was relieved that they shared language. The deer-man was still oblivious to his nakedness, while Hitoshi still had a hard time looking away from the sight. The fawn-spot freckles, the lean muscles, the warm green eyes, and friendly smile; if this deer-man asked him to fall on his knees, Hitoshi would do it without hesitation. 

“I’m…I’m…I’m…” Hitoshi couldn’t remember his name. 

“I’m Izuku,” 

“I-Izuku…” Hitoshi repeated the deer-man’s name, then said, “I’m…Hitoshi.” 

Izuku smiled. 

Hitoshi’s chest tightened. “I…I brought this for you,” he reaches into his pocket and takes out the piece of dried fruit he has wrapped in a linen cloth. He pulls the folds apart to reveal the piece to Izuku.

Izuku tilts his head slightly, looking at the item curiously. “What is it?”

“It’s…a dried piece of fruit.”

“Dried?”

“Um…it’s how we preserve food for the winter season. I promise it’s safe to eat,”

Izuku smiled and slowly plucked the piece of fruit from Hitoshi’s palm, placing it to his lips. It smelled like fruit. He put the whole piece in his mouth and it tasted delicious! It was different from regular fruit, but it had a unique flavor. 

“Thank you, Hitoshi.”

Hitoshi blushed and looked away. “Um…y-you’re welcome. How’s your…ankle?” he casts his eyes down to the deer hooves, expecting to see the bandage or a scar only to see it had healed. 

“I’m alright now,” Izuku told him. “Thank you for helping me out of that trap,”

“I didn’t set it!” Hitoshi said quickly. “I don’t know who did it. I was just out hunting for my tribe and-”

Izuku chuckled. “It’s okay, you don’t have to explain,” he said. “I know that humans have a very hard time finding food in the winter.” He sees a strange piece of carved wood at Hitoshi’s belt. “What’s that?”

“Huh? Oh. That’s my fife,”

“What does it do?”

“It plays music,” 

“Can you play it for me?” Izuku asked. “I would like to hear human music.” 

“I’m not…the best at playing, but I want to…play it for you.” 

Hitoshi blushes a bit as he takes the fife and sits back down on the log. He watched Izuku sit on the mossy ground before him, legs folded neatly underneath just as a deer would. Hitoshi brought the fife to his lips, pausing to admire the handsome, other-worldly beauty of the young male before him, giving him full attention. No one in his tribe ever paid attention to him like this. He began to play the first song that came to his head; the song his tribe plays on the first day of spring.

The music from the fife filled the glen. It had attracted other smaller animals, but Hitoshi didn’t notice. All he saw, and wanted to see, was Izuku’s smiling face while enjoying the music. Hitoshi felt like he was courting the young elemental, bringing gifts and playing music to win his favor. And when Izuku folded his arms on Hitoshi’s lap and rested his head to gaze adoringly up at him, his human heart was hooked. 

Izuku’s ears twitched merrily at the sweet, peaceful tune that Hitoshi was playing for him. This song was just for him, and it was the kindest, most thoughtful gift he had ever received. When Hitoshi stopped playing, Izuku nuzzled his lap, mindful of his antlers. 

“That was a pretty song,” Izuku told him. 

“It’s what my tribe plays during the spring,” Hitoshi said. “I…I should be getting back before it gets dark. Snow is dangerous at night, and it’s colder than during the day.” Hitoshi’s heart almost exploded when Izuku wagged his deer tail. 

“Stay here tonight!” 

“H-Here? But…but what if that stag with the flaming antlers-”

Izuku stood up and took Hitoshi’s hands, pulling him up. “That’s Bakugo, and he won’t be looking for me today. So, come with me! I want to show you a special spot.”

“Am I allowed to be there?” he asked. “I’m a human,”

“But I’m with you,” he grins at Hitoshi and says, “It’ll be faster if you ride on me,”

Hitoshi was confused for a moment until Izuku changed back into a stag, ushering for him to get on. He worried that he was too heavy but trusted Izuku to know his own strength. Hitoshi mounted Izuku and grasped the antlers when the stag took off. Izuku was a fast runner, faster than any stag Hitoshi had seen or hunted. His hood blew off and he decided to keep it off, enjoying the warm air through his hair.

They come to a small, clear water pond covered with lily pads. The setting sun reflected a soft, orange glow off the water.  Hitoshi slid off of Izuku’s back and the other turned back into his human form. Izuku told him how this was his favorite place to swim and asked if they could swim together. Hitoshi agreed but hesitated when he realized he would have to take all his clothes off. He had swum with the other men of the tribe before but he wasn’t attracted to any of them like he was with Izuku. Izuku was naked all the time without a care, which was understandable for the realm in which he lived. 

Hitoshi’s eyes were glued to Izuku’s back as the other started to descend into the pond. The fading fawn spots seemed to almost disappear with the fading sunlight. Izuku’s back had the perfect arch with the base of the deer tail starting at the tailbone. Hitoshi watched the tail fade into the water as Izuku bent forward to take a shallow dive. He moved closer to the bank of the pond, following Izuku’s form as he glided underwater. When Izuku resurfaces, Hitoshi’s face turns pink and his heart swells at the adorable sight; one antler had a lily pad impaled on it while another was stuck on Izuku’s head. Izuku laughed, twitching his deer ears and shaking his head to remove the lily pads. Hitoshi felt like he was just struck dead- and what a pleasant way to die. 

“Join me, Hitoshi! The water feels nice!” 

Izuku watched and waited for Hitoshi. He wanted to laugh at how many layers of clothing Hitoshi had to remove. Then, Izuku remembered that humans have to endure winter, whereas they do not. When Hitoshi undressed down to his last piece of clothing, the human man paused. Izuku saw the blush on Hitoshi’s cheeks and smiled. ‘How cute,’ Izuku thought. ‘He’s shy’. 

Hitoshi swallowed hard, finding the strength to remove his undershirt, the last piece of his clothing. Izuku is expecting him to be naked while swimming, but what would happen if things started to get more…interesting? His lust for Izuku is clear to him, but does Izuku realize it? He blushed harder when Izuku called him to come over again. He turned around and tried to hurry into the water to hide his nakedness only to slip and tumble forward. Hitoshi landed in the water with a large splash. 

Izuku, hiding his laughter, quickly sunk into the water up to his nose. His tail wagged with how cute and clumsy the human was around him. He wished Hitoshi didn’t jump into the water so fast because he wanted to admire his body further. Hitoshi had hard muscles from laboring as a human. Izuku didn’t doubt that Hitoshi was strong like Bakugo. He was strong, too, but not like either of them. The only thing he didn’t have was elemental power. 

Hitoshi resurfaced, sputtering out some water he had accidentally swallowed. Suddenly, Izuku was nose-to-nose with him. Hitoshi stared into those green eyes, unmoving. Izuku tilts his head and gives Hitoshi a light kiss on the corner of his lips before moving away. Hitoshi blushed, still feeling the kiss lingering on his skin as Izuku started to swim away. Izuku glided slowly through the water, glancing over his shoulder with a teasing, almost seductive side-eye. Hitoshi followed after him. 

They swam and splashed together until the sun had completely set and the moon was rising. Hitoshi paused to gaze adoringly at Izuku when the water droplets on the other’s body sparkled with the moon. He wanted to reach out and touch Izuku just to make sure he was real yet feared that if he did, Izuku might disappear. Izuku must have known what he was thinking because slim arms wrapped around his neck in an embrace. Suddenly, he was nose-to-nose with Izuku again, only this time, Izuku gave him a full kiss on the lips. It was short and soft, but Hitoshi wanted more. Izuku slipped away from him, though, and started swimming back to the bank. Hitoshi followed and watched as Izuku turned back into a stag to shake the water off. Hitoshi got out of the water and moved to gather his clothes.

‘Stay with me tonight,’ Izuku says to him. ‘Don’t go back yet.’

“I couldn’t go back tonight if I wanted to,” Hitoshi reminded him. “I would get lost in the snow.” He slips his undershirt over his head. “Where will I sleep?”

‘With me, of course!’

“W-with you? As in, together? But...where? What if that stag, what was his name? Bakugo? What if Bakugo comes looking for you?”

‘He doesn’t care where I am right now, so don’t worry about him,’ Izuku said. ‘I have many secret places. We’ll sleep in one of my special thickets. When you’re ready, get on my back and I’ll take you there.’

Hitoshi dressed and let Izuku take him through the woods and to another area. This area glowed in the moonlight with mushrooms and night flowers. Hitoshi slid off and went to examine a glowing mushroom, wondering if he should touch it. He had never seen something so bright and beautiful before- no, that was a lie- there was Izuku. Then, Izuku’s stag head bent down and ate one of the mushrooms. Izuku, however, advised him not to eat the mushrooms as they were probably dangerous for humans. Hitoshi understood, but he had to touch one of the mushrooms anyway. 

The thicket Izuku showed him was nestled under the large root of a big tree. Heavy strings of vines overflowed the top of the root, hiding the thicket behind a curtain of green. Izuku transformed back and took Hitoshi’s hand, guiding him inside. On the ground is a thick bed of moss and grass. They couldn’t stand up in the thicket so they were on their knees. Hitoshi looked up and around, noting how cozy the area was for being under a root. 

But his attention was drawn away when his eyes caught the luring sight of Izuku laying back on the bed of moss. His body was stretched out and inviting. Hitoshi was hesitant at first, but when Izuku’s hand stroked the mossy spot next to him, Hitoshi moved to lay beside him. 

“I like your hair,” Izuku says. “Don’t cover it with a hood anymore.”

“I have to in the human realm, or I would freeze,” he said. "It's winter there."

"Oh, right. I forgot," Izuku snuggled up to Hitoshi and felt the other tense up. Izuku chuckled, laying one leg over Hitoshi's and letting his hoof touch the human foot. He was mindful again of his antlers near Hitoshi's face. "Tell me about the human world."

Hitoshi couldn't believe how soft and strangely silky Izuku's skin was. The other was snuggled up so close to him, almost clinging. Izuku smelled of the earth after a fresh spring rain and Hitoshi couldn't resist burying his nose in Izuku's hair. 'So soft' he thought.

"Hitoshi, that tickles!" Izuku said. 

"Sorry," he said. "But the human world is nothing special- it's nothing like this place."

"Tell me anyway," Izuku said. "Tell me about your people, about your tribe and your customs."

Hitoshi proceeded to tell him about the tribe, as asked, and Izuku listened. Soon, Izuku's eyelids started to droop into sleep though he kept blinking to keep them open. Hitoshi let his arm slip under Izuku's waist to hold him close. His hand felt the soft fur at the tip of Izuku's tail and it wagged. Hitoshi clenched his eyes and blushed. He felt Izuku's hand rest in the center of his chest. They were laying like a pair of lovers. 

"I like you a lot, Hitoshi," 

"...I like you a lot too, Izuku,"

The thicket suddenly burst with a bright orange light and intense heat. Both Hitoshi and Izuku leaped up to see Bakugo's furious human face and flaming antlers glaring at them.

TBC

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Iron Will

Hitoshi did not have time to react when Izuku leaped in front of him and pushed Bakugo out of the thicket while telling him to run away. He quickly got up and glanced around the opening to see that both had turned into their stag forms. Bakugo stomped his hooves and thrashed his head around wildly while Izuku's tail and ears lay flat. To Hitoshi, it looked as if they were arguing but in a language and motion all their own. Hitoshi looked through his things only to remember that he did not bring a weapon. He wasn't sure how well Izuku could defend himself or if he could help Izuku. 

Hitoshi became frustrated with how helpless he felt, but he had never fought an elemental before, and Bakugo is clearly a strong one. He quickly put his clothes back on as they were thick material and could protect him from antlers, at least a little bit. Izuku told him to run away, though Hitoshi didn't want to leave him behind. However, he knew he wasn't equipped to fight an elemental, and Bakugo's flaming antlers could set him aflame, not just pierce him. It was a hard decision, but he told himself that Izuku would find him. So, regrettably and feeling ashamed, he jumped out of the thicket and ran. 

Bakugo saw the human darting into the trees and turned to follow, only to be blocked by Izuku. 'Get out of my way, Deku!' 

'No, Kacchan! I don't want you to hurt him!"

'He's a human! He doesn't belong here! I can't believe your weak, useless ass would get so close to a human! Are you fucking insane?' 

Izuku, though frightened of Bakugo's larger, more powerful stature, stood his ground. 'I take responsibility for him. He's a good human! He's not here to hurt us,'

'You were LAYING with him! A human! That is unforgivable!' He shoves his antlers at Izuku. 'Don't stand in my way!'

'No! I won't let you hurt him!' Izuku shoves his antlers towards Bakugo, who reacts by violently kicking him in the chest. Izuku backed away only to feel Bakugo's hooves kicking him again until he fell to the ground. Then, Bakugo jumped over him and ran in Hitoshi's direction. 'No! Stop, Kacchan!' Izuku chases after him, but Bakugo's speed was unlike any other. 'Please, Hitoshi! I hope you've found a hiding place!' 

~*~

Hitoshi kept checking over his shoulder for signs of Bakugo following him. Finally, as the coast was clear, he stopped a moment to catch his breath and look at his surroundings. The smartest thing to do would be to hide as if he were hunting an animal. Lay low and stay quiet. But where to hide? The area was open with no signs of thickets. He had a thought, then; stags can't climb! Hitoshi found the nearest tree with the most branches and began his climb. He had climbed trees when he was little and never lost the skill. He climbed as high as he could go, hiding in the heavy canopy of leaves. As a hunter, he was used to sitting for long periods.

'I hope you're alright, Izuku,'

Hitoshi hears the familiar sound of running hooves on the ground, and he peeks through the leaves in an attempt to see who it was; Izuku or Bakugo. The unmistakable flaming antlers told him it was Bakugo. He holds his breath as the stag passes the tree at top speed. Then, a few feet behind comes Izuku. Hitoshi calls down to Izuku, and the stag slides to a stop and looks up.

'Hitoshi! Thank goodness! Quick, get on my back!'

Hitoshi climbed down and leaped onto Izuku's back, grabbing the antlers. Izuku turned and started to run the opposite way.

'I need to get you back to your realm!' 

"I don't want to leave you," Hitoshi tells him. "Come with me!"

'No, I can't leave this place! I'm not a human!' 

"We can make it work!"

'Your humans would never accept me!' 

They ran all the way back to the entrance of the human realm in silence. Hitoshi got off Izuku, and the stag turned into his human form. Hitoshi asked Izuku to come back with him once more, but Izuku declined. Instead, Izuku was urging him to go back. Hitoshi wouldn't budge because he did not want to leave Izuku yet, so he spun around and brought the other into an embrace. He took in the fresh earthy smell of Izuku's hair with a deep breath. 

"I'm coming back for you," 

"It's not safe,"

"I don't care. Keep waiting for me," he pulls away to look into those bright green eyes. "We're going to see each other again!"

Izuku's eyes grew moist with tears. "Okay, Hitoshi," 

"Don't cry; like I said before, I'll figure something out," He gives Izuku a kiss on the cheek, making the deer-man blush prettily. "Be safe, and wait for me."

"I will, Hitoshi!" 

With one more longing glance at Izuku, Hitoshi passes through the trees, and in a moment, he's back in the human realm. The cold winter air bit at his face, and he remembered how great it felt to be in eternal springtime with Izuku. This land was so cold and unforgiving. He thought about going back to Izuku, but that wouldn't do any good with Bakugo hunting him. Hitoshi regrettably began his long, snowy walk back to the village.

~*~

Hitoshi could feel Chief Aizawa's steady gaze on him as he played with his hot meat stew, swirling the wooden spoon around in its contents. After returning, Chief Aizawa asked where he had been for so long, but Hitoshi wouldn't tell him the truth. He said he got caught while out trapping and decided to stay in place until morning before heading back. Hitoshi knew that Chief Aizawa didn't believe him, so it was only a matter of time before the truth was pulled from him. He thinks of Izuku, and the ache in his chest from being apart from him was like an illness. 

"Where were you really?" Aizawa finally asked, breaking the silence. "When you came back, you did not have the appearance of a person who huddled in the cold all night long. Did you find another tribe in your hunts?"

Hitoshi scooped up a piece of meat only to plop it back in the stew. "I met someone." 

"Hm? Someone? Who are they?"

"...would you believe me if I told you?"

"I would."

Hitoshi releases his grip on the spoon. "I found the elemental forest. I've experienced it, and I met a powerless elemental person there. He was caught in a humans' trap near the entrance of our realms. I've spent time with him, and we…share deep feelings for one another." Hitoshi had to look away in fear of seeing a look of shame or disappointment on Chief Aizawa's face. After all, he had met another male, not a woman.

"I see. You said, 'a powerless' elemental?" Hitoshi nodded at him. "Hm." 

"Do you know something about that?" 

"Not sure if it's true, but there are old, old legends of humans and elementals having babies. The problem is, they are half-bloods and are rarely welcomed in either realm. They can have the features of an elemental, but they can be as powerless as a human."

Hitoshi's tired eyes widened slightly. "Are you saying that… it's not unheard of for a human and an elemental to be together?" 

"Don't you listen to all the stories? There's at least one or two that say it, only they aren't pleasant stories,"

"I can't remember every story," 

"Now, let me ask you this, what do you plan to do with this…elemental man you found?" 

"Well, this is how it goes," Hitoshi tells him about Izuku and the challenge they face with the powerful elemental, Bakugo. "So, as you can see… he's guarded by Bakugo…who won't let him go."

"Hm." 

"...what should I do? How can I get Izuku away from Bakugo?"

"You'll lose in a one-on-one fight," Aizawa tells him. "But there is a way. It's going to be hard, maybe even impossible, but if you want to have Izuku for your own, then you'll have to trap Bakugo; Bakugo is bound by the laws of the ancient truce and must grant you a wish. You already know where I'm going with this?"

'Trap Bakugo?' Hitoshi has trapped many animals but never an elemental. "What human trap can hold a strong elemental?" 

"You're going to have to use your wit to figure it out," Aizawa tells him. "Just a trap alone will not be enough. You'll have to outsmart him as well."

Hitoshi stares down at his stew, his mind suddenly going blank with the new information he had just received. 

"But there's something else," Aizawa added. "You're the next chief of this tribe. Chances of the tribe accepting a half-blood elemental, who is also another man, will not be accepted. If Izuku were a woman, it would be a little easier." 

"Most of the tribe members don't even want me as chief anyway. What's to stop them from rising up against me after you're gone? It won't matter if I have an elemental deer-man as my mate." 

Aizawa sighs while breaking a piece of bread to hand to Hitoshi. "First, I want you to eat. Second, you'll just have to do your best to win their support and respect. If you're concerned about that, then maybe taking Izuku as a mate is a bad idea. Try to forget him if you can."

"I can't, though," Hitoshi countered. "I'm in pain just being away from him like this!" 

"Hitoshi, I want you to think about this part as well. If you bring an elemental to live in this world, they lose their immortality. And they won't be able to return home. The fact that Izuku was accepted at all is…surprising. But if you take him from that, and should things go wrong, you've ruined his life." 

Aizawa didn't flinch when Hitoshi shot up from the table and stormed to his room. Instead, he finished his dinner and put Hitoshi's back in the pot to keep it warm. Then, going over to Hitoshi's closed curtain, Aizawa waited a moment before speaking. 

"I didn't say all that to discourage you. But you are in a tough situation, and I want you to look at this from every possible angle and make the best choice. Of course, any chief would have to do the same to find the best solution for their people. Goodnight." 

Hitoshi lay on his bed, hands folded behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. All he could see was Izuku's smiling face, the fawn-like freckles, and those green eyes. Damn, those eyes! The more he thinks about Izuku, the more possessive he begins to feel and now views Bakugo as a threat to Izuku's affections. Izuku is already caught in a trap, and that trap is named 'Bakugo.' 

'So, I have to trap Bakugo by outsmarting him. When I do that, he'll have to grant me Izuku's hand. Whether or not Izuku will come with me remains in the dark. Maybe I should take this one step at a time. First, win Izuku, and then deal with the issues of the tribe.' But, what kind of trap can hold an elemental? For some reason, Chief Aizawa was making a lot of noise in the hut, and it was hard for him to concentrate. He couldn't face him right now, so he stuffed his head under the pillow. 

~*~

"You're not allowed to this herd ever again!" Bakugo shouted at Deku from inside the thicket. "I should kill you for running around with a stupid human! So there won't be a third chance, got it?" Bakugo snorts and snarls at Deku.

Izuku shies away from Bakugo but nods in compliance. What was he going to do now? What will he do if he can't leave to see Hitoshi? Would Hitoshi forget about him? Or will Hitoshi go on waiting for him? Bakugo has him trapped here, but maybe he can think of a plan to slip away without notice. It won't be right away, though, because Bakugo will stay alert and watch him closely. He will have to give it a few days or wait for an opportunity to present itself.  

"You're so worthless," Bakugo said to Deku and walked away. 

Izuku sighs and curls up in his thicket, letting his memory of Hitoshi's fife and its music lull him into sleep.

~*~

The following day, Hitoshi had overslept, but no one came to wake him up. He knew he overslept because he was too well-rested. But, when he opened his curtain, something was blocking his path; a small stack of Chief Aizawa's iron tools. Hitoshi looked curiously down at the tools, wondering why they were directly in front of his room. Was Chief Aizawa trying to tell him something? Giving him a hint? Iron is tough to come by and takes a lot of work to make. 

"Have you figured it out yet?" Chief Aizawa asks from the doorway. 

Hitoshi turns to him. "Are you telling me I should build something?" 

"You want to trap the elemental named Bakugo, right?"

"Yeah,"

"Not just any kind of trap will catch something like that and hold it,"

Hitoshi wasn't sure what Chief Aizawa was trying to tell him at first, but then it occurred to him. Iron is said to burn the flesh of elementals if it touches them. 

"Chief...I can't have these melted...they're your tools." 

"I'm giving them to you," he says. "Bring them to the blacksmith and have him craft a new trap. It might take a few days,"

Hitoshi was touched by Chief Aizawa's kind offer to help him win Izuku, even if it will cause issues here. 

"Thank you." 

He gathered up the tools and went to the village blacksmith.

A few days later, Hitoshi received word that the iron trap was completed, and he picked it up from the blacksmith. He had it strapped to a small sled along with a small sack of food and water. He also brought his bow and arrow, his fife, and a hunting knife. Hitoshi planned to be gone for a few days. Some tribesmen asked where he was going, but he wouldn't tell them. Instead, he would say he was going on a 'small adventure' and leave it at that. 

Hitoshi said goodbye to Chief Aizawa and, pulling the sled behind him, began making his way to the elemental forest. 

~*~

Izuku was sick with desperation at being separated from Hitoshi. It has been too long since he's seen the human. He missed Hitoshi dearly. The man was constantly on his mind, affecting his daily life. Sleep was difficult, and he didn't have much of an appetite. Bakugo had noticed and yelled at him on occasion to 'get over it,' but he just couldn't. He would pretend to eat, or at least eat what he could. To make matters worse, he still could not find a chance to sneak away. Izuku thought it hopeless until that chance came in the form of a unicorn. 

Shoto Todoroki had come passing by, as he sometimes did to check on the status of all the herds, flocks, packs, and clans. Izuku loved looking at Shoto in both unicorn and human form because he was so handsome. Aside from the scar on his face, Shoto Todoroki was perfect. AND- this was the PERFECT time to slip past Bakugo. 

As predicted, Bakugo focused on Shoto, doing everything to prove to the unicorn that he was the better alpha male in the forest. Izuku checked to make sure no one was watching, and he snuck off, leaving the herd. 

Grinning to himself, he transformed and ran towards their meeting place, hoping to see Hitoshi there. If he wasn't, then Izuku would wait for him. If he has to hide from Bakugo, then he'll hide from Bakugo. 

Sadly, Hitoshi was not at their spot. So, Izuku folded his legs under him and waited.

~*~

Hitoshi finally reached the elemental forest and walked through, pulling the sled behind him. Instead of meeting in their usual place, Hitoshi went a bit further. He wasn't sure how Izuku would feel about him setting a trap to catch Bakugo, even if it was to help them be together. Izuku isn't the type to want to hurt anyone. 

While traveling here, he thought of a plan to lure Bakugo into the trap. He would have to use Izuku, or himself, as bait. Bakugo is quick to anger and short-tempered, so finding a way to infuriate him will be easy. 

Hitoshi set up the trap, locking it in place, and lightly covering it with leaves and dirt. With the right amount of luck, Bakugo will come running this way and step right into the trap, which will snag a leg and render him helpless. 

"Hitoshi?" 

Hitoshi spun around to see Izuku. 

"You're here!"

He didn't want Izuku to find out about the trap, so he ran to Izuku instead and embraced him. 

"I've missed you!"

Izuku blinked the tears from his eyes. "I've missed you, too! I don't want you to leave anymore!"

"Wait, where is Bakugo? Is he following you?"

"No, I snuck away!"

Hitoshi frowns. "Then...he'll be out looking for you,"

"We can hide!" Izuku offered. 

"No. We can't keep hiding forever," he pointed out.

"But, when Bakugo comes searching for me-"

"Then let him come," Hitoshi said, taking Izuku's hand. "I'm going to fix this,"

"But...but Bakugo is so strong!"

"I'll figure out something. But, for now, I just want to hold you." He pulls Izuku back into the embrace, taking in the fresh scent of moss.

Izuku smiled and nuzzled Hitoshi's neck, glad to be back in the man's arms. Then, he let out a little squeak when something was poking against his lower belly. 

"Oh...I think you want more than just to hold me," Izuku teased. 

Hitoshi blushed darkly, and his eyes could not meet Izuku's in fear of embarrassment. Izuku would never mock him, but still...he was too old to still be a virgin. He always said he would wait until he found the right person, and that person was in his arms right now. 

Izuku pulls away from the embrace and takes both of Hitoshi's hands in his, guiding him away from the current area. 

"I know a nice little place,"

TBC

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: The Longest Winters

Hitoshi's heart was racing as he rode on Izuku's back through the forest, going further than the pond this time. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the vast meadow. Izuku said this is where he wanted to take him, and Hitoshi had never seen so many flowers. Various sizes, shapes, and colors stretched far as the eye could see. The gentle breeze passed through the flowers as if they were waving at him. Izuku said that the 'special place' is not too much further. Hitoshi was barely listening as they passed through the field of flowers, still admiring the area from the cloud-filled blue sky to the colors below. 

The flowers eventually faded as they crossed over into what Hitoshi thought were oversized grass weeds. The leaves above produce pockets of shade. For a moment, Hitoshi wondered if this is how small animals feel when hiding in tall grass from predators. Did they shrink? No. Izuku would have told him. This place was just as magical as the rest.

"Here we are," Izuku says after he transforms. "What do you think?"

"It's…bigger than your thicket,"

"Yes. This is a special one that I made when I want to relax,"

Hitoshi watches as Izuku moves the gathered foliage around as if making a nest, which he was probably doing. It brought a blush to Hitoshi's face. The 'nest' consists of moss, grass, flowers, leaves, and cotton. When Izuku settled in the nest, he beckoned Hitoshi to join him. Hitoshi's throat went dry at the sight of Izuku's bare and welcoming body. His mind went blank- unsure of what to do or how to do it. 

"You don't have to be shy," Izuku chuckles and holds out his arms. "Please, Hitoshi, come here." 

"I…I should be…bare like you first. Right?"

"If you'd like?"

Hitoshi, still embarrassed and blushing, turned around to begin undressing. He could feel Izuku's eyes on him until he was completely bare. To further his embarrassment, that part of his body was already semi-erect.

"You have a lot of muscles," Izuku tells him. "It must be hard work being a human."

Hitoshi finally turned around, looking away from Izuku but nodded. "Yes. It's…a very challenging life."

"I'm sorry your people have to struggle to live," Izuku says and, sensing Hitoshi's shyness, got up from the nest to embrace him. He pressed their naked bodies together, staring into Hitoshi's eyes before giving him a chaste kiss. "I love how you look. You don't have to be so shy; I can guide you. There's only us here," he pulls Hitoshi to the nest, bringing them both down to sit upon it. Hitoshi still wasn't looking at him. Izuku's ears drooped. "Is something wrong with me? Am I not attractive enough for you? What can I do to make it better?"

"No!" Hitoshi whipped his head around and grasped Izuku's narrow shoulders. "No, there is nothing wrong with you! You are the most perfect being I've ever seen! It's me who is-" he blushed softly. "I've just…never done anything like this before, and I don't…want to disappoint you. I'm not a man if I can't please my lover."

Izuku chuckled softly, leaning forward to nuzzle Hitoshi's neck. "I don't care about that at all. I don't want you to feel like you have to impress me," Izuku straddled Hitoshi's lap, enjoying the look of surprise on the other's face as their groins touched. "You're so warm down there," he says, wrapping his arms around Hitoshi's neck. "Your fur feels different down there, too."

Hitoshi, beet red, replied, "It's not…fur. Humans don't have any fur, only h-AIR!" 

The word came high pitched when Izuku's hand suddenly reached between his legs, without warning, to feel him.

"It's rough and curly…" he stated while looking down at Hitoshi. "But I like it," he smiled and took Hitoshi's hand. "Here, feel mine."

Hitoshi had been dreaming about this moment since he first set eyes on Izuku's deer features, that patch of pure white fur covering the others' groin. When his palm came in contact with the fur, it was better than he had imagined. It was so soft and warm he felt like he could pet it all day long and never get bored. Izuku let out a little squeak, and his deer ears twitched.

"Did I hurt you?" Hitoshi asks.

"No, not at all. It feels good," Izuku replied. "You're so gentle…is this what humans do when they mate?"

Hitoshi swallowed. "Um… I'm not really sure? I think it depends on the people."

"Well, I like this gentleness," Izuku says and kisses him. "You can touch me in other places, too."

Hitoshi did so, sliding his hand from the soft warmth to travel up smooth, unsullied skin to brush over a pink nipple. It hardened at his touch, and Izuku let out a small gasp of pleasure. Then, against his stomach, Hitoshi felt Izuku's member harden against him. The feeling made him instantly erect, which started to throb and ache. It was a different feeling when he was by himself. 

"Your smell… it's not like Bakugo's at all." Izuku said innocently.

Hitoshi felt a twitch of jealousy hearing that Bakugo was not only mean to Izuku but also mounts him. But he couldn't stand up to an elemental of pure power like Bakugo. That's what the trap is for. Suddenly, Izuku was off his lap and now has his head in his crotch, sniffing, just like an animal would do. 

"It's…musky. I don't smell any earth," Izuku thinks for a moment. "I guess that's what it means to be a human, no earthly smell."

"Should I feel bad about that?" Hitoshi wondered out loud.

"No! I like it," Izuku straddles him again. "I've been with Bakugo only, but he's like me. I've never been with a human lover before, and just like you, I'm curious."

"I don't think I can match up to someone like Bakugo for this," he says, sounding a bit defeated. 

Izuku shakes his head. "Don't think that way. I like being with you so much that I can't wait to become one with you. Bakugo always takes what he wants, but you're being kind and gentle with me, first time or not." 

"Then… let's stop talking about him and focus only on us," 

"I'll guide you for as long as you need,"

Izuku moves to guide Hitoshi onto the bed of foliage and takes the erect member into his mouth. Hitoshi lets out a stream of gasps and groans of pleasure as he gets it slick with saliva. He was so used to Bakugo mounting him that he didn't have to prepare himself. Pulling his mouth away, he savors Hitoshi's human flavor by licking his lips. Hitoshi was panting in desire, and his eyes questioned why it stopped. Izuku only smiled at him and turned over onto his hands and knees, raising his tail to present himself to his human lover. 

Hitoshi didn't need any further guidance when Izuku got into that position. Izuku is part animal, and obviously mates and mounts like regular animals do. His heart was racing, his throat was dry, and he was panting when he gripped the narrow hips. He had to admire Izuku's fading fawn spots on the shoulders and center back for a moment before he started to press inside. The heat around him threatened to bring him to climax, but he kept in control, sinking in slowly as Izuku pants softly. Izuku sped things along by pushing back and taking the rest of him deep inside. Hitoshi's eyes widened when he realized what was really happening; something that he thought was so far out of his reach that he would never experience it. 

"Please mount me," Izuku gently begs, wagging his deer tail, which tickles Hitoshi's belly. 

Hitoshi pulls out a bit and pushes back in, still in awe of what he was doing- the act that all the other young men in his tribe could never stop talking about. Izuku begged him to go faster, and he did, pulling out further each time before sinking back in. As Izuku moved his hips faster, Hitoshi matched him, rocking hard against the other. Izuku cried out each time, telling him not to stop and to keep hitting 'there.' He didn't change up his thrusting. But when his knees started to hurt against the foliage, he regrettably pulled out, much to Izuku's distress. Instead, he lays Izuku on the makeshift bed and gets on top of him. Izuku looks up at him, panting and utterly confused. 

"W-What are you doing?" Izuku asked.

"My knees were hurting; we can do it this way, too."

"Huh? This way? I've never done it on my back."

Hitoshi remembered that Izuku was practically an animal and shared many of the motions and natures of one. It was his turn to show Izuku something new. He also wants to feel the deer legs wrapped around his waist. Running his hands over the rough, dark brown fur, he lifts Izuku's legs and bends the other back just enough to push inside. He can see Izuku's expression when he enters this time; the wiggling deer ears, the pink flush under white fawn freckles, and the open lips letting out a pleasured gasp. 

"This is a way humans do it," Hitoshi tells him and starts thrusting again. 

Izuku had never felt this way with Bakugo, nor has he ever been in this position. It was new and invigorating, with Hitoshi's member sinking deep and striking that special spot. He had to wrap his arms around the broad shoulders to keep from being shoved backward. The new angle added newfound pleasure, which also lifted his hips to meet Hitoshi's. Hitoshi was moving fast yet somehow managed to remain gentle. He understood that Hitoshi had such deep feelings for him that the human wanted him to feel just as good. Bakugo would take his pleasure, doing what he wanted, when he wanted, and for how long he wanted. Izuku never wants to leave this human. With a few more thrusts, he tightens all around Hitoshi and releases between them. 

After the other had finished, Hitoshi let out a guttural moan and ejaculated into Izuku. He rode out his orgasm with short, jerky thrusts. The release was so intense, unlike any he had with his own hand. He's flushed, sweating, and panting as he smiles at Izuku, who is wearing the same expression. 

"You feel so warm," Izuku tells him, rubbing his lower belly and stretching. 

"Was I alright?" Hitoshi asks.

"You were perfect," he leans up to bring their lips together in a passionate kiss. "I want more. Mount me again, please?" 

They coupled together twice more, one with Izuku riding Hitoshi and the last one in Hitoshi's lap. Now, they lay together on the foliage bed, side-by-side, and holding hands.

"Hitoshi, I don't want you to ever leave me," Izuku says.

"And I don't want to leave you," he says. "But… I'm not welcomed in this world. I can only come and visit and hope Bakugo doesn't find a way to stop us."

Izuku rolls over to face him. "Then, maybe I can come and live with you."

"And leave this paradise? Izuku, my world is cold and dark. Here, it's always springtime. There's no need to hunt or harvest for food. Humans are cruel to each other. Not all of them, but the different tribes don't always get along."

"I don't care about all that. So long as we're together, we can keep each other safe. I could learn to live like a human."

Hitoshi kissed him. "I can't ask that of you,"

"I want to, though."

"We still have to contend with Bakugo."

Izuku lowers his ears. "That's true…he won't let me go, and you can't fight him. But I don't want to sneak around all the time, either." 

Hitoshi didn't want to let on to the trap and his plan to win Izuku. "We should be getting back."

Izuku whined and stretched, laying his naked body on Hitoshi's. "No…not yet!"

"We've been gone too long. I'm sure Bakugo will be suspicious by now."

Izuku sighed. "I know. You're right," he sits up. "I'll take you back to the entrance."

~*~

Hitoshi thought about their coupling the entire way back, picturing what his life would be like living with Izuku. He didn't want to leave without seeing Bakugo, so he stayed a little bit longer at the entrance, talking with Izuku. When Bakugo still was not coming around, Hitoshi took out his fife and started to play. Izuku began to dance to the music.

'Come out, Bakugo,' Hitoshi says to himself. 'Just come and try to take Izuku away.'

As if his thoughts were answered, a loud bellow from nearby stopped the music and dancing. Izuku gasps, saying that it's Bakugo and that Hitoshi should leave. Hitoshi drops his fife and moves to stand in front of Izuku. Izuku asked what he was doing, and Hitoshi answered to leave it to him. 

Bakugo comes rushing out of the woods, eyes blazing red and antlers bursting with orange flames. Hitoshi wasn't expecting Bakugo to come from the opposite way, so he turned and ran in the direction of the trap. He ignored Izuku's cries, looking to see Bakugo gaining quickly on him. Hitoshi ran faster and saw the trap's glimmer hidden underbrush up ahead. Holding his breath, Hitoshi leaped over the length of the trap. He slides to a stop and hears the snapping sound of the traps' release switch followed by an angry, pained bellow. 

"CAUGHT YOU!" Hitoshi grins at the sight of not one but BOTH of Bakugo's back legs caught in the trap. Bakugo kept snorting and hissing as the iron burned the flesh. The large stag kept trying to pull himself out by his front legs.

"KACCHAN!" Izuku came running, and his eyes filled with tears when he saw Bakugo in the trap. "Oh no! Kitchen!"

Bakugo transforms into a human. "GET THIS THING OFF OF ME!"

Izuku accidentally touched it, and it burned him. "Ouch!" 

"Stop!" Hitoshi says, moving to stand between the both of them.

"Damned human!" Bakugo sneers. "You set this trap!"

Hitoshi nods. "I did. But, for a good reason."

Izuku looks at Hitoshi with tears in his eyes. "Hitoshi? Why would you do this?"

Hitoshi stares down at Bakugo. "It's said that if a human catches an elemental, they must grant them a wish. ANY wish."

Bakugo's deer ears lay flat against his head as he glares and sneers at Hitoshi. The human wasn't wrong; he and the rest of the elemental race were bound by that stupid truce from ages ago. His legs were slowly burning.

"What is it that you want, human scum?" 

"I want Izuku to be free to be with me as a mate," Hitoshi tells him. "I want to be able to visit him here without any trouble."

Bakugo narrows his eyes in Izuku's direction. "Deku, do you really want to be with a human?"

Izuku fiddles his fingers. "I…I love Hitoshi, Kacchan. Yes, I want to be with him."

"You're a useless idiot, Deku! You're ruining your life more than it already is being powerless!"

"Don't talk to him like that!" Hitoshi countered.

"STOP!" A voice familiar to only Bakugo and Izuku came into the glen. 

Hitoshi's eyes widened at the sight of the unicorn. The unicorn transformed into a human with the horn, ears, hooves, and tail of a horse. His hair was half red and half white, along with his eyes, almost mismatched. One was brown and the other teal. 

"Shoto!" Izuku ran up to him and quickly explained the situation. 

"I don't want that asshole here!" Bakugo shouts at Shoto. "This is my decision!"

Shoto walks over to Bakugo. "You sense it too, but you haven't said anything."

Bakugo growled at him.

Izuku looked at them both, then went to stand next to Hitoshi. "What are you talking about?"

Shoto turns to them. "That man there is not a full human. He is half elemental."

Izuku's ears perk up, and he grins at Hitoshi, who is dumbstruck. 

"Izuku, you couldn't sense it because you don't have any powers, but Bakugo here already knew and chose not to say anything."

Bakugo crosses his arms and looks away with a huff. 

"Then…does that mean…I can be welcomed here?" Hitoshi asks Shoto.

"You were raised by humans, so no, we cannot fully accept you here. However, we must honor the truce, and Bakugo has to grant you your wish," Shoto says. "Izuku, you need to choose if you want to live as a human or remain here with us. If you choose to be with humans, you cannot return here. However, if you choose us, then your human lover can visit but not stay."

Hitoshi swallows and turns to Izuku, waiting to hear his answer. 

Izuku's bottom lip trembles, and he starts to cry. "B-But, I don't want to leave anyone! I don't want to leave you forever, Kacchan! But I want to be with Hitoshi, too!" 

Bakugo growls, grinding his teeth and squeezing the flesh of his arms. "Stop crying, Deku! You worthless piece of moldy moss! I'll make the decision, not you and not this half-and-half bastard! My answer will work on all sides, which proves I'm the superior one!"

Shoto rolls his eyes. 

"Deku, you can…stay with this human; BUT, after the end of this year,  you are to come and stay here EVERY winter, with me, and leave the human to the cold! I don't ever want to see him here again, but you're not banished from this place. Got it? And if you forget to come, I WILL come and drag you by your stupid tiny tail!"

Izuku laughs happily and throws his arms around Bakugo's neck. "Thank you, Kacchan!"

"Don't touch me! You smell like a human!" Bakugo pushes him away.

Izuku goes back to Hitoshi, embracing him. "That's okay, right, Hitoshi?"

Hitoshi nodded, knowing it was as good as it was going to get. "Yes. I accept."

"Now, get this trap off of me!"

Hitoshi releases it, and Bakugo quickly heals himself. "Asshole human!" 

"I have to say, I'm a little surprised by your choice, Bakugo," Shoto says. 

"It's none of your business anyway, bastard!"

"But will Izuku be welcomed among the humans?" Shoto wondered out loud. 

"They will," Hitoshi says. "I'm the next chief of the tribe, and Izuku will be under my protection as well as my life mate. If he could easily win my heart, then he will win the hearts of my people." He laces his fingers with Izuku's. 

"Fine. Just get out of my sight before I change my mind!" Bakugo shouts, turning his back to them. 

"Kacchan, thank you so much for this! You've made me so happy!"

Bakugo just tsked. 

Shoto leaned in to whisper to Bakugo. "What's the real reason you're letting Izuku go?"

Bakugo smirked. "As if I'd tell you. Screw off." Bakugo did have another reason, and, staying in line with the truce, he managed to make it work in both their favors. Deku is useless here in the elemental world, but he can become something among humans. Deku brings nothing to the herd anyway and only exists to annoy him. He won't let Deku go for good; Deku was his before anyone else. 

"Kacchan, I'll see you next winter, okay?" 

"Whatever. Just don't get killed and try not to freeze to death! I've got things to do, so, get out of my sight!" He transforms and takes off into the woods. 

Shoto transforms as well but walks up to Hitoshi and Izuku. 'I don't understand your choice, Izuku, but I'll accept it. And you can't go into a human winter like that,' Shoto touches Izuku's chest with the tip of his horn and copies Hitoshi's clothing. Soon, Izuku was dressed in human clothes. 

"Shoto! Thank you! You didn't have to do this!" 

'After years of Bakugo giving you a hard time, I guess you deserve something good. Farewell to you, Izuku.'

"I'll see you in the winter, Shoto. And thank you again!"

Once they were alone, Hitoshi turned to Izuku and said, "I'll miss you in the winters,"

"And I'll miss you. But we'll make it work."

"You need to put your hood up," Hitoshi attempted to do it for him but then realized that it would not go over the antlers. So, he took a knife and cut holes in the hood. Now it fits perfectly. 

Izuku laughs and says, "I guess I should try to do all I can to look more like a human, huh?"

"No, you'll stay just the way you are." Hitoshi gathers all his things on the sled. "Are you ready to see your new home?"

"Yes, I'm ready!" Izuku turns back to the forest, feeling a little weepy about leaving the only home he's ever known. But he was going to start a new adventure with Hitoshi, and maybe, just maybe, he would find a place to belong with the humans with Hitoshi. 

~*~

It was a long walk in the cold for Izuku, but he was transfixed with the snow, and Hitoshi showed him some things to do in it, like throw snowballs. He said he would show Izuku more once they get back to the village. Izuku was nervous and excited to see Hitoshi's village and learn how the humans live. Hitoshi's people were going to be his people as well. He vowed that he would do all that he could to win the people's hearts and rule by Hitoshi's side. Unlike the herd, he will no longer be the lowest one- he'll be the highest after Hitoshi. But Hitoshi would never think of him as a second. 

"This is it," Hitoshi says, pointing to the arched entrance of the village.

Izuku stared at the wall of spiked wood that surrounded the village, feeling a slight ache in his heart for the loss of trees. Yet he must remember that humans must struggle to survive, and this wall offers protection. Hitoshi brings him under the archway, and Izuku looks at all the small thickets called huts or homes. They were made of rocks, wood, straw, and mud. He stayed close to Hitoshi as he felt many eyes staring in his direction from the tribespeople. They were murmuring and whispering about him. Some looked curious, while others seemed afraid. 

"Don't worry about them," Hitoshi tells him. "They have never seen an elemental before. I'm taking you to meet our chief first, and I have something personal to ask him."

Izuku nodded, listening to Hitoshi but looking all-around at the new surroundings. Everything was so different here! He wanted to learn everything about humans! Then, when he entered the largest hut with Hitoshi, Izuku saw the chief, and Hitoshi's adoptive father, for the first time. Hitoshi spoke of him, but Izuku wasn't expecting the chief to look so exhausted with the same tired eyes as his lover. The chief had long black hair and stubble on his face. Like all the others, he wore the skins and pelts of dead animals. And, unlike the other humans, the chief wasn't surprised by him. 

"Chief Aizawa, this is Izuku, my mate and lover." He takes Izuku's hand. "He is going to live with us during the spring, summer, and fall but will return to the elemental land every winter." 

"H-Hello, Chief Aizawa," 

"...he has antlers and deer hooves," Aizawa plainly stated.

"Yes. He is a stag." Hitoshi plainly answered back. "I know he has a lot to prove as an elemental among humans, but I know he can win the hearts of our people."

Aizawa nods slightly. "I'm sure."

"There is something I need to ask you," Hitoshi took a step forward. "The other elementals told me that I am a half-blood. I am half elemental. Did you know this about me?" 

Aizawa is silent for a moment, then he gives another nod. "I did. Since you know, I might as well tell you," he leans forward in his chair. "I found you as a baby in the woods, alive and crying next to the bodies of your parents. Something had killed them. Your mother was human and your father an elemental. I knew this because he had the ears and tail of a mountain lion, or something similar to that. They were not of our tribe. They could have been killed by their own people. I couldn't leave you to die in the woods, so I took you back and gave you to a family to raise. But then they didn't want you anymore, so I took you in. I wanted our people to respect you for who you are and not what you are," his eyes went to Izuku. "But seeing as you have chosen an elemental for your life mate, there is no reason to hide it from the tribe."

Izuku squeezes Hitoshi's hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, but it's just a lot to take in right now."

"Get some rest with your life mate," Aizawa says. "It was a long walk back here, I'm sure. I will speak to the village for you."

Hitoshi thanked him and guided Izuku to his room. Izuku sits on the bed, bouncing a little on it. The bed was very different from moss, and Izuku realized how much he missed moss. His ears drooped.

"What's wrong?"

"Your nest is soft, but it's not mossy. I miss the moss."

"When it is spring, we'll gather all the moss you want, and we'll make a new bed. If you are conforming to human life, then I will adapt to the ways that make you most comfortable."

Izuku smiles at him. "I love you so much, Hitoshi! But, I don't love these clothes. I'd rather be without them." Izuku undresses to be naked and lets out a sigh of relief. "That's better. I'm not very comfortable wearing clothes…made from dead animals," his ears dropped again.

Hitoshi nods and says, "I will have all your clothes made of wool and linens. Those do not take life away from anything."

"Thank you, Hitoshi. I won't discourage anyone else if they wish to continue doing what they have always done." He smiles. 

"That is just another reason our people will love you,"

Izuku pats the spot beside him, and Hitoshi takes a seat, then Izuku nuzzles him. 

"Hitoshi, I am honored to be your life mate, and I promise to always be faithful, loyal, and true."

Hitoshi kissed the top of Izuku's head. "And I vow the same." 

"I can't wait to share so many of life's adventures with you. I want to be by your side for every one of them!" he hugs Hitoshi's arm.

Hitoshi smiles and says, "I wouldn't have it any other way." He goes to lean his head on Izuku's, but the small prong poked his temple. "Ouch." 

"I'm sorry! I'll find something soft to put on them!"

"No, it's fine. If you accidentally poke an eye out, I have a spare." he smiled at Izuku's laughter. 

"I guess love can hurt," Izuku says and lays back on the bed. "Come lay with me,"

Hitoshi lays down beside him, holding hands between them. Hitoshi considered himself the luckiest person in the world. He has the privilege of falling asleep with those most beautiful being and waking up to those big, bright, moss green eyes and starry smiles. 

~*~The Next Winter~*~

Throughout the year, Izuku had won the hearts of all the tribe members, which also elevated Hitoshi's standing in their eyes. Izuku had discovered that he DID have powers, but they only work in the human world. He made the fruit trees grow an abundance of fruit that filled the peoples' baskets. The crops always grew strong and healthy. The goats and sheep always produced milk and wool. Izuku's elemental powers had their village prospering. When it came time for winter, the village was stocked to the brim with food. 

But today was the first day of winter, and Izuku had to leave for the season. The villagers were sad to see him go, but Izuku assured them that he would return on the first day of spring. So he and Hitoshi walked hand-in-hand to the elemental forest, silently enjoying each other's company. 

They stopped when they saw Bakugo standing at the entrance. He was in stag form, antlers blazing with orange flames.

Izuku turns to Hitoshi and kisses him. "I'll miss you,"

"I'll miss you too. This is going to be the longest winter…."

"Stay true to me?"

"I would never stray from you,"

Izuku transforms and nuzzles Hitoshi, who hugs his head. He watches as Izuku walks towards Bakugo, looking back at him with every other step. Hitoshi waves to Izuku, his heart tight in his chest as Bakugo herds his life mate away and into the woods. It was the longest, coldest, and most lonely walk back to the village. 

~*~

Spring has come. 

Hitoshi woke up at dawn to make his way to the elemental forest, eager to be reunited with Izuku. Aizawa had stepped down as chief and passed the title over to him. It was thanks to Izuku that Hitoshi was able to easily make the transfer of power and win the respect of the tribe. He couldn't wait to tell Izuku and show him the necklace. 

When Hitoshi made it there, Izuku was already waiting for him in human form. Izuku was sitting on the grass and weaving a second flower crown, humming softly. Hitoshi approaches him and sees Izuku's deer ears twitch. Izuku turns to him with a bright smile, and his deer tail wags. Hitoshi wants to rush towards his life mate and embrace him. But instead, Izuku gets up with the flower crown and places it on Hitoshi's head. 

"Let's go home."

"Home for me is wherever you are."

The End