𝓢𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 (𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓴𝓾/𝓑𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓸)

Chapter 9

Sorry this is so late! Note; this chapter is pretty unedited, so sorry if there are any weird mistakes.

Swear warning (Bakugo)

Toya winced as Katsuki shrieked right in his ear.

"What the hell are you talking about, scarface?!"

"Well, if you'd let me explain, I'd continue." He glared at the blond until he quieted down, then returned his attention to a shell-shocked Shoto.

(And wasn't it something, seeing his younger brother following in his rebellious footsteps? It made his heart swell in a way he wasn't used to; even if the massive scar on the left side of his face was new and immensely concerning.)

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted—" Behind him, Katsuki scoffed, and he gave the barbarian prince the finger without turning around, "If you'd like to, you can come with us. We'd teach you how to survive in the wild and we can help you protect the dragons. Besides, Katsuki would benefit from having someone his age around who won't follow him like a lost puppy."

"OI!"

He ignored Katsuki and gently placed one hand on Shoto's shoulder.

"It's your choice—and Katsuki's, I guess—but it's an option."

Shoto was silent, his gaze flicking between him, Katsuki, and the dragons. Denki, Eijiro, Kyoka, Mina, and Hanta were already asleep, all in a dog pile; while the dragons accompanying Shoto seemed to be waiting for him.

Aww.

"You'd help the dragons, too?" His voice was soft, and his eyes sparked with something Toya couldn't identify. He nodded firmly.

"Of course."

"Hey!" Katsuki stomped over and glared at them both. "This is my group, assholes! Give me one good reason why we should take you on; 'cause if you're dead weight, you're not coming."

He bit his lip. He knew that Shoto wasn't experienced in the wild, and if he really had a reward on his head, it would make excursions into civilization difficult. It would definitely make things more complicated.

But Shoto surprised him. His younger brother met Katsuki's eyes head-on, his chin lifting.

"I'm powerful, and I know how to fight." Then he held out both hands and let ice cover his right hand while fire sprouted from his left. "I don't like to use my fire, but I can do a lot with my ice."

Katsuki's eyes widened slightly, then he settled back into his normal scowl.

"What do you mean by 'fight'?"

"I can use a sword, as well as a bow—to some extent—and quarterstaff. I can also use my magic in combat; it's my specialty, actually."

Katsuki looked Shoto over more carefully, eyes calculating. Toya held his breath slightly.

This is it.

The clearing was silent save for the crackling of the fire and the rustling of the trees. Even the wildlife seemed to be waiting for Katsuki's verdict; not a single call echoed through the trees.

(Not that Toya would ever verbalize that. Katsuki's ego was big enough already.)

Finally, Katsuki nodded once.

"Fine. We'll see how this goes."

Toya let out a huge breath as the tension in his shoulders dissolved. Shoto looked relieved as well, but he composed himself quickly and stood up to bow to Katsuki.