Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LXX

The sun was just beginning its descent into the horizon when Shoto arrived at Katsuki's study. He had just begun the walk to the king's quarters when he met Mina, and once he told her about the new residents of the castle she demanded to see them and dragged him along with her. A long conversation about what to name the kittens ensued, and even Shoto found himself invested in the growing list of potential names. After many arguments and a vote it was decided that the mother cat was to be named Freya, and her children Eira, Ysla and Bao. The last one was heavily advocated by Denki, saying that the light grey kitten had chubby cheeks just like a bao bun, and since he had been the one to discover the little family first, he had the most power over choosing the names. 

Once this was over and the kittens were huddled by their mother sleeping in front of the fire, Shoto made his second and more successful attempt to go to Katsuki's study. An orange hue was beginning to paint over the horizon line, casting the hallways in a golden glow as he walked. The castle was quiet besides the usual sounds of cleaning and cooking, so he felt rather relaxed and content by the time he knocked on the door of the study. He opened it and looked inside, seeing Katsuki in one of the armchairs, book in hand. Red eyes looked up to see who had disturbed his reading, and Katsuki quickly shut his book, placing it on the side table out of Shoto's view. 

"There is nothing wrong with enjoying a romance novel, I don't know why you insist on hiding them." Shoto gestured to the rest of the small collection on one of the bookshelves, Katsuki sighing before standing up and placing the book on the shelf. It was rather pretty, with a golden foil rose vine climbing up the side, the leather a deep and rich brown. 

"What're you doing here, princess?"

"Can I not visit you when I wish?" Shoto replied, coming to join Katsuki by the window, seeing the beginning of new flowers blooming on the grounds below.

"I can hear Denki yelling from the other side of the castle. Are ya here to warn me before disaster?" Katsuki raised a brow, a small grin on his face. 

"It's good news, actually. Denki found a family of kittens behind the stables, and now they're going to live in the castle."

"Says who?" 

"Says everyone. I did come here to ask you if they could stay, and to help take care of them when I leave to go back to Endeavour. But it seems everyone is rather taken by them, so I doubt you'll be able to get rid of them."

"More mouths to feed." Katsuki groaned.

"Wasn't it you who was saying just the other day that the Tribe lands have bountiful crops in spring and summer. Besides, they're only small and won't take up much space."

"At least tell me their names if they're gonna get their shitty hair everywhere."

"The mother cat is Freya, and her kittens are Eira, Ysla and Bao."

"Bao?"

"Denki." Shoto explained, and Katsuki nodded knowingly. 

"They're not shitty names, I guess."

"I'm glad you think so."

They held a small conversation for some time, talking about the things Shoto still had to do before his trip. Once there was more light coming from the fire than the sun outside they walked down to the great hall together for their evening meal. Knowing it was Shoto's last few days in the Tribe lands for the foreseeable future, and their new friends would be leaving soon after, they all made an effort to eat together and enjoy their newfound company. 

The hall was lively by the time they arrived, and Shoto took a seat by Midoriya, next to Katsuki's at the end of the table. He ladled himself a large serving of stew and accepted a hot, buttered roll from Midoriya. The man himself had been busy since the end of the war, travelling throughout the tribes and checking on families and warriors who had returned to their homes. He was gone for many hours of the day, so Shoto valued the meals they were able to eat together, the discussions they shared. With Midoriya, Shoto felt that he was free to express his ideas and opinions without judgement, and hoped he would be able to do so more now that he was soon to be king.