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Chapter - 08

The journey back to the Aizawa human's dwelling went by quite a bit faster than Izuku had thought it would. It also brought to light just how much more different this human was to others he had encountered before. Beyond using a part of his outer fur to swing around, this human moved more like a fellow feline than the rest of his kind.

Izuku found he didn't even need to have bothered saving him when they first met. He's able to traverse across the tops of buildings with ease. He would feel a degree of regret for interfering with it earlier but then none of tonight's events would have transpired.

So it was with speed and Izuku feeling slightly impressed that they landed on an outcropping of a building. When the Aizawa human pushed aside a glass pane that functioned like a door Izuku figured this must be that balcony he talked about earlier.

Izuku jumped swiftly out from the remarkably warm confines of the outer fur the human had used to swing around with. He might have agreed to have come with him but that doesn't mean he's going to let the human just carry him in like he owns Izuku. Even with the begrudgingly small amount of trust he's gained with Izuku, it doesn't erase a lifetime of earned caution and paranoia.

The Aizawa human seemed to understand choosing to leave the entry open, then opening a smaller one before walking further into the dwelling. Aside from not wanting to push the boundaries of the arrangement he's established with the Aizawa human, Izuku was also wary of his mate. He received a brief description about him on their way here and he was certain that having a mate made humans sick to some degree.

Izuku had cataloged the symptoms of this disease. The Aizawa human's heart rate went up noisily, he gave off some sickly sweet scent while simultaneously secreting a miniscule amount of some sort of other foul liquid from under his arms. There was constriction in his eyes that was no doubt the reason for a decrease in situational awareness. They had narrowly missed the side of a building!

Worst of all the symptoms in Izuku's opinion was the non stop baring of the Aizawa's teeth. Sure he's aware it's referred to as a smile but when it's constant there's no chance to figure out the meaning. It's only humans who have this behavior, for anyone else teeth baring is seen as a warning or an invitation to a fight.

Nevertheless Izuku slowly made his way inside and was on the lookout for this other human that even the Nezu creature held in high regard. He kept his eyes out for his yellow natural fur on his head and face. He was also prepared to, as Aizawa had said, "be bombarded by an obnoxious amount of color".

It's a known tactic of birds to have a garish amount of colors to attract a mate, but it was new information to Izuku that even humans used this. Perhaps as a means to persuade the other given that the connection causes illness?

"Zashi?" Aizawa called out to the darkened dwelling. Izuku could see fine but was under the impression that humans were lacking in the basics to survive the night. So to see this one's dwelling was darkened struck him as odd.

It didn't stay like that for long as the whole area was suddenly filled with light making Izuku flinch slightly at the abrupt change. It's been a few years since he's lived inside, he'd actually forgotten about these things humans had imaginatively called "lights".

"Sho?" came another voice from further within the dwelling. "Is that you already? That was quick, I thought I would have had time to bathe. . ." To Izuku's horror the voice sounded disappointed at the prospect of not having a chance to bathe. Did the humans change the meaning of that word? Who sees joy in the act of being submerged in water?! Humans are crazy creatures, Izuku knew this, but it was just confirmed.

Then this Zashi human came into view and the image Aizawa had constructed and reality seemed to be two different things. Sure the natural yellow fur was there but the way he had described his mate didn't line up with what he saw now.

He wasn't small and in need of protection. If Izuku had to compare, he seemed to have even more structure to his flesh than Aizawa had. There were no garish colors on his outer fur, in fact he barely had any. Just a small amount around his waist and it was white. Perhaps the sickness affects the human memory too? Izuku couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be so enticing about having a mate that they would risk all these things.

Aizawa's voice brought him out of his thoughts and increased concern for the man. "We were at U.A talking to Nezu-sensei. So we were closer to home than I would be otherwise."

The Zashi human closed the distance between him and Aizawa and proceeded to assault his face with his own face? No? Not assault? They both looked pleased after the brief intrusion to their personal space. Humans are quite odd. . . "We?" He asked Aizawa, looking around excitedly.

"Yeah and I need you to not use your quirk please, it took a lot to get him to agree to come with me." Aizawa said, taking Zashi's hand and started walking over to Izuku who thought back to what he could remember what Aizawa had said about his mate's quirk. Ah yes, that's right all he said was that "Zashi is loud".

Izuku couldn't help but be slightly nervous as Zashi's eyes grew wide and he too bared a toothy smile while approaching Izuku. "A kitty. Sho, this is what you were so concerned about? Obviously I wouldn't scare a kitten. Is he one of the alley brood's?" He asked sitting on his heels stretching out a hand for Izuku to sniff. An age old tactic humans would use to trick other cats into trusting them. Izuku knew better.

Unfortunately that meant his instincts took over and he swatted away the hand with his claw. The resulting scratch caused a chain reaction of events. Izuku hissed, the hand was withdrawn as Zashi yelled out loud "OW SHI-" then the sound disappeared abruptly as Aizawa's his natural black fur was floating.

Izuku in all honesty was panicking more than he ever has before. He just hurt Aizawa's mate and he wasn't able to fully see the expression he was making. Was he angry? What was up with his natural fur floating like that other part of his outer fur? Was it related to his quirk? Speaking of quirks, this is what he had meant when he told Izuku "Zashi is loud" isn't it?

It was all over as soon as it had happened though, Aizawa's fur relaxed and while the Zashi human was holding the small wound defensively there wasn't an inch of malice on his face. The words out of his mouth came as an even bigger shock to Izuku though. "Shit, sorry kitten. Lost control there, are your ears okay? Right, like you can answer me. Sho do you think I hurt him? Why are you laughing at me?"

"What do you say Izuku, did Zashi here hurt you by being so loud?" Aizawa asked with a pointed look on his face as he directed his question directly at Izuku

His mate was obviously confused as to why he was talking directly to the cat "Sho? What do you mean? Is that the kitten's name? Stop being silly, do we need to call a vet?"

Izuku was slightly still stunned at the lack of anger either of the humans had at his actions so his brain took a couple of seconds to register being addressed. This was also a perfect opportunity to test out if clawing a human gives them the ability to understand his words. Izuku rearranged his face to hide the fear he felt a moment ago and gave his best version of a feline smirk at Aizawa.

"Well, it certainly wasn't a fun experience but no, he didn't hurt me. I'm not some housecat. I'm more shocked you aren't mad I clawed him though." Izuku told him

Aizawa laughed. "That's his own fault, cats like their personal space. A concept Zashi has trouble with."

Zashi stood there looking pale watching the interaction between the two and finally forced out some words. "Sho, that cat is talking right? I'm not going insane? You can hear him too right?"

Izuku just laughed and Aizawa slowly nodded at his fiancé.