Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LXXI

After the sky had deepened to a pitch black, the sun having finally lay down to rest, Shoto returned with Katsuki to the man's quarters, where they drank a rich and warming Lapsang tea before settling down for bed. The day had been full of pleasant surprises leaving him satisfied yet tired, and so he slept with Katsuki that night. It hadn't been too long since he last rested side by side with Katsuki, yet the deep, slightly sweet warmth that encompassed him whenever he did so was something he would surely miss when he had returned to Endeavour.

The night passed without a disturbance, their minds being kind to them by offering only sweet slumber without any bone-shaking nightmares. Shoto was the first to wake, the sun's early morning rays gentle brushing over his eyelids, and when he opened his eyes, instead of the usual view of the village beyond, Shoto was met with a pair of piercing green eyes looking right at him. It was Freya, and she seemed rather happy that Shoto was awake, mewing until he dragged his sleep-heavy limbs from bed and opened the balcony doors where she sat staring at him expectantly.

It seemed he had done the right thing, because soon enough a whole patter of paws along the stone floor, only silencing when padding across the various lush rugs, began to echo around the room, the mother cat and her kittens all rambling out onto the balcony beyond, diving and rolling over each other whilst Freya sat to the side enjoying looking down at the early risers below.

The pitter patter of tiny paws thankfully didn't wake Katsuki, so Shoto walked across the room to shut the door, not bothering to question how the cats had managed to push open the heavy wooden door, and instead made sure there was a gentle fire before brewing some tea in the pot. He returned to his own room to quickly wash and dress in fresh clothes before returning just in time to take the bubbling pot from the fire.

The first time Katsuki saw Shoto hold the scalding pot with his bare hands he had almost exploded, Shoto could even see tiny sparks emitting from his palms. But when Shoto explained extreme temperatures didn't bother his hands, he could manipulate his body temperature accordingly, Katsuki only grumbled but told him to use the small cloth from now on. It was rather endearing, how easily Katsuki grew concerned about him, and on that occasion Shoto let himself be selfish and enjoy the attention rather than feel like a burden.

Now their tea was ready Shoto stood by Katsuki's side of the bed before gently shaking his shoulder, asking him to wake up. It seemed the man was in a deep sleep, for he only groaned and turned over giving his back to Shoto. He huffed before shaking him again, but when he had no luck he let out a small grin before he leaned down to Katsuki's ear and yelled.

"Wake up!"

"Holy mother of the fuckin' gods!" Katsuki screamed, sitting upright in bed so fast Shoto too could feel the blood rushing to his head. "What the fuckin' fuck?!" Katsuki looked at him with wide eyes, his shoulders quickly falling up and down as he regained his breath. "Shoto, what the fuck?!"

"Good morning." Shoto greeted, a slight teasing to his tone. "You weren't waking up so I had to resort to such measures." He nodded and turned around to pour the tea, when a calloused hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, his knees hitting the back of the bed and body falling atop Katsuki's. He heard the man laugh and in the next moment he was pulled onto the other side of the bed, Katsuki hovering over him with a grin.

"Morning, princess." he greeted back, and it seemed he wanted to say something else but before he could a loud meow interrupted him. His brow furrowed and he looked over to see the new residents of his castle watching the pair of them with wide, empty eyes. Shoto watched him look between the cats and himself before Katsuki huffed and sat up.

"How did the little fuckers get in here?" he asked, the smallest kitten letting out a quiet hiss, Katsuki returning it with one of his own. It made Shoto smile, seeing Katsuki act so silly with the little kittens. They were rather similar, with their wild hair and lack of manners, and he knew Katsuki would react rather loudly if he ever shared his comparisons with him.