Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LXXXIX

"I hate him."

"You've known him for five minutes."

"I still hate him."

"You're being ridiculous."

"I'm ridiculous?! He walks around shirtless?!"

"You get used to it!"

"Oh, I'm sure you've gotten more than used to it!"

"Boys!"

Fuyumi's loud voice interrupted their arguing, both boys snapping their necks towards her at a pace that made even Shoto wince, a streak of pain winding up to his nape.

"So you're okay with this?" Natsuo asked her. "That man is a terrible match for Shoto!"

"Shoto is right, Natsu. You've only just met him. Besides," she continued with a shrug, "I found Bakugou to be rather pleasant."

"Pleasant! He eats like an animal!" Natsuo exclaimed, cheeks red with frustration.

"That's how they all eat!" Shoto retorted. "Besides, he still used manners! He said thank you to our cooks! More than you sometimes do when you're head is taken over by your stomach!"

Natsuo waved a dismissive hand in his direction, making the indignation in his chest grow further. 

"Don't wave your hand at me like that! I am not a child! You do not get to dictate my life like Enji did!" His breaths were shaky, hands balled into fists at his side. "I don't care whether you like him or not, it is my choice! All I wanted was to introduce you to my friends, and someone who means a lot to me, but it seems you're just like the old man! You haven't even given him a chance, who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Shoto." Fuyumi whispered, eyes turning glassy. Natsuo gulped, seeming to realise that his desire to protect his youngest sibling had turned him into someone hateful, someone like their father. 

"I'm going to bed. We will all be eating together at breakfast, if you can bear to stand it." Shoto glared at his brother before bidding goodnight to Fuyumi, not bothering to stop the library door from slamming behind him. He could hear more shouts behind him, though only the voice of his sister, and he sighed deeply as he returned to his own quarters to help Katsuki finish unpacking his things. 

"My brother is an absolute arse." He declared when Katsuki was finally in sight, putting his empty bags in the chest at the end of Shoto's bed. 

"They hate me, right? Figured, with the arranged marriage 'n all."

Shoto grabbed Katsuki's hand and sat them both on the edge of his bed. He mindlessly traced the scars and callouses that scattered the man's tanned skin, gathering his thoughts before speaking.

"Fuyumi likes you, and I'm so glad that she does."

"I even held the door open for her as we went to eat dinner. Thought you posh people would appreciate it." Katsuki teased with a grin.

"Such a gentlemen." Shoto replied, before his smile slipped a little. "Natsuo on the other hand..."

"I bet he's jealous I have more muscle than him."

"I doubt it. He's training to be a doctor so he's probably plotting what muscles to press to paralyse you if he thinks you're being too forward with me."

"You can handle yourself though. And you know I'd never do something ya didn't want, right?" Katsuki asked, a small frown on his face at the thought of hurting Shoto. It made him feel warm, how considerate the man was, respectful too. Why couldn't his brother look past the exterior? Katsuki was King of the Tribe lands, not a noble of Endeavour, of course he would look and act different.