What you don't know can't eat you [KiriDeku Fantasy AU]

Sorry I've been absent for a couple of weeks, things at home were crazy!

This fic is a commission for Mel, thank you so much for your support!

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Eijirou was already sitting outside when Izuku opened the front door, sitting on the grass that glistened with morning dew and leaning back against his hands to watch the sun rise over the forest. Izuku had always considered himself an early bird, not many people he knew saw the sun come up each day, but Eijirou always seemed to have him beat – Izuku wasn’t sure how he did it!

“Good morning!” he said brightly, when Eijirou looked back at him. “Did you sleep well?”

“Morning Izuku!” Eijirou grinned back. “I did! How about you?”

“Yeah! I had this really cool dream that I was flying over the forest, looking down at all the pretty birds and flowers rushing by below me. It was so cool, I wish I could fly for real.”

“Yeah, that would be neat,” Eijirou chuckled, his smile twitching a little. “Would certainly cut some time off our trips. I’ve mapped out a path that should get us to the best herb glade by noon, so we should have plenty of time to find what you’re looking for and get home by dark!”

“You’re amazing! I've packed us a lunch so we can have a picnic in the forest, I bet you can find us a great spot to sit.”

“That sounds great!”

Izuku shouldered his bag, heavy with fruit and sandwiches, and offered Eijirou a hand. Eijirou smiled brightly as he accepted, letting Izuku help him up, and for a moment their fingers lingered together, sharing their warmth.

“I’m glad you decided to let me come along,” Eijirou said, leading the way toward the forest. “I was worried about you when you said you were gonna go alone, you could get hurt and no one would be there to help.”

“Don’t be silly! There’s nothing in the forest that can hurt me, it’s all just pretty birds and colourful flowers and cute little squirrels! I can take care of myself!”

Eijirou’s smile wobbled, but he managed to keep his composure, clapping Izuku on the shoulder fondly.

“Sure bud, but what if you trip over a tree root and break your ankle? Or hit your head on a low branch because you’re looking for the right flowers? Accidents happen!”

“Oh! You’re right! Thank you for looking out for me, you’re so smart!”

“Any time,” Eijirou laughed sheepishly, a little embarrassed by Izuku's gushing praise. “Just give me a yell whenever you want to go gathering, I’m always happy to come with you and make sure you’re safe!”

He clapped Izuku on the back fondly, and Izuku leaned into him, bumping their sides together in return. Izuku was the only one of Eijirou’s friends who accepted his touch so easily, who was so willing and ready to be affectionate with his friends like Eijirou was. Something about it felt strangely addictive, like he just couldn’t resist doing it over and over, knowing it would be accepted and returned every time.

“Besides,” Eijirou added with a grin. “I would never have even gotten into the guild if not for your medical knowledge! I can’t count how many times you patched me up after I took a beating in training!”

“You know I was happy to do it! I’m so proud you got in!”

Together they began the peaceful walk into the forest, through bright flowers and singing birds – it was no wonder Izuku never believed he could be in danger, with how welcoming the area nearest his home was. Eijirou secretly thought it was a nice area because of Izuku and his mother living there – they attracted the sweet, pretty wildlife with their brightness and energy. The deeper, darker parts, where far more dangerous creatures lived, may as well have been a foreign land in comparison.

Still, Izuku didn’t seem concerned. He made easy conversation as they walked, and whenever there was a lull, he whistled happy tunes to himself. Eijirou kept a careful eye on their surroundings in his stead, making sure neither of them tripped over a fallen branch, or stood on a cranky bit of wildlife that wouldn’t understand their apologies. That was his job, after all – to protect people. And when that person was someone so close, so special to him, it was all the more important.

“So what are you making this time, anyway?” Eijirou prompted, when Izuku’s whistles paused. “You grow all your own herbs now, right? What’s the special occasion that has us out searching for wild ones again?”

“I heard there are some amazing wildflowers deep in the forest that have super accelerated healing processes! There’s been a flu going around the village, so I’d love to make some teas from them and see if they work quicker than my usual brews! Plus, my garden can only provide me with so much, you know? When an illness is going around, or there’s been an accident, my stores get depleted super quick! I need to fill my collection up again! And who knows, maybe I can even re-plant some of the special ones if we find them, grow a whole field of them!”

Eijirou couldn’t help but smile at the enthusiasm, Izuku was always so passionate about his work and Eijirou found it ridiculously endearing. The way his eyes lit up and his cheeks flushed, his posture changing and making his whole body rise like he might just float right up off the ground. Eijirou wouldn’t have been surprised, in all honesty – Izuku could just float off into the clouds one day and he’d just think yeah, seems right.

As they crested the hill at the edge of the village, Eijirou stood a little taller, eyes darting from side to side as they continued on their path. Beyond the rise, the creatures of the forest grew more bold, more possessive of their land. One wrong step could see any number of animals lunging at them, claws and teeth bared, but Izuku still seemed blissfully unaware – humming to himself as he admired the pretty flowers. Eijirou had no idea how the man remained so worry-free all the time, but he kind of loved it.

In a manly, friendly way, of course! Not like romantic love, that would just be-

Izuku flashed him a smile over his shoulder, and Eijirou’s heart skipped a beat.

He really needed to stop lying to himself.

In truth, he’d been in love with Izuku for as long as he could remember. In love with his bright, sunny smile, and his laugh that made Eijirou’s heart sing. In love with the freckles that dotted his cheeks like constellations in the night sky, and the nest of green curls that reminded him of the leaves in the trees that shaded their little village. And most of all, in love with the way Izuku so selflessly helped every single person that crossed his path. He’d never met someone more kind, more generous, more loving than Izuku, and he couldn’t get enough of it.

Eijirou froze when he heard a rustling in the bushes behind them, one hand slowly rising to his shoulder, fingers curling around the hilt of his sword. Izuku continued on, blissfully unaware, but Eijirou didn’t call him back, didn’t tell him to stop. He just paused in his path, waiting, until the noises got a little closer, a little louder, and then-

With a loud hiss, a massive snake lunged at them, fangs out and ready to bite. Eijirou whirled around as he drew his sword, stopping it in its tracks, and with a few short strikes the creature fell to the ground, still. He thrust his blade through it one more time, just to be sure, and flung the carcass back into the bushes without even getting his hands dirty.

Some days he felt bad, having to hurt the creatures in self-defence, but he’d learned early in life that it wasn’t always a bad thing – the ones that attacked were generally the predators, the ones that harmed much more innocent creatures without giving anything back to the forest. At least if he got rid of a few, they’d provide food for some of the other wildlife and put nutrients in the soil, would help to give back to the earth.

Not to mention it kept Izuku safe, which was a pretty big bonus.

Speaking of Izuku, Eijirou quickly hurried after him, catching up before Izuku even noticed he was gone. The old notebook had come out, was resting on Izuku’s arm as he scribbled something down with the stub of a pencil. Eijirou made a mental note to buy him some new ones for his next birthday, Izuku went through so many of them with his notes and diagrams. Maybe a nice notebook or two as well, since Izuku’s cheap ones got so beaten up. Izuku wasn’t one to splurge on nice supplies, was happy to make do with the most readily available options instead of dealing with prices or trades or haggling, but Eijirou was more than willing to go through the hassle to get him a nice gift occasionally.

“Did you hear something?” Izuku asked, when Eijirou caught up. “Like a sssss or a shhhhh noise?”

“Nope,” Eijirou grinned, clapping him on the back. “Let’s keep going, I think there’s a clearing up ahead when you might find some flowers!”

“Already? Wow!”

“Not the fancy flowers, but some other ones you might find useful!”

“Great! I’m so excited!”

Eijirou felt like he really should be doing more, while they had so much time alone together. In the village there were always other people around, nosy old women with too much time on their hands, or the rest of their friends, who always seemed to show up at the perfect moment to interrupt something important. All he needed was one day alone with Izuku, to see if maybe they could have something between them, if maybe Izuku would consider...

Eijirou ducked his head. He was so selfish, he really needed to work on that. Izuku loved spending time with all their friends, and he was always happy to chat with the old ladies about their lives and their families. Eijirou was just being selfish, wanting him all to himself, when he should be sharing with the world.

Sometimes he just wished, that was all.

“Oh!”

Izuku hurried over to a little patch of flowers, kneeling down and pulling a tiny pot from his bag to re-home it. Right as he leaned in to pick it up, a massive hawk swooped overhead, screeching as it launched at Izuku’s hunched form. Eijirou moved quicker than he thought he ever had before, snatching it out of the air with his bare hands and slinging it back into the forest with only a last confused rawrk in its wake.

“What was that?” Izuku asked, eyes wide as he looked up. “Did you hear that?”

“Oh, uh, just some hawks nearby I guess.”

“Hawks is nearby?! He’s my favourite knight! I mean, other than All Might but he's retired so-Did you see him? Do you know where he is?! I want his autograph!”

“I... think he was just passing by, he’ll be long gone by now.”

“Oh,” Izuku pouted. “Next time, then.”

“Yeah,” Eijirou smiled awkwardly. “Definitely.”

He leaned back down to finish carefully digging up his flower, and Eijirou moved a little closer, bending down to hold the empty bag open for him. He’d gotten used to the way Izuku worked, had made plenty of trips with him to help as he set up his little garden at home, carrying an increasingly heavy bag of plants while Izuku carried his tools. The pair had become a well-oiled machine, they were practically made for each other.

Eijirou shook his head quickly, trying his best to clear the thought from his mind. He really needed to be better about quashing those ones.

“Thank you, flowers!” Izuku beamed, so pure and perfect with his chubby cheeks and bright eyes. “I’ll take good care of your friends, I promise!”

“Very honourable,” Eijirou teased. “I’m surprised you’re not the knight here, making vows like that.”

“I wouldn’t want them to worry!” Izuku laughed, taking a flask of water from his bag and sprinkling a little on the soil around the colourful flowers. “Drink up, grow big and strong!”

God, Eijirou was so gone for him.

As they continued their excursion, it took everything in Eijirou’s power to not reach out and take Izuku’s hand. He knew he shouldn’t, even if he could have, if for no other reason than having a hand free for his sword. With the bag of plants back in his grip like always, and Izuku carrying their lunch and his little pots and trowel, they only had one free hand each – Izuku’s, to hopefully keep him from tripping over his own feet and falling into a river, and Eijirou’s, to make sure he could grab his sword in a hurry, to keep them both safe.

Snakes and hawks were already bad enough, he could handle those without too much effort or suspicion. As they got deeper into the forest, though, the dangers would increase drastically. He’d soon be on the lookout for much bigger, more aggressive animals – big cats, monstrous spiders almost as big as the cats, bears, boars, hell there were even plants to beware of. And not just to avoid touching them or eating them, he’d heard stories of plants that ate people. Hell, with their luck, Eijirou wouldn’t even be surprised if a dragon showed up to ruin their day – how was Izuku going to fall in love with him if he got eaten by a dragon first?!

What he didn’t expect, as they finally reached the beautiful clearing with a shimmering creek and shining, glowing flowers, was the dark presence lurking in the bushes. He felt it first, felt it watching them, and stepped a little closer to Izuku’s crouched form. Izuku was already marvelling over the flowers and herbs, already looking at how many pots he had remaining and debating in his typical rapid mumbles how many plants it would be fair to take without ruining their little localised ecosystem. Where other people might have taken as many flowers as they could carry, Izuku was always extra considerate, always thinking about what was best for the future of the plants. Eijirou knew he would take the flowers home and care for them like his own babies, would raise them to maturity and replant their seeds with the utmost care to develop an ongoing source of their powers without having to constantly rob the forest.

Eijirou was extra thankful for that knowledge, knowing that it meant Izuku wouldn’t wander off into the forest alone on a whim in search of more of them – he’d have the patience, Eijirou hoped, to wait until they could find another chance to go together.

And maybe, after a few more trips, Izuku would fall in-

Stop. Bad brain. No.

Izuku was almost finished with his potting by the time the shadow moved closer, taking on an inhuman form in the dark beneath the trees. Eijirou saw it first, though, and took a quick step forward to put himself between Izuku and the bulky monster, catching the glint of sharp teeth as it crept closer to their clearing. A low growl came from the bushes, and finally Izuku glanced up, packing his things away into the bags quickly.

Eijirou reached for his sword, but the ogre was faster – lunging for them with a roar that made the trees around them tremble. Before Eijirou could counter its attack, or shield himself from the disgusting, meaty fists, or yell for Izuku to run away before he got hurt, he watched a fist collide with the ogre’s cheek, sending it flying into the dirt with an almost comically shocked look on its face.

“Izuku?” Eijirou squeaked, falling backward into the dirt as he watched bright green eyes narrow into a glare, blood dripping from knuckles he had never seen curled into a fist before, let alone actually hit something.

“Leave my friend alone!” Izuku yelled, fists already lifting to prepare for another punch. “Piss off!”

The ogre growled as it climbed to its feet, but Izuku called its bluff, taking a step forward with that same stern look on his face that seemed so out of place in Eijirou’s mind. It hesitated a moment longer, then began to back away, keeping a wary eye on Izuku the entire way back into the trees.

“And don’t you come back!” Izuku called after it. “Not until we’re gone, then you can do what you want as long as you’re nice to the animals and you don’t step on the nice flowers! People need those!”

Eijirou fell back against his hands, breathing hard as he tried to decide whether to laugh or cry. He’d never had to face something like an ogre on his own before, had always been with a team of knights or at least a more experienced partner who could give him help or directions, and he’d certainly never seen one scared off by a little yelling from a man made of sunshine.

Then again, he supposed he still hadn’t faced one alone. And if anyone could talk an ogre out of fighting, it was Izuku.

He looked at Izuku’s hand again, at the slightly swollen knuckles, then up to the freckled face that was finally losing the strange, angry look as he regained his breath.

“I told you I could take care of myself.” Izuku huffed a little laugh. “Are you okay?”

He reached out his good hand, offering it to Eijirou, and Eijirou could only stare up at him in awe.

“Marry me,” he blurted out, face immediately flooding with red. “I mean-”

Izuku’s cheeks were prettily pink when Eijirou tore his gaze away from the watery green eyes, dusted with just a faint flush that told Eijirou his mind had to be running a mile a minute as he tried to figure out what to say. Izuku was a chronic over-thinker, a worrier, and Eijirou wished he had the composure to help instead of just staring at him like an idiot.

“How about we start with a date?” Izuku choked out nervously.

“A date sounds great,” Eijirou answered – probably too quickly. “I mean, I love spending time with you! I always have fun with you! So even if it’s just as friends, I’d like to spend more-”

“A romantic date,” Izuku clarified, his blush growing brighter. “Like a picnic? In the forest, surrounded by pretty, shining flowers with amazing healing properties.”

“A picnic.” Eijirou repeated stupidly, glancing at Izuku’s fallen bag. “That uh, sounds like a great first date.”

“I’m glad,” Izuku said softly, his smile finally returning. “But really, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Eijirou assured him, finally accepting the hand Izuku offered him. “I’m great.”

Izuku hauled him to his feet with a surprising amount of strength, and Eijirou stumbled, almost falling right into him. They both burned bright red again, hurrying to find their balance only inches apart, and finally Izuku picked up the bag he’d spent so long packing the night prior.

“I guess I didn’t need to worry about you so much,” Eijirou mumbled, watching Izuku produce a blanket and lay it out on the grass. “Sorry if I was over-protective.”

“It’s always safer in a group!” Izuku beamed at him. “I appreciate that you care!”

“I thought maybe if we spent the day together, and I got to be all manly and protective, it might make you like me more. But I guess you ended up being the manly one, in the end! And I guess it did work, in a way – I certainly like you even more than I already did!”

“Like you more?” Izuku asked, tilting his head to one side. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”

Eijirou felt himself turn bright red once more – an awful clash with his hair, he knew – and Izuku only grinned at him again, gesturing toward the blanket with his hands.

“Join me?” he requested.

“It would be my honour.”

As he took a seat on the blanket, letting Izuku shower him in sandwiches with all different fillings and fresh fruit and even some homemade cookies that he suspected Izuku’s mother must have helped with, he couldn’t even find the words to express his joy. It was all he’d ever wanted in life – the chance to sit with Izuku, one on one, and just revel in the aura of positivity and joy that Izuku radiated at all times.

“So where did you learn to punch like that?” Eijirou asked awkwardly, unwrapping a sandwich that made his mouth water with the smell of spices and herbs. “That was a... pretty great punch.”

“My fingers hurt,” Izuku lamented, cradling his hand in his lap. “I wanted to be a legendary hero, like All Might was, but I learned pretty quickly that I wasn’t cut out for that life. I don’t want to hurt anyone, even if they’re bad! But I couldn’t let that rude ogre hurt my best friend.”

“You’re amazing,” Eijirou chuckled.

Izuku blushed again at that, and Eijirou leaned over in a moment of boldness, gently lifting Izuku’s bruised knuckles to his lips.

“I’ll help you ice them when we get home,” he promised, planting a nervous kiss on the back of the warm hand. “They’ll be better in no time, I promise.”

“Th-thank you,” Izuku stuttered, covering his face with his free arm to hide how red he had become. “Maybe you can teach me, for next time.”

“Never,” Eijirou chuckled, sneaking a glance up at the eyes that sparkled like emeralds. “Then you might come without me.”

“W-well, I hate bothering you when you could be w-working...”

“It’s not a bother,” Eijirou assured him. “Promise me. Never come out here alone. That ogre might come back with friends, or something.”

“Okay,” Izuku sighed. “I promise. But you have to promise you’ll bring me back!”

“Gladly.”

Izuku nodded firmly, reaching for a cookie, and Eijirou smiled as he accepted one of his own. Their other hands, though, remained gently linked atop Eijirou’s knee, neither of them entirely sure if it was okay to hold on or not.

“So,” Eijirou began. “Nothing but birds and squirrels, huh?”

Izuku laughed brightly, nudging him with his shoulder, and Eijirou couldn’t help but grin along with him, boldly squeezing his hand a little tighter.

“Really though, that punch was hot.”

“I’m glad,” Izuku laughed brightly, shooting him a dazzling smile that had Eijirou’s heart melting in his chest. “My job here is done.”

“Heck yeah it is.”