Work Text:
Izuku wakes up to the sound of bustling hallways and quiet chatter. His eyes slide open, dilated pupils shifting from the light. Toxic green eyes stare at the ceiling, plush blankets around him shift as he leans up. His throat tightens with a yawn bubbling up, jaws unhinging as they stretch wide, his pearly teeth glowing in the artificial light above, shaking his head as he closes his jaws. Izuku's large paws gain purchase under him, muscles tightening as he stands, looking down at his habitat.
His head turned upwards, staring out of the windows lining the top of his quarantine habitat. The sun had started to rise; pretty oranges and pinks swirled over the puffy clouds, giving it a sort of painting feeling. Izuku's tongue darted out quickly, licking the left side of his muzzle before he turned, hopping down each large platform, feeling peaceful. His shoulder blades rolled and prodded out of his skin, ears twitching with the lively center. Touching down on the ground, he walked gracefully over to the water trough, bending down till his bottom jaw touched the water. Opening his jaw, his tongue darted out, lapping up the water; the cool drink soothed his dry throat. By the sounds of it, breakfast would soon be served.
Izuku finished his morning drink, bottom jaw trickling with water; he peered out of the large viewing window. He watched Kacchan talk with the red-haired man, with the spikey hair and shark-like teeth, unaware of Izuku...
Hm...
He's decided. He wants attention.
Izuku's pupils dilate, pushing his toxic green irises out to where they were rings around his pupils, crouched down. He felt like a kit again, pouncing on his mother's tail in the wild while she cooed and dried off her sibling, Tenko, after they'd splashed and swam in the river they lived by in the mountains. (The cry of his mother's roar resounded after the gunshot, Tenko's pitiful roars followed. Tenko was always a weak link, the runt. He tried to grab Tenko by the scruff and run as his mother bled out next to him. Before he knew it, Tenko had a bullet put in between his beautiful ruby eyes, blood splattering over his black coat, the tips of his slightly wavy fur turning white painted with red, red, red-)
His body scraped the floor, remembering how his belly used to touch the forest floor, dead leaves and short grass surrounding him, watching his prey. His paws muffled the sound of his crouched walk, staring at the back of Kacchan's back, maroon dress shirt fitting nicely.
He pounced.
--------------------------
Workers in the hallways watched Izuku crouch in his habitat, Katsuki, and Kirishima unaware of the big cat. The two talked about renovating an old big cat habitat outside, seeing it was vacant after the big cat had left. The two were also thinking about creating a large pool in there to mimic what Izuku's old, old home (or what they think) looked like before he was taken. New foliage, platforms, a heated den, and so much more. Until there was a loud slam on the glass behind them, Katsuki had jumped a foot, twisting to look at Izuku, whose paws stayed on the glass, eyes dilated with glee.
Kirishima shrieked like a girl, nearly falling on his ass as he stared at the tiger, hand over his thundering heart. They both stare at the hybrid, watching as the tip of Izuku's tongue pops out from his lips, pupils dilated fully, chuffing softly. Izuku looks happy, playful, and at peace. He looks like a kit who had just figured out what his foot was. Katsuki stared at Izuku, eyes wide as he watched Izuku sit on his back legs, paws held up to his face, rough but small chuffs coming from the large feline. Izuku flexed his paws, fascination swimming in his green orbs, making Katsuki and Kirishima's hearts swell, along with everyone else in the hallway.
It was nice to see the big cat de-stress after the events that had taken place almost a week ago. Izuku pulled his paws away from his face, looking at Katsuki, who nearly cracked a smile as the big cat leaned a paw on the glass, smacking it with little 'tap, tap, tappie!' The feline's tail twitched and swayed with awe. Katsuki grabbed the food bowl from one of the carts, unlocking the large metal door into Izuku's habitat, holding the large metal bowl in his hands. He really hoped this wouldn't go bad.
Entering the habitat, Kirishima was ready to page and rush into the habitat, watching intently as Izuku turned his focus to Katsuki, who took a seat on the ground, food bowl in front of him. Izuku's pupils fluctuated, the large oval pupils pulsing. Izuku carefully walked over, watching Katsuki, nose twitching as he sniffed. He sniffed the food bowl, batting it around for a moment, sniffing the rims of the bowl. His pupils expanded fully, warm chuffs coming from the feline as he turned to Katsuki, head cocked to the side. Katsuki carefully raised his hand, making sure not to startle the feline. Izuku took careful steps forward as everyone held their breath, watching the feline come closer to the outstretched hand.
--------------------------
Izuku smelled around the bowl rim; the bowl smelt of bonfire smoke and caramel. His nose caught the smell coming from Kacchan, who sat on the floor of his habitat. Izuku watched the human for a moment, ears twitching as the commotion outside stilled; the only sound was the soft hum of the AC and Izuku's breaths. Izuku carefully watched Kacchan outstretch a hand, the scent wafting off the large palms of the blond male. Izuku wanted to bury his face into them, wanted to feel the warmth that radiated off the palms caress his face, wanted words whispered softly into his large, round ears.
Izuku stepped forward carefully with a purpose, muscles relaxing and tensing with each careful and small step. He stood in front of the large, outstretched palm, tension melting away as his eyes closed, leaning into the warm hand. If Izuku could properly purr, he would. Kacchan's hand was warm, slightly calloused, and sweet-smelling. Izuku was nearly a puddle of chuffing goo by the time Katsuki started stroking his head and muzzle, his other hand stroking under his eyes carefully, thumbs gliding over his warm, coal-black fur. Izuku's eyes peeled open slowly, seeing Kacchan's face was relaxed, the corner of his mouth upturned.
Izuku suddenly stood, walking forward until he was right in front of the blond, who leaned back a bit, watching. Izuku lowered himself to the ground, burying his face into Kacchan's lap, throat rumbling with something akin to a purr. Izuku felt like putty, breathing in Kacchan's smokey scent; he felt like he was a kit once again.
No worries, nothing (no blood coating his face as he watches his little brother's body drop, red pooling around him-). It was like curling up next to his mother once again, breathing in her slightly smoky scent as she cooked Katsudon in their little cottage in the woods; she always smelt of warm cookies and fresh flowers. She always accompanied them on their little adventures through the woods, chuffing softly and roaring with them as they played. (Her echoing, pain-filled roar echoed in his mind, watching the red seep through her dark fur. red, so much red...red...-)
--------------------------
Katsuki stared at the large cat in his lap for a moment, eyes wide in disbelief as the hybrid closed his eyes, forehead pressed against his abs. He thought he'd allow Izuku to smell him for a moment, but this? This was unexpected. But holy shit, Izuku's fur was so soft. It had subtle curls to it; it was warm and so, so soft. Even though Izuku's fur seemed to look tangled, it was smooth and didn't tangle or catch while Katsuki ran his hands down the tiger's sides, feeling the soft bumps and marred skin under the fur.
Izuku's heavy head was warm, and the big cat seemed at peace. His eyes were closed, soft rumbles echoing in the habitat as Katsuki ran his hands down and around Izuku's head and ears. It was domestic, peaceful even. Katsuki was ecstatic. It seemed Izuku trusted him enough to lay down in his lap and be vulnerable with him. Allowing him to pet his silky smooth fur, run his fingers over marred skin hidden below long, twisted (but not tangled) fur.
The big cat in his lap (or, well, his head) seems to enjoy laying here. Katsuki enjoys it as well, running his fingers over the bridge of Izuku's nose, up between his eyes and onto his forehead, his other hand scratching softly behind the feline's ear. His fingers trace Izuku's jaw and muzzle when the big cat suddenly opens his jaws, taking Katsuki's finger in his mouth. Katsuki near jolts, thinking he's about to lose a finger, when Izuku starts to suckle on the finger, pink tongue twitching slightly. It's becoming clear Izuku must haven't been weaned properly and developed an oral fixation.
(Katsuki has some suspicions about Izuku having an oral fixation when they had given Izuku an empty water bottle filled with treats. He hadn't tried to break the bottle open and simply laid there, suckling softly on the top of the bottle, at ease.) Katsuki's thumb pad ran over Izuku's bristled tongue, feeling the small ridges in the thin tongue. He could feel the roof of Izuku's mouth, the ridges, and bumps along the top. His front teeth rested carefully atop his skin, careful not to bite down.
(If they stayed there for hours, in the same spot, well, that was nobody's business.)
--------------------------
Yagi watches the interaction over the cameras; the exact moment Izuku's face sweeps into Katsuki's palm, something clicks. It's like taking a watering can to a dying, hunched-over flower, giving the flower sunlight, care, and water to grow. Yagi watches with a somber smile, hollow cheekbones aching. His canine teeth long filed down, sitting flush with his other teeth, all straight, pearly white, and dulled down.
("Stop moving!" The whip cracks over the scar on his side, making the lion open his jaws wider in an attempt to cry out. Above him, the leather strap is forced into his mouth; a 'vet' already shoved the bottom strap in there. The leather strap sat behind his large canine teeth, pulling his jaws open wide, muscled legs chained to the ground. "That'll teach you," The man spits, hoof filer in hand, bringing it closer- no, no, no!-)
Yagi's spindly fingers lay on his desk, shadowed cyan eyes once glazed over refocus on the cameras, watching the big cat flop into Katsuki's lap, watching the blond's eyes go wide, almost comically, till he runs his fingers through the coal-black fur Izuku dons. He can see the exact moment Izuku's closed eyes near burn with tears that threaten to bubble into his eyes, but the big cat wills them away, calm and peaceful in the large blond's lap.
Yagi continues to watch the two, eyes glazed over, shadowed eyes hiding unshed tears.
(He does not see the white-haired male in the doorway, who silently closes the door, a somber smile on his face.)
--------------------------
Hisashi is a wise man. He is somebody you go to for advice. He's kind, good-hearted, and a good man. He once was not a good man, ruling the underground in the shadows. It is where his nickname came from, All for One. He did not care for anyone, save for himself. He has far too much blood on his hands, painting his scarred fingers an imaginary, thick gooey red. Drugs, prostitution, weapons, murder, hitmen, you name it, he's either hired it, sold it, or made it.
Until one day, he had a change of heart. He had been forced into going to an illegal Hybrid fight (something he did not buy into, help, or create. He drew the line there.) In the final, the hybrids were a Kodiak bear (blond, not brown...blond) named Muscular, with one eye and rippling muscles that looked like the twisted and moved under his skin, bulging in certain areas where he attacked or defended. Gnarly scars in his jaws and over his eye. The other was a lion, with a mane that always seemed to move, like a river, muscles bulged over his frame in an overly unnatural way.
Shadowed eyes that had glowing blue irises, and an all-win, no-loss streak, named All Might. All Might stood proud on the other side of the arena, front paws straight, chest puffed out as the almost mystical creature stood proud. Muscular's droopy bottom lip bobbled and bounced as the giant bear roared with all his might, slightly damp fur shaking as he continued to let out short, bellowing chuffs and roars. Muscular's blond fur around his paws, muzzle, and chest was tinted red and a few shades of the color of dried blood.
All Might's chest swelled with air, throat stretching before the air was expelled in a throat-ripping roar that seemed to rattle the chains. Pints of beers spilled and vibrated with the roar as they were raised in the air, cheers echoing as the roar stopped. People were passing around and popped pills like it was their duty, while the lights dimmed, multi-colored lights bounced around in a fever-dream-like way, making Hisashi (who hadn't had a single drop or pill of anything) dizzy, but gave the buzzed or high people something to float into.
The announced stepped on the podium outside of the cage, announcing the fight. The two beasts had clashed for well over ten minutes, Muscular and All Might's coats sprayed with blood, red saliva dripped from their jaws. Their roared nearly shook the cage. In the end, Muscular laid dead on the ground, throat ripped out as All Might stood proud over the dead bear's body, but there was some sort of fear, anger, and sadness swimming in All Might's eyes. They had made eye contact, and All Might looked near desperate, with silent screams echoing ('help me! oh please, HELP!').
Nobody ever saw all Might at another fight after that one.
Hisashi made a decision and started his own Hybrid rehab center with the money he had and found the poor creature half-dead in a red-district alleyway, looking to be left to die. He had a muzzle on, and his teeth seemed to be dulled (So he can't eat nor hunt, with dull teeth and a muzzled jaw). Hisashi took All Might in and started to nurse him back to health. He was sticks and bones, no meat, fat, or muscle on his.
Knobbly spine, jutted hips (he could wrap his hands around the lion's waist-) and ragged breaths. It was a learning process, careful not to set off the lion. He had also given the creature a name, a true name. Not All Might, but Toshinori Yagi. The lion didn't seem to mind and clutched the name like a lifeline, digging his claws in and not letting go until the incident happened.
(Hisashi had been feeding Toshinori like usual when the lion seemed to be freaked out about something. (Toshinori admits he doesn't know what happened that day, nor does he know why he suddenly went haywire) They had been trusting each other, starting a friendship (the trusting point between man and creature, not quite human, not quite animal.) Then Toshinori lunged. Hisashi managed to move quick enough, scrambling to his feet, all while dodging the big cat's large, clawed paws. The hits sliced his hands up till they hit his jaw, sunk in, and tugged. Bloodied paws, ragged breaths, and fearful eyes. Marred skin, matted fur, and shaking hands. Wide, red eyes, pale cheeks splattered with blood- blood, blood, blood-!)
Hisashi had been rushed to the hospital, and the EMTs and police had wanted to put Tohsinori down, but Hisashi relented, saying it was a traumatized animal and he didn't mean any harm. He was at fault for not seeing anything different with the lion (It was never Toshinori's fault, he wasn't forced into illegal hybrid fights). Luckily, the claws hadn't hit any major arteries, and Hisashi was set to make a full recovery. Over a thousand stitches on his hands and jaw, trailing down to his collar bone, Hisashi was released after almost three weeks in the hospital. He had a lion to see.
--------------------------
Yagi mourned the loss of his friend, pained cries filling the center halls. He drank little, ate even less, and lazed around all day, eyes puffy. After the second week, Yagi stopped calling out for his friend. He merely stared at his stained paws; the red color stood out on his bright blond fur, the fur on his paws matted with clumps of dried blood Yagi never wanted to lick off. He couldn't. (It was a punishment for his outburst. He killed him; he's dead because of him...) The blood splatter had been cleaned hours after Hisashi was rushed to the hospital, choked words leaving his throat as it filled with blood ("T-Toshi...don-don't be s-sad...").
A cleaning team mopped up the blood; clean mopped turned a crimson as the floor was washed, disinfected, and dried. And then he was alone. Nobody dared set foot in the murderous lion's cage, too scared they'd suffer the same fate as Hisashi. He felt ostracized. (He didn't blame them; it's like sitting in a room with a murderer. You don't want to be there.) He laid there, unmoving, glazed over eyes stared mindlessly at the blank walls, too tired and weak to move.
Till he heard rhythmic footsteps, footfalls heavy but light, he didn't move, eyes still trained to the same spot in the wall. (If he stared hard enough, could he burn a hole in the wall?) The heavy metal door slid into the wall with a small hissss. He could hear the person stepping into his habitat, then stilled. The metal door behind the person slid shut, locking with a click! Yagi's ear flicks softly, shaking his matted mane. His eyes droop with sadness, eyes nearly filling with tears (tears he does not have-) as he shifts his head away from the door, muzzle scraping against the smooth laminate flooring.
The soles of the person's shoes click on the laminate floor before stopping. A shuffle of fabric enters Yagi's ears, who is too tired to fight back. "I guess a welcome back hug is off the table, huh, Toshi?" The warm drawl of Hisashi's voice breaks through, and Yagi's neck snaps over, seeing the now scarred man look down at him fondly with glowing crimson orbs.
Yagi stands on wobbly feet, tripping over his wobbly paws slightly as he races over to the male, tackling him, crying out, mournful calls of the shaking lion boom in the cage. Yagi's dull claws sink into Hisashi's sides, crying out as Hisashi comforts the shaking beast curled up on his chest, weak paws (shaking paws still stained-) clinging to him. Yagi cries for him, chest heaving as he calls out, crying to the heavens, thanking them for not taking his friend away.
Hisashi runs calloused hands through shedding fur, dry skin, and shedding fur coats his scarred palms, his ribcage vibrating with the pouring cries of Yagi.
It's good to be back.
--------------------------
It's not a musketeers reference! (It is!)
Reddude: {tigercuddles.jpeg}
Reddude: SCREAMIHNGJFOH
p i n k.: BAKU GETTING CUDDLES FROM BABIE??!?
p i n k.: jelly 😔
notpaidenough: ha pay up mic. i won
COCKatoo: :((
notpaidenough: i want my ten dollars
COCKatoo: fine
gucci eyebags: is it bad I'm jealous?
KEM is online.
KEM: suck it extras. I'm just better than you.
KEM is offline.
p i n k.: i think cuddling with a tiger gives you some sort of bragging rights...
Reddude: i want cuddles :(
p i n k.: I know kiri, I know
tsu: kero
Everyone is offline.
Yagi is online.
Yagi: this chat is chaos.
Hisashi is online.
Hisashi: i feel old reading this
Yagi: we are old
Hisashi: you didn't have to remind me :(
Yagi and Hisashi are offline.