Chapter Text
Katsuki had just left his parental pack, ready to start his own. He’d been on his own for a few years now, traveling the endless forest that connected the 4 corners of their continent together. At first, he didn’t mind the solitude. Finding the quiet relaxing, but as the weeks bled into months and then years, he started to miss his home. Slowly he got used to being alone and finding comfort in wild wolf packs he met along the way.
The alpha stopped at a few villages during his journey, picking up supplies, meeting new hybrids, and a few ‘decent’ humans. Making some pocket change helping people here and there with small tasks. Learning that most human villages didn’t take kindly to a wolf hybrid, to stick to hybrid villages. He found a few other wolf hybrids, but all of them made his hackles rise, so he continued his journey. Until one day he made a mistake.
~
The village of Musutafu was by no means small but it wasn’t huge either. It’s larger than any other village in the region because of one amazing denominator, it’s home to humans and hybrids.
It was founded by a man that fell in love with an omega rabbit hybrid named Yoichi. Together they made a society where both races could exist and be happy. Kudo and Yoichi’s descendants still rule the city and help keep the peace. Their story is one Izuku knows by heart.
Izuku was born in Musutafu and co-owns the library in town. He and his partner, Shoto. Even with his disability.
For you see, Izuku’s blind.
During a horrible storm when they were teens, lightning struck the town stables, no one had been around, and he had been working there for some extra coin for his family. The greenette had gotten the doors open for the horses when he got knocked down, the next thing he knew a hoof was coming down on his face.
Thanks to the smoke, lightning, and that horse, he's now blind. But he doesn’t let that stop him. He relies on his other senses and learns how to navigate his world without his sight.
“Okay, that’s the last of it.” Shoto says from his left, making the greenette’s slightly pointed ears twitch. “I’m going to head home. Do you want me to walk you home?” He asks, looking over at his friend. His feline ears are visible above his dual-colored hair.
“Me too. You know you don’t have to offer to walk me home every day, Shoto.” Izuku grins, his white eyes unmoving.
“I know, but I don’t want you to almost get run over again.” The alpha says, turning towards his friend that’s putting up the last book.
The human lets out a light laugh, facing the cat hybrid, smiling.
“That only happened once, and the thunder was covering up the sound of the wagon.” The greenette counters, moving his walking stick from under his arm to his hand to guide him towards the back room. “Besides, the driver saw me.”
“Only because you wear that crazy hat on your head.”
“It gets the job done.” Izuku says with a laugh, hands searching for his bag and said hat. It was a wide brim hat, bright red with a sparkling orange band that reflected light perfectly for people to see him. It might be an eyesore, but it was hard to miss.
“I guess you are right. I’ll see you Monday then?” Shoto says, relenting, grabbing his own stuff. “You know, maybe you should get a roommate. Someone to help out and make sure you’re okay. I know a few people are nervous that something will happen to you.” He says as he locks up the library, the greenette standing beside him.
“Maybe if I ever find the right one.” Izuku answers kindly before turning and walking away, heading to his home on the outskirts of town. Shoto says nothing as he watches him walk away before heading home himself.
‘It’s not like I don’t want someone to share my life with, it's just… I’d rather have a lover than a roommate.’ Izuku thinks as he walks home, ears twitching at all the sounds around him, his senses recognizing the life in the village. People talking, shopping. Kids playing. Horses and fresh soil, and blooming flowers. All things that he’s known his entire life, but then there was something else.
He’s just about home when he hears something off in the distance. He stops in his tracks, focusing on the new sound, something not settling well in his gut as he changes direction and slowly makes his way towards the source.
‘It sounds like an injured animal.’ Izuku thinks, following the sound into the woods and towards what sounded like a waterfall.
The greenette knew from his younger years that there’s a massive waterfall a few miles out of town with a rocky bottom. Kids and teens alike often come out here to swim during the hot summer months.
Izuku continued to follow his ears, using his walking stick to avoid tripping. The trail is well worn, but roots still pop up now and then. When he arrives, he can clearly hear whimpering and whining over the rush of the falls, off to his left, the opposite of the waterfall.
“Hello, is anyone out here?” He calls out, not wanting to startle the hurt creature if they’re an animal, but when he hears a stressed grunt followed by a weak growl, he knows it’s an animal. Slowly, he makes his way towards the sound, tapping the bottom of his stick against the ground, alerting the wounded creature to his presence. “It’s okay, I just want to help.” He says soothingly, ears perking up when he hears the growling lower and a sigh slip free.
Fearing that he might be too late, the blind man moves faster to get to the animal. Izuku gets down on his knees and carefully makes his way towards the sounds of distress. That’s when a strange scent hits his nose, not quite able to place it.
When his fingers finally find soft fur Izuku skims his hands further up what he discovers is a leg until he finds the animal's belly. He continues until he finds a deep gash along one of its shoulders.
“Oh boy, now I see the problem.” The greenette mutters, frowning as he sits back on his heels, thinking. His milky white eyes look around randomly, useless as he makes a list of the supplies he'll need.
Before he starts searching for parts, he reaches into his satchel, fingers skimming over the contents, feeling for a small vinyl bag that holds his first aid kit. With nimble fingers, he reaches out again, his head turned to the side to better listen to his patient as he rediscovers the injury, before mapping out the location with his fingers, carefully.
The animal whimpers and grunts under him but not lashing out. Izuku knows this is old behavior, that any animal, herbivore or predator, would be fighting him. Trying to get away.
“You’re doing so good. I’m almost done and then I’ll take you home where I can better take care of you.” He says gently, imitating a purr to help calm the animal. When it works seamlessly he finishes bandaging up all the wounds before getting to work on making something to help carry his new companion home.
It had been late afternoon when he left work, but judging by the temperature drop Izuku can tell it’s after sunset when he finally makes it home. The sound of his chickens, the smell of his garden welcoming him home.
As soon as he opens his door, his cat, Mighty, starts meowing out a greeting, rubbing against his legs before pausing, letting out a questionable meow.
“Yes, sweetie, we’re going to have a guest for a little bit.” Izuku says, struggling to hold the animal in his arms. Slowly he makes his way over to his couch. Once his knees meet the furniture, he eases the weak animal down. “It’s going to be a long night.” He sighs before going to collect everything he needs. Unable to see scarlet eyes cracked open, watching him curiously.