Chapter Four

At nightfall Shouto came to, opening eyelids that were heavy with exhaustion.

He tried to get up, bone deep weariness froze his limbs in turn, keeping him put on the bed that he could not remember getting into.

Leaving that mystery aside, he scanned the lamp lit room for the person filling his thoughts. Where are you?

That person was accepting a tray of food from Fujiwara at the door. His eyes flared wide upon meeting Shouto's.

"Shouto!" Izuku scrambled over to him, crashing the tray down on the bedside table."How do you feel? Does anywhere hurt?"

Expelling a long, tired breath, Shouto said, "I...am only tired, Izuku."

Izuku's brow wrinkled at the sound of his partner's voice."Are you sure?"

"Yes...what happened?"

Voice shaking, Izuku held his gaze."You passed out on the pasture, I didn't know what to think when I caught you."

The distress Izuku felt at his expense made Shouto frown, he opened his mouth to apologise but Izuku was faster, choking out a question.

"Why?'' Izuku took Shouto's hand into his hand own. "Why did you overwork yourself like that?"

Tears welled up in Izuku's eyes, the sight squeezed Shouto's heart. "You were having a hard time with some chores because of your hands, so I thought I'd make them easier for you."

"You pushed yourself for my sake." Izuku said quietly.

"I didn't need you to do that Shouto, I can handle myself."

Realising he hurt his lover's pride, Shouto pressed his lips in a grim line, cursing his own lack of foresight. "I'm sorry Izuku, I know you can, I just...,"Shouto trailed off.

Izuku's face softened and he gently rubbed a thumb across Shouto's scar. "I understand why you did it."

"But you're my partner, Shouto, you getting hurt is the last thing I'd want."

"You're too good to me," Shouto admitted, touched by his lover that accepted the best and worse of him.

Curving his lips into smile, Izuku replied in kind. "As are you for me."

"Now let's get you something to eat." Izuku uncovered the bowl of soup on the tray, dipping a spoon inside."I'm not taking no for an answer."

Having no intentions of resisting, Shouto opened his mouth when Izuku brought the spoon to his lips. He thanked his lucky stars for bringing this kind soul into his life.

In the herb garden, Izuku dragged a hose towards the mint beds, sprinkling the green herbs, with a pinched expression on his face.

That expression changed the moment two arms circled his waist from behind and a smooth voice said,"morning, Izuku."

Shutting shut the hose off, Izuku reached a hand up, pressing the back of his palm against Shouto's forehead."You're awake! Are you feeling better now?"

"I am thanks to you." Shouto's voice leaked with gratitude to the man who cared for him throughout the night.

"Oh good, I was going to check on you after this," Izuku murmured, brushing his fingers across Shouto's hand.

"Saved you the trip." Shouto was ready to make up for the extra work he caused his partner yesterday and this morning."Which chores do I need to help with?"

Defying those expectations, Izuku answered with a request. "Come with me first, I'll tell you about them later."

"Hn." Shouto lifted a brow, wondering what Izuku was up to as they walked to a section of the farm which they never frequented that late in the morning.

Stepping into the rabbit area, Izuku bent down fetching something near to the hutches. Shouto glanced at the floppy eared creatures resting on the hay.

"Put this inside the hutch." Izuku handed him a weird looking ball.

Shouto eyed the ball that was seemingly made of twigs and he did as he was told, closing the hutch door. "What's this?"

"It's a stick ball." Izuku explained, gesturing to the hutch. "Now watch."

A curious bunny hopped towards the ball, wiggling her nose as she sniffed the ball.

And to Shouto's surprise, the long-eared creature chomped down on the ball, tossing it across the hutch.

"She's playing with it." Shouto's eyes followed the bunny that eagerly sprung after its new toy.

"Bunnies are very playful."Izuku placed a ball inside the hutch housing the males rabbits.

There two bunnies inspected the ball and took turns nibbling upon it."They'll chew on anything too."

"I see." Shouto's chest had grown lighter upon watching the cute animals at play. He turned to his lover, noticing that Izuku was not watching the rabbits but him.

You did this for sake, didn't you? Lowering his head, Shouto nuzzled the side of Izuku's face in affection."Thank you for showing me this."

After leaving the rabbits, Shouto and Izuku carried out the remaining morning chores in sync, balancing the workload between them.

When they returned to the pasture for a second round of fence building, a determined Todoroki resolved not to make the same mistake again.

"I'm taking the other end of the pasture." Shouto stated his intentions to Izuku.

Patting Shouto on the shoulder, Izuku said,"okay, I'll come over there and help you put the posts down when I'm finished here."

"I like the sound of that," Shouto nodded and strode across the distance with ease.

Casting a glance at Izuku, Shouto watched those powerful arms plunge the post digger into the ground. "Amazing," he whispered in awe.

A calm Shouto got to work thereafter, digging holes, later planting posts with the help of Izuku who filled the holes with gravel and concrete, cementing the posts in the ground.

Little by little, the fence slowly took shape after each round of sawing pine wood and hammering boards.

Pounding the last nail into the fence that afternoon, Izuku grinned, cheering."We did it, Shouto!"

"Yes, we certainly did." Shouto curled an arm around his waist and admired the four-railed wooden fence that enclosed the pasture. "It looks beautiful."

Izuku's eyes glinted. "It really does."

As strange as it may seem, building this fence with Izuku, was a victory, comparable to catching criminals and protecting civilians; together with Izuku, there was nothing Shouto could not accomplish. Never would he forget this.

The stream of peaceful days continued until Sunday, marking the heroes' first week at the Fujiwara Farm.

Izuku was grooming a horse in the stable now, running a brush across its silky mane.

Neighing, the grey mare wagged its tail in turn.

"He looks like he's enjoying that." Shouto leaned against the wall, amusement shone in his eyes.

"Yup." Izuku flicked his wrist, sweeping the dark tresses once more.

Shooting his partner a look from over his shoulder, Izuku asked,"do you want to give it a try, Shouto?"

"Okay." Shouto reckoned that grooming the horse might be as pleasant as it looked. So accepting the brush from Izuku, Shouto passed the soft bristles along the sleek fall of hair, receiving a contented neigh for his efforts.

"You're making him happy too." Izuku's face broke into a grin.

Shouto kept at it, taking in the horse's striking features, silky mane and shiny coat. Never had he seen horses up close before coming to farm. Those elegant creatures like most farm animals, were animals that Shouto had only read about in books or spotted on the television.

Lost in thought, Shouto failed to notice Izuku leaving the stall until Izuku returned with a saddle, fixing it upon the mare's back.

And in one smooth movement, Izuku mounted the horse, slackening Shouto's jaw. "I –I didn't know you could ride a horse."

Nostalgia coloured Izuku's reply. "When I was small, All Might had this commercial where he was on horseback and you know I had to be just like him, so I had my mother take me to a riding school."

"Cute," Shouto murmured, picturing the stars that were in little Izuku's eyes as Izuku watched said commercial; his partner's blatant adoration of All Might was another thing Shouto loved about his partner.

"Oh you," Izuku shook his head, cheeks reddening."Climb on and hold on to my waist."

Complying, Shouto climbed on to the horse's back and wrapped his arms firmly around Izuku's torso.

Izuku grabbed the reins, ordering the horse into trot."Go on, boy."

The mare's hooves clop on the ground as it slowly took the heroes out of the stable, past the bales of hales stacked outside and the barn housing the farm's cows.

Breaking into a gallop, the mare charged onto a luscious green field, smelling of earthy soil and grass.

Shouto looked up, glimpsing a flock of birds sailing above them in the sky.

"Izuku, you asked about horses on our way to the farm, is this why?" Shouto wondered if his lover had planned this.

Happily confirming it, Izuku said, "yup, I wanted to take you for a ride if there were any."

"Thank you, it feels amazing." Shouto clung to Izuku tighter, doubting that Izuku would ever stop surprising him.

"I'm glad." Izuku's lips quirked into a smile.

No further words were exchanged until Izuku brought the horse to stop. "Do you like it on the farm, Shouto?"

Considering the question, Shouto fixed his gaze upon the farm in the distance, staring at the rooftops of the barns, corn fields and the wooden fence surrounding the pasture.

"I do, I'm all the better for coming here," Shouto admitted.

Each place on the farm held a precious memory that Shouto would not trade for anything. He messed up, both he and Izuku did but it served to make their bond stronger.

Izuku said. "I'm so happy to hear that, Shouto."

"Same here, I know it's hard work but it's fun to work with the animals and plants...I love experiencing it all with you, Shouto."

Shouto mirrored the sentiment. "As do I." Shouto pressed his lips to Izuku's neck, holding him tighter of the man he loved.

Something like a soft sigh escaped Izuku's lips, deepening Shouto's urge to see what kind of face Izuku was making.

That wish was soon granted for Izuku rode the horse further afield, dismounted under a plum tree tree and locked gazes with Shouto.

Love shone in those beautiful green eyes looking into his own, sending Shouto's heart aflutter.

"Thank you for coming out here. " Izuku cupped Shouto's face, capturing Shouto's lips in a kiss that spilled to Shouto's soul.

The End

A/N: Thank you so very much for the feedback on the last chapter, I'm happy to know people out there liked this story.

I reckoned Izuku would've wanted Shouto to continue the farm work on a happier note, rather than having Shouto feel guilty over the consequences of fainting.

I'm planning a smutty sequel to this story.

Thank you for reading this story!