Chapter Text
“Who the hell are you?”
Shigeru doesn't often get weapons pointed at his face. In fact, he’s never gotten a weapon pointed at his face. Honestly, he’s not entirely sure how to react, so he just looks at it before looking at the other man. He seems less ready to attack than the one with pretty hair.
“I live in the forest. I heard the wolf in pain and came to investigate. I don’t mean anyone any harm, I just…” Shigeru trails off as he realizes neither of the men in front of him is easing up on their stances. They both look very suspicious of him. Which, yeah, that’s understandable. He suddenly popped up and stopped an attack they were aiming when they thought they were alone. He’d be on guard as well.
“Listen, I just want to make sure the wolf is okay. Can I please do that?” Shigeru is slowly raising his hands to show he isn’t going to attack. He can’t help but be reminded of how he has to act towards a cornered animal when it’s scared.
The two look at each look at each other for a moment before the pretty one lowers his staff. He doesn't look happy about it, but the other steps toward Shigeru and reaches out his hand, “My name is Iwaizumi, and this is Oikawa. We’re mages with Seijou. We got hired to take care of a wild animal that has been tearing apart a nearby village’s livestock.”
Shigeru is not expecting a full introduction, and he definitely isn’t prepared to have a full conversation with this man. He already has a headache from trying to figure out why the man is holding out his hand. It’s making it very hard to figure out why exactly an animal from the forest would need to go to a village to find food. He keeps good tabs on the health of the animals he comes across, and none of them are even close to starving.
She stands there for a few moments before he blinks and responds, “I’m Shigeru.” Then he hightails it for the injured wolf and tries not to think about how awkward that entire exchange was.
When he gets to the animal, he notices a black spot in the fur above the right eye, indicating that it’s one of last year’s pups. He remembers naming her Oak after she ran face first into one a few days after she was born.
A quick survey shows that she only had a few flesh wounds and a slightly fractured front paw. He lets out a breath of relief and turns towards Oikawa and Iwaizumi, “Do you think you could help me carry her to my hut? I’ll be able to treat her wounds there.” Shigeru still wasn’t very confident in his actions toward the strangers, but he really needs to make sure Oak is alright. She was almost of age for mating, and if she’s too weak and injured while trying to grow pups it could mean death for all of them. Shigeru tries his best to keep the forest healthy.
“Woah, Woah! We’re supposed to kill that thing! It’s been terrorizing- oof!” Oikawa cuts himself off after Iwaizumi jabs him in the side with an elbow.
“Ignore him. I’ll help you. Will she be okay with a stranger coming near her?” Iwaizumi looks worriedly from Shigeru to the wolf.
“Just be calm, and don’t move too fast. She trusts me.” Shigeru lets Iwaizumi take his place at her belly while he makes his way to her upper back. Slowly, they lift her and Shigeru quickly informs him which direction to head. Oikawa, still huffy about being cut off, straps his staff to his back and crosses his arms as he follows.
“So, Shigeru-kun,” Oikawa starts lightly as he looks around at the forest, “how long have you been living out here?”
“Forever.”
Both of his companions seem slightly shocked by his answer, “Well then. Were your parents, like, really into nature? Or did they just not like people?” Oikawa got a look from Iwaizumi at that.
“I never knew my parents.”
Another shocked silence, “Oh.”
The rest of the short journey back to his hut passes quietly, only the sounds of the forest making up for lost time.
As soon as the modest house is in view, Shigeru hears Moss clawing desperately at his door. He instructs Oikawa to open the door, ignoring the slight yelp when he saw Moss bolt out the door.
“Please set her down on this table. I’ll run and get some aloe vera and dried marigold to make a salve for her wounds.” As soon as Oak is secure on the wood surface he beelines for his apothecary cabinet.
Luckily, he doesn’t have to use his herbs a lot, so he has a plentiful amount to put in a mortar. As he uses his pestle to crush the marigold flowers he utters an incantation to help the healing process. He moves purely on muscle memory from what his mentor had taught him when he was younger. There’s no time to waste when there are injuries to be healed. Any more movement than is necessary could cause someone to lose their life.
By the time he comes back to himself, he’s already spreading the salve over Oak’s wounds and setting her leg. Oikawa and Iwaizumi are still standing still by the door.
“If you’ve been living here forever with no parents, where did you learn how to do that. And who taught you magic? What academy did you go to? What’s your alignment? Your specialty? And-” Oikawa’s voice is quickly muffled by Iwaizumi’s palm.
“I’m sorry about him. He doesn’t like it when our missions stray from the plan.” Iwaizumi explains with a weary look on his face. An affronted sound comes from behind his hand at that.
“They’re all valid questions, it’s fine. I learned everything I know from my mentor, she also taught me magic, I didn’t go to any sort of academy, I suppose I have an alignment to nature, and I don’t have a specialty. Is there anything else?” Yahaba speaks as he pulls out three cups to make tea.
There’s a short silence, “Do you ever, like, leave? The forest, I mean?”
“Oikawa-”
“No. I don’t need to leave. Tea?”
The couple looks at Shigeru for a short moment before turning to look at each other. When they look back Iwaizumi nods his assent for the tea.