Chapter Text
Ashax had been waiting for them.
Clearly, Enji wasn’t as stupid as they had wanted- no, had needed- him to be.
And that path Momo had suggested bringing an army through hadn’t just been a bit overgrown. It had been difficult and tiring work slogging through it. Yeah, it was better than wandering lost- but not by that fucking much.
Which meant that the Othyian army had arrived in Ashax exhausted, hungry, and unprepared for battle. Exactly what Enji had wanted. He’d sure as shit figured out just who his son had run to for aid. Fuck, Katsuki was tired. He’d just wanted a day or two to figure out his first attack. But Enji wasn’t in charge of one of the strongest countries for nothing. There was a reason that Katsuki hadn’t attacked Ashax yet. Enji was just that good.
But there was also a reason that Ashax hadn’t invaded Othya, even when Katsuki had been seventeen and untried. And it showed as the Othyian people rallied, how they attacked with a ferocity Katsuki had never seen duplicated in another military. The warriors of Othya were proud and bloodthirsty and they didn’t go down without a fight. They never would.
And neither would their king.
Nevertheless, he knew that he was lucky he hadn’t lost more good men and women. He was fortunate that Jelena hadn’t come for the people he really cared about, like Mina, Hanta, and Denki. And the fact that Jelena hadn’t come for Izuku? He couldn’t put the emotion that squeezed at his heart into words. He knew Izuku’s skill but he also knew that Izuku was reckless. So, yeah. He was really damn glad.
But that didn’t replace the men and women who had lost their lives to Ashax’s blades. It didn’t change the disadvantage against Katsuki and his people. It didn’t matter that there was Ashax blood soaking into the ground when there was more Othyian blood spilled. It didn’t matter that they had driven Ashax back and stopped what Enji had clearly intended to be a massacre. Neither were victories in Katsuki’s mind. And he accepted nothing less than victory. He knew people died in battle- he wasn’t stupid. He knew that it would be his people sometimes. But that didn’t change that his people had been in the majority this time.
And that wasn’t acceptable. Not ever.
He needed to do something, to adjust their tactics. Because while they were covering ground, it wasn’t enough. Every inch they fought for was too hard won to be real victories. They couldn’t keep going like this.
It was possible that Enji knew how Katsuki thought, that he’d studied Katsuki’s style in war. Unlike Hisashi, who had been arrogant and used to getting his way outside of conflict, Enji was smart. He ruled with an iron fist and he could back it up. He was smart and he was good in combat. Plus, he was older than Katsuki and had plenty more experience.
Katsuki didn’t often miss his mother. He’d been without her for too long and he’d had a lot of other shit to focus on. Noboru, training, wars, they had all been more important than the fact that his mother had died. He had the responsibility now. And if there had been times as a child that he had laid in bed fighting the emotions that burned his eyes and made his throat feel like it was wrapped in wet wool, he’d tried to forget about them.
But damn, he wished he had her guidance here. Just for a second. Enji had never really respected Katsuki. He respected the power Katsuki wielded enough not to invade. But he’d never respected Katsuki as a ruler. He was younger, untried, not a great Todoroki, whatever. He’d respected Mitsuki though. He’d respected her strength and her title regardless of whatever he’d thought of her as a person. Katsuki could use her right now.
But wishing didn’t make it happen. And he had work to do.
“How can I help?” Shouto asked. His tone was cool but his eyes were earnest as he stared at Katsuki from across the barrel Katsuki had commandeered as a makeshift table. Katsuki’s notes and maps were stacked up on it as he tried to figure out just what the fuck he was supposed to do now.
“You can tell me how the fuck your father knew I was coming,” Katsuki snapped. “You can tell me just how I’m supposed to win your godsdamned throne with more and more casualties every fuckin’ battle. Got an answer to either of those?”
“The same thing I’ve told you before. He’s more intelligent than we’ve given him credit for.”
“I didn’t underestimate the asshole!” Katsuki snarled, anger simmering beneath his skin. “I knew this would be hard won. But he’s predicting our moves and I want to know how.”
“Stop snapping at me.” Shouto glared at him. “I’m not my father, in case you’ve forgotten. I can only guess what he’s thinking. I am trying to help you. If you continue trying to bite my head off, we’re not going to get anywhere.”
“I don’t think Cinderbrain knows how to do that,” Hitoshi said dryly. He stepped into the tent, Izuku close behind him.
“Eavesdropping is rude.” Shouto shifted to face Hitoshi with a frown.
“Please. Everyone in camp can hear the two of you snarling at each other. You’re making him anxious.” Hitoshi jerked his thumb at Izuku. “He thinks you’ll kill each other or something.”
“I do not.” Izuku rolled his eyes at his best friend. “But I was hoping we can help.”
“How?” Shouto asked quickly.
Katsuki scowled at the prince. “Hold on, whose campaign is this?”
“Ours. Your army, my throne.”
“Excuse me?” Katsuki growled. “You think-”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. We’re all frustrated, and tired, and we need to take a deep breath. It doesn’t matter who’s running what. I have an idea that might help,” Izuku said, cutting Katsuki off as he stepped further into the tent. He placed himself between Shouto and Katsuki.
“What’s the catch?” Katsuki asked. Because while he might want to snarl at everyone right now, he knew Izuku’s brain. If he hadn’t said something before, there was probably a reason.
“It could make things worse.”
“He’s such a ray of sunshine, right?” Hitoshi smirked. He’d moved with Izuku too, now stood between Katsuki and Shouto as though there was a chance the two might try to rip each other’s throats out.
“How?” Shouto demanded.
“Ashax hasn’t used alchemy yet. Maybe they’re saving it, maybe they’re that confident. I can use some of my creations, and the ones Shouto brought that I’ve improved. There’s a good chance I can give us the advantage. But it also means we could be dealing with alchemy against us too.” Izuku worried his lower lip between his teeth. “So, it isn’t a perfect solution.”
“Do it.” Katsuki nodded, making the decision for everyone. “It’s a weapon and we’ll use it. Ashax’s alchemists aren’t smarter than you. If they attack, we figure out how to stop it. Hitoshi, get the shit ready. Izuku and I will figure out the strategies.”
“And I’m supposed to do what?” Shouto frowned.
“Go help Hitoshi. It’s a lot to do and I need Izuku here. He’s the alchemist and you’re not.”
“I don’t bite unless you ask nicely,” Hitoshi promised with a leer.
Shouto shot Hitoshi an unamused look that bordered on a glare.
“Let’s go.” Hitoshi motioned to the tent exit.
Shouto heaved a heavy sigh and followed him out of the tent, as though he knew he had no other options. Katsuki almost felt sorry for the guy. His people, his throne- hell, his life- were all in Katsuki’s hands. Katsuki knew that if roles were reversed- which would never fuckin’ happen- that he wouldn’t want to be forced out of a tent where strategies were being planned. He’d want to be right there, knowing everything that was going on and making sure that his voice was the loudest. So yeah, he almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost.
Because this was something that Katsuki didn’t need Shouto here for. It was Katsuki’s military force. Katsuki’s people were putting their lives on the line. And Katsuki knew war, knew strategies. He knew what he was doing. And he knew that he needed Izuku here, helping refine those battleplans and adding alchemy into the mix. So Shouto could go help Hitoshi prepare, because he clearly needed to do something.
That something just was not being here.
“Alright, nerd. Where do we begin?”
“With you going to sleep.”
“Not happening. Also, not what I meant.” Katsuki scowled at his mate.
“I know, but you need to sleep. Let your body heal itself naturally, instead of asking me for cough suppressants.” Izuku shot him a pointed look. “Please.”
“I’m fine. And I have time to be sick later.”
“What if you get worse? You’re pushing yourself too hard, Kacchan. I don’t want something to happen to you. Especially on the battlefield.”
“Nothing is going to happen,” Katsuki growled, hauling Izuku into his arms.
Izuku glared at him even as he wrapped arms around Katsuki’s neck. “You don’t know that. This war is a lot harder than my father’s was. What if-”
“We’re not starting the what-ifs, alright? I’m fine. I’ll be fine. I’m tired and it’s probably a cold. My body throws that kind of stuff off fast because of how hot I run. You can even ask Mina.” Katsuki traced circles into Izuku’s lower back with his thumbs.
“I did,” Izuku sighed. “She said the same thing. I just… I can’t have anything happen to you. And so many people have died.”
“I’d fight the gods to stick around,” Katsuki said roughly, thinking back to what Izuku had said before they left for Sniycia. “I don’t plan on visiting Jelena’s halls for a long time. She probably wouldn’t want me anyway. Trust my skill.”
“It’s not your skill I don’t trust,” Izuku muttered.
“Better not be. Now come on, shortstack. Sooner we get this work done, the sooner we can sleep. For a little bit, anyway.”
“Okay.” Izuku stepped back, breaking Katsuki’s hold. “Let’s get to work.”
OoOoO
Katsuki grit his teeth against the tightness in his chest, the tingle in his throat. Once he had time to rest, he’d be able to kick this damn cough and he’d be rid of it. But right now, he didn’t have time to worry about it. He tightened his grip on each of his swords and pushed forward, to the next target.
He clashed with the closest soldier. He needed to use this momentum, needed to win more ground. Every step towards Coburn was a move toward winning the war. And once they won and put Shouto on his throne, they could go home. And there was nothing Katsuki wanted more in this moment than to go home. He knew he’d be back on the battlefield soon enough, there were more countries to conquer, ways to make Othya stronger. He wouldn’t stop, couldn’t stop. Not until the world bowed to him, not until there was nothing that could move against him. But for now, he wanted to be done with this damn war, and go home.
Had he done enough? Had his strategies been enough? He knew he was good, just like he knew that people would die no matter how amazing he was. There was no way to avoid the casualties that came with war. He strived to make sure that Othya didn’t lose many people, but there was always that chance. He trusted in the abilities and skills of his people, of his friends. But he’d been surrounded by death for too long not to know that even the best could have bad days.
He didn’t see Mina, could only hope she was near the lightning that crackled through the air- a sure sign that Denki was still alive and fighting with everything he had. Hanta was probably with him. Izuku and Hitoshi were nearby, readying the attack that Izuku had come up with late into the night during their planning. The alchemical attack might turn the tide of the war in Othya’s favor. Or, it might backfire horribly. It was a gamble, one they had to take.
Just a little longer. He just needed to give Izuku a little longer.
Shouto moved out of the corner of his eye, his passion at odds with his usually icy demeanor. He gripped his sword in both hands and magic swirled around him, the heat of fire clashing with the chill of solid ice. Mage and warrior. Katsuki snorted as he pulled one of his blades free, his opponent falling lifeless to the ground. Of course, Shouto was both. Fuckin’ overachieving asshat would be.
Pain flared in his side, sharp and biting. He forced his body to move, to face the Ashax warrior who had embedded the tip of his spear in Katsuki’s side. The spear tip ripped free, sending pain skittering up Katsuki’s nerves and blood gushing down his side. He barely bit back the gasp of pain. His hands tightened further on the hilts of his blades, as though that connection could keep the pain at bay. He couldn’t stop to look at how bad the wound was right now, but it wasn’t the first time he’d been wounded in a fight. He needed to focus, he was moving too slow for his damn good, his limbs almost sluggish.
He growled and pushed aside the pain, the worry about strategies, about Izuku, everything. He’d promised Izuku he’d fight the very gods to survive and stay here. He wasn’t about to let a cough or a spear wielder change that shit.
He pulled one of the crepitus potions free from his belt and hurled it into a cluster of Ashax’s soldiers. It exploded on contact, sending the enemy flying, many of them already dead. Katsuki grinned even as he attacked the spear warrior. He’d have to ask Izuku for a lot more of those in the future. There was something about the explosion that felt almost satisfying to Katsuki. And it was handy in battle.
He knocked the spear aside with one sword and buried the other in the woman’s stomach. The enemy looked at Katsuki with large accusing eyes as the blood drained from her face. She dropped to her knees as Katsuki pulled his blade free again, her blood mingling with those of her comrades. She was dead within the next minute, slumping into the grass, eyes lifeless as they stared at the earth.
The ground rumbled beneath Katsuki’s feet in the next second. Walls of ice erupted, enclosing the bulk of the Ashaxian army within their borders. Izuku wouldn’t bring the walls down until Katsuki gave him the signal. Ashax was trapped. All the Othyians had to do was pick them off.
“Ready?” Shouto asked, suddenly at Katsuki’s side.
“Are you?” Katsuki shot back. These were Shouto’s people after all. Just like with Izuku in Sniycia, this was Shouto’s country. And Shotou would rule it when Katsuki was gone, would have to pick up the pieces and try to move forward after a brutal and hard war in a country already dealing with a brutal king. Katsuki had killed Noboru, but he’d never had to go to war with his own country.
“Yes.” Shouto nodded, jaw set. “I’m ready. This is what I need to do. I cannot let you carry all the weight. This is my war too.”
“Then let’s go win it.”
“Izuku? Hitoshi? They’re safe?” Shouto asked even as the two of them moved forward to what promised to be a massacre. The warriors from Ashax not already engaged in battle watched the incoming Othyians warily, clearly aware of what was about to happen.
“They’re capable of taking care of themselves,” Katsuki said, firm in his trust in both of them. “Focus on staying alive long enough for them to see you crowned.”
Shouto nodded sharply. “Let’s go.”
They attacked, an endless string of battles against the soldiers of Ashax who wanted not just to win this war for their king, but to survive. Katsuki continued without mercy, pushing himself harder to take out more people, quicker. He didn’t know how long Izuku’s improved alchemy could hold the walls. The alchemy was untried until today, a gamble they’d had no choice but to take. Izuku had warned Katsuki he didn’t know if it would hold for a few minutes, a few hours, or something between that. He was hoping he could have the walls hold as long as needed, repeating the process to strengthen the walls already there if he saw any melting or crumbling of the ice. But the fact was, they didn’t know.
Katsuki hadn’t told anyone else that. There were some secrets that he couldn’t share with the people who looked to him to lead. His people needed to believe those walls of ice would last, that they had the time and opportunity to gain this upper hand. Only Izuku and Katsuki- and maybe Hitoshi- knew the uncertain truth.
It drove Katsuki forward, pushed him to attack with more ferocity, with more speed. He wasn’t going to waste the advantage that Izuku had given them. They needed this edge. They needed to tip the scales in Othya’s favor. And Ashax could bring their own alchemy into play soon. That meant this battle had to give Othya a drastic edge.
And if that meant that Katsuki had to drench himself in the blood of his enemies to do that, then so be it.
He didn’t know how much time passed before the last man for Ashax still on the battlefield fell, before the walls came crashing down as though something was eating through the ice. He stared at the bodies that littered the battleground, Othyians and Ashaxians alike. So many lives lost. So many people to bury in graves too far from their homes and families.
Fuck, he was exhausted.
“Kacchan?”
He met deep green eyes that had come to mean home far more than any inch of Othyian ground. He swallowed, his voice hoarse. “Hi, shortstack.”
“Hi,” Izuku breathed. “We need to-”
“I know.”
“Did it give us the leverage we needed?” Izuku asked softly. He didn’t look away from Katsuki, but they both knew that he was talking about the bodies littering the ground.
“Yeah.” Katsuki nodded. “Yeah, I think it did.”
“Thank you,” Shouto said as he made his way to their side. “It was what we needed.”
Izuku nodded.
“Let’s get our wounded treated,” Katsuki said, shaking himself into action. “Get a team ready so we can bury the dead. On both sides, if needed.”
“And then?” Shouto asked, watching Katsuki.
‘And then we sleep and prepare to do it again.” Katsuki shrugged. “Go find your people, Shouto. Make sure they’re okay.”
Shouto watched Katsuki for a long moment, though for what, Katsuki had no damned idea before nodding. “I’ll see you shortly.”
Katsuki coughed as Shouto walked away, his side aching at the harsh movement. He hissed in a breath, hand going to the wound.
“Kacchan?” Izuku pulled his hand away from the wound. “You’re one of the wounded. Let’s get you fixed up.”
“I have shit to do, nerd.”
“Curing wounds won’t take long. Come on, handsome. For me?” Izuku’s jaw had a stubborn tilt to it, even as his eyes pleaded.
“Fine,” Katsuki conceded. “Let’s get it done.”
“Follow me. We’re not that far from camp.”
And they weren’t that far from Coburn. Katsuki hoped this war was almost done. It already promised to be one of the bloodiest in his history. No, probably was the bloodiest. He was beyond ready to go home.
Damn Shouto and his throne.
“Kacchan?”
“Coming, shortstack.”
Almost there.