Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Going there without someone to watch your back is stupid. I thought you still had a brain. Don’t tell me Eijiro actually beat it out of you.”

“Fuck you,” Katsuki snapped. “I can crush him with a hand tied behind my back. There isn’t a being alive who can beat me.”

“Yes, you’re the best.” Mina rolled her eyes. “At least let me go with you.”

“Ha. Not fucking happening. I’m not an idiot-”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Shut up and let me finish.” Katsuki bared his teeth, anger simmering right below his skin. “He’s playing a game, stalling for time. If he wants to bet his kingdom on this stupid idea that he has my mate hiding somewhere, let him. I show up alone and prove I don’t consider him a threat. When we meet them on the battlefield, we destroy them. What the fuck am I supposed to be afraid of anyway? His pathetic excuse for an army?”

“I don’t want something to happen to you because you got cocky!” Mina growled, closing the distance between them with quick strides, eyes flashing. “So what if he thinks you’re weak? He’s already underestimating everything else!”

“I don’t need babysitters, they’ll get in my way. Trust me, damn it.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust,” Mina sighed, folding her arms across her chest. “Fine, I know when I’m not going to change your mind. But you better come back, Baku. I’m not going home without you. The others would never forgive me.”

“Don’t worry, I’m coming back.” Katsuki shook his head. “You idiots would be lost without me anyway.”

“Ha.”

Katsuki smirked and stepped away from Mina, striding over to the horse standing patiently nearby. He wanted to get farce over and done with. He had a kingdom to conquer and a people to rule back in his own home of Othya.

He had done his research before moving against Hisashi. Sniycia had conquered some neighboring countries in the last thirty or forty years under his rule, but it seemed like it was through mergers of some kind, rather than outright force. Sniycia’s military was bordering on pathetic, with only enough soldiers to enforce their borders, and the common person had no idea how to fight. They poured most of their resources into education, but only for the right people. They were well off, alchemy had seen to that. Admittedly Hisashi did have some of the best alchemists in the world residing in his kingdom, including Toshinori Yagi, who had made profound breakthrough in multiple uses for medicinal alchemy. One of the reasons Katsuki had turned his gaze on Sniycia was due to those very discoveries. He could use a few good alchemists, and he wasn’t interested in continuing to fill Hisashi’s coffers buying the product. Not when Katsuki could just take what he wanted.

He couldn’t fucking believe that Hisashi was trying to stall for time by offering him the chance at a mate when he should be begging Katsuki for his life. Katsuki had the superior forces, and his people were born and taught to be warriors. There was no way that Sniycia could hope to stand up to Othya in combat. And Hisashi should have figured out by now that Katsuki didn’t make deals, or alliances, or compromise in any form. He conquered, executed the royal family, and took over completely. Hisashi was delusional if he thought this time would be any different, no matter what he was offering.

Mate. Fucking unlikely.

“See you soon. You’re in charge until I get back.” Katsuki swung up onto the back of the horse, taking reigns in hand. “Don’t fuck anything up too badly.”

“I’ll tell Kami that means I’m your favorite. He’ll be crushed.” Mina smiled, but he could tell that it didn’t reach her eyes. He’d known her most of his life, remembered finding her in a clearing when he was six. He had been exploring with Eijiro when they had stumbled across her. She hadn’t known where she was or how she had gotten there. She had no idea how to get home. Katsuki had never seen one of the fae before, had no idea how to get her home, so he’d brought her to his. Now Mina was part of his life, his people. Katsuki couldn’t imagine not having her around to irritate him, like a sister would.

“Yeah, you do that. I’ll be back soon.”

Katsuki nudged his mount forward and met the escort sent by Hisashi at the edge of the camp. The man swallowed nervously before bringing his own horse around, leading the way back towards the castle. Katsuki couldn’t help but wonder what the messenger had done to get this job. Lost a bet? Fucked the wrong woman? The possibilities were endless, but unfortunately not entertaining enough to keep Katsuki’s mind off the upcoming encounter.

He didn’t expect anything to come of it, wasn’t sure why anyone would waste their time tempting him with a mate. Of course, the ruler of Sniycia could be plotting an ambush, but for some reason Katsuki doubted it. It didn’t fit with any of the knowledge he’d gathered. No, it seemed that Hisashi was certain he’d found Katsuki’s mate. So sure, that he was willing to bet his kingdom on that fact. In Hisashi’s mind, a mate was the only thing that could stop Katsuki from taking the kingdom and destroying the throne. Katsuki was more curious why the King of Sniycia so confident in his knowledge. Had alchemy told him? Was he guessing?

But what would his mate be doing in Sniycia, of all places? That was assuming that Katsuki had some fated person that he was meant to be bonded to for the rest of his life. Having a mate was supposed to be a glorious thing. The gods had blessed the people of Othya with these bonds when the country was new, eons ago. Those who found their mates were blessed with increased senses and strength, as well as their perfect partner. Or, that was supposed to be how it worked until a god the people of Ashax prayed to intervened. It was one of the first stories that every child of Othya was told, maybe to prepare them in case any of them found their mate.

According to the story, the people of Ashax had feared the power that came with mating. Othya had been known for its warrior people even then, with superior strength. Frightened of Othya subjugating and conquering the known world, Ashax prayed and offered sacrifices to Naxdohr, their god of vengeance and war. They had begged for his intercession, offered him anything he desired in return. Naxdohr had answered their petitions and had cursed the people of Othya. He turned the blessing of their own gods into a bitter curse. He decreed that tragedy would follow once someone was mated. No matter how they fought, or how far they ran, grief and horror was all that awaited someone when they found their mate.

And the major deities of Othya? They turned their backs on their people, allowed the curse to stand. It was said they claimed that the people had become greedy, reached for too much. The curse would stand as their punishment. No one knew how to reverse it, or break it, without divine intercession. And who fucking knew what the gods were looking for? Part of the tale said there was some way to break it, a hope passed down from the gods in their last moments of generosity. But no one knew where it was or what it had said. Which was helpful.

Both Mina and Denki had argued against him going to this meeting, on the off chance that he would find his mate. Arrogant and reckless, they had said. Katsuki had scoffed. He wasn’t going to find a mate, didn’t really believe there was a divine intended soulmate or whatever for him here of all places. There was no risk, because it wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t being arrogant if he was fucking right.

Honestly, Katsuki would have called it an old story, garbage created to scare little kids when they were too young and stupid to know anything about the world around them. Unfortunately, he’d seen that tragedy strike every mated pair he’d ever come across.

It had killed his parents. He’d been seven when the disease had swept through Othya, ravaging the population. His parents, Eijiro’s parents, and too many others to name, had been taken, as easily as Katsuki could blow out a candle. Katsuki would never understand how the gods could allow that kind of shit or worse every time, turning something joyous into something terrifying, while power-hungry fucks got away with anything they pleased. How the fuck was that fair?

Yeah, those higher gods could fuck themselves for all Katsuki cared. He didn’t need their blessings or their help. He was going to make Othya a power again, and he’d do it without giving the credit to anyone else. He had spent nearly the last ten years devoting himself to making his people stronger, healthier, safe again. Everything he’d done, he had done for those who called him king. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that it wasn’t his blood alone that made him a ruler. It was the people he ruled, who listened when he spoke. If he couldn’t take care of them, he wasn’t much good.

And Katsuki was the damned best. Without any gods interfering and meddling, and without some fucking mate.

So let Hisashi waste his time presenting his whole fucking kingdom for all Katsuki cared. His men and women would be resting and waiting, preparing for the coming battle. All Hisashi was doing was giving Katsuki more of an edge. Not that he or his people needed it. But fuck, it his enemy wanted to hand him a tactical advantage, Katsuki wasn’t going turn him down. He’d use every opportunity he was given. As long as he won, who cared?

The journey passed quickly, picturesque meadows and fruit orchards giving way to the bustling capital city of Lemsari. Vendors called out to possible customers, children laughed and darted through the streets, friends and neighbors shouted over the din. Katsuki wrinkled his nose, the scents of roasted vegetables mingling with unwashed bodies, fragrant herbs, and sour beer. He followed his guide deeper into the city, their path steadily inclining the closer they came to the castle hewn from sparkling white and gray stone towering above them.

Katsuki supposed he was supposed to be impressed with the design of the palace, which seemed easily defensible at first glance. He wouldn’t have come all this way to look at some fortress though, wouldn’t be here at all if he hadn’t found a way around those supposed defenses. And honestly, who cared if the stupid castle was pretty or not? Mina had mentioned before that the castle in Othya was, with its graceful arches and open feel. Eijiro had agreed, pointing out that something could be defensible and still be aesthetically pleasing. Katsuki didn’t give a shit. He was glad they found pleasure in how nice their home was to look at. What Katsuki saw was very different.

He dismounted without a word, pinning the messenger with a glare the moment the man turned, his mouth open as though to speak. The man before him paled dramatically and took a quick step back, murmuring something to the effect that Katsuki could follow him.

Ha, fucking chicken shit had to be regretting whatever it was that had landed him this job today.

Katsuki followed the emissary only because he didn’t know exactly where he was going. The castle itself was a confusing labyrinth of corridors and chambers, courtyards and inner gardens. Katsuki hadn’t been able to get his hands on plans for the palace -he didn’t think that any existed currently- but he had an idea of where he would need to go when he returned, triumphant in his victory. Most of these fancy royal homes were similar in layout. It wouldn’t take too long to figure it out. Even now he was compiling a mental note of where they went, what turns to take and what ones were quickly scurried past, as though he wouldn’t figure out those led to more personal suites for ladies-in-waiting or royal family members. He wasn’t fucking stupid, no matter what Hisashi thought of him.

“P-Please wait here a moment. I...I will let the King and Queen know you are here.” The courier turned to face Katsuki, bowing deeply as he did so, keeping his eyes averted. “It will just be a moment.”

“Better hurry, before I decide to start exploring.” Katsuki grinned, knew that the expression was mean and sharp enough to cut. Playing with cowards wasn’t much sport, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He barely held back a snort as the messenger jumped, eyes going wide before he darted into what Katsuki figured was some kind of receiving chamber.

He glanced towards the window, and was caught off guard by his reflection staring back at him instead of cityscape below. Did Hisashi think his guests needed time to primp before they saw him? Fucking pathetic.

Katsuki knew that the man staring back at him was twenty-five, but he didn’t feel it most of the time. Surely his life had been longer than that? It felt like a lifetime since his parents had died, an eon since he had taken the throne from Noboru and set to fixing the mess the supposed King Regent had left behind. Had it really only been eight years? Fuck, it felt like longer. He felt older. Maybe life had a habit of doing that to those who held power. All Katsuki knew was that he was tired; far more exhausted than he looked in the glass reflection.

“His majesty will see you now.”

Katsuki turned to look at the speaker and paused, caught off guard for a moment of time. It wasn’t the same messenger as before, that asshole had probably fled the moment his delivery was complete. Instead a boy stood in front of him, somewhere in his young teens, dark haired and pale skinned. Katsuki wanted to ask if the kid had ever seen the sun in his life. The boy kept his gaze down, as though Katsuki’s boots were the most interesting things he’d ever seen. He motioned forward when Katsuki didn’t move, and the light pouring in front the windows catching on the metal cuff on his wrist, creating refractions on the stone walls.

He was a slave.

Katsuki’s stomach soured, a snarl building in his throat. He hated slavery, he’d abolished it whenever he conquered a kingdom that still practiced the disgusting trade. People weren’t tools or property, they weren’t meant to be owned by anyone save themselves. Fuck, and people called him a bloodthirsty tyrant? At least he didn’t force people into manacles and call them belongings.

The boy in front of him froze, muscles locking into place, fear stamped across every and limb. Katsuki resisted the urge to tell the kid it would be fine, that things would be different soon. Instead he strode past the boy and into the receiving room, reminding himself that soon he’d be able to order those fucking cuffs removed from every last slave that lived in Sniycia. He’d done it before, and he’d do it again. In fact, he eagerly awaited that moment.

He didn’t bother trying to school his features into some pleasant or diplomatic expression as he came face-to-face with Hisashi Midoriya, King of Sniycia, and his simpering airhead of a queen. The little redhead was clearly used to the spotlight, fawning all over her husband the moment Katsuki stepped into the room, making annoying little sighs and other noises of distress. As if Katsuki was supposed to give her his attention for merely existing, as if he was inconveniencing her by simply being here. As if he’d interrupted her daily routine and there wasn’t an impending war literally right outside her city gates. Clearly Hisashi hadn’t married this one for her intelligence or witty conversation. Katsuki still remembered Mina’s noise of disgust when the news had reached them a few years ago that Sniycia had a new queen again. Especially since this one was a fraction of her new husband’s age. She looked like she was younger than Katsuki was.

Since the little brat of a queen clearly wasn’t a threat, Katsuki turned the majority of his attention to his opponent, this man who thought he could stop a war by producing a fated mate out of thin air. Katsuki knew that Hisashi Midoriya was older than him by several decades, but looking at the man, there was little evidence of that age. Maybe alchemy allowed him to run from age lines or something. He was shorter than Katsuki, with very little muscle on his body. A crown of silver and gold sat on his head, bright and flashy against curled black hair. Katsuki knew better than to completely write Hisashi off as useless, however weak he might be physically. There was a intelligence in those blue eyes that Katsuki didn’t want to discount, not yet anyway. The two kings had never had a reason to meet before, what with their kingdoms an ocean apart and Katsuki busy running his own country and all, but he knew enough about the other king to keep him as the main threat.

“Your majesty.” Hisashi spoke first, his words polite and coated with a chilled animosity. Clearly Katsuki wasn’t his favorite person either. That was fine, the feeling was mutual. Plus, the dislike between the two of them would make it easier when the time came to cut off Hisashi’s head. It wasn’t personal, it was just a good policy to eradicate the royal family when conquering countries. There was a lot less chance of rebellion when there was no ruling body to put back on the throne.

“King Hisashi.” Katsuki inclined his head slightly, giving his enemy the respect due by his title, but nothing else. Katsuki didn’t bow to fucking anyone, and he didn’t plan to start anytime soon. But his instructor had beaten the different forms of proper etiquette into his head too often for him to completely ignore the protocol when greeting another king, even if that king was soon to be dead.

“I think we would both prefer that I not waste time with stiff ceremony. You wish to invade and subjugate my country, dispose of my family and take my throne.”

“I don’t wish shit,” Katsuki corrected. “I have invaded.”

Hisashi’s struggle to reign in his temper was clear in the tightening of his jaw, the fury that flashed through blue eyes. His queen didn’t bother to try to control herself. She sucked in a sharp breath, clearly one for dramatics as she placed a hand over her chest as if she had been mortally wounded, multiple jewels flashing in the sunlight. “How dare you!”

Her voice was shrill, grating on Katsuki’s ears. “Just stating fact,” he shrugged. “Making sure we’re all on the same page.”

“Yes,” Hisashi spoke again, taking control back from his queen. “You have invaded. I would instead like to offer an alliance between our countries. We can discuss the terms of said alliance if I am able to produce your intended mate. Does that seem fair?”

“Sure.” Katsuki folded his arms. “It’s not going to happen, but why not? You only get five chances though. I’m not going to sit here all day while you scramble to find some mythical bonded mate, got it?”

“Agreed.” Hisashi nodded, surprisingly quick to agree to place his country’s fate on five attempts to display the mate the gods had intended for Katsuki. There wasn’t even a guarantee that Katsuki had a mate, not everyone was born with that fated soulmate or whatever one wanted to call it. Only some were unlucky enough to find their blessing and curse in that one person who was supposed to be their match in every way. Katsuki figured it the chances of him having a mate, and having that person being here of all places, readily on hand, was remote. While Hisashi engaged in this farce, Katsuki’s people were getting ready for war.

“Go ahead.”

“Zinnia, please bring Aline in.” Hisashi flicked his wrist, motioning to a door off to the side. His queen, apparently Zinnia, huffed in displeasure but did as she was told. The beads of her gown scraped against the floor, the heavy fabric dragging behind her as she stepped out the door. Katsuki couldn’t imagine anyone wearing such heavy and constraining fabrics. Was that her personal flair for dramatics coming into play?

She returned within moments, a tall blonde girl following her into the room. Apparently it wasn’t Zinnia’s personal preference for heavy gowns that inhibited movement, but a kingdom-wide decision. The girl was dressed in the same fabrics, more glittering beads and jewels sewn into the material than most people probably needed in their lifetime. Katsuki couldn’t imagine wearing so much crap or forcing the women in Othya to do the same. No wonder no one knew how to fight here, they couldn’t fucking move. And did her waist look too small to be natural? How did they even do that?

“May I present my daughter, Princess Aline?”

Did Hisashi really hope that one of his fragile-looking daughters was magically going to be Katsuki’s mate and make everything better? This was a waste of everyone’s time if that was the case. The girl looked like he could snap her in half if he ever touched her. She was pretty, at least Katsuki supposed she was underneath all that fucking material, but she looked weak. She’d never survive Othya’s harsher seasons, would probably faint if Katsuki handed her a weapon of any kind. He smelled something overly sweet, like one of the purple flowers he vaguely remembered his father giving his mother from childhood. Thank the fucking gods that she wasn’t his.

“No.”

“Are you sure?” Hisashi countered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Was Katsuki making him nervous? Fucking good.

“I’d fucking know. No,” Katsuki repeated.

“Aline, please send Rozalie in.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Aline curtsied deeply before disappearing back out the door she’d entered through. Fuck, even her voice had been soft and sweet. Katsuki would’ve had no idea what to do with her. The women he knew could be sweet, when they wanted to be, but they weren’t delicate flowers that could be crushed by one wrong word. Mina certainly had claws, knew her own worth. And your majesty? Wasn’t the girl his daughter?

The sound of fabric dragging over floor announced the presence of another princess. Fuck, it was better than putting a bell on them. Just listen for the fabric, and someone would always know when they were around. Was this just the royal family? Did everyone dress this way? It seemed too complicated and fussy. Especially once the clothing was destroyed, or someone outgrew it. What did they do, funnel half of their wealth into their gods-damned textile industry?

“Your majesties.” The girl curtsied deeply again, addressing both Katsuki and Hisashi as she did so.

“This is my youngest, Princess Rozalie.” Hisashi smiled, but it looked a little forced. Katsuki wondered if that was because Hisashi had been that confident he’d find a mate in one shot, or because he was that fond of this particular daughter. Parents could have favorites among children just like with anything else.

Rozalie favored him a little with her dark curls and facial structure, though she had that slender height from her sister before her, and the same pale gray eyes. They probably both took after their mother, Katsuki thought he remembered hearing that both of Hisashi’s previous queens before the vapid Zinnia had died for one reason or another. She still looked like she was one jewel away from shattering apart, some delicate creature.

Although she could be afraid of Katsuki, to be fair. He was invading their kingdom, was known for killing the royal family when he did. It was kind of understandable why she might not want to be his mate, even to save her kingdom and her life. He breathed in to be absolutely sure, but detected only some sweet flower and something that vaguely reminded him of the chefs in his home baking.

“No.”

“I see.” Hisashi motioned to Rozalie, effectively dismissing her. He sounded frustrated, and a glance told Katsuki that Hisashi might be feeling the pressure now. He had three more chances, and Katsuki didn’t think he had that many options left to present, given the way Hisashi was reacting. There had never really been a chance to begin with, but Katsuki didn’t feel the need to point that out. Not now, there was no point.

The door opened again.

Katsuki looked over, prepared for another heavily-garbed and fragile princess or noblewoman. That wasn’t what met his gaze.

He was shorter than Katsuki, but his white-collared shirt and green vest did little to hide the muscled physique beneath the cloth. The tantalizing hints only made Katsuki’s fingers itch to touch, to map every inch with his touch, until he’d learned all of it, categorized every breathless moan and teased cries of fevered need from that throat. His hair was wild, untamed curls falling in every direction, the dark green of a forest at night. Katsuki met the other man’s gaze and was lost in vivid green.

He breathed in, on instinct this time, trying to clear his head and think for a moment. Scent slammed into him, filling his lungs, fogging his brain. Clean, like the earth after a long rain, bracing and fresh, like a new start, were the first tones. The warm muskiness of well-loved leather books rose to the surface, as did the sharpness of ink freshly spilled over a page. There was some obscure undercurrent that reminded him of the forest with a kick of spice, maybe an herb? An underlying chemical scent weaved its way through the other notes, fading and coming back into focus.

Mine. My mate.

Chapter Text

Izuku tugged at the cuffs of his shirt, anxiety a buzzing presence in his mind as his thoughts spun out in a thousand different directions, scenario after scenario presented before him as his active imagination ran rampant. He wondered why his father had wanted him, hoped that Hisashi wouldn’t see the small ink stain on his pants. Izuku had making some notes when the servant had come to find him, and he had been told he didn’t have time to change into something more formal. His father would be thrilled.

Now he was alone in a room off the antechamber, waiting for his youngest sister to come back through the door. He knew what was on the other side, he just didn’t know why he had been called. His father had made it perfectly clear that he hadn’t wanted Izuku’s opinions when they had been offered before. Their spies working abroad had noted that Othya was preparing for another war, and Hisashi had chosen to ignore the reports and Izuku’s advice at the time. What exactly did his father think was going to be accomplished now, with an army far superior to the one Sniycia kept, sitting at their doorstep basically?

Especially this king, who was known to be ruthless and had the blood of multiple royal families on his hands. The stories told about the King of Othya were not pleasant or reassuring. Even the tales about the people of Othya were frightening, claiming that they were cannibals and all sorts of horrible things. Izuku doubted that they actually ate people, those kinds of stories were likely a form of propaganda, but he knew very little about them as a whole. What he did know was that the king his father was entertaining in the other room had never lost a fight, had never launched a campaign that he didn’t see through the end, and was known for never breaking his word. He was renowned for adhering to his country’s code of honor, had never made a deal or promise he didn’t keep. And most importantly, he took what he wanted. If he wanted Sniycia, Izuku didn’t know of anything capable of stopping him. There were a few alchemical potions that he had been working on that might have been able to be used in combat, but they weren’t ready just yet. And now they probably never would be.

The door opened again and Rozalie slipped out, closing the door too quickly for Izuku to catch sight of anything within the confines of the throne room. She swallowed, hands fisting in the silks and velvets of her skirts. “He’s…”

Izuku pushed his own anxieties aside to focus on his sister. He opened his arms in a silent invitation for comfort, which she was welcome to refuse. Rozalie usually found solace in the touch of those she trusted and loved, far more than their other siblings did. She tried to keep her need for contact locked away, tried not to ask anyone for it, but she had confessed to Izuku once that it hurt to go too long without that kind of affection, like an ache under her skin. They had been younger at the time, and their father had brushed her aside when she had asked for a hug, saying he was too busy. Izuku had seen Rozalie’s face crumble, how she’d bitten her lip in an attempt to fight tears. He’d decided then to offer, so she never felt cut off.

The smile she gave him was weak, but she stepped into his arms, sighing softly as he hugged her tightly. She laid her cheek on his shoulder, her arms coming around his waist. “He’s frightening. He looks at you and it’s like a chill steals over your skin. It’s... it’s like looking at death, Izu, and I-I don’t want to die.”

Izuku’s heart squeezed painfully and his arms tightened further around his baby sister. He wanted to reassure her, to promise that she would be fine. She was his little sister, it was his job to take care of her and it had been since she was born. But he didn’t have the words, couldn’t give her the reassurances he wanted to without lying to her. There was no way out of this, not that he could see.

“You have to go in…” Rozalie stepped back, taking a deep breath. “I have to find Aline.”

“I’ll be fine.” Izuku forced himself to smile and caught Rozalie’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze.

His sister smiled wanly and stepped away, the rustle of her gown dragging over the floors marking her passage out into the hall and away in search of Aline. Izuku took a deep breath, tried to calm his racing heart. He could do this.

It didn’t help that he hated being summoned. He always felt as if he had done something wrong when his father called him here. He preferred his father’s office, which at least offered privacy from the court. In the receiving hall there was usually hundreds of eyes on him at any time and he always felt like they were picking him apart in a hunt for his flaws, laughing behind his back at every misstep. He was glad that being the third son allowed him to avoid court as often as it did. He could already see the open space in his mind’s eye, the walls of cold stone intermingling with windows, glass both stained and clear, allowing light and color to fill the space. His father’s throne sat against the back wall where everyone could see it, large and made from marble, the throne was intricately carved and set with multiple jewels until it sparkled in the light that poured from the windows.

And Zinnia would most certainly be there, another gem on his father’s arm to be shown off. Izuku wished he could summon up any sympathy for her, but he couldn’t. Zinnia used his father in equal amounts, was perfectly happy to use her title as a queen to throw tantrums and act as a spoiled brat. She treated people as though they were dirt beneath her feet and was always quick to remind Izuku and his siblings that she was of a higher role than them. Of course, that was despite the fact that she took no responsibilities on, was content to spend her days as nothing more than an ornament. Izuku would be horrified to find himself ever relegated to such a vapid and vain existence. It was an impossibility for him. Overall Zinnia tended to irritate him. And the fact that she was younger than him, was about the same age as his sisters…

He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t even really know what he was doing here. It wasn’t like he could stop the war now. It was already here.

He pulled open the large, heavy door to the receiving room and stepped inside.

Izuku’s gaze skipped past his father, drawn to the man on the other side of the chamber. He didn’t know if some part of his hindbrain was looking for the largest predator present, or if it was the charisma, but his eyes immediately went to the blond with his arms folded across his chest. The King of Othya filled the space, commanded attention in a way that Izuku’s father never had. He wasn’t smiling, it didn’t look like he knew how to. Everything about him screamed of power and arrogance. But...

Whoa.

Handsome didn’t begin to describe him. He had to be carved out of marble, he looked so perfect. He was dressed in trousers and a leather vest of dark brown left open at the front, and nothing else. If it was meant to distract, it was incredibly effective. It showed off his broad shoulders while leaving his nipped and toned waist visible. Izuku doubted that there was even an inch of him that wasn’t hard muscle. Izuku’s eyes trailed over what parts of the chest weren’t hidden by the vest, wandering over the definition in the king’s arms in a visual caress, drinking in details. Izuku wanted to touch, to see if the skin was as warm as it looked, to feel the thrum of life beneath his palms, the flex of power. His eyes slowly moved up to take in messy, ash-blond hair and shocking red eyes, where intelligence and fire burned brighter than even the stars in the sky.

Izuku didn’t pray to the gods, they were more abstract concepts in his life than anything else. But if anyone had ever been created in their image, it had to be the King of Othya.

The door thudded closed behind him. Izuku barely registered it.

“Izuku, I didn’t call for you yet.” His father spoke, and Izuku didn’t have to look at him to know he was frowning. Which made no sense, because his father had called for him, hadn’t he? Rozalie had told him that it was time for him...

“Izuku, huh?” The voice was soft with a rough edge. Izuku barely repressed a shiver. “What’s your job here, Izuku?”

“Me? Oh, I ...I’m an alchemist.” Izuku resisted the urge to shift his weight, instead meeting those scorching crimson eyes. He didn’t know if he could look away.

“Is that how you did it?” Othya’s king murmured, almost to himself.

“Did what?” Izuku asked, cocking his head to the side, curiosity rising to the forefront.

“Is he it?” Hisashi cut in at almost the same time, his voice a boom in the nearly silent hall, releasing Izuku from whatever had held him so enthralled. He’d honestly forgotten anyone else was in the hall for a minute.

A dark shadow passed over the blond’s features, anger crushing whatever softness Izuku had thought he’d caught sight of before. “Yes.” The answer was terse and heavy, almost painful to hear. Whatever had just happened, Izuku was almost positive that his father had somehow come out the victor.

Why did that thought almost sour his stomach?

“Izuku, leave. King Katsuki and I have things to discuss, don’t we?” His father sounded pleased with himself. Izuku felt confused, and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. He liked knowledge, liked knowing what was going on around him. He couldn’t fight the growing pit in his stomach without that understanding. He was missing something, and he wanted to know what it was.

“Excuse me?” Katsuki growled, eyes narrowing. “Isn’t this his life, too?”

His life? What was going on?

“Izuku.” Hisashi snapped, voice sharp and promising all sorts of retribution if he wasn’t obeyed.

“Yes, your majesty.” Izuku forced himself to speak, bowing to all three of the monarchs in the hall. He turned on his heel, compelled himself to walk out the door he’d come in only minutes ago. He wanted to know what they were talking about, felt the need to arm himself with as much information as possible. They were talking about his life apparently; didn’t he have a say? Didn’t he have a right to know?

Yes, he did.

He closed the door behind him, the solid thud effectively cutting him off from anything that might be going on within the receiving hall. Which was fine, Izuku didn’t plan to press his ear to the door in an attempt to hear what was being discussed. He had grown up roaming the halls of this palace, discovered its secrets with several of his siblings over the years. He had learned what routes to take when he had wanted to be a wraith in his own home, when he had felt it would be better to be a ghost, unseen and unheard by anyone save the servants and slaves. Now it was put to good use as Izuku wound through corridors and narrow passageways where he had to turn sideways to fit, unknown to most of the nobles and royals who called the castle home.

It took precious minutes -far more than he wanted it to- to thread his way through the passages back around to the receiving hall. Dust coated the rough stone floor, with only the occasional footsteps to show that anyone even remembered this very confining space existed. This was an entrance to the hall for servants and slaves that had fallen into disuse as time passed and other, more practical options had been created. It placed Izuku almost directly behind Katsuki, but since the enemy king didn’t know that this existed, that wouldn’t be a problem. The wall was thinner here with the door, allowing Izuku to listen. He used to listen to court with his older siblings and later his sisters when they hadn’t been allowed at court save for holidays because they were too young. Izuku missed that.

He stepped closer, concerned by the silence. He should have heard something by now...

“You have to be fucking kidding me!”

Katsuki’s voice was like an explosion in the alchemy lab, unexpected and full of sheer power. There was rage there too, a fury that seemed barely contained. From everything Izuku knew about the people of Othya, they were a violent and bloodthirsty race. Was their king attempting to hold himself back from physical violence? Why?

“Those are my terms. I think it’s a fair trade, don’t you?” There was his father, sounding far too satisfied and arrogant, given he was speaking to the king who had brought an army to their shores, was ready to take their kingdom, and murder their whole family. What did his father know what Izuku didn’t? What was he missing?

“What makes you think I’m going to fucking agree?”

“He’s your mate.”

He was what now? Mate? He had heard about that, knew about it vaguely. He would have to do more research, but the idea of a mate was pretty straight-forward. How did Katsuki know Izuku was his though? What had given it away? Izuku hadn’t had that sort of sudden realization, so it was clearly one-sided. Perhaps this was something unique to the people of Othya? Had he heard a legend about this in his readings? He would have to check, perhaps speak with Master Toshinori about it. What did being a mate mean for Izuku? That was clearly what they were discussing. He had a right to speak! Although, if this somehow protected his kingdom, his people, could he say no?

“I’ll have him executed.”

The snarl that came on the heels of that statement ripped through Izuku, shook him to his core. There was no doubt that it had come from Katsuki, it had sounded too close, too raw and honest, to be Izuku’s father. “You’ll what?!”

“Have Izuku executed. I’ll order my men to lock this castle down until he’s found and his throat is slit. Is that what you want? His blood on your hands?”

...What?

Noise crashed through Izuku, like the sound of waves hitting the shore, a roar in his ears that blocked out everything else, mixing with the deafening silence. Had his father… Had he actually just ordered Izuku’s murder? Tears welled in his eyes, slid down his cheeks as they spilled over, a silent pain he couldn’t possibly put into words. Hishasi hadn’t been bluffing about that, Izuku knew his father too well. He would absolutely order his own son’s death if it meant that that death would destroy the enemy in his sights. Hisashi Midoriya always got what he wanted. And he had wanted to win against Katsuki Bakugou without ever lifting a weapon.

He wiped at his eyes, tried to scrub the tears away from his cheeks, but more kept coming. He bit his lip, repressing sobs with ruthless force, the taste of salt heavy on his tongue. He couldn’t breathe past the knot in his chest, a cold and unrelenting knowledge now sitting on his heart.

“You…” Katsuki seemed incapable of finishing the sentence, disbelief and raw rage in every syllable and breath.

“He’s your mate. It’s your decision I suppose.” Hisashi spoke so calmly. As though he wasn’t speaking about murdering his fourth-born child.

“Fine. Damn you, you fucking bastard, fine. I agree.”

“Wonderful. I knew we could come to an agreement. Sign here.”

“You’d really kill one of your own people?” Katsuki’s voice again, the rage an almost soothing balm to Izuku’s battered soul right now.

“He’s actually my son.”

Izuku pushed away from the wall and stumbled back into the constricting corridors and entwining pathways. He needed to get outside, away from what he’d just heard away from the pain and knowledge that now lay heavy on his mind.

“He’s actually my son.”

“Slit his throat.”

He slipped out from behind a nearby tapestry, stumbling as he ran straight into someone. He wiped at his cheeks quickly, locking the tears away until he was somewhere safe and private, somewhere outside of the palace walls. He didn’t want to deal with questions, he knew that his eyes were red and puffy, it was impossible to ignore the fact that he had been crying. He mumbled his apologies, tried to skirt around without seeing the other person. He just needed to get to the stable…

“Izu?”

He glanced up automatically, met Ochako’s worried gaze before he looked away. He had known Ochako since they had been children. She had been raised in the castle as an orphan, the heiress of a small plot of land that ran close to the capital city who while young, had lost her parents to some disease. Hisashi had taken her into his home and had added that plot of land to his own coffers in safe keeping until Ochako came of age and married. Everyone had assumed it would be Izuku she married. They had been friends since the moment they had met, so it seemed natural. Save for the fact that they had no interest in each other and hadn’t beyond some awkward moments in their teenage years.

“I…” He couldn’t make the words come. They stuck in his throat, clogging it as he fought further tears.

“Let’s go riding.” Ochako grabbed his hand, tugging him through the remaining halls out to the courtyard that housed the stables. She moved quickly despite copious amounts of fabric and her small stature. She hated carrying her own weight in beads, complained about Izuku’s quicker movements all the time. Now, she ignored greetings from others, impatiently demanded their horses be saddled, and acted like a spoiled brat, all to keep attention off of Izuku. He wanted to hug her, didn’t think he would ever stop if he closed his arms around her now.

“My Lady, it’s dangerous to go out right now…” one of the servants ventured.

“We clearly will not be going near those barbarians,” Ochako cut the poor man off, imitating the cold tones so many other ladies of court used. “We’ll ride to the south side. And I didn’t ask for your opinion. Are the horses ready?”

“Yes, my lady.” The servant bowed and stepped back, offering her the reins of her mount.

Izuku mounted his own mare quickly, watching as Ochako effortlessly hoisted herself into the side-saddle that had always looked awkward to him. She met his gaze, and nudged her own mare forward, leading the way out of the courtyard and the castle proper.

The trip through the city passed in a blur for Izuku, a mess of noise and crowd and scents. He couldn’t focus on where they were going, and so allowed Ochako to lead and instinct to guide him as he followed. His mind kept repeating the moments in the receiving hall, the conversation he had overheard, and what it all meant. What his father had suggested he would do if Katsuki hadn’t agreed to whatever it was that he wanted. Probably a cease of the impending war if he was smart.

They were out in the meadows close to the city before he knew it, hidden by a copse of trees that had always offered the two of them privacy. Ochako jumped down, her skirts tumbling around her as she adjusted. “What happened?”

Izuku dismounted, trying to avoid the answer for a few more minutes, trying to avoid saying aloud what he had heard. That only made it all the more real, all the more vivid and final, and painful. He didn’t know if he had the strength to do that.

“Izu?”

“My father threatened to have me executed if the King of Othya didn’t sign his alliance.” The tears came again, fast and hot and somehow more painful.

“What?” Ochako asked, shock coloring her tone. “Why?!”

“Because I’m his mate or something. I don’t know, no one explained anything to me, I overheard it in the forgotten chamber after my father dismissed me and I… Ochako, he really meant it. He would’ve…” Words failed him.

“Izuku…” Ochako’s arms came around him, holding him tight. No other words were needed, if she could have even found the words.

The sobs came finally, ripping him apart from the inside out, his body shaking violently from the force as he held onto Ochako, his world falling apart around him. He’d always known he disappointed his father, but he hadn’t thought Hisashi had been so cold, so uncaring, as to order the assassination of his own son. Izuku’s tears seemed like they would never end, but they did eventually slow. His eyes felt gritty when he finally pulled back, his lips chapped and tasting of salt and sorrow and an agony he couldn’t voice.

“Are you going to marry him?” she asked quietly.

“I…” Izuku hesitated.

“He’s frightening. He looks at you and it’s like a chill steals over your skin. It’s.. it’s like looking at death, Izu, and I-I don’t want to die.”

Rozalie’s voice rang in his head, her weight a phantom presence in his arms. She was his baby sister. He could save her life, the lives of all of his family, and the people of Sniycia if he just agreed to leave everything behind. He knew that he would be going to Othya, would have to leave everyone he had ever known to be some spoil of an almost war. But he didn’t really have a choice, did he? There was only one choice, at the end of the day. And that wasn’t even taking into consideration that his father had threatened to kill him.

“I have to,” he admitted. “But Ochako...He’s terrifying. He’s arrogant and I think he screams more than he speaks, and I’m not sure he’s ever smiled in his life, and…” He swallowed, overwhelmed at what was happening, what he was going to be doing.

“And I heard the people of Othya are bloodthirsty.” Ochako squeezed his hand, a silent support.

“Barbarians,” he nodded. “They’re terrifying, bloodthirsty, and violent. Everything I’ve heard says that it’s uncivilized and hell, and now I’m marrying the Barbarian King.” He snorted. How had this happened?

“Izuku…”

“He’s also gorgeous,” Izuku whispered. “And there was a moment where he was almost soft, and I thought… I don’t know what I thought.”

“It has to be better than here. If you’re his mate, he has to treat you well, right? Your father won’t be able to threaten you.”

“Maybe.”

There was just so many uncertainties now. Izuku didn’t know where to begin, or even how to begin tackling them. Or how he was going to keep it together when his father summoned him to his study to inform him of his impending nuptials.

And still those eyes of blood and fire haunted his thoughts.

Chapter Text

“One of the warriors found me just a few minutes ago. Told me a crazy story. About you coming back to our camp snarling and practically spitting fire. There are rumors you tore off a few heads and drank the blood of the fallen. You want to fill me in?”

“Go the fuck away, Kami,” Katsuki growled. He purposefully kept his back to the tent opening, hoping that it would be a clear indication of his desire to be left the fuck alone. He wasn’t in the mood for company of any kind right now, even the company of people he’d known since he was a child. He knew when he was in a foul enough mood that he could lash out at even the ones he cared about most. He had snapped at them before, what friends didn’t fight? But it was different this time. He didn’t want to say something he might regret later and he knew his temper was at an all-time high.

And because he had known Denki Kaminari since the two of them had been about ten years old, said childhood friend completely ignored the warning that Katsuki was not in the right frame of mind to deal with other people. The tent flap shifted as Denki pushed past it. Katsuki fought the urge to tell the other blond to get the fuck out of his space. It wasn’t going to work anyway. Denki had this annoying habit of picking and choosing what were orders from his ruler and what were suggestions from his friend. He knew when it was time to focus, he had never let Katsuki downi. But other than that, Denki made his own decisions about what was a command and what was just his friend talking. It was inconvenient to say the least. Annoying as fuck was more accurate.

The entrance flap rustled as it fell closed a second time.

“So, this is where everyone is.”

Fuck.

He could have gotten rid of Denki. It would have taken some doing, but Katsuki could have physically kicked him out if necessary. He could not get rid of Mina and Denki when they united against him. He didn’t know anyone who could when they combined their wills. Trying to get them both to leave him alone at this point was like trying to read with his eyes closed; fucking impossible.

“So, what happened?” Mina asked.

She was going to tell him that she had been right, fuck, both of them were. That he shouldn’t have gone, that he should have been more careful, kept his ego and arrogance in check. They were right and he fucking hated that. He despised the fact that he was the reason their kingdom was now in this situation. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have found the alchemist and none of this would have happened. Wouldn’t everyone he cared about, the people he led, have been better off? Now they were stuck with a treaty that Katsuki had had no choice but to agree to. Of course, if he hadn’t gone, would he have ever known about his mate?

His supposed mate.

“Baku?” Denki was frowning as Katsuki turned to look at them, temper snapping its leash.

“What the fuck happened? I’ll tell you what the fuck happened. I found my gods-given mate. Maybe.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” Denki’s frown deepened and he folded his arms. “I mean, good and bad, I guess, with the curse. Are you even sure?”

“What do you mean maybe?” Mina repeated sharply.

“I’m not supposed to have a fucking mate!” Katsuki exploded. “I don’t believe in that shit! It has never helped anyone! It fucking destroys everything it touches, and I don’t need a fucking mate. And even if I did! Even if I did have a mate, by some miracle, why is he here? Why is he in fucking Sniycia, and why of all the people in this blight of a fucking landscape, is he Hisashi’s son?! I don’t need this! What the fuck are the gods doing watching us from wherever they perch? Are they fucking laughing at me? Mocking me? This must be a joke! They landed me with this shitty nerd as a mate?!”

“How do you know?” Denki demanded, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “How do you even know?”

“You…” Mina seemed to be at a loss for words, her eyes narrowing into slits the longer she stared at Katsuki. “You said…!”

“I know what I said!” Katsuki roared. “I know! And I fucking knew then, damn it. It was like.... I saw him, and I breathed in his scent, and it just hit me over the head. It was magic, it doesn’t have to making sense now does it?” Except Katsuki liked when things made sense. He believed in the gods but he hadn’t had a lot of magic in his life up until now. It had been hard work and blood that had gotten him to where he was now. Even when he knew magic, it wasn’t this. Denki worked with magic as a mage but it wasn’t the same kind of magic. Katsuki had read some of those scrolls and books that Denki struggled to memorize. The actual ability to use the spells eluded him, but he understood the ideas behind them. This didn’t make sense! This was…

“What was the maybe? You either find your mate or you don’t.” Mina stepped closer. “Katsuki, what happened?”

“Alchemist,” Katsuki growled. “Hisashi had his fucking win. They must’ve messed with his scent and my mate-tell reacted. I don’t know how the fuck they did that, but it makes sense. It got Hisashi everything he wanted. Now I can’t move on his kingdom. He gets his fucking treaty. And I get stuck with a not-mate that my body thinks is my mate.”

“That...Is that even possible?” Denki cocked his head, blond hair falling into his eyes. “I mean how would you even go about doing that?”

“Why can’t we just take your mate and take over anyway?” Mina demanded. “We have the superior army. We take your mate, assuming he is your mate that is, and we proceed to conquer. Why not?”

“Hisashi threatened to kill him then and there if I didn’t agree to his fucking alliance terms or whatever he was calling them. And before you suggest kidnapping the shitty nerd, he also told me that he has a black mage or whatever you call it that can kill Izuku from afar if I try something. No way to tell if he’s lying right now.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair, trying to cling to his rage and frustration at the situation. He didn’t want to remember the sharp intake of breath from behind the wall at Katsuki’s back. He didn’t want to think about it right now. Far better to focus on the fury that had fueled him for so long, that had allowed him to accomplish so much.

“What were the terms?” Mina asked quickly, drawing his attention back to the conversation. Why did it have to be such a bitch of a question though?

“Not now.” Katsuki shook his head, unable to voice the so-called terms of the treaty or whatever that thing had been. He couldn’t tell Mina or Denki that not only had he been foolish while wrapped up in his conceited pride, but that he had injured his country in doing so. He had put his people in this situation, had walked blindly into that throne room so sure that there was no way Hisashi had his mate hidden within his castle. He had been wrong, so very godsdamned wrong. Now his kingdom would pay the price for his arrogance, for his utter certainty that there was no way he had a mate. Or, that if he did, that mate was here of all places. He should have paid more attention to the curse, to the information on Hisashi, to anything except his own confidence. He had wondered how Hisashi took over other kingdoms with such ease and now he knew. Blackmail and bribery, tricks, those were the tools Hisashi used. Underhanded and cowardly methods.

“Fine.” Mina huffed. “So now what?”

“Now, I guess I fucking get ready for a wedding instead of the conquest I wanted,” Katsuki snapped. “To some overdressed fop who probably has no idea how to hold a weapon of any kind. He’d probably think the sword was going to bite him or something. Fuck. And the prissy asshole whines about having to marry a barbarian. This is going to be the fucking best.”

“Barbarians?” Mina snorted in disbelief. “He called you a barbarian to your face? He has courage at least.”

‘Nah, heard him bitching to someone. As far as my mate’s concerned, we’re savages.” Katsuki shrugged, as though the words meant nothing. As though hearing those words fall from his mate’s lips hadn’t meant anything. And they fucking didn’t.

“Is he ugly? It’s a fair question!” Denki held up his hands as Katsuki and Mina turned to glare at him at the same time. “Baku’s the only one who saw him! I’m allowed to be curious about our king’s new consort!”

“He’s not my fucking consort,” Katsuki sneered. “That takes fucking trust. He’s just this...thorn I’m now afflicted with. But no,” he ground his teeth. “He’s not bad to look at, I guess. If you strip him of like, ten layers.”

“Good! So just look at it this way: it’ll be a conquest of another kind!” Denki flashed a grin, lightning fast and just as bright. “Mate or not, you can enjoy your wedding night, yeah?”

“Time to go!” Mina grabbed Denki and tugged him out of the tent as Katsuki lunged for him, a snarl ripping from his throat. “We’ll be back in a bit with dinner. We can talk more then!”

“Fucking idiot,” Katsuki muttered, turning away from the tent opening. He didn’t need to be thinking about his sex drive, not after the mess he had landed his kingdom in. Fuck, what had he done?

“Baku?”

Katsuki turned around again and met Mina’s watchful gaze. She always gathered more than was said aloud. He hated that she had always seemed to see things he never wanted to admit. She just somehow knew, in a way that Eijiro and Denki and Hanata had rarely picked up on. He could hide things from them if he had to. He had been told he kept his own council too often when he was growing up. He made a decision and acted on it, he didn’t talk a subject to death. Mina had alway understood when he was holding something back though. She rarely pressed, she just gave him this look. It was probably part of her fae heritage, just being able to glance at someone and know that they were holding something back. It was creepy sometimes.

“What?”

“I know you’re furious, and you have every right to be. I know there are things you aren’t telling us. You won’t be able to sit on them long. But remember, this could be more than it appears. Maybe he is your mate and everything you need. I know you don’t believe in romance,” she hesitated, an old pain flaring and smothered in the next heartbeat. “But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t believe in you. I… You know I don’t remember a lot, from before you found me. But I do remember that the fae don’t believe in impossible. Nothing is unbreakable. Not destiny, not curses, and not hearts.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got you,” he nodded, unable to put his gratitude for everything Mina did for him into words. “Go keep the idiot away from me for a while.”

“Just remember what I said.” The tent flap closed behind Mina a second time and the sound of boots scuffing against the ground faded as she walked away. People shouted and laughed, the sound of sparring and weapons clanging against each other filtered down from the impromptu training area that had been set up soon after arriving. The sound of camp seemed muffled from within the tent though, as though they were miles away. Around him men and women who followed him, believed in him, and waited for the order to attack. It was an order that he wasn’t going to be able to give.

Katsuki had worked hard to build Othya up again after he had taken the throne. Undoing the damage that had been done had taken time, and as far as Katsuki was concerned, was still a work in-progress. He wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a soul alive who would want to take on the forces of Othya. Every campaign had brought his people resources they had needed. It was less about his ego and more about making sure that Othya was protected and was considered a threat. That was his job as their king. Did he enjoy war? Not entirely. It was the means to an end and he was good at violence and combat. It didn’t matter that he gagged on the stench of blood and death when he was alone and it had coated his tongue, that he woke up some nights in a cold sweat from dreams that were endless battlefields and adversaries. This was what his people needed and he would give it to them. No matter the cost.

So now what? His mate had effectively tied his hands. He couldn’t attack without risking Izuku’s life. He’d also already signed the damn alliance, if that was what Hisashi was calling that extortion. Katsuki didn’t break his word because honor mattered to his way of life and sense of self. Unlike Hisashi, clearly. Fuck, the other king had really threatened to kill his son.

Katsuki sat on the edge of his hammock, staring at the tent wall opposite without really seeing it. Izuku had heard his father threaten to kill him, had heard him fucking mean it. Katsuki had known he was there. The wall the prince had been behind had been at Katsuki’s back. The mouthwatering scent had returned, announcing his presence like a beacon to Katsuki. For a moment in time Izuku’s nearness has calmed Katsuki’s temper and cleared his head, like a breath of fresh air. And then Hisashi had opened his mouth again and whatever peace Katsuki had found was lost. And apparently having a mate had come with some built-in, vicious, protective streak, because all Katsuki had wanted to do was drag the alchemist into his arms and promise him everything would be fine.

Hisashi would have killed his own son. And for what? To keep him from Katsuki? What would have been stopping Katsuki from continuing his take over when Hisashi’s only bargaining chip was dead? Not that Katsuki had been able to think clearly or use that against the other king. The scrabbling beast that had roared to life inside of him the minute he had seen Izuku had been snarling at the idea of his mate being threatened. All the creature within him had wanted was to protect his mate at any cost. There were few things that were too high a price for Katsuki to agree at that point.

And now he would pay it. Him, and everyone else in Othya or the territories that Katsuki controlled. All because Izuku was his mate.

Heh. Some godsdamned mate. Izuku didn’t even want him.

He’d nearly crawled out of his skin trying to get out of that throne room and track his mate down. Hisashi had been more than happy to gloat over his success and rub it in Katsuki’s face. Once the other king had known he had won, he had been quick to throw insults and barbs at Katsuki, his nasty nature on full display. It had been difficult not to lash out, to put Hisashi in his place. He could practically hear the crunch of Hisashi’s windpipe, even now. The asshole was still a king, and technically Katsuki was an emperor. The difference was that Katsuki didn’t fucking care about the titles as long as he had the respect he had earned. Hisashi had decided that respect was optional. Right now, Katsuki didn’t have the ability to correct him. Not the way he wanted to.

It hadn’t been too hard once he had been free to find Izuku. His scent was everywhere in the palace but trail had been easy to follow, like embers that hadn’t yet cooled leading the way. Katsuki had simply needed to follow the clear path. He had wanted to find the alchemist and get a few answers, maybe get to know him a little bit better. He was supposedly his mate, anyway.

And no one deserved to hear their parent threaten their life the way Izuku had. Katsuki would treat his people’s lives that casually, as though they were pawns to be thrown away at the drop of a hat. That wasn’t how being a king worked. Or, not how it should anyway. A king served his people before anything else, was only served as he served. It had been beaten into his head multiple times as he’d trained to become a king and had been shoved down his throat in other ways. And hell, it wasn’t like Katsuki cared the prince had been eavesdropping. It was Izuku’s life after all. Katsuki had wanted him to stay in the first place.

He had found the nerd outside the city walls, in a small, pretty clearing mostly hidden from view by trees. Katsuki had intended to dismount and announce himself, give the two of them to a chance to meet without the watching eyes of Izuku’s father and step-airhead. He didn’t know what he had been thinking, he probably hadn’t been. He had been giving into the beast inside of him that had been demanding his mate, demanding to see him.

And then…

“He’s terrifying. He’s arrogant and I think he screams more than he speaks, and I’m not sure he’s ever smiled in his life, and…”

“And I heard the people of Othya are bloodthirsty.”

“Barbarians. They’re terrifying, bloodthirsty, and violent. Everything I’ve heard says that it’s uncivilized and hell, and now I’m marrying the Barbarian King.”

Katsuki hadn’t stuck around to hear the rest of that particular vein of bitching. He had been called a barbarian before, had been called far worse than that actually. And it wasn’t like he cared what the extra thought, she was just some nobody in this kingdom he had planned to take over. It wasn’t until he had taken over Sinycia, had she survived, that she would’ve become one of the people that he was supposed to protect. No, the words that had hurt had been Izuku’s. Which had pissed him off, because they fucking shouldn’t. Who cared what some alchemist, who may or may not have messed with his scent to produce Katsuki’s mate tell through some chemical means, thought? Who cared that he thought Katsuki was arrogant and terrifying, that his home was uncivilized? Just because they didn’t wear clothes that weighed more than a person didn’t mean they were fucking less than any other culture.

And it shouldn’t matter!

But it did, a little. Gods, this was going to be a fucking amazing mating, wasn’t it? Was this his curse? Having a mate, if Izuku was his mate, that didn’t want him?

He needed to find the gods and beat them to death.

Fuck dinner. He pushed to his feet. He was going to spar.

He wasn’t running from his thoughts or his inconvenient emotions.

He wasn’t.

Chapter Text

He just wanted this night to end.

The feast and dancing that usually followed a wedding ceremony were fully underway. Sweet melodies drifted through the hall, mingling with the ebb and flow of conversation seamlessly, until it was its own presence. There were plenty of members of court on the dance floor, showing off the complicated moves that had been drilled into them since childhood. Many of them were young ladies and lords hoping to catch the eye of one of the royal family. Here, looking good together was far more important than liking one another. It was the idea that if someone shone bright enough, they might dazzle the court into giving them the world.

Izuku had never been interested in playing that game, and yet here he was. He usually tried to make an appearance before disappearing to his lab, or to go riding with Ochako. He was a klutz as it was, so it was better for his family if he wasn’t at the court functions tripping over his feet or over his words. He couldn’t slip away now though, no matter how much he wanted to. It was his wedding day after all.

He released a slow breath as he stared unseeingly at the sea of people spread throughout the hall, each one trying to outdo the others with their airs and sparkling accessories. There was an underlying tension in the air that haunted everyone, from the dancers to the gossips scattered throughout the ballroom. It was in the clipped words, the slight jerk to movements that were usually polished and smooth. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the distrust and whispered hostility was due to Izuku’s new husband.

That word: husband. Who had known that a single title could carry so much weight? Izuku had grown up with the responsibilities and privileges that came with being a prince. He had always known that being born to the royal family came with duties often unspoken but no less real. He was meant to sacrifice for his people, and he had always known that. He hadn’t chosen alchemy over the military simply to anger his father. Yes, his passion and curiosity had led him there, but there had been a logic to the decision as well. Alchemy was how he could help his people if given the chance and the time to learn his art. He had been aware of the weight that came with his title. The luxuries they were accustomed to came with the understanding that the Midoriya family would protect their kingdom when necessary, no matter what the cost. For all his abuses of power, Hisashi had never failed to keep his country safe and prosperous. This time had been no different.

Izuku just hadn’t expected the price he’d been demanded to pay. No one had asked if he would do it, it had been expected him. Upon his return to the palace that fateful evening, Hisashi had summoned Izuku to his office. Izuku had no idea how he had listened to the announcement of his impending nuptials without screaming and throwing every obscenity that he had ever learned. His father had ordered his assassination if Othya’s king hadn’t agreed to his demands, but Izuku wasn’t supposed to know that. He had been told that he would wed Katsuki, that he would leave soon after with strangers when the Othyans departed the kingdom. This was what he could do for his people, for his family. This was what he could offer, as a prince, as a son, as a person. His entire worth had been boiled down to this one act.

He didn’t give his consent so much as to voice his understanding of his expected role. Hisashi had made it clear that he wanted, and probably expected, Izuku to be his informant when he left for the foreign land. Izuku had nodded in understanding without exact agreement and had excused himself soon after. He had been numb since that night, going through the motions of his life as around him everyone else had scurried to and fro preparing for his wedding and for his impending departure.

It had taken a bit of time. No royal wedding could be thrown together within the span of a night, but it was evident his father had applied pressure in his own way. Within a fortnight the palace had been prepared for the wedding of their third prince to the invading king. Izuku had stayed almost pleasantly distant from the whole thing, as though it was happening to someone else. It was probably from shock, or some survival instinct to protect himself from the chaotic changes and knowledge of how he had gotten to that moment, of just what his life was worth to his father. Which was stupid, he would have been murdered if the invasion had proceeded as planned. What difference did it make who was threatening his life?

And what the hell was his life that the two people who had threatened to stop him from breathing were his father, and his now-husband?

The icy numbness had left him in a rush earlier this evening as he was presented with his wedding clothes. Reality had slammed into him with the force of an explosion, He was getting married. He was actually about to exchange vows with someone he knew only through reputation and had only seen once, for less than five minutes. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, his father had made it clear exactly what vows he expected Izuku to utter during the ceremony.

Helpless fury burned through his veins even now. He just wanted this to be done so he could go to his room and shut the world out, for just a little bit of time. He wanted to rid himself of these heavy layers of fabric. Of course, his father would choose brocades and velvets for a royal wedding. Izuku should have expected nothing less. Or maybe it had been Zinnia, because every inch that could be covered in gems, had been, while still just bordering on what she would see as tasteful. Amethysts and sapphires glittered even now as he reached for his goblet. He grit his teeth against the indignation that he had no choice but to bear. Even the dark blue accents couldn’t obscure the fact that his father had chosen lavender for his son’s wedding apparel.

Symbolism was everything in Sniycia. It could be used to have a full conversation without words, compliments and insults thrown with great care, knowing what others would take from the simplest of things. It was complicated to outsides, but it was second nature to the people of this country, particularly those who spent any time in the royal court, where the king made a game of it. Hisashi was very fond of using symbols and allegories for his true meanings, even while his words were smooth and kind.

Lavender was a softer shade of the royal purple. It was a color one of his sisters might be married in, should Hisashi ever find suitors to fit his plans. In putting his son in that color, Hishahi had made it clear exactly what he expected of Izuku in the ceremony, without ever uttering a word.

Izuku had never wanted to strangle his father more in his life. He was not some blushing bride, some damsel in distress that needed rescuing from monsters or protection from the world. He was perfectly capable of picking up a sword in his own defense, was more than this role that Hiashi was now shoving him into. He didn’t care what was best for the damn kingdom in that moment, had wanted nothing more than to show up to his own wedding in his well-worn and explosion-singed clothing. Heavens knew it was lighter too.

But he hadn’t, as much as he had wanted to. He didn’t know his intended well enough to judge his reaction, and as much as Hisashi might deserve whatever happened to him, Rozalie didn’t. Neither did Aline, or Isamu, or Haruka. It wasn’t their fault that their father was doing what he did best by manipulating everyone into the positions he wanted. He had gritted his teeth, dealt with another insult. What was one more? It wasn’t like he would be here soon.

It wasn’t fair that his husband had looked so amazing -and comfortable- in his tunic and finely worked leather vest. He had looked devastating, and Izuku had looked like some overworked pastry. Just his luck…

“We are here to join Katsuki Bakugou, King of Othya, and Izuku Midoriya, Prince of Sniycia. There are many things to say about marriage. There is much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, with each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time,” the officiant began the ceremony, his voice clear and ringing through the chamber.

It was silent save for his words, everyone in attendance focused on the two of them. Izuku felt nauseous, like the whole room was spinning around him. His numb acceptance had fled him, as had the anger for the moment, leaving him with nothing but uncertainty and dread. He had nothing to anchor him, nothing to keep him steady as the world seemed to tip on its axis.

“Prince Izuku, is it true that you come of your own free will?”

Was the officiant serious? Had he come of his own free will? He wanted to laugh and scream, because no, no he was not standing here from his own decisions. Yes, he had agreed, but what else could he do with death threats hanging over his head from both sides? With the promise of death for those he loved if he somehow found the ability to say no? It wasn’t as though Katsuki would spare his siblings or friends when he was dead. Why should he?

His voice was surprisingly stead as he spoke the half-truth. “Yes.”

“King Katsuki, is it true-”

“Yes,” Katsuki snapped, cutting off the man. “Get on with it.”

“I now ask you to exchange your vows, as tradition requires.”

Something almost akin to panic flashed in those red eyes for a moment before Katsuki smothered it. Izuku hissed softly as understanding washed over him. He had a feeling that his father had neglected to have anyone explain the ceremony in full to the invading king. Cultures across a sea were unlikely to be the same, possibly not even similar. Izuku swallowed, unable to watch someone flounder if he could help.

“You start, then I respond,” he explained, voice barely a whisper of noise. And yet Katsuki’s attention snapped to him, as though he had spoken at normal decibels. Nerves crushed whatever curiosity might have taken root in that moment and instead Izuku swallowed again, forced a smile for the stranger standing across from him who was about to become his husband. “Did someone give you the vows?”

He prayed to gods that he didn’t believe in that the answer was yes.

Katsuki nodded, and Izuku felt the knot in his chest loosen just a bit. They could get through this.

“I take this hand in mine, to be my own for all time,” Katsuki began, his voice clear and strong, sending shivers down Izuku’s spine.

“I take this hand in mine, to be my own for all time,” Izuku repeated. He gripped Katsuki’s forearm as he spoke, forgoing the traditional hand hold. He knew his father was probably grinding his teeth at the move and felt a moment of satisfaction. Katsuki’s skin was like molten metal underneath Izuku’s hand. Izuku didn’t know if that was because Katsuki ran that warm, or because Izuku’s nerves made his skin that cold.

“Through times of trouble,
Through times of rest.”

He could do this, Izuku reminded himself. He swallowed, hoping his hands stayed steady as he began his next line.

“In times of rubble,
In times of best.”

“I will be your sword, your shield
‘Cross blackest night and darkest sea.”

“I, your fire to never yield,
I, your restful serenity.”

Halfway done. So why was his heart slamming against his chest, as though attempting to break free? This should be getting easier, not harder with each line.

“When soldiers march across the land
You will I protect, you will I defend.” Katsuki shifted his weight slightly as he spoke, expression carefully blank.

“Though weapons sharp and armies grand
Upon my love, you can depend.” Izuku took another deep breath, the gems sewn into his clothing sending sparks of light dancing through the hall.

“I give to you my heart, my life
Our home a shelter from chaos and strife.”

“I give to you my heart, my life
Our home a shelter from chaos and strife,” Izuku repeated the line.

“Beyond Sea and Storm,
I will find you where you roam.”

Katsuki finished his lines, his voice never wavering. He showed no outward sign of nerves, though he was scowling in displeasure. He was clearly as thrilled to be here as Izuku was. Which did kind of help, if only a little. There was only the last couplet to return, and then they were done.

Married. He was about to give say the last vows to marry the man standing across from him. A man Izuku didn’t know the first thing about. All he had were rumors and stories of what Katsuki was like. He had no facts, no solid evidence save one moment in the throne room over two weeks ago. Who knew what that moment had meant, if it had even meant anything. Maybe Izuku had imagined it, caught up in the surrealness of the moment. What was he doing? What was he about to do?

Breath froze in his lungs and the room spun faster.

“Focus.” It was a whispered command, but it snapped Izuku out of his spiraling panic, brought his eyes to the ones the color of blood across from him. He swallowed again, grateful for the moment to ground himself, even if it was to this unknown future. He could panic later.

“Though pained and torn,
I will guide you home.”

“May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.” The officiant stepped in, continuing the ceremony with flowery words about the beauty of love and what this marriage meant for the two countries. Izuku barely heard it, kept his eyes locked on Katsuki’s across from him. It was as if there was some unspoken challenge between the two of them that whoever looked away first lost, similar to when Izuku had been a child playing with his siblings. This was different, more charged, but he didn’t break eye contact. He didn’t want Katsuki to think he was weak.

And some small part of him was afraid if he looked away the room would spin again and would never stop spinning.

“Izuku?”

It was knee-jerk to look up at the sound of his name, even when he wasn’t in the mood to deal with other people. He had to be polite, force a smile and act like the wedding and alliance were something wonderful, and he was grateful to be a part of them. He had already had several members of the court search him out to tell him how happy they were for him. It didn’t matter that everyone involved knew there was no joy in this union, that it was made in a desperate gamble to keep their country safe. There was an unspoken code of conduct to follow, and if they were lying through their teeth, at least they had kept up appearances.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to pretend to be happy for me.” His eldest brother Haruka stole the seat next to Izuku with a knowing smile. Haruka had their father’s coloring and bone structure and could have been Hisashi’s younger image if not for the straight hair he had acquired from their mother. Whomever painted his portrait once he took the throne at their father’s passing would have an easy time of it if they had studied the multitude of paintings of Hisashi for even a moment of time in their training. “I remember my wedding.”

“So do I,” Izuku sighed heavily. “Does it get easier?”

“Pretending to be happy? I guess,” Haruka shrugged, stealing a piece of bread from Izuku’s barely-touched plate of food. “I was luckier than you, though. My wife is happy to bow to my wishes. Somehow I doubt your husband is going to be doing any bowing or compromising with you.”

“Thanks,” Izuku growled. “You’re helpful. Do you… love her?”

“You asked, little one. I mean, I suppose I love her. Honestly, I’d have sent Chika over if she was here, she would probably have more advice for you. But since our lovely sister couldn’t make it due to some illness our newest niece has contracted, you’re stuck with me.”

“Joy,” Izuku leaned back in his chair, his gaze drawn to his new husband across the room. Katsuki was currently talking with several of his own people, who had shown up to the ceremony in light but finely-worked garb that Ileft Izuku a little jealous. It had to be easier to move in and more breathable than the monstrosity of brocade that his father had had created for him.

“So how’s the wedding night going to work?”

“The ...wedding night?” Izuku repeated carefully, realization dawning slowly.

“Well, there’s sleeping together, and then there’s sleeping together. Come on Izu, you know what I mean.”

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” Izuku admitted. He closed his eyes, as though that would shut out the realty now facing him. He had been so preoccupied with the wedding ceremony itself, and what it meant long term, that he hadn’t considered what came almost directly after it. He was supposed to consummate the marriage tonight, and he had no idea what to expect.

Was Katsuki attractive? Izuku’s body certainly thought so, regardless of any other aspect of the situation facing him. The attraction had been undeniable from the moment he had laid eyes on Katsuki. But thinking someone was attractive and actually moving on that was something not quite familiar. At least not when it came to men. He doubted his father would have been pleased to realize that one of his sons was interested in the same sex, and so he hadn’t done anything about it but look at the occasional visiting dignitary or citizen from the city. He had buried himself in his lab with his research and experiments, and that had been it. Few of his friends or siblings even knew about his leanings. Izuku had just shut the knowledge away.

And now he was supposed to have sex with his new husband, and Izuku had very little knowledge of what was coming. He hated being lacking in that regard, he was naturally curious. He wanted to know things, wanted to understand how and why things worked. This was not really the time for him to find himself without some tidbit to fall back on. And worse, he was apparently just supposed to let someone he didn’t know near him, touch him. He knew nothing about Katsuki, knew nothing about who he was as a person or a king beyond the rumors that swirled through the court at dizzying speeds. Izuku didn’t trust many people, and that trust had always needed to be earned. Too many people carried knives behind their backs and poison in their smiles here, trust was hard to win. Izuku had been kicked too many times, he knew that lesson well. Being attracted to someone and letting them do anything with him, to him, were not the same things.

What was he supposed to do?

“You’ll figure it out. You’re smart, creative. I’ve been told those are good things in bed. And who knows, maybe he’ll be charmed by a blushing nerd.”

“I hate you,” Izuku opened his eyes to glare at a grinning Haruka. “I’m glad you find this amusing.”

“If I don’t laugh I’ll probably find a way to kill our benevolent father.” Haruka shrugged and stole another piece of food from Izuku’s plate, as though he hadn’t just suggested murder. “Or my new brother-in-law. Your husband didn’t exactly endear himself by threatening an invasion and promising our execution if he won. And he’s taking you to some savage country, across a sea. It’s my job to protect you, and I can’t do it from over there.”

“I can take care of myself. But, I will miss all of you,” Izuku murmured, fighting tears that stung his eyes. He wasn’t going to cry at his reception.

“Write to us. I know you know how,” Haruka poked his arm. “You’re always muttering something. Put it to good use. I’ll make sure everyone gets letters.”

“I will, I promise.” Izuku forced a smile. “You’ll just have to tease me that way.”

“I will.”

OoOoO

“I’m not sleeping with you.” The words tumbled out of his mouth.

It was the first thing that came to mind when he laid eyes on the ornate bed, the door behind him closing with a finality that sounded almost as deafening as his racing heart.

“Huh?” Katsuki turned to face him, arms folded across his chest.

“I’m not- that is, I can’t…” Izuku trailed off, words failing him as he met harsh red eyes. He folded his arms, refusing to be intimidated or back down. Katsuki had called him his mate, right? That had to mean something, Izuku just hadn’t figured out exactly what it entailed yet. “I don’t know you, why should I?”

“Do you need the life story of everyone you fuck or something?” Katsuki growled, fingers digging into his biceps as though he was restraining himself. “And who said I even want you?”

Izuku could feel his face heating as a blush spread over his skin, staining it red. He was not used to such straight-forwardness, that wasn’t how his country worked. Was this just part of Katsuki, or was everyone from Othya like this? It was as refreshing as it was irritating. Izuku was usually fairly good at keeping his temper -time in his father’s court had taught him to keep it in a stranglehold- but Katsuki seemed to get right under his skin for some reason. He didn’t want to start a fight, this marriage was already going to be difficult enough without that, but…

Fuck it. Yes, he did want to start a fight. He had been bottling every negative emotion he’d had since the day the two of them had met. He was tired of being used as a pawn in his father’s games, and he was just plain tired. Maybe Katsuki didn’t deserve his ire, but Izuku was past caring. Besides, he didn’t know the first thing about his new husband, despite what the title should imply. Just because his body was more than ready to fall into bed with Katsuki didn’t mean that Izuku had to follow the instinct. And it was stupid, but he felt betrayed by his body’s readiness to give in to the possible pleasure. Didn’t he control anything in his life anymore?

It hadn’t occurred to him that Katsuki might have no interest in him in return. Maybe he had assumed that the desire running under his skin wasn’t one-sided or maybe he had thought that the title mate came with some givens. It didn’t matter though, Katsuki was right. He hadn’t given any indication that he was interested in Izuku, save for saving his life. That could have been his good deed for the decade as far as what Izuku knew about the king opposite him.

“Who I do or don’t sleep with, or how I choose them, really isn’t your business,” Izuku snapped. “Just because I said some vows doesn’t mean you own me. I don’t remember promising obedience like some dog.”

“You’re my fucking mate.” Katsuki stepped closer, eyes narrowing dangerously. “No one else is going to touch you if they want to keep their fucking hands. You’re mine, got it?”

“You don’t want me.” Izuku stepped forward, closing the space between them. “And again, you don’t own me! No one but me does, husband or not!”

Whatever Katsuki had been about to say seemed to die on his lips as he looked down at Izuku, their height difference only another thing that made Izuku irrationally annoyed at everything. He was waiting for the reminder that Izuku had come to the relationship as a prince rather than a king, that he was of a lesser rank, that he had been traded away from his kingdom to Katsuki like chattel, but it didn’t happen, the words didn’t come.

Silence stretched between them like a thread to its breaking point, tension underlying every moment something wasn’t said in reply. Izuku swallowed but refused to back down, anger that he had kept long at bay the only thing keeping him from collapsing at this point. If Katsuki hadn’t invaded, none of this would have happened. Had his life been perfect? No, but at least it had been predictable, had been his. He had liked working with his alchemy, letting his natural curiosity off its leash as he wasn’t allowed to do often. Would he even be allowed to continue his work now, as Katsuki’s husband?

“You’re right.”

“What?” Izuku rocked back on his heels, caught off guard by the answer. His father had never admitted to wrongdoing to anyone. Izuku had somehow expected Katsuki to be the same.

“You fucking deaf suddenly? I said you’re right. I don’t own you, and I ain’t gonna force you. Rape isn’t my thing.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. “But if you don’t want the rest of your life to be fucking miserable, you might want to think long and hard before you decide I’m the enemy you want to have. I don’t have to be.”

“I…”

“Washroom is over there I think,” Katsuki gestured to the door to the left, cutting Izuku off. “Go wash up or whatever you do. Don’t go to bed in that shit, you’ll probably suffocate or something.” He turned his back on Izuku, effectively dismissing him.

Anger fizzled without kindling to feed it, leaving Izuku feeling drained and exhausted. He hadn’t been sleeping well for weeks at this point, every shadow some threat in his own home that no longer seemed so innocent. He was constantly waiting for some assassin to find him. He hadn’t had a say in his marriage, who was to say he would’ve known if Katsuki was going to back out on the treaty, honor or not? Distrust was the very air in this palace and it was starting to wear on Izuku. He couldn’t keep up anymore.

He slipped into the bathroom and proceeded to contort himself into impossible positions to get out of his heavy brocades and velvets without assistance. He knew that it was expensive, that multiple people had lost nights of sleep to have it done in time for the ceremony today, but Izuku detested the pile of fabric and gems, was glad to be released from its hold. He ran a hand through his hair, grabbing a nearby loose tunic to tug over his head. He could sleep in this and his pants, that was fine with him.

He stepped back out into the main room, eyes immediately drawn to the bed and the blond figure already laying on it. Shirtless. Of course Katsuki slept shirtless. He had only been wearing a vest and trousers the first time they had met. Obviously he had no issues with showing off his body. Izuku wouldn’t be surprised if he usually slept naked… and his brain did not need to be going there now. He had an active imagination, he really didn’t need the fodder. Why did his husband have to be so handsome?

Well, better than the alternative Izuku supposed.

It wasn’t like he could avoid sleeping with Katsuki forever, could he? Did he want to? He had no idea anymore. Izuku had expected Katsuki to push the issue, but he hadn’t. Was that because he wasn’t interested, or because he was being a decent person? He had demanded loyalty, as though Izuku being his mate did mean something after all. Izuku made another note to learn more about this mate connection soon. It was clear that it did mean something, so he needed to know as much as possible. His curiosity had nothing to do with it… Had little to do with it. He should know if it affected him though. Also a problem for a later time.

Izuku slid into the bed, careful to make as little movement as possible. He was too tired to deal with the tense silence, even as guilt at creating the situation gnawed at him.

He swallowed against the oppressive weight of responsibility pressing down on him, the uncertainty of his future spread out like a blank piece of parchment. Every time he tried to sleep he found himself awake once more. Had he closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts? He might have, he couldn’t quite remember. Stress and someone next to him kept him from sleeping in more than fitful spurts. It didn’t matter, he supposed, there was no way he could go the rest of his life without sleeping. He would have to learn how to sleep next to his now-husband at some point.

He closed his eyes again, trying to fall asleep. All he wanted was to escape the day and his thoughts about the man next to him, whose body was radiating a comforting heat Izuku didn’t want to find so reassuring.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

He wasn’t used to another person sharing the bed with him.

Not overnight and not for any longer than it took to find pleasure and see them out. He was used to his space and he liked to sprawl out if that was what he wanted. Having someone there -having someone to share with- was different. This wasn’t a one-time thing that he could endure for a night, this was supposed to be forever. Or so the vows he’d repeated claimed. Katsuki didn’t have to stick to that, he could shove Izuku into his own room back home, but instinct denied that option, didn’t want his mate too far from him. Which mean that he was stuck. And this wasn’t like when he’d fallen asleep with Mina and Eijirou as children, all of them curled together after playing, too tired to find their way back to their rooms. The presence beside him now was solid, an adult, and too attractive for his own damn good.

Katsuki was determined to ignore that last part. Vehemently.

Bastard kept shifting and turning though, making it impossible for Katsuki to fall asleep. Every time he started to doze off Izuku moved, like he couldn’t get comfortable. Maybe the Sniyician prince wasn’t used to sharing his bed with someone else either. Katsuki didn’t know, and he didn’t care. Or at least, he told himself that he didn’t care. If he gave a shit, that meant thinking about Izuku with someone else, and that seemed like a great way to piss Katsuki off right now. The idea of Izuku with someone else made his blood boil. Katsuki knew that it was possible, the likelihood that Izuku had never had sex was probably extremely low. But he didn’t have to think about it and give his damn instincts more fodder. Fuck, he wished he could control his reactions to the man beside him. Actually, right now, he just wanted his new husband to stop fucking moving and let him sleep.

Izuku shifted again, features scrunched in displeasure as he turned again. Katsuki barely repressed a growl of irritation as he sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed, intent on getting a drink. Anything to take him out of this bed for even a moment, away from the moving and the temptation that kept him staring at the ceiling. It wasn’t like he was sleeping anyway.

A hand touched his upper arm, fingers skimming over skin and sending chills up Katsuki’s spine, pulling his attention back to his reluctant mate. Izuku blinked sleepily and offered Katsuki a half-smile. “You can’t sleep either? I guess that’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

Warmth that Katsuki didn’t want to feel washed over him and prevented him from pulling away from Izuku’s touch. He looked edible right now, with his hair a mess from his tossing and turning, the shirt of Katsuki’s he’d thrown on rumpled. He looked more like how Katsuki had assumed his mate might look if he had one, and less like the stuffed annoyance of a prince Izuku had looked like during the ceremony and following reception. Izuku looked softer, more inviting, and a hell of a lot more tempting than he had repeating vows neither of one of them had wanted to utter. But he also had shadows under his eyes, a testament to how poorly he had been sleeping. If Katsuki took a moment to think about it, he supposed Izuku probably hadn’t slept well since he had found out about his impending wedding.

“S’fine. It’s an adjustment period, not your godsdamned fault now is it?” Katsuki reached out and brushed a lock of hair away from Izuku’s face, instinct guiding him.

“Mmm…” Izuku hummed sleepily, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Fuck, he looked tantalizing like this, green eyes soft with concern and that smile curving lips that Katsuki wanted to see swollen from bites and kisses. He looked like everything Katsuki wanted.

Heat built inside of him, spreading through his veins slowly, eating away at his resolve. He had meant it when he had said he wouldn’t sleep with Izuku, frustrated and on edge from what felt like a day of being put on show for this foreign kingdom to poke at. He hadn’t wanted to deal with his possible mate, who had shown no interest in him in return. In fact, Izuku had made his opinion crystal clear the moment he had stepped into the room with Katsuki. Besides, why would he want to? Izuku didn’t have a mate-tell, didn’t have instincts urging him to claim his intended or to keep him safe. And either way, there were two options as far as Katsuki could figure. Either Izuku was his mate, or he was an incredibly skilled alchemist who had somewhere triggered the mate reaction by altering his scent. Could alchemists do that? Maybe, for all Katsuki knew about the art.

It didn’t change the fact that all of his protective instincts had come screaming to the forefront for someone he didn’t know and certainly didn’t trust. And he still wanted to soothe the pain he knew had to be hiding inside of Izuku after hearing his own father threaten to have him murdered, after he’d been offered as the sacrifice to save his kingdom from the supposed evil beast. The insults Katsuki had overheard still stung, but even that couldn’t stand against this building desire. He knew that these reactions might be false, that this could have been planned. It all seemed too convenient for Hisashi to have been coincidence. He knew all of that, but Katsuki still found himself wanting to be the person Izuku felt comfortable falling asleep with, to trust, even.

Katsuki didn’t even know why he wanted to do these things, couldn’t believe he’d really found his mate here. There was no way, right? He didn’t want to examine that too closely, didn’t want to take the time to look at how his arrogance had fucked things up for his own country, while possibly giving him a mate in return. He didn’t want to deal with the reason for these instincts, wanted to ignore that they overtook every rational thought, if only for a minute. It was far easier to fall into the heat and pleasure burning through him that had nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with lust. He wanted to know what Izuku tasted like, the sounds he made when Katsuki touched him just right.

Fuck it.

He shifted closer, closing the distance between the two of them and claimed those inviting lips in a kiss. Izuku’s lips were soft, a hint of some sweet alcohol lingering enough for Katsuki to taste as his tongue swept over them, an unspoken request for more contact that he wasn’t sure his potential partner would consent to. Izuku’s gasp was deafening in the otherwise silent room and Katsuki had to fight not to devour the noise or his new husband, hands itching to move beneath fabric and explore muscles and skin he’d only caught glimpses of before.

Izuku’s lips parted, his tongue meeting Katsuki’s in a tentative exploration that only stoked Katsuki’s hunger to new heights. He deepened the kiss, barely repressing a groan as he did, working to discover the little spots and movements that would make Izuku shudder and gasp again. The kisses started leisurely, a learning of one another as lust built like a fire in the back of Katsuki’s mind, crackling over his skin in an unseen inferno that was steadily burning away rational thought and things like patience. He knew that kisses weren’t going to be enough for him soon, he just wanted too much to be satisfied with a few kisses.

Katsuki shifted his weight again, one hand pressing into the mattress to hold himself up as the other slid under Izuku’s head, fingers threading through curls as his palm cupped Izuku’s nape in a possessive hold. His knee pressed between Izuku’s legs, pushing slightly against a growing erection. Katsuki hissed in a breath as Izuku arched up, his chest brushing against Katsuki’s, sending desire sizzling down nerves. Katsuki broke the kiss with a foul curse, control hanging on by a thread.

“Izuku.” His voice came out rough and impatient, frustration pounding through his body as he started to pull away, not meeting his husband’s eyes. Izuku had made it perfectly clear that he had no intentions of sleeping with Katsuki a few hours ago. That was unlikely to have changed suddenly, and Katsuki wasn’t interested in any non-consensual sex. There had to be a tub attached to this fucking room, right? He could find it and stay submerged there until the water froze his nuts off or he found his restraint again. He couldn’t find the words to explain, in fact he couldn’t find any words at all. He transferred his weight back, started to pull away to go hunt down the bath. Gods this mating was going to be hell.

“Don’t stop,” Izuku breathed with a soft moan, his body rolling up and pressing against Katsuki.

“Fuck.” What control?

Katsuki tugged the tunic Izuku had stolen from him up and over Izuku’s head with an impatient motion, tossing it aside, unconcerned with where it landed. He was far more interested in the skin now beneath his hands, the muscles and dips he could map with his fingers, with his mouth. He reveled in the gasps and moans that fell from Izuku’s lips, tucked away the knowledge that his mate was vocal under the growing list of things to consider later. All that mattered right now was that he kept those noises going. Katsuki had no intention of being the only one to lose control tonight, wanted to hear every sinful sound Izuku could make. They were Katsuki’s right, after all.

He pressed open-mouthed, wet kisses against Izuku’s neck, his tongue trailing over skin as shivers wracked the body beneath him. The taste of him was as addictive as the smell had been, indescribable and hooking Katsuki immediately. He nipped at creamy skin dusted with freckles like the sky had stars and grinned at the squeak of surprise that turned into a moan as he sucked away the sting. He intended to leave his mate covered in bites and hickeys, wanted everyone who saw Izuku to know that he was taken.

Katsuki’s mouth moved south, following a similar path to the one his hands had taken, pausing to taste and tease as he went. Izuku squirmed beneath him, his breathing harsh and shallow as it stole the silence from the room, filling it instead with the sound of him. Katsuki nipped at his hip bone, too impatient for more to tease and play for long. He wanted to devour Izuku, was content with lust dragging him under at the moment.

“Off,” Katsuki growled, tugging at the offending trousers that stood between him and his goal. “Off now.”

“I... Gods yes…” Izuku groaned, arching up into his touches again. Katsuki glanced up and met those expressive green eyes that seemed to see far too much of him, would see more than Mina had, if Katsuki wasn’t careful to guard himself. Now they were brimming with desire and a hidden mischievousness Katsuki hadn’t known his mate had shining through. “You have to get off of me if you want me to take them off.”

“Fuck that.” Katsuki took hold of the pants on either side of Izuku’s body and tugged hard, a feral grin curving his lips as he heard the rip of fabric. He would be happy to incinerate Izuku’s wedding clothes if given half a chance. He would settle for this.

“What are you-” Izuku gasped, struggling to sit up. Katsuki pulled at the fabric again, pleased as most of it came away in his hands this time. “Oh gods.”

“Much better.” Katsuki ran his hands down muscled legs, drinking in the sight of his mate lying beneath him, Izuku’s skin flushed and his chest rose and fell irregularly. Katsuki pressed a kiss to the bare skin of one hip, savored the shiver that ran through his mate’s body, breath hitching softly, almost too quiet to be heard. Had he found a sensitive spot?

He nipped at Izuku’s hip again, teeth scraping lightly against skin in experimentation as curiosity and determination mingled with the desire in his veins. He wanted to learn every weakness his mate had, wanted to find sensitive spots that Izuku hadn’t even known he had. Katsuki wanted break Izuku apart again and again as pleasure crashed through both of them, needed to become his addiction in any and all ways possible. If Katsuki was tied to Izuku through his mate-tell, he would make Izuku just as bound to him, through sex if in no other way.

Izuku didn’t bite back his moan in time, his body pressing into Katsuki’s touch, hips arching up to meet Katsuki’s mouth. The Othyan king grinned, feral and dangerous, before pressing his mouth to Izuku’s hip bone again. He sucked bruises into the freckled skin beneath him, adding to the marks now decorating Izuku’s body.

Mine.

Fingers dug into his scalp and tugged hard at his hair, groans and other needy noises filling the air. Katsuki growled, pulling back from the hip to glare at Izuku and was startled when he was met with a glare in return.

“What?” he demanded, fingers digging into Izuku’s thighs, kneading muscle. He would never admit it, but he loved that his mate wasn’t the fragile prince he had expected. Izuku had a strength to him that seemed usually hidden by his bulky clothing and perhaps his controlling father. Who was this man when he wasn’t off-kilter, his life thrown up in the air without any of his own say? For the first time, Katsuki found himself curious.

“Stop... teasing,” Izuku growled at him through heaving breaths. “Or I’ll take... care … of it myself.”

“Heh.” Katsuki lowered his head again, lips dragging Izuku’s lower abdomen, tongue darting out to taste, the salt of sweat and something uniquely Izuku dancing on his tongue. His touches elicited another shiver, another yank of his hair from his apparently impatient mate. “You’ll take care of it yourself, hm?” Katsuki wrapped his hand around the base Izuku’s cock and stroked up slowly, thumb brushing over the crown. The strangled gasp that escaped his husband’s throat was a gift in and of itself. “You want me to stop? Say it.”

“I... I will, if you... Mmm…” Izuku whined, pressing into Katsuki’s hand. “Move!”

“You don’t give the orders.” Katsuki smirked, lowering his head and tongue snaking out to taste the pre-cum leaking from his mate’s cock. He took the head into his mouth and sucked teasingly like it was a treat.

“Ah!” Izuku arched, hips leaving the bed as he pressed into Katsuki’s mouth, as though that would give him more contact, more of what he wanted.

Katsuki pulled back enough that Izuku gained nothing by moving. He waited until his husband’s body descended again before taking more of the shaft into his mouth, tongue flattening against the vein that ran along the length of the cock. Again, Izuku’s hips jerked off the bed with a needy cry and again Katsuki pulled away, relinquishing his hold until he was barely touching his mate, his lips pressed in a kiss against the crown. He repeated the motions each time Izuku moved, enjoyed egging him on only to pull back when his husband tried to take more.

Izuku dropped back to the bed again with a frustrated groan, hands fisting in the bedclothes as he glared at Katsuki, eyes shimmering with moisture. “What... Why…?” He couldn’t get a full sentence out and Katsuki delighted in that knowledge, in that loss of control.

“If your hips leave the bed, I stop. You sure you want to take care of it yourself?” His tongue closed the distance between the two of them, running along Izuku’s slit. Pleasure rushed through Katsuki’s veins at the half-formed curses and strangled noises that fell from his mate’s lips. He pressed a kiss to Izuku’s inner thigh as he pulled back, the taste of Izuku on his tongue an addiction Katsuki would never rid himself of.

“Please, please don’t stop…” Izuku squirmed beneath Katsuki, tempting him with every movement, every noise. How could one being be so seductive? Was this part of having a mate? Or was this a side-effect of whatever alchemy had done to match the two of them together through force? Katsuki didn’t know and right now, it didn’t matter.

“Are you going to behave?” Katsuki asked, hands running up Izuku’s thighs and down his cock, fingers dancing over the skin beneath his touch.

“You... don’t want me to behave,” Izuku murmured, green eyes smoldering. “Fuck me.”

“I will,” Katsuki promised. It was an easy promise to make, aligning with his own desires perfectly. He wanted to be buried in Izuku, wanted to hear the noises that the prince made when Katsuki spread his legs in preparation. Katsuki burned for that, which was exactly why he didn’t want to give in. He wanted to hear Izuku beg first, wanted to see him lose control completely before Katsuki gave in to what they both wanted. “When I’m ready.”

It was this unspoken battle between the two of them, a bid for control that should have set Katsuki’s teeth on edge in irritation. He liked control in bed, just like he did in his day to day life. He was the one who decided on the pleasures and the whens and hows. Izuku didn’t meet his expectations, didn’t react the way Katsuki thought he wanted. He challenged Katsuki in turn, created something more by refusing to back down and let Katsuki control the fuck. Katsuki wanted to say it angered him. He couldn’t. He was too turned on, too wrapped up in what the two of them were creating together in this moment.

“If fucking me is too difficult for you, I’m more than happy to-” The rest of the sentence was lost to a wanton moan that destroyed Katsuki’s self-control as he nipped at Izuku’s other hip bone. “Ka-Katsuki…”

“I like hearing my name on your lips,” Katsuki murmured as he pulled back, hands moving to gently spread Izuku’s legs apart. “Say it again.”

“Make me,” Izuku swallowed, a hunger that matched the one that burned in Katsuki’s veins flashing through his eyes.

“That a challenge, nerd?” Katsuki leaned over to grab the soft calfskin pouch left by his side of large bed, tugging it open and coating his fingers in the oil within even as he shifted back in front of Izuku. He pressed a finger in slowly with a smirk. “Because I accept.”

Izuku hissed in a breath, a flicker of discomfort moving across expressive features. “Careful…”

So he was a virgin. Katsuki ignored the part of him that wanted to beat his chest in satisfaction or something, shoved it aside with a mental growl. The warmth of that knowledge remained however, made him more careful in how he moved and stretched his mate open, more deliberate in his touches. Every move meant to cause only the most exquisite kinds of pleasure while preparing Izuku. Katsuki took his time, savored the breathless moans and whimpers as Izuku grew used to the touches. He squirmed beneath Katsuki, rocking back on fingers buried deep within him, crying out as Katsuki brushed deeper, hips coming off the mattress again. Izuku buried his hands in his curls, groaning in pure need.

“So vocal,” Katsuki murmured, voice hoarse as though he had been shouting for ages, as though he had been scraped raw.

“Fuck... please!” Izuku cried out again, noises desperate and needy.

“What was that?” Katsuki’s grin was feral as he curled his fingers again, aiming for that sweet spot again. Izuku keened, high and sharp, body moving to chase after the sensation as Katsuki pulled back a bit. The scent of arousal was heavy in the air, mingling with sweat and a heat Katsuki could practically taste. “Use your words.”

“Fuck me,” Izuku panted, meeting Katsuki’s gaze. “Now!”

Even now Izuku was assertive, demanding when Katsuki had wanted him begging. Katsuki wanted to devour Izuku, wanted to fuck into him until there was nothing but need and hunger, until Izuku didn’t remember his own name. Katsuki wanted to lose himself in this moment in time, freeze it in amber and keep it to revisit later. Somewhere deep down he had known his mate wouldn’t be easy to manage, wouldn’t give in to Katsuki’s orders with meek agreements. He had always known there should be push back.

“Bossy,” Katsuki growled, a large amount of oil spilling on the bed in his haste to lube his cock with one hand. His fingers slipped out of Izuku as he adjusted, shoving the pouch of oil aside, not caring where it landed. All he could focus on right now was the man beneath him, blood simmering as desire crashed over him, as it drove him forward. He wanted -no needed- more of Izuku, needed him in a way he didn’t know how to voice, had never felt before.

“Hurry up,” Izuku gasped. Katsuki’s eyes snapped up, drinking the sight of Izuku biting his lower lip, pupils blown wide with pleasure as his hand worked over his cock with hiccupped breaths, his skin stained pink from his blush. Katsuki swallowed, words fleeing as lust ripped through him and set him ablaze.

“Didn’t say you could touch yourself,” Katsuki rasped, hand closing around Izuku’s wrist and tugging it away from his dick. Katsuki spread Izuku’s legs further, sweat slick skin sliding over skin and muscle as Katsuki shifted again, lining his cock up with Izuku’s hole, anticipation a hum under his skin.

“Didn’t say I couldn’t.” Izuku swallowed, tongue darting out to wet his lips. “And you’re taking forever.”

“Is that so?” Careful to watch Izuku’s face for signs of discomfort, Katsuki pressed forward. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his partner. He let Izuku’s body and expression be his guide on how fast to push, when to pause. With a shuddering exhale, he buried himself deep

“Move…” Izuku groaned. “Katsuki, please.”

There were no more words exchanged as Katsuki gave into his mate’s request. Harsh breathing filled the space between them as they moved, mixing with the sound of skin slapping against skin as Katsuki thrust forward, gritting his teeth in an effort to control his tempo, to build up instead of take everything from the beginning. There would be a time for harsh and fast, but it wasn’t right now. Or, at least, he told himself that. Izuku seemed determined to destroy the last of his restraint in everything he did, eye closed as pleasure flitted across his face, fingers digging into Katsuki’s upper arms as though to anchor himself there, nails cutting like crescent moons into skin. The noises that tumbled from his lips only egged Katsuki on, sinful moans and mewls of desire that were better than any music Katsuki had heard in his life. He wanted more, needed more.

Izuku shifted beneath him as Katsuki thrust deeper, sending shocks of lightning through Katsuki’s nerves, shattering the last shackle of his self-control. His hips snapped forward as his rhythm disappeared under an avalanche of need, lust driving him forward as Izuku’s moans turned to soundless cries and hiccups of breath as he tried to match Katsuki’s relentless pace.

Familiar tension coiled in Katsuki’s body, a building crescendo that would end with melting pleasure. At some point his hand had wrapped around Izuku’s cock again, now stroked him in time to whatever rhythm that still existed as the two of them hurtled toward the edge of some cliff together.

“Izuku,” a breathless cry torn from Katsuki’s throat as the tension inside of him shattered under the weight of an explosion, molten heat sweep through him and obliterating everything else. He faintly heard Izuku’s cry as he tensed around him, body shaking as he was consumed by an orgasm, seed spilling hot and sticky over his stomach, over Katsuki’s hand.

He slid out of Izuku with a hiss and collapsed, panting and spent, next to him. It felt like his insides had been turned to liquid, as though they would never bear his weight again, all stress having fled for a blissful moment in time. He reached out blindly and tugged Izuku into his arms, ignoring the sticky mess they both were, ignoring that there was probably oil soaking the bed clothes or dripping on the stone floor somewhere. For just a second, there wasn’t a Sniycian prince and a king of Othya. There was Katsuki and Izuku.

Not that it would last.

“Not sleeping with me, huh?”

“Shut up.”

Chapter Text

They had left Sniycia today.

The day after the wedding dawned fair and bright, the perfect day when a journey was planned. Izuku would almost rather it be storming, would almost prefer the weather allow him another day with his siblings and friends. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, didn’t know how he had gotten through the farewells without breaking down. He knew his father had expected him to be stoic and handle it. Hisashi would have made some snide comment about how he hadn’t realized he had another daughter if he saw the tears fall that Izuku was still trying to lock away. But how did someone say goodbye to their whole life? How was he supposed to say goodbye to his home, his people, everything he had ever known, and embrace the uncertainty into which he’d been pitched? How did one battle the sorrow and grief with nothing but fear and turmoil facing them?

There was elation of a sort there, almost completely buried by all of the other emotions that pummeled Izuku from all sides. If he allowed himself to pretend that this was just a diplomatic mission, or an adventure like the ones in the old stories he’d read over and over as a child, he could admit there was an excitement at seeing somewhere new. As far as he was aware the kingdom of Othya didn’t welcome visitors or guests with open arms. They were as protective of their privacy as their king was. It was more likely for them to appear as they had on the shores of Sniycia; with declarations of war, weapons drawn, and blood thirsty grins than to open their country to others.

So, yes, there was a small thrill in knowing he would see their land, learn about their culture, as so few people were able to. Izuku enjoyed learning new things, was naturally curious by nature, it was a trait that made him such an exceptional alchemist. He wanted to know the whys, and hows, he wanted to know what would happen if he did something just a little different. He enjoyed chasing supposedly unsolvable mysteries and solving complicated puzzles. However, those qualities were far less helpful when it came to his royal heritage. He had been left to his own devices for the most part since he had defied his father to study alchemy, but that didn’t excuse him of even half of his royal duties.

Izuku sighed, kicking a stone at his feet. The party had stopped just as the countryside turned from farmland to forests, several hours hard ride outside of the capital city after leaving near dawn. The open space allowed what the invading force of Othya to spread out as they ate and talked amongst themselves. Izuku’s small party had settled together to eat, but he had stepped away, hoping some time alone would clear his thoughts. He took a deep breath, staring at the land of Sniycia itself. He’d never considered leaving his country and now he might not ever step foot on the soil again.

Where did that leave him now? He was now the consort by marriage to the invading king. Did that mean anything in Katsuki’s culture? Would Izuku have his own responsibilities to undertake? Or was he nothing more than part of the dowry that Katsuki had demanded, a shiny trinket brought back from a failed conquest? And what did the term mate actually mean? In his numbed state, Izuku hadn’t thought to check the library before the wedding and now he deeply regretted it. Whatever knowledge might have been in within its depths was lost to him. There might be more information in Othya, but would Izuku be allowed near it? He had no idea what his marriage was going to be like in practice. Haruka’s was polite in public, united, but any emotion that might hide there was saved for the privacy behind closed doors. His older sister Chika didn’t seem happy in her marriage, but neither did she seem particularly unhappy with her husband and their children. And Izuku’s father had used both of his marriages that Izuku remembered, first to Aimee and now to Zinnia, as distractions or pawns in a larger game. Izuku wasn’t sure how to approach his own marriage to this virtual stranger who had set his body on fire last night with his touches.

Izuku blushed as the memories of last night came unbidden to the front of his mind. He had known that he couldn’t avoid sleeping with his husband forever, but he hadn’t realized it would be so… intense was the only world that came to mind. When Katsuki had kissed him, Izuku had been swept away by the sensations, the sudden need between the two of them. He had never known that sex could be like that, so all-consuming and powerful, until all Izuku had been able to think about was Katsuki, until Izku hadn’t been able to think at all. It had been the most pleasurable experience Izuku had ever had. Not that he’d had many, admittedly. Between his worry about his father finding out about his interest in men and the suspicion that anyone who was looking to sleep with him wanted something, like a marriage to a prince, Izuku hadn’t allowed himself to indulge in carnal pleasures often. And last night, he’d finally fallen asleep, exhausted by their time in bed and by the stress of the last few weeks. He’d woken sore and alone in the room, but it had been worth it. He didn’t regret the decision made in that moment when Katsuki had begun to pull away.

Was a real relationship possible? Or was the joining just that, a release of sexual tension and need? They were married after all, and everything Izuku had been taught about that state indicated that it was a normal part of marriage. So why did Izuku’s heart clutch in iron grips at the thought that that was all? They didn’t know each other, and he had no reason to think Katsuki would actually want more. It just seemed like there had been more there, a possibility that Izuku had never expected. He didn’t know what to expect now between the two of them. Was there more? Or was it all it seemed at first glance? Just sex? And where did this whole mate idea fit into everything? Izuku had only questions and no answers to match them with. And he didn’t like it.

He didn’t even know if he wanted there to be more between them. Maybe he was just grasping onto the idea of there being something there because he was about to leave Sniycia and nearly everyone he knew and cared for behind him. Or maybe Izuku didn’t know how to separate a physical intimacy with an emotional one. He didn’t have enough data to really say for sure, and it wasn’t like he was capable of running experiments on himself. He wasn’t an alchemical formula. Life didn’t break down that way, even if it would make this situation easier. He would just have to figure it out for himself.

Unfortunately, he had no idea how or where to begin when it came to figuring out his new husband. Although he supposed he could add good in bed to the list of known facts… And that wasn’t the point!

“So, you’re Baku’s new mate, hm?”

Izuku started, pulled from his spiraling thoughts by the cheerful voice. He glanced to his left and met startling black and yellow eyes, and skin the same shade of pink that Aline had loved since she was a little girl. He had seen this woman before, usually at Katuski’s side. Izuku wondered why she was so important to his husband, who she was to Katsuki. He bit back the impolite questions that crowded his throat and danced on his tongue, watching her carefully.

“That’s what I was told,” he hedged, offering a smile. “I’m Izuku.”

“Mina! Don’t worry about the skin, you get used to it. We didn’t get time to talk before the wedding and all, so I thought I’d come introduce myself now. That way you know more people than just Baku. I’d have dragged Kami with me, but he’s busy distracting your mate and all.”

“Baku?” Izuku repeated, stunned that the dangerous looking king had any kind of cute nickname. Logically he had friends, had a life outside being a king, but Izuku couldn’t see that. Baku didn’t seem to fit the man to whom he’d been
introduced.

“Mhm. Like I said, your mate is with Kami. You’ll meet him soon.”

“Everyone keeps saying that, that I’m his mate. But that word isn’t used in Sniycia. Is it the same as a husband?” Izuku asked quickly. She was friendly and seemed open to sharing information, maybe he could finally get some answers.

“Nope. Husbands and wives are normal, mates are special.” Mina grinned, as though that should explain everything.

“Special how?” Izuku pressed.

“Having a mate is a gift given by the gods, according to the original legend. It makes someone stronger, probably faster too. Baku is already the strongest person I know, so that just means with you around he’s even better. But there’s the whole curse too, so that could cause a problem.”

“Curse?” Izuku repeated. Nothing he had heard about indicated any kind of curse. “What, from the gods?”

“Mhm. Tragedy always strikes. There’s not like a set amount of time, but it will always come for the mated pair.” Mina’s smile fell away and shadows moved in her eyes. “The curse has taken a lot of good people. It’s taken a blessing and turned it into something evil. And the gods have never stepped in.”

“Never?” Izuku squeaked, eyes wide with disbelief. “Has no one ever escaped or broken the curse?”

“Never,” Mina confirmed with a nod. “No one even knows how to break the curse. People have looked for some loophole, but no one has ever found anything.”

“Do you have a mate?” he asked, brushing curls away from his sweat damp forehead. Unlike Mina, he was dressed in layers of clothing as Sniycian custom dictated. His father hadn’t given him a choice in his attire for departure. Apparently travel should include elegant clothing that probably measured to half of Izuku’s bodyweight. “Does anyone else here?”

“No,” Mina shook her head, something almost bittersweet in her smile now. “Mates are pretty rare, I think. Plus, I’m like you, I don’t have what Baku and Kami and the others call a mate-tell. I fall in love the normal way.”

“How did he know I was his mate then?” Izuku frowned. “He spoke to me first so I imagine he knew at that point.”

“Has he explained any of this to you?”

“No,” Izuku admitted, blushing. “We- um... We didn’t talk much last night.”

Mina giggled. “You’re so cute when you blush. Anyway, ask him about anything else you want to know. I really think it would be best coming from him.”

“Why?” Izuku frowned. “You already told me…”

“Told him what?”

Izuku shivered, chills trailing down his spine and over his skin. He didn’t need to turn around to know that Katsuki was standing behind him. His new husband had the kind of presence Izuku had never had. Katsuki had a lethal aura of power that he wrapped around himself like a cloak. Izuku had no idea what his husband was like without it, but he wanted to. What was Katsuki like when he wasn’t being a king? What was his smile like when he wasn’t playing games for control or power? His laugh?

Was it so wrong that Izuku wanted to know the person behind the crown that he’d married?

“We ready to get moving again?” Mina asked cheerfully, smile firmly in place. They had stopped for a quick meal at about the noon hour. Izuku had been prepared to ride through the day. He could tell by the murmurs around him from the soldiers Katsuki had brought with him missed home, and no one was too pleased to be returning without the conquest they had been promised. He hoped that the halt wasn’t for his sake, but he didn’t know how to broach the subject. He was sore after last night but he wasn’t going to complain about it.

“Told him what, Mina?” Katsuki repeated, his voice scraping over Izuku’s skin.

“You can’t bully me, Baku.” Mina frowned, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “And to be fair, if you told him anything I wouldn’t have to.”

“My, my. What new mess have you found yourself in now, Izuku?”

Izuku shook his head as Hitoshi appeared at his side, curiosity in his eyes and a smirk tugging at his lips.

“This isn’t my fault,” Izuku muttered.

“Isn’t it always your fault?” Hitoshi teased, years of experiments that had gone awry shared between them. There had been periods of time that Hitoshi had backed away if Izuku had frowned or said anything akin to ‘oops!’ in preparation for explosions or other mishaps of a colorful variety. The two of them had known each other for roughly a decade or so at this point, knew each other’s habits and what made them tick. Hitoshi was an accomplished alchemist in his own right, though Izuku’s father hadn’t realized it when Izuku had named Hitoshi as one of the alchemists he would be taking with him.

In regards to a dowry for their intended, most suitors demanded precious jewels or gold. Katsuki had been unpredictable again, instead asking that Izuku personally choose the two best alchemists in the kingdom to come with them to Othya. Hitoshi had been an easy choice, he was both skilled and one of Izuku’s friends. The other choice had been harder to make a decision on and in the end, it hadn’t been an alchemist at all. Izuku had asked that Ochako come and had passed her off as an alchemist. She was one of his oldest friends and once given the opportunity he hadn’t been able to leave her behind. It was a lie that Izuku couldn’t bring himself to regret telling.

“No,” Izuku grumbled, lips still twitching in an attempt at a smile. “Usually it’s yours.”

“If you say so,” Hitoshi laughed.

“I just wanted to know what the mate thing was about.” Izuku frowned and folded his arms across his chest. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Stop telling him shit, Mina.” Katsuki’s voice cut through the conversation like a blade, pulling Izuku’s attention back to his husband. Katsuki stood with his arms folded, glaring at Mina. “He doesn’t have a tell, so it doesn’t fucking matter.”

“It has everything to do with me,” Izuku insisted. “You’re my mate, right? Well, what does that mean? And what is a tell exactly? If you don’t want her to tell me, why don’t you?”

Katsuki glanced at Izuku, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments, before he turned his attention back to Mina, as though Izuku hadn’t said a word. “I mean it, Mina.”

“I can tell,” Mina rolled her eyes. “You’re an idiot.”

“Hah? As if,” Katsuki growled, he turned to face Izuku, but didn’t meet his gaze again. It was as if Katsuki was looking through Izuku, as though he wasn’t real. Izuku was used to the stare from his father, he’d put up with it most of his life. He didn’t want to deal with it again. “You’re riding with me. Come on.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” Red eyes flashed in anger, Katsuki’s voice sharp like a whip.

Izuku heard Mina’s sudden intake of breath. He didn’t know if she was worried because Katsuki was furious or if she was preparing to step in, but Izuku didn’t allow himself to dwell on it. If Katsuki wanted to be an asshole, Izuku was happy to defy him. He wasn’t property, no matter what his vows had alluded to. He wasn’t going to be some meek fuck toy for Katsuki to order about as he pleased.

“You heard me. I’ll stay back here with Hitoshi and Ochako,” Izuku snarled, gesturing behind him to wherever Ochako was. “You can’t decide when you get to ignore me and when I’m here for you to talk to.”

“Are you fucking….” Katsuki stepped closer, closing the distance between the two of them, indignation stamped across his handsome features. “You want to know about mates? Fine. Let me fuckin’ explain that when I say something, you do it.”

Hitoshi tensed by Izuku’s side, prepared to defend his prince if necessary. Izuku had lost count of how many times Hitoshi’s way with words had smoothed over a situation with Hisashi or one of the courtiers who had been caught in an experiment that had gone wrong. Izuku wasn’t known for being the most graceful person when he wasn’t in a fight and there had been a chemical mixture or two that had spilled at inopportune times when they had both been learning. But this wasn’t Hitoshi’s fight and Izuku didn’t want his friend caught between him and Katsuki.

“You’re not my mate,” Izuku met Katsuki’s gaze. “Even if I’m yours. Don’t order me around like a dog or a brainless fop,” he added, thinking of his current step-mother with all her simpering airs. “Because I don’t come on command.”

Those crimson eyes that haunted Izuku’s thoughts clouded as too many emotions to count or name chased through their depths. Katsuki growled again, hands clenching at his sides into fists. “Mina,” Katsuki said, his voice rough like had been screaming. “Tell everyone we’re moving out. Now.”

“Sure,” Mina sighed, sounding exasperated. ”Why not? Whatever you say.” The thud of her boots against the dirt was swallowed up by the chatter and movement of the nearby soldiers that Katsuki had brought with him to conquer Sniycia.

“I’ll deal with you later,” Katsuki sneered, starting to turn away.

“You can’t just deal with me later!” Izuku shouted, frustrated at the situation, this man he was now supposed to call his husband, and himself as he tried to blink away tears. “You can’t ignore me until it’s convenient!”

“Damn it,” Katsuki snarled, turning back to look at him. “Stop crying. Just… Stop. We’ll deal with this. Just not fucking now, with a godsdamned audience.” He watched Izuku for a long minute before turning and striding away, anger making him faster than usual.

Izuku growled, hands clenching into fists and nails digging into the skin of his palms as he watched Katsuki disappear.

“Well,” Hitoshi said, trying to be reasonable as he stared at the retreating form of Katsuki. “You always did enjoy puzzles.”

Chapter Text

Othya was… different.

The word wasn’t adequate enough to explain the landscape that unfurled before Izuku’s eyes but he didn’t know what would else would suffice. Sniycia was forests and fruit orchards, large industrial farms and loud crowded cities. It was full of noise and contradictions. Nothing had demonstrated that quite so well as its capital, which had been full of shadows as well as glittering jewels.

It was the only home Izuku had ever known and the only comparison that he could use.

There were no towering creations of stone here to stop the colors that stained the heavens, chasing away the quiet darkness of night with its sky littered with brilliant stars the way Zinnia covered herself in gems. Soft purples and pinks shaded the clouds, bleeding into one another and touching the world around it with soft pigments. Harsh mountains with their peaks capped in white stood on the distant horizon, massive and silent guardians watching over the kingdom in the king’s absence. They somehow seemed less intimidating bathed in the gentle light of sunrise. Carpets of grass and flowers of blues and purples, yellows and pinks, spread in every direction, unbroken for mile upon mile.

There was no commotion of an awakening city, no bellows of anger or shouts from soldiers or merchants as they began their days. Katsuki’s army lay spread out at Izuku’s back, still camped from the night before, still sleeping. Izuku breathed in, filling his lungs with the scent of foreign flowers and grass, fresh and clean in a way completely unfamiliar. Wind danced across the fields, wrapping around him in a caress before rushing on through the camp. The air smelled and tasted almost sweeter, the colors felt more vibrant, more real, than the muted or desperately flashy imitations in Sniycia. That should have been impossible, but the land of Othya spread out around him, a direct contradiction.

It was stunning, and so alien that it hurt a little.

But he couldn’t stop drinking it in, curiosity and fascination overruling the faint ache in his heart for the home he had left behind. The longing remained even as he fell in love with the rich soil now beneath his boots.

“It’s pretty.”

Izuku jumped, caught off guard at the intrusion of his lonely contemplation. He turned to catch sight of Ochako as she closed the distance between them, dark hair tugged from its knot at the back of her neck to play in the breeze. She smiled at him, the sunrise bathing her in a pale gold as the sun began to rise further into the sky.

“It is,” he agreed with a smile. “Worth leaving Sniycia behind?”

“Absolutely,” she said quickly, flashing him a bright smile.

Izuku had little doubt that she was telling the complete truth. When he had approached her about coming with him to Othya, Ochako had practically jumped at the chance to leave their native country behind. Hisashi had controlled the small plot of land that was her dowry inheritance for so long now that most people forgot it wasn’t the crown’s to begin with. Ochako had been beyond willing to go along with the charade of being an alchemist to further her escape. She’d laughed at Izuku’s surprise at her quick agreement and pointed out there was nothing she was leaving behind. He was her closest friend and all of her marriage prospects were older nobles his father’s age who had less than honorable reasons for hoping to call her their bride.

“I heard a few of the soldiers say we should be reaching the capital soon,” Ochako said after several minutes of silence watching the dawn. “It will be nice to stop traveling and see our new home, right?”

“Nice,” Izuku echoed, eyes locked on the beautiful scenery touched by glimmering rays of sunshine.

“Izu…” Ochako started, voice soft and full of an empathy Izuku wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with right now. It was brimming with understanding for why he had slept alone for the past several weeks as they traveled to Katsuki’s native home. Ochako was quick to cast sympathetic brown eyes his way with an unspoken offer to listen to his troubles. Izuku had ignored the invitation thus far, not willing or even able to voice the turmoil left behind in the wake of his fight with Katsuki.

He and Katsuki hadn’t talked about it. They’d barely talked at all since that first day beyond terse and strained exchanges when needed. It wasn’t that Izuku regretted the argument that had flared up between them that first day. What he’d said had been honest and needed. He did wish he’d kept his temper under better control however. He didn’t usually lose command of himself like that. He wanted to believe that it was the stress of his situation that had made him snap. That would be easier than Hitoshi’s answer, which was that Katsuki got under Izuku’s skin in just the right ways.

Izuku had told his friend that couldn’t be right. It just couldn’t.

Hitoshi had quirked an eyebrow and shrugged, an answer in and of itself for him.

“Talk to me,” Ochako tried again, her hand touching his arm gently. “Did you even sleep?”

The camp stirred behind them in preparation to move out again, all of them eager to get home now that they were on familiar soil again. Izuku wondered if he was the only person who still felt out of place and awkward despite having crossed a sea and changing kingdoms. Although, that was probably part of the reason he felt so off-kilter.

“We should get ready,” Izuku stepped back and out of Ochako’s reach. “Don’t want to leave everyone waiting.”

“You’re just afraid Katsuki will come looking for you,” Ochako sighed.

“I am not,” Izuku snapped.

He turned on his heel and headed back into the camp itself, dodging elite soldiers as they moved to break down the temporary lodgings. Izuku doubted it was coincidence that he and his friends were constantly surrounded by the highly trained men and women while they traveled. Katsuki had clearly given orders that the Sniycian natives were not to be left alone at any point during the journey. Izuku understood it, in fact he couldn’t even say it was a bad decision. He just wished he could avoid the whispers that followed him, questioning why he was their job to watch when he should have been pleasuring their king.

OoOoO

They traveled quickly across the relatively flat land. They passed several towns that could be scene a bit in the distance but Katsuki didn’t stop to exchange any pleasantries with his people. Other than those moments during their hours of travel they saw little save the occasional sightings of wild animals Izuku had never seen in person before. Most of the animals tended to disappear in graceful and quick movements when they realized that the army was approaching, leaving him inadequate time to study them. He wondered if there were predators other than Katsuki and his people in Othya. He had heard rumors about some unique creatures that would count as predators, but they were just that- rumors, with no substance to back them.

Izuku watched his husband out of the corner of his eye, drawn to him despite the tension between the two of them. He was happy to chalk it up to the kind of familiarity that came with the passion they had shared on their wedding night. It was hard to deny there was a physical connection there, even if there was nothing else. It was too bad for Katsuki that no physical chemistry in the world was worth it in Izuku’s opinion when the other party couldn’t respect him. If Katsuki wanted to treat him like a piece of treasure won… Izuku swallowed hard, afraid of a future where that was all he could look forward to.

He couldn’t ignore the way Katsuki’s shoulders relaxed little by little as the party came closer to what Izuku could only assume was their destination. Katsuki seemed to sit taller in his saddle, trading teasing remarks with Mina and the blond Izuku assumed was the Kami who had been mentioned before. Katsuki’s body language was more open, almost welcoming in a way Izuku hadn’t seen until now. It was clear that Katsuki was glad to be home again.

The world darkened with a sudden rush of sound and wind, the sun was blotted out by something large as it swept across the fields. Izuku’s head snapped up and his jaw dropped open in complete disbelief.

“No way,” he breathed.

A dragon winged above them, its soft yellow hide glimmering in the sunlight as it rode the air currents, dipping and rising as though playing. Izuku could do nothing but gape, eyes wide as he took in the sight of a real dragon above his head. He had heard rumors of them and had hunted down pictures of them in the library as a child, fascinated by the idea of such creatures. But everything he had read said they were nothing but legends told around fires. If dragons had ever existed, they were supposed to have disappeared long ago. There wasn’t even evidence of them, only stories.

But the dragon above him was very real. It wasn’t like the pictures in the scrolls and fairy tales he had spent hours reading as a little boy, but that didn’t make the dragon any less beautiful. In the stories they were horned and fanged, painted as frightening monsters who stole livestock and burned towns. The brief whispers in his alchemy books seemed more accurate, but they still didn’t do an actual dragon flying above him justice. The wingspan alone was massive, easily larger than full towers back in Sniycia from tip to tip. The tail was longer, with spikes tapering down the length. The eyes were large and appeared almost jeweled from this distance.

Laughter caught Izuku’s attention and tore his gaze from the impossible creature above him. Katsuki rode just ahead, his laughter and smile warm as he looked up at the dragon above them. Izuku found himself staring again, this time at the being who he called his husband. He had never seen Katsuki so open and happy before. Izuku couldn’t look away, caught by the sight of the Othyan King, his husband, without barriers and defenses erected. Izuku swallowed hard, fingers tightening on the reigns in his hand. How could this be the same man who had dismissed him as though he wasn’t there? Katsuki had always been handsome beyond what should have been allowed, but in this moment, he almost looked approachable too. And that was a dangerous thought.

The dragon above them winged higher and put on a burst of speed, disappearing into the clouds above and ahead of them.

“You have dragons?” Izuku demanded in awe, unable to keep quiet with this latest discovery.

Katsuki glanced back at him and for one horrible moment Izuku was afraid his husband would ignore him again, as though he had never spoken.

“Yeah,” Katsuki admitted, voice raised to carry over the noise of horse hooves, shifting gear, and chatter. “They’re not mine, they chose to stay with us.”

“Why didn’t you use them in the war? It’s a dragon!” Izuku exclaimed, looking up at the sky in hopes of catching sight of the yellow dragon again. Instead he saw another, smaller, its color that of a crystal blue lake and well camouflaged by the daytime sky dart through the air. He gasped again, looking back at Katsuki. The dragons were beautiful and exotic, similar to the king who had brought him here.

Katsuki gave him another long look, as though trying to figure out what lie Izuku was telling. “They’re endangered, less than one hundred and fifty left. If I let anyone know we had dragons in Othya, they would try to invade. And they would keep trying, no matter how well we fight or how many soldiers we killed. It’s better everyone thinks they’re a myth.”

“Oh,” Izuku murmured. He couldn’t even say that Katsuki was overreacting. Hisashi would certainly stop at nothing to own the fantastic beings if he knew that they existed. There were many nobles or kings who would keep trying, greed and jealousy driving them to conquer and destroy everything in their path.

“Don’t tell anyone,” Katsuki ordered. Izuku could practically see the barriers that Katsuki kept up between them rising again. As though Katsuki realized he was talking to his unwanted mate. “Don’t even fucking write home about it.”

“I won’t,” Izuku promised. “I promise.”

Katsuki grunted in response and silence fell between them again as the party moved across the land. The tension that seemed to fill the space between them was tight and all too familiar to Izuku, who had spent a lifetime navigating a court of social climbers and gossips. This unaddressed issue between them was rawer, less like a dagger in the dark and more like a straightforward attack. However, it had grown the longer it lay untouched, leaving this expanse between them that somehow seemed larger than their wedding weeks ago. Izuku bit his tongue, refusing to apologize when he hadn’t done anything wrong. Instead he spent the time looking up at the sky, trying to catch sight of the dragons again.

OoOoO

Katsuki’s home rose above the cliffside in soaring arches and graceful lines. Large windows glittered in the sunlight in stark contrast against the plain stone blocks probably hewn from the nearby mountains. The architecture was simple and clean compared to the palace in Sniycia, which had been built with the intention of awe and intimidation. Here, the castle before Izuku had a plain elegance, nothing elaborate or flashy, but beautiful in its functionality. Like the man who called it home as king, it didn’t try to be something it wasn’t. It was unapologetic in its open feel and uncomplicated visage.

Below them the city spread out down the winding cliffside. They had parted from the majority of their army there as they passed the barracks and left behind much of the chatter. It teamed with life, clean and inviting, with foreign scents mingling in the air and often making Izuku’s mouth water and stomach grumble. Dragons of all colors and sizes flew overhead or sunned themselves on the castle roof, their nests and homes apparently in the mountains surrounding the cliffside.

“Welcome to Dragonspire,” Mina chirped as she dismounted from her horse. “This is home.”

“Dragonspire?” Ochako repeated curiously.

“Isn’t that a little on the nose if you’re hiding their existence?” Hitoshi added dryly.

“Nope,” Kaminari grinned. “We claim that it’s just based on the legends that they used to make their home in the mountains here. Pretty cool, hm?”

“It’s smart,” Ochako interjected before Hitoshi’s dry sense of humor took over.

“You two,” Katsuki stepped closer, motioning to Ochako and Hitoshi. “Follow Kaminari, he’ll show you your quarters. And Kami, once you’re done go find Sero and get caught up on what you’ve missed.”

“Yes, your highness,” Kaminari smirked, bowing playfully. “Straight to work it is. Come on you two.”

“Isn’t it majesty?” Ochako frowned.

“I knew him when he was a prince,” Kaminari laughed. “Usually he’s just Baku.”

Ochako bit her lip and glanced at Izuku, clearly nervous to follow. He didn’t know if that was because she was afraid to leave him now that they were in this strange land, or if she was hesitation for his sake. Either way, it didn’t matter. He was fine. He’d known this was coming. Travelers were often offered rooms to freshen up if they were staying for some time, and considering that they were moving in…

“It’s fine,” Izuku smiled. “I’ll see you two later.”

Hitoshi nodded and tugged Ochako with him as Kaminari headed into the castle, chatting with them the whole way.

“Let me guess, you want me to show your mate to his room?” Mina asked, arching an eyebrow. She folded her arms over her chest. “And after that?”

“Don’t be a brat,” Katsuki growled. “And yeah, I do.”

“I adore being a thorn in your side, Baku,” Mina grinned. “And after?”

“Come find me,” Katsuki confirmed.

“Uh, do I get a say?” Izuku asked, handing the reins of his horse off the groom who held out his hand. “In any of this?”

“No,” Katsuki looked at him, crimson and green eyes clashing again, as they had several weeks ago. “Just fucking do what I say for once, will you?”

“Katsuki!” Mina hissed.

“It’s fine,” Izuku said quickly, beating back the burning anger and slippery shame that Katsuki’s words created in his gut. “Let’s just go so I can get as far away from him as possible.”

“Good thing you bite back,” Mina growled, motioning for him to follow her. “Because he’s being nasty.”

“Mina,” Katsuki said, an unspoken warning echoing in his voice.

“Don’t look at him and don’t say goodbye, Izuku. He’s being an ass and we don’t deal with those,” Mina sniffed, hooking her arm through Izuku’s. “Come on.”

She dragged him away from his snarling husband and into the castle itself. Everything was a blur as they headed through confusion of corridors and courtyards open to the sky. She darted around other members of court and servants, using graceful movements and teasing remarks to avoid catching them in conversation. Izuku felt everyone’s eyes on him, knew that the speculation he’d already experienced during their travel was sure to follow him here, it was just a matter of time. He knew how to ignore whispers and disapproving looks, he was just so tired of doing it.

They headed through another open courtyard and into a quieter wing of the castle. Here there were few people, and all of them were servants. They smiled at Mina, as though seeing her here was the most natural thing in the world. Izuku would guess that they were in the royal wing now, where only family members of the family would live. Izuku’s had been full with his siblings, but here it seemed empty and almost sad.

He supposed he couldn’t avoid Katsuki forever. But Izuku would have his own room to escape to and whatever lab he had to fight for. He had built a life for himself in Sniycia, even against his father’s wishes, and he could do it again. He would do it again, no matter what it cost him.

“Here you go,” Mina said as she pushed open two large wooden doors. “These are the main rooms, including the bedroom. It’s large enough that you should be able to storm into another room angrily when Baku’s asshole. Like he’s been recently.” She glared at nothing.

“Wait,” Izuku swallowed. “I share...with Katsuki?”

“Yeah?” Mina frowned as she turned to him, clearly perplexed. “Didn’t you know that?”

“No! In Sniycia … I… My brothers don't share with their wives. Neither of them. And my sister doesn’t with her husband…” He felt adrift and like he was going to suffocate, anxiety welling up in his chest at an alarming rate. He had thought he could slam a door in Katsuki’s face if he didn’t want to deal with him. While he didn’t think Katsuki would force anything in bed, Izuku wasn’t prepared to be around the raw sexual pull that was his husband all the time. Especially not when Katsuki was being a dick. And not the good kind.

“Oh,” Mina smiled gently. “Here it’s a little different. Just feel free to kick him out.”

“But on the way-” Izuku sputtered. “We didn’t…”

“Izuku,” Mina touched his arm gently. “It will be okay. Just... take this time to get used to your new home. I have to go, but it really will be okay.”

Mina stepped around him and disappeared from sight as the doors closed with a thud.

Home.

Izuku blinked, frozen in place. It might be his new home, but it felt no more like it than the last one had. Less, even. In Sniycia he’d had his siblings, his friends. His life hadn’t been perfect, but he had known what to expect. Here he had no idea what was coming or how people would react. He was clueless and he hated it.

He wandered further info the suite that was supposedly part his now but found little of Katsuki in evidence. Mina had said these were his rooms too, where were his husband’s personal effects? Where were the things that gave him a glimpse into Katsuki’s life, into who he was when he wasn’t a king? They should be here, but Izuku found little beyond stunning woodwork and a very large bed, which he pointedly ignored.

To the left lay another door and through it, a massive bathroom. The room was dominated by a huge pool, already full and was steaming slightly. Izuku would guess that this part of the castle had been built around a natural hot spring of some kind that still fed into this bathroom. The water was clear and pretty, but he didn’t get too close. He had no desire to see himself reflected in its depths right now.

A knock echoed through the chambers and Izuku started, hurrying back into the main room that Izuku figured acted like a parlor or sitting room. A woman stood just inside the door, blonde hair piled on top of her head and watching him with large gray eyes. “So, you’re his mate.”

“So he claims,” Izuku shrugged, his upbringing stopping him from adding anything else. His father hadn’t tolerated any kind of gossip with the servants meant to help the family. What was more, Izuku didn’t know who this woman was, or what she wanted. He felt the barriers he used to protect himself tighten further, keeping him on guard.

“Sorry,” the woman flushed. “That was rude of me. Anyway, I’m Almedha. I was ordered by his majesty to outfit you with new clothes for our weather. I believe ours is more extreme than yours was. Is now a good time?”

“Now is fine,” Izuku said with a smile he didn’t feel. “Please, come in.”

Almedha smiled and stepped in, pulling out a measuring tape from somewhere on her person, speaking quickly and openly as she directed him to turn this way and that.

Izuku obeyed, humming in response when she paused but not hearing any of it. He was lost in the thoughts that swirled around him, once again thrown into confusion. He didn’t understand how Katsuki could act like an asshole two weeks ago and again as they arrived, but think to outfit Izuku with clothing more appropriate to the weather in Othya. Was it thoughtfulness? Or was Izuku reading too far into it? It was just as likely that Katsuki was outfitting his new mate as he deemed appropriate.

Izuku swallowed. He had no idea what that meant, what any of the entailed. After the fight the day they had left Sniycia no one in the army would talk to him or tell him anything, and Mina and Kaminari had both kept their distance. When they had appeared to ride by Izuku for a time, they had been careful to keep the conversation away from mates and from Katsuki almost all together.

He glanced around what he could see of the suite as Almedha worked, fighting the anxiety that prodded at him sharply. He hadn’t known anything about the man he married when setting out from Sniycia. He wasn’t sure if the king was the asshole, or if that was Katsuki overall. And looking around this room, he wasn’t sure there was a man outside the king.

Izuku closed his eyes, ruthlessly pushing back tears. He didn’t know anything. He’d never felt so lost, even knowing right where he was.

“Is everything alright?” Almedha asked, concern heavy in her tone.

Izuku opened his eyes and smiled brightly. “Everything’s fine.”

The lie tasted heavy on his tongue.

Chapter Text

It was good to be home.

Katsuki glanced around his office and released a slow breath. He would need to touch base with his steward and be brought up to speed on what he had missed in Othya itself and the territories he had conquered in previous campaigns. He had faith in Eijirou’s ability to handle anything that may have come up while Katsuki was away or he wouldn’t have left him in charge, but he still needed to be aware of any changes or events. He was strong as a king because he made sure that he was kept abreast of what was going on his kingdom, no matter how large it grew. He had inherited a kingdom that had been on the brink of bankruptcy and almost ruined, all due to mismanagement and greed. Every moment of his life since than had been spent in an effort to make sure that the people of Othya were protected and happy within their own borders, healthy and cared for. Everything he had done had been to make them a power again, as they had been in the legends told around fires and at celebrations.

He would make that a reality. It was just a matter of time.

He glanced around his office. He was probably in this room of the castle more than any other while at home. His friends joked that if he wasn’t here there were only two other places he could be: on the training grounds or with the dragons. He was rarely anywhere else. The room had been commissioned during a more prosperous time in Othya’s history and exhibited the best of their craftwork. As with the castle around them, the lines were simple and clean, elegant in the warmth of the wood and the artistry on display. It was functional, no wasted space, and exactly how Katsuki preferred it, with large windows that allowed him to watch the dragons fly past by day or the stars when he needed a break at night.

He had missed this place.

Katsuki turned toward the back wall, inspecting the large desk of black stone and wood that took up a vast portion of its space. The scrolls he had been working on the day before he left to conquer Sniycia still lay stacked to the left in a neat pile alongside a detailed map of the world of Aspya itself. His gaze landed on Sniycia and capital of Lemsari he had marked. His plans to conquer the rich country with its skilled alchemists had not gone as planned. He had never intended to come back from Sniycia with a mate. He hadn’t believed he had a mate, never mind a Sniycian prince.

“Welcome home!”

Katsuki turned just in time to catch Eijirou as the redhead launched forward, wrapping Katsuki in a hug tight enough to cut off air. Katsuki wrapped his arms around his steward, the man who was basically his brother, and hugged him tighter before shoving Eijirou away with a rough laugh. “Yeah, I’m back. And you’re fucking late for our meeting. What held you up?”

“It’s a big castle,” Eijirou laughed. “And I ran into Kami. You have a mate?”

Denki had a big mouth. But it wasn’t like Katsuki could hide that he had married Izuku while in Sniycia or that Izuku had set off Katsuki’s mate-tell. He hadn’t planned on doing so anyway. It just wasn’t the first thing that he had expected to discuss with his best friend the moment Katsuki saw him. He hadn’t thought about how to handle talking about Izuku yet. Probably because he had no idea what to do about his mate.

“Yeah, I found my mate.” Katsuki shrugged.

“Tell me what happened.” Eijirou grinned, folding his arms across his chest. He shifted to lean against the desk as he had done hundreds of times before when they were discussing tactics or laws going into effect. “Was it romantic?”

“This isn’t a story, Eiji,” Katsuki snorted. “There was no romantic moment where everything stopped and he was all I saw or anything.” Actually, that was exactly what had happened, but Katsuki was going to chalk that up to the mate-tell going off. “Immediately after that, his father threatened to have him killed unless I agreed to his terms.”

“He what?!” Eijirou growled, eyes flashing. “He threatened to kill your mate in front of you? You let his old man live after that?”

“Killing Hisashi and his vapid queen in their throne room didn’t seem like an option.” Katsuki glared at nothing, that sharp intake of breath from behind a stone wall echoing in his mind. “Plus, my mate heard and I just… I wasn’t thinking right. I don’t think straight when he’s around and I fucking hate it.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Eijirou pointed out.

“Have you talked to Mina yet?” Katsuki countered.

“That’s not fair,” Eijirou said. His frown deepened as uncertainty and doubt flashed in his red eyes. “I’m being a man, protecting her from the curse.”

“I don’t have that option, he’s already asking questions about mates. I don’t…” Katsuki shook his head, shoving the turmoil aside. “So now I have a mate I have no idea what to do with, but no matter. What have I missed in Othya?”

“Don’t you want to help your mate settle…” Eijirou sighed as Katsuki scowled at him. “Right, Othya. Well…”

“Having a party without me? I’m hurt and betrayed.” Mina sauntered to Katsuki’s side with a playful grin directed at Eijirou. “I thought I was your favorite.”

“You are,” Eijirou said, blinking at her. “They said you were busy and he wants to know about Othya though.”

“I guess I can forgive you,” Mina laughed. “Just this once. Baku is all work and no play.”

“I’m right here.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Stop trying to piss me off.”

“But it’s so much fun.” Mina smiled sweetly. “Eiji agrees with me.”

“Well,” Eijirou started, glancing between Katsuki and Mina.

“I’m so fucking surprised. Did you just come to fuck with us? We’re actually working.” Katsuki said, a smile tugging at his lips despite his best efforts.

Both Eijirou and Mina had stood by his side through thick and thin. Denki and Hanta were good friends, people that he trusted beyond what words explained and he valued that loyalty. But Eijirou and Mina were different and they always had been. Katsuki had known Eijirou his whole life, couldn’t remember a time without the redhead getting into trouble with him. It had been on one such occasion when they had discovered Mina. The two boys had been exploring far outside the allowed gardens of the castle the day they had stumbled upon Mina. Her memories of her life before that day were still hazy even now. The nearest the three of them had ever figured her own fae race had abandoned her for death. Katsuki and Eijirou had taken her back to the castle and afterwards their duo had become a trio. They had been inseparable. Katsuki knew the three of them had driven his mother to anger more than once with their antics in the year before her death.

Katsuki knew he would have survived the following years after his parents’ death without Eijirou and Mina. He didn’t think that he would have been the same though. They had been able to make him laugh and relax when he hadn’t thought he ever would again. They had understood his anger when he had no outlet for it. He trusted the two of them with his kingdom and at his back in a way he trusted no one else. They were the only family Katsuki had left.

“You’re always working,” Mina sighed. “Eiji, tell him.”

“You are,” Eijirou said. “Why don’t you help your mate settle in? I can handle things for a bit longer. You trusted me while you were away.”

“See?” Mina smiled again, softer this time, as she glanced at Eijirou. “I knew I could count on you.”

“It’s not a matter of trust, and-”

“And go find Kami and Hanta and we can all catch each other up tomorrow. That sounds great,” Mina said, smug as Katsuki imagined only an annoying younger sister could be. “Please, Eiji?”

“Sure,” Eijirou smiled easily at Mina. Katsuki resisted the urge to lock them both out of his study.

“And she’s right, you work all the time. I’ll handle it until later. It’ll be good for all of us to talk at once.” Eijirou planted his hands on his hips, making his stand. “You’ve got more important things to worry about. Like your mate. I’ll see you later, bro!”

The fuck was with everyone telling Katsuki what he needed to be doing? Katsuki watched as Eijirou headed for the door. He felt like he had missed some unspoken code between Eijirou and Mina, even though he had been right here. What the fuck?

“You’re such an asshole!” Mina rounded on him the moment the door closed behind Eijirou. “I sent one of the seamstresses to your rooms, take the godsdamned credit.”

“Why the fuck did you do that?” Katsuki folded his arms, hackles rising at the fury in her voice. Mina was rarely well and truly furious at him. Who was Izuku to make someone who was basically Katsuki’s family angry at him? “If he wants new clothes, he just has to say so.”

“I think Izuku would rather overheat than ask you for anything right now! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Watch it,” Katsuki snapped. “What the hell are you going on about?”

“You’ve treated him like shit and we both know it. I wouldn’t want to call you my mate either. Gods, Katsuki! Are you trying to make him hate you? Do tears and pain suddenly given you joy? You- I- Ugh!” She growled, hands on her hips. “I love you, but I sure as fuck don’t like you right now.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one with the foreign prince as a godsdamned mate!”

He didn’t like the way her words pricked at the guilt that had been building in his chest for a while. He didn’t have the words to apologize to Izuku and Katsuki sure as fuck wasn’t used to having to ask for forgiveness or explain himself. He’d only done so a handful of times in his life and it was always difficult. What was he supposed to say? What if Izuku asked more questions about mates? Questions Katsuki wasn’t prepared to answer, didn’t want to explain. Fuck, what if Izuku started to cry again? Even the glimmer of tears two weeks ago had prodded at Katsuki’s soul like hot coals. He had no idea how to deal with tears, he never had. Eijirou had always been the one to deal with Mina when she cried while the three of them had been growing up.

“If I had a mate, I would do everything in my power to make them happy.” Sorrow mixed with the burning anger in her eyes, creating shadows. Mina had been raised as though she had been born Othyan and she shared the same beliefs as they did. The fact that she wasn’t Othyan by birth shouldn’t matter, but it did to her. Katsuki knew she would have given anything to be born to their culture, rather than the one that had thrown her away like trash. She didn’t have a tell the way Katsuki did and she never would. “Stop treating yours like baggage you didn’t ask for. At least you have a mate.”

“Forgetting the damned curse?” Katsuki growled. He wanted her to stop looking so bruised and sad, wanted to stop talking about this whole situation overall. He didn’t have the answers and he didn’t know what to do, and he didn’t fucking like it.

“You’ve never been the type to let the gods tell you what to do. Don’t lose the joy because you’re afraid of the pain,” she murmured, her tone softer, eyes trained on him with an understanding he didn’t desire.

“I’m not afraid,” he bared his teeth as he spat the words out.

She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him. “Do you really want to be miserable for the rest of your life? You don’t have to answer now, I know what you’ll say, but you should think about it. You have a chance to be happy again, a chance to build something stronger than anyone’s ever seen. You just need to be brave enough to try instead of pushing him away.”

Katsuki growled again, unable to find the words to tell her she was wrong. Even though she was. She was so far off base it should’ve been funny. Katsuki wasn’t afraid. There were very few things in the whole world that he could even imagine being afraid of. This wasn’t one of them. Mina might think she knew everything with that fae insight she seemed to have but she was godsdamned wrong this time.

Mina shook her head and smiled faintly. “We both know I have duties to attend to. I’ll see you later.”

She turned and headed for the large and heavy wooden door, tugging it open with a grunt of effort. Katsuki expected her to slip out without a backwards glance, her irritation still simmering so that he could practically see her blood boil. Mina paused and looked back, meeting his eyes again. “‘I’m sorry’ are just two words that carry a lot more weight than they take to say.”

She slid out of the room, the door thudding closed behind her.

Katsuki dropped into his chair with a heavy sigh and let his head fall into his hands.

What was he supposed to do? Both Eijirou and Mina were right, he couldn’t just set Izuku on a shelf and ignore him like some kind of treasure earned from war. This was a living, breathing individual and more than anyone else from Sniycia, Izuku was now Katsuki’s responsibility. If he had been one of the people of Othya, Katsuki’s job would have been to keep him protected, fed, and healthy. Of course, if Izuku was born in Othya this whole mating thing would be a lot less fucking complicated.

Or it could be worse. Izuku could have a mate-tell that didn’t react to Katsuki, despite Katsuki’s reacting to Izuku. That had been known to happen more than once. The fucking curse touched everyone who was supposedly “graced” with a mate. Now Katsuki had a foreign prince as his mate and all the headaches that came with that. And he had a country to rule. Honestly, Katsuki didn’t have time to play mate to anyone, never mind someone like Izuku. It had never crossed his mind that he would be unlucky enough to mate at all. The curse had taken his parents when he had been seven years old and the next ten years had been a struggle. Rebuilding Othya wasn’t exactly easy either. No, Katsuki had never wanted to find a mate.

Clearly the gods had other plans and liked fucking laughing at him.

According to Mina, he owed Izuku an apology. He knew that, mostly anyway. He just had no idea what to do about it. Those tears kept flashing through his mind and he just couldn’t figure out what to do. He didn’t do tears. He never had and he never would. Why the fuck did his mate have to cry? Did he cry easily? Fuck. What the fuck did someone do with a mate that cried?

He certainly didn’t know.

And how did he apologize? It wasn’t like Izuku hadn’t pushed him right back. How the fuck did that green-haired brat get under Katsuki’s skin so easily? It had to be the godsdamned mating instincts. He wanted to protect Izuku and see him smile and spend all day in bed, and he didn’t have a reason to. While Katsuki wouldn’t mind Izuku in his bed for hours upon hours, that was easy. Carnal lust was easy, controllable, understandable. Beneath the bulky clothes Sniycia seemed to drown their people in, Izuku was muscled and mouth-watering. Katsuki could deal with that desire. It was damn annoying he’d never stop craving Izuku, but at least Katsuki could gorge and then ignore his needs in turn. He’d done it before, it shouldn’t be that different just because it he had a mate now.

It was all the other shit that was the problem. He didn’t know Izuku and certainly couldn’t trust him. It didn’t matter that Katsuki’s primal instincts snarled that Izuku was his when Katsuki couldn’t trust Izuku not to write back home with sensitive information. Katsuki was already going to have to check the damn letters Izuku sent his family before they went out. Katsuki wasn’t about to risk the lives of his people or the dragons that still called his land home because his instincts told him it was fine to trust the nerd. Instinct told Katsuki a lot of shit, that didn’t mean he could listen in this case. All it took was one mistake to destroy everything he’d built. And it wasn’t only Katsuki’s life that would be affected in the aftermath.

But he didn’t want to be constantly fighting with the nerd either. It would be best if they could at least form some kind of truce.

He sighed, sitting back in his chair, eyes on the map before him but seeing nothing. He had no idea how his mother had kept her mate happy while ruling Othya. He had dim memories of his parents at best before the plague had taken them away. He remembered his mother boasting that they had beat the curse, that they had broken it for their people. She had sounded so sure and had been so godsdamned wrong. Mitsuki had thought herself better than the gods who hadn’t protected their people from the curse. She’d been their people's salivation. She had made the idea of having a mate a joyous celebration again.

Maybe the gods had taken exception to that. When disease had swept through Othya it had taken Masaru first, leaving him in agony for days before snuffing out his life like a candle. Mitsuki had died soon after. It was whispered even now that it was because of a broken heart.

Katsuki closed his eyes, exhaustion a heavy presence settling over his shoulders like a cloak. He knew that there was no shortage of work waiting for him to tackle now that he was home and he hadn’t slept well on the journey back. The desire to have Izuku near him had warred with the knowledge that Katsuki needed to keep him at arm’s length. Besides, it wasn’t like the nerd had sought him out to apologize either.

So instead Katsuki had slept poorly and woke with the echoes of Izuku’s moans still ringing in his ears. Katsuki wondered if there was an alchemical remedy for dreamless sleep because he could fucking use one right now. Not that he had a place for Izuku to prepare it. There were old labs further in the castle barely touched as no one knew what to do with them. They weren’t ready for use yet but that would change soon now that there were alchemists in the castle. Katsuki hated to admit it, but he didn’t want Izuku that far away from him either.

...Wait.

There was the room next to his office. It had once belonged to his father and had been used for whatever struck Masaru’s fancy. Since his death it had become a storage room that gathered little other than dust. Katsuki could transform it into a lab for Izuku’s personal use. Katsuki’s mate was a nerd after all, that should be a gift Izuku enjoyed, right?

Katsuki had no idea what to do to create an alchemy lab, but that was fine. He could give the room to the nerd after it was cleaned up a little bit. That way Izuku could put his own stamp on it, make something that was his.

And if Katsuki got to keep an eye on his mate while soothing the instincts that wanted Izuku close…

Well, that just worked better for everyone.

Chapter Text

Izuku was lost.

At least, he was pretty sure that he was lost. He certainly didn’t know where he was.

He was unaccompanied for the first time since Mina had showed him to the royal suite several days ago. The maze of corridors and open courtyards held new treasures at every turn, from colorful gardens to stunning paintings hung on the walls. He had even found what appeared to be a small chapel tucked away from prying eyes. That had been close to the rooms, but everything had a fine layer of dust over it, as though no one entered any longer. Izuku had made a note of where it was. Maybe he could borrow the space on occasion since no one else appeared to be using it. It would be good to have a place to disappear to when the world he now found himself part of got to be too overwhelming.

It had been easy to let curiosity overtake him and lead his feet where they wanted to go. The castle itself held a new surprise around every corner, the architecture at times stealing his attention. It was fun to explore his surroundings without worrying about who was waiting for him or what responsibilities he had. Here in Othya, Izuku didn’t have responsibility of any kind yet. He intended to change that. He had no plans to stop his alchemical research or experiments which meant he would need a lab. He refused to be caged or hidden away as some trophy. If Katsuki didn’t want to deal with Izuku that was fine. It had to be. But Izuku wasn’t going to sit around doing nothing either.

He could worry about securing a lab soon enough though. For now, Izuku was happy to wander his new home without guards or servants trailing him. He was delighted to lose himself in the less-trafficked portions of the castle and to discover the history written into the stone itself. It was a good way to spend his time and distract his mind, to stop himself from spinning into anxiety-driven rambles.

Katsuki hadn’t come to bed often in the past few days that they had been here. That should have been reassuring, a weight lifted off of Izuku’s chest. Instead it left him wondering and fretting. No, he didn’t want to deal with his husband very much at the moment, Katsuki had been nothing but a giant ass and Izuku hadn’t forgotten that. But Mina had made it clear that the chambers were Katsuki’s personal ones. Despite the fact that Izuku had found little trace of his husband there, the rooms were clearly made for royalty. The pool to bathe in alone said that.

So why didn’t Katsuki come to bed until very late, if he came back at all? The one time Katsuki had come back to sleep it had been late. Izuku dimily remembered the bed dipping to include Katsuki’s weight, but Izuku had been too exhausted and sleep had pulled him back into its embrace., When he’d woken in the morning to soft rays of sunlight spilling through the windows Katsuki had been gone.

Was he avoiding his rooms because Izuku was there? Mina hadn’t brought Izuku to the wrong rooms, had she? Was there something that Izuku was missing? And shouldn’t he be relieved that Katsuki wasn’t pressuring him for anything?

Izuku sighed and ran a hand through his curls, leaning back against the stone wall. The courtyard he had stumbled upon was quiet and bathed in warm, golden sunlight. It had been the perfect place to rest for a moment before trying to find his way back to his rooms. Or was it their rooms? He wasn’t sure at this point.

He was lonely. He might as well face that, even in the privacy of his own mind. No matter what wonders Othya showed him it was still new and foreign. The few people he knew who came from here were not busy with their own tasks and he couldn’t even find his way to wherever Ochako and Hitoshi were staying now. He was left to his own devices more often than not. The few people he had talked to saw him more as a curiosity or oddity than anything else it seemed.

And, while he didn’t want to admit it even a little, he missed Katsuki. Not the man who had dismissed Izuku so quickly during the journey from Sniycia to Othya, who had treated him like a glittering gem or exotic pet to be given orders. No, he missed what he had seen of Katsuki on their wedding night. The passion and warmth, the humor and understanding- that hadn’t all been an act had it? The person Izuku had caught a glimpse of- the man he’d slept with- couldn’t have been some fake creation for Izuku’s benefit, could he have? Or had Izuku been so desperate for anyone to hold onto in those shifting moments of time that he had imagined things that hadn’t really ben there?

He didn’t want to believe that. He didn’t want this marriage, no matter how it had come about, to be a prison for either of them. Izuku wanted to believe there was a way to make that connection. But in the end, what did he know about Katsuki? And what did Katsuki know about Izuku? The amount of time they had spent together, without spectators of any kind, was less than a day. What chance did their marriage have?

And yet, Izuku wanted it to work. He knew it didn’t work that way but he wished that there was a way. Wished that if he just tried hard enough, everything would fall into place.

But how did he trust someone he didn’t know? Someone who didn’t seem to want to bridge that gap between the two of them…

“How the fuck did you end up here?”

Izuku jumped, startled by the growled question to his right that splintered through the quiet and fragmented his thoughts. The back of his head connected with the stone wall he had been leaning against with a resounding crack. Izuku yelped, pain racing down his nerves from the offending spot. Tears blurred his vision and Izuku swallowed hard, closing his eyes against the black spots that danced in front of his vision.

“Graceful.”

Izuku opened his eyes to glare at the blond now in front of him, folding his arms across his chest as he did. “You surprised me! What are you doing here?”

“Hah?” Katsuki growled again. “I can’t come looking for my mate?”

Izuku steeled his self-control, ignoring the shivers that raced down his spine at having his husband so close, the two of them alone again. Yeah, the sexual chemistry between the two of them was alive and well. Which wasn’t the best news Izuku had ever heard, given that Katsuki had been nothing but an ass since leaving Sniycia. Although, the fact that Izuku was attracted to the man he had married wasn’t necessarily bad. So it wasn’t a problem, except that it was. Great.

“You can,” he said, choosing his words with care. “Except that you haven’t bothered to.”

“I’ve been busy,” Katsuki grumbled, folding his arms across his chest in turn.

“What, now you’re bored? And I’m the new toy?” Izuku snapped, temper rising. It was easier to be angry than hurt or confused or lonely or any of the other plethora of emotions that bombarded him at every turn.

“If you expected me to be able to dote on you-” Katsuki started with a scowl.

“Don’t treat me like I’m stupid,” Izuku cut him off and took a step closer, anger propelling him forward. “I know what it takes to run a country. I don’t expect or even want to be the center of your world! But you can’t just come looking for me and think I’m going to come to heel. I told you before, I’m not your pet.”

“A pet wouldn’t yap nearly as much as you,” Katsuki hissed through clenched teeth. “Would you just hold on a second?”

“I-” Izuku swallowed against the knot lodged in his throat. “Are you always this much of an asshole?”

“You started this!” Katsuki stepped closer, crowding into Izuku’s personal space. “I’ve spent far longer than I planned to looking for your ass because it wasn’t-”

“Wasn’t where you expected me? You didn’t exactly tell me you wanted to talk today. You haven’t said anything to me unless it was to tell me to be quiet and do as you say! What, you want me to sit and wait around for you?” Izuku demanded, fed up with this whole situation. “I’m not your bed warmer, despite whatever impression I gave you on… that night.”

“Shut up!” Katsuki roared. He hauled Izuku against his chest, erasing the physical distance between them. “I get it! I’m trying to make it up to you, shortstack!”

“How?!” Izuku fisted his hands in Katsuki’s vest, skin tingling where it came in contact with Katsuki’s body. Izuku was surrounded by muscle, pressed against rock-hard abs. Leather, smoke, and fire seeped into his lungs, settling there as though it was the air he breathed. Katsuki smelled like temptation and a spice Izuku couldn’t quite name. His mind flashed back to their wedding night, Katsuki’s body on display and moving sensually against Izuku’s own. He fought the awareness, the attraction, that seemed to ignite in his own body just by being near Katsuki. Izuku didn’t want to be interested, didn’t want to remember the lust that had turned his blood to honey or the arousal that had coiled in his gut from their wedding night. He didn’t want to be attracted to Katsuki like this, not when Katsuki could dismiss Izuku so easily from his mind and his life.

“If you’d stop fighting with me, I could show you,” Katsuki said. His eyes drifted down to Izuku’s lips. “You shouldn’t be so tempting when you’re being a pain, you know that?”

“I-” Izuku paused, caught off guard and dizzy from the abrupt change in conversation, from Katsuki’s sheer presence. “What?”

“Suddenly gone deaf, nerd? I’m not repeating myself.” Katsuki leaned closer, his breath tickling Izuku’s cheek.

“Stop doing that.” Izuku swallowed. “You can’t just…”

“The hell are you talking about?” Katsuki scowled again. He stepped back and loosened his hold on Izuku. “Just fucking come with me, alright?”

“Fine,” Izuku agreed, releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding in. “That doesn’t mean you’re less of an asshole.”

“Just shut the fuck up,” Katsuki grumbled. “You’re gonna like this.”

“Because you know me so well?” Izuku quirked an eyebrow.

“Shut up.” Katsuki flushed, cheeks turning pink.

Izuku blinked, eyes widening in disbelief. He hadn’t known that his husband could blush and it was… it was really cute. It was charming, in a way. It was another layer, another piece of Katsuki beneath the shields and walls that he erected around himself. Izuku wondered again who Katsuki was when those barriers were down. Izuku liked what he had seen, he just wasn’t sure that he’d ever see more of that man.

“What?” Katsuki snapped, blush darkening.

“Nothing.” Izuku shook his head. “Lead the way.”

“Glad I have your permission,” Katsuki smirked, once again that cocky king. “Come on.”

Izuku bit back his retort, choosing instead to follow Katsuki through the labyrinth of stonework and arches. Wherever they were going, it certainly wasn’t back to the wing that held the private quarters of the royal family. It was going to take Izuku time to learn all of the different paths around this new home- a palace that was as alien as it was breathtaking. They passed more paintings and colorful mosaics that decorated the castle walls as they walked, each discovery more awe-inspiring than the last. Every hue was vivid and full of life, a direct contrast to the whispers about the bloodthirsty warriors who craved nothing but destruction and death.

At least some of the corridors started to look vaguely familiar as they walked. Perhaps Izuku had wandered through this part of the castle during his own exploration? Or maybe everything really was just starting to look the same. It was easier to think about that and to let his attention be captured by the creativity on display than to focus on the silence that stretched between Katsuki and Izuku, the underlying tension practically thick enough to reach out and touch.

Izuku didn’t want it to be this way but there was a chasm between the two of them he had no idea how to cross. The fact was neither of them knew the other. They had been forced together to prevent a war the Sniycian people had had no hope of winning, personal feelings thrust aside for the benefit of nations. They had spent one night together when passion had ignited, sweeping away stress and fear in a burning rush of need. Dawn had brought reality crashing down however. Izuku had no idea how to move forward or even begin to learn the man in front of him. Katsuki wore the title husband as well as king, but Izuku knew neither of those people. Was the snappish responses a defense mechanism?

Katsuki was the puzzle Izuku didn’t even know how to begin to start solving. He didn’t even know if he wanted to try anymore.

“That’s my office,” Katsuki said, shattering the quiet that had built between them. He motioned to a heavy door on his right. “I’m there a lot. If you ever need me, that’s probably the best place to start looking.”

“I have no idea how to get here,” Izuku admitted after a moment. “So that doesn’t really help unless I ask someone for help.”

“You’re a fast learner, yeah?” Katsuki glanced at Izuku as he came to a stop outside another door of dark wood. “You’ll figure it out. This is what I wanted to show you.”

“This?” Izuku glanced at the door in front of him, reaching out to touch the wood. It was smooth beneath his touch, age and care having worn away some of the rougher edges. He glanced at Katsuki. “This is next to your office, isn’t it? What am I doing here?”

“What’s with the questions?” Katsuki grumbled, a smirk tugging at his lips again. He looked amused despite his rough words. “Open the door and find out, nerd.”

“I have a name you know,” Izuku pointed out mildly. His hand wrapped around the handle and tugged hard. The door shifted, opening slowly. “You could try using it.”

“I like my nicknames better.”

“Of course you do,” Izuku muttered. He pulled on the door again and smiled as it swung open fully. He stepped into the room, curiosity holding his tongue as he took in what Katsuki had tracked him down to see.

It was bare for the moment, nothing but stone walls and wooden shelving. The room was large and Izuku’s footsteps echoed in the emptiness. He turned to meet Katsuki’s gaze, baffled as to what he was supposed to be seeing in this space. “It’s an empty room.”

“Good, you got eyes.” Katsuki rolled his own crimson ones. “Yeah, it’s empty right now. I had them move the shit that was in here out.”

“Hence the fact that it’s empty,” Izuku laughed. “Yeah, I get that. So?”

“So, you want a lab, right?”

“A… For me?” Izuku asked, eyes widening in disbelief. “An alchemy lab?”

“Yeah.” Katsuki shrugged, watching Izuku closely- though for what, Izuku had no idea. “S’what I said.”

“Is this an apology?” Izuku blurted out, scrambling to collect his thoughts.

An alchemy lab. His own alchemy lab, where he could run whatever experiments he wanted, where he could do his research without worry that he would spill into someone else’s space. It was all his. More, Katsuki had given it to him for that purpose. Clearly Izuku’s husband intended to let him continue with his alchemy research. He wasn’t going to stifle that aspect of Izuku, wasn’t going to tell him to act like a consort, or a prince, or a mate- however they acted. Katsuki wasn’t looking down his nose at Izuku. He’d given Izuku his own lab!

Whether it was an apology or not, it said something about Katsuki, that he had known Izuku enough to offer this. It left Izuku dizzy and giddy, and more than a little confused about what Katsuki wanted from this relationship. He hadn’t had to do this. He could have just left things as they were between them if he had wanted to. After all, it wasn’t like Izuku really had the power to push anything. But Katsuki had still done this. For Izuku.

“Hah?” Katsuki spluttered, face turning that charming shade of pink again. “I didn’t say that. Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s just- For you. Whatever.”

“All mine?” Izuku smiled brightly, elation bubbling in his bloodstream like champagne. “When?! When can I start working? Not now obviously, there’s so much I need in here. But when will it be furnished?”

“The fuck should I know?” Katsuki blinked as though dazed. “I don’t know what an alchemy lab needs. You’re gonna have to tell them what to add here.”

“Me?” Izuku repeated, delight and something foreign, deeper and softer all at once, mixing in his chest. “I get to design my own lab? Thank you!”

Katsuki flushed darker, pink deepening towards red. Apparently, he wasn’t used to being thanked, despite everything he did for his people. Which made sense in a way, Izuku supposed. Monarchs ruled by right of birth and strength, they were not thanked for what they did. Izuku’s father had always acted as though it was his right to demand whatever he wanted in return for protecting his people. Izuku didn’t know if Katsuki thought the same. Maybe he would ask some time. Philosophy wasn’t high on Izuku’s priority list at the moment.

“Stop making it out to be some big deal,” Katsuki muttered. “It’s fine.”

Wasn’t this a gesture? Izuku had just been wondering if Katsuki even wanted to close the ever-widening gap between the two of them. Wasn’t this something? Hisashi would have never given such a thoughtful gift to anyone, whether he was apologizing or being kind. His idea of a gift for his current wife was a new gown or more gemstones and jewelry. Katsuki had taken the time to give Izuku something that was useful and personal. He had been paying attention to what he knew about Izuku, something mentioned during their first meeting, which had been a mere moment in time.

Izuku swallowed, nerves dancing in his stomach as butterflies took flight again. He could be brave, give Katsuki a gift in return, couldn’t he? It was impossible to deny their sexual chemistry, a constant thrum beneath Izuku’s skin that unnerved and enticed him in equal measure. They had connected back in the bedroom on their wedding night, their bodies speaking the same language even when the two of them had been literal strangers. That was a place to start, right?

Not that Izuku had ever been so forward. His sexual experiences were limited as it was, and the one time that he and Katsuki had slept together, it had been Katsuki who had initiated. It had been far easier for Izuku to give in to his desire then. Starting was an entirely different process.

“The fuck you staring for?” Katsuki’s voice cut through the silence, jolting Izuku from the downward spiral of his thoughts.

“Just…” Izuku had no real idea how to flirt. Or seduce anyone. First time for everything, he supposed. He closed the distance with careful steps. “Was thinking how to thank you.”

“Hah?” Katsuki frowned. “Thank me?”

Izuku released a breath and pushed Katsuki back against the heavy door, pressing his body against Katsuki’s with a soft noise. Izuku went up on his toes, closing the distance created by differing heights to press his lips to Katsuki’s. He swallowed Katsuki’s noise of surprise, sinking into the kiss as Katsuki’s arms came around him again, drawing him closer.

Lust, thick and hot, descended as the kiss continued, robbing Izuku of air, his blood turning to honey in his veins. No, physical connection wasn’t their problem. He lost himself in the moment, fingers sliding up under the hem of Katsuki’s tunic, exploring the ridges and planes of a muscled abdomen he hadn’t been given time to properly explore before. Katsuki shivered below Izuku’s hands, tugging him impossibly closer. His tongue slipped into Katsuki’s mouth with a soft sigh, the teasing kisses giving way to something stronger and hungrier.

They broke apart with gasps, sharing breaths humid from a heated desire that could burn and consume. If Izuku wasn’t careful he could lose himself in the physical bond they had between them, this all-encompassing need for more, to devour and be devoured in turn. He pushed the thought away, damp lips tracing a path along Katsuki’s strong jaw and down his neck, tongue and teeth sampling and marking as Izuku went.

Katsuki’s groan of need was a punch to the gut, fuel to the fire growing inside Izuku’s very cells. His mouth traced up to Katsuki’s ear, nipping at the lobe and sucking away the sting in the next moment, encouraged as Katsuki’s breath hitched, his head falling back against the door with a thud.

“Like that?” Izuku murmured against skin that smelled like fire and smoke, of whispered promises and every sin Izuku could imagine. “Hm?”

“Fuck,” Katsuki gasped, voice strangled. Izuku pulled back just enough to see crimson eyes mixed with black, the irises blown large with pleasure. Had Izuku caused that? The idea that he had that kind of power, that Katsuki might want Izuku with the same intensity that burned within Izuku, like a storm barely contained, was thrilling, heady.

Katsuki’s erection pressed against Izuku, an insistent demand for attention as they moved against each other in a building hunger that bordered on ravenous. Katsuki growled and hauled Izuku close again, taking Izuku’s mouth in another kiss with a violence of nature that should have frightened Izuku. He shivered, a thrill running through his body. He moaned into the kiss, grinding against Katsuki as the room spun around him, as though it was reshaping to fit their needs.

He broke away with a gasp, sucking in lungfuls of air in an attempt to steady himself. He could become addicted to the way Katsuki tasted, the way he touched, what they just seemed to create together. Izuku dropped to his knees, fingers hooking in the tops of Katsuki’s pants and tugging down hard.

“What are you-”

Katsuki cut off with a strangled groan, eyelids fluttering closed as Izuku wrapped one hand around Katsuki’s impressive cock. Izuku released a slow breath, tongue darting out to wet his lips, desire a burn under his skin, arousal intoxicating and warm pooling in his gut. He pressed damp lips to Katsuki’s leaking head, tongue skimming over a slit salty with precum.

“Shit,” Katsuki cursed, voice hoarse, fingers burying in Izuku’s curls. “Don’t stop.”

Izuku felt his cheeks heat as a blush engulfed his face. He swallowed, taking Katsuki’s length into his mouth in a slow descent, tongue sliding down the underside of his dick.

Katsuki moaned long and low, hips snapping forward. Izuku coughed and pulled back, releasing Katsuki’s cock with a wet noise. He glanced up, was pinned by the crimson and black gaze hooded with lust. Izuku shivered, jolts of pleasure chasing through his bloodstream like lightning, caught be the ravenous need burning in Katsuki’s gaze. There was a power in being the person that Katsuki wanted, the one that he looked at like that.

Izuku took Katsuki into his mouth again, hands bracing on Katsuki’s thighs. He hummed around his mouthful and began to move along the pulsing length, tongue swirling and head bobbing, creating a spit-slick mess. Katsuki’s hands tightened in Izuku’s curls, arching into Izuku’s mouth, hips rocking forward in a slow and steady rhythm. Izuku coughed and gagged, nails digging into Katsuki’s thighs as Izuku struggled to take the pulsing cock further into his mouth. He dimly heard the muffled moans coming from his own throat, was more focused on the grunts and moans that slipped past Katsuki’s defenses, the way his hands tightened in Izuku’s curls as he moved faster.

Izuku’s own erection pressed against his pants, a garment that had grown painfully tight as he moved with Katsuki’s hips, cheeks hollowing as he sucked hard on the cock, as though it was a treat. Katsuki’s head fell back against the door with a loud thud, which he repeated again and again, as though trying to gain control again. Izuku hummed and repeated the motion, refusing to let Katsuki regain any kind of control right now. Not when they were finally on even ground.

“Izuk- Can’t- Gonna make me-” Katsuki said, voice wrecked. Izuku shivered, nails digging further into Katsukis thighs as he pushed for more, for everything Katsuki could give.

Katsuki came with a growl rough with grit and violence, hips bucking forward. Izuku coughed, caught by surprise for a moment before swallowing the hot and sticky mess, the salt of skin mingling with the taste of Katsuki, unique and impossible to forget. He pulled back as Katsuki’s hips stilled and pressed a lingering kiss to the crown of Katsuki’s cock, bit back a smirk as Katsuki’s breathing hitched above him. Izuku sat back, meeting Katsuki’s gaze again.

“The fuck are you?” Katsuki murmured in disbelief, looking down at Izuku like he hadn’t seen him before.

“Just me,” Izuku murmured, cheeks aflame again. “Not that special.”

“Shaddup,” Katsuki grumbled. He tugged his pants back up in quick movements and reached down, hauling Izuku up and back into his arms again. “I’m not done with you.”

“No?” Izuku asked, his heart a drumbeat in his chest, slamming against the confines of his ribs in anticipation of what those words meant. He inhaled, the scent of smoke and fire settling in his lungs as though it belonged there.

“No fucking way.”

Chapter Text

The damn nerd was stuck in his head.

Katsuki glared at nothing in particular, following familiar paths through the castle on his way back from the training grounds. He took the time in the early mornings to keep in shape and his fighting skills sharp. He lead a country of warriors, he couldn’t afford to slack off when it came to his training. He had set the regiment as a child soon after his parents’ deaths. Over the years he had continued to increase the intensity, the amount of time, and days he worked out. It had taken discipline but Katsuki was nothing if not stubborn. He used the time to center himself, to prepare for the day ahead. In a way it kept him grounded.

His tutor, a past advisor of his mother’s, had taught Katsuki how to channel his emotions as a child when he had been full of too much grief and rage. He had lashed out at everything and everyone around him, unable to change his fate or anyone else’s at the time. It hadn’t taken long, Katsuki had always preferred action over mincing word. Before his parents had died and everything had changed Katsuki had always been outside, getting into trouble and ruining his clothes.

Fuck, that was the only thing the old man had taught him. Katsuki should probably stop by his home soon, make sure the asshole hadn’t died in his sleep or some other shit.

Training hadn’t chased Izuku out of Katsuki’s thoughts however. Even pushing his body to its limits he’d been thinking about that green-eyed nerd. Izuku had been stuck in Katsuki’s head since yesterday afternoon, when a simple lab had turned into something unexpected. Fuck, the memory of Izuku on his knees, pink lips wrapped around Katsuki’s cock, mouth hot and wet and fucking perfect…

Katsuki shook his head hard. He had work to do today, he didn’t have time to be tracking Izuku down for a repeat performance of the blowjob or what had come afterwards. No matter how enjoyable that sounded. He had a country to run, he couldn’t be spending all day and night with the nerd naked and beneath him. Or whatever position… Yeah, really not the point. He’d gone without sex for long periods of time, he could control himself.

As a teenager Katsuki had been focused on training and his plans to take over his throne from that incompetent fuck as soon as possible. He hadn’t had time to fuck his way through the population of Dragonspire like Denki and Hanta had. And after taking the kingship by force, he’d been too busy rebuilding Othya. He was still rebuilding Othya, making it a power no one would think to attack. His people would be well off and safe. That was his job as king and it was one Katsuki took seriously.

So why the fuck couldn’t he just shove the nerd out of his head and let that be it?

“What are you?”

Katsuki glanced up at the sound of Izuku’s curious voice, as through Katsuki’s thoughts had made his mate materialize from nothing.

Izuku sat on an open stone window facing the gardens that hemmed this side of the castle. The early morning sunshine touched his curls, lightening the dark greens and bathing his skin in gentle light. Green eyes were trained on the juno staring back at him.

Katsuki paused to watch, glad that neither being had caught sight of him yet. Juno were cousins to the mountain goats that made their home in the higher mountain climbs. The dragons snacked on mountain goats who wandered too far down the mountain trails, but they let the juno come and go. Probably because they were the type to fight rather than flee and their blood had some interesting side effects.

Katsuki smiled, watching Izuku shift slowly on his window seat. Sunlight flashed off the pale gold hair and created spotlights on the stone as it refracted off the graceful looking -and dangerous- solid gold horns that grew out of the creature’s head. Katsuki imagined that Sniycia didn’t have junos there, like they hadn’t had dragons.

“So beautiful,” Izuku murmured, entranced by the creature standing in front of him.

“They don’t usually come this close. How long you been sittin’ there, shortstack?”

Izuku glanced at Katsuki, eyes wide with wonder. “Do you know what it is? Can you tell me?”

“That’s not an answer.” Katsuki closed the distance between the two of them, leaning against the wall by Izuku’s impromptu seat. “It’s a juno. Like a mountain goat but more. Surprised it made it down the mountain past some of the younger dragons.”

“Juno?” Izuku repeated, gaze back on the creature in front of him as it started to nose at the garden plants.
“Gold horns hurt like fuck if you get hit and its blood is kind of weird.” Katsuki shrugged. “Other than that, it’s a goat.”

“What do you mean its blood is weird?” Izuku asked. “Does it have healing properties, burn like acid, what?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” Katsuki shook his head. “If it creates a trail with the blood from some injury red flowers bloom. If it eats the blood flowers it gets healed and a major power boost.”

“Can other creatures eat the flowers?”

“What kind of idiot question is that? You aren’t eating some blood flowers, nerd. I don’t think anything but the goldhorn can.”

“You said it was a juno.” Katsuki could hear the frown in Izuku’s voice.

“Goldhorn is the common name. Juno is the species name. Kiri calls them goldhorn.”

“Do you know anything else?”

“You ask a lot of questions, nerd.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t live here all my life,” Izuku retorted, focus still on the juno as it wandered further from them.

Shit. He had a point. This was all common knowledge to Katsuki, stuff taught to children by their parents or tutors. Every kid in Othya knew about the juno, had heard the myth that warned people away from hunting it. But Izuku had grown up across a sea in Sniycia. Which might as well have been another world.

“Tch, fine.” Katsuki sighed and shifted his weight. “Story says that once a long time ago some young, brave, and stupid hunter fell in love with a beautiful girl. He won her heart by giving her some pretty flowers. Traveling merchant came ashore one day and wooed the unfaithful bitch with pretty jewelry that looked like captured sunlight. The hunter was heartbroken by the betrayal.”

Izuku made a soft noise of pain at the imaginary hunter’s pain. Katsuki shook his head, shifting again to stand a little closer.

“Anyway, the hunter was convinced by another hunter, known as Green Hunter to go hunt the juno. Green Hunter had already led a bunch of so-called honest boys to their death or some shit, point is the young hunter shouldn’t have trusted him. According to the myth the juno protect a great treasure, which is why everyone wanted ‘em. So, our genius hero found the juno and pierced its side. It ran, he and Green Hunter pursued.”

“It ate the healing flowers, didn’t it?” Izuku interjected. “Those red flowers.”

“Don’t interrupt,” Katsuki grumbled, poking Izuku’s shoulder. He smirked as Izuku turned to scowl at him before turning his attention back to the juno. “Yeah. It ate the flowers and healed itself, got the strength it needed. It lunged at the stupid kid and, blinded by his greed, he lost his balance and fell off the mountain edge. You don’t hunt juno.”

“We have some tales like that in Sniycia. They’re told less often,” Izuku murmured. “Alchemy and other things have taken up our time now.”

“You got animals there we don’t have here?” Katsuki asked, curious despite himself to hear more about his mate.

“Mhm.” Izuku smiled. “My sister Chika has a bunch of catwings. I think she was going to give my younger sisters them too.”

“Hah? You’re lyin’.” Katsuki scowled.

“No!” Izuku laughed, bright and sweet. “They’re the cutest things, and exactly what they sound like. Regular cats with wings. They’re really cute, but they get into everything.”

“I didn’t see them. How do you have flying cats and I don’t see one?” Katsuki turned his full attention to Izuku. The nerd had to be messing with him.

Izuku shrugged. “I don’t know. You were in your camp most of the time, right? They were kept away for the ceremony; my father and step-mother would have been furious if any of them had been there. Common children have them more often. I like them. They used to curl up in my lap while I read.”

“Huh.” Movement caught Katsuki’s attention, dragging it away from Izuku and back to the juno in his garden. The goldhorn was heading for the entrance, clearly on the way back to the mountains and its own home.

“Oh…” Izuku sighed, clearly disappointed to see it go. “Too bad they live in the mountains. I wish it would stay.”

“You want to keep it here?” Katsuki studied the juno. All the stories said not to hunt one because they were not domesticated creatures. No one kept a juno as a pet. But…

“No.”

Katsuki looked at his husband, surprised at the certainty in that one word for someone who had been so disappointed to see the goat creature leave.

“Living beings shouldn’t be kept against their will.” Izuku’s smile was distant and tinged with sorrow as he watched the juno leave. “It’s not really yours if you cage it, even in a gilded one.”

A cage. That was how Izuku saw this marriage, wasn’t it? It wasn’t something he’d chosen. His father had made the decision for him. Even if Izuku would have agreed to save his country, this wasn’t something that either of them had chosen. If Katsuki had never gone to meet with Hisashi would he have scented Izuku? Would Katsuki have spared Izuku after murdering his family, taken him as Katsuki’s mate anyway? He didn’t know, this mate-tell was unpredictable and stupid as fuck. It screwed with Katsuki’s instincts, made him question shit he’d never thought he would.

He didn’t want Izuku to see the marriage as a prison though, no matter how arranged and forced it was. Yeah, Katsuki had never wanted a mate. He still didn’t. But he had one now and he didn’t want the nerd to be unhappy or feel confined. He’d thought that the lab had been a kind of peace between them, supported by the fact that Izuku had initiated the first sexual situation at all since their wedding night. But Katsuki didn’t want Izuku unhappy.

Katsuki just had no idea how to fix that. It wasn’t like he could let Izuku go back to Sniycia. Even without taking the stupid mate-tell into account there was the fact that Hisashi had threatened Izuku’s life with ease. No matter what Izuku thought of Katsuki, he wasn’t letting Izuku go back to that manipulative asshole. And there was the treaty between the two countries to consider. Katsuki wasn’t about to let Izuku go, couldn’t let him go for so many reasons.

Fuck. Was it a cage?

“You busy later?” Katsuki asked, the words falling out of his mouth before he was entirely aware of speaking.

“No?” Izuku looked up, clearly startled by the question. “I mean, I was going to try to find your library after I talk to someone about the lab? Who do I talk to about that?”

“I’ll tell Kiri and Mina to handle it,” Katsuki said. “They’ll go to whoever has the stuff. Or send Denki. If they think Hanta would be better to talk to, they’ll tell you.”

“I… Have no idea who Kiri is?” Izuku cocked his head. “Or where your library is, by the way.”

“Right.” Katsuki frowned. “I’ll introduce you to Kiri later. He’s my steward.”

Izuku choked, on what Katsuki had no idea. The air? “You’re going to have your steward help me set up my lab?”

“Why not?” Katsuki shrugged. “He’s easy to get along with. Annoying hair for brains or not.”

“I… Well then.” Izuku shook his head. “I-Um… Yes? I’m available? I guess?”

“Good. Come by my office later. I’ll have the kitchen send up dinner.” Katsuki glanced where the juno had disappeared. The nerd liked animals, huh?

“I think there’s supposed to be a please in there somewhere, but I’ll let it go this time.” Izuku stood, stretching out his muscles.

Katsuki swallowed, eyes following the cords of muscle in Izuku’s neck and down the rest of his body. His mind was more than willing to provide memories from the previous day. He could almost feel Izuku’s skin beneath his fingers as he explored again, rediscovered hips as sensitive as they had been the first time. Katsuki could hear the hitch in Izuku’s breathing as Katsuki tugged a nipple into his mouth, tongue and teeth teasing it to a peak as Izuku squirmed beneath his touch, sinful sounds falling from Izuku’s lips.

Katsuki steeled himself, bringing his self-control to bear. He had work to do. He was not going to lay Izuku out on the grass and undress him slowly, didn’t have time to suck more marks into Izuku’s skin as wickedly tempting noises and ragged breathing filled the air. He wasn’t going to. Not right now anyway.

“Katsuki?”

Katsuki didn’t second guess his instincts. He reached out and wrapped an arm around Izuku’s waist, hauling him close and closing the distance between them. Katsuki smirked as Izuku gasped, eyes wide in surprise.

“Is this normal for you? The manhandling?” Izuku asked, mischief Katsuki would not have expected from the numb prince who had given him vows dancing in green eyes. “I feel like I should be prepared.”

“Get used to it,” Katsuki growled. He leaned forward and nipped at Izuku’s lower lip playfully.

Izuku pressed closer and placed a kiss on Katsuki’s lips, sweet and tasting like every sin Katsuki was weak to. He crushed Izuku closer, not content to sample when he wanted to devour. Izuku met him kiss for bruising kiss, as though he was as hungry for Katsuki as Katsuki was for him.

Katsuki pulled back slowly, pressing a final kiss to Izuku’s lips. “I have to go,” he grumbled, voice rough with repressed desire.

“Right,” Izuku murmured, taking a step back. His lips were a slightly red from their kisses and Katsuki’s playful bites. His tongue darted out, wetting them. “Tonight.”

“Tch. Don’t be late.”

Katsuki forced himself to turn away, forced himself to continue back into the castle to attend his meetings and attend to other duties. Being a king had never been so irritating before.

OoOoO

“I’m not late. You didn’t set an exact time.”

Katsuki snorted, glancing up from the trade agreement that needed to be reviewed. “You got lost, didn’t you shortstack?”

“I’m not that much shorter than you.” Izuku pouted as he stepped fully into Katsuki’s office. He glanced around the room. “So, this is where you spend all your time?”

“A good portion of it,” Katsuki admitted with a shrug. He set the parchment on the desk. “Food will be up in a bit.”

“That’s good,” Izuku said, distracted as he wandered around the room. “You have a lot of books here. From the mythical library?”

“I’ll show you the damn library soon.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Fuckin’ nerd.”

“Do you always have meals here?” Izuku asked. He frowned as he turned to face Katsuki. “While you work?”

“Not always.” Katsuki shrugged, dodging the question. “Anyway, I got something for you.”

“You do?” Izuku blinked. “The lab wasn’t enough? I’m not going to blow you every time you give me a gift.”

“Shaddup,” Katsuki growled, cheeks heating as blush crawled over his skin. He liked this banter more than he was about to let Izuku know. He actually liked that Izuku didn’t just nod and do as he said. At least, sometimes. His friends didn’t and it somehow seemed fitting that his mate didn’t either. “Not why I’m doing this.”

“Okay, what is it?” Izuku quirked an eyebrow.

“Impatient.” Katsuki reached down and scooped up the gift, placing it on top of his desk carefully. “Here.”

“I…” Izuku went quiet, the only sound the breathing in the room and his careful footsteps closer. “Is this a fox?”

“Fennec fox,” Katsuki corrected. “It’s a kit, think his mom died or something. We found him the other day. Don’t want it to die and you like animals so… It works.”

“Mine?” Izuku asked quietly, running his fingers over the soft sand colored fir. The kit yawned, dark eyes opening as it awoke from a nap. “You’re sure?”

“His name is Vihan.” Katsuki smirked. He’d gotten this right. Like with the lab, he’d gotten this right.

“What does that mean?” Izuku glanced up to meet Katsuki’s gaze as the fennec kit sniffed at his hand, large ears twitching.

“You’ll figure it out.” Katsuki glanced at the kit. “You want him?”

“Vihan,” Izuku repeated. He glanced up at Katsuki and smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

Katsuki blinked several times, not about to admit that he was a little dazed from that smile. “Whatever nerd. I gotta finish looking this over, but by then dinner should be here.”

Izuku scooped Vihan off the desk, laughing as his new companion nipped at his fingers. “We can wait, if you don’t mind the company?”

“Nah.” Katsuki’s smirk softened into a smile. “There’s a chair over there. Don’t distract me.”

“I’m going to ask you questions.” Izuku laughed again. “And I really need the library now. I need to know what to feed him and how often and…”

“Mina’s done this kind of shit before. Hanta too. You can talk to them. I’ve got some shit for him back in the rooms. Sit, shortstack.” Katsuki shook his head. He wasn’t going to get much work done.

Strangely, he didn’t mind as much as he should.

Chapter Text

“I want to see the city.”

“And I needed this update because?”

Izuku rolled his eyes. He didn’t bother to turn around to look at Hitoshi, whom he knew was sprawled in one of the library chairs.

Izuku had made Katsuki show him where the library was the day after being gifted with Vihan. The kit was currently asleep on the darkly-colored wooden table, next to a stack of books Izuku had gathered from around the room. Although perhaps room wasn’t an accurate term. The library was extensive, with multiple floors and polished wooden shelves holding thousands of books. It was larger than the one back in Sniycia which Izuku had read from top to bottom. The library in Othya’s castle was clearly treasured and well cared for and Izuku had felt at ease for one of the first times since coming to Othya. He’d spent plenty of time within the confines of the room since, content within the walls and shelves lined with books, breathing in the heavy scent of parchment and leather.

Izuku stared down at the city in the distance. He hadn’t been outside the palace grounds since coming to Othya and that had been close to a month ago. For a while adjusting to the new country and exploring the castle and its grounds had been more than enough to keep him occupied. But while his alchemy lab was being furnished to his specifications he had little that he could actually do. He’d talked to several of the people Katsuki had suggested and he knew they were working hard to get it ready. But that didn’t change the boredom that came from too much time on his hands. Izuku enjoyed his research- he just wanted to be doing things as well.

“Because you’re coming with me,” Izuku said after several minutes of studying the city.

“I am?” Hitoshi asked.

“Mhm.” Izuku turned away from the window to smile at his best friend. “Just like back home when we wanted to avoid the guards.”

“You have that look in your eyes,” Hitoshi sighed as though he knew what was coming, but made no effort to stand.

“What look?” Izuku laughed, repeating a conversation they must have had a thousand times.

“The same glint in your eyes that goes with the way you stand and set your jaw. It’s your mildly stubborn but still not budging tells.” Hitoshi rolled his eyes and stood, stretching lazily, as a cat might. “I suppose some fresh air would do me good.”

“I have tells?” Izuku repeated curiously.

“For everything you do.” Hitoshi shook his head. “I’ve told you this before but you’re too expressive to be a good spy. Or even a bad one. I don’t know how the cinderbrain can believe you about Ochako.”

“Hush!” Izuku hissed, glancing around. There was no one near them saved for Vihan, who was still asleep- and couldn’t talk even if he wasn’t. “Don’t say that so loud.”

Hitoshi shot him an unamused look. “He’s going to figure it out. Unless he has rocks for brains.”

“You’re going to help me make it convincing.” Izuku shook his head. “Just for now.”

“And you think that’s going to work?” Hitoshi quirked an eyebrow.

“It has to,” Izuku admitted.

“Unless your new sex toy is particularly stupid, it won’t,” Hitoshi said dryly.

Izuku felt his face heat and knew he was turning red. Only Hitoshi could take someone of Katuski’s power and complications and boil it down to something as simple as a sex toy. Izuku had no doubt that his chemistry with Katsuki was unquantifiable. Just being around Katsuki seemed to make his blood simmer in some way or another. There wasn’t a question of if they were good together in bed- the answer was obviously yes. But that one answer didn’t solve all the others that came to mind. Izuku didn’t want to think about any of them right now though.

“We’re going to explore the city. We’re not having this conversation right now.”

“Of course we’re not.” Hitoshi snorted and motioned to the city outside the window. “Lead the way.”

Izuku stuck his tongue out at the purple-haired man who was basically another brother to him in a childish display of annoyance before heading towards the library entrance. He paused long enough in their objective to drop Vihan off in the rooms he shared with Katsuki. He was glad that he’d fed the fennec shortly before his nap. He was hoping that he wouldn’t be gone long enough for another feeding. Right now, Vihan was young enough that he spent a large part of his time sleeping and eating. He would be more active soon enough- Izuku had no idea what he was going to do when it came time to entertain Vihan. Maybe he could make Katsuki help him.

Izuku led the way through corridors he was starting to learn to navigate towards the castle grounds. He smiled politely as he passed servants and courtiers alike going about their daily business and was glad when they didn’t stop him to chat or ask too many questions. It was the first time being the foreign consort of their king had helped Izuku. Outside of the people Katsuki called his friends there weren’t many people who had taken the time to try to get to know Izuku or even engage him in conversation. Despite the fact that he was married to their king or that he now dressed in the same style of dress as they did, he was still the foreign prince.

The loneliness of that would crush Izuku if he let it, but for now he embraced how so many avoided him. It allowed him to lead the way out of the castle and down the sloping cliffside trail without question. He grinned at Hitoshi as the city loomed ever larger before them.

“Ready?”

“It’s a city. I’m sure it’s not so different from the previous cities we’ve visited without guards.” Hitoshi shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You have a habit of this. I knew it was just a matter of time.”

“You’re a bad influence.” Izuku laughed, drawing in a deep breath of air. It was still sweeter than any he’d experienced before. What about Othya was so different that even their air was more pleasant than that of Sniycia’s? How did air even have a sweet quality? “I didn’t start avoiding guards until you became my friend.”

“Lies,” Hitoshi snorted. “You have attracted trouble as long as I’ve known you. I had nothing to do with it. I would still be asleep if I had a choice.”

“You like sleep too much.” Izuku shook his head. “I worry about you.”

“Says the man who sleeps as little as possible when working on a project,” Hitoshi pointed out with a quirk of his eyebrow. “I simply take the extra you don’t want. Someone has to.”

“I sleep!” Izuku protested. “When I need to.”

“When your body forces you to,” Hitoshi corrected. “Don’t judge my sleeping habits when you can’t fix your own.”

“You’re impossible.” Izuku laughed again as the two friends came to the edge of the city proper.

The clang of hammer meeting anvil rang out as they began to maneuver around buildings and craftsmen working. The scent of leather tanning wafted from a nearby building, in the varying stages of completion. Nearby the fires roared for the smiths working on weapons, armor, and any metalwork that their guilds would require of them. Carpenters could be seen hard at work as well in the varying stages of their own craft.

No one paid the two foreign young men any mind as they wandered between buildings. Grass and dirt gave way to cobbled streets the further in to the city the two of them went. Craft guilds slowly gave way to homes and inns that lined the streets, chatter and the smell of cooking food replacing the sounds and scents of leather and wood, heated steel and brewing spirits. The road narrowed as citizens crowded its confines, going about their daily business.

It was easy to find the market by following the winding pathways to the center of the city itself. People shouted out their wares and the smell of baked goods filled the air, making the mouth water. Izuku breathed in again, craning his neck to catch every detail of the unfamiliar.

The city of Dragonspire had clearly been built around the same time and in the same style as the castle that rested above them. The buildings were practical and functional while still maintaining a grace and beauty in the craftsmanship. It was subtler here in Othya than back home, where the flashier the bauble the more attention it received. In Sniycia the market stalls and shops proper were crammed with anything eye-catching in the hopes of winning the crowd’s affection and attentions. Dragonspire was proud of their work still, but they seemed to boast about it less. The shop windows were cleaner and simpler, and the scents of cooking food mingled with leathers and other wares instead of being covered with overly sweet perfumes.

Even when crowded against each other the buildings managed to have a beauty to them. Grit and the wearing of time didn’t seem to rest long here. Maybe the citizens prided themselves on keeping their homes and businesses in good shape. It wasn’t the same back in Sniycia’s capital of Lemarsi. Izuku hadn’t been allowed to wander Lemarsi without an escort but there had been a few times he had found himself in the city without guards at his back. Lemarsi had been more chaotic and flashier, an overwhelming amount of color and noise as everyone tried to make a living. Dragonspire had those aspects- Izuku imagined every city in the world had aspects that would ring the same- but it seemed less unorganized. There was an underlying sense of order that the main market of Lemarsi often lacked.

It was fascinating to watch the comings and goings of the ordinary citizens. Izuku wondered where the best place was to get alchemical ingredients in this market. Izuku hadn’t met any other alchemists since coming to Othya. He knew that Katsuki had intended to conquer Sniyicia for their alchemical knowledge and wealth but now Izuku wondered if Othya had any alchemists of their own to boast.

“I wonder if we’ll have to trade back home for any alchemy ingredients,” Izuku murmured, musing aloud. “I don’t see any here.”

“I don’t see fruit either.” Hitoshi nudged Izuku. “That’ll be a change.”

“No fruit?” Izuku looked around the market quickly, disappointment mounting as each visible stall and storefront proved Hitoshi correct. A noise of dismay slipped past his lips at the discovery. “I wonder if it doesn’t grow here.”

“The cinderbrain can trade for some.” Hitoshi shrugged. “Just bat those eyes at him.”

“Shut up,” Izuku snapped, face heating in a blush. “I don’t do that.”

“Around him?” Hitoshi smirked. “Absolutely.”

“Shut up,” Izuku repeated. “Even if I did- which I don’t- he wouldn’t care. He’s not- I mean- He doesn’t care about that sort of thing.”

Or me, Izuku’s mind supplied silently.

“If you say so,” Hitoshi said dryly. “You’re always right.”

“Oh, be quiet,” Izuku groaned. “Let’s find someone who might know where we can buy some ingredients. We’re going to have a lot to do once the lab is ready.”

“I have a lab. There’s a smaller one near my rooms. Or it’ll at least work for an alchemy lab. I’ll have it to myself since your husband gave you one.”

“There is?” Izuku paused. “He never mentioned it.”

“I asked someone and they showed me right to it,” Hitoshi shrugged. “You don’t ask the right questions.”

“I guess not,” Izuku murmured. Why had Katsuki given him a lab if there was already one in the castle? Old and disused as it sounded it was still there. The gift meant that much more if Katsuki had chosen to give it to Izuku simply because he wanted Izuku to have his own lab to personalize. Maybe they were learning each other?

“I still might have you use mine for the bigger projects,” Izuku said. “That way we don’t have to run back and forth. We’ll have to see how it works.”

“That depends. Am I going to have to worry about walking in on anything I shouldn’t? I have innocent thoughts, ‘Zuku. Don’t pervert them.”

“You’re no innocent,” Izuku snorted in disbelief. “And do you plan to stop teasing me anytime soon?”

“No.” Hitoshi grinned.

“Noted,” Izuku sighed. He watched the market as it moved about daily life for a minute. Flower vendors passed by with their colorful displays and friends chatted on their way to buy something from the bakery. Children shrieked with laughter and darted amongst the crowd. It was enough like Lemsari to be soothing, knowing some things stayed the same no matter where in the world he was.

“Were you looking for something, dears?”

Izuku glanced to his right to be greeted by the smiling face of a woman with dark skin and expressive, warm eyes. She had a tray of different colored ribbons in front of her.

“Sorry, are we in your way?” Izuku shifted quickly, stepping out of her way. “I guess I got lost in thought. I’m sorry.”

“You’re fine, sweetie.” The woman’s smile grew. “Foreign accent. I guess you’re that new prince everyone is talkin’ about, hm?”

“Uh, yes,” Izuku admitted. He glanced at Hitoshi who shrugged, clearly not about to be any help. The woman obviously recognized him but there was no bowing or scrapping, no clamoring for his attention. She treated him like another person on the street, not some high-and-mighty power. It was as jarring as it was soothing.

“Welcome to Othya,” the merchant laughed. “I’m sure you’ve heard that enough though. You looked like you were looking for something. Can I help?”

“I was wondering where you can buy alchemy ingredients?” Izuku gestured to the market square behind him. “Is there anywhere?”

“Hm… Not here. We don’t have too many that would label it that. We don’t really have alchemy or any of that fancy science. But you could try this one place, Mei would know where you could look for some. She dabbles in that.”

“Who? Where?” Izuku asked eagerly. “Where can I find this Mei?”

“Couple streets over.” The woman gestured to her right, further away from the castle. “She’s a little off though, so be careful. Sweet girl, but very… focused, I guess. You go see her, third house down four streets back and two over to the right. She’s on the left. Can’t miss her.”

“Thank you!” Izuku exclaimed. He stopped himself short and concentrated on the woman in front of him again with a warm smile. “Um, Lady…?”

“Not a lady, just Ashtad. You have a good day.” Ashtad smiled and disappeared back into the crowd, calling out her wares.

“Her body language was open. I don’t think this is a trick,” Hitoshi supplied, drawing Izuku’s attention back to him.

“Let’s check it out then.” He weaved his way through the crowd, following the instructions from the ribbon seller. Four streets down and two over to the right from there were simple enough directions to follow. Izuku soon found himself standing in front of a small home with a simple knocker on the door announcing it as Mei Hatsumue’s home. He hesitated. What if she didn’t want to be bothered?

“The door doesn’t bite,” Hitoshi said, the bite of sarcasm heavy in his words.

“Ha.” Izuku took a deep breath and reached for the knocker.

“Watch out!” someone called out.

The window to the left exploded in a burst of purple and white flames that licked at the wood and stone with an almost ravenous hunger. Several people on the road behind them groaned or shouted.

“She has no control over herself, does she?” Hitoshi observed mildly. He unhooked a potion vial from his belt and tossed it into the flames. The tinkle of glass was barely heard over the inferno and yelling behind them but the results were instantaneous, the flames disappearing under a wave of yellow smoke. The smoke dissipated in a flash, taking the colorful fire with it and leaving only the destruction in its wake.

“Well that didn’t go as intended!” A young woman covered in soot and ash stepped out of the rubble. She wiped at her eyes, smearing around the grit as she did so. “I’ll have to modify that when I try it again.”

“No!” a man from next door shouted, face purple and red from anger. “No more! We need to live in these houses, Mei! You’re done! I’ll break every godsdamned thing in there if I have to!”

“You won’t touch my babies!” Mei shot back. She turned her back on her neighbor, as though that was that.

“Excuse me?” Izuku interjected. “Are you Mei Hatsume?”

“Hm?” Mei frowned as though she was seeing him for the first time. “Who are you? I’ve got a lot of clean up to do. Plus, I want to try that again. I think I need to add less sulfur to that next batch.”

“Stay away from that bitch,” the neighbor growled. “She’s trouble.”

“I happen to be trouble too,” Izuku said coolly. He smiled at Mei, who had pink hair standing out in every direction as though she were crazy. But she had sharp eyes and she had known where to fix her own work. Izuku had long ago learned to stop judging by appearances. “And I’m an alchemist. Do you think you’d be interested in a job?”

“I’m listening,” Mei said, cocking one hip out.

“Fuck,” Hitoshi sighed.

“Hitoshi? You’re going to have to share that lab.” Izuku grinned. “We found another alchemist.”

OoOoO

“See you later.”

Izuku smiled as he turned away from Hitoshi, heading deeper into the castle. He traced paths back towards where his lab would soon be- where Katsuki’s office was. It was surreal to think he would be working on his own research while Katsuki ran the kingdom on the other side of the wall. Maybe one day they would be in a place where Izuku could help Katsuki with the day-to-day work. This wasn’t Izuku’s home and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds, but it was a nice thought to entertain- that one day they might get along well enough that it could happen.

“There you are.”

Izuku froze, chills chasing up his spine and out through his body. He frowned and turned to face his husband who was leaning against the near wall. “What?”

“Inside.” Katsuki jerked his head towards the office door. “Now.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Izuku yanked open the door to Katsuki’s office and stepped inside. He strode to the other end of the room, unwilling to have Katsuki right behind him if he was in a bad mood. The door closed with a heavy thud.

“Where the fuck were you?” Katsuki snarled, wasting no time.

“Excuse me?” Izuku spun on his heel to face Katsuki. “Why do you want to know?”

“Answer the godsdamned question.”

“Answer mine first,” Izuku hissed. He wanted to be wrong about why Katsuki wanted to know, wanted to be proven wrong so badly. “Why do you want to know?”

“You owe me an answer!” Katsuki thundered, jaw a hard line.

“I don’t owe you anything!” Izuku countered, stomach souring. “You don’t own me!”

This was a conversation they had needed to have when they had left Sniycia. Instead Katsuki had dismissed Izuku at every turn or avoided the situation after their initial confrontation in front of his people. And sure, maybe Izuku shouldn’t have said anything in front of the men and women of Othya who followed Katsuki. He knew that his father would have been furious had he done anything remotely similar. But Izuku had said something and now he was finally going to deal with the root of this.

“Izuku,” Katsuki growled. “Answer me.”

“Fine. I went down to the city, you arrogant asshole,” Izuku snapped, temper rising to the surface. He was so done with this. He had belonged to his father his whole life, a prince of the crown whom Hisashi could do with as he saw fit. Izuku had gone against his father’s wishes to become an alchemist, but that hadn’t changed that he was owned as a prince. All of the royal family was. Hisashi demanded and almost no one denied him. No one wanted to face his wrath for doing so. Izuku had tried to stay out of his father’s way for the most part but he was tired and angry. He hadn’t traded one owner for another. He refused.

“I didn’t give you permission-” Katsuki started, red eyes darkening.

“If I want to go to the city, I’m going to go. I am not going to wait and check if it’s fine with you! We both have better things to be doing,” Izuku cut him off.

Katsuki hissed in a breath. “What?”

“Get this through your thick skull.” Izuku’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, nails digging into the skin of his palms. “I’m not yours. I don’t belong to you. I don’t care if I’m your husband or your mate, or anything else. I am not some toy you can use when you’re bored, and I’m not a pet. Just because I was forced to say some flowery words in a court doesn’t make me yours. I don’t care what your laws say, my father said, or anything else you have to say on the matter!”

Katsuki rocked back like he had been punched. “Don’t fucking cry, damn it, nerd.”

“I cry!” Izuku shouted, wiping at the tears trailing down his cheeks. He hadn’t even realized he was crying. “Either get used to it, or leave me alone! I may have married you, but I don’t have to deal with you!”

“Your father threatened to kill you!” Katsuki flexed his fingers, as though itching for a weapon at the very thought. “And I know you heard it! Do you know how hard it was not to rip his throat out? Not to turn around and tell you it would all be fine?”

“You want a medal?” Izuku snorted. He hadn’t realized Katsuki had known he was behind the wall in the throne room that day and didn’t want to think about it right now. “A blow job for your hard work?”

“I went looking for you after I left your father. I heard what you said,” Katsuki snarled. “Blood thirsty and violent barbarians, right?”

“Eavesdroppers rarely hear something good.” Izuku laughed weakly. “I guess we both figured that out that day.”

“You think it’s funny?” Katsuki frowned, anger practically a flame in his eyes.

‘No.” Izuku shook his head. “But I was shaken and venting to a friend and that’s what I knew about you then. And I doubt you heard the rest, but that’s not my problem. And don’t change the subject.”

“You left without telling me. What if something had happened to you? What if you’d been hurt? You’re my responsibility, whether you like it or not.”

“I’m not. I can defend myself. Not that you’d know that, because you haven’t taken more than a few hours to get to know me.” Izuku wiped at more tears. “This isn’t going to work. I don’t know what I was thinking. Leave me alone, Katsuki.”

He sidestepped Katsuki and headed for the door, hoping his feet would take him as far as possible before he broke down.

Katsuki grabbed him, a hand wrapping around his wrist. “Wait a fuckin’ minute.”

“Don’t touch me,” Izuku growled. He wrenched his wrist away from Katsuki’s touch and met his gaze. “I don’t want to be anywhere near you. I’m not your property. I’m not a prize, or a toy, or a pet. I make my own decisions. You might have more power in this cursed marriage but I’m still my own person. So, unless you plan to throw me in a cell, I’m going to go where I want.”

“Izuku,” Katsuki repeated his name, but he sounded like he’d had the wind knocked out of him.

“Do you respect me? Not as your mate, not as your husband, not for what I can do or not do for your country, as me. As Katsuki Bakugou, not as a king, do you respect me?”

Silence answered Izuku.

Katsuki stared at him like he’d never seen him before. Izuku swallowed against the painful knot in his throat.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

He opened the door and stepped back into the hall, closing the heavy wooden barrier behind him.

It wasn’t the only barrier between them though, was it?

Chapter Text

“Do you respect me? Not as your mate, not as your husband, not for what I can do or not do for your country, as me. As Katsuki Bakugou, not as a king, do you respect me?”

What kind of stupid ass question was that?

Katsuki stalked down dark corridors and through elegant courtyards lit only by flickering candlelight and moonlight with single-minded purpose. Courtiers, soldiers, and servants alike scurried out of his way or turned back in the direction they’d come. They were probably too aware to his explosive temper to chance coming near him right now. Usually everyone avoided him in these kinds of black moods, save for his friends who were either too stubborn or dense to keep away.

It had been days since Izuku had left Katsuki’s office on the heels of that godsdamned question. The nerd had ignored him since then. Katsuki hadn’t realized that he’d come to expect Izuku showing up on occasion with a question or smartass remark to make until it had suddenly stopped. The silence had been… painful, in a way. Katsuki was used to working on projects for long stretches without interruption. His people and his friends all knew when to let him work, had long ago given up the fight to get Katsuki to take a break. He rested when he needed to and took time for himself as he wanted to.

Now that same hush and quiet pissed him off. Izuku had only been in Othya for a handful of weeks and he’d already made himself at home in Katsuki’s day to day life. He stopped in, interrupted work with that damn bright curiosity in his gaze and smile of his, and then had the gall to claim that Katsuki was stifling him? That he didn’t respect him? Then the little shit walked out before Katsuki could formulate any fucking reply, tears still falling. And for fuck’s sake Katsuki had no idea how to handle tears. Izuku cried and Katsuki would rather someone stab him because it was his job to stop his mate from crying and he didn’t even know how. Couldn’t the nerd scream and shout and try and hit him and not cry?

And where did Izuku get off on walking out without letting Katsuki reply? What the fuck was Katsuki even supposed to do with that? He was accused of being overbearing- and okay, maybe he was a little- but Izuku hadn’t given him a chance to say shit before he walked out. The stupid Sniycian prince didn’t have instincts slamming against rationality and demanding that Katsuki keep him by his side or in his bed the whole time. It would be a lot more convenient if he did. If he needed Katsuki in that same way. Then at least, Katsuki would have more control-

He stopped short, something vile and rotten twisting at his stomach. Control. Wasn’t that what Izuku had accused him of in a way? It wasn’t like Katsuki thought he actually owned the green-haired nerd. Neither mating or marriage gave him ownership papers or something like property. Katsuki didn’t know where Izuku had gotten that idea- that Katsuki saw him as some trophy he’d won in a war that hadn’t happened. There had been no winning Izuku. Hisashi had bled Katsuki and Othya dry before he’d agreed to the marriage and in the process spared Izuku’s life. Not that Izuku knew any of that. He didn’t need to know shit either.

Was it a Sniyician custom? Were Izuku’s married siblings property of their spouses? Fuck, Katsuki didn’t know nearly enough about that godsforsaken country. Every time he thought he had a handle on it something new came up.

He’d just set the stupid nerd straight. Explain that Izuku wasn’t his property, but he would listen to Katsuki…

“Do you make a habit of standing in the middle of the hall looking pissy?”

Katsuki jerked, meeting the hard gaze of the male alchemist Izuku had brought home with him. What was his name? Katsuki had seen him around with Izuku on occasion. The man looked like death warmed over. Did the fucker sleep? Not that Katsuki could talk, Eijiro and Mina had gotten on his case in their first few years about how little Katsuki slept when he was busy. But Katsuki was ruling a country. Did the purple-haired fucker even know how to sleep?

And did he say pissy? Katsuki was not pissy.

“It’s my home, I’ll do what I want,” Katsuki snapped. He folded his arms over his chest. “Did you need something?”

“I was looking for you, actually.” The sleep-deprived-looking man whose name Katsuki could not remember arched an eyebrow.

Katsuki was not in the right headspace to deal with kingdom bullshit at the moment, a fact that only angered him further. He had spent his whole life training himself to be a king worth a shit, a king who could take care of his people and make them so powerful that no one dared come after them again. How did one short, muscled, green-eyed, tempting nerd mess him up this badly? Mate or not, Katsuki had shit to do and Izuku wanted nothing to do with him.

So why the fuck couldn’t Katsuki leave it alone?

“I wanted to tell you to stop messing with my best friend,” Purple-hair continued, as though whether Katsuki said something or not didn’t matter. “He has enough to deal with without you being a controlling piece of shit.”

One of the alchemists Izuku had chosen to bring with him was his best friend, huh? Just fucking perfect.

“Hah?!” Katsuki snarled, temper rising with little provocation. “This isn’t your business, you fucking walking-dead-lookin' -”

“It is my business,” the asshole corrected with a smirk, as though Katsuki was amusing him. Most people flinched when Katsuki snarled and this guy just grinned. And almost no one interrupted him. What the fuck? Who was Izuku friends with, because Katsuki didn’t need more irritations.

“Izuku is my best friend and has been for over ten years. Just because we’re not fucking doesn’t mean he’s not important to me.” The bastard might be leering but his eyes were hard, flat, and cold. “He probably means more to me than he does to you.”

Katsuki stiffened. “Fuck off. He’s my godsdamned mate. No one asked for your shitty fuckin’ opinion and you keep mouthing off I’ll fucking rip your throat out with my own hands.”

“You use that word a lot,” The opinionated little shit, pointed out, eyes narrow just slightly. “But it doesn’t mean anything.”

“I used a lot of words, shit for brains, which ones are you talking about?” Katsuki wanted to punch the smug, stupid, entitled little prick. But he didn’t, couldn’t really. The alchemist was now one of his people, like it or not, and Katsuki did not attack his citizens. Even when they were smug purple-haired freaks who deserved it.

“Mate, cinderbrain. Try to keep up.” The tired-looking man leaned against the wall as though bored.

“The fuck do you get off tellin’ me what something does or doesn’t mean-” Katsuki started forward, temper rising further.

“It doesn’t mean anything to Izuku.”

Katsuki froze, caught by the honesty in those self-satisfied words. He couldn’t form the response to tell this dickhead off. Hadn’t Izuku said something similar during the argument leaving Snyicia? He’d all but shoved it in Katsuki’s face that he didn’t have the same instincts and tells that led him to act. It was infuriating. But it didn’t change shit.

“I’ve seen him treated like a pawn for too long. If that’s all you want leave him alone,” Purple-hair warned. What was his name, Hatishi? Hatoshi? Something like that. It was on the edge of Katsuki’s awareness but the conversation taking place mattered far more.

“You think you can give me orders?” Katsuki asked quietly.

“No.” Izuku’s best friend shrugged, as though disinterested. Only his gaze gave away how serious he was. “But he’s not a possession or a pawn. And since you’re interesting, I’ll throw you a bone.”

“No one asked for your help.” Katsuki wasn’t sure if he wanted it or not. Every instinct he had said to make his mate happy. Katsuki’s pride on the other hand wanted to tell Izuku and anyone else involved to stop being so godsdamned difficult.

“You don’t have to take it.” The guy cocked his head. “But I’m giving it to you. When you talk to him, don’t be an emperor, or a mate. Just talk to him like a person. Not enough people have done that.”

“What did Hisashi do?” Katsuki growled, hands fisting. He despised Izuku’s father, the fucking backstabbing worm.

“Ask him yourself,” the bastard- Hitoshi, that was it- said flatly. “I gave you advice, not his life story.”

“Fine, whatever. Are you done preaching and telling me off?” Katsuki asked. He needed to track down his mate.

“Never.” Hitoshi smirked again. “I think this is my new favorite pastime.”

“Die.” Katsuki stalked past Hitoshi and down the corridor. He ignored the laughter that followed him with curses under his breath. Flattening Izuku’s best friend wasn’t going to get him anywhere and Hitoshi had offered advice, no matter how unwanted it had been. Pride said that Katsuki shouldn’t need help figuring out his mate. But like it or not -and he fucking didn’t, that was for sure- Hitoshi knew Izuku. The question was what Katsuki did with that knowledge now.

He had to find the nerd first. He wasn’t in his lab since it was still being created, and he wasn’t in their rooms. The little shit had explored enough of the castle at this point that he could have lost himself in any number of courtyards or rooms to avoid him. And much as it annoyed him, Katsuki couldn’t search them all. So how did he find his mate when he wanted to talk to him without sending guards to drag Izuku to him? Katsuki had no doubt that option would be disastrous as fuck. He could picture Izuku’s fury now. Best to avoid it.

He had checked the library earlier but Izuku hadn’t been there. Vihan was currently asleep in their rooms, the second place Katsuki had checked. Where would he go? He and Izuku weren’t the same, but Katsuki didn’t have much to go on at this point. He might as well start with his choices and work out from there. It was that or search every garden and hidden room in the palace and he really didn’t want to do that.

Katsuki let his feet take him down to the training grounds. He had been there just this morning, working through his fury as dawn had touched the sky in pastel colors. He might as well try and see if Izuku was there.

The clang of swords and shouts rang out as Katsuki approached. He could hear Mina and Eijiro’s laughter and Izuku’s responding taunts. There was warmth in Izuku’s answers, a familiarity that twisted something in Katsuki’s chest. It was good to know that Izuku was comfortable around the people who mattered to Katsuki, and no one mattered more than Eijiro and Mina. Why was it so hard for Izuku to be comfortable around him though?

He leaned against the wall, letting the shadows obscure his presence as he watched Izuku square off against Eijiro and Mina. Katsuki held back the need to tell Mina and Eijiro to back down in a ruthless hold. If Izuku wanted to try his supposed abilities against two highly skilled Othyan warriors, let him. Maybe he would learn to listen to Katsuki. Maybe he would stop thinking he could just do what he wanted.

Katsuki didn’t want their marriage to be miserable. The curse that hung over every mated couple was bad enough. For all Katsuki knew this was how the gods intended to curse him, with a mate that didn’t want him or feel the same towards him. He supposed it was a good thing that he wasn’t known for caring what most of the gods thought, particularly the major assholes. He didn’t like to believe in some all cosmic fate that moved him around like a piece on a chessboard and laughed about the situations they put him in. He believed in the gods, he just didn’t believe in their power over him personally. So what the fuck did he have to do to make this mating tolerable?

Izuku moved like lightning, avoiding the incoming blow from Eijiro with a grace that Katsuki wouldn’t have expected. Izuku spun and sidestepped to avoid attacks from his opponents, driving forward when the opportunity presented itself with his own attacks. His sword was of a completely different style than that of an Othyan. Othyan blades were curved and could be used in one hand. Izuku often used two hands to wield his blade, moonlight glinting off the steel of the straight blade. Katsuki wondered how it different from his own dual curved blades.

Mina staggered as she blocked a sword strike. Clearly, there was power behind Izuku’s moves. Katsuki should have known the muscles weren’t just for show, but found he hadn’t considered how Izuku had earned his physique. The white tunic Izuku wore stuck to his skin, showing off the definition of Izuku’s arms and chest. Katsuki swallowed, pulling his attention away from Izuku’s body and back to the fight. Mina moved with the same grace Katsuki had come to associate with the fae, her skin shimmering rather than drenched in sweat as she moved. Everything else about her style was Othyan in base though. Katsuki could remember Eijiro and Mina learning at his side in the early days of his training.

The nerd hadn’t been lying when he said that he could defend himself. Clearly, he had trained hard for the skills he now used against Eijiro and Mina. The two Othyans were used to working together and had been paired time after time in battle or in training exercises. They knew each other’s every move. Somehow Izuku kept them both in his sights, kept them both second guessing. He wasn’t exactly subtle in his attacks- Izuku seemed to prefer straight power. Katsuki could respect that and wondered what it would be like if they fought. Maybe he should invite Izuku to one of his early morning training sessions, see how that went.

Fuck, he had to admit it. If Katsuki wanted to try his hand clashing swords with the nerd, then he definitely had some gods-given skill. Which meant there was no reason for Katsuki to demand he stay within the castle. He wanted to know where Izuku was, that Izuku was safe. He wanted to know where the nerd was- at least in some vague sense- at all times. Why? Because he was Katsuki’s mate? Or because Katsuki didn’t trust Izuku’s loyalties? He didn’t actually know much about those.

Hitoshi’s words circled and crashed in Katsuki’s head, a constant reminder that he didn’t know Izuku as well as he wanted to say he did. They hadn’t been married for long and had known each other for the same amount of time. Katsuki could probably count on one hand the facts Izuku knew about him, and he didn’t like it. The mating instincts had been driving him hard, sure, but he wasn’t the kind of controlling asshole that Izuku now saw him as. Or, he didn’t want to be. Fuck, did he really want to keep going the way he had been? Did he want to be anything like Noboru?

Katsuki wasn’t Izuku’s father and he sure as shit didn’t want to be his own bastard of an uncle. Katsuki had an idea of where a lot of Izuku’s issues had come from and he would place most of the blame at that fuckhead’s feet. Satisfying as that was though, it didn’t actually change anything. Katsuki had to deal with the aftermath now. He sure as fuck didn’t consider Izuku a possession to be put on a shelf and admired. That wasn’t how Katsuki worked and never would be.

“Do you respect me? Not as your mate, not as your husband, not for what I can do or not do for your country, as me. As Katsuki Bakugou, not as a king, do you respect me?”

Did he? Did he respect Izuku just for Izuku? Take away the titles and the alchemy and the fights and the sex, what was at the core?

He had a feeling that Izuku had survived enough people telling him who to be and how to act, same as Katsuki had. Neither of them needed a husband or mate acting like he could call all the shots. Did that mean Katsuki was happy about how much his instincts told him to keep Izuku close and make him smile and laugh? No. He fucking hated having any outside source, even his own godsdamned-given instincts, telling him what to do. He made his own decisions, good or bad.

Did he respect Izuku?

Yeah, he fucking did. The nerd was intelligent and he wasn’t a wimp. Katsuki had caught moments of fire or mischief in Izuku’s eyes that he wanted to see more of, but even taking that away, he respected Izuku. He respected the courage it took to step up and agree to marry someone he didn’t know, to leave everything Izuku had known to come to Othya. That, and the fact that he’d stood up to Katsuki over and over, not knowing what Katsuki was like, earned him respect. Which meant Katsuki had to let up on some of the driving pressures to keep Izuku exactly where he knew the nerd wasn’t getting in trouble or ending up somewhere Katsuki didn’t want him to be. Trust was hard, but Katsuki had to start somewhere. And he didn’t want this marriage to be miserable silence and fucking shouting matches. Never mind the damned tears.

“That was a good fight!” Eijiro exclaimed, pulling Katsuki’s mind back to the now.

Mina laughed and Izuku smiled, sheathing his sword. “It was fun. Thanks, I needed that.”

“You’re really good,” Eijiro insisted with a grin of his own. “How long have you been training?”

“I haven’t been recently. My teachers would be furious,” Izuku admitted, nose wrinkling in displeasure. “But before that I trained because I was a prince. My father thought it would be good for me to know how to fight and I actually enjoyed it. Not as much as he wanted me to, but I like the exercise and the skill and tactics that fighting requires.”

“You’re good,” Mina agreed, draping an arm around Izuku. “Baku's the one to talk to if you want to discuss tactics.”

“I’d be surprised if we have anything in common.” Izuku shook his head.

Katsuki snorted and pushed away from the wall, entering the training grounds proper with his eyes fixed on Izuku. “You’d be wrong.”

Izuku stiffened at the sound of Katsuki’s voice before he glanced over. Green eyes met red and Izuku didn’t look away. Katsuki had expected that. Izuku had a habit of challenging him and he had a feeling it wasn’t changing anytime soon. Katsuki either rose to that challenge or he didn’t- and he’d never been a quitter.

“Looking to spar?” Eijiro asked. Katsuki didn’t break eye contact with Izuku, but he knew his best friend well enough to almost see the grin slip away as Eijiro realized that something was very wrong between Katsuki and Izuku.

“Not right now.” Katsuki folded his arms and waited.

“We’ll see you later,” Mina clued in quickly and tugged at Eijiro. “Come on, Eiji. We should check in on the lab progress anyway.”

“Yeah, sure,” Eijiro agreed after a moment. “Let’s go.”

Katsuki held his silence as his best friends gathered their possessions and left the training grounds. The sound of their footsteps against the stone faded away leaving just Katsuki alone with his mate for probably the first time since Izuku had walked out of the office.

“What do you want?” Izuku asked, voice flat and restrained. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“You never let me give my answer,” Katsuki growled. He wasn’t letting Izuku walk away this time. “You walked out and then you avoided me like a coward.”

“I’m not a coward!” Izuku flared up, temper snapping in those green eyes. Good, at least Katsuki wasn’t the only one affected in this moment. “You didn’t say anything. I figured there was nothing to stay and I’m not going to sit around and wait for your okay-”

“Stop.” Katsuki reached out and Izuku took a step away so that Katsuki couldn’t haul him close. He growled again, trying to control his temper. He knew Izuku had a point, but fuck if he’d let Katsuki get it out. “For fucks sake at least let me answer you!”

“Fine,” Izuku sighed and looked away. “Make it quick.”

“You were right.”

Izuku’s attention snapped back to Katsuki, searching his face for fuck knew what. “What? I- You- What?”

“Shut it for a minute, nerd.” Katsuki stepped closer, closing the distance Izuku had created. “I do respect you. Just you, not some puffed-up prince or anything else. You’re a person, so you deserve that much. Plus, you’re smart and skilled, so extra points.”

“Say it again,” Izuku asked, running a hand through sweat damp curls to push them out of his way. “Please say it again.”

“That I respect you?” Katsuki frowned. Had Hisashi really fucked up his own kid that bad? “Look, you were right. I don’t say that easily either, but you were. Sort of. And don’t expect me to repeat it or say it often. Because that’s not happening.”

Izuku laughed weakly, blinking as though dazed. “I never expected that. I… Where do you expect us to go from here?”

Katsuki shrugged. “We didn’t know each other when we got married, yeah?”

Izuku snorted. “That is an understatement.”

“So, we get to know each other. I’m not saying I keep my hands off of you, long as you’re okay with that. But I guess we can try to spend time together. Outside the bedroom. We learn each other. Sound good?” Katsuki offered. He watched a bead of sweat trail over down the muscles of Izuku’s neck and down his collarbone, freckled skin glistening in the the moonlight after the workout. Katsuki held back a groan, his mouth watering. He really didn’t want to keep his hands of Izuku. Hopefully the nerd wanted him as badly.

“I…” Izuku hesitated, biting his lower lip.

“You have to give me a chance, shortstack,” Katsuki murmured. “I can be better.”

“I don’t have to.” Izku shook his head again and sighed softly. “No more mood swings where you pretend I’m not there and then want me at your beck and call. I can’t- Just don’t, okay?”

“I have to work.” Katsuki held up a hand as Izuku opened his mouth. “Fuck, let me finish, would ya? I have to do shit, and I know you’re going to want to work on your alchemy stuff. But yeah, I won’t ignore you.”

“Then I guess we can try this.” Izuku smiled hesitantly. “If you want.”

“Do you want it?” Katsuki countered.

“I get what I want?” Izuku cocked his head.

“You can have whatever you want.” Almost anything. If Izuku asked to go home Katsuki couldn’t allow that. He couldn’t begin to explain why and what would happen not just between them but between their countries if he let Izuku go. But he could work harder to make Izuku want to stay.

“Even you?”

“The fuck does that mean? You have me.” Wasn’t that godsdamned obvious at this point? No matter how much Katsuki hated it, his instincts wouldn’t let him back away.

“So… If I wanted control anywhere, even the bedroom, you’d say yes?” Izuku met Katsuki’s gaze, an unspoken challenge there.

“You’re a shit,” Katsuki grumbled.

“Is that a no?”

“Didn’t say that,” Katsuki huffed, his face heating as blush spread. “Shut up, shortstack.”

Izuku’s laughter was like sunshine after a storm, bright, refreshing, and warming. “I’m going to remember that.”

“Tch, whatever.” Katsuki smiled despite himself. What the fuck was he supposed to do with this nerd?

Chapter Text

“When did you get halfway decent, nerd?”

Izuku sidestepped as Katsuki brought one of his wickedly curved blades forward in an attack. He had clearly been hoping that he would be able to distract Izuku, giving Katsuki the opportunity to land a hit.

Izuku scowled as he met Katsuki’s gaze. “I’ve always been good. I’m just better at predicting you now.”

“You think so?” Katsuki asked.

“I know so,” Izuku countered, surging forward again.

Katsuki was faster than anyone with his height and build had the right to be. He was heavily muscled beneath the vests and thin shirts he favored in the heavy humidity as Othya moved from summer to autumn. In theory that should have made his reflexes and speed slower. He should have hit harder, but there was supposed to be some tradeoff for that.

Apparently, no one had ever informed Katsuki of that fact.

He reacted to incoming blows quickly, bringing one blade up to block while the other lashed out in attack towards Izuku’s unprotected side. Izuku hissed, jumping back just in time to avoid the cool kiss of dulled metal against his body. Practice blades might not cut or make him bleed but they’d leave plenty of nasty bruises. He glared at his partner and was met by Katuski’s cocky smirk. Izuku growled under his breath, frustrated like when he was dealing with a difficult alchemy problem. Katsuki shouldn’t have been able to react as quickly as he did. But shouldn’t didn’t seem to matter with Katsuki. He defied everything Izuku had been taught when it came to fighting.

Izuku had been taught to focus on speed or power, not both. He had ignored his teachers and attempted to cultivate both anyway. It was a slow process, difficult when every time he had turned around someone had been making a snide remark about his efforts. In Snyicia how quickly a soldier moved was more important than strength. Sniycia barely tended to its army, preferring to spend money and effort in other pursuits. Most of their infantry preferred bow and arrow or spears. It was rare they opted for a sword like Izuku did, and those that did prefer blades chose long daggers or short swords, not the two-handed blade Izuku wielded.

It was a good challenge, a chance for Izuku to use moves he hadn’t used in a while. Moves he had been taught that were against the rules of fair combat. But what was fair about real combat? Nothing- it was survival. Izuku hadn’t done as his father wanted and worked with the military, but he knew that much. War destroyed anything it left in its wake. It took lives without mercy or currying favorites. All that was left when war was gone was anguish on both sides of the remaining, regardless of the victor.

This was a sparring session, nothing like the blood and death that haunted battlefields when countries went to war. This wasn’t a fight to survive, just a stretching of their skills.

Izuku was not going to lose again.

“Hi, Mina!” Izuku smiled brightly, eyes shifting to just behind Katsuki’s right shoulder.

“The fuck do you want right now, Racoon Eyes?” Katsuki glanced behind as Izuku predicated, to see nothing but air. Izuku darted forward, avoiding blades gone a little lax in surprise.

“Hah!” Katsuki snarled, barely moving out of the way in time, Izuku’s blade brushing his arm instead of where he’d aimed. “The fuck was that?! We’re playing dirty now?”

“Underestimating me?” Izuku laughed, elation dancing over his skin and mingling with the adrenaline in his bloodstream. He felt high off this- this banter between them two of them, the fact that he could keep Katsuki on his toes with dirty moves the blond hadn’t expected.

On the sparring grounds this early in the morning, when it was just the two of them, it felt like this- whatever was growing between them- might actually work. Izuku could almost call Katsuki a friend now, here, where they met as equals. There were no kings, no mates, no husbands, no complicated politics or feelings. There was just Katsuki and Izuku and the duel between them. All they had to focus on was beating one another. Katsuki had won every time they sparred. But two months of trading blows had sharpened Izuku’s reflexes and brought his own training, which had been beaten into his head over years without mercy, back to the forefront with screaming clarity.

“If that’s how you want to play.” Katsuki flashed an arrogant grin that hit Izuku harder than most blows. “Let’s play.”

Izuku had found something else they had in common, between the blood and sweat shed as they traded blow after blow. They were both highly competitive. Neither of them liked to lose.

Izuku brought his sword up to meet Katsuki’s curved blades, blocking the attack with a taunting grin. When had this become one of his favorite parts of the day? When had waking up early to earn bruises and drench himself in sweat become foremost on the highlights of Izuku’s week? When had this become the new normal for Izuku?

Katsuki had been the one to suggest that Izuku join him a few mornings a week during his daily training routine. The fact that he hadn’t been joking, or looking to use it as a lesson, was staggering. Izuku had almost expected Katsuki to use Izuku’s first loss as an excuse to keep him in the castle, to keep him locked away. Words were easy to say sometimes, actions were harder to lie through. All Katsuki had done was haul Izuku back to his feet with a smirk and start another match. He hadn’t treated Izuku like some fragile prince and he hadn’t used Izuku’s failure against him.

They’d been equals in that moment, had been equals every time they had stepped on the training grounds since that first morning. Izuku was addicted to the feeling, to the sound of Katsuki’s laughter and their banter. It wasn’t the same as it was with Hitoshi, but no friendship was exactly the same. Katsuki was easier to talk to, to see, when he didn’t have the weight of a crown hanging over him. He was easier to get to know when it was just Katsuki.

They were friends. In a strange way, because there was still a lot about their relationship and them as people that was complicated. Things weren’t easy, they might never be easy between them two of them. They still fought and shouted at one another. Izuku had a feeling that might never change, even had they grown up together. Katsuki just got under Izuku’s skin in a way that was hard to explain but impossible to deny. But they were getting to know one another now. They did more than come together in extreme fits of passion- both good and bad.

“Daydreaming?” Katsuki taunted, impossibly close as Izuku blocked the incoming blow. Katsuki’s breath whispered across Izuku’s skin, his voice suggestive and low for a moment. Izuku repressed a shiver. “Bad idea, nerd.”

“Now who’s playing dirty?” Izuku asked. Katsuki wasn’t underestimating him, that was good. Izuku had a feeling that given a chance, Katsuki wouldn’t play by the rules anyway. Izuku didn’t want him to hold back for his sake.

“You started it, shortstack.” Katsuki grinned, cocky and crazy all rolled into one flash of teeth. “If you want it dirty that’s fine with me.”

Heat descended over Izuku, humid and warm in a way that had nothing to do with their current workout or summer slowly giving way to autumn. Sweat glistened on Katsuki’s chest, currently bare of vest or tunic while they were training. He scowled, trying to ignore the body that had to have been sculpted in the image of gods- if they existed. He clenched his jaw against the way Katsuki’s laugh curled around him like a caress. He needed to focus.

“Just give up. You already have enough bruises for today.”

“Fuck off,” Izuku muttered. He stalled for time blocking Katsuki’s attacks, mind racing as he looked for possible openings. Katsuki was fighting in earnest now, driving Izuku further and further towards the back of the sparring ring- where a wall would make pinning him all the easier. How did he avoid this? How did he take this situation and shift it to his favor?

He dropped his sword lower, avoiding Katsuki’s incoming blow and aimed Katsuki’s legs, hoping to throw the blond off balance. His reward was a muffled curse and a moment of victory.

Practice swords hit the ground with a loud clang as metal met stone. Izuku squeaked in surprise as Katsuki fisted his hand in the back of Izuku’s light tunic and yanked up. His own wide eyes met narrowed red ones as Katsuki’s free hand wrapped around his wrist, fingers digging into the tendons and squeezed.

Izuku’s sword fell to the ground with another crash as his hand spasmed and opened against his wishes or direction.

Izuku glared at Katsuki. ‘The fuck was that for?”

Katsuki pressed him against the wall in next second, his larger body covering Izuku’s. “I win.”

“Like hell you do!” Izuku protested, trying to ignore the body pressed against his and the way heat emanated from Katsuki, seeping into Izuku’s muscles. “There’s dirty tricks and then there’s cheating, Katsuki. Give me back my sword-”

Lips silenced Izuku, Katsuki’s tongue delving into his mouth like Katsuki really had won and Izuku was the prize. Izuku wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s neck and pressed their bodies closer. Katsuki pulled back from the kiss slowly, eyes opening to fix on Izuku again. “I think I won.”

Having this kind of effect on someone- on Katsuki- could go to Izuku’s head if he let it. He didn’t know what it was about him that attracted Katsuki, didn’t know how the physical chemistry between them only seemed to grow every time they indulged in touches and worked up a sweat in an entirely different way. Katsuki was an emperor who easily brought kingdoms to their knees and ruled with nothing less than absolute power. He couldn’t actually want Izuku the way it seemed like he did when they touched, when Katsuki devoured him like he was dying of thirst. This was Izuku after all- Katsuki couldn’t actually mean him. He couldn’t want Izuku like this, until whatever built between them was like air.

He couldn’t. Izuku wasn’t anything special once someone took away his bloodline. Izuku himself was nothing special. He had been reminded of that constantly growing up. Without his title, he was nothing.

For now, Izuku didn’t want to think about it. He just wanted to focus on this moment, the connections between the two of them. The physical was safe to indulge in as long as it didn’t affect the friendship they were slowly building. As long as it didn’t sabotage everything, it was okay to want Katsuki’s touch, to enjoy himself in this.

“Want you,” Izuku murmured, pressing another kiss to Katsuki’s lips.

“Mmm?” Katsuki hummed against his lips, pressing Izuku more firmly against the wall. Rough stone pressed against Izuku’s back, catching on his tunic as Katsuki’s hands worked up under the fabric to trace skin sticky with sweat.

“Touch me,” Izuku groaned, pressing into fingers that left fire in their wake as they trailed over his skin.

“Needy,” Katsuki murmured with a smug smirk. He nipped at Izuku’s lower lip hard enough to sting, chills running over Izuku’s skin, at odds with the fire stoked with each touch.

Izuku dropped a hand to Katsuki’s crotch and cupped him through pants damp from sweat and clinging to hips. He squeezed carefully, smile tugging at his lips as Katsuki’s breathing hitched in his chest. “I’m not the only one.”

Katsuki moved with those quick reflexes he shouldn’t have been allowed to wield so effortlessly. He gripped Izuku’s ass in both hands and lifted. Izuku’s legs wrapped around Katsuki’s waist on instinct, pushing their bodies closer together. His mouth claimed Izuku’s again, teeth and lips tearing into Izuku, a brutal meeting of equals as desire egged them on and adrenaline fueled their movements.

Izuku broke away first, chest heaving as he sucked in air, lungs on fire. Katsuki nudged Izuku’s chin up to leave a trail of damp kisses and bites pressed up and down his jawline. Izuku moaned, powerless to stop Katsuki as the blond sucked marks and bruises into his skin.

Izuku’s hands wandered and traced muscles carved not by gods but by determination and years of practice. Katsuki’s chest rumbled beneath his touch, hands kneading Izuku’s ass encouragingly.

Izuku moaned and rolled his hips against Katsuki’s hard abs. Lust was a drumbeat in his chest, a pulse beneath his skin. Blood had already rushed south, favoring his hard cock over his brain- which felt like it was stuffed with wisps of clouds.

“Fuck,” Katsuki murmured, his breath hot against Izuku’s ear and voice rough. He sounded and smelled like fire and smoke, like leather and spice and temptation. He smelled like Katsuki, and Izuku dragged more of it into his lungs. “Let me touch you.”

“Yes,” Izuku said breathlessly. His hands left Katsuki’s skin to tug up his own tunic and toss it aside. He didn't care where it fell right now, too focused on what that voice- that request- meant. “Yes, yes.”

“Can’t fuck you here,” Katsuki said against Izuku’s temple and it sounded like he meant it as a reminder to himself, not for Izuku’s benefit. “Gonna make you beg for me tonight.”

“But-” Izuku’s protest was lost in a swell of desire as Katsuki’s hand dived into Izuku’s pants and wrapped around his cock. He keened and his hips rocked into Katsuki’s touch. “Please!”

“Fuck,” Katsuki cursed. “So vocal. Makes it so easy to please you, to know exactly what drives you crazy.”

Izuku sucked in a breath as air brushed against the leaking head of his cock. Katsuki shoved at Izuku’s pants with one hand until they sat on his thighs, snarling as they caught on his skin.

“Katsuki,” Izuku whimpered, arching further into Katsuki’s hand. His breath stuttered in his chest as Katsuki stroked up once, thumb circling his crown. His touch melted Izuku’s bones down to nothing, left him lost and helpless with the lightning storm Katsuki stirred and trapped beneath his skin.

“Like hearing you say my name,” Katsuki groaned. “A lot.”

“C’mere,” Izuku breathed, hands tugging Katsuki’s pants down and freeing the weeping length. He took it in his hand and stroked up, relishing in the way that Katsuki shuddered beneath his touch. He dug his thumb slightly into the slit of Katsuki’s cock and brought it, wet with precum, to his lips. He sucked, tongue cleaning the salty mixture away. “Want to hear my name.”

“Izuku,” Katsuki rasped, his voice wrecked. He fisted his free hand in the hair at Izuku’s nape and tugged, bringing their mouths together again. They had backslid into shared breaths of desire and smears of lips in an attempt at kisses, more focused on being connected in this moment than the perfect art of it.

Izuku shifted in Katsuki’s hold and took both of their cocks in his grasp. They both groaned, dicks dragging against each other, every wet kiss of Katsuki’s cockhead against Izuku’s own a rush that was like falling and flying all at once.

Katsuki fucked his hips forward into Izuku’s hand. Dimly Izuku was aware of his back against the stone, the burn of his back against the unforgiving material. Not that it mattered, not right now, as Katsuki sucked a bruise to life below Izuku’s ear and they both spiraled closer to release.

Izuku’s noises were strangled as a growing need coiled inside his stomach, slowly winding itself tighter with every rock of their hips, every huff of breath shared between them.

“Katsuki,” Izuku whispered into the air between them. He stroked up, his hold around their cocks tightening as pleasure flooded.

Katsuki snarled in answer, crashing their mouths together in a kiss again. Izuku choked on a sob of both pleasure and desperation. He was so close, so close and yet it wasn’t enough.

“Izuku,” Katsuki said his name like a prayer, like Izuku was the only thing in the world that mattered in this moment. It was enough to make Izuku dizzy.

“Katsuki- please- I…” Izuku babbled, voice hoarse and words falling from his lips. He swallowed hard. “Gonna- I can’t-”

“Izuku,” Katsuki repeated, voice gravel and blood and desire. His eyelashes glinted in the dawn light, pale gold and beautiful in a way Izuku hadn’t seen before.

The orgasm hit Izuku and dragged him under, waves of pleasure and lightning racing through him as he came hot and fast between them. His cry was distant, a strangled noise that Izuku was very barely aware came from his throat. Katsuki’s answering ragged groan as he came was closer, chest rumbling beneath Izuku’s hand that was crushed between the two of them. Katsuki’s arm wrapped around Izuku and squeezed them together, leaving their chests sticky messes.

Katsuki leaned forward heavily, pinning Izuku to the wall. In the back of his mind Izuku felt the pain radiating from his back, nerves on fire and skin rubbed red and raw. He swallowed, trying to remember how to breathe, how to speak. His pulse and breathing slowed as minutes passed in comfortable silence.

“Katsuki?”

“Mmm?”

“You didn’t win.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki was starting to get used to having someone in the office next to his.

Or, that was what he kept telling himself.

The wall that separated the offices was made of stone. It should’ve been harder to hear the nerd moving around, chatting with the other alchemists when they were there, muttering over manuscripts. If Katsuki closed his door and focused on what was in front of him he could concentrate, block Izuku out until it was almost like the nerd had never existed.

Almost.

Because no matter how hard Katsuki tried he couldn’t forget that the green-haired nerd was in the room next to him for hours on end, lost in a world of chemicals and ingredients that defied understanding. It was like the nerd forgot that the rest of the world was there. Katsuki had walked past the open door a few times to find Eijiro, Mina, Denki, or Hanta pestering Izuku as the weeks had gone by. Katsuki had gotten used to Izuku surrounded by stacks of books, murmuring to himself. Or he would be discussing an idea animatedly with the purple-haired bastard or one of the other alchemists. Either way, Izuku seemed so wrapped up in the knowledge he applied to everything before him, or the ideas in his brain, that he forgot about everything else.

Katsuki didn’t like the idea that he was so easy to dismiss. Not when he couldn’t get Izuku out of his head for more than an hour at a time. And that was if he was lucky. The stupid nerd kept creeping in on his thoughts, always at the edge of his awareness, even when Katsuki had given his attention elsewhere. If this was another aspect of the whole mating thing, it could fuck right off. Katsuki had a kingdom to run and people to get through the coming winter. He didn’t need to be thinking about a mate that he had to fucking bait just to stick around. There was this constant uncertainty in the back of his mind, as though waiting for Izuku to try and run.

Wasn’t like the nerd didn’t have one foot out the door already. He wouldn’t even be here if he’d had a choice.

A resounding pop scattered Katsuki’s focus like the spray of glass he heard crack in the next second. Izuku’s quick screech was what got Katsuki out of his chair and to the door of his own office before the scent of smoke and something sour touched his nose. He growled and yanked his door open, strides eating the short distance between the two offices.

HIs mate stood in the midst of the shattered glass and dripping, vibrant pink liquid, frowning at the broken bottle in front of him. He was also covered in black ash and didn’t even seem to notice the smoke escaping his office and into the rest of the castle.

“That should’ve worked,” Izuku muttered. “Why didn’t you work?”

“What the fuck was that?”

Izuku blinked up at Katsuki before attempting to wipe soot away from his eyes with equally dirty hands. “Hi. When did you get here?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” Katsuki snorted, reigning in his instincts to haul Izuku into his arms and make sure he was fine. The nerd looked like he was unharmed, just a mess. “The fuck did you do?”

“Trying to create an incendiary device in a bottle. A little less fire, more explosions, I guess.” Izuku shrugged and reached for a broom nearby. “So, it worked but too immediately.”

“It exploded like you wanted, didn’t it?”

Izuku laughed, the sound brighter than the tinkling of glass as he swept. “Yes, but I can’t make it on the spot all the time. The goal is to store it and use it in war or in demolitions.”

“What, you don’t have your alchemists do shit right there?” Katsuki stepped further into the room.

Izuku glanced up, confusion tugging at his brow. “No? Why would we? I mean maybe big projects can ask to consult an alchemist in case something goes wrong, but we’re usually in the lab. Occasionally we’re out in the fields doing research. That’s one of my favorite parts. But we don’t…?” He trailed off.

Katsuki shrugged in answer, not about to display more of his own ignorance on the subject of alchemists and their field if he could help it.

“Why would you think we do?” Izuku pressed, dumping glass in the waste bin near his desk.

“Does it fuckin’ matter?” Katsuki growled.

“Stop being stubborn.” Izuku rolled his eyes, hands resting on his hips. “I don’t think you’re stupid. I just want to know if that’s how it’s done in Othya. It’s something I need to know, right?”

“That would require alchemists, shortstack,” Katsuki grumbled and folded his arms across his chest.

“That’s why you started the war with Snyicia, right?” Izuku watched him with eyes as dark and wild as forests Katsuki had been told to avoid as a child. He could lose himself in them far easier if he wasn’t careful. “Because you don’t have enough alchemists?”

“We don’t have any alchemists,” Katsuki corrected.

“How do you know that? That there aren’t more like Hatsume?” Izuku picked up a rag and turned toward the brightly-colored liquid.

“Isn’t that shit corrosive or something?” Katsuki frowned. He had learned and mastered anything he could get his hands on while growing up. It hadn’t been enough to be stronger than Noboru, he’d needed to be more intelligent and better in every way. He didn’t like being faced with something he hadn’t been able to learn about. If there was one thing Katsuki didn’t want, it was to look stupid or ignorant.

“Not now,” Izuku said easily, cleaning the table with quick movements. “Since it already exploded it’s safe. If I had been successful… I wouldn’t be cleaning up the mess I guess.”

“It doesn’t bother you that you were wrong, huh?” The words felt like they had been dragged out of Katsuki.

Izuku looked up again, his gaze searching Katsuki’s. Katsuki had no idea what the nerd was looking for, doubted that he would find whatever it was. Katsuki was way out of his depth in a conversation like this, he just wasn’t about to admit it. He’d rather be tortured than admit to anything of the sort.

“No,” Izuku said after a long minute. “Not really. I get frustrated sometimes, but it’s more like a puzzle. I like a challenge.”

“You were the model student, weren’t you?” Katsuki snorted, picturing Izuku with bright smiles and eager eyes.

Izuku blushed. “Uh. Not exactly.”

“Oh?” Katsuki shifted forward, intrigued.

“I liked to… improve a lot of what I was supposed to be learning. You’re kind of supposed to have the basics down before you experiment. I didn’t, um-”

“So, blowing shit up is normal for you.” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“Shut up,” Izuku muttered, blush spreading and darkening in color. “I figured it out.”

“No one would think you were a troublemaker, nerd.” Katsuki grinned slowly.

“There’s a lot of things people wouldn’t think about me.” Izuku shrugged and Katsuki could all but see Izuku pulling away from him again. “I’m used to it.”

“What exactly are you trying to do here?” Katsuki asked after several minutes of silence watching Izuku put his lab back together. “Other than lose a few fingers.”

“Ha, ha.” Izuku wrinkled his nose at Katsuki. “Like I said, I’m trying to create an explosion in a bottle. It won’t be huge explosions, more like make a hole in the wall. It should happen when the chemicals are exposed to air and impact, like the bottle breaking.”

“Your magic is going to make holes in walls?” Katsuki snorted.

“Alchemy is science, not magic. Mages have rules, but they’re less strict, in a way. Because that’s the point of magic, I guess. Alchemy is science. If you combine the right chemicals and reactions you get certain products. I guess there’s an element of the fantastic to it, but it’s more based in truth. There are some amazing books about the beginnings of alchemy that you might find interesting. I stole them from my father’s library but I doubt he’ll notice and-” Izuku winced. “And I am rambling. You know, you can stop me when I do that.”

“You’ve got books about this?” Katsuki smirked. “I read Kami’s mage shit a few times.”

“Again, not the same.” Izuku shot him a look that said he knew Katsuki was trying to mess with him. “I think you’d enjoy it though.”

“What makes you think that, nerd?”

“Because,” Izuku released a long-suffering sigh. “You’re just as much of a nerd as I am, right?”

Katsuki’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you think that?”

“I’m not stupid.” Izuku shrugged, placing another glass beaker on the table. “You’re intelligent. That’s one of the things that makes you so dangerous as an enemy, or even an opponent. You watch the world around you and you learn. I bet you’ve already read most of the books in your library. And, there are always books in your study.”

The nerd paid attention. Katsuki couldn’t even argue with logic and observations. “You pay attention, huh?”

“I learned to when I was young.” Izuku said, focusing on the ingredients in front of him rather than Katsuki. “But yes, you’re a nerd too.”

“Not a nerd,” Katsuki corrected with a sneer. “I’m a genius, it’s different.”

“You’re arrogant.” Izuku shook his head.

“I’m right. So, is all this for that one bottle?” Katsuki motioned to the table laden with herbs and other ingredients he didn’t recognize by sight.

“Hm? Oh, no. I’m actually running a few experiments right now.” Izuku grabbed several twigs with blue leaves and dropped them into a stone mortar, attacking them with strength and purpose. “As long as I monitor them they’re fine. A few of them are in their resting phases.”

“Tell me what you’re doing.” Katsuki shifted forward to watch Izuku’s movements. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on, what Izuku was doing. Ignorance never sat well with Katsuki and someone knowing something he didn’t was worse. It made his shoulders tighten, like they were somehow better than him. As though they were looking down on him for his own failings.

Those reactions had been instilled in him long before Katsuki had found a mate he hadn’t wanted in some far away palace. He had learned from a young age that princes were meant to be informed, knowledgeable about a great number of things and the world around them. He was supposed to lead his people and give them back the glory they had lost. To do that Katsuki had needed to be the best, to far surpass everyone around him. He had been driven hard when his parents had been alive, his natural aptitude encouraged.

After their deaths, Noboru had taken control of Katsuki’s education. Suddenly every scrap of knowledge that Katsuki had needed to become a king, a good king, was a fight. He’d never stopped fighting.

Katsuki grit his teeth against lashing out, against making his mate feel lesser just because Katsuki did. It wasn’t Izuku’s fault. Katsuki knew he’d been an ass on more than one occasion since meeting Izuku. The last thing Katsuki needed to do after the fragile peace they’d found was fuck it up again.

“Is that a demand?” Izuku glanced up, expressive eyes shadowed with a past Katsuki knew nothing about.

“A request,” Katsuki growled, fighting the need to make Izuku back off. Katsuki didn’t do vulnerability but Izuku seemed to keep pushing, demanding things Katsuki didn’t want to give, wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready to share. There was wanting this relationship to work and then there was- whatever this was. This need to give Izuku more, to take those shadows away. Mating instincts fucking sucked and Katsuki was not okay with it.

He was also the one in the marriage without a choice in that aspect. Izuku had been forced in so many other ways, but his feelings could stay his own if he was stubborn enough.

“Alright,” Izuku murmured after a minute. “You’re actually interested?”

“Wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t, shortstack.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“I’m working on a healing potion. One that could cure major wounds, even stop death. Minor wounds are easy to heal and kind of waste of ingredients, if you ask me. I can deal with cuts and bruises and scrapes. But wounds in battle or poison, those would be different. That’s when you need healing and that’s where you don’t want magic. You want things you can depend on, that work time and again and are proven. Magic is great, I have good friends that are mages. But this-” Izuku gestured, eyes animated again, intelligence sparking like lightning through him, his own personal storm. “Even magic doesn’t stop death.”

“You’re bringing people back from the dead?”

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “Nothing can make someone live again. Philosopher’s stones are legends, nothing more. But I want to be able to stop someone from dying. To heal them of the wound or poison killing them. I don’t know enough about sicknesses to cure someone of those. Right now, I’ve got parts of it figured out. At least I think. Numbing weed, curare, comfrey, yarrow, I think they’re all essential. It’s not ready yet though, I’m missing a few things. A lot of plants I could use work best as poultices or in some other external way, so that makes things trickier.”

“Those all supposed to heal someone?” Katsuki asked, pointing to more waiting vials and beakers of different colored liquids. Anything to keep Izuku talking. Fuck, that intelligence was attractive.

“Kind of? Not everything I make heals or explodes. But I did a quick inventory with Hitoshi and it looks like you have nothing in stock. So, we’re both making some basic antidotes, cures for paralysis, that kind of thing. They’re easy for us to make while we focus on our experiments.”

“Isn’t that other girl helping you? The round face one.” Katsuki couldn’t remember the plain brunette’s name for the life of him. It wasn’t surprising. He wasn’t great at dignitary meetings without Mina or Eijiro whispering the names of important -and impending- figures.

“Ochako?” Izuku blinked several times. “I mean- yes, both her and Hatsume are helping. How were you completely out of these remedies, by the way? I know you said you had very few alchemists but-”

“Not few, Izuku,” Katsuki said, cutting off the nerd’s rambling before it gained speed. “None. Snyicia has enough alchemists to have stock of this shit?”

Izuku nodded, eyes wide. “Most of the trainees are supposed to keep them stocked while learning their studies. It’s a novice job. That’s why Hitoshi and I can still work on our own experiments while we make them. It’s really easy. I have Hatsume making them exclusively while I test her levels. I don’t know her as well. You really don’t have any alchemists?”

“I told you that, nerd.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you really meant none.” Izuku paused, frowning at Katsuki. “No wonder you invaded Snyicia…”

“You’ll just have to make me an army of alchemists.” Katsuki smirked, reaching for a large and flat green leaf.

“I wouldn’t touch that.” Izuku smirked, eyes dancing with mirth again.

‘Hah?” Katsuki paused, fingers hovering over the plant. “Why not?”

“Well touching it shouldn’t do much to you. I wash my hands to be safe after I’ve extracted anything. It’s a muscle relaxant in small doses. Poison in larger doses.” Izuku grinned.

“You’re messing with me.” Katsuki scowled.

“Nope.” Izuku shook his head, still grinning like some idiot. “I’m telling you the truth. It’s called Curare. It helps with pain and relaxes muscles in diluted, careful doses. But if you coated an arrow with enough of the pure essence and shot someone with it, you would kill them. It stops breathing if it’s concentrated enough.”

“How much of the shit in here is safe?” Katsuki quirked an eyebrow.

“Mmm, depends on if you mean in a raw state or once I’ve worked with it. Sometimes playing with it makes it safer, sometimes it makes it more dangerous.” Izuku shrugged. “It’s the nature of the job.”

He wasn’t some needy mate, some soft being to order around. While it would’ve been easier on Katsuki if Izuku was the type he could order around, it wasn’t his type either. Not that Katsuki had a type. He’d fallen into bed a time or two with the right tempting people but that was all based on lust and carnal desires. Mate instincts and romance weren’t Katsuki’s forte. They were a waste of his time and he’d had plenty of shit to do. He hadn’t needed some whiny pain in the ass asking for his time and affections.

Ordering the nerd around would’ve been nice, but Katsuki had never been attracted to weakness. Intelligence, stubbornness, strength in its many forms, that was what he was attracted to. In short- Izuku. That was what and who he was attracted to. Instead of being some weak, limp-dicked asshole who was afraid of that intelligence and strength, Katsuki was glad of it.

He liked that Izuku played with literal fire without flinching, that he was smart enough to understand how all those ingredients with the right outside forces became a potion. He wanted to protect Izuku a little more, that was in Katsuki’s nature now, with mate instincts screaming in his head most days. But knowing that the nerd could protect himself was a turn-on all of its own.

“You’re nothing like the prince your father thought he introduced, are you, nerd?”

“I am forever a disappointment to my father,” Izuku confirmed. His mouth and shoulders tightened and Katsuki wanted to curse himself.

“I still wanna rip your father’s godsdamned guts out and strangle him with them and that would be fuckin’ nice of me.” Katsuki said it easily, like he was talking about the weather. It didn’t matter if he was tired of blood or death sometimes. Of the endless, nameless enemies. Not when he had a kingdom to protect. Not when he had people who needed him. And not when that bastard Hisashi had helped put those phantoms in Izuku’s eyes. Hisashi had done more than enough damage. He wouldn’t have to worry about karma or paying for his sins in some afterlife. Katsuki would make Sniycia’s king pay for everything he’d ever done and for everything he hadn’t.

“Um.” Izuku looked at Katsuki blankly, eyes wide. “Why?”

“He’s got a lot of shit to pay for. Just be glad you’re not like him.” Katsuki grinned, mean and bloodthirsty.

“I think you’re trying to comfort me,” Izuku said, sounding dazed and confused. He looked down at the bottle in front of him. He struck a match and held the flame over it. “You’re not the best at it, but I appreciate it. I think.”

“Hah?! Fuck you, I’m the best at everything,” Katsuki snapped.

“Telling someone you want to rip their father’s entrails out your definition of comforting?” Izuku looked away from the flame to meet Katsuki’s gaze. “Really?”

“The fuck do you want, hugs or some sappy shit?” Katsuki glowered at the attractive man across from him and tried not to be distracted by the way Izuku’s lips pursed as he tried to think up some response. He was still covered in ash for fuck’s sake.

“Well, Katsuki, I don’t think it would kill you to-”

The vial turned black and started smoking.

“Nerd.”

“Don’t interrupt me in some attempt to get out of a discussion about comfort,” Izuku started, fighting a smile.

‘Izuku!” Katsuki lunged forward and wrapped a hand around Izuku’s wrist, tugging him forward and to the right- away from the black, smoking, glass bomb.

“Hey!”

The container shattered with a screech and a pop, black liquid spraying over the table and the wall behind it- right over where Izuku had been standing. Smoke billowed up in the room again, noxious and acrid to Katsuki’s nose. He held his breath and crossed the room in quick strides, unlatching and shoving the windows open to release the cloud of funk.

It seeped out the lab and into the outside air in lazy curls, clearly in no hurry to make something so trivial as breathing in the room an easy task again.

Katsuki turned back to glare at Izuku-

-Who was completely ignoring him, instead glaring at the shattered fragments of glass and dripping liquid again. “What the hell happened this time?”

“Come on, shortstack. You can figure it out after someone has been in to clean.” Katsuki crossed the distance between them.

“What? No! Katsuki, I can clean up my own mess!” Izuku protested. “Besides, I need to figure this out.”

“Can we do it after this place smells less like spoiled milk?” Katsuki grumbled. “Bath now.”

“Bossy,” Izuku grumbled. “And if I say no?”

“Over my shoulder.” Katsuki shrugged. “Come on, shitsnack. Your choice.”

“I hate you.” Izuku made a face at Katsuki.

“Be more convincing,” Katsuki grinned. “I don’t make idle threats.”

“I hate you,” Izuku repeated, lips twitching up in a smile.

“Sure,” Katsuki snorted, unconvinced.

“Fine,” Izuku sighed. “You win.”

Katsuki arched an eyebrow as something new occurred to Izuku. Katsuki could practically see the wheels turning.

“Just let me try one more thing!”

“Shortstack!”

Chapter Text

It was going to be another long night.

Izuku sighed as he looked at the ingredients piled up and waiting to be turned into solvents, powders, and pastes. He should have been further along in restoring the alchemical stock of basics. If he’d had more alchemists, this would have been easy. Izuku hadn’t realized how much he had taken the numbers of trained and hopeful alchemists back in his home for granted. As it was, he was starting to see just what Katsuki had meant and why he had invaded Sniycia. Othya really had almost no alchemists to speak of.

At first Izuku had thought that Katsuki was exaggerating. How could there be no alchemists in all of Othya? From the maps he had looked over, Othya wasn’t exactly a small country. There had to be citizens who had been interested in alchemy, even without the royal encouragement, like there was in Sniycia. Katsuki had to be wrong. There had to be people other than Hatsume that were interested in alchemy.

There really weren't. At least, not that Izuku could find. The people of Othya weren’t too dim to understand the scientific pursuit, they just had their own priorities that they put first. Survival in a country with such extreme heat in summer and cold in winter put survival at the front in a way Izuku had never experienced. Sniycia had a much more temperate climate. Izuku had known not every kingdom had the same weather patterns as his home did, but Othya was far more intense than expected, just like its king.

People were also devoted to their religion and their gods. It wasn’t that alchemy was looked down on as some sort of witchcraft, but it wasn’t something people were drawn to. They didn’t have the resources to learn, unlike with the mage work. Not everyone could become a mage. There had to be an aptitude for it, a base to build off of. In Othya it seemed people like Ochako or Denki were considered to be blessed by the gods with their gifts. Magic could do some powerful things if the person wielding it was strong enough and knowledgeable enough. Izuku could see why that might be considered a gift from the gods above to people who believed so wholeheartedly in them.

Katsuki didn’t seem to believe in those gods. Or if he did, it wasn’t in a positive light. Izuku hadn’t seen his husband bow his head in prayer once in the months he had been here. He had seen countless other Oythan people give thanks for almost everything though. Was Katsuki more private about his worship? Or did he not believe in the gods? Izuku didn’t know Katsuki well enough to say one way or another. In some ways, he wished he did.

But at least they were starting to be friends now?

Izuku rubbed tired eyes as he looked at the mountain of work still in front of him. Not all of it was due to a lack of alchemists. Plenty of it was because Ochako wasn’t an alchemist- no matter what Izuku claimed. With Katsuki taking such an interest in the subject Izuku had had no choice but to try to put her to work. She had conquered the complications that came with gravity mage work, hadn’t she? How hard could a few basic potions be?

Apparently, very.

She’d scorched the table in her attempts. And she hadn’t even been working on any of the more complicated fire-based potions. She’d just needed to heat the mixture. That was it.

Now Izuku needed to fix her mess- fast.

He was exhausted though. He couldn’t tell how many nights had been spent working on experiments and fixing one of his closest friend’s mistakes anymore. He was used to late nights when an idea grabbed him or research fascinated him too much. He didn’t mind staying up later to work out what he wanted out of the work in front of him. The challenge was invigorating. Katsuki didn’t seem big on ceremony either, so Izuku hadn’t had any royal duties as a consort to worry about. Assuming he was actually considered a consort with duties to perform, that was. Regardless, he’d had time to devote to his more complicated projects and research the new ingredients Othya had to offer that might help.

He would need to make a note to ask Mina or Eijiro if they knew of any specific flame-based ingredients that might help boost his current obsession. He still couldn’t get that explosive potion right.

The sound of Katsuki’s chair scuffing over wood made Izuku smile. At least he wasn’t the only one working late nights. Katsuki always seemed to be up late into the evening doing something for his people. It was reassuring in a way, to know they were both up. That Izuku had a friend of sorts nearby.

He paused. He could ask Katsuki about those ingredients. They were friends, right? It was a little more complicated given that they were already married and Katsuki said he’d mated to Izuku, but that was something solid. After the upheaval of Hisashi threatening to kill Izuku and being married and moving to Othya, there was finally something solid. Izuku could call Katsuki a friend without adding the rest of the complications to it. Because after the last few months, they had become friends. It didn’t feel quite so shaky anymore, as though one wrong move would break it. Take away everything else, strip it down to its basics, and Izuku could say they were at least friends.

If he kept working he was likely to make a mistake. But he didn’t want to head back to the suite they were supposed to share alone, either. He could try to track down Hitoshi or Ochako, given the late hour he wasn’t sure either would be awake but there was a chance, especially with Hitoshi.

But he wanted to talk to Katsuki.

Izuku was too tired to question why it was Katsuki’s presence he wanted right now, too weary to examine that his desire had nothing to do with the lust that consumed him whenever they came together. He just went with his gut for once.

His feet were moving almost before he realized it, crossing the distance to the door he had seduced Katsuki against a few months ago. The memory didn’t even give him pause for once. He pulled open the door and slipped into the quiet hall. He didn’t need the faint flow of torchlight to find his way to the office next door. He yanked open the door and stepped in, breathing in the scent of smoke and fire that had nothing to do with the lamps Katsuki had lit.

The light danced over the stone and wood of the room, casting reflections on the large windows and mingling with the moonlight that poured in. Katsuki sat at his desk, feet propped up on the black stone and polished wood and a large book open on his lap. The mix of silver moonlight and golden lamplight touched Katsuki, highlighting his features, making the gold of his hair appear more luminesce.

His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling softly in slumber.

Izuku smiled, caught by the peacefulness of the moment. Clearly he wasn’t the only one who was exhausted and pushing themselves hard. Katsuki looked almost angelic right now, when all temper, wit, and heavy worries were erased in sleep. A god given flesh.

How could one being be so beautiful?

He was also asleep. Izuku knew that Katsuki was dedicated to his people and would have known that even if he had known nothing else. It wasn’t surprising to find the man asleep at his desk, fatigue too great to battle tugging Katsuki under. Maybe Izuku should wake him up, nudge him towards bed. He’d get a much more restful sleep then at least.

But if Izuku woke him up, there was a good chance that Katsuki would argue and go back to work. Izuku could be that way if he fell asleep at his desk. He’d have meant to close his eyes for a minute and suddenly it was an hour or more later and Izuku was being told to go to bed. Hitoshi had more success than almost anyone else in accomplishing that goal, but Izuku was stubborn when he wanted to be. If he was working on something, he’d want to keep working.

Katsuki was likely the same way. If this was the only sleep he could get, Izuku should let him have it.

He turned back towards the door. He could probably force himself to focus on the basic cures for a little longer.

“Did you need something?” Katsuki asked behind him, voice rough with sleep.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.” Izuku turned to face Katsuki. He looked surprisingly alert for someone who had just been asleep, red eyes showing only hints of the exhaustion Izuku knew had overtaken him earlier. What would it be like for Katsuki to trust him? To let him see how tired Katsuki was? What would it be like for Katsuki to lean on Izuku like a partner, an equal?

But they weren’t there yet. They might never be.

“M’up,” Katsuki grumbled. “What’d you need, nerd?”

“I was just taking a break and thought you might be up.” Izuku shifted. “I can go though.”

“Nah, s’fine. Come sit.” Katsuki stretched and dropped his feet off the desk.

“What are you reading?” Izuku asked as he took a seat opposite Katsuki.

“One of the books you gave me,” Katsuki said, closing the book with a soft thud and putting in on the desk.

“That boring?” Izuku teased, smile tugging at his lips.

“Tch, no. Just had a long day.” Katsuki scowled, eyes sharpening. “It’s not that hard to figure out.”

“I don’t have any doubts in your abilities,” Izuku said, holding his hands up placatingly. “You follow my ramblings all the time.”

Katsuki snorted and looked around the room, as though getting his bearings.

Izuku held back a wince, doubt an insidious voice inside of his mind. Maybe he shouldn’t have come in and bothered Katsuki. Maybe he was just being that- a bother. He should have stayed in the lab and worked on the elixirs, something he was good at doing. If he had just-

“Where’s Vihan?”

Katsuki’s question shattered Izuku’s spiral of thoughts and self-doubt. He swallowed and glanced up again, unaware he had ever looked away. “Sleeping in the lab. Mina got him a bed so he can curl up there when he’s tired. He’s grown a lot and needs fewer naps, but he’s still young.”

“Huh.” Katsuki nodded. “What if he needs you?”

Izuku frowned. “He should sleep through the night right now. But maybe we need a door.”

“A door?” Katsuki echoed and blinked. “What, two ain’t enough for you?”

“Ha, ha.” Izuku stuck his tongue out at Katsuki. “I mean between our offices. One we could leave open when we’re not in meetings or something. That way he can come and go between our rooms as he pleases.”

“You want a door between my office and your lab?” Katsuki asked carefully. As though he had misheard Izuku.

“Well…” Izuku hesitated, struck by the enormity of what he had just suggested. “I mean, not if you’re against it. I don’t want you to feel awkward or anything if you have to close the door for a meeting. It was just, you know, an idea that I had. It would make things faster if we needed or wanted to talk but if it’s weird you can forget I said anything.”

“You’re rambling,” Katsuki growled. “Stop that. And why the fuck would I feel awkward about a damn door? I don’t get awkward.”

“I mean, you do. Every human does. And I’ve seen you blush, so that’s embarrassment, which can be awkward,” Izuku pointed out.

“I don’t blush,” Katsuki insisted, baring his teeth a little.

Izuku snorted, mischief taking root in his mind. He hadn’t teased someone like this in a long time. At least, anyone outside of Hitoshi and Ochako. It felt right, being able to tease Katsuki like he would any friend. “Are you sure, handsome?”

Well, maybe not any friend.

Katsuki blushed, a pink flush spreading over his cheeks and nose. It darkened to a light red as Katsuki gaped at Izuku. “I- What-”

“See?” Izuku grinned, triumphant. “You can feel awkward too.”

“Shut it, shortstack,” Katsuki hissed. “You’re fuckin’ embarrassing.”

“Since you call me shortstack and nerd, does that mean I can call you handsome?” Izuku mused.

“What?” Katsuki blinked. “No.”

“I think I can.” Izuku laughed. “I want a nickname for you too.”

“Pick a less embarrassing one,” Katsuki snapped, eyebrows drawing together.

“Handsome isn’t embarrassing,” Izuku argued. “It’s true.”

“Nerd.” Katsuki folded his arms, shooting Izuku a look that said he expected to be obeyed.

“Yes, handsome?” Izuku smiled sweetly as Katsuki’s face went bright red.

“Izuku.” Katsuki leaned forward over his desk. “Stop being a brat.”

“I’m allowed to think you’re handsome. But fine, I’ll save it for special occasions.” Izuku sighed and leaned back in his chair. Katsuki eyed him warily, as though Izuku was going to pounce on him at any moment. “You’re grumpy.”

“You woke up hissing yesterday morning, and you’re calling me grumpy?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow and gave Izuku a look.

It was Izuku’s turn to flush red. He could feel the heat spread over his face and knew he was a vivid shade, probably close to Katsuki’s eyes. “I just don’t wake up well.” He shrugged, trying to dismiss the subject.

“Don’t wake up well, huh?” Katsuki grinned slowly. “Never?”

Izuku shook his head. “Most people just don’t know that. You don’t need to spread it around.”

“What if I woke you up in a more pleasant way?” Katsuki’s grin was like a scythe in the candlelight, dangerous and beautiful all in one. Izuku’s heart skipped a beat.

“Um- Define pleasant?” Izuku swallowed. He had no idea how to flirt properly. It was like a foreign language and Izuku had missed every lesson when he was growing up. His sisters could bat their eyelashes and smile and men fell at their feet. His brothers had charm in spades. Izuku was awkward and had always been so. It was so much easier when he wasn’t trying to flirt.

But he wanted to try. He didn’t want to be found lacking again, even in some matter so trivial.

“What, don’t like surprises, shortstack?” Katsuki murmured, his words a caress over Izuku’s skin.

“How are you so good at everything you do?” Izuku muttered, frustrated with himself and his inability to find a proper response.

“Gifted.” Katsuki smirked, arrogant and sure of his victory. Izuku didn’t want to like how good that looked on him.

“I bet,” Izuku sighed.

“I don’t seem to be as skilled at making you listen to me,” Katsuki offered after a minute, as though he had seen Izuku’s insecurities. “You’re stubborn.”

“Being able to control people isn’t a skill, Katsuki.” Izuku glanced around the room, avoiding the gaze that felt like brands. “But there are many people talented in it nonetheless.”

People like Izuku’s father. Hisashi had a way of controlling everyone around him with an iron fist. He made it particularly hard to go against him, and if someone did, he made those consequences brutal. He acted as though everyone was his pawn to do with as he wanted on a chessboard. It didn’t matter who suffered as long as Hisashi prospered.

“You have shadows in your eyes again,” Katsuki said, interrupting the thought. “Why?”

“I-I don’t have to tell you,” Izuku countered. He tried to focus on forcing air into his lungs past the sudden onslaught of nerves, the tightness in his chest that sat like a rock. What was he doing, contradicting or teasing a king? Someone who had the power to make Izuku’s life miserable if he wanted to? Katsuki could lock Izuku in their suites, or the labs, and no one would contradict him. No one had the power to. Katsuki’s friends might argue, but at the end of the day he was their king. He could do what he wanted.

“You don’t,” Katsuki growled his agreement. “I’m not demanding you tell me. I’m asking.”

Izuku’s gaze snapped back to Katsuki’s, his eyes widening in surprise. Katsuki had said something similar the other day in Izuku’s lab. He hadn’t demanded that Izuku explain what he was doing, he had asked. He’d sounded arrogant at the time, but the difference had been clear. He’d admitted that Izuku didn’t have to answer. That was worlds difference from the demands Hisashi placed on everyone around him, on the binds he placed most heavily on his own family.

“My father,” Izuku found himself admitting. “Didn’t want me to become an alchemist. I have two older brothers. I’m not sure how it works here, but in Sniycia that is known as an heir and spare. My brothers, Haruka and Isamu, were in similar lessons. If anything happened to Haruka, Isamu can still take the throne. If not, he will be an excellent advisor to Haruka. He could always try to assassinate Haruka, but I don’t think he really wants to be king.”

“Fucked up,” Katsuki snorted, gaze dark. “What about your sisters?”

“Can’t inherit.” Izuku shrugged. “I have a sister who is older than Isamu, but Chika was married as soon as suitable husband came along. The same will happen to Aline and Rozalie.”

“Your country is fuckin’ stupid,” Katsuki grumbled. “If I had a sister I wouldn’t fuckin’ control her entire life just because she’s a girl. I don’t control Mina’s life.”

“She wouldn’t let you,” Izuku said, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

“Yeah.” Katsuki shrugged. “So, what’s that got to do with you?”

“It’s unlikely that both of my brothers would die before producing an heir. Even if they had, I could’ve been pulled from my studies and trained.” Izuku shivered at the possible future he’d painted. “My father wanted me to go into the military. Every Sniycian prince is trained to fight. My father wanted my focus to be in the military. I’m good at strategies, so I probably could have. But I didn’t want to. I met my teacher and I wanted to be an alchemist. I defied him.”

“Takes balls.” Katsuki nodded. “That why your bastard father threatened to kill you?”

“I didn’t think he hated me that much,” Izuku murmured. His eyes stung with the salt of tears yet to fall. “But while I won, I got to train as an alchemist…”

“Let me guess,” Katsuki interrupted. “He made sure you didn’t get anything else.”

Izuku shrugged, unable to put the complicated relationship with his father into further words. He’d admitted more than he’d intended, as though he couldn’t stop himself. Tears fell, filling Izuku’s mouth with the bitter taste of salt and the past.

“Fuck, don’t cry.” Katsuki hands tightened on his chair. Izuku thought he heard the wood groan beneath the pressure. “What was your teacher’s name?”

“Toshinori Yagi.” Izuku rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands, trying to rid himself of tears. “I still can’t believe he chose me to study under him. He’s brilliant.”

Katsuki coughed, eyes wide when Izuku glanced up. “Your teacher is...”

“Mhm.” Izuku nodded and smiled despite himself. “Technically was. I don’t have a teacher anymore.”

“No wonder you’re so good,” Katsuki said with a crooked smile. Izuku thought his heart stopped beating for a moment, breath catching in his chest. Gods, he really was handsome.

“Is that a compliment?” Izuku asked carefully. He had to be clear.

“Hah?” Katsuki scowled. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Never,” Izuku promised, smile growing. “Am I taking up your time though? I didn’t ask before.”

“Nah.” Katsuki paused and added after a minute, “Stay.”

“I can do that.” Izuku settled more fully into his seat. “Or we could head to bed.”

“Tell me about this shit,” Katsuki gestured to the book. “What got you interested?”

“We’ll be up for a while longer,” Izuku warned.

“C’mon, nerd.” Katsuki flashed another smile. “Tell me.”

This one time, Izuku gave in to the demand.

It was late beyond late by the time the two of them headed to bed, a sound asleep fox kit in Izuku’s arms. As he fell asleep though, Izuku found he wouldn’t have traded an hour of rest or work for the time they’d talked.

Not even one.

Chapter Text

"They jump into the fire?"

"Not INTO the fire you idiot, OVER."

Katsuki scowled at his mate. Izuku was currently standing at his side, gawking at the pyramid of logs stacked higher than both of them. Katsuki smirked at the monstrous creation, his pride for the people of Othya, his people, a warmth in his chest.

“Look.” He nudged Izuku and pointed to where his friends stood amidst several other highly trusted members of the castle staff. They formed a ring around the towering pyramid and each held a flaming torch aloft. “Once it burns down enough, people jump over it. See who can jump the highest.”

“Sounds like fun,” Izuku said faintly, eyes locked on the pyramid. Katsuki watched as Hanta tossed the torch onto the large pile as others around him did the same. The whole thing was alight in minutes, fire dancing in the breeze and lighting up the surrounding landscape as dark descended quickly.

People milled about everywhere, chatting, dancing, and raising their voices in song. The harvest festival was one of Othya’s biggest celebrations. People all over the country would be holding their own festivities with neighbors and friends. The parties would last well into the dawn hours as men and women gave thanks to the gods for helping see them through another year full of challenges. The harvest had been bountiful this year, which meant a wilder festival was sure to follow. Almost everyone in the city, castle, and any villages close by were here attending, save for the guards on duty. Katsuki tried to make sure that those at guard posts who had to work the evening and miss the excitement of a festival had the next year off.

“Go get something to eat.” Katsuki nudged Izuku towards one of the multiple tables groaning with food.

“I just ate a few hours ago.” Izuku shook his head. “I’ll eat later.”

“Get a fuckin’ snack,” Katsuki said, pushing Izuku towards the nearest table more firmly.

He turned back toward the city with a scowl in place again. Behind him cheers rose up from the makeshift dance floor as another dancer joined the fray. The festivities had taken over the plains again- something as important as the harvest celebration having grown too large for the city or castle generations ago. Preparations had kicked into high gear a few weeks ago. Everyone was looking forward to something to celebrate, especially since there hadn’t been a war as had been expected in the late spring.

“Where are you going?” Izuku asked, suddenly right on Katsuki’s heels.

“The fuck you doin’ here, shortstack?” Katsuki turned to glare at his clearly unrepentant mate. Izuku met his glare head on and folded his arms across his chest and an arched eyebrow. Katsuki wondered how anyone could miss how godsdamned stubborn his mate was, particularly when he did that.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the celebrations?” Izuku frowned. “Where are you going? Everyone else is here.”

“I could order you to wait here, ya know,” Katsuki pointed out, fighting his temper. Why the fuck had the bastard fates given him such an obstinate mate?

“I’d just follow you anyway,” Izuku countered, jaw tightening. “I’m stubborn too.”

“No shit,” Katsuki snapped, shoving fingers through his hair in agitation. “I can order a guard to sit on your ass until I get back.”

Not that he wanted anyone else anywhere near Izuku’s ass. But he wasn’t being literal, damn it. He was just trying to make a fucking point.

Green eyes flashed with a myriad of emotions too quick for Katsuki to catch. Izuku could be incredibly expressive sometimes, his emotions some open book that anyone was welcome to read. Other times he was so fucking hard to gauge, like the bastard had shut himself off entirely. Katsuki didn’t like the change, the idea that Izuku could shut down or shut Katsuki out if the nerd really wanted to.

Izuku watched Katsuki almost warily, as though he had just remembered he was talking to Othyan’s king- not his husband, his friend. Katsuki hissed out a breath, annoyed at himself now.

Izuku wasn’t some weak and helpless mate. Katsuki had never been interested in being tied down to some useless shit, so that was fine. Most of the time anyway. But Izuku had these bruises, no, these festering wounds when it came to things like his freedom or anything that touched too close to his past. Anything that reminded Izuku of his bastard of a father, however unintentionally that reminder could have been, froze the nerd up in the worst ways.

So, his nerd had this one weakness. Katsuki would work on it, until Izuku trusted him implicitly. Until there was no distinction between Katsuki and Othya’s ruler. Katsuki wasn’t a patient man, but the rewards would be worth his patience for just a little longer.

“Come on, nerd.” Katsuki turned back to the city. “You can come. Gonna stick to me anyway, yeah?”

“If you don’t want me there-” Izuku started, that annoying, stiff hesitance back in his voice.

Katsuki reached behind him without looking and grabbed Izuku’s wrist. He tugged hard and smirked as Izuku squeaked and stumbled forward.

‘You’re an asshole,” Izuku said, tugging at his wrist. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Mina. All the time.” Katsuki snorted and released Izuku’s wrist. “But I’m fuckin’ charming.”

“Whoever told you that was probably drunk.” Izuku shook his head but he was smiling again. “Really drunk.”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki grumbled, strides eating up the distance between them and their destination. Tall grass gave way to cobbled streets that were practically deserted at this time. The few stragglers that they came across quickly offered the two of them respect before hurrying the way they had come, towards the growing festivities.

“Where are we going, Katsuki?” Izuku asked again, breaking the silence between them. “You are supposed to be back there, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” Katsuki shrugged. “But m’not needed for anything just yet. They know to run interference if they need to.”

“Who knows?” Izuku pressed. “I wouldn’t have.”

Shit. “Well you’re here, so it doesn’t matter. Hanta, Denki, Eijiro, and Mina will take care of things for a while. They’re used to this.”

“So, this is a habit of yours.”

“I just like my privacy.” Katsuki glanced at Izuku. “Don’t you?”

“I’ve never had any,” Izuku said, a frown tugging at his lips.

Katsuki paused, watching the man beside him closely. Never? Izuku had never been allowed even an hour of time to himself before coming here? Eijiro, Mina, Denki, and Hanta had all fought for Katsuki’s right to moments for himself like this one. They had learned as much as they needed to in an attempt to take some of the burden off of Katsuki. He didn’t allow them to take much, but every now and then, the fact that he could take time for himself, that it was an option- it meant something. Had no one given Izuku that?

“You’re allowed your privacy,” Katsuki murmured. “Everyone is. No one will take that from you here.” Katsuki tampered down the protective urge to pull Izuku into his arms and never let him go. At least he could give him that much.

“Thank you.” Izuku smiled slightly.

Katsuki wanted to press him against the nearest wall and claim those lips in a searing kiss, wanted to feel Izuku tremble underneath him as his hands found a way beneath that lightweight tunic. He wanted Izuku’s powerful legs wrapped around his waist, wanted to bury his fingers in Izuku’s curls while his mouth feasted on every part of the man at his side.

But he couldn’t, not right now. There was no chance in any realm, living or dead, that Katsuki would be allowed to miss the harvest festival. No one could run interference for that long. Not with the way he wanted Izuku.

“We’re here,” Katsuki announced. He pushed open the wooden door with ease and stepped into the candle-lit gloom beyond.

“Isn’t this a temple?” Izuku asked, frowning deeply now as he glanced around. Ancient craftsmanship shone in the light of candles and lamps, the wood carvings of autumn bounty done with a careful eye to detail. A large altar stood in the center of the house of worship, a statue just beyond it on the dais. It was one of the simplest temples in Dragonspire. It was also probably one of the ones that Katsuki felt most comfortable in.

The temples were one of the only things Noboru hadn’t been able to destroy while holding Katsuki’s throne, too.

“Observant,” Katsuki said dryly. His footsteps echoed through the room as he made his way towards the altar piled high with offerings of breads, cheeses, fruits, and wheat.

“But I thought…” Izuku trailed off, the unasked question hanging between them.

“Hold on a second, nerd.”

“Alright,” Izuku said after a minute.

Katsuki could practically hear Izuku bite back his questions.

He knelt in front of the statue at the center of the dais and bowed his head in silent thanks to the goddess before him. The statue had been carved out of a dark marble towards the beginning of Othya’s creation. Time and the elements had worn away the details of her face, but the Goddess of the Harvest, Laima, stood as she had for generations. Children danced around her feet, each carrying a bounty of the harvest in their arms. Laima stood with an ancient scythe in her hands, a defense against those who would harm Othya and the fruits of the people’s labor.

Katsuki stood again, pausing to light another candle, its light joining the hundreds of others flickering in their glass protections and casting shadows on the walls. He turned back to Izuku and nodded towards the door. Izuku didn’t speak for once, just followed Katsuki back out into the equally quiet streets.

“I can hear you, you’re thinking so loud. Out with it,” Katsuki said. He turned back towards the plains and the firelight of the large bonfire. The sun peeked through the buildings of Dragonspire, offering what little light was left for their short journey back.

“Who was that? I thought you didn’t believe in the gods? Or at least, you didn’t worship them. Why did you go when no one else was around?” Izuku fired off the questions one after another, the words all but tumbling over each other.

“Fuckin’ nerd,” Katsuki grumbled. “That was the Goddess of the Harvest, Laima.”

“Why did you go alone?” Izuku asked.

“Because it was personal.” Katsuki shrugged. “No one demands I make my thanks be public. I’d tell ‘em to fuck off if they did.”

“But you don’t worship the gods,” Izuku pressed.

“I don’t worship the assholes who cursed us,” Katsuki snarled in answer. “Laima didn’t fuckin’ curse my people.”

“Who did?”

“Naxdohr, the Ashax God Of Vengeance and War,” Katsuki spat the name out. “Fucker.”

“But he’s not your god then, right?” Izuku frowned. “So why do you hate your gods?”

“Gods, you’re fucking nosy,” Katsuki growled, shooting Izuku a glare.

Izuku met his glare with one of his own. “Tell me.”

“They let the damn thing stand.” Katsuki ground out, teeth clenching hard enough to send pains shooting up his jaw. “They said we were greedy and we deserved to lose the mates they gave us to tragedy after tragedy.”

“What gods?” Izuku demanded.

“Lauris, Andris, Skaista, couple others. They don’t fucking matter. They’re assholes, and I control my own fuckin’ fate. I don’t ask Andris for his damned blessing before I go to war and I still win. Fuckin’ useless shit asshole.” Katsuki’s hands clenched in fists, the bullshit of it all a wound that just seemed to never want to close.

“So why her?” Izuku asked after a minute. “If they…”

“My people need the Goddess of the Harvest. We won’t survive the harsh seasons without her. Without a couple of them. I’m not about to let them blame me for my people starving. She didn’t fuck up too bad, so I can thank her for my people eating another year.” Katsuki shrugged.

“Oh.” Izuku fell silent for a few minutes. “Can I ask another question?”

“Not like you ever stop.” Katsuki shook his head, smirking a little as Izuku blushed. “What, shortstack?”

“Why does she carry a scythe? For the wheat?”

“Every deity in Othya is a warrior. Every single one.” Katsuki motioned to the celebration in front of them. “Even if they don’t go to war, they are all trained warriors.”

“But she didn’t look like a soldier.” Izuku’s frown deepened, turning dark green eyes on Katsuki.

“Not every warrior is a soldier.” Katsuki scowled. “The fuck they teach people in Sniycia?”

“If they’re not a soldier, how are they a warrior?” Izuku pressed. Not to prove a point, but in genuine confusion and curiosity.

Katsuki shook his head. “Mothers are warriors, though not all of them pick up a weapon in their lifetime beyond basic training. Every woman worth a damn would kill to defend what she loves in Othya. Every man too. They’re warriors even if they don’t serve in the military, Izuku.”

“Oh,” Izuku murmured. He caught his lower lip between his teeth as he looked at the ground.

Katsuki couldn’t tell if he was lost in thought or beating himself up over asking something. He nudged Izuku with his shoulder and waited until those eyes were on his again. He felt a blush creep over his face, the heat flaring as it did when he blushed. It didn’t seem to happen unless he was around Izuku, but that had been often recently. He pushed through the embarrassment and instinct to bite his tongue to stop the words from getting out. “Guess that makes you one too.”

“Oh.” Izuku’s eyes widened as he blushed bright red. “Now who’s the embarrassing one?”

“Stuff it,” Katsuki snapped as they reached the edge of the festivities.

“There you are!”

Katsuki was jerked off his feet in the next minute in a bone-crushing embrace that restricted his airway at the same time.

“Get the fuck off me!” Katsuki snarled, struggling in the hold.

“You should probably put him down, Yoarashi,” Hanta said from somewhere nearby. Katsuki couldn’t see the fucker. “You know how he is about affection.”

“No?” Izuku spoke up at that moment. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re his mate, it’s different,” Hanta reassured Izuku easily.

“Mate?” Yoarashi set Katsuki as quickly as he had picked him. He ran a hand over hair he kept incredibly close to his skull. “I didn’t know you had a mate!”

“Everyone has been talking about it,” Hanta snorted. “Literally. Everyone. Where have you been?”

“On assignment!” Yoarashi wailed. “I didn’t know!”

Katsuki growled, trying to regain control of the situation. “It’s not-”

“I’m Yoarashi Inasa,” Yoarashi cut him off, bowing so deeply to Izuku that his head touched the ground. “It is an honor, Consort.”

“I-Uh- Don’t do that!” Izuku squeaked, eyes wide. “I mean- it’s nice to meet you too?”

“We’ll be good friends,” Yoarashi said as he popped out of his bow. Katsuki didn’t think any being that large had a right to move as quickly as Yoarashi did. “Did Katsu- Did his Majesty assign you a guard yet? If not, I volunteer.”

“A guard?” Izuku echoed, turning bruised eyes on Katsuki. The question in them was clear.

“He’s not getting a fuckin’ guard because he’s not a useless shit,” Katsuki interjected. He glared at Hanta when the other dark-haired man grinned, clearly unrepentant.

Yoarashi inhaled as though to stumble into his next bout of idiocy in his attempt to be loyal.

“He’s not gonna stab me in my godsdamned sleep or he would’ve.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “I can still beat you in a fight, so watch it.”

“Well.” Yoarashi grinned, the calculated look in his dark eyes retreating for a minute. “Then just friends.”

“I hate you,” Katsuki grumbled.

“He wishes,” Hanta laughed. “Come on Yoarashi. Kami said he’d have the drinks already.”

“I’ll be right there!” Yoarashi boomed. “I must first win the scything contest!”

“The what?!” Izuku squeaked again.

“Scything contest.” Hanta shrugged. “Take an ancient scythe and cut the grass. Who is most accurate and clears their patch first, all of that, wins. Do they not have that back in Sniycia?”

“No.” Izuku blinked. “No, they don’t.”

“Boring,” Hanta surmised.

“Come take part!” Yoarashi offered, with a genuine smile. “It’s fun!”

“Maybe next year.” Izuku smiled. “Right now, I think I want a drink.”

“Make sure Baku drinks a lot,” Eijiro said, as he came to stand at Katsuki’s side. “He’ll dance then.”

“Die!” Katsuki snarled, hands itching to wrap around his best friend’s throat.

“You dance?” Izuku cocked his head. “I didn’t know that.”

“Didn’t he dance at your mating ceremony?” Yoarashi frowned. “He must have.”

“Our mating… Oh. No.” Izuku forced a smile that almost looked genuine. “It was a long day.”

“But-” Yoarashi started.

“It’s fine,” Eijiro reassured the taller man with a grin. “They can dance tonight. Baku wouldn’t miss it, right?”

“Don’t talk for me, Hair for Brains.”

“But you will, won’t you?” Izuku asked, mischief dancing in green depths as he stole Katsuki’s attention again. Not that Katsuki could forget that the nerd was there. He never could. His instincts demanded nothing less. “For me?”

“Can you even dance, shortstack?” Katsuki challenged.

“I’m a Prince of Sniycia,” Izuku said as though that explained everything, an answer to Katsuki’s challenge.

“This ain’t some royal ball, your highness.” Katsuki grinned slowly. “Doubt your fancy teachers taught you this.”

“I guess we’ll see.” Izuku grinned, his eyes bright with the challenge. “Won’t we?”

“Is this their idea of flirting?” Hanta asked.

“Kind of.” Eijiro shrugged out of the corner of Katsuki’s eye. “It’s complicated?”

“Says the king of complicated,” Hanta snorted.

“Shut up,” Eijiro hissed.

“We’ll see when you dance,” Katsuki agreed, ignoring his friends. Eijiro’s mess was his to make. Katsuki didn’t make decisions for his friends.

“Come watch me in the scything competition.” Yoarashi looped an arm around Hanta’s shoulders, starting toward the far field. “It will be fun!”

“Sure,” Hanta agreed. “Kami can just bring my drink to me.”

“That’s the spirit!” Yoarashi shouted over the chatter.

“Mina and Kami came prepared,” Eijiro warned. “Whatever they have is strong this year. I don’t know where they got it.”

“Whatever,” Katsuki said dismissively. “I can handle it.”

“Glad to hear it,” Mina said brightly from behind Eijiro. “You made it back in time to celebrate, good. I’ll tell Kyoka she can really start the music now.”

“Told you not to wait for me.” Katsuki glowered at Mina. “I’d be back.”

“And no one suffered for it.” Mina stuck her tongue out at him. Nestled in her pink hair was a flower crown as vibrant in color as she was. Mina always chose the more exotic flowers for her crown. “I’ve got crowns for you two, too. I’ll be back with them. For now, have this.” She shoved a goblet in Katsuki’s hand before doing the same to Izuku.

“Where’d you get it?” Eijiro asked, smiling brightly as Mina turned her gaze towards him.

“Mezo.” Mina shrugged. “He makes good shit, however he makes it. It’ll knock you on your ass.”

“Unlikely.” Katsuki smirked and took a drink.

The burn was familiar, like swallowing fire that destroyed his throat as it went down, but there was no getting used to the taste of this shit. The harsh taste invaded his mouth and nose, seeping into every pore. Katsuki shook his head, swallowing as though that would rid him of the taste. It didn’t. It never did.

“That’s shit,” Katsuki said with a grin, eyes watering. “Tell Mezo to get better taste.”

“Your complaint is noted and is being tossed because I don’t give a fuck. I am getting drunk tonight and this stuff is getting me there,” Mina declared. She frowned at her empty hands. “I need some if I’m going to get drunk though.”

Izuku spluttered and coughed beside Katsuki.

“Huh.” Mina paused. “Maybe Izuku shouldn’t get any.”

“I… It’s fine,” Izuku gasped for breath, several tears escaping to track down his cheeks. “I just have to… adjust.”

“What does your father serve?” Eijiro asked curiously.

“Wine.” Izuku shrugged, eyeing the goblet in his hands with vague distrust. “But I have a high tolerance. I just didn’t expect… any of that, actually.”

“You sure you want to keep that?” Eijiro asked doubtfully.

“I’ll be fine,” Izuku insisted.

“He’s fine,” Katsuki shrugged. “Let him drink it.”

“I am going to have so much fun,” Mina laughed. For once there were no shadows of what-ifs in her eyes. “I’ll grab the crowns and find you in a second.”

She was gone in the next instant, swallowed up by the milling crowd.

“Gonna grow a pair and ask her to dance tonight?” Katsuki nudged Eijiro.

“I can’t,” Eijiro sighed, his eyes locked on the ground at his feet as if it held the secrets of life. “You know I can’t.”

“Not very manly to back down from a challenge,” Katsuki goaded.

“I-” Eijiro paused, caught in the trap. “Okay. One dance.”

“Don’t screw up.” Katsuki shoved his friend into the crowd in pursuit of Mina.

“So, what do you do at the Harvest Festival?” Izuku asked.

“Anything they want. Usually dancing, singing, eating and drinking your fill, that shit. There’s a couple games, like the scything.”

“But what do you do?” Izuku asked again. “Any duties or anything?”

“No.” Katsuki shrugged. “I did any blessings and crap that people wanted earlier. People usually go to the temples for that anyway.”

“You get to be just Katsuki tonight?” Izuku smiled brightly, eyes hopeful. “No royal duties?”

“Nothing,” Katsuki confirmed. He leaned closer, lips brushing against the shell of Izuku’s ear. “Why, do you want to be alone with me?” He smirked as Izuku shivered.

“I want to see the festival. And I have to prove I can dance better than you can.” Izuku grinned as he pulled back. “Show me around.”

“Bossy little shit,” Katsuki grumbled without heat. “C’mon.”

“You like me that way,” Izuku winked.

“Shut it,” Katsuki muttered, blush flaring.

Izuku’s bright laugh drew smiles and curious attention from the crowd around them.

“You two were easy to find,” Mina said, appearing by Izuku’s side. She held out green crowns of elm leaves and ivy. “Here.”

“Stupid tradition,” Katsuki said as he took the crown she offered and jammed it on his head. “Why do you make me do this every year?”

“Because I’m your sister and I live to annoy you,” Mina chirped, reaching up to adjust Izuku’s crown with quick and neat movements. “There. You two look perfect.”

“Fuck off. Go find Hair for Brains and make him dance with you this year.” Katsuki flipped her off.

“Baku…” Mina frowned and folded her arms over her chest.

“You should. I think he was looking for you,” Izuku added. “He said he was hoping for at least one dance.”

“Oh?” Mina hesitated. “Alright. I’ll see. I promised Kami and Hanta dances too.”

“Get movin’ then.” Katsuki pushed her back towards the closest group of dancers. Mina stuck her tongue out before disappearing into the crowd.

“C’mon,” Izuku said, starting forward. “Show me everything.”

The next few hours passed in pleasant company and the warmth and growing haze of strong drink. Firelight flickered and jumped through the dark, lighting up the open celebration space. Katsuki smiled slightly, watching his people relax and rejoice in their successes of the past spring and summer. He looked at Izuku who laughed at something a beaming and pink-faced Ochako had said from wherever she’d appeared.

Izuku was also very drunk.

Whatever tolerance he had for his father’s selections of wine had not carried over for his first of harder liquor. He laughed easily when he was like this, more relaxed and less worried that Katsuki was going to steal his freedom as Hisashi had. The quiet confidence Katsuki had caught hints of bloomed and Izuku was kind and charming to everyone who came up to meet their king’s new mate.

Katsuki swallowed against the warmth in his chest that had nothing with the drink Mina or Denki kept pressing into his hands every time Katsuki seemed to run low. It was just Izuku and this possibility between the two of them. Every single time Katsuki met Izuku’s gaze it felt like there was a storm beginning, a fire threatening to rage into an inferno out of Katsuki’s control.

He didn’t believe in romance. He’d never tried it and doubted it would be of any use to him. He was who the fuck he was. But there was something between the two of them, something so brimming with potential that Katsuki couldn’t have imagined it.

“Dance with me.” Izuku held out his hand, eyes hazy from drink but his smile every temptation Katsuki could imagine. “You said you would.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki swallowed against a dry throat and took Izuku’s hand, tugging him into the circle of dancers. “C’mere shortstack.”

Izuku smelled the earth after a summer storm, fresh and clean, the notes of ink and well-loved books fading as they moved admit the other dancers in a complicated series of steps to a fast-paced beat. Katsuki didn’t think that he would ever be able to forget that scent sinking into his skin, curling around his lungs with every breath he drew as though it belonged there. Izuku faltered, laughing as he stumbled through steps he didn’t know in an attempt to keep up with people who had grown up with song and dance in their blood.

“That was fun!” Izuku laughed, stumbling out of the circle as the song ended. He swayed on his feet for a moment before catching himself. “I think I’m dizzy though.”

Katsuki snorted. “Not surprised.”

“I want a nickname for you,” Izuku said with a pout. He threaded his hand with Katsuki’s. “You have tons for me.”

“Tons?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

Izuku nodded, his crown crooked on his head. Katsuki couldn’t remember when that had happened. “You have shortstack, nerd…” Izuku wrinkled his nose. “I know there are more but I can’t remember them right now. I don’t have any for you.”

“Did you want one?” Katsuki tugged Izuku closer.

“Mhm.” Izuku leaned into Katsuki for a moment, breathing deeply. “Can I have one?”

“Come up with one, nerd,” Katsuki murmured. His teeth nipped at the shell of Izuku’s ear, pleased at the shiver he produced from the man in his arms.

“Save it for the bedroom,” Hitoshi interrupted with a leer. Izuku pulled back to glare at his best friend while Katsuki fought the urge to punch the purple-haired irritant. Just one hit was all it would take.

“Come see if the fire is ready!” Yoarashi exclaimed, slinging an arm around Katsuki’s neck. His breath smelled like the spirits Mina and Denki had passed around. “I wanna jump.”

“Of course you do,” Katsuki grumbled, shoving the larger man off of him.

“I want to see the fire,” Izuku giggled. “Can we, Kacchan?”

“Kacchan?” Hitoshi repeated with a wicked grin. “What’s this?”

“No, no,” Yoarashi interrupted before Katsuki could decide the best way to rearrange Hitoshi’s innards. “That’s a mate nickname. You can’t use it. Rules.”

“That’s a rule?” Hitoshi snorted. “Why do I care?”

“Hitoshi.” Izuku nudged his friend, his frown bordering on a pout. “Kacchan is my nickname for Kacchan. Find your own.”

“I have multiple.” Hitoshi smirked. “Want me to tell him?”

Izuku blushed and swatted at his friend. “No.”

“Do I want to know?” Katsuki shook his head.

“No,” Izuku repeated. “No, Hitoshi.”

“Apparently I cannot tell you.” Hitoshi shrugged as he looked at Katsuki. “Pity. Ask me another time.”

“This is a good party,” Izuku said as they wandered closer to the bonfire. He pointed at another group of dancers who spun and jumped in dance around swords laid out on the ground. “What are they doing?”

“Dance of Swords!” Yoarashi hollered above the crowd. “They dance around swords pointing in the directions of the compass.”

“Why?” Hitoshi asked, stealing the drink that Denki had been handing Izuku. “I want some of this.”

“Hey!” Izuku reached for the goblet and missed.

“Have as much as you want.” Denki shrugged. “Mezo made sure we had enough this year.”

Hitoshi took a drink and broke into a coughing fit almost immediately, eyes watering as he sucked in breaths of air.

“Can’t handle it?” Katsuki smirked.

“You kidding?” Hitoshi coughed again. “Better than Hisashi’s wine we swiped that one time. I like it,” Hitoshi quipped.

“We will be good friends,” Yoarashi laughed loudly.

“I hate you,” Izuku retorted, folding his arms across his chest.

“You’re cute, ‘Zuku.” Hitoshi nudged his friend teasingly.

“He’s great.” Denki grinned and winked at Hitoshi. “I’ll be back. I told Kyoko I’d dance with her once. Hanta too I think. Not sure how I agreed to that.”

“He can’t dance,” Yoarashi sighed as Denki disappeared into the crowd.

“Not why either of those people asked him.” Hitoshi smirked.

Katsuki caught sight of Eijiro and Mina twirling among another circle of dancers and smirked, glad they were trying to figure their shit out for two minutes. When he was the most functional of the three of them in a relationship there was a problem.

“Have these celebrations always been this amazing?” Izuku asked, trying to catch sight of everything around him.

“Not when Noboro was king regent,” Yoarashi said, the name coated in venom. “He bled us dry with his greed. Katsuki had a hard battle when he took the throne. He was-”

“Dead,” Katsuki said sharply. He shot Yoarashi a harsh look “He’s fuckin’ dead.”

“Don’t like talking about him?” Hitoshi asked curiously.

“No point,” Katsuki said flatly. “Find your gossip somewhere else.”

“You’re no fun,” Hitoshi said, but he didn’t push.

“You had a king regent?” Izuku murmured as Ochako reappeared, giggling as Hitoshi introduced her to Yoarashi. “I didn’t know that.”

“My parents died when I was a kid. Noboro said he’d hold it for me so I could finish growing and training. I took the throne once I was old enough,” Katsuki grumbled and wrapped an arm around Izuku’s waist. “It’s old news.”

“Right,” Izuku said after a moment. “Alright.”

Katsuki thought that Izuku was going to press him. He thought Izuku was going to ask a million and one questions about his past, about what Yoarashi had let slip when his tongue was loose with alcohol.

But Izuku just swallowed and pressed a little closer.

Katsuki breathed out in relief just as Izuku stiffened again, excitement practically buzzing on his skin.

“That’s the fire?!”

“Huh?” Katsuki glanced over and grinned at the dying bonfire. The flames were still too high for people to attempt jumping over, but they wouldn’t be soon enough. Katsuki could almost taste the anticipation in the air as people crowded closer.

“Kacchan.” Izuku squeezed Katsuki’s hand in an attempt to get his attention. As though Katsuki needed the physical tug to pay attention to the man who was like a living storm next to him. Katsuki breathed in again, letting the clean earth and storm fill his senses.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s jump it.”

“Now?” Katsuki asked, searching Izuku’s gaze in the dancing firelight. His head swam and he couldn’t tell if it was from the alcohol or something else.

“Don’t think we can?” Izuku challenged, his grin infectious.

“Don’t get burned, nerd.” Katsuki grinned in answer, a scythe of its own in the glimmering light.

“You either, Kacchan,” Izuku laughed again, delighted with a nickname Katsuki wouldn’t have allowed from anyone else alive.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go.” Katsuki nudged Izuku forward, letting the nerd carve their way through the crowd and closer to the bonfire. Katsuki eyed the flames as they crackled and spun ash into the sky. He was pretty sure they’d be fine. The flames looked almost close enough.

“Ready?” Izuku asked, bouncing on his feet at Katsuki’s side.

“Bet I jump higher.” Katsuki smirked.

“No way!” Izuku growled.

“What are you doing?” Hitoshi called form further back in the crowd.

“Baku it’s still too high!” Eijiro called from the other side of the crowd. Katsuki couldn’t see him, but he knew the voice.

“One,” Katsuki started.

“Two,” Izuku continued, shifting his weight.

“Three!” they shouted. Together they took off, feet carrying them with increasing speed towards what had once been a pyramid of logs. The heat of the flames pressed against them, smoke choking the air. Katsuki leapt-

-and hit the ground on his knees on the other side. He rolled, coming to his feet in a move taught to him long ago by his teacher.

Izuku laughed, on the ground a few inches away. He sat up fully, grinning at Katsuki. “I jumped higher.”

“Fuck that,” Katsuki disagreed. “I did.”

“Did not,” Izuku argued.

“Wanna bet, shortstack?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Fine. You wanna go again, we can-”

“You jumped at the same level,” Ochako called out, Yoarashi and Hitoshi by her side as she pushed through the crowd. “Izuku that was so reckless!”

“That was fun,” Izuku laughed. “We can go again.”

“‘Zuku,” Ochako started.

She was interrupted by the sound of song as thousands of Othyan people raised their voice in song in thanks to the goddess Laima for the harvest this year. The song was ancient, passed down through the generations and taught by family. Katsuki lifted his voice in song, another thanks he wouldn’t deny his people or the goddess who had protected them through the harsh summer again.

Izuku squeaked beside him, eyes wide as he clambered to his feet.

“You can sing?” he demanded, folding his arms across his chest. “Is there anything you can’t do? How are you so good at everything?!”

Katsuki felt the blush heat his skin again at the praise and scowled at Izuku. “I told you, it’s a gift. Can you not?”

“I’m alright.” Izuku shrugged. He raised his voice to join the melody, wordless notes that were clear and sweet. He cut off after a minute and frowned.

“What?”

“It’s not fair,” Izuku muttered. “How am I supposed to measure up?”

Katsuki gave in to desire and temptation. He tugged Izuku into his arms and pressed his lips to Izuku’s, tongue sweeping into Izuku’s mouth to taste and explore the moment Izuku sighed softly. He tasted like the awful spirits, like sin, like storms and lightning. He wanted to drowned in Izuku’s taste, in the kiss and the connection between the two of them.

Katsuki pulled back slowly, leashing his desire with difficulty. “That answer your question?”

“I think how attracted I am to you is a problem,” Izuku breathed.

Katsuki laughed.

Chapter Text

“You’re going to have to explain this to me.”

“I already did.”

“Explain it again. How exactly is being attracted to him a bad thing? King, husband, and decent-looking if you’re into a cinderbrain with fluff for hair.”

“It’s not a good thing.” Izuku ran a hand through his hair and heaved a sigh in frustration.

“You said that. That’s not an explanation.” Hitoshi leaned against the table, ignoring the alchemical potions in front of him for the moment. “That’s an avoidance.”

“I’m not avoiding anything. I just…”

“Attraction makes sex easier, Izuku. And both of you having fun in the bedroom makes your lives easier. Less likely to fight and all of that.” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow. “Sex keeps the world moving, you know.”

“Sex isn’t that important.” Izuku folded his arms over his chest. He refused to think about Katsuki at the moment, to think about the pleasure that seemed to overwhelm him whenever Katsuki touched him. He just wasn’t going there.

“Says the person actually having sex,” Ochako grumbled. “If you don’t want any, can I have some?”

Izuku turned to look at Ochako. She was set up at the table behind Hitoshi and Izuku to work on some basic antidotes while Izuku worked on the corresponding poisons. Instead of chopping, she was sullenly flicking flower petals and starfish parts across the table surface.

“I can’t gift you the sex I’m having.” Izuku frowned at his friend. “It doesn’t work that way.”

“And I’m sure that cinderbrain is only interested in Izuku,” Hitoshi added.

“I’m not saying that him being attractive is a problem,” Izuku sighed. “Just that me finding him as attractive as I do is actually a problem.”

“How dare you be wildly attracted to your husband,” Ochako huffed. She tucked several stray strands of hair behind her ear.

“Are you ever going to listen to me about pulling your hair back?” Izuku frowned.

Ochako stuck her tongue out at him. “No. Mages don’t have to pull their hair back. It’s stupid alchemists do.”

“When she’s bald with no eyebrows we can laugh.” Hitoshi waved his hand, dismissing the conversation and Ochako’s squawk of indignation. “You’re changing the subject.”

“I’m trying to talk about alchemy. The reason I’m in your lab,” Izuku argued. “Not my sex life.”

“Priorities.” Hitoshi smirked. “Point is-”

“Point is,” Ochako cut in, “you’re complaining that you’re attracted to your husband because you’re running out of things to complain about. If we were still home I would be lucky to even get that.”

“I know.” Izuku sighed again, guilt corrosive in his gut. Ochako was right, if they were still in Sniycia she would be married to a noble decades her senior that had pleased Hisashi. Her attraction, or even her agreement, was more of a bonus. Izuku had been more fortunate as the prince -in some ways anyway. His father would’ve chosen a princess or noblewoman of high birth who could offer the throne something beneficial. Ochako hadn’t been out of the question in Izuku’s options for a wife, a situation that would have made them both miserable. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Ochako murmured, eyes softening in understanding. “I know this is hard. But it’s a good thing. I know you don’t want to get hurt, but maybe he won’t.”

“Maybe,” Izuku agreed.

It was almost easy to believe her, to believe that Katsuki would keep the promises he’d made. Anytime Katsuki put Izuku’s wants or fears first, anytime he reached across the bridge between them to learn more- about Izuku, about alchemy, anything- Izuku felt his defenses crumble further. He didn’t want to be at odds with Katsuki. But trust was so hard to give, so fragile. If it was shattered once given, Izuku didn’t know if he would recover. He didn’t want to give anyone the ability to hurt him that badly.

And it wasn’t like Katsuki wasn’t still keeping things from Izuku. Even the mention of his childhood and the regent who had held the throne for Katsuki was off limits in conversation. Izuku had thought about researching Katsuki’s history since Yoarashi’s drunken slip a week ago. But finding those books was proving impossible, and Izuku doubted that Mina or Eijiro or any of Katsuki’s friends were about to tell him anything. Izuku didn’t want to break the fragile peace that he had achieved with his husband by pushing.

He supposed he’d have to deal with the knowledge that they were both keeping secrets from each other. It wasn’t like Izuku had a lot of room to talk.

He didn’t want Katsuki to send Ochako back to Sniycia though. He didn’t know how Katsuki would react to the knowledge that she wasn’t an alchemist. Izuku just… didn’t want to risk anything by admitting it. He would figure out a solution. He just needed more time.

“I’m not telling you to give him your life story or darkest secrets,” Hitoshi snorted. “Just enjoy what you have right now. Easy sex with someone who drives you crazy sounds good.”

“You’re so unromantic.” Ochako made a face at Hitoshi.

“This isn’t a story though. Happy endings don’t work like that,” Izuku pointed out.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working on an antidote?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow again. “Besides, romance isn’t real. You’ve been around royals this long, you know that.”

“It’s real,” Ochako argued fiercely. “Plenty of commoners were married for love and romance.”

“And there’s a distinct lack of commoners in this lab.” Hitoshi motioned towards the ingredients in front of Ochako. “Get to work, it’s not that hard.”

“How can you say romance isn’t real?” Ochako demanded, ignoring Hitoshi’s orders. “Izuku, don’t you think it is?”

“I’ve never seen it.” Izuku shrugged. “Chika says that my father loved my mother. But Aline would say the same thing about her mother and our father. It might exist, I’ve just never seen it.”

“Men,” Ochako hissed in clear disgust. She took hold of the knife nearby and attacked the flowers needed for the antidote with frightening vigor.

Izuku wanted to tell her that romance existed. He wanted to tell her that all the stories about love overcoming tragedy, anguish, and impossible odds were based in truth and that she would find that one day. He wanted her to find that one day. But he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to lie to her and there was a chance it would never happen.

Burning attraction was one thing, romance and love was another. And mate-tell or not, Katsuki didn’t actually want Izuku. Katsuki had made it clear a number of times since they’d met just how frustrating he found his instincts to be when it came to Izuku. And mate-tell-based instincts weren’t exactly love and romance in the moonlight either. That kind of thing just didn’t happen.

Or at least, it wasn’t for him.

Izuku turned back to the potion he’d been mulling over with Hitoshi, leaving Ochako to her dark muttering. “I know I’m missing something, but I can’t figure out what.”

“So you come to me.” Hitoshi leaned forward, focusing on the pages of notes in front of him. He was one of the only people Izuku knew who could decipher Izuku’s shorthand and passionate scribbles. The only other person was Toshinori Yagi, Izuku’s teacher. “Typical.”

“Shut up.” Izuku nudged Hitoshi. “What do you think?”

“Too much earth,” Hitoshi murmured and tapped at a section of notes. “It’s never going to catch if you pack that much into it.”

“Yes, but without enough dirt it becomes too unstable to use.” Izuku frowned and leaned forward, shoulder brushing Hitoshi’s. “I don’t want it exploding in someone’s hands or as it’s transported.”

“You don’t have the right ratio then. And you’re probably missing another ingredient that would stabilize it while adding fire power.”

“What would do that? There aren’t ingredients like that.” Izuku tapped the page in thought.

“Not that you know of,” Hitoshi corrected. “You’re creative, you’ll figure it out. Add a little more water too.”

“Mm…” Izuku hummed thoughtfully.

“There you are. Been looking for you,” Katsuki’s voice filled the room.

“See? It’s like I said. Everyone wants me.” Hitoshi smirked.

“Hah?! Who said I was looking for your ass?”

Izuku glanced up and drank in the sight of Katsuki leaning against the doorway, sunlight painting him in rich shades of gold and glowing oranges. Months had passed and Izuku still thought the same as when he had first laid eyes on Katsuki- that he had to have been made in the image of the gods. Or that he’d been carved from marble and given life. He was still devastatingly handsome, all sharp lines that should have made Izuku bleed whenever he touched him.

Maybe Izuku would find himself bloody one day.

“You’re drooling,” Hitoshi snickered under his breath and stood to his full height. “What are you doing here, cinderbrain?”

“Cinderbrain?” Katsuki growled, his gaze darkening.

“I told you not to ask what his nicknames were,” Izuku groaned. He pushed back from the table and leveled a look at Hitoshi. “Ignore him.”

“He’s heard me call him cinderbrain before, relax.” Hitoshi smirked, smug and unaffected by Izuku’s glare or Katsuki’s glower.

“When did you talk…” Izuku shook his head. “I’m not going to get an answer, am I?”

“No.” Hitoshi grinned.

“Don’t worry about it.” Katsuki shrugged, his flash of temper gone.

“Right,” Izuku sighed.

“Don’t worry about it, shortstack.” Katsuki smirked and pushed off the doorframe. “I won’t rip his throat out.”

“I’m thrilled to hear that.” Hitoshi grinned. “But you shouldn’t flirt with me in front of ‘Zuku.”

“You wish you were so lucky,” Katsuki snorted.

“Do I?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow.

“Stop antagonizing each other. Or getting along.” Izuku glanced between the two of them. “I don’t know which is worse.”

“I could tell him my other nickname for him,” Hitoshi taunted.

“No,” Izuku said sharply, voice climbing in pitch.

“Not askin’ this time,” Katsuki grumbled. He closed the distance between them. He glanced at the notes still on the table, eyebrows pulling together in concentration. “Do you need more space to write, nerd?”

“Heh.” Izuku blushed. “It wouldn’t matter. I tend to fill the page no matter how big or small. I’ve written in margins before or upside down.”

“Good thing no one has to read your shit.” Katsuki scowled down at the notebook.

“I can follow it,” Hitoshi said casually.

“Die,” Katsuki snapped, looking at the notebook intensely.

Izuku resisted the urge to slam his head against the wall, barely.

“Uh, Izuku?”

Izuku turned to glance at Ochako’s station and barely repressed a curse. The antidote Ochako was supposed to be working on was currently a putrid looking yellow, and sitting in an ice bath Hitoshi had been preparing for another one of his more complicated experiments. Ochako clearly hadn’t followed the steps that had been given to her or she’d forgotten them. How was he supposed to make an alchemist out of a mage who was used to turning the laws of gravity itself upside down?

And why had she made a mess in front of Katsuki?

“Throw it away,” Izuku said, resisting the urge to rub his temples. He was going to need to purchase more ingredients soon. She’d probably added something she shouldn’t have as well as cooled it too soon. Or at least, that was Izuku’s guess based on the color.

“Sorry,” Ochako frowned at the bowl and its contents, now starting to look like some sickening puss. “I guess it got away from me.”

“What were you making?” Katsuki asked.

Izuku turned to glance at the blond, who was frowning not at the bowl, but at Ochako.

“An antidote.” Ochako shrugged. “I did it wrong though.”

“Tch. How fucked up did you fuck up?” Katsuki folded his arms.

“It was a new poison,” Izuku jumped in, anxiety a pulsing knot in his chest and something crawling over his skin all at once. Not good, not good, not good.

“Advanced shit?” Katsuki glanced at Izuku.

“Mhm.” Izuku nodded, his heart beating wildly in his chest.

“I thought you were replenishing the basics first,” Katsuki said slowly. “And according to the shit you gave me, it shouldn’t do that unless you really fuck up.”

Why did he have to be such a quick learner?!

“Alchemists of our caliber get bored if we work on the basics for too long.” Hitoshi shrugged, drawing attention to him. “It causes easy mistakes because we’re not paying attention.”

“If she’s advanced...?” Katsuki left the rest of the question hanging.

“Izuku explodes things or makes them turn weird colors on a regular basis. It’s part of the job.” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow. “Did you want to give it a try and see if you do better?”

Izuku felt like he couldn’t breathe. He chanced a glance at Ochako to see her frozen in place, the bowl in her hands.

Katsuki probably would do better. He was wicked smart, smarter than Izuku had given him credit for originally. He learned, and he observed, and he conquered not just countries, but anything he set his mind to. If he wanted to mastery alchemy, he would do so. And he would do so in a shorter amount of time than Hitoshi estimated. If Katsuki did that, how was Izuku supposed to hide Ochako’s lack of ability?

What would Katsuki do when he found out? Would he send her back? There was nothing for her in Sniycia save an arranged marriage Hisashi found pleased him. Would Katsuki let her stay? Hisashi had changed his mind on whims and played games, he had manipulated everyone around him until no one knew what was coming. Or if they knew, there was no way to prevent it. Was Katsuki going to do the same? Izuku wanted to believe he wouldn’t but trust was so difficult to give. Every time he wanted to try, something made him pause.

Like how Katsuki refused to trust Izuku with even a crumb of his past. Even after Izuku had shared part of his own, Katsuki refused to reciprocate.

“Whatever. Just don’t fuckin’ destroy the place, got it?” Katsuki snarled and turned back to the door.

“No structural damage. That’s a tall order. We’ll have to see about that.” Hitoshi shrugged at Katsuki’s retreating back. “But you know, we can try.”

Katsuki flipped Hitoshi off as he disappeared from sight.

Silence reigned in the alchemy lab for several minutes.

“That was close,” Ochako whispered as Katsuki’s footsteps started to fade into the distance. She sat heavily, her face pale.

“You’re welcome,” Hitoshi said as he nudged Izuku. “You need to say something. Or you know, say she lost her knowledge in an accident. I don’t care. You can be creative, but figure it out.”

Izuku stared at the doorway where Katsuki had disappeared from view, his stomach churning. He’d expected relief when Katsuki had dropped the subject. He’d expected to breathe easier. And he was, sort of. He had been granted a reprieve and time to figure out how to fix this mess- thanks to Hitoshi’s quick wit. Hitoshi was far more intelligent than many gave him credit for, it didn’t surprise Izuku that his best friend had figured out that Katsuki was proud, that the Othyan king wasn’t about to admit he couldn’t do what Ochako was doing.

Not yet, anyway.

But Izuku didn’t feel right about that. He didn’t want Katsuki’s pride used against him, didn’t want the relationship that the two of them had begun to build to be affected by this. He knew it was selfish, he was the one keeping this secret after all. Even if Katsuki was keeping a million others, it was this one of Izuku’s that mattered in this moment.

He didn’t want their friendship to be messed up by this moment. He needed to make sure that everything was fine. Between him and Katsuki, and for the sake of Ochako’s future.

“I need to go,” Izuku muttered. He grabbed his notebook from the table and closed it with a snap, already moving for the door.

“To do what?” Ochako asked. The bowl clinked on the table as she set it down.

“I don’t know. I don’t want him mad. I’ll figure it out. I just need to-” Izuku shrugged as words failed him.

“Priorities,” Hitoshi snorted as Izuku stepped into the hallway.

Izuku didn’t bother with a reply. He caught sight of Katsuki just as the blond turned again. Izuku took off, strides eating up the distance between him and his target. He skidded around the corner in record time and spotted Katsuki further down the hall. He moved quickly when he was irritated.

“Kacchan!”

Katsuki stopped in the middle of the hallway. As did every courtier and servant within earshot.

Izuku ignored the spectators looking between him and Katsuki as he closed the distance, all of them still standing as though their feet were frozen to the floor. He was used to nobles and servants alike looking for gossip, it was normal in Sniycia to keep anything you wanted private to yourself. Even his sisters were careful where and when they spoke to one another freely, as though the very walls had ears.

“The fuck do you want, nerd?” Katsuki asked, words clipped and laced with barely restrained anger. He sounded furious, but the nickname remained. Izuku was going to take that as a good thing.

“Did you want to go somewhere else?” Izuku hesitated as he made it to Katsuki’s side. The words he wanted to say suddenly felt too heavy to utter. In Sniycia there was power in information. It wasn’t the same in Othya, but Katsuki had said he valued his privacy during that walk to the temple. The last thing Izuku wanted to do was start talking about things he had been told when it was just the two of them. Katsuki’s pride might be easy to injure and that was the last thing Izuku wanted to do. Or worse, hurt his friend’s feelings.

Katsuki had those. He just liked to pretend he didn’t.

“Hah?” Katsuki glared at the people watching them with open curiosity. “Don’t you shits have places to be?”

“Can you blame us for being curious?” a woman with black hair cut in a short bob asked with a smirk. She twirled one of the longer stands around a finger. “I didn’t know you did pet names, Kac-”

“I will bury your godsdamned body where it will never be found,” Katsuki cut her off. “Fuck off, Kyoka.”

“I think you’re taken.” Kyoka grinned, clearly at ease with Katsuki and his temper. “And I’m not interested.”

“Die,” Katsuki snarled. His hand came around Izuku’s right wrist again and tugged as he set off again. Izuku squeaked as his body jerked forward and followed. It wasn’t like he had much choice. And he had wanted to talk to Katsuki.

“Am I always going to be dragged after you?” Izuku asked Katsuki’s back, fighting a smile.

“Complaining?” Katsuki shot back, his grip tightening.

“No.” Izuku smiled. “I can admire the view.”

“The fuck you mean the...” Katsuki trailed off and his ears flushed a burnt pink.

“I can’t help it. You have a nice ass,” Izuku teased, giving said ass an appreciate look. “It’s worth looking at.”

“You’re fuckin’ embarrassing,” Katsuki grumbled, ears still that lovely shade of pink.

“Come on, handsome, you love it.” Izuku grinned as the back of Katsuki’s neck turned pink as well.

“Die.”

“You wouldn’t want that.” Izuku laughed. “Not unless you plan to lead me off the side of a cliff right now.”

“Nah,” Katsuki muttered. He tugged Izuku through open archways and into a deserted garden where sunlight fed the colorful wildflowers. He finally released Izuku’s wrist. “I’ll think about it next time.”

“This is beautiful.” Izuku took several steps further into the garden, breathing in the sweet air. He’d never stop being surprised that air could smell sweeter in this kingdom. He would miss it when he and Katsuki journeyed to Katsuki’s conquests.

“What did you want?” Katsuki folded his arms across his chest, watching Izuku closely.

“It’s safe here?” Izuku frowned and met Katsuki’s gaze.

Something in those crimson eyes softened for a moment. “Yeah, Kyoka’s specialty as a mage is sound. She enchants a few places for privacy for me. Started as practice and now...” Katsuki shrugged. “You’re safe here.”

Funny, Izuku had been worried about Katsuki’s privacy this time.

“I didn’t tell him,” Izuku said, the words that had felt so impossible to say with everyone around them now tumbling out at that reassurance. “Hitoshi, I mean. I didn’t tell him that you don’t know about alchemy. He’s just smart.”

“It doesn’t take a fuckin’ genius to figure it out, shortstack,” Katsuki growled, eyes narrowing. “I needed alchemists for a reason.”

“I know. I know that. I just,” Izuku paused, struggling to find the words. “I didn’t want you to think that I would.”

“Didn’t take you for a blabber.” Katsuki shrugged again. “You run after me to say that?”

“Yes? No?” Izuku ran his free hand through his hair. “I just...You came looking for me, right? Did you need something?”

“Just stopped in, don’t make it a big deal.” Katsuki shifted, as though uncomfortable.

“Heh. Right.” Izuku nodded, mind casting for something, anything, to talk about. He wanted to make sure they were okay. They seemed it, but he just wanted to be sure. He wanted to stay here for a while longer, just the two of them as friends. “Oh! I did have a question.”

“I’m surprised,” Katsuki deadpanned.

“Get used to it.” Izuku shrugged, smiling again. “Remember the juno?”

“Yeah?” Katsuki frowned, confusion clouding his eyes. “The fuck does that have to do with shit?”

“You said that that when they bleed they create red flowers that actually heal them.”

“And?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I want to get samples of the blood. Or the flowers the blood creates. I was thinking about it, and the alchemical purposes for that flower or blood could be astronomical. I’d rather not have anyone drinking blood, that sounds nasty. But I could figure it out given a few experiments.” Izuku held up his notebook, as though that could explain what he might do with the juno blood.

“Told you they don’t come down from the mountains usually.”

“Yeah.” Izuku swallowed. “I want to go to them. Not a big party so that we can move quietly and quickly, but just a few people. I just want to get some samples to start. I don’t want to slaughter them or anything and I think-”

“Not happening,” Katsuki cut him off, his jaw tightening. “You’re not going after a juno.”

“Why not?” Izuku demanded, fingers tightening on his notebook. “I can take care of myself.”

“No one hunts them, I told you that. You remember that part?” Katsuki stepped closer, mouth firm.

“I mean, yes. But I’m not exactly hunting them. And like I said, I wouldn’t have to go alone.” Izuku frowned. “Come on.”

“No.” Katsuki shook his head. “I can’t go with you and I can’t send a whole contingent of guards.”

“I don’t need the guards,” Izuku hissed. “You’ve seen me fight. I’m not a useless prince.”

“See? You won’t even let me send damn guards. It’s not happening, nerd. You wanna go into the city? Fine. You’re not climbing a damn mountain by yourself.”

“I said I would bring someone,” Izuku pointed out, exasperated.

“No.” Katsuki looked unmovable on this subject. Izuku wondered if he would ever have a chance to miss the sweet air of Othya. Katsuki seemed determined to never let him go anywhere. A cage of a different kind.

“We talked about this.” Izuku bit back the insults that formed on his tongue. He didn’t want to fight.

“Yeah, and I’m fuckin’ trying. Or did you go blind?” Katsuki snapped. “I’m not keeping you chained to a desk or a bed or whatever is in that head of yours. My instincts tell me to keep you around all the damn time, so cut me a godsdamned break alright?”

“Alright,” Izuku said after a minute. “I… Can wait. Maybe you’ll have time to go with me one day?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki sighed and pulled Izuku closer, wrapping his arms around his waist. “We’ll see.”

Izuku laid his head on Katsuki’s chest and wrapped his arms around his husband. He tried to remind himself that Katsuki wasn’t his father, that he wasn’t trying to take away all of Izuku’s freedom. Katsuki was right. He had already bent on this subject. Not a lot, but it could be a work in progress.

“It is okay if I call you Kacchan, right?” Izuku asked after a minute. He could feel Katsuki relax beneath his touch, as though Izuku had given in by changing the subject. He supposed he had for now.

It was a compromise, right? A shelving it for a later date?

“You’ve been whining that you don’t have a nickname anyway.” Katsuki nuzzled the top of Izuku’s head. Or that was what it felt like. “I’d say pick a less ...cute one, but you won’t listen.”

“I think it suits you.” Izuku smiled.

“Die.”

Chapter Text

“Come with us.” Denki leaned against the closest bookshelf. “It’ll be fun.”

“And you don’t have anything pressing and nothing that can’t wait,” Eijiro added quickly. “I checked.”

“You checked, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“Yup,” Eijiro grinned, unrepentant. Denki nodded in agreement.

“Nothing will fall apart without you for a few hours,” Mina said from the doorway of Katsuki’s study. She rolled her eyes.

“It’s good for you to get out anyway,” Hanta added, shoulders rising and falling in a shrug.

“Fuckers wasted your time,” Katsuki growled. He pushed away from his desk and stood. “Assuming you knew I was going to say no. Don’t act like I’m predictable.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Hanta smirked.

Katsuki flipped him off as Eijiro and Denki surged towards the door, both talking over one another about their plans. Katsuki followed, shaking his head at his friends’ antics. They were noisy and nosy little shits that didn’t know when to mind their own business but they were his. He had been stuck with Eijiro and Mina since childhood, when the future had been filled with endless possibilities and Katsuki’s parents had been there to handle the hard shit. They had stuck by him through every change and hurdle, had trained and applied themselves tirelessly as the they had grown to become capable of helping Katsuki run a country.

Hanta and Denki had fit right in when they’d shown up, sometime around when Katsuki had been eleven. They had brought back a sense of stability, had been more likely to push for time without studies or training. Denki’s quick smiles and Hanta’s easy-going nature had charmed everyone who came into contact with them, adding to the already potent charm Mina and Eijiro wielded. The four of them had run constant interference for Katsuk as his training to take the throne had intensified. And more importantly to them, they had tried hard to make sure that Katsuki had some kind of time away from the constant pressures of his impending crowning.

Yeah, they were annoying and idiots half the time, but they were his. Katsuki didn’t know what he’d do without them. He just didn’t admit that kind of stupid shit aloud. Ever.

Katsuki slowed as they passed Izuku’s lab, eyes drawn to the green-haired nerd within. Izuku was currently speaking animatedly with the sleep-deprived-looking fucker that liked to annoy Katsuki like it was his reason for breathing. Katsuki drank in the sight of his mate in the brief span it took to move past the door to the lab. They had both been up and working early this morning, even after working late into the previous evening. Katsuki was used to the workload on his shoulders. He wasn’t used to being irritated he hadn’t spent time with Izuku for several days. It was annoying, this instinct insisting that seeing his mate regularly was as necessary as breathing. But since Katsuki couldn’t exactly rip the impulse out of him, he had to live with it.

He glanced at Eijiro, currently talking enthusiastically with Denki and Hanta about something. How did Eijiro deal with the instinct to hunt Mina down and keep her by his side as often as possible? Katsuki knew that Eirjio had the same needs and desires when it came to Mina and that he had for a lot longer than Katsuki had known Izuku. So how did Eijiro control it? Katsuki refused to believe he had less self-control than the shitty-hair he called his best friend. So what was it?

“Why don’t you ask him to come with us?” Mina asked, suddenly at Katsuki’s side. She smiled knowingly, as though she could read his thoughts.

“What are you going on about?” Katsuki scowled at her.

“Why don’t you invite Izuku to come with us?” Mina repeated, giving Katsuki a look. “I’m sure he could use a break from his laboratory too, don’t you?”

“The fuck does that have to do with anything?”

“We all like him. He’s easy to get along with, unlike you,” Mina said, ignoring Katsuki’s question.

“I’m easy to get along with,” Katsuki countered, baring his teeth.

“Sure,” Mina laughed. “Would it make you feel better if I asked him?”

“I can ask him,” Katsuki growled, glaring at her.

“Good.” Mina nodded approvingly. “Then go ask him.”

“Fine,” Katsuki snapped. He turned on his heel and stalked back to Izuku’s lab, irritation at Mina propelling him forward. He folded his arms as he came to a halt in the doorway. “Nerd.”

Izuku paused mid-sentence, his eyes flicking to Katsuki. “Kacchan?”

Stupid cute nickname. Why couldn’t Izuku have chosen something less … cute? And why couldn’t Katsuki just tell him to stop using the stupid name? It shouldn’t matter that it made Izuku so happy but it did and no matter how Katsuki wanted to sputter and tell him to pick something else, he doubted it would matter. Izuku, he was learning, was obstinate as fuck. He just hid it behind bright smiles and quick retorts.

“Cinderbrain. What a surprise.” Hitoshi smirked and leaned against the long lab table cluttered with ingredients and vials. “Or do I get to call you Kacchan too?”

“Die,” Katsuki snapped, his eyes still on Izuku.

“He’s so warm and fuzzy,” Hitoshi laughed.

“You should come with me and the numbskulls back there,” Katsuki said, ignoring Hitoshi with some difficulty. “Take a break.”

“I didn’t know you took breaks,” Izuku said carefully.

“I can take breaks.” Katsuki bared his teeth again, frustrated at everyone. “You comin’ or not?”

“Where are we going?” Izuku countered.

“Does it fuckin’ matter?” Katsuki growled.

“It does if you plan to lead him off a cliff,” Hitoshi pipped in. “But somehow, I think he’s safe for now.”

“Do people think you’re funny or something?” Katsuki deadpanned, glancing at Hitoshi.

“Hilarious,” Hitoshi confirmed smugly.

“I’ll go,” Izuku said quickly, before Katsuki could reply. “I don’t have any experiments started yet anyway. Hitoshi, just tell Ochako and Mei what they’re working on and I’ll check in when I get back.”

“Sure.” Hitoshi shrugged. “Look out for cliffs.”

“Haha.” Izuku stuck his tongue out at his friend before turning to Katsuki. “Ready. Do I need to change into something warmer? I’m not used to your weather yet.”

“Not yet.” Katsuki said, eyes roaming over Izuku’s compact, muscled body.

The tunic and leggings were a little heavier than the summer ones Izuku had been provided with shortly after arriving, but not by much. The heavy winter garb was currently being worked on for the coming brutal season, where warmth would be of the utmost importance. For now, though, Katsuki allowed himself to admire his mate, knowledge of the body beneath the cloth stirring a dull hunger that had nothing to do with food.

“Get a room,” Hitoshi interrupted. “Any other room is fine. Just not the one I’m in.”

“Shut up,” Izuku said, his cheeks turning red. “Can we go?”

“Come on.” Katsuki jerked his head towards the hallway behind him.

Noises of excitement filled the air as soon as Izuku followed him back into the corridor.

“Izuku! You’re joining us?” Denki grinned.

“That’s okay, right? Kacchan said…”

“It’s fine,” Hanta reassured Izuku with an easy grin. “We’re glad you decided to join.”

“Kiri said you can fight?” Denki asked. “So you’re smart and you can fight?”

“Total package,” Mina confirmed. “Baku won’t let us borrow him though.”

“How’s the lab going?” Eijiro asked, throwing an arm around Izuku’s shoulders. “You happy with the setup?”

“I wanted to add a door between Katsuki’s office and mine. Do you think we could do that?” Izuku smiled, clearly at ease with Eijiro in a way that Katsuki still had to work for. Katsuki grit his teeth, wondering what the difference was.

“You’re his mate and a king,” Mina said quietly, at his side again.

Katsuki slid a dark look her way. “So?”

“So,” Mina said patiently. “You can hurt him. Eiji can’t hurt him, not like that. It’s easier for them to become friends because of that.”

“I can’t spend forever proving I’m not the same bastard as Hisashi,” Katsuki grumbled under his breath.

“I know.” Mina shrugged. “I’m not the one you need to tell.”

Katsuki didn’t answer. He knew that at some point he and the nerd were going to have to figure it out. But like fuck Katsuki was about to sit down and talk about his feelings or some shit. He understood that some old wounds ran deeper than others. He didn’t want to be patient. He wanted Izuku to trust him now. But he could be patient when the rewards were so great. And Izuku willingly coming to find him…

It was a reward in its own way. Katsuki would just have to be patient, no matter how much his instincts screamed that he wanted more. No matter how much he wanted more. He just had to wait. Not his specialty.

Mina sighed softly, her eyes locked on Eijiro and Izuku ahead of them. The longing in her gaze was clear as her gaze shifted to the red-head.

“When are you gonna say something?” Katsuki asked.

“I have my reasons,” Mina hedged.

“Didn’t think you let fear rule you, Racoon Eyes,” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I didn’t say my reasons were fear-based,” Mina murmured. She looked at him, her dark eyes colored with sorrow.

“Not everyone gets a mate,” Katsuki reminded her. He wanted to bash her and Eijiro’s heads together. “You could’ve been born an Othyan and not have the tell.”

“I know.” Mina offered him a faint smile. “But…”

He knew what she didn’t say. But at least the Othyan’s had wanted her. At least the people and culture embraced her, unlike the one that had thrown her away like trash. They’d left a little girl to die. No matter how much the people of Othya loved her, she couldn’t forget that. And Katsuki couldn’t make her.

Izuku’s laugh drew Katsuki’s attention ahead as the group left the castle itself and stepped into a spacious courtyard. Izuku turned back to look at him, eyes bright and grinning in excitement. “Kacchan, dragons!”

Dragons of every color and shade lay sunning themselves on the palace roof or the large courtyard. Several darted through the sky, racing one another or diving and spinning close enough to the castle to give someone a heart attack before they pulled up again. Harsh cliffs rose up against the other side of the courtyard where more dragons came and went from their nests.

Katsuki grinned, at home in the presence of such large creatures. He had lost count of how often he’d found solace here growing up when the grief of losing his parents or the anger at how Noboru’s actions were destroying Othya had driven him here. This place had always seemed like a safe haven, a place where he could go to escape the pressures and reality within the palace. He’d never failed to forget that it was his job to protect the remaining dragons from discovery in the outside world, but it had been a reprieve all the same.

“Baku is here all the time,” Denki said, grinning unrepentantly at Katsuki. “It’s probably his favorite place in Othya.”

“I can see why,” Izuku breathed, drinking in his surroundings. He turned in a slow circle, neck craning as he tried to take in everything. “This is amazing.”

“Of course your mate would be as smitten with dragons as you are,” Mina laughed, her eyes clear of sorrow for the moment. “Why should we be surprised?”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki grumbled, without much heat.

“They’re dragons,” Izuku said, as though that explained everything.

“We grew up with them,” Hanta explained as one of the smaller and more curious young dragons nudged him. He laughed, palm stroking the dragon’s snout gently. “They’re almost normal.”

“Almost,” Eijiro agreed. A dragon as red as his hair nudged him hard and sent him toppling to the ground. He laughed as he stood, hands on his hips. “They’re really affectionate if they know you.”

“Really demanding,” Mina corrected, crossing the distance to a dragon of pale lavender. She smiled as the dragon lowered its head and allowed her to scratch its closest eye ridge. “They don’t care if you bruise easy, they want attention.”

“They don’t mean to hurt anyone.” Denki shrugged. “And they’ve never minded if I accidentally zapped them while learning.”

“The amount of magic you would need to hurt them is bigger than the sky,” Hanta snorted. “It probably feels like a bug to them.”

Denki stuck his tongue out at Hanta.

“They’re amazing to me.” Izuku smiled warmly.

“Wanna go flying?” Katsuki asked.

“You- They let you-” Izuku stumbled over his words as he fixed large eyes on Katsuki. “Really?”

“I don’t say shit that isn’t true.” Katsuki smirked. He ignored the twist in his heart and the voice in his mind that wondered what it would take for Izuku to look at him because he desired Katsuki as much as a chance to
ride a dragon. “You wanna?”

“Yes!” Izuku nodded quickly. “Can we?”

“We’ll have to find a dragon who likes you,” Eijiro said, his excitement almost as palpable as Izuku’s. “And will let you ride.”

“Some of them want affection but aren’t about to let anyone fly with them.” Hanta shrugged as the dragon he had been petting shifted away, as though they knew what was being discussed. Another, this one rich hickory in color, nudged its way into Hanta’s personal space, nuzzling his head.

“The ones who let us fly tend to be affectionate to us instead,” Denki snickered. A dragon of pale sunny yellow poked him, its head larger than Denki’s body. Denki squawked as he struggled not to fall over.

“They claim us,” Mina said, pressing a kiss to the hide of the dragon she was petting. “Some of them, anyway.”

“So, I get one?” Izuku cocked his head and turned to look at the dragons sprawling over the courtyard stone and above on the cliffs.

“If you’re lucky.” Eijiro nodded. He turned his attention to a slightly smaller dragon of shimmering blues, affection clear in his gaze. Katsuki caught sight of Mina as she swallowed and looked away.

“Either way, you’re not flying alone this time,” Katsuki snorted. “You’d fall.”

“Would not.” Izuku frowned.

Katsuki scowled, a host of arguments and snarling words surging forward.

“You would,” Eijiro interrupted before Katsuki could say something. “You’ve never ridden with dragons and it just isn’t the same as other creatures. Mina rode with me the first few times when we were kids.” Something almost like longing flickered in Ejirio’s eyes and was gone in the next moment.

“Denki and Hanta rode with him too when they were learning,” Mina agreed. She smiled softly as Eijiro grinned at her. “Or with me.”

“Oh,” Izuku paused thoughtfully. “That makes a lot of sense I guess. So I ride with…”

“Me,” Katsuki growled.

Izuku met his gaze, dark green eyes unreadable for a moment before he smiled again. “I’d like that.”

Katsuki fought not to flush, annoyed at how much he enjoyed that little admittance. “Whatever.”

“Which one do you ride with?” Izuku asked, glancing around at the dragons again.

“He’s dramatic,” Hanta sighed. “So, of course it’s the biggest one.”

“The…?” Izuku frowned. “I don’t see one bigger than the others.”

“He’s not that much fuckin’ bigger.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“He’s got a temper like Baku,” Denki winked. “Be careful.”

“Would you idiots shut the fuck up?” Katsuki snapped. “Stop makin’ him think it’s some demon dragon.”

“I mean…” Hanta shrugged. He and Denki shared a grin.

“They’re just jealous.” Katsuki folded his arms.

“Why’s that?” Izuku smiled.

“He’s the best.” Katsuki shrugged. That explained everything in his opinion.

“Ask him why he’s the best,” Mina encouraged.

“He doesn’t need to. He’s the best because he chose me. Good taste, duh.” Katsuki smirked.

“Of course,” Izuku laughed and shook his head. “That does explain everything.”

“S’true.” Katsuki glanced up as the creature in question descended, as though he knew he’d been spoke of. He landed with a thump, wings snapping in against his back. He watched Katsuki with faceted dark eyes, as though demanding an introduction, his spiked tail lashing back and forth slowly.

“Shortstack, this is Krishna. Krishna, the nerd is my mate.” Katsuki crossed the distance as he spoke and ran a hand over the soft gray hide of the dragon’s snout.

“Can he understand us?” Izuku asked quietly, awe and curiosity stamped all over his face. He shifted his weight as though he wanted to come closer, but didn’t move.

“He doesn’t talk.” Katsuki shook his head. “But he’s smart. We get each other.”

“Can I…” Izuku trailed off, the unspoken request hanging in the air between them as he glanced from Katsuki to Krishna.

“He’s not gonna eat you,” Katsuki promised with a wicked grin. “He doesn’t like the taste of humans.”

“Haha,” Izuku deadpanned. He edged closer and held his hand out in offering, rather than pushing his wants. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m great,” Katsuki snorted.

Krishna nudged Izuku hard, eyes locked on the green-haired nerd. Izuku squeaked but kept his balance. His eyes darted to Katsuki again. “What was that for?”

“He’s seeing if you’re worth his time.” Katsuki nudged the dragon in turn. “He’s mine, so he’s worth your time.”

Krishna huffed, but when he nudged Izuku again it was gentler.

“Thanks, Kacchan.” Izuku smiled warmly and Katsuki thought his heart almost skipped a beat.

“Tch. It’s not a big deal, nerd.” Katsuki fought the blush that threatened.

“He doesn’t mind if we fly with him?” Izuku asked, eyes sliding back to drink in Krishna.

“Wouldn’t offer if he did.” Katsuki nudged Krishna again. “Let us up.”

Krishna shot him a look that Katsuki knew was a mixture of irritation and amusement but lowered his shoulder in acceptance of the request. Katsuki climbed up, the places where to put his feet to close the distance and cause Krishna the least amount of discomfort second nature to him. He turned and held a hand out to Izuku.

Izuku hesitated for a moment, biting his lower lip as he considered the distance.

“Won’t let you fall, shortstack. Come on.”

Izuku took his hand, letting Katsuki guide him up to sit right in front of the wing joints.

“No harnesses?” Izuku murmured, watching as the others mounted the other dragons who had offered. “Not afraid of falling?”

“Never have,” Katsuki answered, settling behind Izuku. He wrapped his arms around Izuku and squeezed tight. “Krishna won’t let you fall. Neither will I. Squeeze your legs and hold on.”

“Right,” Izuku breathed out. “Just trust the dragon not to let me fall.”

“Trust me,” Katsuki murmured in Izuku’s ear.

Izuku didn’t get a chance to reply as Krishna pushed away from the stone of the courtyard and into the air. His wings snapped out as he cleared the other dragons and walls, taking them higher and higher with each steady beat. Izuku’s fingers dug into Katsuki’s forearms.

“Scared, nerd?”

“No,” Izuku gasped. “Just… this is new.”

His head turned in every direction, taking in the new sights and sounds with curiosity Katsuki had never encountered with anyone else before. Izuku seemed to be constantly interested in the world around him and always wanted to learn more. Katsuki wanted knowledge too, but it never seemed as pure as Izuku’s thirst to just know things. Katsuki doubted the nerd ever ran out of questions and ideas.

“Look at the colors in the mountains!” Izuku called, drawing Katsuki’s attention to mountains painted in varying shades of grays and greens, their caps white with snow already.

“What river is that?” Izuku asked, his attention on the large river sparkling blue and white in the sunlight.

“That’s the Zils River. It feeds back out into the ocean.”

“Zils river,” Izuku repeated, tasting the foreign name on his tongue.

It was different, looking at Othya through his eyes. Katsuki had always loved his country, but Izuku’s fascination only reminded him how lucky he was to call Othya his home, his kingdom. He wanted Izuku to feel that way one day. He wanted him to love Othya in the same way he had seemed to fear the Sniycia under Hisahsi’s rule.

Patience, Katsuki reminded himself. It required patience.

Katsuki fucking hated waiting though. He always had.

“This is amazing,” Izuku said his hold on Katsuki’s arms easing in pressure but not releasing. The wind whipped green curls everywhere, making it a challenge not to eat them. Katsuki was glad for difference in their height. “You grew up doing this?”

“All the time,” Katsuki confirmed. “I had studies and training too, but this was how I relaxed most.” It had been his freedom and escape from the people below and the pressures placed on him. Up here he had only ever been Katsuki.

“Lucky.” Katsuki could hear the longing in Izuku’s voice.

”Yeah,” Katsuki agreed. “But now you have this too.”

“How long do dragons live?” Izuku asked.

Katsuki grit his teeth at the change of subject but didn’t press. Not the way he wanted to. He didn’t demand Izuku’s secrets or trust.

Patience.

“Long ass time,” he answered. “Krishna was young when we met, but I doubt he’s considered old for dragons. They’re not immortal, but they take a while to die. Take a while to reproduce too. So when they became endangered… Who knows how long it could take to change that.”

Izuku made a noise of pain and understanding. “It would be a tragedy if they were all gone.”

“That’s why you can’t say shit,” Katsuki warned.

“And I haven’t,” Izuku snapped.

No, he hadn’t. In the months he had been here not a single letter had mentioned the incredible creatures he’d found in Othya. Not to his siblings or Toshinori. Izuku had never written his father.

“Yeah, true,” Katsuki allowed himself to admit. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Izuku said after a minute.

Mountains surrounded them as Krishna flew, dipping and gliding to follow the air currents. Katsuki was quiet for a few minutes, enjoying the peace. He could see his friends in the distance, the dragons they rode darting to and fro. He could hear the roars of their own dragons in the distance as their dragons played. Katsuki could appreciate the privacy they gave him and Izuku for the moment. He knew it wouldn’t last.

“Can I ask you something?” Izuku said into the quiet and wind.

“Just did.”

“Kacchan,” Izuku sounded exasperated.

“What’s up, shortstack?”

“What’s going on with Eijiro and Mina?”

“Why you askin’?” Katsuki stalled, frowning at the landscape around them.

“I’m not stupid,” Izuku sighed. “I see how they look at each other. I know they both like each other so why…?”

Katsuki took a deep breath, his hold tightening on Izuku without him meaning to. Someone was going to tell the nerd what he wanted to know. Did Katsuki explain?

He had a flash of memory from childhood. His father and mother murmuring together, heads bent in conversations that had been for them alone. Or them sharing news with one another, eyes content and warm in their trust and love.

Mates talked. They shared, they didn’t have secrets between them. Katsuki wasn’t sure he could go that far yet, but there was a way to take a step forward. A step towards the future he might be able to have with Izuku.

He released a breath.

“Ejirio and I found Mina when she was little. She’d been tossed aside to die by the Fae. I don’t know why and neither does she. She doesn’t remember. Since then…” Katsuki shrugged. “She’s been around. The three of us. I could tell Eijiro cared about her different than I did. And I was right. He mated for her soon after I inherited my throne. Maybe eighteen or nineteen.”

Izuku jerked in Katsuki’s arms. “Is he twenty-five too?”

“Mhm. He’s kept it secret for years. I mean some people know, but not many.”

“Why?” Izuku demanded. “She clearly likes him.”

“He doesn’t see that. He only thinks he’s doing the right thing and protecting her from the curse. He’s a fucking idiot, but he doesn’t think he deserves her anyway. He thinks he can suffer alone.”

“What about Mina? She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who wouldn’t say something.” Katsuki could hear Izuku’s puzzled frown.

“She’s not usually,” Katsuki agreed with an irritated sigh. “But her own race threw her away and she doesn’t know why. She is confident in a lot of things. Her and Eijiro aren’t one of them.”

“Because she’s afraid he doesn’t want her? Or because she’s afraid it would mess up their friendship and support of you?” Izuku asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Katsuki didn’t know what stopped Mina. He knew that the curse hung over Eijiro’s head. But they were both miserable.

“Couldn’t you say something?” Izuku twisted around to glance at Katsuki. His fingers tightened in Katsuki’s forearm, as though that would stabilize him. “Fix it somehow?”

“Not my mess, nerd.” Katsuki shook his head. “They’ve gotta figure it out. I’m not their keeper. And I don’t play matchmaker. That’s the shitty gods, not me.”

“I guess.” Izuku nodded with a sour frown and twisted back around to face forward. “It just sucks.”

“Watch them sigh at each other for a few years and then tell me it sucks,” Katsuki growled.

“True,” Izuku sighed. He was quiet for a few minutes. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Not a big deal,” Katsuki grumbled. He grinned slowly, an idea taking hold. “Wanna try something?”

“What?” Izuku asked, that curiosity in his voice again.

“Hold on,” Katsuki warned. Krishna rumbled in approval beneath them. “Krishna, drop!”

“What?!” Izuku cried out as Krishna dropped, plummeting down towards the ground like a stone. The mountains rushed closer in a blur of speed, the biting wind stinging Katsuki’s eyes and making them tear up a little.

Krishna snapped his wings out at the last minute, pulling up out of the dive in a harsh climb. He pulled up above the cloud cover and dived down again in a free fall, spiraling in a tight loop as he played in the air currents and drafts. He rose again in loose curls, body rumbling in contentment.

Katsuki laughed, his grin wide as adrenaline rushed through his veins.

“Kacchan!” Izuku shouted breathlessly, his grip on Katsuki’s arms like a metal clamp.

“Yeah?” Katsuki grinned wider, unrepentant.

“Do it again!” Izuku twisted around in his hold again to look at him with wide eyes, excitement and adrenaline like lightning in dark green eyes.

Katsuki’s grin grew wider, wilder. “Again?”

“Again,” Izuku confirmed, his answering grin a storm trapped beneath skin and bones.

Katsuki kissed him roughly, all teeth and hunger and need. There was a desire to devour Izuku, to rip him apart until the only thing that remained was Katsuki’s name on his lips and wisps of lust fogging his brain.

He pulled back, a thrill chasing down his spine at the dazed hunger mixing with the lightning in green eyes.

“Face forward,” Katsuki murmured.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Izuku protested half-heartedly, even as he turned to face the front.

“What, don’t like giving up control, shortstack?” Katsuki teased, his lips against the shell of Izuku’s ear.

Izuku shivered and pressed closer. “I can experiment. Can you?”

“That a challenge, Izuku?”

“Yes.”

“I guess we’ll see.” Katsuki tightened his hold. “Krishna!”

They fell again.

Chapter Text

It was late.

The castle was never silent, there were always people moving quietly through the halls for one reason or another. Servants to their tasks and guards to their shifts or on patrols were common sights, no matter whether it was Sniycia or Othya that Izuku inhabited.

There was, however, a sort of hush that fell over the castle as a majority of its inhabitants retreated to private quarters and bedrooms. Those who lived in town, like Mei did, had gone home for the evening hours ago. Well, Mei would have stayed and worked longer if allowed, so maybe she wasn’t the best example. Izuku knew that Mei was in some ways like him. She would lose herself in the experiments she was working on, not realizing how many hours had passed.

Izuku had given Hitoshi and Ochako strict instructions to send her home tonight. The Othyan native alchemist had been here too many nights, working long after the rest of the world had retired. Izuku knew because he too had been up, working to replenish the basic alchemical potions that Othya needed and doing further work on his own more advanced experiments. He’d traded ideas with Mei several times over the past week, had been inspired and inspired her in turn as they both had lost themselves in knowledge and figuring out the unknown. Rest had been pushed aside in pursuit of ideas just out of reach, heedless of what the body actually needed.

He knew she had gone home tonight. Hitoshi had stopped in to check on Izuku in the lab Katsuki had gifted him with. Izuku’s best friend had reminded him with dry wit and sarcasm that Izuku should sleep too. Izuku had waved off the concern with promises to rest. That had been hours ago and Izuku was still in his lab. Hitoshi would be less than pleased if he found out.

At least Izuku was almost done. Or, that was what he told himself. His experiments were coming to an end for the night, and the basic potions that he had been creating were in rest states before he added the finishing ingredients. He could clean up and head towards his chambers relatively soon.

And it wasn’t like he was the only one who was still working in the dark hours of night. Izuku could hear the faint turn of pages and the scratch of pen to paper next door. Katsuki always seemed to be working into the late night for one reason or another. Izuku knew that the demands of being a king were endless. Hisashi was many things, but he took his role as King of Sniycia seriously. And a king like Katsuki-who had conquered enough surrounding countries that he could style his title as emperor- had far more responsibilities. As the lands he called his own grew, so too did the amount of work Katsuki took upon himself.

It was comforting in a way, to know that Katsuki was next door when Izuku was working late into the night. Over the weeks together he had come to rely on the fact that if he needed a break all he had to do was go to Katsuki’s office. Katsuki might grumble at the interruption, but he’d never turned Izuku away. Izuku didn’t feel like he wasn’t wanted when he stepped inside Katsuki’s study. There had been times that they had talked longer than Izuku had intended, leaving potions a failed mess and dawn touching the sky in soft pinks and oranges, chasing away the deep blues and purples of the fading night.

He didn’t regret those nights, even when they cost him ingredients and time.

It was nice, knowing that there was a friend nearby he could rely on. As difficult as their relationship has started, as complicated as it still was, Izuku thought he could say they were solid friends now. That was alright, wasn’t it? Friends was safe. Friends meant that Izuku could rely on Katsuki in some ways without giving him too much more. And there was nothing wrong with being friends. Some of Izuku’s most solid and grounding relationships were with the people he called his best friends. And Katsuki clearly relied on the group he considered his closest friends, even if the blond didn’t admit it quickly.

Friends was good. It was more than Izuku had thought he would ever be able to say for them. He hadn’t believed it could happen as the gentle Snyician spring had changed to a sticky and brutally warm Othyan one. It had only become worse as summer took hold and he and Katsuki had tried to figure out exactly how to be friends.

But now- with autumn fully upon them and the promise of winter’s chill nipping at the air- Izuu could say they were friends. And that meant he was allowed to worry at how Katsuki pushed himself, right?

He hadn’t seen Katsuki today, their duties keeping them apart as Katsuki left early to run training exercises with parts of his army and had meetings once he had returned in the early evening. Katsuki’s people were loyal to him, and despite his abrasive nature and his temper many seemed to adore him. Surely he could take a break once and a while? At least for the night to sleep.

Izuku was on his feet and moving before he was fully aware of having made the decision to. He was out of his lab and into the hallway and to Katsuki’s office door with quick strides. He pulled open the heavy wooden door and slipped in. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the warm glow of lanterns and candlelight that was so much softer than how he kept the lightning in his lab.

He took a step further into the room as Katsuki glanced up from the papers spread out in front of him.

“Need something, nerd?”

“I still think a door between our offices would be easier,” Izuku said in greeting. He made his way across the room, the large desk of dark stone Katsuki sat at gleaming in the lamplight.

“Didn’t you ask Eijiro about that?” Katsuki muttered, eyes flicking down to the work before him.

“He thinks it should be doable. He’s checking with a few people who would know.” Izuku glanced down at the parchment spread out. “What are you working on?”

“Agreement for trade with Ashax,” Katsuki said sourly. “Don’t trust them not to try to fuck us over. Need to make sure that there’s no hidden shit.”

“No one else can do that for you?” Izuku frowned. Hisashi has been quick to delegate what he could to others. He had taught Haruka that it left a king free to handle the larger problems that may arise and to help their people by hearing their concerns in court.

“Not with these fuckers,” Katsuki answered, not looking up from the agreement.

“It might go easier if you look at it in the morning with fresh eyes,” Izuku ventured. He couldn’t imagine that Katsuki didn’t have exhaustion tugging at him after the long nights and busy days.

“I’m fine.” Katsuki didn’t bother to glance up.

No one could doubt Katsuki’s commitment or work ethic. Izuku’s brother Isamu would jump at the chance to put off work that Hisashi or Haruka had passed his way. Any reasonable excuse that Isamu thought he could get away with was brought to bear as his weapon of choice. He tried it more often with Haruka than with Hisashi, but he tried regardless, as though he couldn’t help himself. Their father shut down his whining quickly, but this late at night none of the Sniycian royal family save Izuku would have been working.

“You need to rest,” Izuku insisted.

“It’s not like you’re coming to bed,” Katsuki grumbled bad-temperedly.

Izuku paused, wetting dry lips as he watched Katsuki carefully. His heart slammed against the cage his ribs created, panic and hope flaring and tangling with one another in equal measure. “You’re working late because you don’t want to go to bed alone?”

Katsuki flushed, his cheekbones turning a shade of red that looked good on him.

Izuku had long ago realized that his husband was gorgeous, gifted by the gods he worshiped and cursed in equal measure. Even scowling Katsuki was stunning, all sharp lines put together in just the right way. And when he grinned, he was that much more devastating. Izuku imagined if he ever saw Katsuki smile softly that his heart might really skip a beat. It wasn’t fair. Maybe that was why he so charmed by the blushes he coaxed from Katsuki. That flush of red against golden skin made the Othyan king that much more human. That much more real.

“Didn’t fuckin’ say that. Clean your ears, shitsnack,” Katsuki snapped, eyes narrowed as he looked up to meet Izuku’s gaze.

“I don’t think I like that nickname.” Izuku leaned against the desk that stood between them.

“That supposed to make me feel bad?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “And what do you want? I’ve got shit to do.”

“You’re done for the night,” Izuki said firmly. “You can look at it again tomorrow.”

“Think you can tell me what to do, nerd?” Katsuki scowled. As though that would scare Izuku and make him back down.

Izuku smiled. “Put the agreement away, Kacchan.”

“Make me, shortstack.”

It was all the invitation Izuku needed.

He slipped around the desk with ease and tugged Katsuki’s chair back, settling himself firmly on the blond’s lap. Katsuki blinked, clearly caught off guard by Izuku’s actions.

Izuku leaned in, lips brushing over Katsuki’s throat in a soft caress. His lips skimmed up, pausing to leave light kisses on Katsuki’s strong jaw, the slight scruff that had grown as Katsuki worked tickling against his lips. He kept moving, his lips gliding from Katsuki’s temple to the shell of his ear. He nuzzled gently, placing a careful kiss where neck and ear met.

Katsuki shivered and Izuku smiled again, teeth nipping at the spot.

“What,” Katsuki paused and cleared his throat, as though he couldn’t get his voice to work right. “What are you doing?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Izuku asked, words whispering over Katsuki’s skin. His lips traveled a path down Katsuki’s neck again, leaving kisses and nips of his teeth in his wake.

Katsuki’s arms came around Izuku’s waist and held him close, his hands kneading Izuku’s ass encouragingly. “Izuku,” he breathed, voice rough with desire.

“Mmm?” Izuku hummed, busy sucking bruises to life along the column of Katsuki’s throat.

“Izuku,” Katsuki repeated with a groan, hands tightening on Izuku’s ass.

Izuku rolled his hips down, grinding against Katsuki in a rhythm that would wreck them both given enough time. He cupped Katsuki’s face in his hands and brought their lips together, sighing in pleasure as Katsuki’s lips parted with ease. His tongue swept in, greedy for the taste of Katsuki, for the hisses and groans he swallowed from Katsuki’s mouth.

“Katsuki?” Izuku broke the kiss to murmur against Katsuki’s lips, hands dragging down Katsuki’s chest to slip under his tunic, his hands moving over muscle and golden skin that made his mouth water.

“Mmm?” was the only answer Izuku received.

“Fuck me,” Izuku whispered. He could feel his face heat even as he asked, nails scraping up and over nipples.

Katsuki shuddered beneath him, arching into his touch.

“If you’d rather work on your agreement,” Izuku continued softly. His hands moved back down Katsuki’s chest to tug his tunic up and over his head, leaving Katsuki looking dazed and needy. A thrill shot through Izuku, settling in the pooling warmth of his stomach. He’d done that. “I can just take care of myself. Think you’ll focus as I open myself up? You’ve said I’m vocal…”

“Fuck,” Katsuki groaned. “The fuck are you doing to me, shortstack?”

“Is that a yes or a no?” Izuku asked. He nipped hard at Katsuki’s collarbone, tongue and mouth moving to ease the sting even as Katsuki hissed in a breath. Izuku’s hands worked lower, fingertips brushing the top of Katsuki’s pants, his own arousal pulsing in his blood, desire like a fire on his skin that threatened to sear him to ash.

“Yes,” Katsuki growled. He brought his mouth to meet Izuku’s, the kisses edged with a hunger that threatened to devour them both. These kisses weren’t soft explorations, need driving them too greatly for slow and sweet at the moment. Izuku bit down on Katsuki’s lower lip and tasted blood as Katsuki stood, chest rumbling.

Izuku wrapped his legs around Katsuki’s waist instinctively, his arms coming around Katsuki’s neck as Katsuki broke their kiss. Papers went flying with a swipe of Katsuki’s free hand, books thudding to the floor in short succession. Izuku grinned as Katsuki set him on the desk, even as he reached for his own tunic. “What about the agreement?”

Katsuki’s answering snarl as he struggled with his pants was answer enough.

Izuku kicked off his boots undid his own pants with hurried movements, blood pounding in his ears even as it rushed south to his already hard cock. He tossed the pants aside, gaze drinking in the sight of Katsuki naked before him. He swallowed, his mouth watering anew. “C’mere handsome. I want to taste.”

“So do I,” Katsuki said, closing the slight distance between them. He yanked Izuku to him and took his mouth in another kiss, tongue demanding and giving all at once as it invaded Katsuki’s mouth. Izuku hummed in pleasure, fingers weaving through strands of hair that was pale gold to anchor himself.

They parted too soon, chests heaving. Izuku sucked in air, lungs on fire as Katsuki pulled back to hunt for something in his desk.

“Need you,” Izuku groaned. “Need you now.”

“Anyone ever tell you, you’re bossy?” Katsuki growled. The effect was lost though with Katsuki’s eyes clouded with lust and distraction.

“You. All the time.” Izuku tugged Katsuki closer on the heels of his words. He pressed his mouth to Katsuki’s chest, tongue swirling around one of Katsuki’s nipples.

Katsuki’s breath hitched, his search stilling as he swayed, a moan building in his chest. “I-Izuku.” His breathing hiccupped as Izuku teased his nipple to a stiff peak. “Fuck.”

Izuku snuck a hand between them and wrapped it around Katsuki’s cock. He stroked up, thumb teasing the crown of Katsuki’s weeping length. Katsuki hissed out a breath, rocking into Izuku’s touch, trying to fit into Izuku’s fist as it worshipped Katsuki’s heavy and sticky cock.

Katsuki keened, high and choked off and a touch desperate as Izuku let go, his own need a pulsing thing inside of him.

“You have oil?” Izuku murmured as he pulled back, his lips a damp caress over Katsuki’s skin.

“Mate…” Katsuki swallowed and blinked, as though he was trying to focus. His voice was rough but hardly angry as he set the pouch on the table. “Mate’s been next door for months. Fuck you think?”

“Want me to open myself?” Izuku teased. He grinned as Katsuki’s eyes widened at the offer, the black of his pupils all but swallowing up the red. “Hmm?”

“Need to touch you,” Katsuki breathed, hands tracing nonsensical patterns on Izuku’s hips as he leaned forward. “Let me touch you.”

“Are you asking?” Izuku asked, watching Katsuki’s lashes glint in the warm candlelight as the cool sliver of moonlight draped him from behind.

“Izuku.”

Izuku laughed softly, butterflies drunk on Katsuki’s presence dancing in his stomach. “I want to feel you tomorrow.”

“Bossy,” Katsuki murmured again, this time like it was a gift.

“Your desk...” Izuku trailed off as Katsuki picked up the oil.

“Don’t care.”

The next minutes passed in a blur as Katsuki worked Izuku open, each touch faster than the last. Izuku rocked down on clever fingers, moans and breathless sighs filling the air as pleasure stole his breath. It pressed against him, humid and thick, desperation fueled by carnal need driving him forward.

“More, more, more,” he chanted, need for this man clawing at him from the inside. This wasn’t enough. He needed more, needed Katsuki. “Need you. Need you now.”

“Yes.” Katsuki pulled back, fingers withdrawing.

Izuku swallowed back the whine that threatened to tumble from his mouth. He laid back on the desk, the cool stone a shock against the heat and sweat of his skin. Katsuki was back in moments, cock slick and in hand as he lined up with Izuku’s hole and thrust forward, his descent slow and torturous.

Izuku braced his heels on the small of Katsuki’s back and fucked himself forward. Twin moans rose in the air, tangling together, filling Izuku completely as Katsuki buried deep and still.

“Go, go,” Izuku gasped, heels digging into Katsuki’s back again.

Their eyes locked as Katsuki moved, sending shockwaves up Izuku’s spine and out through his limbs. He met each thrust, moving in tandem with Katsuki, harder, faster, more relentless. Izuku didn’t have a moment to miss Katsuki before he was filled again. The sound of skin slapping on skin filled the air, mingling with Katsuki’s grunts of pleasure and the breathless moans and cries that slid unbidden from Izuku’s tongue.

The pace they set was wild and hard, shoving Izuku up the desk even as Katsuki’s bruising hold on his hips tugged him back, held him there. Izuku reached down and grabbed the edge of the desk in an attempt to anchor himself, knuckles white as the desk bit into his palms.

Still they spiraled towards that end together, lightning and fire feeding one another, greedy for more. Izuku didn’t know who came first, lost in the avalanche of pleasure, Katsuki’s shout a distant noise as Izuku spilled between them, making a mess of them both. He struggled to catch his breath wing lungs drunk on Katsuki’s scent, tremors wracking his body in the aftershocks.

Izuku winced, eyes fluttering closed as Katsuki shifted and slid out.

“Office a mess?” Izuku asked, voice destroyed and throat dry.

“Yeah,” Katsuki answered. Izuku wondered if he was imagining the sound of a smile in the blond’s voice.

“Bath?”

Katsuki groaned. “Bath and bed.”

“Sounds good.” Izuku smiled and forced his eyes open. “Can I have my clothes?”

Katsuki nodded but handed Izuku his tunic instead. “I don’t know where the fuck yours is. Just use it.”

Izuku slid it on and was surrounded by Katsuki’s scent. He took a measured breath and slid off the desk, even though his limbs felt heavy. “I still need pants.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki grumbled, dragging on his own pants. “Find ‘em and go get your fox.”

“Yes, Kacchan.” Izuku’s smile grew.

“Happy, shortstack? You got what you wanted.” Katsuki folded his arms across his chest.

Izuku glanced at the marks that now decorated Katsuki’s throat, thought of the warm bath and soft bed that awaited them.

“Mhm.”

“Fucker.” Katsuki shook his head.

“Maybe next time.” Izuku grinned as he grabbed his pants. “Can you grab my boots while I get Vihan?”

“And if I say my office is off limits?” Katsuki growled, teeth bared.

Izuku laughed as he tugged on his pants. “We both know how well I listen to your orders.”

“Next time I’m in control.”

“Promises, promises, handsome.” Izuku backed towards the door slowly.

“Doubting me?” Katsuki asked, eyes narrowed.

“Never,” Izuku promised, raising his hands placatingly. He couldn’t stop grinning.

Katsuki lunged as Izuku darted out the door, laughing.

Chapter Text

“How is it going?”

Hitoshi gave Izuku a long-suffering look as he stepped into the lab.

“It’s going fine,” Ochako said, voice sugary sweet and teeth bared in Hitoshi’s general direction. “I’m working on a basic antidote.”

She’d been working on basic antidotes since they had finished setting up the laboratory in Othya. Izuku wasn’t sure that she would ever master them. He also didn’t know how he was going to answer the questions that would eventually come about why one of the advanced alchemists he was supposed to have brought from Sniycia couldn’t handle a basic potion. He kept hoping she would grasp the fundamental ideas and equations.

“Apparently it’s going fine. Even though she’s working on a cure for paralysis, not an antidote.” Hitoshi shrugged. “Did you need my opinion on another experiment?”

“I wanted to check in since I’ve been so busy lately.” Izuku navigated through the tables piled high with ongoing experiments and ingredients that Mei had clearly taken over. Izuku would guess she had claimed more than half the lab with her own experiments as she worked on what he requested, too. He stopped by Hitoshi’s side. “But I won’t say no. Where’s Mei?”

“She said she needed to get something from her home. She was going to get some Othyan-based ingredients to show you, too,” Ochako said. She wrinkled her nose at Hitoshi. “And cures for paralysis fall under antidotes. Right, Izuku?”

“Uh…” Izuku frowned at Ochako. “Not exactly.”

“Why not?” Ochako demanded, hands on her hips. “An antidote is a cure for some kind of malady, right? Paralysis is a kind of malady. That means a cure for paralysis is an antidote.”

“Listen to her.” Hitoshi nodded. “She clearly knows more than two highly trained alchemists.”

“It’s common sense!” Ochako insisted.

“It is similar,” Izuku interjected before his friends could start fighting. “But paralysis can be caused by a number of poisons. Most of the basic antidotes won’t treat the paralysis, because it’s more advanced. It attacks the body’s nerves. So, because it’s more advanced, the cure for it has to be too. It’s more like a second or third level mage spell.”

“There are levels to this kind of thing?” Ochako frowned.

“Mhm.” Izuku forced a smile. “It gets easier as you go. And you’re almost done with your cure. It looks good.”

Ochako paused and glanced at the liquid in a glass bottle on her station, currently a sky blue. Once the cure was done it would darken to a cobalt, so dark that at times it appeared black. So far Ochako had seemed to follow the steps to the potion correctly. Maybe she was learning. Despite what he had said, any kind of cure for paralysis wasn’t hard to make. It was different than a basic antidote, but it wasn’t necessarily more difficult. The fact that she was doing well was a good sign. Maybe this would work out.

“You think so?” Ochako bit her lip.

“I would’ve told you if you were fucking up,” Hitoshi added.

“Immediately,” Ochako agreed with a faint smile. “Alright, I guess I should get it finished.”

“Which experiment did you need my glowing wisdom about?” Hitoshi asked, tugging Izuku’s attention towards him again.

“The healing one I’ve been working on.” Izuku shifted slightly so that he could face Hitoshi while keeping an eye on Ochako.

“The ‘Let me make enemies with gods of death’ one. Perfect.” Hitoshi tugged the notebook Izuku carried from his hand. “Let me see.”

Izuku watched Ochako out of the corner of his eye as Hitoshi flipped through the pages of scribbled writing, pausing as he found the section he was looking for. He hummed in thought, eyes following Izuku’s rambling and sudden ideas with ease. “Watered down curare for the pain?”

“That’s the idea. But I’d have to be really careful with how much I use.”

Hitoshi shook his head. “You could just substitute the numbweed. It’s safer for whoever ingests your crazy potion, even if it stains your skin red for a while.”

“I have numbweed written down but I thought I’d use small amounts. You think that would be better?”

“It does the same thing without threatening to kill someone.” Hitoshi shrugged. “And if you’re using this to combat too much of the curare, having more in here wouldn’t help.”

“Good point.” Izuku frowned thoughtfully. “I guess that could work.”

“But despite the fact that your ingredients include some powerful healing accelerants, this isn’t going to snatch someone from the jaws of death.” Hitoshi glanced up from the ink and paper. “You’re just going to succeed in prolonging their death at most.”

“I have an idea of what it’s missing, but I can’t get my hands on it right now,” Izuku sighed.

“Yes, the flowers that bloom from the blood of a golden goat. Sounds promising.” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow, his tone dry.

“If the myth Kacchan told me is right they could be really useful.” Izuku leaned his hip against Hitoshi’s lab table.

“If you’re right,” Hitoshi pointed out. “How do you plan to get it?”

“No idea.”

Katsuki hadn’t budged on letting Izuku go hunt down a mountain goat and try to collect samples of its blood flowers. And yeah, Izuku knew how strange that sounded, even in his own head. They had been getting along recently, but Izuku was afraid if he pushed too hard he would upset that whole balance. He could call Katsuki his friend, but he also wasn’t. He wasn’t a normal friend, at any case.

Izuku supposed he could leave without Katsuki’s agreement to the plan. But that would cause a fight between the two of them too. He was hoping he could persuade Katsuki into agreeing, or coming with him if he refused to let Izuku go without him. The rules and restrictions Katsuki placed were chafing though. Izuku knew that he could take care of himself and he’d sparred with Katsuki often enough the blond should know too. That didn’t seem to matter though. Izuku wasn’t sure what it would take to convince Katsuki right now.

“Excellent plan.” Hitoshi nodded sagely. “I wholeheartedly support it.”

“Shut up,” Izuku groaned. “You tell me how to convince him.”

“Well,” Hitoshi started.

“Don’t say seduce him,” Izuku warned.

Hitoshi smirked, confirming Izuku’s guess and clearly unrepentant. “I’m just saying…”

Izuku hissed out a breath and moved quickly, catching Ochako’s wrist gently just before she added what would have been a lethal dose of curare. He took the vial holding the crushed plant from her hand with his free one and held it out to Hitoshi. Hitoshi took the glass from him, silent for the moment.

“What?” Ochako asked, brown eyes wide and filled with uncertainty and worry as she turned to look at Izuku. “What did I do?”

“That much curare isn’t a good idea,” Izuku hedged, skirting around the exact answer to her question. He released her wrist with another smile.

“Oh.” Ochako swallowed and glanced down at the floor. “I’m pretty useless here, aren’t I?”

“No.” Izuku shook his head. ‘This is my fault. You’re doing your best.”

“I hate alchemy,” Ochako muttered, kicking the polished dark wood of her lab station. “The rules don’t make sense to me.”

“I know,” Izuku said, guilt turning his stomach sour. Ochako wouldn’t be in this situation if he hadn’t tried to bring her with him from Sniycia. He was the one who had tried to claim she was an alchemist, so desperate to keep the people he cared about with him that he hadn’t thought about what would happen long term. Or how it would affect one of his closest friends.

“It’s okay,” Ochako said. She placed a hand on his arm and smiled. “Without this I would be stuck back home waiting to be married off. I’ll learn alchemy if that’s what it takes. I’d rather this.”

“Right.” Izuku forced another smile for her. Her words didn’t erase the guilt that ate at him, but he appreciated it all the same. “Can you get me a few ingredients from the market in town? I know we’re running low on a few things. And maybe you can see what’s keeping Mei.”

“Sure.” Ochako shrugged and stepped away from him and the potion. “I’ll ask Mei to help so we can include any foreign ingredients too.”

“Do you need a list?” Izuku shifted towards his notebook, currently still in Hitoshi’s possession.

“No, I’ll just ask them to restock your usual order. If we have extras of things it can’t hurt, right?”

“I’ll use it one way or another,” Izuku confirmed.

“Alright.” Ochako nodded. “I’ll go get my cloak from my room and head out. Thanks, Izuku.”

“You’re welcome,” Izuku murmured, watching as Ochako left the laboratory with quick strides. Despite what she’d said he knew she couldn’t wait to be away from the room, even for a little bit.

He braced his hands against the desk and hung his head with a sigh.

“She’s not learning,” Hitoshi said into the quiet. “She’s not retaining. She can follow steps for a while, but she eventually forgets where she was or tries to improve what she’s doing.”

“I know.”

“If you plan to keep this up, she can’t stay on basics forever.”

“I know.” Izuku closed his eyes.

“Put her on more advanced work and she’s going to kill someone. She almost did today.”

“Clearly.”

“And I can’t actually cover for you forever. My bullshit abilities might be legendary but they’re not limitless.”

Izuku snorted weakly. “Your bullshit abilities?”

“Never mind what your husband might do when he finds out.”

Izuku groaned and pushed back from the table, eyes opening to find and lock on Hitoshi. “I don’t know.”

“You need to tell him.” Hitoshi folded his arms across his chest, meeting Izuku’s gaze. His dark eyes were entirely serious. “It’ll be worse if he just finds out. And he will.”

Izuku nodded.

“He doesn’t deserve to be lied to.” Hitoshi shrugged again. “Maybe when you didn’t know him and maybe when he was being an ass. But not now.”

“You’re right.” Izuku leaned against Ochako’s workstation. “I just don’t know how.”

“Tell him one night when it’s just the two of you and I am far out of the blast radius.”

“This isn’t funny.” Izuku frowned.

“Who said I was joking?” Hitoshi shook his head. “He’s an emperor, Izuku. Whether he uses the title or not doesn’t change it. He’s used to knowing what’s going on his empire, especially Othya. Which we’re living in. Him finding out you’ve been lying to him could have ramifications for Sniycia.”

“I get it!” Izuku snapped, hands clenched into fists on his thighs. He was already frustrated and worried. He knew what he needed to do, he just didn’t know how to do it. Or, how to do it without everything going up in flames. He knew Katsuki had a temper. Izuku didn’t know what would happen if it was pushed to the breaking point. “But what if I tell him and he sends Ochako home? She can’t go back.”

“Why would he?” Hitoshi frowned.

“He doesn’t need mages. He needs alchemists. He might send her back to Sniycia. Back to my father and whatever husband he chooses for her.” Izuku felt sick just thinking about it.

“We only have so much power here.” Hitoshi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You can’t just hope it works out the right way. You can argue with him and hope that changes his mind, but at this point…”

“I know.” Izuku blew out a breath. He knew the situation was of his own making. He was the one who had claimed Ochako was an alchemist and brought her along. He just didn’t know how he was going to fix it now. “I just can’t let her down.”

“Cinderbrain might surprise us.” Hitoshi smirked. “Maybe he won’t care.”

“I doubt it.” Izuku swallowed, nauseous at the thought of Katsuki’s reaction. His anxiety wanted him to just hold Ochako’s secret close to his chest, to find another way around this. But there wasn’t another way. She couldn’t learn, and Izuku couldn’t ask Hitoshi to keep covering for him. He couldn’t keep covering. Izuku was just going to have to tell Katsuki. “I’ll tell him. Soon.”

“Do you want me around?”

Izuku shook his head. He knew, jokes about blast radius aside, Hitoshi would be there if Izuku asked him to. Their loyalty to one another was deeper than he knew how to put into words. Hitoshi had been there for almost every stupid decision and every discovery. They had been in trouble together more often than not, and Izuku laughed with him more than anyone else in the world. Hitoshi had always been there, quietly seething at how Hisashi treated his youngest son, had always helped pick up the pieces when Izuku had been left broken in the king’s wake. Izuku knew that Hitoshi would do anything for him, because he would do anything for Hitoshi. Their relationship had been forged through years and bad life decisions, through laughter and shared interests. Nothing could break it.

That was why Izuku couldn’t have him there. He didn't know quite how Katsuki would react when he realized that Izuku had lied about Ochako’s abilities. He didn’t want Hitoshi to deal with any of the fallout, whatever it might be. He didn’t want to give Katsuki another target in his anger.

And… he didn’t want anyone to see Katsuki in that moment. He couldn’t pinpoint why. He just felt like perhaps it should be a private moment. Not intimate, but private regardless. He knew that Katsuki’s pride was a large part of the blond, supposed that might be why. He didn’t want to look at it too closely, not when he knew he was going to have to tell Katsuki the truth soon. But that didn’t make it go away. No matter how he ignored it.

“When’s soon then?” Hitoshi asked, breaking Izuku’s spiraling thoughts.

“I don’t know. Before the week is out, I guess.” Izuku ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm the anxiety that clawed at his insides. Izuku would just have to make sure that nothing changed. He would make sure that Katsuki understood why he’d done it. It would be fine.

It would be.

“Did… you stand up for Kacchan?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chapter Text

An explosion rocked the hallway.

Katsuki stumbled and caught himself on the wall, the stone biting into the flesh of his palms as he steadied himself. He swore under his breath, instincts beaten into him during his training as a child and honed in battle surging to the forefront. He didn’t know who had the balls to attack his home, but they would regret it. Katsuki would be all too willing to teach them that lesson before their death.

Smoke seeped from beneath a nearby door, curling slowly upwards as it expanded into the corridor. Around him courtiers, guards, and servants alike paused, eyes skittering this way and that as they searched for the source of the explosion, for an attacker to blame. Tension was as thick as the gray smoke that filled the corridor. Several people began coughing as the fumes spread, replacing the clean air.

Katsuki strode forward and shoved his shoulder against the heavy wood, the door giving way beneath his body with a groan.

“Your Majesty!” someone shouted behind Katsuki, as though his title would bring Katsuki to a halt.

He gritted his teeth and made a mental note to find out who that had been and have someone instruct them not to announce when the king of Othya was stepping straight into a potentially dangerous situation. While some would argue that Katsuki should stay back and allow others to assess the danger because of his title, Katsuki would tell them to fuck off. He ruled through his strength as well as his heritage. He had earned his throne, had been beside the men and women who fought for Othya throughout every war. He ruled because he was strong enough to rule. He had the respect of his people because he had earned it. He didn’t sit back and wait as someone else took risks. He wasn’t some fainting flower. He was the fucking king.

Smoke rushed out to mingle with the cleaner air outside. Katsuki held his breath as he stepped further into the room, ignoring his stinging eyes, the smoke irritating them.

Recognition came as the atmosphere began to clear. This was the laboratory that the other alchemists used. Izuku was here often, checking on their progress and discussing his own experiments. He spent more time in the lab next to Katsuki’s office than he did here, but Katsuki had found his mate here often enough for one reason or another. His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. If Izuku had been in here and was hurt in some kind of attack, the culprit would beg for death before Katsuki was done for him. No one was going to use Katsuki’s mate as a weakness against him.

Izuku had blown things up often when he was learning. He’d admitted it to Katsuki the first night they had started talking about alchemy in real depth. And Izuku had already caused a few explosions since settling into life in Dragonspire. Had something gone wrong with that one potion Izuku had been working on? It was meant to explode, but Izuku had been talking about it being too immediate in its reactions. Katsuki knew that the green-haired nerd hadn’t gotten the balance entirely right yet.

“Oy, nerd! Are you in here?”

Someone coughed. “He’s not in here. It’s just me!”

“Who the fuck is me?” Katsuki growled. “What the fuck were you doin’?”

“It’s Ochako.”

Brown hair, round face. Yeah, Katsuki remembered her. She was one of the alchemists that Izuku had brought with him from Sniycia. She wasn’t one of those people who stood out on her own. He remembered mostly because she had fucked up a potion one of the other times he’d been here. Katsuki had been curious what had gone wrong with the more advanced experiment but wasn’t about to ask. Even alone with Izuku it was hard to bring himself to ask questions. In his rare, spare time he had devoured the books Izuku had brought. He didn’t like not knowing things, didn’t like there being knowledge someone else had that could be used against him. He hated it. So, he would learn.

The petite woman stood, coughing again as she waved her hand in front of her face. As though that would make the smoke clear faster. Katsuki could see soot on her face as he moved closer, wondered again what the fuck she had done. Small fires dotted the laboratory, probably feeding on ingredients that Katsuki knew had been piled high for use. Charred remains of ingredients mingled with shards of glass, coating the floor and blackened tables. The
remains of a book lay by Ochako’s feet, the leather cover warped and cracked by the heat. Of the parchment once housed within there was no sign.

Even Izuku hadn’t created an explosion this large. Katsuki knew the alchemists the nerd had brought with him were some of Sniycia’s best, but from Katsuki’s growing knowledge he would have thought Izuku was better than them. Better than Ochako, in any case.

“You trying to bring the ceiling down on your head?” Katsuki growled. Just because it wasn’t an attack didn’t mean it was okay. She could’ve caused serious damage, injured people. Already Katsuki would have to have a few people check the room to ensure the structure remained stable. Not even stone was immune to explosions.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Ochako protested. She looked back at the blackened table that must have been her workstation. Katsuki didn’t see any vials, wondered if he would have to be concerned about glass shards. The ash on her arms oozed, soot and blood mixing from where she had no doubt been cut from the glass.

“No shit.”

“Your Majesty?”

Katsuki glanced behind him to one of the guards in the doorway, sword out and confusion tugging at the features of her face. He was sure the woman hadn’t been expecting the scene before her. “Stand down. It’s a fuckin’ experiment gone wrong. Find Hanta and tell him I need a team to check the stability of this floor and the one above and below it. Start with the focus on this room.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The woman nodded. She cast Ochako a long, measured look before she stepped back out of sight.

“I don’t know what I did wrong.” Ochako tugged his attention back to her. She tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear. She paused, fingering the ends that looked singed and blackened. “I… I think I’m going to need to… Have my hair cut…” Her voice wavered.

Katsuki figured it was a wonder she had hair at all. If she’d lost a few inches, who cared?

“The fuck did you do?” he repeated, impatience coloring his words.

“I was trying to make one of the explosion potions.”

“The one Izuku’s been goin’ on about?” Katsuki frowned.

“No.” Ochako shook her head as she looked back at him. She looked dazed. “Just a standard one. I thought if I could prove…” She paused as though searching for words. “If I could create one of them right Izuku would be happy.”

“Can’t you already do one of those?” Katsuki didn’t like where this was going.

“No,” Ochako said, sorrow heavy over her words. “I can’t. I’m not really an alchemist. No matter how much he’s tried to teach me, I’m just a mage.”

Her confession hit Katsuki like a blow to the rib cage, blindsided him.

“Where is he?” Katsuki hissed, rage coloring his vision red.

“Uh…” Ochako hesitated, horror dawning in brown eyes as she realized what she had admitted to him.

“Answer me, Round Face.”

“I… I don’t know?” Ochako swallowed, fear flickering over her features. “I thought he was going to be in his lab? Or … he mentioned a garden?”

That wasn’t helpful. He knew that the nerd wasn’t in his laboratory. He had been in his study earlier and the room next door was dark and empty of inhabitants. There were, however, gardens set up throughout the palace. They were designed to be little hideaways from the world for those who called the castle their home. Right now, Katsuki didn’t care how many of the picturesque gardens that had been leached of their green color he had to search. He would find Izuku.

“What are you going to do?” Ochako ventured, watching with him guarded eyes.

“My business is none of yours,” Katsuki snarled. He turned on his heel and strode back out of the laboratory, intent on finding Izuku.

“My King?”

“Have a healer check her for a concussion or any serious injuries.” Katsuki didn’t stop.

People scattered before him like the deer in the forest scenting a predator, as though if they stayed in his line of sight or drew his attention away from what he was hunting they would be the next kill. Izuku could be any number of places within the castle, could have gone to the market down in town. Despite Ochako’s words, Katsuki couldn’t pinpoint where to find for him. For all Katsuki knew, she had been lying to protect Izuku. He had little doubt at this point where the loyalties lay.

“Baku!” Eijiro called out. He alone didn’t trip over himself to get out of Katsuki’s way, instead hurrying to his side. “What’s going on? I heard about an explosion? You look furious, what’s goin’ on? How can I help, man?”

“Where’s Izuku?” Katsuki bit each word off, his voice rough with the screams he held within.

“Huh? Is he in danger?” Eijiro asked quickly, eyes narrowing. He pounded his fists together, as though preparing for a fight.

“Where is he?” Katsuki snarled, his temper on a razor’s edge.

“The library with Hitoshi.” Eijiro frowned. “Katsuki, what’s going on?”

He rarely used Katsuki’s full name, had gravitated towards the nickname Baku since they had been children.

“There is no known attack.” Katsuki clenched his teeth, pain shooting up his jaw. “Find the Sniycian natives and keep an eye on them.”

“Why?” Eijiro’s frown deepened.

“Because I said so,” Katsuki snapped.

Eijiro said nothing as he followed Katsuki to the library, his presence a solid reassurance at Katsuki’s back. For all that he liked the Sniycians, Katsuki knew that Eijiro would do what was asked of him. Their bond and Eijiro’s loyalty had been carved in stone during the changing years of childhood, in the grief of both finding themselves orphaned in short succession. It had never wavered in the years of intense training and frustration or the conquests that Katsuki had set out on in brutal succession.

He found Izuku at a small table deep within the library, books piled high and Hitoshi sitting by his side. Vihan darted forward in greeting, yipping in delight at Katsuki’s appearance and dancing around his feet. Katsuki scooped up the fennec fox in a quick movement, eyes locked on Izuku as the green-haired man looked up.

“Kacchan?”

“Keep an eye on Vihan for me,” Katsuki said to his friend, the fox already squirming in his arms to be released after several enthusiastic licks to Katsuki’s face.

“Sure,” Eijiro agreed quickly.

Katsuki set the fox down.

“What’s going on?” Izuku watched him with a guarded uncertainty.

“Come with me,” Katsuki said tightly. This wasn’t the fight he wanted to have in public, with spectators listening with baited breath and waiting to gossip in the aftermath.

Hitoshi was silent for once.

“I…” Izuku took a deep breath, as though steeling himself for whatever was to come. “Let’s go.”

Katsuki waited for Izuku to stand before turning and making his way back out of the library. He didn’t know where he wanted to have this out, only that he wanted it somewhere private. He felt Izuku at his back, the tension thick enough between them to be cut with a dull sword.

Instinct brought them to Katsuki’s office, where no one would dare listen at the door. Not even Mina.

“In,” Katsuki snarled, wrenching the door open.

Izuku slipped inside without a word.

Katsuki followed and the door closed with a heavy thud, as though sealing the two of them inside.

“Your mage exploded the alchemy lab.” His word fell like an explosion of their own between the two of them.

Izuku turned deadly pale beneath his freckles.

“No words?” Katsuki taunted, his rage threatening to escape the chokehold he had it in.

“I…I was going to tell you.” Izuku swallowed.

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki snorted. “When the fuck was that?”

“Soon.” Izuku shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I just hadn’t figured out how to start.”

“The agreement was you brought two alchemists with you. Not an alchemist and a mage I don’t need.” Katsuki felt fury simmer below his skin, his blood boiling.

“I did find Mei,” Izuku started.

“Congratulations,” Katsuki said, his sarcasm thick. “I now have three alchemists. I should have four.”

“I know. I’m sorry…”

“You’re sorry.” Katsuki bit off the brittle words. “You’re sorry now. It doesn’t change that I need those alchemists. My country needs those alchemists!”

“I didn’t know that at the time!” Izuku protested. “I didn’t know-”

“It doesn’t matter!” Katsuki’s voice thundered through the room. “You’ve been lying for months! Do you understand that this is a breach of our marriage agreement? Do you understand that this is treason?”

Katsuki hadn’t realized that Izuku’s skin could pale further. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I’m supposed to believe you?” Katsuki snorted in dark humor. “How do I believe anything you say? How do I trust you? What other secrets have you been keeping? What information did you sell back to Sniycia?”

“Nothing!” Izuku insisted, eyes wide. “I haven’t told them anything back home!”

“This is your home!” Katsuki snarled, eyes narrowing. “Whether you like it or not, this is your home now! This is where you live! Your loyalties are to me.”

“Why?” Izuku snapped. “Because you say so? Because my father said so? Because I’m your mate? That doesn’t mean anything to me!”

“Because you agreed to marry me!” Katsuki stalked closer. “Whatever your reasons, you agreed, asshole. You made that deal. You chose this life.”

“Or watch you murder my family? Be executed by my father? Those were my other options!” Izuku’s hands balled into fists.

“I can have you put to death for this lie!” Even as he said the words, he knew he wouldn’t, that he couldn’t. Trust didn’t factor into the instincts that pounded through him, that tangled even now with his rage and his pain. He hated the last emotion, the sense of betrayal that accompanied the fury. He had trusted his mate, made the steps forward Izuku had needed. This was where it had brought him. And even then, he couldn’t sentence his mate to death, even if that mate put Othya in jeopardy.

Izuku swallowed but didn’t back down. Katsuki had known he wouldn’t. Whatever else Izuku was, he wasn’t weak. “I didn’t betray Othya! This isn’t about our countries!”

“I am a king!” Katsuki stepped closer, erasing more of the physical distance between them. He fought the desire to turn the fight physical, where everything was easier. “I am Othya’s king! You cannot separate the two!”

“I wanted to bring someone I trusted and cared about with me!” Izuku fought tears now. Katsuki could see them shimmer in damp eyes. “I wanted two people who I knew! Who knew me! I didn’t want her to stay there and be sold into marriage too!”

“I don’t care that she’s here!” Katsuki fired back, ignoring the way Izuku’s tears tugged at his instincts with ease- for once. “I care that you put my country at a disadvantage! And you knew that!”

“You would have let her come?” Izuku asked, clearly caught off guard.

“I am not your father!” Katsuki felt as though the words were torn from him, his voice raw. “I will not spend forever proving that I am not your father. Trying to earn a fraction of your godsdamned trust. I clearly can’t fuckin’ prove that I am not looking to manipulate you or use you.”

“That’s not fair,” Izuku breathed, his tears falling unchecked. “I don’t think you’re my father.”

“Another lie.” Katsuki shook his head and instead took a step away from Izuku. “You watch me with shadows in your eyes and expect nothing but the worst of me. I’m not fuckin’ blind, Izuku.”

“Katsuki.” Izuku swallowed. “Wait. I’m sorry…”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Katsuki swallowed and felt as though there was glass in his throat that tore him open, left him bleeding. “All Sniycian’s are under guard until further notice. Including you. You will stay in the suite until called for. Do you understand?”

Izuku shook his head, something almost like fear flashing in green depths. He took a step forward. “Katsuki, please. Just listen to me for a second.”

“Get out.”

Izuku froze. “What?”

“Out!” Katsuki snarled.

“Just listen to me!”

Katsuki growled and closed the distance to the door himself. He yanked it open.

Mina paused, eyes wide and fist raised to knock. “Eiji said… Should I come back later?”

“Take him to the suite. Do not let him out until I figure out if he’s been spying for his father.”

Mina frowned, no longer his family but the woman he counted among his most trusted people, a woman he had fought beside in war. “Got it.”

“Katsuki!”

“You’re the fucking curse,” Katsuki hissed. “Being saddled with you as a mate.”

Izuku went silent and the tears came faster. He followed Mina without protest.

“Baku…” Mina hesitated.

Katsuki closed the door. He didn’t want to hear what she had to say.

Rage boiled and mixed with pain, threatening to overflow and devastate everything in its path. Katsuki lashed out, fist connecting with stone wall of his office. Pain of a different type danced up the nerves of his arm. His knuckles were bloody and torn open when he pulled back.

Katsuki turned away from the smear of blood on gray stone.

Chapter Text

“What happened, Izuku?”

Izuku swallowed. “Ochako isn’t an alchemist. She’s a mage. I lied because I wanted to bring her with me. I wanted to have another person I knew and trusted when I came here.”

“You’ve been here for months.” Mina frowned.

“I know. I was going to tell him soon, I just hadn’t figured out how.”

“Why?”

Izuku sighed. There were so many questions in that one word. “I didn’t tell him earlier because I was afraid he’d send Ochako back. He doesn’t need mages, he said so himself. And he’s right. I’ve met so many talented mages since coming to Othya. And I’d already lied. I don’t like doing it. I just figured there was no real way around it once I’d made the decision.”

‘So why now?”

“Because Ochako can’t pretend to be an alchemist. She’ll get people hurt if I let her keep trying. I didn’t want that. And she’s unhappy trying to be an alchemist. I kind of had to tell him then. I didn’t want him finding out like this.”

“Yeah, it would have been a little better if he heard it from you. Not much, but maybe a little. He’s got a temper.”

“I noticed,” Izuku snorted.

“Are you passing information back to Sniycia?” Mina asked. There was no beating around the bush. There hadn’t been with Katsuki either. Izuku could appreciate that.

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “I’m not. I never have been. I never agreed to. My father assumed I would, but I haven’t told him anything.”

“Your friends?”

“No. Neither of them would either. They have some friends back home maybe, but not that they would pass secrets to. I know they wouldn’t.”

“Mm.” Mina nodded, but didn’t elaborate.

“Katsuki doesn’t believe me,” Izuku sighed.

“Can you blame him?” Mina asked, pausing as they reached the doors to the suite Izuku shared with Katsuki.

Did he still share the rooms with the blond? He didn’t know. The suite had been Katsuki’s first, but even when Izuku had come to Othya there weren’t personal effects that claimed that Katsuki spent time within the rooms. He had started to over the past few months. Nothing that said he saw these rooms as theirs but at least they had both been fine with sharing the space. That had been a large step forward from where they had started.

Now Izuku might have ruined everything.

“No,” he said after a minute. “It doesn’t matter why I did it. I still lied to him. Any trust we had built is gone.”

“Buried,” Mina corrected. “It’s been buried by rage and doubt. He’s probably hurt too. He won’t admit it, but he is.”

“I didn’t want to hurt him.” Izuku bit his lower lip. It was easy to say that now in the aftermath.

“Maybe not,” Mina allowed. “I think you mean that. It feels true.”

“How long…” Izuku trailed off as Mina opened the doors to the suite.

“Are you stuck here? I don’t know. I’ll talk to him and tell him you’re not lying. I can usually tell when people are. It’s not foolproof but it means something to him. Instincts mean something in Othya.” Mina shrugged and stepped inside.

Izuku followed. “So, you’ll talk to him?”

“Yes. But it might not change anything. You still lied to him. Katsuki has to deal with that and what it might mean for Othya. He’s a king first. His personal feelings might be tangled up in this, but he’s going to try to focus on what he feels could impact the country first.” Mina sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I...” Izuku started, unsure of what to say.

“You need to take this time to think about a few things,” Mina said, eyes narrowing again. “I like you, but Katsuki is my family. My loyalty is going to be his first. At least, until you decide that’s where your loyalty is too.”

“I know-”

“Not done. You need to think about where your loyalty does lie. Is it to Sniycia? Is it to Othya? To Katsuki? I know your friends are loyal to you first. So, this does, in many ways, fall on you. They did what you asked of them. You’re the one who has to decide where to go from here. You didn’t meet him in the best way but that doesn’t matter anymore. You have to make a decision about what to do with it. What do you want it to mean for the rest of your life?” Mina shook her head. “You wanted your freedom, right? This is your choice. Your father may have made the original deal but you’re the only one who gets to decide where you go now. You and Katsuki… You have to fix that. If you want to build something, that is. If you don’t, then don’t give him false hope.”

Something about her words felt heavier than before. There was a finality to them, rather than any physical weight. As though Mina wasn’t just speaking as a concerned friend or a member of the Othyan guard. She spoke with a knowledge that seemed beyond her age. Izuku wondered if this was part of her fae heritage.

“Okay,” Izuku agreed. He felt that same weight that had been in her words settle on his shoulders. “I will.”

“Good. I’m going to get a guard to watch the doors so I can go talk to him. But Izuku,” Mina met his gaze with a hard look. “Don’t leave. I’m trusting you to stay here. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.” Izuku swallowed. “I get it. I won’t leave the suite.”

“Good.” Mina nodded.

“Is Ochako, okay? He said she blew up the laboratory.” Izuku couldn’t believe she’d done it. He should have known to watch her. She had been worried about him, about how Katsuki would react. Izuku should have realized that Ochako would try something dangerous.

“She’s being checked out for a concussion. But other than that, Eiji said she’s fine. He was able to find her easily. Once she’s treated both she and Hitoshi will be kept under guards in their rooms. Given the damage I’ve heard about already, I’d said she’s very lucky.”

“Thank you,” Izuku breathed.

“You’re welcome.” She offered him a half-smile and stepped out again, closing the doors to the suite behind her.

Izuku turned to wander deeper into the suite, drawn for some reason he couldn’t name- or maybe didn’t want to name- to the bedroom. He stared at the bed, so neatly made by servants who had entered on whispers of sound after Katsuki and Izuku had begun their days. He wondered if they would ever share it again.

“What am I going to do?” he asked the empty room.

The bedroom didn’t have an answer for him.

OoOoO

Izuku had fucked up.

He could admit that, saw it in startling clarity when he looked back at his actions and decisions.

No, he wasn’t entirely wrong for wanting another person he knew and trusted with him in a foreign country. He wasn’t wrong for worrying about what would happen to Ochako had she stayed in Sniycia. But he had been wrong in many other ways. He hadn’t known that Katsuki would agree to let Ochako come. He had thought asking forgiveness would have been easier than permission at the time, caught up in the press to move his whole life to Othya while leaving almost everyone he cared for behind.

But asking forgiveness that might never come was harder than Izuku had ever thought. He didn’t mind the apology that he knew would come when he saw Katsuki again. He was sorry.

It was easy to be sorry in hindsight he supposed, with Ochako here and safe. But it was harder too. He doubted that Katsuki was going to believe him. No matter how much Izuku said that he was sorry, the damage was done. To Othya, to their friendship, everything. Izuku’s selfish decision had impacted so many people, far more than he had ever intended. He hadn’t considered the consequences at the time, or while he had been struggling to keep the lie going.

He stared up at the stars, leaning heavily on the railing of the balcony attached to the bedroom. The cold nipped hard at night, a promise of the harsh winter to come. There was no one to demand Izuku come inside out of the cold, no one to grumble when Izuku grinned and said just a minute. Izuku wasn’t sure that Katsuki intended to come back to the suite anytime soon. There was an ache in that knowledge, a realization of what Izuku had damaged in his decisions. He refused to think that it was broken, that there could be no fixing it. He could, he just had to have the time to do so.

He wondered what Katsuki had found, if Mina had spoken to him as she’d promised. Was Katsuki sleeping in his office, in a spare room? Izuku didn’t know.

Mina’s words drifted back to him. His hands tightened on the railing, his knuckles white. What did he want?

Izuku had been struggling to claim his freedom since stepping foot on Othyan soil. He hadn’t wanted Katsuki to exert the same control over him as Hisashi had. He’d wanted the freedom to come and go, the trust that he could handle himself without guards following. Katsuki’s restrictions seemed to come from his desire to protect Izuku while Hisashi’s had come a need to control everything and everyone around him.

Izuku’s father had been that way with all of his children in one way or another. He had handled Izuku with a heavier hand because Izuku had defied him. The chains he had wrapped around Izuku hadn’t been physical, but they had left their marks all the same.

Did Izuku expect Katsuki to be his father? Did Izuku only expect the worst because he had been conditioned to? Katsuki’s prior actions had played a part, but he’d done his best to adjust. And he had made progress in the months that had followed their initial clash.

Izuku swallowed and pushed away from the railing, shivering as the wind picked up, whipping his curls around his eyes. He stepped back inside and closed the small door behind him.

Izuku had to admit he hadn’t been trying. He had allowed Katsuki to put the effort in because that was safe. He didn’t have to risk anything if Katsuki was trying. He didn’t have to be afraid of losing his heart to someone who would shatter him. But what Izuku had done had been wrong. He didn’t think he had held Katsuki’s heart in his hands. But Izuku had held some of the blond’s trust.

Trust could be just as fragile as hearts, just as irreparable.

Izuku released a slow breath. It felt like there were bands of iron around his chest, each one there to make it harder to breathe as the guilt ate at him.

What did he want? Him, no one else. Not Ochako or Hitoshi, not Katsuki, and not Hisashi. What did Izuku want?

Izuku blinked, realization dawning slowly.

“He has no say in what I do,” he whispered to an empty room.

Hisashi had no say in what Izuku did any longer. That knowledge had been there before, but it had never felt real. It had always felt as though he was around the next corner, in the dark corners in the night. Now it slammed into Izuku with force, left his whole world reeling as it struggled to adjust.

Izuku knew what he wanted. He wanted to speak to Katsuki.

It didn’t matter that Katsuki hadn’t called for him in the three days that Izuku had been constrained to their suite. He knew what he needed to do, used that certainty to combat the guilt that ate at him, the anxiety that whispered poison in his ear.

He hurried through the suite and yanked open one of the doors. He was met with scowls and harsh glares from both guards stationed outside. Izuku wondered with a pang if this was for his protection or because Katsuki thought he’d try to escape. The idea had never occurred to Izuku. He had nowhere else to go.

“I need to speak to Katsuki.” Izuku took another deep breath.

“You aren’t allowed to leave,” one of the guards growled, pale blue eyes locked on Izuku with clear distrust.

“I know.” Izuku had promised Mina he would stay. He didn’t want to screw things up further. “Will you please ask him to come here?”

“What makes you think we will?” The man arched an eyebrow.

“Please.”

“I’ll go,” the second guard said. She pushed away from the unopened door. Her dark skin glimmered in the golden light of the lamps. “But I don’t promise to bring him back with me.”

“I understand. Thank you.” Izuku forced a smile he knew looked strained.

The woman nodded and started away. Izuku closed the door and paced back into the suite, nerves on edge as he settled in to wait.

“You’re the fucking curse. Being saddled with you as a mate.”

Izuku flinched at the words Katsuki had thrown at him. They shouldn’t have hurt as much as they had. Izuku had known from the beginning that Katsuki didn’t want a mate. Katsuki had made no secret that he hated the instincts that demanded he keep Izuku close. Izuku knew he wasn’t the mate Katsuki would have chosen, even if he knew little else about mates.

Maybe Katsuki wouldn’t come.

Izuku didn’t know how much time passed between his request and the door opening again. He had been pacing back and forth, following a complex trail through the rooms that had done nothing to stop his anxiety from climbing. He looked up, afraid that it was one of the guards who had come to tell him Katsuki wasn’t coming. Izuku couldn’t blame him.

He hadn’t expected Katsuki to be standing there, arms folded across his chest and eyes narrowed.

“What do you want, Izuku?”

Izuku hadn’t realized how much he’d enjoyed Katsuki’s nicknames for him. He hadn’t realized how rarely Katsuki had used his name until those nicknames had disappeared. Even now, the lack was a kick to the stomach Izuku took without a noise. He swallowed, his nerves doubling now that Katsuki was here. What if he didn’t believe him? What if Katsuki didn’t care what Izuku said?

“I’m sorry,” Izuku said. He hid his hands behind his back, twisting his tunic in his hands in an attempt to calm the nerves.

“You called me here to tell me that?” Katsuki growled.

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “I just… It’s part of it. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to cause damage to Othya and I didn’t mean for this to get so out of hand. It’s my fault, but I am sorry. I knew I had to tell you. Ochako can’t learn alchemy and I didn’t want her to hurt anyone with what she made. I didn’t know how to tell you. But I should have before that. I…” He hesitated.

“What?” Katsuki said, his words sharp and impatient.

“I should have told you about Ochako. I brought two people I knew cared about me and would be loyal. To me, rather than to Sniycia. I don’t know that another alchemist would have been. Hitoshi’s the only one who has ever seen me as just me, not a prince. But that doesn’t mean I was right. I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t put Othya into any danger. I just … Never mind, it doesn’t matter. I was wrong. Hitoshi and Ochako were following my lead. I’m the one who should be in trouble. Not them. I swear, they never reported back to Sniycia about anything.”

Katsuki didn’t say anything, but neither had he left. At least that wasn’t a bad sign.

“Mina told me to consider a few things.”

Katsuki physically startled at that, gaze sharpening. “She what?”

“Nothing dangerous,” Izuku hurried to explain. “She asked me to consider where my loyalties were. I wanted to tell you that I hadn’t thought about it like that before. I was so focused on all the wrong things. But my loyalty is to Othya. It’s to you. I’ll swear it on whatever you want me to. You’re not my father, and I was wrong.” Izuku’s eyes stung, tears falling hot and silent as he drew a breath that trembled. He closed his eyes against the tears. “I haven’t been trying and that’s not fair to you either. I’m sorry. I know I’m saying that a lot, but that doesn’t make it less true. I am so sorry. I know you might not forgive me, might never trust me again…”

Izuku didn’t want to admit how much the thought of that trust being gone hurt. He didn’t realize how much he had treasured the growing friendship between him and Katsuki until he had destroyed it. He had done the damage, they were his consequences. It still hurt.

“It was easy and comfortable and I relied on that,” Izuku’s voice cracked. “But you really are amazing, and I should have…”

“Stop crying, nerd,” Katsuki said, his voice a rasp of sound.

Izuku looked up to meet Katsuki’s gaze carefully, his heart stuck somewhere in his throat. He wrapped his arms around himself, as though he could hold in the tears somehow. “Sorry.”

“Stop saying that.” Katsuki was next to him suddenly, though Izuku wasn’t sure when the blond had moved. “Look. I’m not saying it’s okay. It’s fucking bullshit. But I did look into it and nothing got sent back to Sniycia that I can find. And Mina was pretty confident you weren’t lyin’ about everything.”

“I’m not,” Izuku whispered into the distance that was still between them. “My father asked. I never agreed. I’ve never… I wouldn’t. I swear. I know that doesn’t mean much but…”

“You’re rambling,” Katsuki said gruffly. “Stop. I get it.”

Izuku nodded, afraid to close the distance between them, afraid to reach out.

“No more lies or secrets.” Katsuki scowled at him. “And I get a full report of every alchemical shit you do, or the purple-haired fucker does, got it?”

Izuku nodded again. “Am I still confined here?”

“No,” Katsuki said after a long minute.

“Am I still under guard?” Izuku worried his lower lip between his teeth.

“No. And don’t make me regret that,” Katsuki warned.

Izuku flicked a gaze up to meet Katsuki’s gaze. “Thank you.”

Katsuki shrugged.

“I… Will you be…” Izuku stumbled over his words.

“The fuck now?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “Spit it out.”

“Do I need to find another place to sleep?” Izuku asked in a rush. “I want you to sleep and I know these were your rooms. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t come back here and relax. You need to rest. So, I can find… I’m sure there’s another room somewhere right?”

Katsuki was silent for several minutes, his expression unreadable as he watched Izuku. “No,” he said at length. “Stay here.”

“Are you sure?”

Katsuki hauled him close, arms wrapping around Izuku. “Tryin’ to piss me off again, shortstack?”

One of the bands around Izuku’s chest relaxed, as though it had been waiting for both nicknames to know everything was okay. Or, as okay as it could be. “Not trying. I just seem to excel at it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki grumbled.

Izuku laid his head on Katsuki’s chest and breathed in, smoke, leather and sin surrounding him. The scent settled in his lungs again, like a sort of homecoming.

“I’m not going to be so nice a second time, nerd,” Katsuki murmured. “Don’t let there be a second time. Got it?”

“There won’t,” Izuku promised. “Othya is my home too now.”

“‘Bout fuckin’ time.”

Chapter Text

“How long are we supposed to be reporting back to him?” Hitoshi frowned.

“As long as he wants.” Izuku shrugged. “He could have asked for worse.”

“It’s been a month, ‘Zuku.”

“I know.”

Winter was in full force already, having brought freezing temperatures and blankets of snow with it in that month. Katsuki had presented Izuku with another wardrobe, this one for the harsh winter before them. As the summer had been humid and sticky with sweat with temperatures threatening to broil someone alive, the winter threatened to freeze those unprepared. Izuku had traded thin tunics in for ones made of much heavier fabrics and cloaks lined with fur. His boots were thick leathers and lined for warmth as well, should he venture outside of the castle. Within the stone walls, mages worked hard to keep the temperature bearable for all inhabitants, both human and animal.

The dragons had retreated to the homes they built in the cliffs at the castle’s back. Izuku didn’t know how the dragons kept themselves warm within the stone caves. He took Katsuki at his word that they did and didn’t press too hard. He didn’t have the right to right now. Izuku missed seeing the dragons darting playfully through the sky or sunning themselves on the castle roofs and large courtyards. They would reappear in more frequency as the weather warmed, but he missed their presence in the interim.

Winter was just as beautiful in Othya as the late spring and summer had been. Gone were the carpets of wildflowers and promise of crops still growing. The snow sparkled in sunlight like gems and icicles grew long. But the air was still sweet, despite the bite it now held. Izuku found himself as charmed by this season in his new home as he had in the others. Perhaps more, now that he had chosen to give his loyalties to Othya.

“He doesn’t know alchemy though. How are you going to show him what we’re doing?”

“I’m going to explain everything to him. But he’s smart and he’s learning quickly. It won’t be long before he just knows what we’re reporting.”

“And he’s going to believe you? He’s going to believe what you explain to him?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow, eyes flickering with disbelief. “Just like that? What did you do, cast a spell on Cinderbrain? He doesn’t seem like the forgiving type.”

“I don’t know,” Izuku admitted. “I just… I gave my allegiance to Othya. To him, really.”

“Like the nobles will pledge to your brother when he takes the throne?”

“Not exactly. I don’t think Kacchan stands on any kind of grand ceremony like that. I told him this was my home now. And if it takes a month or a year, or however long, I can prove that. I was loyal to Sniycia when my father hadn’t done anything to earn it.” Izuku shrugged.

“Probably helps that you’re his mate.” Hitoshi nodded. “You bat your green eyes at him and he gives you whatever you want.”

“Is that how you think a mate-tell works?”

Izuku glanced up and to his right to see Hanta grinning widely from where he leaned against the nearby bookshelf. Denki grinned from his spot next to the taller, dark-haired man.

“Kacchan hasn’t exactly been the most forthcoming about how the mate thing works,” Izuku admitted. “I haven’t asked about it really since we arrived. He was upset when Mina started to explain things.”

“Upset was an understatement,” Hitoshi added dryly. “He was furious.”

“Yeah. Since his parents were mates, I guess that makes sense.” Denki shook his head. “I’ve known him for a long time and he’s never wanted to find his mate.”

‘Not many people do.” Hanta shrugged. “Can you blame them?”

“Once again, we don’t know anything,” HItoshi said dryly. “So, I suppose, yes, we can.”

“We have library,” Hanta motioned to the wooden shelves lined with heavy tombs of parchment and ink bound in leather. “That’s what this is called you know.”

“I would have never guessed,” Hitoshi snorted. “You are most kind for informing me.”

“Where would we start looking?” Izuku interjected, before the two men could continue. “I don’t think your library comes with a section dedicated to mates.”

“You could ask the head librarian,” Denki pointed out. “I bet they would help.”

“I can tell you a story if you want,” Hanta offered. He pushed off the shelf, long legs closing the distance to their table with ease before he dropped into the open chair. “If you ask nicely.”

“Any knowledge you want to give us would be wonderful.” Izuku leaned forward. “If it’s not going to interrupt your duties.”

He didn’t want Katsuki angry that his friends had been telling Izuku and Hitoshi stories about mating rather than paying attention to the tasks they had been assigned. He knew that Hanta and Denki were counted as part of Katsuki’s inner circle, meaning any of the responsibilities they had were probably of the utmost importance.

“It’s fine. How about tonight? You’re invited to the courtyard. Drinks, the night air. Why not?”

“I don’t know,” Izuku hesitated.

“Katsuki is out with Eijiro running some night drills. It will be just a few of us. It’s good, get to know your fellow Othyan’s.”

“I guess it can’t hurt.” Izuku glanced at Hitoshi. “Is that okay?”

“You’re going to drag me with you,” Hitoshi sighed. “I guess I have no say.”

“Great! We’ll see you tonight. Large courtyard. You won’t be able to miss it. We’ll have warm drinks and maybe even a fire. It’ll be a much better atmosphere.”

We’ll be there,” Izuku promised. “I want to hear this story.”

"Do we have to hear it again?” Denki frowned and wrapped his arms around himself, as though fighting off the evening chill already.

“Absolutely,” Hanta nodded. “He hasn’t heard it.”

“Joy.” Denki shook his head. “I guess we’ll see tonight. Maybe I’ll bring something a little stronger too.”

“A good time for all. We’ll see you then.” Hanta grinned and pushed to his feet again. He waved and then he and Denki were gone, their voices fading between the library shelves as they left.

“Did you just agree for us to hear ghost stories around a fire?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his dark eyes.

“They’re not ghost stories. It’s probably just a legend about the mates and ghosts.” Izuku wrinkled his nose at his best friend. “But I guess so.”

“Joy.” Hitoshi shook his head as he sat back.

“It’ll be fun! It’s a good idea too. We should ask Ochako if she wants to come.” Izuku smiled.

“She’s too busy learning new spells and practicing her mage work again. She keeps whispering with the other mages.” HItoshi rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“It’s been a month!” Izuku laughed. “But I’m glad she’s having fun again.”

OoOoO

“There you are!” Mina grinned. She wrapped an arm around Izuku and tugged him closer to the campfire merrily crackling, sparks of orange and yellow against the black velvet of the sky. “We were waiting for you!”

“You were?” Izuku blinked.

“They’re here!” Mina announced, ignoring Izuku’s question.

“Welcome!” Denki grinned, clearly in full spirits again. He brandished a bottle in one hand. “Do you want the warm cider or the stronger stuff I brought along?”

“Uh,” Izuku hesitated.

“I’ll have some of that.” Hitoshi motioned to the bottle. Despite being dressed in clothing similar to Izuku’s, he was already shivering. Sniycia’s gentle climate had not prepared them for the harsher winters in Othya. “And I claim a spot near the fire.”

“I already claimed the last one.” Kyoka smirked and leaned against Denki. “Sorry.”

“I’ll sit on your lap.” Hitoshi shrugged. “Or you can sit on mine. I’m not picky.”

“We can make room,” Hanta said as he appeared. He nudged Denki. “Get him a drink.”

“I don’t think you have icky cooties.” Hitoshi stole the bottle from Denki’s hand and took a long sip. “I’ll manage.”

“Hey!” Denki protested. Kyoka laughed.

“We should make sure that Izuku doesn’t freeze,” Hanta mused. “We wouldn’t want Katsuki mad that we damaged his mate.”

“I’m not that fragile.” Izuku smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not the one who will be dealing with Katsuki’s wrath,” Kyoka snorted. “So that’s easy for you to say.”

“I doubt that.” Izuku shook his head. “He’s never had a problem telling me when I’m stupid before.”

“Sounds like Baku.” Mina reappeared at Izuku’s side and pressed a warm mug into his hands. “Drink this. It’s spiced and really good. And I added a touch of something heavier to keep you extra warm.”

“Thanks.” The mug was warm in his hands and smelled like spices and sweetness. It reminded him of Katsuki in a way Izuku couldn’t quite place. That would make this moment better, if Katsuki was here.

“Izuku!”

Izuku turned in time for Yoarashi to crush him in a tight hug, his voice echoing around the courtyard. He felt like his rubs might crack under the exuberance of the embrace.

“Yoarashi, put him down!” Hanta called. “We want to make sure that he’s still breathing when we give him back to Baku!”

“I did not know you would be here tonight!” Yoarashi set Izuku back firmly on his feet and stepped back. “You will drink with us tonight?”

“Hanta invited me,” Izuku confirmed. “As long as that’s okay.”

“Of course!” Yoarashi nodded vigorously. “Of course it is!”

“It’s good to see you again too, Yoarashi.” Izuku grinned, the bigger man’s energy infectious.

“How is your friend?” Yoarashi asked, lowering his voice to something akin to a normal level. “Ochako? I haven’t seen her recently. I enjoyed her company at the festival!”

“Ochako?” Izuku blinked. “She’s good. She’s working with Kyoka, Denki and the other mages now.”

“That’s good!” Yoarashi smiled. “I should say hello soon!”

“I think she would enjoy that,” Izuku agreed.

“Hitoshi!” Yoarashi grinned, teeth flashing brightly in the dark as he grinned at Izuku’s best friend. “You’re here too!”

“I’m glad your eyes are still working,” Hitoshi said dryly.

‘“Ha! Come, tell me what you have been doing!” Yoarashi moved to Hitoshi’s side and slung an arm around his shoulders. Hitoshi had little chance to escape.

“Is that everyone?” Izuku asked, drifting closer to Mina again.

“Mm, I think so.” Mina glanced around and nodded. “I think the others are with Baku and Eiji or away on other duties. One day we’ll have to have you meet everyone. You’ll like them.”

“I’d like that. Um, can I ask a question?” Izuku held the drink closer to him, as though to horde more of its warmth.

“You can.” Mina shrugged. “What are you asking?”

“I haven’t heard anyone else call him that. Not even Kacchan. Are you the only one who calls Eijiro…” Izuku trailed off.

“Eiji?” Mina finished. She glanced at Izuku, her eyes unreadable. “Yeah. But I’ve never heard of anyone calling Baku something like Kacchan, either.”

Izuku blushed, his cheeks warming. “Point made. I guess I shouldn’t have pried.”

“It’s fine.” Mina shrugged. “You haven’t grown up with us.”

Izuku nodded, at a loss for words.

“Anyway!” Mina called out, voice cheery and bright again. “Let’s find seats everyone! Hanta has promised a story I’ve been told!”

Izuku followed the large group as they jostled for positions around the fire. There was shouts of cheating and jokes of people stealing someone else’s seat as they all settled down. Izuku found himself sandwiched between Yoarashi and Hitoshi, Mina on his best friend’s other side. Denki was across from her, between Kyoka and Hanta. The fire flickered as silence fell, as though by some unspoken signal everyone had known to hold their tongues.

“We are here to tell a story,” Hanta began. “Of despair and madness, of ash and death. Our new friends have never heard it. So, I ask for silence while I tell them the tale.”

“This happened recently, can you really treat it like one of the grand legends? It’s not the same,” Kyoka protested half-heartedly.

“Also, Hitoshi has my drink,” Denki whined. “I want it back if I have to listen to this creepy thing again.”

“Wait.” Izuku frowned and shared a glance with Hitoshi. “Isn’t it just a legend you’re going to tell us?”

“I find myself moderately curious,” Hitoshi agreed. He held up the bottle. “Mine now.”

“Share,” Denki grumbled with a scowl. “I brought it.”

Hitoshi passed the bottle over to Kyoka, who stole a swig before she gave it to Denki.

“It’s not a legend.” Hanta shook his head, stealing attention back to him. “It’s true. My cousin saw it. She raped him and burned the house down with him inside.”

“What?!” Izuku felt his skin chill, goosebumps rising on his skin in a way that had nothing to do with the winter cold. “What are you talking about?”

“Not every mating is a happy one,” Denki added quietly, looking down at his bottle. “The curse doesn’t let it be.”

“Curses aren’t real.” Hitoshi waved a hand dismissively. Despite his flippant words however he leaned forward, clearly curious.

“I was born in a nearby town called Faswor,” Hanta explained. He stretched his legs out, settling in. “My family moved to Dragonsprire when I was eleven. That’s when I met Baku. Anyway, Faswor is what’s important.”

“That’s where this happened?” Izuku wondered briefly if he should take notes, realized he didn’t have a notebook.

“Yes. A woman named Agnese scented her mate. Agnese had dreamed about a mate since she was a little girl. How they would be so in love and would make a happy family together. I guess she didn’t believe in the curse.” Hanta shrugged.

“Why not earlier? Isn’t it when you first meet someone?” Izuku frowned. He knew it had been instantaneous for Katsuki. The blond had never talked about that moment they had met in Hisashi’s receiving room. Izuku had never asked, either. It had felt wrong to ask, as though Katsuki should bring it up.

“No.” Kyoka shook her head. “We’ve all known people who didn’t get their tell until after they’d reached maturity. Or maybe because the gods just decided one day.”

Like Eijiro, Izuku supposed. He knew better than to say it though. He didn’t know who knew that Eijiro had mated to Mina. That was something Katsuki had trusted him with during one glorious ride on dragonback. He wouldn’t break that trust, wouldn’t spill secrets that weren’t his to tell. Not again.

He glanced at Mina but she was focused on Hanta, her expression unreadable.

“Ervins was known to be difficult sometimes. He’d lost a wife he’d loved during childbirth. Lost the child too. That kind of grief can make people… What’s the word you like, Kami?”

“Prickly?” Denki supplied.

The bottle changed hands to Hitoshi again, stopped for several people to take deep gulps from the contents.

“That works. Agnese thought that maybe he was playing hard to get. Mates don’t usually but some people like the chase, even with the instincts driving them. Ervins was quick to tell her that he didn’t have the mate-tell. He still loved his late wife. He had no drive to be with her.”

“So just because someone mates, doesn’t mean someone mates back, even in Othya?” Izuku frowned. Katsuki had made it sound as though it was rare, a true curse.

“It is considered an almost immediate curse,” Mina said, voice hushed and strained. “Your mate doesn’t want you. They don’t have to choose you. Meanwhile your instincts scream for them.”

The bottle changed hands and everyone drank deeply from it this time, even Izuku. He welcomed the warmth that filled him, the bracing burn as the strong alcohol hit his tongue, then his throat.

“Stop interrupting,” Hanta chided. “The point is, he was not interested. He wasn’t necessarily the kindest to her about that. Agnese’s instincts kept demanding of her though. Kept demanding that she keep him safe, keep him close, locked up if she had to. On and on, ‘till it drove her mad. She watched him everywhere he went, grew jealous of every discussion he had or touch he exchanged with someone else. She waited, and waited. Until one night. She broke into his home, forced her way into bed, took him against his will. He fought her, left her with bleeding furrows on her face, neck, and arms. She would never let him go. And he would never belong to her. She couldn’t live with the idea that he be with anyone else. She set his home on fire, burned him alive.”

“How did your cousin know this?” Izuku asked quietly, swallowing hard against a cold that had nothing to do with temperature and snow.

“Agnese was raving mad. She was standing outside the remnants of a home that was nothing more than fire and ash, bleeding from wounds like she’d seen battle and lost. She screamed that he was hers. The gods had given him to her. She said no one would have him now. Not even the gods.”

There was silence as Hanta paused.

Izuku bit his lower lip. “What happened to her?”

“Executed.” Hanta shook his head. “Murder and rape are not small crimes here.”

“She deserved it.” Kyoka shook her head. “Instincts or not, she gave in to her demons.”

“None of us are mated,” Hanta pointed out, face somber. “That’s what makes it so frightening, doesn’t it? That could be any of us.”

“I would be stronger,” Yoarashi contradicted. His voice was soft though, his eyes downcast. “I wouldn’t hurt my mate that way. Even if they didn’t want me.”

“That’s…” Izuku’s voice felt like it was being dragged over coals. “That’s what your curse is?”

“No,” Mina said softly. She reached for the bottle and took a long drink, tilting her head back as she swallowed. She lowered the bottle after a minute. Her eyes glimmered with unshed emotion. “That’s not the curse. But that’s what it can drive people to.”

“If your mate doesn’t want you…” Denki shrugged. “You can’t change what your whole being says. It’s easier to never have a mate.”

“Messy as courting can be,” Kyoka agreed. “At least it’s not…”

Izuku swallowed, his knuckles white from where he gripped his mug tightly.

“We need a happier topic,” Hitoshi said into the silence, save for the fire crackling. “Or I’ll be left to believe your parties are the worst.”

“Take that back,” Denki said, rising to the challenge.

“Prove me wrong.” Hitoshi shrugged.

Conversation began in earnest then, everyone eager to shrug off the dark cloud that Hanta’s story had brought to the gathering. The conversation changed with ease, moving from music to tales of antics from childhood. Laughter came as easily as the drinks that were shared.

Izuku stared down at his drink, lost in his own thoughts, in the story that Hanta had recited.

“You okay?” Mina asked, shifting into the space Yoarashi had abandoned to prove his flexibility against Hanta. Izuku didn’t think Yoarashi was going to win. But he could always be wrong.

“Is that- I mean…” Izuku found himself at a loss for words.

“Katsuki is one of the strongest and stubborn people I’ve ever known. No, he’s probably the, strongest and most stubborn. He can control his instincts for the most part. But the same instincts and needs are there, yeah. The fact that he needs you, but you don’t need him the same way messed with him. It’s hard for us to understand because we don’t have those tells. We make our own decisions,” Mina sighed. “He hates being out of control.”

“He wouldn’t have chosen me.” Izuku didn’t need Mina to confirm that. He already knew.

“Izuku, he wouldn’t have chosen anyone.” Mina shook her head. “It’s not you specifically. He never wanted a mate.”

“Maybe.” Izuku stared into the fire. “But I’m here now.”

“He doesn’t regret that.” He could hear the frown in Mina’s words.

“I don’t know about that.”

Izuku did know one thing. He needed to learn more about mates. He needed to stop putting it off, afraid of what he would find. Of being afraid of belonging to someone like that when he knew that he had broken shards inside of him. Of never being enough to satisfy anyone.

He was a mate. Whether he liked that or not, he was one. He needed to know more about them.

And he knew just who to ask.

Chapter Text

“Kacchan?”

“Yeah, nerd?” Katsuki didn’t look up, focused on lacing up the heavy winter boots required now that the temperature had plummeted and snow had carpeted all of Othya.

Winter training was not his favorite pastime. He didn’t enjoy the biting chill or how the snow created a slushy and wet mess to tromp through. But they trained anyway. Anyone who decided to invade Othya during this season was insane, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen. Katsuki wasn’t about to rely on other people’s common sense. Nor was he going to trust that the brutal winter was going to keep any invaders at bay. Anyone who relied on something as changeable as the weather was a fool.

Katsuki had conquered a kingdom in the winter once. The kingdom’s climate had been far milder than what his people were used to. It had been a slaughter, the armies of Rublein unprepared for the invasion. Even now, the memory of snow stained dark red haunted him, mingling with the screams of those dying. He didn’t regret what he’d done for Othya. Rublein had had resources and money that Othya had badly needed at the time.

That didn’t mean he’d enjoyed it either.

“Do you have a few minutes? I just had a few questions.”

Katsuki shifted to look at Izuku. The nerd was still in bed, sheets and heavy furs pooling around his waist, hair crazier than usual, sleep shirt hanging off his shoulder to expose freckled skin. He watched Katsuki with sleep-heavy eyes.

Katsuki felt the weight of exhaustion pull at him, the burdens of kingship and responsibility set on his shoulders a presence he felt all the more recently. He couldn’t pinpoint any change save for the one between him and Izuku. A change created in the aftermath of explosions both physical and verbal.

By the time the smoke had cleared, Katsuki didn’t know how to fix the distance created again. Or if he even wanted to.

Trust was harder to win than wars, but far easier to shatter and lose. Had Katsuki trusted too quickly, caught up in the instincts that drove him forward? Now he found himself stuck in a sort in between that he wasn’t fond of. He usually made a decision and moved forward with it. He didn’t sit around debating what was right or what would be best. But instincts were a bitch. They still urged him to keep Izuku close, to trust him. And the nerd had been good about his reports now that the lower laboratory was safe to use again. He had been careful to explain each step to Katsuki, without prompting.

Other things had changed, in the small things that Izuku did. The way he asked about Othya more, the way he didn’t fight Katsuki at nearly every turn. Izuku had said he was going to try in their personal relationship, and he had.

But did Katsuki want to trust him again? Did he want to believe Izuku wouldn’t lie again, that he had really chosen Othya?

The nerd had said he’d chosen Othya and Katsuki. Katsuki just wasn’t sure that was actually true yet.

“About what?”

“Mates.”

Katsuki froze in place, the word echoing in his mind. “Why?”

Izuku hadn’t asked about mates since the fight on journey home from Sniycia. They hadn’t even been a full day’s ride from Lemsari at the time. Katsuki had been in a bad temper and on edge with a mate he didn’t know what to do with. Izuku hadn’t seemed interested in learning ever since and had been quick since then to remind Katsuki that the mating only went one way. As though Katsuki could forget.

“I don’t know anything about being one,” Izuku said, hands fisting in the bedclothes. “I wanted to know about mates. In general.”

“What brought this on?” Katsuki demanded, searching Izuku’s face for clues. “Why now?”

“Hanta told us a story the other night. He found us in the library and he invited us down to the courtyard that night. Me and Hitoshi, I mean. He told us-”

“I know what story he told you,” Katsuki growled. He’d heard the story of Agnese and Ervins a million times growing up. It was whispered in the darkness, a cautionary tale for those who still had stars in their eyes and dreams of having a mate. Agnese went mad with her need for Ervins, with the fact that Ervins didn’t want her back. In letting her mate instincts drive her, she destroyed everything.

Katsuki had grown up thinking Agnese was weak while knowing that he didn’t want or need a mate. He had his mother’s heartbreak to remind him of why. Mitsuki hadn’t survived long after the plague had stolen Masaru’s last breath. Katsuki had always known she’d wanted to die more than she’d wanted to live after they had buried his father. It hadn’t been long until Katsuki had been standing alone at her grave too. He’d promised himself then that’d never have that kind of weakness. He’d never hand someone his heart and let the gods take them away.

“So what?” he added. “It’s just a story, nerd.”

“So, it didn’t happen?” Izuku asked, sleep falling away to reveal intelligence as brutal and cutting as the winter was cold. Katsuki had never met someone who could keep up with his intellect. Not until Izuku.

“It did,” Katsuki admitted, between clenched teeth. He’d checked the records the first time Hanta had told it, determined to prove it had never happened. Instead he’d found evidence that it had. He remembered the pain that had flashed through Denki’s eyes when Katsuki had told him it was real. Denki had hidden it behind a grin and a stupid stunt shortly after, but Katsuki remembered.

“I guess it made me think.” Izuku shrugged. “I can go to the library if you prefer, but I don’t know where to start.”

“There aren’t books about mates the way there are about alchemy.” Katsuki shook his head. “And you’ll just come pester me with more questions, won’t you?”

“Probably,” Izuku confirmed, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Do you have time now?”

“Ask your questions, nerd.” Katsuki shrugged and sank down onto the edge of the bed. Not like he wanted to go out into the snow and wind anyway.

“Are you really stronger and faster?” Izuku asked, leaning forward. “Mina said that last spring, on the way out of Sniycia.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Katsuki shrugged. “Kiri mentioned it during sparring. Yoarashi too.”

“What are the other side effects?”

“Also includes a need to keep your mate close, protected. It’s not supposed to be like a cage, but some people with their tells go overboard.”

“Like Agnese,” Izuku surmised, lips thinning as he pressed them together.

“Yeah, like her.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair. “Other than that, heightened lust. Not for anyone else, just your mate.”

“You haven’t been interested in anyone since you met me?” Izuku blinked. “No one?”

“Didn’t have much of an interest before you.” Katsuki scowled, fighting back a blush that threatened to turn his skin pink again. “But yeah, no one since you.”

“Wow,” Izuku breathed. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“You tellin’ me you’ve been lookin’ at other people?” Katsuki bared his teeth. He wasn’t usually jealous, but he could admit he didn’t want Izuku with anyone else either.

“I’m not dead. I’ve looked.” Izuku rolled his eyes. “They just don’t compare to you.”

“Godsdamned right,” Katsuki grumbled.

“How did you find your mate?”

“I didn’t go lookin’, idiot.”

“I’m aware,” Izuku snapped. “I didn’t mean how did you find your mate. But how did Eijiro know it was Mina? How does anyone find their mate? I get that Eijiro didn’t know about Mina when you were children, or even teenagers with the way the body changes. But how did he know?”

“Scent.” Katsuki smirked. He found it amusing that someone as good-natured as Izuku woke up hissing like a bad-tempered kitten. He liked that no one else got to see this side of Izuku. And he found himself enjoying the fact that his mate pushed back. As annoying as Izuku’s stubborn nature could be, Katsuki found he appreciated that Izuku didn’t wilt. He could survive in Othya, thrive if he allowed it. A more fragile mate would never survive the frigid winters or blazing summer.

“Scent how? Like we smell?” Izuku wrinkled his nose.

“Yeah, you reek.” Katsuki laughed as Izuku leveled him with a disgruntled look. “Your sisters smelled sweet. Like perfumed flowers and baked goods.”

“What does Mina smell like? Or your other friends?” Izuku asked, sticking his tongue out at Katsuki.

“She smells like Mina.” Katsuki shrugged. “Doesn’t smell like anything special. Kiri’d say somethin’ else, something about tart and sweet and whatever else he smells. But she’s his mate, not mine.”

“What do I smell like?” Izuku asked after a minute.

“Fresh like the earth after a long rain. You smell like Othya’s air, sweet and bracing, and well-worn leather books, ink spilled over parchment.” Katsuki swallowed against a throat that had gone dry, ignored the ache in his chest pulsed with need whenever he was around Izuku for a while. “You smell like mine.”

“You smell like campfire smoke and something sweet. Maybe the air here? It seems so different. Some kind of spice too.” Izuku offered a lopsided smile. “So, I guess we both reek.”

Katsuki snorted. “Whatever, nerd.”

“So, you… smelled me?” Izuku prodded after a minute. “That’s how you knew?”

“You make it sound simple,” Katsuki grumbled. “It’s not like that. Yeah, I knew. I saw you and I wanted. I took a breath to try and focus and your scent slammed into me. I knew you were mine. Hisashi fuckin’ pompous about it. Thought since you were an alchemist you found a way to trigger the mate-tell.”

“Alchemy can’t do that.” Izuku swallowed, eyes wide. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“‘Course it can’t. I don’t know I ever really thought it. It was easier to focus on than him somehow knowing he had my mate. Or that I even had a mate.”

“Is it… common?” Izuku stumbled over the last word. “I mean, both you and Eijiro mated for people who don’t have a tell.”

“Mating outside Othya?” Katsuki shrugged and bit back a hiss as the movement aggravated a muscle he’d irritated the other day.

“Do you want me to try to work on that shoulder? I know a little bit about massage.” Izuku shifted closer.

“Maybe when I’m back,” Katsuki agreed. “How do you know about that?”

“I read,” Izuku retorted, blushing red. “Try it sometime.”

“Bet you weren’t reading the shit approved for a prince.” Katsuki grinned as Izuku’s blush darkened. “Hm, shortstack?”

“Shut up,” Izuku muttered. “Tell me about mating outside Othyan people.”

“Not much to tell. Mating itself is rare. It’s supposed to be this precious gift, remember? But yeah, guess it might be a little different. Kiri’s weird ‘cause Mina knows our customs. She’s practically Othyan by birth. But you don’t know our culture and what’s normal for mates. So, sure, guess there’s an adjustment.”

“Is it rare for people to mate to someone who doesn’t want them? And what do you do then? I mean for an Othyan like Ervins, he could’ve mated to someone else, right?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” Katsuki stretched his legs out and folded his arms across his chest. “Ervins could’ve mated for someone else. That would’ve been more of a mess. His instincts for someone else, while Agnese wanted him. It was already a nightmare.”

“The others said it’s not the curse, but it’s like a curse.”

“You’ve got all these needs and instincts tellin’ you that this person is yours. But that person doesn’t have to want you. They can walk away. Agnese would’ve spent her whole life huntin’ down Ervins if he poofed into thin air. But nothing would’ve kept him.”

Just like nothing save a few exchanged words kept Izuku tied to Katsuki.

“I see,” Izuku said softly. He looked past Katsuki to stare at the fireplace currently working to keep the room warm. Vihan lay in front of the blaze, still fast asleep in the predawn hours. “So, Ervins could’ve chosen someone else?”

“Yeah. That’s probably part of what drove Agnese mad. That he could be with anyone he wanted, that he could choose someone else.”

“They were all so afraid… Of having a mate. Of this and the real curse, right?”

“Yeah. It was supposed to be a gift.” Katsuki snorted. “Some gift.”

“What happened? I know you’ve told me a little, on the way back from temple. But what is the full story?” Izuku glanced up, eyes dark like the forests Mitsuki had warned held witches when he was a kid. Katsuki had never been afraid of the witches or cannibals she made up.

“Should get you a book of childhood stories,” Katsuki grumbled. “Save me some time.”

“Fine, don’t tell me,” Izuku huffed, moving to pull away.

Katsuki didn’t know when the nerd had gotten so close but he wasn’t letting him pull back. He reached out and caught Izuku’s wrist. He ignored the yelp and tugged the green-haired man close until he was leaning against Katsuki, a sprawl of limbs and with disbelief written all over his face. Katsuki snorted and wrapped an arm around Izuku’s chest, holding him there.

“Don’t be an idiot. Remember those gods I told you about? The ones that I don’t pray to.”

“Lauris, Andris, and Skaista, right?” Izuku said after a minute.

“Those fuckers,” Katsuki confirmed. “Lauris is the God of the Sky and the Light. Andris is the God of War and Bloodlust, Conquest, all that kind of shit. Skaista is the Goddess of Marriage, Wisdom, that crap. Jelena, Goddess of Death, and Kaspars, God of Beauty, they’re the major players mostly. They gave a gift to their people. They gave mates, who would make us in turn stronger, faster, fiercer. Most importantly, mates are supposedly your match. Kind of like that soulmate thing. It was rare, no gift from the gods can be as easy to find as dirt. But it was possible.”

‘What happened?”

“Ashax. This is a long ass time ago, thousands of years. We’re told as children that they feared this power gifted to a race already known as warriors, feared we’d conquer the world. We are warriors, so maybe that’s true. But it’s not all we are.” Katsuki’s free hand balled into a fist on his thigh, nails digging into his palm at the injustice. “The people of Ashax prayed to one of their own gods, Naxdohr, God of Vengeance and War, and asked for his intercession. And he intervened. He cursed the people of Othya, turning the blessing of our own gods into a shitty curse. Tragedy would follow once someone was mated.”

“Why didn’t your own gods do something? I was taught that gods don’t like it when other pantheons mess with them.”

“They don’t usually. Those fuckers I mentioned before? They claimed we were greedy. That we reached too far with the power they gave a few Othyans. No one knows how to reverse it without their help. They just let their own people die. It doesn’t matter how far you run. The curse finds you. The curse destroys everything.”

“What is the curse?” Izuku frowned, tipping his head back to look at Katsuki. “It’s so vague.”

“Sometimes it’s disease, sometimes it’s like Agnese. It ends in death, or destruction of what you hold dear. Like the gods can’t let anyone be happy now. It might not come immediately, but it comes anyway.”

“That’s cruel.” Izuku’s eyes reflected the grief and pain that the Othyan people had long ago come to accept, to fear. “Your gods should be ashamed of themselves.”

“I’ll tell ‘em that,” Katsuki chuckled.

“I do have more questions,” Izuku began carefully.

“I figured. Just go ahead.”

“Is it random? Who has a mate-tell and who doesn’t?”

“Yup, decreed by the gods.”

“So, not everyone has one,” Izuku clarified.

“Nope. Kami’s parents don’t. Sero’s either. Kiri’s were, and they’re dead from the same disease that took my parents.”

Izuku squeezed his forearm gently in silent apology. “Do mates ever develop instincts in return if they’re not Othyan?”

“Not that I know of.” Katsuki unclenched his free hand, brought it up to play in Izuku’s curls. “But I told ya, matings are rare. Rarer outside Othya, like you said before.”

“Do mates develop connections? Feel each other’s emotions, sense their presence?”

“In a kid’s imagination maybe. But…” Katsuki looked out at the gently falling snow as the day outside lightened. “My mom and dad were connected. Or, they joked about it. To the outside eye my mom seemed abrasive, my dad was a lot softer spoken. But he knew exactly what she needed and when. Maybe that’s knowing someone a long time.”

“That’s sweet.” Izuku’s smile was soft and sweet before it was gone, as quickly as it had come. “Mates can fall in love then? With the person they mate with? It’s not just instinct that drives someone?”

“Romantic crap isn’t really our style,” Katsuki said. “But I guess it’s possible.”

Izuku was silent for several minutes, as though processing the information. “Thank you, for answering my questions.”

“It wasn’t that big a pain.” Katsuki released Izuku and shoved him away gently before standing. He looked around the room, careful to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. “Can’t stay and chat anymore though. M’already late. I’ll see you tonight, alright?”

“Sure.” Izuku shifted to watch him. “Vihan and I will keep ourselves entertained.”

“If you get sick because you didn’t dress right, I don’t wanna hear it. Got it, shortstack?” Katsuki stepped out of their bedroom and headed for the door. If he was much later Eijiro or Mina was likely to send someone looking for him.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki paused and turned to glance back at Izuku, now standing in the doorframe of the room used to entertain personal guests, his sleep shirt an old one of Katsuki’s that clung to the nerd in the right ways and ended just below his ass.

Katsuki had to remind himself that he did not have time to take Izuku back to bed, or get dressed in this shit again.

“Yeah?”

“One more question. Can... “ Izuku swallowed and he wrapped his arms around his body, as though to ward off the winter chill the fire could not chase away. “Can someone be their mate’s curse?”

A shudder chased down Katsuki’s spine, the words he’d thrown at Izuku in his anger and pain echoed in Izuku’s eyes. “People say stupid shit when they’re angry, alright? You’re not a curse.”

The bruised look in Izuku’s eyes didn’t fade, even when he nodded.

“For fucks-” Katsuki cut of the curse with a snarl and stalked back across the room, annoyed at the nerd for taking that to heart of all things, at himself for saying it.

His hand fisted in the tunic and he hauled Izuku close. Katsuki brought their mouths together in a clash of lips and teeth. Izuku hummed and went pliant against him, met Katsuki hunger for hunger as they devoured each other with damp mouths and sharp teeth.

Katsuki pulled back too soon to suck in a lungsful of air. “You’re not a curse. Get the fuckin’ idiotic thought outta your head. Got it?”

“Got it.” Izuku smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Go, or you’ll be late. More than you are, I mean.”

Katsuki growled but turned away. He yanked the door open with more force than was required and stepped into the corridor. The door closed behind him with a thud. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, mind in the suite even as his feet carried him to his duties for the day.

So that was why the nerd had asked. He was going to have to take care of that.

Chapter Text

“Are you trying to make the explosion bigger?”

Izuku glanced up from his notes and yelped, leaning back on instinct. Mei was right there, her pale yellow eyes fixated on him with keen interest.

“Mei! Hi! Uh- What was that?” Izuku swallowed, tried to calm his racing heart. He had learned in the past few months working with her that Mei did not understand the concepts of personal space. If she found something interesting that was her sole focus. It could be helpful at times and disconcerting at others.

“You’ve been working on that for a while, right?” Mei motioned to the notebook open on Hitoshi’s lab table. “What’s the problem?”

“Oh.” Izuku glanced at the notes, eyes landing on several crossed-out lines from his most recent attempt. “I guess. I want it to be bigger than what we currently know how to make. But I can’t do that and keep it stabilized. I need firepower that won’t detonate the moment it’s touched.”

“Hm…” Mei folded her arms, brows bowed in thought. “There should be a way. I’ve dabbled with it, but nothing’s been right. I can grab my notes, we can compare.”

“I never thought about that.” Izuku smiled brightly. “You were self-taught, right?”

“Mhm. No alchemists in Othya, really. But I figured it out!” Mei grinned. “My notes are back home but I’ll bring them tomorrow. Oh! Have you looked at native ingredients?”

“Not much outside of a few native flowers and herbs,” Izuku admitted.

“I wanted to show you months ago, but then the other girl blew things up. Everything I brought in was gone!” Mei folded her arms, annoyance coloring her eyes for a minute.

Izuku winced. He hadn’t realized that Mei had had her own ingredients in the laboratory when Ochako had attempted a potion far beyond her capabilities. She was lucky that the only injuries she had sustained had been a minor concussion and a few cuts. Izuku hadn’t seen the damage immediately after- he hadn’t been allowed. But he had seen it a week later, when the ash, remaining equipment, and debris and been cleared away and the room had stood empty save for the tables. It had taken time to make sure the room, and the ones above and below it, were still secure. The repairs had taken even longer.

Ochako had no idea how fortunate she was to be alive still. Mostly, she was ecstatic that she could practice her magecraft again. Her cheeks had been flushed with excitement as she had told Izuku. She had been so eager to contribute to the kingdom that would allow her to choose her own husband, that had welcomed her talents as a mage with open arms. Izuku was happy for her, happier still that she was safe and healthy.

“Did anyone pay you for the equipment you lost? The ingredients?” Izuku didn’t know what the market value was for what she’d lost, but he could talk to Katsuki, figure it out. He should have asked sooner.

“Hm? Oh, yeah.” Mei waved her hand dismissively. “The king took care of it. Sent one of guys with a whole bag of money. It was perfect to set myself back up again. I got to upgrade a couple things, too. Your friend did me a favor.”

Of course, Katsuki had already taken care of it. Izuku should’ve realized that he would. Or that someone that worked closely with him would have. Eijiro or Mina maybe.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Izuku smiled.

“Back to your problem. I think it might be better if you tried Othyan ingredients.”

“I would like to see what they could do,” Izuku said, warming to the idea. “Would they be different from the ones I’m used to if they had a similar chemical makeup? And if so, by how much? There are so many unknowns and options.”

“Why’d you wait?” Mei asked. She picked up a vial with liquid the color of ripe pears inside and swirled it. It lightened slightly, streaks of lime now running through the liquid.

“Originally we were trying to concentrate on the basics. Things that would treat paralysis, heal minor wounds, erase fire. It took longer than I thought it would.” Especially when Hitoshi and Izuku had been covering Ochako’s failures.

“The girl, right? I knew there was something off about her. She’s sweet but she didn’t know the first thing about alchemy. She asked me why I was crushing the flower stem instead of chopping it.” Mei rolled her eyes, still focused on the vial. “It’s an easy answer and all.”

“You knew but you didn’t say anything?” Izuku arched an eyebrow.

“She didn’t mess with my babies, so what did I care?” Mei shrugged. “This is going to become a tablet that purifies water. I can’t wait to see it happen!”

“What if you mess it up?” Izuku frowned. “How will you know?”

“I’ll test if on myself. Or a willing participant.” Mei’s eyes glinted with excitement and a hunger to know more, to discover more. Izuku knew that feeling all too well. “Besides there are no failures. I learn from everything. Even what Ocha...Ochako? Anyway, whatever she did. What if I could create equipment that could survive the blast? Something is always going off in a real lab. We will too once we get working again. How cool would it be if I figured that out?”

Was this what it was like to talk to Izuku when he was focused on an idea? He supposed it might be. It was strange to be on the receiving end of it. “It would be very cool.”

Mei set down the vial and turned to focus on Izuku with a grin. “Ohhh.” She drew out the word as she rubbed her hands together. “What about wyvern hearts? Ooh! Or their firesacks would be better!”

“A wyvern?” Izuku frowned. “Do you mean a dragon?”

“They’re like cousins. That’s not important. The firesack would add power but it’s probably more stable than what you’re using now. I think I can get some so we can try it out. I can share the credit with you. Like a joint baby. And the flames would be different colors, so no one would mistake it for some boring potion that explodes. This is great!” Mei grinned, her intensity as bright as the sun.

“Wait, wait. What do you mean they’re like cousins?” The last thing he needed- or wanted- was to be using ingredients from an endangered species. Especially a species that Katsuki was fond of and Izuku was fascinated by. “Are they like dragons?”

“Stop focusing on that.” Mei bounced in place, impatience written all over her. “I have to go. I have someone in the market who has them. Or can get them. I’ll order a bunch! I’ll be back!”

“Mei, wait!”

She ignored his shout and was gone in a flash. Izuku didn’t seen her when he glanced outside the laboratory, almost as though she had disappeared. There was little doubt that she was halfway to the city already, given her enthusiasm.

“I hope she’s not buying anything illegal,” Izuku muttered to himself.

She wouldn’t, right? Mei wouldn’t…

Then again, maybe he should warn Katsuki. Just in case.

Izuku grabbed his notebook from Hitoshi’s workspace and stepped out of the lab, closing the door behind him. He didn’t want anyone wandering in and playing with stuff they shouldn’t. The last thing anyone needed was another situation like what Ochako had created. And the next person might not end up so lucky.

The path to Katsuki’s office was second nature now, committed to memory months ago. It was comforting to know that he was unlikely to take a wrong turn and end up lost in the castle he now called his home. And even if he did, as long as he could get to Katsuki’s office or their suite, he would be able to center himself again. It helped make Dragonspire feel more like his home, like he belonged here.

Izuku knocked on the door to Katsuki’s study.

“What?”

“Just me,” Izuku said as he slipped into the room. The door closed behind him with a soft thump.

Katsuki glanced up from the map of Aspya spread over his desk. “Not working on your next creation?”

“Actually, I was talking to Mei about the explosion potion I’ve been working on.” Izuku closed the distance between himself and the desk where Katsuki stood.

“There are about twenty things in alchemy designed to make something explode,” Katsuki snorted. “You need a better naming system.”

“What would you name it?” Izuku arched an eyebrow. “Something about how great you are?”

“World should know how great I am.” Katsuki smirked.

“How original,” Izuku teased, his smile so large it made his cheeks hurt.

“Tch. What’cha want, nerd?”

“Are wyverns and dragons different?” Izuku cut to the chase, glad that he could do that with Katsuki. There was no flowery words or double meanings. There hadn’t been the whole time they’d known each other. Katsuki had never lied to Izuku, even when he’d been saying things that Izuku hadn’t wanted to hear.

“Yeah. The fuck kinda question is that?” Katsuki scowled at Izuku.

“How are they different?” Izuku pressed. “Are wyverns endangered like dragons?”

“Nah, fuckers breed like rabbits. Dragons have four limbs; wyverns’ front legs are fused with their wings. Plus, they’re smaller than dragons and not as powerful. Dragons can carry people once they’re not hatchinglings, if they want to. Wyverns could, they’re big enough. But size is closer to a human’s so less people chance it. Fast as fuck though.”

“So, like a war horse compared to a race horse?” Izuku cocked his head.

“Yeah, kinda like that.” Katsuki shrugged. “They’re not the same as winged serpents but I guess they’re kind of a step between that and dragons. More related to the dragon.”

“You have winged serpents?” Izuku blinked.

“Yeah. Won’t seem ‘em much in the winter but next year if we go to any of the small towns further out, you’ll see ‘em.” Katsuki didn’t seem pleased by the thought. “They’re annoyin’.”

“I… One at a time. So, wyverns, they’re safe to use in alchemy?”

“I wouldn’t call anything like that safe,” Katsuki snorted. “But yeah, could use parts of one, I guess. What for?”

“I was talking to Mei. She thought that the firesacks of wyverns might help me with stabilize the explosion potion and create fire power. Maybe I can turn the firesacks into a powder. Enough concentration and your men could use it at higher amount maybe, do some damage to fortresses when you invade another kingdom.”

“So sure I’m going to invade another kingdom, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips.

“Not even dignifying that with an answer.” Izuku stuck his tongue out at his husband.

“Wanna say that again, shortstack?” Katsuki leaned closer.

“You don’t mind me using the wyvern firesacks though, right?” Izuku glanced down at the notebook in his hands. “Or more Othyan ingredients in general?”

“Why the fuck would that bother me, nerd?”

“Because,” Izuku paused to gather his words. “It could be dangerous. I could just be thinking about it too much. But if I wrote back to Toshinori and mentioned it, there is always a chance my father could hear. A chance he could be interested in what we created. I know my teacher would be, even though he would be more understanding if I couldn’t send him samples and the like. My father wouldn’t be so easy to handle. He’s a king who is used to getting what he wants and getting it now. I didn’t know you had wyverns, I don’t know if you protect their existence the same way you protect the dragons. And that’s just one example.”

“So, you’re saying that working with anything from here could start shit?” Katsuki watched him intently, was listening to him and his opinions.

He was taking Izuku seriously. He had since the beginning of the summer, since Izuku had demanded he be treated like an equal. Katsuki hadn’t failed in that regard. It was Izuku who had misstepped, who had destroyed so much of what they had been building between them. Izuku could admit to his mistakes and failings, his flaws. Gods knew he wasn’t perfect. He had relied on Katsuki to do the work because it was more comfortable, because it was safer than risking his own feelings. He’d been stupid, thinking that they could build a friendship and not have any emotion connecting them.

Their physical connection had survived, though it had taken time for that to come back too. Izuku knew that sex with someone didn’t require you to like them. But there was a vulnerability there that required at least some level of trust. For a while Izuku thought he’d destroyed everything down to that base level between them. But Katsuki reaching for him to quell a hunger the mate-tell fed didn’t mean things were okay. It didn’t mean they ever would be again. There were no guarantees.

Izuku set his notebook to the side and ran his fingers over the map between them, over the country of Othya. “I didn’t know anything about Othya when we met. Nothing really other than you were warriors we had no hope of defeating and you were all a little bloodthirsty. That is true, but your country is a lot more than that. Your people are more complex, your culture nuanced and beautiful.”

Katsuki stared at him, disbelief chasing through crimson eyes that Izuku was starting to search out in every crowd, in every room and situation.

“I have no doubt that learning to work with ingredients from this country would be fun, an adventure all of its own. I mean, wyverns are only the beginning. What can shed dragon scales do? What about the flowers I’ve never seen before? Or the weeds that flourish here and annoy your gardeners and farmers but that no one’s thought to use? There’s over a million things you’d never think to use because you didn’t have the alchemists to test them.”

“You’re saying that Othya could make your alchemy better?” Katsuki’s fingertips traced the outline of Othya on the map. Sparks raced over Izuku’s skin where their hands brushed, the heat from Katsuki’s skin a brand on Izuku’s.

“I’m saying that Othya is untapped potential. For all either of us know, this could become the home of new discoveries in the years to come. This could be where alchemists want to be to learn, to experiment. It could change alchemy.”

“What’s the catch?” Katsuki asked, eyes narrowing.

“I won’t start trying if you don’t want me to,” Izuku said, ignoring the burn to know more, to figure out the secrets that Othya had hidden within its untapped potential. He stamped down on the itch to begin, to learn what he could do with the new resources at his disposal. It wasn’t that easy. It rarely was.

‘Why wouldn’t I?” Katsuki watched Izuku carefully. “You gonna blab?”

“No.”

Izuku could picture Toshinori’s excitement, the way his eyes sunken eyes would dance with anticipation as he read Izuku’s letters. Izuku could imagine the pride Toshinori would feel, the way he would proclaim it to anyone who would listen. Even if he couldn’t say why, he’d want others to know he was proud. It was a pride that Hisashi had never once tossed Izuku’s way. He knew Toshinori would want to hear everything, to share in Izuku and Hitoshi’s triumph and discoveries. It wouldn’t be meant to be used against Othya. But it would be, if Hisashi had a say. It would be if other alchemists had a say. Even Toshinori would want to try his hand, as well-meant as his reasons would be. That was why Izuku would never be able to tell his teacher. Not if it put Othya’s creatures and people at risk. Not if it meant Katsuki had to fight war after war to keep the creatures that called this land home safe. People were greedy. Izuku knew that well.

“No, I won’t. I don’t want anyone using it against you. So, if you want me to try, I won’t tell anyone back in Sniycia.”

“Not even your teacher?” Katsuki asked.

Izuku shook his head. “No one. I promise.”

“Let’s see what you find.” Katsuki grinned, a king who had won wars sure of another victory. “You and the sleepy-lookin’ asshole can work on it while you work on your other shit.”

“Thanks.” Izuku laughed. “I can’t wait to get started.”

“Here.” Katsuki shoved a platter of full of high-protein items that included dried meats and nuts at him. “Eat.”

“Is there a reason you feel the need to feed me?” Izuku asked. He took a handful of nuts, though.

‘You forget to eat.” Katsuki glared at him. “I’ve seen you.”

“A few times!” Izuku protested, frowning at his husband.

“M’not stupid, nerd.” Katsuki shook his head. “You forget all the damn time.”

Izuku stuck his tongue at Katsuki, at a loss for a proper retort.

Katsuki chuckled. “You might as well sit. Where’s the shadow?”

“Vihan? Back in the suite. He likes the cold most of the time, but he didn’t want to get up today.”

“Lazy shit.” Katsuki grumbled. “Though stayin’ in bed all day sounds good.”

“You’d get bored.” Izuku shook his head as he sank into a seat.

“Who said I would be alone?” Katsuki grinned wickedly.

Izuku coughed as he choked on his own spit, blushing bright red as Katsuki roared with laughter. He couldn’t say he’d mind spending a winter day in bed though.

“Tell me more about wyverns,” Izuku wheezed, fighting the blush that stained his cheeks and heated his skin. A change of topic was good. “Tell me everything about them. The winged serpents too.”

“Should’ve known you’d ask.” Katsuki shook his head. “What do you want to know?”

“I told you, everything.”

“Start somewhere, nerd.”

Izuku smiled and leaned back in the chair. “Well, first of all…”

Chapter Text

“God…”

“I’m a god, huh?”

“Shut up,” Izuku groaned, a spent heap beneath Katsuki’s form.

Katsuki snorted, breathing in the mingling scents of musk, sweat, and something purely Izuku. His breath ghosted over the skin of Izuku’s neck, produced weak shivers from the man below him. His voice was heavy with exhaustion when he spoke, words a little slurred. “Does that mean you’re gonna start worshiping me?”

“Mmm,” Izuku hummed sleepily. “I don’t think so.”

“Hah. Make you eat those words, nerd,” Katsuki grumbled without heat, boneless and content in the dark of their room.

“Kacchan, you’re heavy,” Izuku whined, though he made no move to shove Katsuki off him.

“Little shit,” Katsuki muttered. He rolled to the side and stayed there, face down in the pillow instead of against Izuku’s neck.

“Better,” Izuku said with a yawn. Katsuki could hear the nerd’s smile in the dark.

Katsuki let himself drift, weightless and floating somewhere between awake and asleep. His body ached from the sword training at dawn, shoulder hissing in displeasure at the way he’d rolled to avoid a coming blow. It would heal, as would the other aches that vied for attention. No warrior was going to land right every time. Katsuki knew how to work through any discomfort or pain and keep going. He’d been taught young that warriors either kept going or died when they stopped in a battle. He never planned on being the one who didn’t come home.

Especially now that he had something- someone to come home to.

It was silent for a while, long enough that Katsuki thought Izuku had fallen asleep.

“Kacchan?” Izuku whispered into the dark. He still sounded sleepy, relaxed.

“Mmm?” Katsuki didn’t move, didn’t want to. He didn’t want to remember that they had to clean up before he could give into the heavy weight of exhaustion and a hopefully dreamless sleep.

“Do you ‘member me asking to see the juno?” Izuku asked, words barely formed and soft.

“Yeah.” Tension seeped back into Katsuki’s shoulders and tightened the muscles in his body. He didn’t want to have this conversation. Not now or ever. He didn’t want to fight with Izuku about going after some golden-horned mountain goat that supposedly bled healing flowers. No one came back from hunting the juno. The skill level of the hunters didn’t seem to matter. Whether they fell to their deaths or the stupid thing gored them and left the idiots with gaping wounds bleeding out, no one came back. Even the dragons learned to keep a wide berth from the stupid goats. Why couldn’t Izuku take a hint and do the same?

“Can I try?”

Such a simple question.

“No.” Katsuki shook his head and pushed himself up, any hopes of sleep disappearing. He grit his teeth, prepared for Izuku to come back with some kind of argument about why he should go, why he could go.

“Okay,” Izuku agreed.

Katsuki glanced over at him -surprised at the easy agreement- to see Izuku watching him, green eyes weighted with sleep and sorrow. The fragile thing in Katsuki’s chest clenched.

“C’mon, nerd,” Katsuki said, nudging Izuku gently. “No sleepin’ in this bed till you’re clean.”

Izuku protested and whined instead of commenting on the change in subject. Katsuki ignored it in favor of getting them both clean again. Their time in the baths was short and focused. Izuku smiled softly but he moved quickly despite his exhaustion. They collapsed back into bed, smelling like soap and just as naked as before. Izuku immediately curled closer, no doubt seeking the heat that Katsuki seemed to produce like he had a fire lit inside his core. The nerd was asleep soon after, snoring softly as he did when he was deeply asleep.

Katsuki nestled a hand in Izuku’s curls, the other man already half-sprawled on top of him. He stared up at the ceiling, thoughts chasing one another in his mind and refusing to let him slip into any kind of sleep.

He should have expected the question eventually. After all, they had been talking about what alchemical ingredients Othya might be hiding within the confines of its landscape earlier in the week. Izuku’s offer- no, his promise- to keep his discoveries quiet had been unexpected, but Katsuki couldn’t say it was unwelcome. He had a feeling that giving up the ability to tell Toshinori Yagi about the creations Izuku made, the ingredients he pioneered working with, was more of a sacrifice than the green-haired man was going to admit.

Yeah, he should’ve expected that Izuku would ask about the juno again. It was the one Othyan component that Izuku had been dying to get his hands on since he’d learned about it in the late spring, in a garden bathed in early morning light. He knew that Izuku could handle himself with a sword. They had sparred together often enough to prove that. Katsuki knew that Izuku was smart, and resilient and resourceful. He knew that Izuku wasn’t some weak clingy mate, he’d known that for a long time. He still didn’t want the nerd to die trying to get his hands on some mystical flowers spawned from the blood of a goat that was stupid enough to get wounded.

And the juno could kill him. It would, if it felt threatened and was given half a chance. They weren’t social creatures and probably more territorial than the dire wolves that made their home in the forests near the castle. Which was saying something. Katsuki didn’t want to take the chance. He didn’t want to find that his mate never came home because of a fuckin’ goat. That meant his answer made the most sense. It was the right choice.

Katsuki didn’t hesitate. He made a decision and he followed it through with it. It made him a good king and a good leader in battle.

Did it make him a good mate?

“Can I try?”

It was a simple question. Katsuki wondered how often Izuku had asked that of others in his life leading up to now. How many times had he received the same answer? Katsuki wondered how many times he’d heard the same quick and final no. How many times had he been shut down without being given a chance? Because he was a prince, a mate, the son who had defied Hisashi’s wishes.

Izuku had been quick to argue with Katsuki every other time that the idea of hunting down the juno for its healing properties had been suggested. He’d never been afraid to argue with Katsuki about anything, actually. It was one of the things that Katsuki appreciated, that his mate wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him for something he wanted. Izuku didn’t back down, didn’t shy away from Katsuki’s temper when it flared. He didn’t know what had changed, didn’t want Izuku just agreeing with him because he said so.

But he didn’t want Izuku to get hurt either.

So, what now?

“You’re a pain in the ass,” Katsuki muttered. “You know that?”

Izuku’s soft snore was the only answer he received.

OoOoO

“What?” Izuku looked at Katsuki like he’d grown another head.

“You heard me,” Katsuki growled. “Dress warm, ‘cause I ain’t listening to your ass complain the whole time.”

“But you said no.” Izuku frowned, worrying his lower lip between his teeth.

“You wanna go hunt the stupid goat or not?” Katsuki snapped.

He’d cleared his schedule and told Eijiro and Mina to take care of anything that came up unexpectedly. He would meet with them when he was back for updates and to make the decisions only he could make. Most of the meetings would be rescheduled for the next few days, crammed into an already busy schedule. It was the price he paid for taking a day that had been full of discussions with dignitaries to haggle out trade agreements and the like.

Izuku’s slow smile was bright enough to blind someone. “Yeah, I want to.”

“Hurry the fuck up then.” Katsuki folded his arms across his chest and ignored the way his heart slammed against his ribcage, as though looking for exit.

Izuku tripped, legs tangling in the bedding in his haste to get ready. He was on his feet again in seconds, shooting Katsuki an annoyed look when Katsuki snorted in laughter.

“Like you’re always graceful,” Izuku muttered.

“You kiddin’ me, nerd? When have you seen me faceplant like that?” Katsuki snorted again.

“Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean you’ve never done it,” Izuku countered.

“‘Cause it hasn’t happened, asshole.”

“Lies,” Izuku said, voice muffled by the heavy tunic he was pulling on. He merged moments later, hair fluffing wildly. “How long will we be gone?”

“Just today. “

“Wait.” Izuku paused, one leg in his pants and looked up at Katsuki. “Didn’t you have meetings today?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Katsuki shrugged.

“Is this going to cause you any issues?” Izuku frowned. “Because if it is, we don’t have to…”

“I said don’t worry about it.” Katsuki scowled. “Stop yappin’ and get movin’, will ya?”

Izuku gave him a long, assessing look, clearly unconvinced.

“Stop actin’ like the extras. If they whine, I’ll invade and conquer their kingdoms, alright? Now get going, shortstack.”

“Kacchan!” Izuku sputtered laughter as he tugged on the other pant leg. “You can’t invade a kingdom just because someone annoyed you!”

“Can do whatever I want,” Katsuki countered, lips curving up.

“Alright, you can. But maybe you shouldn’t.” Izuku sat on the bed and started to lace up his heaviest boots. “No wonder people are scared of you.”

“They act like chickens, I treat ‘em like chickens.” Katsuki shrugged again. “And chickens don’t run shit.”

“You’re horrible.” Izuku shook his head but he was fighting a grin. “You know that, right?”

“M’exactly what I need to be.” Katsuki tossed a fur-lined, leather jerkin at Izuku before turning to pull his cloak on. “You move any slower and the snow is gonna melt.”

“With how cold it is? I doubt that will happen for months.” Izuku shrugged into the jerkin, fingers flying over the catches to close it.

“Exactly.”

Izuku scowled as he looked up. “You’re an asshole.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki held out Izuku’s cloak. “But you like me anyway.”

Izuku glared at him as he took the cloak.

Katsuki grinned, unrepentant. Other people didn’t get to see Izuku annoyed like this. He hid everything behind polite words and smiles. Even with friends the nerd had a tendency to try to make everyone happy, to not cause too much of a stir. With Katsuki, he could be grumpy, could get irritated at stupid shit. It was as though Izuku didn’t have to put up so many walls when they were alone, whether it was in the suite or their offices. When it was just the two of them, he wasn’t a prince with impeccable manners.

Katsuki preferred it that way.

He led the way through the halls and out into the frigid air, the wind stirring up snow and whirling it around the two of them. Katsuki reached over and yanked Izuku’s hood over his head, ignored the protests from the shorter man. He looked toward the mountains, already plotting out the quickest path.

Eijiro had tried to come with them, worried about the weather and the journey, worried about what it would take to make a juno bleed. Katsuki had a bow and quiver along with his curved swords and several hunting knives scattered over his body. Izuku had his sword and Katsuki had found a bow Izuku could use until he had one made for the nerd, as well as several more hunting knives. Katsuki was going to need to buy or commission several of those too for Izuku. It might’ve been safe to be outside in Sniycia without multiple weapons, but it wasn’t in Othya. Especially not in the winter, when dire wolves and other predators were just as likely to attack small parties of humans as they were to attack other prey.

They both carried small packs with rations and spiced cider. Katsuki didn’t plan to wait until he was back at the castle this evening for a drink or something to eat. Trudging through the snow sucked enough without being hungry on top of it.

“Ready?” Izuku grinned at Katsuki, excitement barely contained dancing in his eyes.

“C’mon, nerd.” Katsuki shook his head, lips curving up. “Let’s get your blood.”

“I’m hoping that that they’re more like flowers that spring from the blood, rather than blood-shaped flowers-”

“The fuck is blood shaped like?” Katsuki interrupted.

Izuku continued shot him a look but kept talking. “Or even flowers made of blood. That would make more sense as to how the juno ingests them and grows strong again, rather than drinking or eating its own blood. There are multiple flowers we already use for alchemy, maybe these would be a charged version of that? But then that begs the question of what kind of flowers do you think it produces? One type? Multiple? And another thing…”

Katsuki let the nerd ramble as they headed into the elements, their destination ahead of them. The mountains rose into the sky and disappeared behind clouds long before the top.

In the end, the decision to go looking for the mountain goat had seemed best. He knew it would make Izuku happy, and he’d been right. Izuku kept pace beside him with ease, going on about the different applications he might be able to find for the flower and its potential properties, eyes bright at the ideas that tumbled from his brain and out of his mouth. For whatever reason, doing this was important to Izuku. Katsuki didn’t know why, didn’t pretend to understand the reasons that drove his mate. Maybe it was the new and unknown, or the sense of adventure. What mattered was that this made Izuku happy and drove away the shadows that had lingered in his eyes since Katsuki, in his anger, had called him a curse.

Plus, there was less chance of Izuku being injured if Katsuki was there. Katsuki knew the terrain and knew more about the creature they were hunting. So did Eijiro, Denki, Yoarashi, or Hanta. There was no reason that Katsuki couldn’t have sent any of them with Izuku, with strict orders to keep his mate safe. But desk work and meetings with simpering dignitaries wasn’t Katsuki’s style. He preferred action. And he’d sparred with Izuku often enough over the past few months, knew his style. They worked better together than Izuku would with anyone else. And Katsuki was skilled enough that the two of them should be fine, minus a few bruises and scrapes.

Being a mate meant he would need to work with the nerd every now and then. Katsuki figured if Izuku could give up something that mattered to him- like telling a teacher that was respected and known around the world about the new discoveries- then maybe Katsuki could give him this.

Izuku had been true to his word, at least so far. He’d said he’d chosen Othya and that seemed to be true. If Izuku had been charmed by the country before, he was besotted now, interested in knowing and learning everything he could. His questions were endless and could be simple one minute and complex the next. He’d poured through book after book in the library, his current focus on the laws of Othya and its history.

Yeah, the nerd had fucked up. And there was a part of Katsuki was still pissed that he’d lied for months, that he hadn’t told Katsuki. That he hadn’t even considered telling Katsuki about Ochako until there only options left to him were tell the truth or let Ochako keep fucking up and possibly hurting people. Katsuki didn’t lie. He didn’t see a reason to. The fact that Izuku had, and had since leaving Sniycia, while claiming Katsuki was being a dick? Yeah, that didn’t sit well.

His father had been big a believer in giving people second chances. And that once a fight was done, it was done. Bury the bone and move the fuck on or cut ties.

Katsuki couldn’t cut ties with Izuku. He wasn’t even sure how. It wasn’t like there was just the mate-tell that kept them together. There were marriage vows and a treaty all but signed in blood that bound them together too. And that didn’t touch on the emotions that tied them together. Because like it or not there was emotion there, thin gossamer threads that looked so easy to snap, but had a core of metal to them that wouldn’t make it so easy to cut them away.

So, bury the bone and move the fuck on. And that was what he was doing.

The nerd had better appreciate it. Katsuki wasn’t fond of winter and the cold and snow it brought. And yet, here he was, wading through snow drifts and freezing his ass off. He should have said yes to Izuku’s request before the snow had fallen. A new law, no juno hunting in winter.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki glanced over at a wide eyed Izuku, his neck craning back as he took in the cliffside in front of them.

“Can’t climb a cliff, shortstack?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t think anything was stopping you.’

Izuku grinned. “Bet I make it to the top before you.”

“As if you could,” Katsuki growled. His gloved fingers found purchase on the unforgiving rock wall and he hauled himself up, instinct and strength guiding him as he began scaling the cliff covered in ice and snow. One wrong placement could send him hurtling back down to the ground. Katsuki had done enough stupid shit as a child to know what that could mean. But he wasn’t that arrogant kid anymore.

“Is that as fast as you can go?” Izuku taunted to his right and above. “I’m going to win easy.”

“Gonna make you eat those words, you little shit.” Katsuki grinned and hauled himself up quicker.

The two of them raced each other up the side of the cliff, hurling insults and taunts back and forth as they went. The wind was frigid and strong, their cloaks more hindrances in this moment than anything else. Izuku moved as though he had grown up at Katsuki’s side, learning the woods and mountains and coming home with scraped knees and bruises. Izuku was reckless, pushing himself up the side of the cliff with little regard for his own safety, or what would happen if he fell. But his laughter carried on the wind, bright and full of joy that warmed Katsuki more than any fire would.

They reached the top of the cliff almost at the same time. Katsuki hauled himself up and to his feet, turning to meet Izuku with a grin. The same adrenaline and lightning danced in green eyes as it had during the dragon flight during the fall. Katsuki caught his wrist and tugged Izuku close, claiming his lips in a harsh kiss. Izuku melted into him, free hand fisting in Katsuki’s hair as he pressed closer.

Time could’ve frozen for all Katsuki cared in that moment, drunk on the taste of the man pressed against him. Izuku was the one to pull back first, lips a little swollen from the kisses they had shared and eyes still a storm barely contained. “If this is your idea of a date, I’m impressed so far.”

“You’re fuckin’ embarrassing, shortstack,” Katsuku muttered, face growing hot as he looked away.

“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Izuku murmured, sounding far too pleased with himself.

Katsuki flipped his mate off.

“Where to now?” Izuku grinned.

“Wherever those tracks take us,” Katsuki said, pointing to the impressions left in the snow. The hoof prints looked similar enough to a normal mountain goat, with cloven hooves and two toes spread wide for balance. Juno tracks were larger than that of their cousins though, their weight heavier. It made the impressions longer in length and deeper.

“We already found them?!” Izuku demanded, his grin wide enough Katsuki wondered how his face didn’t split in half. “How? That’s amazing!”

“Guess we’re lucky. They’re fresh. And it’s probably average size, I’d guess.” The wind had died down for the moment, making tracking potentially possible, but he knew that wouldn’t last for long. “Let’s move before the weather decides to change again.”

Izuku nodded and followed Katsuki’s lead, notching an arrow on his bow as they followed tracks pressed into the snow. Katsuki pulled a hunting knife from its sheath on his thigh, focus on where the tracks led them.

“Kacchan,” Izuku whispered. “Look.”

Katsuki looked up and to the left, spotted the juno staring at them, its golden horns glinting against the snow as sunlight peeked through the clouds.

“Guess we found our fuckin’ goat.”

“It just needs to bleed a little,” Izuku murmured, more to himself it seemed than Katsuki. “It can heal itself and I’d rather not kill it.”

“If it doesn’t try to kill us, shortstack. Remember that.” Katsuki shifted carefully, eyes on his target now.

“How do you want to do this?” Izuku asked.

“Shoot an arrow. We see what happens.” Katsuki shrugged.

The juno shifted, as though it knew what they were talking about.

“Is that how you lead men in battle? See what happens?” Izuku asked. “Good strategy, Kacchan.”

“Shut it, shithead.” Katsuki shifted forward, preparing for the juno’s movement. Towards them or away? Probably towards them, given the stories.

The twang of a bow string released and an arrow whizzed by Katsuki’s head, imbedding in the tree near the juno’s head. The creature started and charged forward, lowering its head, clearly intent on attack.

“Move!” Katsuki hollered, jumping to the side and out of the way of the creature that seemed more angry than spooked. He turned, keeping the juno in his sight as it turned again. “Did you miss?!”

“We’d never be able to cut the arrow out!” Izuku shook his head. “I want to get a sample, not torture it!”

“Right,” Katsuki growled. “I’m gonna get close and cut it. Should spill blood for your damn flowers and let the juno heal itself all in one!”

“And when it gores you? What then?”

“Not gonna happen.”

The juno bleated a battle cry and charged again, head bowed and horns at the ready. Katsuki dodged at the last second and brought his hunting knife up in a quick slash, the blade cutting into flesh and spilling crimson red onto the snow.

The juno cried out again but didn’t stop moving, creating a trail of blood in its wake. Flowers bloomed, small and red like the ones that covered the mountainsides in the spring and early summer. The only difference between this and the triglav flowers was the color, too deep to be anything but created from blood.

“Grab your fuckin’ flowers!” Katsuki shouted, eyes still on the creature.

The juno bent its head and ate the flowers closest to it, the wound Katsuki had created knitting back together before his eyes, as though it had never been.

It charged again.

“Watch out!”

Katsuki felt something slam into him, knocking him to the side and into the snow. Izuku pressed his body to Katsuki’s, a living shield.

“I’ve got them. Go!” Izuku gasped. He pushed off Katsuki and turned back, his eyes on the juno.

Katsuki shoved to his feet and nudged Izuku hard. Together the two of them backed away, eyes still on the juno.

“Think it will leave us alone since we’re not attacking anymore?” Izuku asked, voice hushed.

“We haven’t been blinded by the brilliance of its horns.” Katsuki shrugged. “And I’d rather not jump off the cliff.”

“Maybe the snow will break our fall?”

“You wanna chance it, nerd?”

“I’d rather not.”

The juno watched them for a long moment before turning away, nosing at the snow to uncover the grass beneath.

“Why…” Izuku murmured, curiosity coloring his words.

“Don’t care, just go.” Katsuki tugged his too curious mate after him, retracing their steps towards the cliff. The juno didn’t follow.

“We did it!” Izuku grinned, clearly elated by their success.

“You got the flowers? Cause I’m not doin’ that again.”

“Yeah.” Izuku motioned to a small pouch at his hip that Katsuki hadn’t seen before. “I wasn’t able to get more than a few. I’ll have to be careful in how I use them. I can’t believe it!”

“Good. I need a drink and a hot fire fuckin’ inside,” Katsuki grumbled. “Let’s go.”

“Thank you,” Izuku said. “For this and all, I mean.”

“You gonna make it up to me?” Katuski grinned.

“Mmm,” Izuku hummed, his tongue wetting chapped lips. “I’m sure I’ll think of something. I have an active imagination.”

Katsuki’s mouth watered at the implications. “Let’s get home, nerd.”

‘Yeah. Let’s go home.” Izuku smiled.

Chapter Text

“You’re just lucky it’s Baku and not Noboru.” Hanta’s voice floated over the stacks of books to Izuku. He glanced up, his attention lured away from the book open in front of him at the mention of Katsuki.

“I know, I know,” Denki groaned. “I would have never worked for that greedy ass, though.”

“Like that would’ve mattered to him,” Hanta snorted. “Everything in Othya belonged to him.”

Izuku frowned. Who had owned everything in Othya? He tried to see where Hanta and Denki were, but books about Othyan history and myths about the juno surrounded him and obstructed his view.

“Yeah, even if the rest of us starved.” Denki sounded bitterer than Izuku had ever heard.

Izuku pushed back his chair and stood, maneuvering around the table and a length of shelves before he found the two in question. “Who’s Noboru?”

Denki jumped, sparks flying from his fingertips as swear words fell from his lips and colored the air blue.

“Stop sparking before you start a fire.” Hanta elbowed Denki in the ribs. He turned to meet Izuku’s gaze. “How long have you been there?”

“I was sitting at the table over there.” Izuku gestured behind him. “And that doesn’t answer my question.”

“He was Queen Mitsuki’s cousin,” Denki said, He leaned against the bookshelf. “Baku’s regent after she died.”

“Right, I think I saw his name one of the books on Othyan history.” He had opened the book to get a sense of where it stood in Othya’s history and seen the name below Mitsuki’s before he’d closed the book and set it to the side. He was a long way off reading anything about recent history in Othya. He was at least a thousand years back in his current reading. “What did he do?”

“What do you mean?” Denki asked, eyes skittering this way and that and looking everywhere but at Izuku.

“You said he was greedy and that he didn’t care if you starved. What happened?” Izuku knew that power had a tendency to corrupt, there were examples of it throughout Aspya’s history. But even Izuku’s father- who ruled with the expectation of absolute obedience from his people and family alike- cared if his people were starving. For all that Hisashi and Izuku’s relationship was complicated and sour, that didn’t make him a bad king. Hisashi had always done what he felt was best for his kingdom and its inhabitants.

Or, he was at least good to the people he considered to be people. Izuku had never agreed with his father on the treatment of slaves, or even having them. He didn’t like the concept of owning another human being. Had Noboru thought he owned the people of Othya? Had he thought he owned Katsuki?

“You need to talk to Baku about that.” Denki shook his head quickly, holding his hands in front of his body defensively. “I’m not going there.”

“Isn’t it common knowledge?” Izuku cocked his head and glanced at Hanta.

“Sorry.” Hanta shrugged. “If he hasn’t told you, I’m not going to.”

“Alright,” Izuku sighed. “I guess I’ll go find him.”

“He might not want to talk about it,” Denki warned with a frown.

“I’m still going to ask.” Izuku rolled his eyes. “I’m not afraid of his temper.”

Hanta shook his head, dark eyes watching Izuku closely. “Go ahead. You’ll see.”

Izuku waved absentmindedly as he turned away from the two friends and headed for the library entrance. He tried to remember what Katsuki had said his schedule for the day was. Izuku had been half-awake at the time and far more interested in tracing the lines of Katsuki’s body illuminated by the firelight in their dark bedroom than he had with his husband’s list of meetings. Now he wished he’d paid more attention. He had no idea where to start looking and there was no saying that Katsuki’s schedule hadn’t changed. Anything that required his immediate attention would have been pushed to the top.

Well, he wasn’t holding court today. Izuku hadn’t thought he could meet anyone who disliked court as much as he did. He’d been wrong. Katsuki detested court and all of its protocols. Othya’s procedures required a lot less bowing and scraping than Sniycia’s had and was more straightforward as a whole. Katsuki still hated it. He was clearly a man of action, preferred being out and doing to meetings or court proceedings filled with endless pomp and drama. Izuku could appreciate that. But it didn’t make Katsuki easier to find.

Neither did his lack of entourage of any kind. It was a good thing that Katsuki was a brilliant fighter, because he refused any kind of guard following him around. Izuku was starting to see that Katsuki guarded what privacy he had intensely. Izuku knew the feeling. Royal families were often put on display for their people. They were served as they served the people of their countries and that meant there were some sacrifices made. Privacy was one of the first to go. It reassured people to see their royals and it was the only access that many common people would ever have.

Since Katsuki was an emperor, there were that many more people that relied on him and looked to him for reassurance. It didn’t matter that Katsuki didn’t enjoy using the title, it didn’t make the name less valid. Izuku was glad that Katsuki had friends who would defend what privacy he had so wholeheartedly. Izuku just wished he didn’t count as one of the people that it needed to be defended from.

It was clearly a work in progress. Which was fine, Izuku understood how hard trust was to earn and he had fucked it up. But how long he was going to be proving himself to Katsuki and to the rest of Othya- that remained unclear.

“Izuku!”

Izuku looked up at the cheerful greeting and smiled as he spotted Eijiro moving towards him through the throng of guards, courtiers, and servants.

“Eijiro!” Izuku’s smile warmed as he made his way to the redhead's side. “I didn’t expect to see you. I thought you would be with Kacchan, preventing him from killing the ambassadors.”

“Mina’s job today.” Eijiro grinned, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Spar with me later? I’ve been meaning to ask you again but we’ve both been busy.”

“I would love to spar with you.” Izuku grinned. Eijiro had been easy to like from the moment the two of them had met. Izuku was glad to say that he counted the redhead as a friend. He would like to think Eijiro would say the same if asked. “It might have to be tomorrow though.”

“Oh?” Eijiro teased, mischief alive in his features. “Another date in the wilds with Baku?”

“That was his idea.” Izuku stuck his tongue out at his friend. “But not this time. I was hoping to track him down, I have a few questions for him.”

“Maybe I can help?” Eijiro said, the two of them falling instep as they walked through the corridors.

“You’re not too busy? You were on your way somewhere, weren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t be Baku’s best friend if I didn’t have time for his mate!” Eijiro protested. “And there’s no way I could call myself your friend if I didn't have time for you.”

“Alright.” Izuku nodded. “I’m trying to find out about Noboru. Denki and Hanta mentioned him while they were talking. I know he was Kacchan’s regent after his mother died. But that’s all I know. When I asked what happened they wouldn’t tell me.”

Eijiro was quiet for a minute, the lines and angles of his face serious as he looked at Izuku again. “You need to ask Katsuki about that.”

“That’s what Hanta and Denki told me too. Why? It’s common knowledge, isn’t it?” Izuku frowned. “I could pick up a history book right now and read all about it.”

“You wouldn’t get the full story.” Eijiro shook his head. “I’m sorry, ‘Zuku. If you needed anything else, I would help you in a heartbeat. But you really need to talk to him.”

“You were there, weren’t you?”

“For some of it,” Eijiro agreed. “But I’m not your mate.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Izuku sighed. “Is he busy until tonight?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I wish I had better news.” Eijiro looked at his feet.

“It’s fine.” Izuku bumped his friend with his shoulder gently. “I was looking for him already. A few hours won’t kill me.”

“Still sorry.” Eijiro shrugged, clearly wishing he could make the situation easier.

“Stop.” Izuku smiled. He knew what it was like when the anxiety in his mind blamed him for things that weren’t his fault, twisted every situation around until Izuku felt sick with all the things he thought he should have done. There were times when he wondered if he would ever stop apologizing for his mistakes- both real and imagined. He didn’t want Eijiro to do that around him. “I don’t want to keep saying it’s fine.”

They were quiet for a few minutes, walking together in a silence that didn’t feel uncomfortable. Izuku had fought to achieve it with many of the people he had known in Sniycia, Hitoshi and Ochako aside. Usually he felt so unsettled by the silence that he ended up rambling endlessly instead, annoying whomever he was with.

It wasn’t like that with the friends he had made in Othya. And even when Izuku did ramble, they never seemed to mind.

“Can I ask you something?” Izuku asked, breaking their silence. “You can say no. It’s not about Noboru.”

“Sure.” Eijiro shrugged.

“Mina’s your mate, right?”

Eijiro swallowed, his steps slowing before he came to a halt. Izuku turned to look at him, waited as his friend attempted to find the words and failed several times.

“Yeah,” Eijiro rasped finally. “But she doesn’t know.”

“Because of the curse?” Izuku asked, his voice soft.

Eijiro nodded, pain and sorrow that had aged with him reflecting in his eyes. “She was so heartbroken when my parents died, when Baku’s died. We’re the only family she has. I don’t want her to lose a mate too. It’s my duty, as her friend, her mate, everything- to protect her. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t grow up with the curse the way you did. But… aren’t you letting the curse win right now?” Izuku shifted closer, his voice dropping. “Katsuki told me the curse lives to cause nothing but sorrow and tragedy.”

“Exactly. That’s why I can’t let her get hurt! The thought of her crying again…” Eijiro trailed off, blinking hard against eyes that glimmered with unshed tears.

“I could be wrong. And I’m not trying to tell you what to do,” Izuku began carefully. “But staying apart when you love her so much, mate-tell aside, that you’d put her happiness over yours… Isn’t that already a tragedy? I mean, you seem like you really love her.”

“I don’t mind suffering if she gets to be happy,” Eijiro protested.

“But if she’s your mate, the curse will hurt you both anyway. Even if you’re not together. And then…” Images of Katsuki flashed through Izuku’s mind. “Then you have nothing good to combat the bad. You stayed away for nothing.”

Eijiro’s eyes widened slowly, his breath catching in his chest. “I gotta go. I need to think.”

“We’ll spar soon,” Izuku promised.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Eijiro nodded and started to turn away. He paused and turned back, tugging Izuku into a tight hug that threatened to crush Izuku’s lungs, turn them to dust. Izuku returned the embrace tightly. Eijiro pulled back with a slight smile. “Thanks, Izuku.”

“Anytime,” Izuku murmured as he watched Eijiro walk the other way. His friend bumped into several people as he went, apologies spilling from his lips as he continued on his way.

Izuku didn’t know how long he stood there staring down the hallway where Eijiro had disappeared. Gods, he hoped he’d done the right thing.

“Izuku!” Yoarashi called out.

Izuku looked up at the taller man and smiled, shoving aside all thoughts of Eijiro and Mina. “Yoarashi! I thought you were going out to another part of the empire to check on things.”

“I am!” Yoarashi grinned. “I had a meeting with Katsuki about it just now. Most people won’t go in the winter. But I like this weather!”

“I’m glad you’re excited.”

“We should spar when I get back. Eijiro tells me you’re good. I won’t go easy on you.” Yoarashi’s grin was calculated now, as though he was sizing up his next opponent rather than his friend.

“I wouldn’t want you to.” Izuku shook his head. “It would make beating you too easy.”

“I like the spirit!” Yoarashi moved as though to throw his arm over Izuku’s shoulder and stopped short, no doubt realizing the height difference between them. “How have you been?”

“Good.” Izuku folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the wall. “I’ve been reading a lot about Othya’s history. It’s really interesting.”

“Our king will be in those one day. He will be heralded for saving us from Noboru’s failings.” Yoarashi spat the name of Katsuki’s regent like it was something foul. “He would have destroyed us. He had greed in his heart and was not passionate about anything save himself.”

Izuku blinked. He didn’t think he’d met someone that Yoarashi disliked so intensely. What had Noboru done? “You sound very set in your opinion.”

“He held power to hold it over others. He was not a king or a regent.” Yoarashi’s lips curled in disgust.

What had this man done that no one would talk about his actions? Or that the people who would talk spoke of him in such contempt? Izuku didn’t know much about Katsuki’s childhood or the instruction and preparation he underwent to be ready to lead his country. Every time the conversation had been broached, Katsuki had changed the topic or shut it down.

Izuku had been curious about what Noboru had done to Othya. Now he was concerned about what he had done to Katsuki.

And that was something Izuku needed to hear from Katsuki directly.

“I’ll look him up in the library,” Izuku said quickly, before Yoarashi could tell him more. Clearly Yoarashi didn’t think there were such things at secrets between mates. He probably thought Katsuki would be fine with Izuku finding out. And he might be, but Izuku could guarantee it wouldn’t be this way. Izuku didn’t want Katsuki to shut him out again. Or to turn his fury on Yoarashi. “Thanks.”

“A passion for knowledge!” Yoarashi boomed, seeming like he was in better spirits already. “I can respect that! Never let it die!”

“I won’t.” Izuku smiled.

He really wanted to talk to Katsuki.

OoOoO

It was late by the time Katsuki made it back to their suite.

Izuku looked up from the most recent history book he’d spread on his lap. He had curled up in a chair in front of the fire while Vihan was already sound asleep, a lump on the bed.

“Welcome home.” Izuku made note of where he’d left off in the book and closed it carefully.

“Whole castle is home, nerd,” Katsuki said, already stripping layers of clothing. “But I’m here.”

Izuku shook his head, lips curving at Katsuki’s straightforward manner. He’d found it abrasive when they had first met. Now he knew it was just how Katsuki was. There would be no daggers in the dark or poison slipped into his drink to worry about. Not with Katsuki. “Everything go well?”

“Extras are fuckin’ stupid,” Katsuki muttered. “Be better if I didn’t have to put up with them.”

“You can’t rule all of Aspya.”

Katsuki’s answering grin was as sharp as any blade and twice as deadly. “Watch me.”

Izuku wouldn’t bet against Katsuki. It could take him a decade, but Katsuki would rule the world if that was his goal. Nothing would stop him or get in his way. Izuku didn’t think it would be even a decade before the majority of the world bowed to this one man. Katsuki was a star caught within a human body and all the more brilliant for it.

“Since Mina clearly restrained you from spilling blood, I suppose your next war will simply have to wait.” Izuku set aside his book and stood.

“Nobody set the place on fire today?” Katsuki asked, throwing his tunic in corner.

Izuku swallowed, struck anew by Katsuki’s muscled chest and nipped waist. The firelight flickered and danced, the flames painting him orange and gold. Izuku itched to taste again, to press Katsuki back into the mattress and let their bodies do the talking tonight. “Huh?”

“Want somethin’?” Katsuki taunted, rough voice every temptation Izuku wanted to give in to.

After, he promised himself. He could taste to his heart’s content after he and Katsuki talked.

“I…” It was hard to think with all his blood rushing south. He mentally kicked himself. “I did have a question come up in my research today.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Katsuki smirked. “Alright, nerd. What now?”

“Will you tell me about Noboru?”

It felt like all the warmth was sucked out of the room in the next moment despite the fire crackling in the hearth at Izuku’s side. He had never Katsuki’s anger iced over like this, had only experienced the raging inferno.

“The fuck do you want to know about him for?” Katsuki snarled.

“He was mentioned. He has been mentioned on and off since I came to Othya, actually.” Izuku stepped closer. “I know he was bad… I want to hear it from you though.”

“He was shit. I took care of it. The end.” Katsuki dropped onto the bed and folded his arms, watching Izuku with an unreadable expression. He ignored Vihan’s noise of protest. “Got it?”

“Kacchan…” Izuku moved to the side of the bed. “If this is my kingdom now, I should know. I don’t want to learn a partial history and make incorrect assumptions.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s a fuckin’ footnote. Forget him.”

“He’s your history,” Izuku murmured softly. “That matters to me.”

Katsuki scowled at him. “Pain in the ass, you know that?”

“I’ve heard that before.” Izuku nodded.

“Fine,” Katsuki growled. Izuku squeaked as Katsuki reached out and tugged Izuku forward and onto the bed. He pulled him into the space between his legs and chained his arms around Izuku’s waist. Vihan shot them a disgruntled look and curled up again at their feet. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you’re willing to tell me.” Izuku leaned back against the wall of Katsuki’s chest.

“Motherfucker was the only living relative when my parents died,” Katsuki growled. “Didn’t know shit about running a country. He didn’t wanna learn, either. He released the advisors, told them their services were no longer required. He didn’t want anyone tellin’ him what to do.’

“Him?” Izuku asked quietly. “Or you?”

“Both,” Katsuki snorted. “He didn’t want to give up the power when I took the throne. Thought he could mold me or some shit if he kept me stupid. He didn’t want me to learn anythin’ ‘cept what he taught me. Everything I learned was in secret by one of my mom’s older advisors. Coulda been executed if he’d been found out.”

“Bastard,” Izuku breathed, hands squeezing Katsuki’s arms gently. “He didn’t win though. You’re the most intelligent person I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah, well.” Katsuki shrugged, head coming to rest on top of Izuku’s. “What he did to Othya was worse. We lost land to neighboring nations. People were starving, destitute in the streets. Bandits found our warriors easy prey. He spent nearly everything in the treasury. Othya was near collapse.”

“You turned it around,” Izuku murmured. “You did that, Kacchan. And your people love you. I’ve seen it.”

“Took control when I was seventeen. Wasn’t even fuckin’ hard. Pathetic shit begged for his life. Had tried to have me killed not a month earlier.” Katsuki’s arms tightened around Izuku, at odds with the ease he spoke about his own death.

“What?!” Izuku jerked in his arms. “He…”

“He saw that I wasn’t some shit puppet like he’d wanted. Tried to have poison slipped into my meal. He was a coward, weak. I laughed as I ripped his throat out.”

“Good,” Izuku said vehemently, his hold on Katsuki tightening. “I’m glad he’s dead.”

“Probably know after that,” Katsuki murmured.

“You have made a name for yourself,” Izuku agreed. “Who risked their life to train you?”

“He lives down in the city. I’ll take you to meet him sometime. He can growl and call you a trouble child too.”

“I’d like to meet him.” Izuku smiled. “What’s his name?”

“Aizawa.”

“Mmm…” Izuku tugged the bedclothes over his legs, careful not to disturb Vihan. “What about your childhood? Will you tell me about those memories?” The times before Katsuki had been forced to grow up, before he had been forced to fight for every scrap of information, for his identity as more than some puppet. If Noboru wasn’t dead Izuku would’ve been happy to kill the spineless coward himself.

“Ha. My mom was fearless, like she could do anything. She told the gods themselves to fuck off. One time I snuck into her office after I should’ve been asleep….”

Chapter Text

“Oiy, Hair for Brains!”

Eijiro glanced up and grinned. “Baku! Did you need a sparring partner? I just came from the grounds, but I don’t mind going at it again!”

“Was there at dawn,” Katsuki said dismissively. “Nerd and I sparred. Your office free?”

“Yeah.” Eijiro nodded and adjusted his path. He fell into step with Katsuki with ease, as he had done a million times throughout the years they had spent growing up together.

Katsuki didn’t admit it often, or easily, but he didn’t know where he’d be without Eijiro. They had stood by each other when their parents had died, shoulder to shoulder as their funeral pyres had been lit, the blaze carrying the ashes towards the home of the gods somewhere in the sky. Eijiro had fought against every restraint Noboru had tried to place on Katsuki in attempts to isolate him, had been there when Noboru had tried to murder him. Eijiro had helped him win wars and had kept Othya safe when Katsuki had left him in charge. He’d never betray Katsuki, his loyalty as bone deep as the friendship they had forged over the years.

Katsuki might’ve been alive without Eijiro, but he wouldn’t be anywhere near as human. He would’ve been cold and merciless by the time Izuku had come into his life, incapable of compromise. Eijiro and Mina had been able to keep him focused, to remember why he was so furious at Noboru. They hadn’t allowed his anger to consume him. Neither had Denki or Hanta.

“What’s going on?” Eijiro asked as they stepped into his office. He closed the door behind him and turned to watch Katsuki. No doubt he thought that Katsuki needed to discuss a sensitive matter that was for the good of Othya. He wasn’t that far off base, depending on how someone saw it. Katsuki hadn’t come to his steward or right-hand man, however. He’d come to his friend, basically his brother. Eijiro had been his family before everything had shattered. Before the curse had come and left shards of glass that cut and dug into flesh in its wake.

“You’ve got a mate-tell.” Katsuki cut right to the point.

“That seems to be a popular topic of conversation recently,” Eijiro muttered. He leaned against the wall. “So?”

“So, how the fuck do you control it?” Katsuki was beyond tired of feeling like he was being led around by his instincts.

Intuition and reflexes were one thing on the battlefield. There, they made Katsuki that much better than his opponents, allowed him to survive another day. But the shit the mate-tell did to him wasn’t the same. And Katsuki was sick of it. Enough so that he’d swallowed his pride and asked the only other person he knew had a mate- and had stayed away- for advice.

“How do I control it?” Eijiro repeated. He frowned and glanced down at the floor, pondering his response.

Katsuki growled and stamped down on his impatience for an answer. He leaned back against the desk, his eyes wandering over the room. It hadn’t changed much in the time since Eijiro had claimed it as his office. The wood was warm and the window was large enough to allow sunlight to pour inside, bathing the room in light. It was clean and simple, no big extravagant features for Eijiro. His desk was hardwoods and some fancy stone top that had been a gift from Katsuki. An unspoken thank you for everything. That desk was currently covered in crap that Eijiro handled for him.

“It’s hard,” Eijiro finally said. He met Katsuki’s gaze. “I want her until it’s hard to think straight, until I can’t breathe without her scent twisting around my lungs.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki knew the feeling.

“It’s not just lust though, you know?” EIjiro sighed. “I want her to feel safe. I want her know that we’re never going to throw her away like her first family did. I want her to feel cherished like she deserves. She makes sense to me as my mate, because I already love her. That’s why I don’t want the curse to fuck up her life.”

“You’ve stayed away. How?”

“I’ve had six years. I’ve just forced myself to shut it down. I don’t want to mess her up. She was heartbroken when our parents died. I don’t want the curse to touch her. Maybe if I stay back, it won’t.” Eijiro shrugged. “I don’t know how I shut it down exactly. That might not be the right words. I just kind of...force myself to remember that she can fight. That she doesn’t need me to protect her or anything.”

“And that works. That’s all it fuckin’ takes?” Katsuki demanded, less than convinced. “I know the nerd can fight. He’s not a weak little shit.”

“Your mate is pretty awesome,” Eijiro agreed with an easy smile. “He’s a match for you. I think that part of the original gift kinda stuck. He’s your match. Maybe Mina would be mine?”

“How do you explain idiots like Agnese then?” Katsuki scowled at nothing. “That’s not exactly unheard of.”

“I think you’re right,” Eijiro said slowly. “What you’ve said before, about Agnese being weak. I couldn’t hurt Mina like that. The idea of her being with someone else hurts. But she’s her own person. She gets to make those decisions. Agnese… Agnese was weak because she gave in. She let the instincts rule her.”

“But you don’t.” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

Eijiro shook his head. “They’re there. And I want to give in all the time. But I… I guess I decided not to let them define me. You told me that the night I told you.”

Katsuki remembered. Eijiro had knocked on his door as dawn had kissed the sky. They had just returned from war. The campaign had lasted five months. Mina had stayed in Othya to handle the day-to-day for Katsuki. When they had returned Eijiro had disappeared. Katsuki had thought nothing of it. He’d had too much on his mind at the time. Too much shit to deal with. He hadn’t slept much that night and had snarled when he’d opened the door. Eijiro had been a wreck.

Katsuki had told Eijiro to figure out what he wanted and what he was going to do about it.

“I took your advice. I didn’t let instinct be everything. I mean, I’m more than instincts the gods gave me, right?”

“No shit you’re more than that. I don’t deal with extras, remember? You lookin’ for an award or something?” Katsuki shifted.

“I think having more than the instincts for her helps. Like, she’s a person to me. Not just a faceless mate the gods gave me or cursed me with. She’s Mina. She doesn’t take shit, she’s smart, and sweet. She’s funny too. She’s one of my best friends and she’s been there for me through everything, just like you.” Eijiro smiled, eyes distant as he spoke of Mina. “She was never like you though, you know?”

“No shit,” Katsuki snorted. “I’m one of a kind, shithead.”

Eijiro sputtered a laugh. “Well, yeah! But I mean, from the moment we found her she was different. I wasn’t in love, but it was different. You’re my brother. She’s… Mina.”

“Mina?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I don’t know how else to explain it.” Eijiro shrugged. “Just that’s Mina. That’s always been enough, you know? It was enough to control the instincts over time. It took me forever though. I avoided her for a while. I hurt her feelings...I didn’t mean too.”

“Oh?”

“There was stuff we didn’t tell you.” Eijiro shrugged again. “You were busy rebuilding Othya and we had to focus on you. It worked out. We’re okay now, as long as I keep wanting to kiss her under control. I focus on the fact that I want her smiles instead. I can get those.”

“You should just fuckin’ talk to her.” Katsuki shook his head. “Let her make the decision with you.”

“Izuku said something like that too.” Eijiro smiled. “He thinks I should give us a chance.”

“He isn’t the stupidest shit.” Katsuki folded his arms.

“He also doesn’t know the curse. He wasn’t there when our parents died. I don’t…” Eijiro trailed off.

Katsuki hated the curse and the gods who had let it stand anew. Why the fuck was it fair to keep punishing people thousands of years later? Even if Othyans had done wrong at some point it hadn’t been any godsdamned time recent. Why did they keep the curse standing? Why did the gods allow it? It couldn’t be for lack of prayer. There were thousands of Othyans who offered their voices and hopes to the gods. Katsuki wasn’t alone in his opinion of the major deities who let the curse stand, but he was certainly a minority. Why punish people like Eijiro, who had done nothing wrong? Why let him worry about losing his mate- or his mate losing him- to the point that he’d rather be alone? Eijiro had already lost his parents as a kid, what more did the gods wants?

What more did the gods want of any of them?

“You should talk to her.” Katsuki’s throat felt raw, as though he had been screaming for hours. “Listen to the nerd.”

Eijiro watched Katsuki for several minutes, his face unreadable.

Katsuki shifted, his face heating under the scrutiny. “The fuck are you starin’ at me for?”

“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”

“HAH?!” Katsuki sputtered and snarled at his friend. “The fuck are you on about?”

Eijiro shrugged, lips curving up in some stupid smug grin. “You wouldn’t have told me to talk to Mina before Izuku was here. You’ve always stayed firmly out of it.”

“And that has to do with shit?” Katsuki demanded, eyes narrowing. “Last time I ever give you fuckin’ advice.”

“Come on, Baku.” Eijiro’s grin grew further. Fucker was going to have his face split in half if he kept going like that. “Admit it. There’s no one but us around, it won’t hurt anyone.”

“Maybe,” Katsuki muttered, face heating again as he thought about Izuku. “He just…”

“You’re different with him.” Eijiro nodded, as though that statement should make sense. As though that explained everything. “You’re still you, but you’re less angry maybe? Still driven, but… I don’t know. It’s a good thing.”

“Whatever, Hair for Brains. If you fuckin’ say so.”

“I do,” Eijiro said firmly. “I can see it. He makes you better-”

“Fuck that, I’m fuckin’ perfect-”

“And,” Eijiro continued, raising his voice to be heard over Katsuki. “You make him better too.”

“Fuckin’ bet I do,” Katsuku grumbled.

“Oh, are we talking about how Baku is in love?”

Katsuki’s gaze snapped to the door, where Hanta stood, grinning unrepentantly. “Die.”

“Don’t be like that,” Hanta said as he stepped into the room. He nudged the door closed behind him with his elbow. “It’s a good thing to have feelings for your mate.”

“No one asked your opinion, plain face.”

“Ouch.” Hanta put a hand to his heart. “That hurts.”

“You’re not bleedin’.” Katsuki shrugged. “Can’t be fatal.”

“Also, not changing the subject. It’s a good thing if you have feelings for your mate. That’s how the whole thing should work.” Hanta leaned against the door.

“It’s a weakness,” Katsuki pointed out. “A big one. That’s how we got here. I didn’t agree to the fuckin’ treaty for our benefit.”

It was only the threat to his mate’s life that had made Katsuki to agree. And that was before he’d known Izuku. Before he’d realized all the bad shit like that the asshole fought whole armies with how much he moved in his sleep, didn’t eat properly, and was an obstinate fucker. It was before he’d realized the good shit too, like the way Izuku melted against him when they touched, or the way his eyes burned with intelligence. The way that the nerd cared too godsdamned much, the way he tried to take on the problems of everyone around him. It was before Katsuki had known Izuku. Now if Hisashi touched him Katsuki would destroy the world. Consequences be damned.

“Scared?” Hanta frowned.

Katsuki bristled. “Hah?! Listen, stupid. I didn’t fuckin’ say-”

“What he means by weakness,” Eijiro said, cutting Katsuki off. “Is that it’s a physical manifestation of your heart. It’s a walking target for people to attack. It’s terrifying, when people know.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Katsuki growled. The words hit closer to home than he wanted to admit.

“Everyone needs a weakness.” Hanta shook his head. “People who don’t are messed up. Someone should care about something enough to be afraid to lose it. Or more than one something. It’s not weak to admit that you have people you care that deeply about. Knowing it and owning it is a strength.”

“And when someone comes after that weakness?” Eijiro frowned at their friend. “What then?”

“You fight tooth and nail to defend it.” Hanta shrugged. “Or them. And you know that people who care about you will be there with you. For example. If anyone came after Mina, we’d all help you defend her. Because we care about her and because we care about you. We’d defend Izuku too. Because we like him and because he’s Baku’s. And then,” Hanta met Katsuki’s gaze, “it’s not a weakness anyone can hit.”

“Make them too chicken shit to attack your weakness, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow, still not entirely convinced.

“I get it. Yeah, embracing that is manly.” Eijiro nodded, pounding his fists together.

“Too chicken shit, if you want to phrase it that way.” Hanta nodded. “But if you’re his weakness too, you can fight for each other and with each other. You become a team no one wants to fuck with. And then it doesn’t matter he’s your weakness. You know it and the whole world might know it. But it’s your strength too.”

“Huh.” Eijiro blinked. Katsuki stayed silent, watching Hanta.

“He’s smart and he’s strong. He’s a talented fighter. You could do a lot worse if Izuku is your weakness.”

“My dad was my mom’s weakness. Look where that got them.” Katsuki leaned forward. “Dead.”

“Baku-” Eijiro began.

“Yeah,” Hanta agreed. “But think of all the joy they knew before. And don’t be a chicken shit.”

“I’m not a chicken shit.” Katsuki bared his teeth, canines flashing.

“Good. I didn’t think you were.”

“Me either!” Eijiro agreed.

Katsuki supposed he could do a lot worse for a mate than Izuku. At least he liked him. It was a step in the right direction. The rest… They would see.

Because Katsuki still remembered his mother’s sobs as she’d held his father’s lifeless body. He remembered the way she’d given up, the way her eyes had gone almost dead. He respected his mother’s memory and who she had been.

But he didn’t want that pain. Not now, not fuckin’ ever. That didn’t make him chicken shit.

Chapter Text

“Consort?”

Izuku didn’t look away from the juno flowers, laid out carefully on the table in front of him. He still couldn’t believe that he had them. That Katsuki had actually taken him to hunt down the juno or that they had been able to get the samples that Izuku had been so interested in. The flowers were unwilted, despite the fact that they received no nourishment from sunlight or water. He wondered how long it would take them to brown, as flowers so often did when picked or cut. Would that never happen? Would they stay beautiful and perfect until used? If he never used them, what then? Would they disappear only when the creature they had come from died? No one had answers for him, despite Izuku searching through multiple texts. He was on his own, experimenting with an unknown substance, for all intents and purposes.

And, he only had so many samples of the red triglav-like flowers to work with. He would have to be careful in how he utilized each one and that he looked at all the options before he made a decision. Given how difficult even these samples had been to obtain, Izuku wasn’t sure how he was going to get more. It could also be true that they had little alchemical value for anyone or anything other than the juno that produced them. Izuku was hoping that same regeneration ability that he had seen in the mountains would assist in the healing potion he had been puzzling over for so long. Testing it to see if it had worked could prove problematic as well. Izuku doubted that anyone would be perfectly alright with him injuring himself to test it. Hitoshi, Ochako, and Katsuki immediately came to mind. But neither could he ask someone to maim themselves. It was a predicament.

He needed to decide how best to start working with the flowers before he could make any kind of decision about testing the potion, however. Should he treat them as he would any regular flowers? He could crush them, dice them, add them whole, grind them to dust…

“Consort.”

Oh! That was him. He still wasn’t used to answering to that title. Most of the people he dealt with he considered his friends and he asked them to use his name.

Izuku looked up from the flowers. A servant stood in the doorway of his alchemy lab, a platter of food balanced in his arms. He smiled apologetically and stepped into the room, maneuvering with grace around the newly-
arrived boxes of vials. “I apologize for the interruption. I was told to deliver this to you. Please make sure that you eat everything.”

Izuku gaped at the platter the man set on the lab table so carefully. It was piled high with high-protein foods, including nuts and dried meats. There was bread piled high in the corner, as well as at least three different types of cheese. This kind of platter would feed multiple people with ease. How could anyone expect Izuku to eat it all in one sitting? How could anyone eat all of that in one sitting?

He had little doubt who had sent the food and the order that he eat it. Katsuki was constantly trying to feed him. He was convinced that Izuku didn’t eat enough, all because Izuku had missed a few meals while working on alchemy projects or doing research. Izuku hadn’t been able to convince Katsuki that he didn’t need constant meals with large amounts of food. He knew that his stomach occasionally forgot to remind him to eat when he was absorbed in something. But that didn’t mean he never ate.

“Everything?” Izuku repeated in disbelief. “No one can eat that much! They’d explode before they finished that! Something would be sure to rupture. Or I’d get sick.”

“I’m sorry,” the servant said, bowing quickly. “I simply have orders to make sure that you eat. It is normal for those who have mated to eat more.”

“What do you mean it’s normal for those who have mated to eat more?” Izuku frowned. “You mean there are people who can eat this much? Who do?”

“Yes, Consort. The Queen is said to have eaten this much easily while she was alive. The kitchens would send platters up every few hours for both her and her husband while they worked.”

“I suppose that makes a sort of sense.” Izuku nodded slowly. “Those who are mated are stronger and faster, right? Possibly more durable as well? That increase can’t be magical alone. The power has to come from somewhere. Those who are mated must burn an incredible amount of energy.”

“Yes.” The servant nodded quickly. “Lord Eijiro has been requesting more meals while he works as well. Or more rations when he goes out on training exercises. I believe he has always been able of consuming quite a bit, but now he asks for it regularly. The change occurred recently and everyone has noticed that he and Lady Mina are courting. It is being said that he produced a mate-tell for her.”

Izuku was glad that Eijiro had taken him up on the advice that he had given. He didn’t want two people he had come to care so much for to be miserable. It had been clear to see that both Mina and Eijiro had been pinning for one another. The fact that Eijiro was staying away for Mina’s sake was honorable in theory, but had clearly been agonizing in practice. Izuku knew that Katsuki hadn’t wanted to get involved in playing matchmaker, as he’d put it. Izuku on the other hand, had no such worries about stepping in and making his opinion known. Especially if that meant that Eijiro and Mina would be happy afterwards.

Right now, it was hard to say how that relationship was progressing. Izuku didn’t want to pry too much into their personal lives. If either Mina or Eijiro wanted to talk about their bond they knew where to find him. And just because a mate-tell was involved didn’t mean that the relationship was perfect and smooth sailing. It was still as much a courtship as without it. Or, that was Izuku’s thought. A mate-tell didn’t automatically guarantee happiness. Only two people who worked together could do that. He and Katsuki had needed to work together to get where they were now. And no relationship was perfect. It took work from both parties and communication. That was something that the two of them were still learning. They had come a long way since the night Izuku had pledged his allegiance to Katsuki, even further since their wedding night last spring. Change was possible, if both people were willing to work together. And that had nothing to do with a mate-tell.

“Wait,” Izuku frowned, a sense of unease settling over him like a heavy blanket. “This is across the board for those with a mate once their mate-tell has gone off? Even if the other person doesn’t have one?”

“Yes, Consort.” The man paused, clearly uncertain if he should continue.

“So, Katsuki should be eating more. Is that right?” Izuku didn’t like where this was going.

“Yes.” The man nodded again, shoving auburn hair out of his eyes. “He has always been strong and he has always been careful to take care of himself. However, he hasn’t changed his eating habits since he returned from Sniycia this past spring. I don’t believe anyone feels they have the authority to tell him what to do.”

Izuku had seen Katsuki eating throughout their time together. He had seen platters similar to this one in Katsuki’s office at times, had been told in no uncertain terms that he should help himself to some of the food. The two of them had also shared meals. Izuku knew that Katsuki ate. He had seen it with his own eyes. However, he didn’t know that Katsuki was eating enough. How often was he supposed to be eating this kind of meal? Izuku had a bad feeling that his husband hadn’t adjusted his diet. Maybe he hadn’t known to, maybe he had forgotten. It didn’t really matter. Izuku was going to change that.

“How much should he be eating?” Izuku asked, voice carefully controlled. “More than this?”

“I believe so. He ordered that these be made up for you, but our chefs are aware that you do not have the same needs. I believe that his should have more food. More meats and breads to be sure.”

“Of course,” Izuku sighed. “Will you do me a favor?”

“Consort?”

“Will you please take this platter to the training grounds? You can tell my husband that I will be right there to join him and you.”

“I… Yes, Consort.” The man bowed deeply. “As you wish.”

“What is your name?” Izuku smiled.

“Akio.”

“Thank you, Akio.” Izuku stood, placing the flowers carefully back in the bag they were being stored in as he did.

Akio smiled deeply and nodded before he picked up the tray again. He retraced his steps and disappeared from the doorway, no doubt making his way down to the training grounds.

Izuku shook his head and stepped into the hallway, closing the door to his lab behind him. He couldn’t believe Katsuki had been trying to make Izuku eat, claimed that Izuku hadn’t taken care of himself, when Katsuki was the one whose body demanded the nourishment. Izuku would speak to the chefs down in the palace kitchen and see what they had to say. If they were concerned that Katsuki wasn’t eating enough, then Izuku would just make him eat more. There was no way he was going to let his husband waste away. The idiot.

The air warmed as Izuku made his way down to the kitchens, where fires blazed at all times as the staff prepared food for the inhabitants of the castle. He breathed in and the aromas of baking bread, hearty stews, and different spices filled his lungs. He smiled and stepped into the kitchen.

“Hello?” Work paused for a moment as over a hundred sets of eyes focused on Izuku. He swallowed nervously and waved, his smile still firmly in place. “I just need to talk to someone about Katsuki?”

He watched as the kitchen staff shared their glances, eyes wide and uncertain. An elderly woman stepped forward. Her hair was as white as the snow that fell outside, her frame thin enough it looked like a strong breeze might blow her away. Her face had streaks of flour as well as her tunic. Her skirts and apron had several old stains on it, her dark eyes warm, her skin wrinkled. “You wanted something?”

“I’m Izuku. I wanted to talk to you about Katsuki’s diet?”

“I know who you are.” The woman waved her hand, as though swatting his introduction away. “I’m Aina. I’ve worked here for longer than that boy has been alive. I can help.”

“Right. Well, I wanted to discuss how much he’s eating-”

“Hold on.” Aina turned back to the kitchen, many of the staff still watching the two of them. “You want the food to burn? Get moving, all of you. Think you’d seen a ghost or a fae. Get back to work.”

She didn’t raise her voice but it seemed to carry through the large room regardless. The staff all spun into motion, their eyes firmly back on their tasks.

“They’ll be gossiping in no time but what can you do?” Aina shrugged. “Now you wanted to talk about our Katsuki, yes? It’s about time.”

“I didn’t know that he should be eating more,” Izuku admitted, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. “I didn’t think to ask that.”

“No one is going to blame you for what you didn’t know,” Aina snorted. “And if they do, they’re stupid. Katsuki used to come down here when he was a child to sneak peppers. Most children wanted pastries, but not him. He wanted to prove he could eat the spicy things. I thought he’d realize and stop getting underfoot, but no.” The woman shook her head fondly. “He just came back more. When he was a little older, he started coming here to avoid that bastard Noboru. I let him do some work and taught him to cook when he was frustrated.”

“He let you order him around?” Izuku asked, eyes wide with surprise and awe. Katsuki didn’t seem like the kind of person to listen to anyone who tried to order him around. At least, anyone other than his teacher.

“I told him if he wanted to be here, he had better not get in the way of the staff, not mess anything up, and do what he was told. But I caught him watching me as I worked too many times. I told him if he wanted to be nosy, he could come help. He bitched and whined, but he did it. Pretty good too.”

“He can cook? I didn’t know that.”

“Not many do.” Aina shrugged. “But you didn’t come for stories from me. You wanted to feed him, right?”

“Yes. Whatever you want him to eat, I’ll bring it and make sure he does. I don’t want him getting weaker because he’s been focusing on me or his empire.”

“He probably hasn’t thought of it,” Aina admitted. “He isn’t the type to weaken himself. I don’t worry about him usually.”

“Maybe that’s why I didn’t think about it.”

“Probably,” she agreed. “Now you stay right here. I’m going to get some food for you to bring with him. And If he doesn’t eat, you just tell him I’ll come find him.”

“Yes ma’am.” Izuku smiled, charmed by Aina’s straightforwardness and the affection she clearly held for Katsuki.

“And I know I sent up a platter for you. I want at least half of that food gone when it comes back down. And I’ll know if you didn’t eat it. There’s no need to starve. Do you understand me?”

“Yes ma’am,” Izuku repeated with a quick nod. “I do.”

“Good.” Aina nodded firmly and turned away, barking orders to the nearest staff members.

Izuku stepped back and leaned against the wall, his only goal to stay out of the way. The kitchen bustled with life around him. Pots hissed, people shouted back and forth, knives chopped ingredients. Izuku didn’t know how they all knew what to do or where the other staff was, but they did. It was organized chaos, similar to a battlefield where soldiers moved in harmony while focusing on their own attacks.

“Here you are.” Aina reappeared in front of Izuku, a tray laden with assorted meats, nuts, cheeses, breads, and fruits in her arms. In the center sat a crock filled with stew. “You make sure he eats all of this. I promise you that he can.”

“That’s terrifying,” Izuku muttered. “Are you sure he won’t flatten me in the middle of the night now?”

Aina laughed. “Go on now. Go make that boy eat.”

“Thank you.” Izuku took the platter carefully. He was surprised at how heavy it was and by how the woman in front of him was able to carry it like it was nothing. He paused, not sure what to say. He had already thanked her, but...

“Go, go.” Aina shooed him. “Get out of my kitchen before I chase you out with a broom.”

“I’m going!” Izuku backed out of the kitchen as quickly as he dared while balancing the tray.

He still couldn’t believe that Katsuki was supposed to eat all of this. Or even that he could. Did people who were mated really burn that much energy? Or was Aina sending more food than she knew Katsuki could eat so that he was full before all of the food had disappeared? How could one being eat all that? Unless they were a dragon, or had some kind of tapeworm, Izuku had no idea. He’d just deliver the food, Aina’s message, and make sure that Katsuki at least ate something.

At least he didn’t have to wander around the castle looking for Katsuki. The blond had stopped into the laboratory only an hour or so earlier to tell Izuku that he was heading to train. He’d invited Izuku to come with him. It had been tempting. Katsuki presented a challenge when they sparred together and Izuku had only recently won a match. He needed to prove it wasn’t luck to his bad-tempered husband.

But the flowers that had been created from the juno’s blood had been calling to Izuku and he’d declined the invitation this time. Katsuki had snorted and taunted that if Izuku changed his mind and stopped being scared, Katsuki would be waiting.

Izuku had little doubt that Katsuki wasn’t expecting him to show up like this.

He stepped out into the courtyard closest to the training grounds and yelped. He was dressed warm enough for the interior of the castle but clearly not the weather outside. His cloak was hanging up in their room and the gloves were sitting on the table in the entryway to the suite. If he backtracked to get them through the maze of corridors the food would probably be cold by the time he got it to Katsuki.

Izuku swallowed and forced his feet forward, focusing on one step in front of the other. The cold stung his face and hands as he went but at least there wasn’t a wind right now. Izuku knew that if the wind picked up the temperature would drop several more degrees, probably diving into the negatives. He consoled himself with the knowledge he wouldn’t be out here long. He just had to stay long enough to ensure that Katsuki ate something. After all, if Katsuki was allowed to hover, so was Izuku.

Katsuki stood in the middle of the training courtyard, arms folded across his chest and already scowling when Izuku caught sight of him.

Katsuki stiffened, his glower deepening as he met Izuku’s gaze. “The fuck are you doing out here?”

Izuku frowned, shifting his weight from foot to foot as though that would keep him warm. “I think that’s obvious. Where is Akio?”

“Back inside, like anyone with a fucking brain who isn’t dressed for this weather.”

“I’m dressed for it,” Izuku protested. Shivers coursed through his body, despite the winter garb he had dressed in this morning.

“Get the fuck inside,” Katsuki snarled, eyes narrowing further. “Now.”

“Are you coming with me?” Izuku arched an eyebrow. Or, he thought he did. He wasn’t sure he could feel it.

“Yes,” Katsuki snapped. He stalked forward and grabbed Izuku’s arm.

“Careful!” Izuku grimaced. “You’re going to spill everything.”

Katsuki didn’t reply and his grip didn’t relax. He tugged Izuku back towards the entrance Izuku had stepped out of several minutes ago, his lips pressed into a thin line. He kept his silence even once they were inside, manhandling Izuku into a nearby room. It was empty of inhabitants currently, though a table and several chairs pushed back told Izuku that it was used as a meeting place on occasion. Perhaps servants gathered in the small room during breaks. Only then did he release Izuku’s arm. As though he had expected Izuku to go running back into the cold outside.

“Do I need to go back out there to hunt down a fox?” Katsuki asked, words clipped and controlled.

Izuku placed the tray down on the table before he turned back to Katsuki with a glare of his own. “No. He’s with Ochako right now. She promised not to try any of her spells on him and he gets bored sitting there while I work.”

“Good.” Katsuki nodded and folded his arms over his chest. “Now the fuck were you thinking?”

“What was I thinking?” Izuku demanded. He stepped closer, his hands balling into fists. He put his fists on his hips, fed up with Katsuki’s attitude and more than a little worried. “Apparently that I should feed your stupid ass. I found out your body burns energy faster because of the increase to your strength and speed? We’ve been mated for almost a year!”

“You-” Katsuki paused. He watched Izuku carefully, as though Izuku was had started speaking in some foreign tongue or had grown another head. “You what?”

“You!” Izuku pointed a finger at Katsuki, frustration simmering beneath his skin, ready for detonation. “Here you are, trying to feed me, saying I don’t eat. And you… You’ve been starving yourself like an idiot!”

“I’m not starving myself,” Katsuki snorted, tension bleeding out of his body. His lips turned up in a slow, smug grin. “You came out because you were worried about me, huh?”

“Stop smirking.” Izuku scowled. “And so what if I was? Sit down.” He pointed to the nearest chair with a dark look. “Aina told me you should eat all of that. Do it.”

“Bossy.” Katsuki grinned. He draped his cloak over the chair and sat, pulling off his gloves as he did. He picked up a piece of bread. “Don’t go outside without a cloak and gloves while it’s this cold. It’s stupid.”

“Eat the proper amount and I won’t have to,” Izuku retorted. He dropped into the chair across from Katsuki. “Promise me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t intentional, shortstack. It’s been a long ass time since my parents were alive. I just figured I was hungry because I’ve been pushing myself.”

“Well think about it now,” Izuku muttered.

Katsuki had never lied to him and he wouldn’t weaken himself on purpose. Izuku hadn’t met another mated couple outside of Eijiro and Mina, so he didn’t know what was normal. Maybe Katsuki didn’t either. It wasn’t like they were a common occurrence in Othya. People seemed to fear having a mate more than they longed for one at this point. It was sad that something that should be such a gift had turned into a curse to those blessed with it. Izuku supposed that was the tragedy of it.

But what would have happened to Katsuki if he wasn’t so careful about staying in peak condition? If he hadn’t reached for something any time he felt the bite of hunger too keenly? What would have happened if he hadn’t been a king leading a bountiful empire that had plenty? Izuku firmly shoved the thoughts away. It didn’t matter what could have been, because it wasn’t.

He should have known this would happen. Not Katsuki not eating properly, but that Izuku would come to care as much as he did. That he would care so much his stomach twisted in on itself at the idea of something happened to Katsuki, his heart sticking in his throat. He’d known that he couldn’t keep sex and emotions separate. Every bond they built with one another had tied itself around Izuku’s heart, until Izuku couldn’t help but care.

But these feelings didn’t matter, couldn’t matter. Not right now, because they weren’t going to be returned. Not anytime soon. Not after what Izuku had done. He’d lied to Katsuk for months. Right now, he was lucky they still had any kind of decent relationship. He couldn’t hope for more. He didn’t have a right to. He’d made the mistake and he had to face those consequences.

Besides, this was still Izuku they were talking about. There was no way he measured up to Katsuki, even without the mess he made. Even without being called a curse.

Now?

No way.

This was enough. It would have to be. And any emotions that Izuku felt, any time his heart tripped a beat just when Katsuki smiled, it would have to be private. Izuku would have to deal with it and shove them away, lock them inside a box. Because Katsuki couldn’t mean him. Not Izuku. Not his curse.

What they had was enough.

“What are you muttering about?”

Izuku met Katsuki’s gaze and smiled. “Nothing important.”

“Like I believe that.” Katsuki shook his head. “Eat something, nerd.”

Izuku picked up a piece of fruit, rolling the small pink orb in his hands. “I miss the fruit from Sniycia.”

“Why?” Katsuki frowned.

“It’s a major part of our diet.” Izuku shrugged and smiled softly as he thought back to Sniycia, to the things he had enjoyed. “We have meat, but it’s not as important as it is here. You eat a lot of proteins because the weather and seasons demand so much from your bodies. Our climate is much more temperate. Fruit grows well, so it became part of every meal. Especially dessert.”

“Fruit, huh?” Katsuki looked thoughtful. “Of all the things you miss, it’s fruit?”

“Yes, outside of my siblings,” Izuku agreed. He bit into the produce, humming in happiness as the sweet and tart flavors burst in his mouth. He forced himself to savor when he wanted to gobble it up.

Katsuki watched him again, as though Izuku was a puzzle to solve.

“What?” Izuku frowned.

“Nothing.” Katsuki shook his head and reached for a piece of cheese. The platter was almost half gone.

“Aina said you can cook?” Izuku asked, leaning forward. “I don’t know how.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki shrugged. “It’s useful to know for when I’m at war. I get tired of rations real fuckin’ quick.”

“Is that why you learned as a child?” Izuku prodded gently. Katsuki had told him about Noboru, but he still remained closed off about his past. Izuku didn’t want to push on painful memories but he did want to know more about Katsuki. He wanted to know more about what Katsuki had been like as a child, even as childhood had been snatched away from him.

“You like to talk a lot,” Katsuki grumbled. “Fine. I ended up down there one night. I don’t know why, just that I didn’t want to be in my room. Noboru had strict rules about where I was supposed to be and when. I didn’t listen to any of that shit. I was underfoot and mean about it too. Aina found me and decided if I wouldn’t stay out, she’d make me work. Stupid hag. Anyway…”

Chapter Text

“You’re late.”

“I am,” Mina agreed with a bright smile. “But I’m here now to grace you all with my presence, so I’m sure you will forgive me.”

Denki snorted under his breath. Eijiro grinned and wrapped around an arm around Mina’s waist, tugging her close. The two of them had been very open with their affection since they had started to work their shit out. Katsuki didn’t know where they stood entirely right now. It wasn’t like matings were easy to handle simply because of their instincts. Katsuki knew firsthand how complicated they could be despite some gods-given influence. The two of them seemed happy though, so what the fuck did he care about the inner workings of the relationship? That was their problem.

“So, what’s so important?” Mina asked as she leaned back against Eijiro.

“Who said it was a big deal?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“It has been a while since you demanded all of us be here at the same time,” Hanta pointed out from where he leaned against the wall. “That must mean it’s a big deal.”

“Yeah.” Denki stuck his tongue out at Katsuki as he dropped into one of the empty chairs. “We know what we’re talking about. Almost two decades of friendship totally counts for something, right?”

“Proves I have more patience than you idiots give me credit for,” Katsuki grumbled.

“Nah, you love us,” Denki said confidently. He tapped out a rhythm on the arm of his chair. He’d never been able to sit still well. He’d always been hyper and ready to bounce off the walls at the slightest provocation. Most people had assumed that Denki would grow out of it as he grew up. He never had, though he had learned to curb the impulse when he really needed to focus. Katsuki had long ago learned to tune out the tempos that Denki tapped or the way his leg bounced when he had sat too long. Some things couldn’t be controlled.

“Tch. Yeah, right.” Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“I mean, you do.” Eijiro shrugged. “We’re your bros.”

“Mina’s not a bro,” Denki frowned. He tipped his chair back to look at Eijiro and Mina. “She’s female.”

“Same idea,” Hanta said. “And don’t do that. You’ll fall.”

Denki dropped the chair back to all four legs with a sheepish smile. “Alright.”

“One day you’ll remember the furniture breaks,” Eijiro said with a smile. He released Mina and leaned forward to tousle Denki’s already crazy hair fondly.

Denki stuck his tongue out at Eijiro and folded his arms. “Then they should make it stronger. It’s not my fault it’s so easy to break.”

“Kinda is,” Eijiro laughed and tugged Mina back into his arms.

“So, what did you need, Baku?” Mina asked before Denki could argue about how easy it was to destroy furniture.

“Yeah!” Denki’s attention swiveled back to Katsuki. “What’s so important?”

“The treaty with Sniycia.”

“Fuck them!” Denki exploded on the heels of Katsuki’s words. His leg started to bounce agitatedly. “That wasn’t an alliance or a treaty.”

“It was coercion,” Hanta said darkly. “Blackmail with Izuku’s life as the collateral.”

“It wasn’t manly of Hisashi to hold your mate’s life over your head. How can anyone be expected to think straight like that?” Eijiro demanded.

“He wasn’t supposed to think straight. Hisashi played the game right.” Mina scowled at nothing. “I want to know how he knew he’d have your mate. That was too well played.”

“Maybe he has a fae or a seer,” Hanta suggested. “Like Mina.”

“I’m not a seer.” Mina snorted, waving her hand dismissively.

“You know things you shouldn’t,” Denki pointed out, tipping the chair back on two legs again to look up at Mina. “You always have.”

“They’re just gut feelings.” Mina shook her head. “I don’t know things like who someone’s mate is.”

“He didn’t know who my mate was.” Katsuki shook his head. “He was pretty confident he had my mate, but had no clue who it was. He wouldn’t have shown me those weak princesses otherwise.”

“And you did feel like Baku shouldn’t have gone, Mina,” Denki added. “You thought it would be a trap. You said he shouldn’t go.”

“I thought they’d try to kill him. Not threaten to slit Izuku’s throat.” Mina frowned. “How could they have known?”

“Doesn’t matter. He knew.” Katsuki leaned back in his seat. “Messed up as it is, it doesn’t do shit for us now.”

It had been a sensitive topic since Katsuki had returned to Othya with a mate he hadn’t been sure he wanted or trusted. He hadn’t wanted to talk about the treaty beyond the necessary terse words. He knew he’d had no choice but to sign it if he wanted his mate to live. Maybe he would have been able to grab Izuku and leave. But the threat that Hisashi could have Izuku killed from a distance had fucked up that idea. Katsuki didn’t like losing. He was competitive in nature and he didn’t enjoy having been so thoroughly trapped.

He hated that Hisashi had been willing to kill his own son more. He’d been furious that Izuku’s life had mattered more to Katsuki- who had known nothing about the nerd at the time- than it did his father. Sure, Katsuki was merciless in war. But he also knew that had his mother been alive she would’ve found another way. For Mitsuki’s faults, she wouldn’t have been willing to kill her son had a similar situation come up. Hisashi had been more than willing. His smiles may have been amiable but his eyes had been cold and calculated. He’d done what he had to for his country. It was still messed up.

Katsuki still wanted to track the asshole down and shove a spear through his gut. He had seen enough bruises on Izuku’s soul that he’d relish the task. Hisashi might be a good king but he was a shit father.

“Why do you want to talk about it now?” Eijiro frowned. “Something change?”

Katsuki grimaced. “No. If you figure that out let me know. It’s still as full of bullshit as ever.”

“What exactly are the terms?” Hanta pressed. “Denki and Mina told us but I’d rather hear it directly from you.”

“Doesn’t change no matter who tells it.” Katsuki shrugged. “Still full of shit either way.”

“It’s clear Othya comes out for the worse.” Eijiro glared at the desk, as though the agreement struck between Katsuki and Hisashi sat there.

“Things get lost in translation.” Hanta shrugged.

“I told you exactly what it was!” Denki protested. He barely caught himself as the chair teetered dangerously. He slammed onto all four legs with a sour look, lightning sparking from his fingers in agitation as he started to tap another rhythm into the wood of the chair.

“Watch it,” Mina said quickly. “You’ll burn something.”

Denki cursed but the lightning vanished.

“Fine,” Katsuki sighed. “It’s pretty straightforward. First, if Sniycia calls for aid, Othya must come to their defense. Doesn’t matter if it’s outside of our interests. He could want to conquer Ashax-”

“Certain death right now,” Hanta muttered.

“Stop interrupting,” Katsuki snapped. “Point is, certain death or not, we’d have to help. And it’s not mutual aid. We could be bleeding out on their fuckin’ floor and Hisashi could ignore us. Second, water rights to the sea were given to Sniycia.”

“Weren’t those ours?” Denki frowned. “They were, I think?”

“They were. Now we pay tax to use them,” Katsuki growled. He hated that his people suffered because of Hisashi’s conditions. “And last, any move against Sniycia or whatever Hisashi considers Sniycia’s interests, is a declaration of war. And it forfeits Izuku’s life.”

“Smug asshole,” Mina spat.

“I wanted to know if any of you know what we have that Sniycia might want. I don’t want to ask Izuku. I want to see if we can trade something for more fruit coming in. Without our people paying a higher tax.”

“Wait,” Denki interrupted. “What did we get in return for losing our water rights, this bullshit aid and all of that?”

“Izuku,” Katsuki said through gritted teeth. “We got Izuku.”

Something shattered as it hit the stone, followed by a clatter.

Katsuki shoved to his feet even as Eijiro and Mina shifted back to reveal Izuku. His freckles stood out starkly against skin too pale, anguish and horror overflowed in green eyes that already shimmered with moisture. Tears spilled over and traced down Izuku’s cheeks as he stared at Katsuki. “I’m … The door was open and…” Izuku swallowed hard, his voice cracking. “Breakfast.”

Enough food to feed an army lay spread out over the hardwood, glass sparking among the feast Izuku had brought. The tray lay over the majority of the food, as though covering the mess from view.

“I’m sorry…” Izuku whispered into the hush of the room. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“Shortstack-”

Izuku turned on his heel and fled. The sound of boots thudding on the floor faded quickly, as though Izuku couldn’t get away fast enough.

Katsuki shoved away from the desk and was on the other side of the room within a moment.

“Baku?” Eijiro’s voice stopped him.

“Handle whatever comes up. Unless someone is knocking on our door and ready for war, I don’t want to be bothered. Got it?”

“Got it,” Mina said firmly. “Go.”

Katsuki didn’t need her permission but he didn’t have time to tell her that. He was too busy following Izuku. He had an idea that he knew exactly where the nerd had run to. It hadn’t been his alchemy lab and Katsuki knew that Izuku had too much pride to go to his friends. Sure, he trusted them and they’d probably seen him a mess. Hitoshi especially, given the way the two of them interacted with each other. But not now. Not when Izuku would have to traverse too many corridors to get there. The nearest safe place was their suite. Katsuki was going to take that bet.

He knew he was right the minute he stepped inside. Vihan appeared in seconds, yipping in clear agitation and darting from the door and back to Katsuki. His cream-colored fur was ruffled, as though he had been woken from a nap. He nudged Katsuki’s leg hard as he came back again, as though to tell him to hurry up.

“I get it, I get it,” Katsuki muttered. He stepped over the fennec fox and made his way into the bedroom. Izuku lay face down on the bed. His soft sobs echoed through the room.

Vihan leapt onto the bed and nudged at Izuku’s head, whining softly.

“He’s worried about you.”

Izuku pushed up to look at Katsuki’s eyes red and puffy as tears continued to flow. Katsuki asked himself for the millionth time why he’d had to have a mate that cried. It would be easier to rip his heart out himself. Katsuki didn’t know how to do tears, even after being with Izuku all these months.

“Kacchan…”

“How much of it did you hear?”

“All of it…” Izuku swallowed and looked down, his fluff of hair obscuring most of his face from view. “I heard you and I couldn’t…”

“Now you know.” Katsuki shrugged. “I was gonna have to tell you eventually.”

“I’m sorry,” Izuku murmured.

“Stop saying that shit. You didn’t do anything.” Katsuki sat on the edge of the bed. “Look at me, nerd.”

“I’ve cost Othya so much,” Izuku wiped at his eyes with the backs of his hands in a clear attempt to stem the flow of tears. His voice was brittle, his words short and broken. “I’ve cost you so much. How can you…”

“You’re worth it,” Katsuki said, his voice raw, like he had swallowed coals. How did Izuku’s pain do this to him every time?

“I’m not!” Izuku’s expression was crumbled sorrow as he met Katsuki’s gaze. “I’m not. I… All of that? For me?” He licked lips damp with tears. He hiccupped, his body shuddering as a sob wracked him. “I really am your curse.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Katsuki was going to regret those words for the rest of his life, wasn’t he? Out of all the things he’d ever said, why the fuck did Izuku take that to heart? He had tried to show Izuku he didn’t believe that but clearly the thought was stuck in Izuku’s head. “You’re not a curse. I was pissed and I said shit. You’re not a curse. You’re mine. Got it?”

Izuku shook his head. At least he wasn’t crying anymore. “How? My father took so much and I just…”

“You’re worth it,” Katsuki growled, forcing himself to keep going, to push past any kind of perceived weakness as he admitted his feelings. He didn’t do this emotional shit. But Izuku did. “I’d pay it again to keep you here. It was my decision to make, so stop blaming yourself.”

Izuku wiped at his eyes again. “You don’t mean that.”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

Izuku paused and slowly shook his head. “No.”

“Then you know I mean it.” Katsuki shifted close enough to see Izuku’s lashes clumped together from his tears and still glistening. “You’re mine.”

He pressed his lips to Izuku’s, silencing any reply before it had a chance to begin. If Izuku didn’t want to believe Katsuki’s word, then he would just show the nerd how much he mattered. His fingers wove through dark curls and he tugged Izuku closer, as though he could devour the man pressed against him.

Izuku melted into the kiss, arms coming up to chain themselves around Katsuki’s neck. He slid onto Katsuki’s lap and pressed close, but it wasn’t enough, wasn’t what Katsuki wanted. He released his hold on Izuku’s hair and pulled away from the kiss. Nudging Izuku’s chin up with teasing bites, his hands already worked on the layers of clothing that separated him from freckled skin.

“I like summer better,” Izuku murmured with a breathless laugh. “Less clothing.”

"Impatient?" Too focused on tantalizing glimpses of skin, Katsuki tore at Izuku's clothes, hands impatient, his breathing already coming faster. He didn't care where the pieces landed, didn't care if he was more harried than even Izuku to strip down to skin on skin. He wanted, needed, the contact between their bodies.

“Look who’s talking,” Izuku said, voice husky and hands tugging on the catches of Katsuki’s jerkin with quick fingers. His cheeks were flushed and eyes wild with a desperate need that Katsuki wanted to soothe.

Nipping hard at Izuku’s lower lip, Katsuki swallowed the yelp that rose from the searing kiss. His tongue plunged deeper, the need to taste Izuku, to drive him crazy and hear every breathless noise driving him forward. Izuku pressed against him, fingers digging into Katsuki's back hard enough to bruise, as though he could keep close through sheer force. Katsuki didn’t know how to convince Izuku he wasn’t going anywhere. The familiar scent of arousal, thick and humid, rose between them, drove Katsuki forward with a need that bordered on feral. He pulled back and tugged the tunic over Izuku’s head, met eyes hazy with a lust as deep as his own.

“Kacchan, fuck me. Please.”

Fuck, he was lucky. How the two of them had managed to keep this relationship intact through the fuck ups of the past few months was beyond Katsuki. It should have long ago crumbled into nothing but resentment. Somehow it had survived though, had grown and thrived until whatever this was between them two of them was so tangled around Katsuki’s heart he didn’t think there was a way to get free. Fuck, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to be free. Whatever was between them was something, and it was something that Katsuki didn’t want to let go. Not for anything in the world.

Katsuki pressed damp kisses to the column of Izuku’s exposed throat in answer. He sucked dark marks that had only begun to fade back into being, encouraged by Izuku’s moan as it rose into the air.

Together they fell back onto the bed and stripped each other of their remaining clothing, twin moans at the slide of skin on skin touch mingling in the air. It did nothing to slow the ache building in Katsuki’s chest. He burned for more, driven forward by the heady aroma of Izuku blending with the arousal. Katsuki breathed in, surrounded by the scent he craved, that haunted his dreams. There was nothing in the world that smelled the way Izuku did, nothing that could bring Katsuki to his knees the same way Izuku did.

Hands mapped bodies with increasing urgency. Katsuki lost himself in the compact body beneath him, in finding every sensitive spot he had learned months ago when the physical connection between them was the only thing they had.

He scraped his teeth over Izuku’s heart and felt Izuku jolt, arching into the touch. He would have paid that price a million times over to keep Izuku with him. His mouth and hands explored Izuku’s chest slowly, need a drumbeat under his skin. Their legs intertwined as Izuku rocked up against Katsuki’s stomach. Katsuki’s dick pulsed with desire, with the need to bury himself in Izuku, to erase all the distance between them.

“Katsuki,” Izuku gasped, hands tangling in Katsuki’s hair and tugging hard.

Katsuki growled as he pulled back to meet Izuku’s gaze. “What?”

“Want you.” Izuku licked his lips, pupils blown wide, a high keen trapped in the back of his throat. “Ache for you. Please, please.”

He shifted and wrapped his legs around Katsuki’s waist, bringing them somehow closer. He rolled his hips up, his cock dragging against Katsuki’s own, crowns wet with arousal brushing against one another.

Katsuki groaned as Izuku did it again, setting a slow rhythm that seemed designed to destroy Katsuki’s self-control. Katsuki met each slow thrust, friction growing between them. He released a breath, his lungs burning as he gave up on breathing to meet Izuku with increasing need.

“You have me,” Katsuki whispered, his mouth against Izuku’s ear.

He pulled back and pressed another kiss to Izuku’s mouth. His mate met him with equal passion, the need that built between them threatening to consume them both. Katsuki’s hands skimmed lower, fingertips moving over sensitive hips and down to knead at Izuku’s ass, encouraging Izuku to rock forward. He devoured the whimpers and keens that slipped from Izuku’s mouth before they met air. He broke the kiss with a snarl, the feral beast within his chest barely caged. More. He needed more.

His mouth followed his fingers in the slow descent down Izuku’s body. He left behind dark bruises each time he paused to taste, as though he could devour Izuku if he tried hard enough. He wanted every inch of Izuku. It wasn’t like Izuku didn’t already own Katsuki. When that change had happened, Katsuki couldn’t say. Suddenly it was there, a simple fact in Katsuki’s life. He could live without a lot. He’d learned to put his country first again and again throughout his life, until it was an instinct written in his bones.

But his need for Izuku went beyond that, beyond words. If there was a treasure in Othya that Katsuki would never give away, it was his mate. He couldn’t imagine a world without Izuku in it. His intelligence, his laughter, his fucking smile.

He lost track of time as he sucked marks into Izuku’s skin, as he slipped dripping fingers into Izuku and opened him, slowly at first, and soon with increasing urgency. He hadn’t known he could need anyone like this- not until Izuku. Until it was breathing, until the idea of losing him was unthinkable.

Shameless noises filled the room as Izuku rocked down onto his fingers. Izuku’s nails dug into Katsuki’s shoulders, leaving marks that Katsuki would never bandage. He was fine with wearing Izuku’s marks, was glad that he had a mate who was strong enough to leave marks of his own.

“Now!” Izuku cried out, eyes squeezing shut as he rocked into Katsuki’s touch. “Now, now, now. Please.”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said, voice a burnt-out husk. “Yeah, want that. Want you.”

Izuku whined as Katsuki pulled back, nails raking down Katsuki’s arms as he lost purchase on sweat slick skin. He wrapped a hand around his cock and stroked, hips arching into his own touch, filthy noises coloring the air.

“None of that,” Katsuki growled as he returned, swatting Izuku’s hand away. He hooked both of Izuku’s legs over his arms and pressed forward in one firm thrust. He moaned, body shuddering. “Mine.”

“That means you’re mine, too,” Izuku said on the heels of a sigh. He tugged Katsuki into another hard kiss, the salt of sweat and the copper of blood mingling as Izuku bit down hard on Katsuki’s lower lip. He released his hold as Katsuki began to move, hips rocking up to meet each thrust, only to bite and suck at the plains of Katsuki’s body. There was no doubt Izuku was leaving marks of his own behind on Katsuki’s neck, collarbone, and shoulders.

The wet sound of hips slapping filled the room and cut through the humid tension that rose between them. It wasn’t enough though, wasn’t what Katsuki craved. He let Izuku’s legs drop to the bed as he shifted and hauled Izuku up into his lap.

Izuku’s cry sent chills down Katsuki’s spine as he thrust deeper, their pace hard, fast, unrelenting as need clawed at Katsuki. His arms chained around Izuku’s compact body, hauling him even closer, until there was no space between them. Izuku wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s neck, his legs around Katsuki’s waist, as though he could somehow bring them that much closer. Their chests pressed together, heartbeats separated only by muscle and bone. Izuku’s gasps brushed against Katsuki’s temple, his chest rising and falling at dizzying speeds.

There was nothing in the world like this. Nothing like Izuku pressing against him, nothing like the pace they set together as they raced for release. Katsuki didn’t need to be told that he’d never find another feeling like this by the gods or anyone else. This was it. This push and pull between them, this give and take as Izuku matched him, it was unique, addictive. There would never be another person like this, never another piece of perfection like Katsuki had in his arms right now.

His thrusts became erratic, though how Katsuki could move at all with how close the two of them were entwined he had no fucking clue. He swallowed and took Izuku’s lips in another searing kiss, consumed every edible, wild noise from Izuku’s throat. Katsuki felt the familiar coil of pleasure low in his gut.

“Katsuki,” Izuku murmured against his lips. “Katsuki…”

“Izuku,” Katsuki rasped, throat raw. It was as close to a prayer as he’d ever uttered aloud.

The force of his orgasm slammed through him, had him seeing stars. He was barely aware of Izuku chanting his name like it was the only word he knew as he spilled between them, painting them both with his climax.

Katsuki shuddered, his whole body heavy with the weight of exhaustion. The two of them fell back onto the bed, a tangle of limbs and sweat. Izuku hissed as Katsuki shifted just enough to slide free of his body. They lay there, two men learning to breathe again.

“Kacchan?”

“Mmm?” Katsuki hummed and stretched. He should clean up and go back to the work he had to do. He wasn’t going to.

“Thank you. For coming after me, I mean.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Katsuki snorted. “I’m always gonna do that.”

“Because I’m yours, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re mine.” He could hear the smile in Izuku’s voice.

Katsuki rolled over so he could look at Izuku. There were no shadows in his eyes now, no whispers of what-ifs on that expressive face. Izuku smiled at him softly and Katsuki felt his heart skip a beat. Something warm and content settled in his chest.

“Yeah. I’m yours too. That’s how it works, shortstack.”

Izuku’s answering smile was blinding. The warm feeling in Katsuki’s chest squeezed.

No, he wouldn’t trade whatever was growing between them. Not for anything.

Chapter Text

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki didn’t glance up from the paper in his hand even as he waved Izuku in with a grunt of acknowledgement.

“Do you have a minute?” Izuku asked as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

“You’re already here,” Katsuki said as he set the report down. He pushed away from his desk and stood.

“I just wanted to let you know that I was heading out for a while with Mina and Ochako.” Izuku swallowed, mouth watering as Katsuki stretched.

It had been close to impossible to ignore Katsuki’s good looks the day they had met. Now? Now that Izuku had traced the muscle beneath that clothing, having feasted on Katsuki’s scent and taste, on his touch? It was more than impossible. Izuku was powerless against the attraction between them, the connection that flared to life with even the smallest spark.

His heart skipped a beat as Katsuki met his gaze. There wasn’t just attraction there either. Or, at least, not for Izuku. The emotions that welled up within his chest were too intense to be mistaken for something as simple as lust anymore. It couldn’t even be classified as friendship. Izuku cared too much, too deeply, to let himself believe that. It wasn’t like how he felt about Ochako, or Eijiro. It wasn’t even how he felt about Hitoshi, who was one of his oldest friends and most certainly his closest friend. This was something new and almost fragile, a depth of feeling that Izuku wanted to protect and that frightened him all at once.

“Heading out, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “No sleepy-eyed-fucker?”

Izuku rolled his eyes. “He’s sick. And when are you two going to get along?”

“Never.”

“I think you like him. You just don’t want to admit it.”

“Did I say that?” Katsuki glared at Izuku. “I don’t remember saying that.”

“Alright, alright.” Izuku held up his hands, lips curving up in a knowing grin. “Whatever you say.”

“You’re annoyin’. The fuck do you want to go out in the cold for?”

“Fresh air doesn’t hurt anyone.” Izuku shrugged. “And Mina mentioned it. I think she’s going stir crazy cooped up inside.”

So was Izuku. As the temperatures had plummeted and the wind had kicked up, people had retreated within the walls of their homes more frequently. Even here at the castle people found reasons to stay indoors if at all possible. The corridors were packed with courtiers far more interested in finding something to occupy their time inside. Servants and soldiers alike went about their business, but even they tried to stick to the warmer areas of the castle.

Today was the first day in weeks that the wind wasn’t raging and the sun had found its way from behind the clouds. Izuku was eager to take Mina up on her suggestion that they go out and enjoy the day. No one knew how long the nicer weather would last and spring still felt like it would never come.

“I know your schedule is full today.” Izuku wished that Katsuki could enjoy the nicer weather with them. But he also knew that being a king meant that responsibilities didn’t magically disappear just because the sun came out of hiding. And Katsuki had taken enough time away from his duties in the past few weeks. Izuku knew that it was his fault Katsuki now had a pile of obligations and tasks to take care of, many that couldn’t be put off any longer. Izuku was more than willing to help, but Katsuki didn’t seem ready to let him. Izuku didn’t know how to push the subject, either. Not after the mess he had caused with Ochako and alchemy. While he knew that Katsuki had forgiven him, that didn’t change the reality that trust took longer to rebuild. Izuku knew that he was lucky that Katsuki hadn’t restricted him further. To ask for more, even when he just wanted to help… He needed to figure out how to approach that. He needed to know that Katsuki would trust him not to damage Othya further. And that might take time.

“I don’t like the cold anyway.” Katsuki shrugged. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’ll be back for dinner,” Izuku confirmed, though Katsuki hadn’t asked outright. He was proud of how he had learned to read between the verbal lines with Katsuki. While Katsuki was direct about a lot of things, there was still a learning curve with how he spoke when it came to relationships of any kind. The fact that Izuku had cracked that code, so to speak, made him feel like their relationship had grown again.

“Good. I’ll be done by then.” Katsuki closed the distance between them and tugged Izuku closer.

Izuku wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s neck and pressed closer, going on tiptoe to brush his lips over the blond’s. His heart sped up as Katsuki deepened the kiss, as though it could rip free of Izuku’s chest and freefall into Katsuki’s hands.

He pulled back as Katsuki began to tug at his shirt, breathless laughter bubbling up from within his chest. “Wait, wait!”

“Why?” Katsuki demanded, arms still chained around Izuku’s waist.

“You have meetings. And I have people expecting me. We can’t…” Izuku groaned as Katsuki nipped at his chin. “We can’t. Not right now.”

Katsuki’s chest rumbled with the force of his growl, the look he turned on Izuku feral, his red eyes flashing with impatience.

“Tonight,” Izuku murmured, brushing his lips over Katsuki’s again in a sweeter kiss, a soft promise. “Tonight we can do whatever you want.”

Katsuki growled again before he released his hold on Izuku. He took a step back, eyes dark with promise and desire. “Don’t fuckin’ take forever, nerd.”

“I won’t.” Izuku smiled, already backing towards the door before Katsuki could change his mind. “I’ll be home soon.”

“You better,” Katsuki murmured.

Izuku turned away and tugged open the door. He felt Katsuki’s eyes on him as he stepped back into the hall, knew they were on him until he was out of Katsuki’s sight.

He released a slow, centering breath before heading for the courtyard where he had promised to meet Mina and Ochako. He stopped briefly in his own lab to grab his cloak, too aware of how biting it was outside, even without the wind chill.

“Izuku!” Ochako called out as soon as he came into view. She was dressed in heavy clothing as well and had traded her skirts for pants and thick boots. Mina was dressed similarly. Izuku had mentioned that women didn’t have to wear skirts to Eijiro early on in his stay and received laughter in response. It was clear that no one in Othya tried to tell women what to do, as they did Sniycia. Which was just as well, since Izuku was sure the heavy skirts Ochako had worn in their homeland wouldn’t survive the summer or winter here. Not if she was going out in the snow.

“Ready?” Mina asked with a knowing grin.

“Yes!” Izuku smiled. “How far are we going?”

“It’s not too far,” Mina said as they stepped out into the open air. “Far enough that we’ll get away from the press of people. But close enough that we can make it back to the castle by nightfall easily.”

“Is it hard?” Ochako asked, breath puffing in front of her as they left behind the throng of people heading for the city. “Being fae among all these people who aren’t?”

“Not really.” Mina shrugged. “It could have been. When I was little, I would have given anything in the world to be Othyan by birth. Like in those stories about people who make deals with witches and the fae? I thought about finding a witch. But Baku and Eiji and the others, they made me feel wanted. I never felt like I didn’t fit with them. Even when the weird things about me popped up. LIke that I tend to know when someone is lying, even if I can’t say why. They just accepted it. I’m just Mina to them. And everyone in Othya followed the example Baku and his parents set.”

“People still look at me a little funny,” Ochako sighed. “I don’t know if it’s because they thought I was an alchemist and I’m not, or if it’s because I’m Sniycian.”

Izuku bit his lip. He’d already apologized to Ochako a million times about what had happened, after reassuring himself that she really was okay after the lab explosion. Her cuts had scabbed over by the time he had been allowed to see her, her concussion on the mend. He’d hugged her tight and apologized a million times, had been embraced in return just as tightly. Ochako had dismissed his apologies with the reminder that she had known what coming to Othya meant. She had agreed to the lie as readily as he had suggested it, desperate to get out of Sniycia.

Izuku still felt responsible though. He still wondered how much of what she was dealing with was his fault, his doing.

“A little of both, I think,” Mina said. “But they’ll adjust. It took them more than a year to adjust to me. You’ll be here a year this spring. They should calm down by then. If someone is being an ass about it though, come find me or one of the guys. We’ll take care of it.”

“Is someone making things difficult?” Izuku frowned.

“No.” Ochako shook her head quickly. “No one has been rude like that. I just can feel them looking at me when they think I’m not? But they’re all perfectly nice to me.”

“Just keep me updated, okay? Othya is your home too now, and none of us tolerate that kind of stupid stuff.”

“I will,” Ochako promised with a quick smile. ”I’m sure it’s just that I’m new. Or that my mage work isn’t something they’ve seen here.”

“How does it work?” Mina asked curiously. “Like, could you make this snow float so we didn’t have to walk in it?”

Ochako wrinkled her nose as she looked down at the snow she was wading through.

Izuku laughed at the disgruntled look.

“Shut up, ‘Zuku.” Ochako stuck her tongue out at him. “The answer is yes and no. In theory, I could. But in practice, it’s a little harder. The problem is that I can’t touch all of the snow to lift it. My mage work is kind of like Denki’s, I guess. I channel the magic in my blood through my body, which means I need to touch what I want to make weightless.”

“So, you can’t touch all the snow, so you can’t lift it.” Mina nodded. “But could you lift the castle if you really wanted to?”

“No way.” Ochako shook her head. “I still have a limit. I can pick up people, but I try not to. I have to be careful not to let them fall and I can still lose concentration. Even the snow is wet and heavy which means too much could be hard. The castle? No one can do that.”

“Limits, huh?” Mina cocked her head.

“Everything has limits,” Izuku said. “Even with what I’m doing with the juno flowers and alchemy. I can’t literally bring someone back from the dead. No power in the world can do that. Same with magecraft. There are limits because people have limits and so does the world.”

“I think the fae see it differently, but it’s hard to remember. Like the cotton of the clouds. I can’t keep it in my hands long enough to think about it.”

“Did you go looking for the fae?” Izuku asked carefully. He knew that Mina considered Othya her people and Katsuki and the others her family, so she may not have. It was clear that Katsuki, Mina, and Eijiro had all made their own families after the ones they have been given at birth were gone, for whatever reason. Those bonds were so deep and strong Izuku didn’t think anything could sever them. As nothing could break the bonds he had with Ochako and Hitoshi.

He also knew that she wasn’t as at peace as how she pretended to be with how the fae had left her behind like trash. He would never want to hurt Mina by bringing up those old memories and wounds.

“I thought about it.” Mina shook her head as she led them further from the castle and towards trees that towered over them. “I thought about it hard. But I never searched. They didn’t want me. Baku and Eiji and the others, they did. I tried to close that door and leave it behind me.”

“Like how Izuku is my family,” Ochako murmured in agreement. “I get it.”

“Exactly.” Mina smiled. “Although, we are heading towards where Eiji and Baku found me when we were little. They were way too far away from the castle for how old we were. I’m glad they were, though.”

“It doesn’t hurt?” Ochako asked. “Coming back where they found you? I couldn’t visit my parents’ old manor. It hurt so much.”

“It’s peaceful,” Mina laughed. “I know that’s weird, right? But it is. This is where my life really started, in a way. So, I love it here, among the trees. They’re ancient, have stood over Othya since the beginning, I think. If I listen really hard, it’s almost like I can hear them whispering stories.”

“And people say I have magic in my veins,” Ochako sighed, eyes alight with joy. “You make everything sound so magical.”

“Do I?” Mina grinned. “Huh.”

Silence fell between the three of them, broken only by the crunching of snow beneath their boots. They approached the large trees quickly now, not even the snow dissuading them. Izuku wondered if this was where the dire wolves Katsuki had mentioned lived. It would be easy to lose track of a wolf, even one so big, amidst the trunks and Izuku could see the dire wolves being a part of the large forest. He was glad that both he and Mina had weapons on them. Katsuki had gifted Izuku with several daggers and a bow after their date to obtain juno flowers and had made Izuku promise not to go out without several weapons. Izuku had agreed with ease, not about to fight Katsuki’s desire to protect him. Not when it manifested in gifts of weapons rather than orders to take guards or stay close. They were both learning.

“What type of trees are these?” Izuku asked, craning his neck back for a better look. “Pine, right?”

“Some,” Mina agreed. “But there are hundreds of types here. Oak, ash, pine, I could go on.”

“How?” Ochako asked. “How are that many different species here?”

“Legend says the gods each planted saplings because they couldn’t agree on one type.” Mina grinned. “Or you can blame the fae.”

“The gods Kacchan has told me about sound like they might be capricious enough,” Izuku murmured.

Mina grinned. “Yeah, he’s not fond of most of them. I bet he hasn’t told you anything good.”

“They let a horrific curse that destroys their people stand.” Izuku shrugged. “They can’t be that good.”

“It depends on if you see gods as fallible or not,” Ochako added.

“Most people pray still. Othyians are religious at the end of the day. They would rather pray with hope that something will change. Baku would rather scream and rail at the gods and curse them,” Mina sighed. “I really can’t blame him.”

Izuku turned to glance at Mina and froze for a brief moment, eyes wide in horror even as he reached for her. Mina frowned and started to turn to look behind her, but it was too late. The man slammed the pommel of his sword into her head, even as she moved.

Mina dropped without a sound, the snow beneath her turning red with her blood.

Izuku started forward even as Ochako gasped, horror making his hands shake as he reached for his sword. He didn’t know how hard she had been hit. He knew that head wounds bled a lot, but that was it. He didn’t know if she was breathing and he didn’t know how quickly she needed medical attention. He wasn’t a healer, he never had been. He did know that if someone was hit hard enough, they could die. She was his friend, she was Katsuki’s sister in all but blood. He was furious anyone would strike her. Who would even….

“Izuku,” Ochako hissed, tugging on his cloak hard. “We’re surrounded.”

“Using the trees as a cover?” Izuku growled, hand on the hilt of his sword. “What kind of cowards are you?”

“We’ve come to bring you home, Prince Izuku,” one of the men said to Izuku’s right. “Your father misses you.”

“My father does not miss me,” Izuku hissed. What kind of game was Hisashi playing at? He’d already demanded too much of Othya. He could’ve demanded more, given that he held Izuku’s life in the balance at the time. He had what he wanted. This couldn’t be real, right? “And I am home. Who are you really working for?”

“Your father.” The man in front of Izuku, the same one who had attacked Mina, shifted closer. Izuku caught sight of the Sniycian dark green and brown, the crest of the royal home stamped into the leather of his armor.

Izuku swallowed against the bile that burned his throat, nausea a sick twist in his gut. Bandits could steal the tunics and even some of the armor from Snyicia, could no doubt buy them in some black market. But they couldn’t so easily pilfer the armor the man was wearing. It was only given to those who gained high ranks in the military or the royal family’s personal guards. Izuku could see the image of a lion rampant, stamped in golds and silvers, on the armor. There was no doubt who had sent them now.

“Why now?” Ochako asked, voice tight with a mixture of anger and fear. “Why does the king want Izuku home?”

“We do not question our liege,” the man snapped, dark eyes flashing. He was probably the leader given the crest he bore and the way he took command of the conversation. “He gave us a task, we will see it through. We are to bring his son home from this barbaric country.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” the leader’s eyes narrowed.

“No.” Izuku shook his head firmly. “This is my home. You’ve just attacked my friend. I’m not going anywhere with you. Tell my father, or whoever sent you, to go to Hell.”

“We outnumber you. We can force this if we must.” The leader put his hand on his sword.

Izuku drew his, glad for the weight in his hands. “Fine.”

Something shifted to his left and Izuku spun, ready for the attack.

Ochako moved first, lips in a tight line and fear bright in her eyes. Her fingers brushed the blade the man had raised and she motioned up, even as blood trailed down her fingers and hand, down her wrist. The man shot up into the trees with a horrified scream.

“What did you do?” another man demanded, shifting further away from Ochako nervously. “What did you do?”

“Come near Izuku and I’ll do the same to you,” Ochako spat the words out. “Do you understand?”

“What do we do?” One of the other men shifted as well, stepping back away from Ochako. “I don’t want to disappear.”

“Bring him back, you little witch!” A man leapt towards her, eyes wide and teeth bared in a grimace.

Izuku jerked Ochako closer even as she gasped. A scream filled the air again, closer and closer as the man she had sent flying up into the treetops plummeted back down to the ground. He hit with a sickening crunch and a splatter of blood, hitting several of the men that stood between the corpse and Ochako.

Ochako’s skin went white and she clutched Izuku’s arm as she wavered. “I didn’t mean to kill him…” she said, her voice the barest of whisper.

“I know.” Izuku swallowed.

“You bitch!” someone shouted.

“We only need the prince alive,” the leader sneered. “Not this sorceress.”

There were still too many of them. Izuku gripped his sword tighter, adrenaline and panic swirling in his system. What did he do now? There were still at least fifteen men, maybe more hidden further in the trees. Izuku might be able to fight them all off, but he couldn’t protect Ochako the whole time. She had never been trained as a combat mage and he had a sinking feeling she was going into shock. She’d never killed someone before, so it wasn’t unlikely. He didn’t want to gain his freedom at the price of his friend’s life.

His gaze flickered to Mina. Had he lost a friend already? Would Katsuki ever forgive him for that? Izuku knew how much Mina meant to Katsuki. But she was also strong. He had to believe she wasn’t dead, not matter how much blood stained the snow.

“You know I’m a more than capable fighter,” Izuku said, his throat dry. He swallowed. “How many of your men am I going to kill? How many are you prepared to lose? How many do you need to get your ship back to Sniycia?”

The leader watched him, eyes a little wary. Good, that meant Izuku was probably right in his guess that their party was small. They needed everyone they had.

“If you leave my friend alone, I’ll come with you.”

Behind him, Ochako hissed out a breath. “Izuku, no-”

“Shut up,” Izuku snapped, cutting her off. “If you don’t, I’ll be forced to kill every single man you have here. You won’t get very far without them, right?”

“Deal.” The leader nodded. “But put your sword away first.”

“And I know you’ll keep your word how?” Izuku snorted. “You first.”

“All your weapons away men.” The leader nodded as he gave the command. Izuku heard the ring of swords being sheathed again and again. “There. Now you.”

“Do any of them have weapons?” Izuku asked Ochako quickly.

“No,” Ochako said, voice trembling. “No, they’re all put away.”

Izuku released a breath and slid his sword home. “Fine.”

“Izuku…” Ochako began.

“It’ll be fine.” Izuku forced a smile, wishing he could tell her that it really would be alright. He had a plan. It wasn’t a very good plan maybe, but he would work on backups.

“Take them both.”

“What?!” Izuku spun around to glare at the leader even his men swarmed forward, wrenching his arms behind his back. He heard Ochako shout as they did the same, no doubt not too gently. “We had a deal!”

“And I haven’t killed her yet,” the man agreed. “Come now, young prince. We’re heading home.”

“You…” Izuku struggled against the men holding him, even as rope was tied around his wrists tight enough to bite into his skin.

“Behave, would you? I would hate for something to happen to your friend.” The leader smirked, arrogant in his victory.

“Bastard,” Izuku snarled. “You’re going to regret this.”

“We shall see about that, won’t we?” The leader shrugged. “Men, let’s move.”

“You will,” Izuku promised darkly.

It didn’t matter how long it took. Katsuki was going to be expecting him back, was going to come looking when Izuku didn’t show. These men had hurt Mina, had kidnapped Izuku. It didn’t matter how far they got ahead. Katsuki was going to come.

Izuku just had to wait.

Chapter Text

“The food stores should last for the whole winter, even if it’s longer than predicted,” Hanta reported. “And that’s across the whole empire. Every report that has come in says that no one foresees any issues. They will keep us updated as normal, however.”

“You should consider a tour of some kind in the next year or so,” Eijiro said from where he sat across from Katsuki, legs stretched out. “It’s important that no one forgets just who they answer to.”

“Any rumors I should be aware of?” Katsuki asked sharply.

“None that have made their way back to us. But you should consider it anyway.” Eijiro shrugged. “I can go with you and either Mina or Izuku can stay here to handle the day-to-day.”

“A solid reminder that you’re the emperor and you’re never too far wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Hanta agreed. “It would take a while to plan so you have time, but it’s definitely worth consideration.”

Katsuki nodded, turning the suggestion over in his mind. It wouldn’t hurt to check in on the rest of the empire and make sure that everything was running the way it should be. And he could take Izuku with him, let the nerd see more of the world. It didn’t take a genius of Katsuki’s caliber to realize that Izuku had never been outside of Sniycia until he’d married Katsuki and come to Othya.

Growing up, Katsuki had studied enough history thanks to Aizawa to know more than his own history. He knew there had been plenty of rulers in the past who had used their adult sons as ambassadors and representatives in their stead, sending them to other countries. Katsuki didn’t think that Hisashi knew how to let go of control enough to do that. He could show Izuku more of the world, see what the nerd thought about the people and places.

“I’ll think about it.” Katsuki shrugged. “But right now we’ve got more pressing shit to take care of.”

“There’re a few more reports,” Hanta shrugged. “There’re always more reports.”

“Let me see,” Eijiro frowned, reaching for a pile of documents he’d brought in with him. “I think Yoarashi sent something in too.”

“Are we going to ignore the issues Ashax has been causing?” Denki asked. He was perched on the edge of a large chair, leg bouncing a rhythm only he knew. “Because I think we should be talking about that.”

“What have you heard?” Katsuki asked, leaning forward. People never paid much mind to Denki when he was around. They dismissed him as an idiot because he was hyperactive and easily distracted. He wasn’t stupid though and he heard more than people gave him credit for. If he said something like that, he had plenty of reason.

“Something is going on there. I don’t know exactly what, but a few merchants came back home last week. They said that it looks like Ashax may be preparing for war. Or at least, something. There was plenty of military action when they were there, soldiers looking for something. They didn’t know what for, though. And this report came in right when Mina was leaving.” Denki held out the parchment. “It’s about Ashax. It doesn’t say much that the merchants didn’t tell me. But I think we need to consider that they’re a threat for us to take care of and soon.”

That wasn’t what Katsuki wanted to hear. Ashax was a constant threat and pain in his side it seemed. Ashax was separated from the rest of the continent by a volcanic mountain range that included a deep fissure in the earth filled with lava, and a marshland that required maps to get through safely. It was as though the gods had striven to keep Ashax cut off from the rest of the world when they created the countries, pulling them out of the sea and creating them from nothing. It was a natural defense that Noboru had relied on far too easily when he had been acting regent. Katsuki had never trusted that it would be enough to keep Ashax at bay. It would have never stopped Katsuki.

He ran his fingers over the map rolled out on his desk. How would he go about getting past that gorge? Was he going to have to figure that out soon? Would it be better to make the first move, to attack Ashax before they moved against Othya? He needed more knowledge.

“What do we know about Ashax?”

“Not enough.” Hanta shook his head. “It’s hard to get spies there safely.”

“I don’t know about the political atmosphere or how the people feel about the royal family. I could try to go myself.” Denki’s leg bounced even faster. “See what I can find.”

“That would take too long.” Katsuki shook his head. “I need to know if they’re an immediate threat.”

“I’ll see what I can find out.” Denki stood lightning sparking over his fingers. “As fast as I can.”

“Now?” Hanta frowned, his gaze sliding from Katuski to Denki. “Aren’t the merchants gone again? How are you going to find anything?”

“There are plenty of people in town still since it’s winter. Especially since these guys were late coming home due to the snow.” Denki shrugged. “And they’ll talk to me. They always do.”

People were always letting information slip to Denki and Mina. They were charming enough that people seemed to forget that the information would get right back to Katsuki if it was important. Or maybe they told them because of that. Either way, Katsuki was glad that the merchants had returned in time to give Denki some kind of warning about Ashax. Any of the merchants allowed this deep into Othya were generally born here, or had chosen Othya by marriage and loyalty. That would make Denki’s job easier.

“Be careful,” Hanta insisted. “We don’t know who could’ve had their loyalties bought. Especially with them coming from Ashax.”

“Go with him.” Katsuki said, mind still on the terrain between the two countries. Merchants could travel by ship, but Katsuki would prefer not to if he had another option. Moving his army by ship left them vulnerable for periods of time. He hadn’t had the option with Snyicia, as nothing but an ocean separated him from the southern continent. If he had a choice with Ashax, he would sooner avoid it. And they wouldn’t expect him to bring soldiers through marshlands and volcanic mountain ranges. That would be even better for him.

“You are easy to talk to,” Denki agreed. “Not as easy as Mina, but it will work.”

“Plus no one will remember your face too clearly if asked.” Eijiro nodded.

“Yeah, yeah.” Hanta rolled his eyes. “I’ve got a plain face. I get it.”

“Come on.” Denki motioned to the door. He shifted his weight, clearly anxious to go.

The door to Katsuki’s study opened and slammed against the wall with a loud crack. All four men turned their attention to the doorway. Katsuki was on his feet before he had gotten a good look at the interruption, the scent of blood strong in his nose. His body stiffened, preparing for a fight.

Mina stumbled into his office, her skin too pale and her movements unsteady, almost as if she was drunk. Dried blood stained the skin of her neck and face and more matted her hair. Katsuki couldn’t tell if she had stopped bleeding yet. Raised voices followed her in from the hall and a soldier tried to accompany Mina into the office, as though afraid she would collapse at any minute.

“Mina!” Eijiro was by his mate’s side before the chair he’d been sitting in hit the floor. The soldier froze and slowly backed back out to wait by the door. Eijiro growled, low in his chest until the rumble of it filled the room. “Who did this?”

“Was it Ashax?” Denki demanded, his voice tight with barely-repressed emotion. Lightning danced over his skin and clothing.

Katsuki felt almost as ready to tear heads off as Eijiro was. Mina had been a constant in his life since he’d been six years old. He knew she could take care of herself. That wasn’t the godsdamned point though. She was his family, one of his people. That she could be attacked in the heart of Othya, so close to the castle… Whoever had done this would regret it.

The wound couldn’t be that old. Katsuki figured a few hours at most. Which meant…

He froze, hot fury pounding through his veins. “Where’s Izuku?”

Mina met his gaze, the gold of her eyes muted of their usual joy. Anguish flitted through the depths as she leaned heavily into Eijiro’s embrace. Her voice was a rasp of sound. “I’m sorry.”

“Where. Is. He?” Katsuki repeated, biting off each word.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Eijiro protested, still growling.

“I don’t know,” Mina said. “One minute everything was fine and the next-”

“And the next what?” Katsuki snapped. The desire to tear heads off warred with the need for more concrete information.

“I was hit from behind!” Tears rolled down her cheeks, silent and all the more painful for it. “I was in and out, I don’t know for how long! When I came to enough to stand, they were gone. Ochako, Izuku, and all the men save one body.”

“Do you know who?” Hanta asked when Katsuki stayed silent, too busy trying to control the rage that threatened to consume him.

“Yeah.” Mina swallowed and uncurled her fist. She held out a scrap of fabric in dark green and brown. In the corner was stitched a small emblem of Sniycia. “I know exactly who.”

Katsuki’s answering snarl drowned out Eijiro’s continuous growl, drowned out anyone’s else's response. Hisashi wanted to break their treaty? He wanted to destroy the alliance that had kept Katsuki from spilling his blood? That was fine. Katsuki was happy to consider it dissolved. But Hisashi didn’t get to take his son back. Izuku was Katsuki’s.

“What do you want us to do?” Mina asked, wiping her face with the back of her hands. “We’re going after them, right?”

“No shit we’re going after them,” Katsuki growled. He motioned to Denki. “Go find Hitoshi and get him up here. I don’t care how sick he is.”

“Right.” Denki nodded and was out the door.

“Sero, go pick a group of warriors to come with me. Fast and bloodthirsty.”

Hanta nodded and followed Denki out the door.

“What about me?” Mina asked.

“You’re staying the fuck here.”

“Let me help!” Mina protested. She swayed as she took a step forward and Eijiro hurried to tug her closer against his chest.

“Mina, you’re injured-” Eijiro began.

“It’s my fault!” Mina interrupted him, tears pooling in her eyes again. She clenched her fists. “If I had been paying more attention or something…”

“My mate is a capable fighter and he’s smart.” Katsuki shook his head. “This isn’t your fault. You’re saying here so you can get treated, shithead. Not because I want to keep you out of shit.”

“Aren’t you mad?” Mina pressed and Katsuki saw the flash of vulnerability in her eyes. Mina was strong about so many things. But no one was strong all the damn time.

“At them. Not you. Get that stupid-ass thought out of your head. Get seen by the healer, and get fixed up.”

“Fine,” Mina sighed. “I’d rather be going with you.”

“Tough shit.” Katsuki didn’t doubt her abilities. If she went to rescue Izuku and Ochako she’d be fearless and bloodthirsty as she always was. But she was injured and barely standing on her own feet right now. Whether she liked it or not, she was staying here. He wasn’t taking chances with her life.

“It’ll be fine, Mina.” Eijiro reassured his mate.

Katsuki glanced at his best friend. The redhead was no longer growling. Did he take Eijiro with him? The rage created at the sight of his mate being attacked and injured didn’t necessarily outweigh the need to be at her side. Not right now. If he came with Katsuki, would he be focused?

“You coming with?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Eijiro said firmly, outrage flashing in his eyes as he turned to Katsuki. “They touched my mate. I’m going to make them regret it.”

He didn’t say that it was the manly thing to do, but Katsuki could hear it in his tone of voice.

“Then get your ass in gear,” Katsuki growled. “I don’t want to lose more fucking time.”

“I don’t know how long I was out,” Mina said again, gritting her teeth against the pain that Katsuki could see in her eyes. “They might have a good head start already. I was in and out.”

“Get in warm clothes as soon as the healers check you out.” Eijiro frowned. “You’re shaking.”

Mina took Eijiro’s hand in hers. “If they reach the ships and set sail before you reach them, what then?”

“We don’t let that happen,” Eijiro said quickly. “It’s not an option. We’ll just beat them before then.”

Katsuki was inclined to agree with Eijiro. Sniycia couldn’t reach their ships before Katsuki caught up with them. Not with Izuku fighting them every step of the way. And there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt in his mind that Izuku was fighting them every godsdamned step. Even with all the shit that had happened between them, Katsuki knew that.

But if they had knocked Izuku unconscious the nerd couldn’t do shit. And if he fought hard enough, they just might.

If the Sniycian kidnappers made it to their ships before Katsuki got there, getting Izuku back would be a lot harder. And Katsuki didn’t plan to let Hisashi hold his mate’s life over his head anymore.

“You called?” Hitoshi appeared in the doorway, Denki hovering behind him. The purple-haired fucker looked exhausted and too pale, even for him. Katsuki felt a brief pang of regret for pulling him out of his bed.

“Izuku and Round Face were kidnapped.” Katsuki wasn’t wasting any more time. Enough had been wasted. “By your fucking country.”

Hitoshi stiffened and his eyes narrowed into slits. “This is my country. My loyalty has always been to Izuku, so back up if you’re looking for a target to blame.”

“I’m not.” He already had a target in mind and it wasn’t Hitoshi. “Are you coming with or not?”

“He’s sick.” Denki frowned from behind Hitoshi. “Is that really the best idea?”

“His choice.” Katsuki shrugged, what little patience he still had wearing thin. “So?”

“I’m honored that I received a personal invite.” Hitoshi smirked. “You couldn’t stop me from following. I can grab a few minor cure wounds and a few potions to cause issues.”

“You three, go meet Sero. Whoever he has now is who we’re taking. Meet me in the dragon courtyard.” Katsuki shoved past Hitoshi and Denki as he grabbed his cloak from where it hung, already moving.

“What?” Eijiro called after him. “Why?”

Katsuki didn’t answer.

Othya had protected the dragons and the secret of their existence for generations. They should be protecting them for generations more, Katsuki knew that. Dragons reproduced painfully slow and there were already too few left to do the job. Mitsuki had made it clear even when he was young that protecting them would be one of the most important jobs Katsuki ever undertook. Even Noboru hadn’t fucked that up during his time controlling Othya.

Every ambassador that entered Othya was sworn not to repeat what they saw be it by writing, speech, or any other form of communication. Othya used binding spells so tight that any attempt cramped someone’s arm, cut off their voice. The mages who cast the spell were never anything but the best.

Katsuki had never asked Izuku or the other Sniycian natives he’d brought with him to swear by that oath. Maybe even then he’d wanted Izuku to trust him, to consider Othya his.

Now he had, and Katsuki was not letting anyone change that. Even if it meant breaking the oath himself.

He stepped into the frigid air. Rich purples and deep reds streaked the sky as the sun set, ushering in darkness and even more brutal temperatures.

He didn’t need to speak to know Krishna was there. Even though soft gray hide and dark eyes blended well into the shadows, Katsuki knew. He’d always known when Krishna was near. Not from some fabled mind-to-mind connection, that shit was the stuff of fairytales. But there was a bond there all the same. Katsuki couldn’t explain it, had never bothered to try. He was fucking glad for it now though.

“They kidnapped Izuku,” he said in way of greeting.

Krishna’s answering snarl matched the beast trapped in Katsuki’s chest.

“Help me get him back.” Katsuki didn’t need to add that Krishna was fast enough or that he wasn’t sure of the distance. It didn’t matter, wouldn’t matter. Not if Krishna agreed. Katsuki couldn’t command the dragon, who was as much his friend as Eijiro was, but he could ask.

Krishna’s chest rumbled with the snarl that had yet to fade as he met Katsuki’s gaze and dropped his shoulder in agreement. But one dragon, even one Krishna’s size, couldn’t carry everyone.

“Any of the others who want to help-”

Katsuki didn’t get to finish as multiple dragons shifted and spread their wings, raising their voices in roars of anger.

“I’ll take that as a yes?”

Katsuki glanced over his shoulder and caught Hitoshi’s gaze. “That’s a yes.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Don’t give me orders,” Katsuki snapped, already moving. He put his hand on Krishna’s side before climbing up to take his seat. “And ride with Kiri. Don’t need you falling off.”

“Such little faith in me,” Hitoshi snorted but followed Eijiro.

“We’re going to get him back,” Katsuki murmured, both to himself and Krishna. “And they’re going to pay.”

Krishna rumbled in agreement beneath him and lifted them into the sky with a powerful jump.

“Move out!” Eijiro called to the rest of the warriors coming with them.

More dragons than those carrying riders rose into the sky, clearly intent on assisting.

Katsuki bared his teeth, ready for the coming fight. Even if it meant exposing the dragons to the world.

Love was hell.

Chapter Text

They clearly had no idea what they’d done.

The soldiers and mercenaries that Izuku’s father had sent to retrieve him joked as they rode, trading bawdy jokes and ugly insinuations about what they wanted to do once back in the safety of their ships, on their way to their own country. They acted like they had already accomplished their mission, despite the miles between themselves and safety. As though invading a country and kidnapping the consort to the emperor was nothing to worry about.

The only thing that belied the ease of their conversation was the hard pace they set, as though trying to outrun demons.

If they thought they could cover the distance between the capital of Othya and the border of the sea in hours rather than the days it would actually take, they were stupid. It didn’t matter how hard they pushed their mounts, it didn’t matter if they never stopped to make camp or rest. No matter what they did, Izuku knew that they wouldn’t make it in time.

Katsuki was going to follow them and he was going to destroy them for what they had done.

Izuku thought of Mina’s form, too still for the vivid and colorful life it contained, lying in the snow. He thought of the blood that stained the snow, turning a beautiful day ugly with its taint. He thought of Ochako’s pallor as the realization that she had taken a life trying to protect him set in.

Katsuki wouldn’t be the only one set on making the kidnappers pay for what they’d done. Izuku would make sure of it.

“You’re awfully quiet,” one of the men taunted, drawing his mount closer to where Izuku rode, hands bound. “What’s wrong, little prince?”

“I don’t see the point in talking to dead men.” Izuku shrugged.

“We aren’t dead.” The man scowled.

“You will be,” Izuku promised with a sneer he had seen Katsuki use whenever someone was being particularly stupid.

“You little shit!” The man shoved limp red hair out of dark eyes and lashed out, striking Izuku hard in the mouth.

The sharp taste of copper filled Izuku’s mouth as pain skittered up his nerves, probably from a split lip or something. He swallowed back the blood and focused on balance, thighs squeezing to keep himself from toppling off the horse beneath him.

“Not such a smartass now, are ya?” the man asked, voice smug. “Where’s your comeback?”

Izuku licked his lips and tasted more blood. “How are you going to explain the bruises?”

“Hah. Your father will believe that the barbarian king caused them.”

Izuku didn’t bother to explain that any fresh bruises that appeared on his body once they left Othyan soil wouldn’t have faded in time for anyone to reasonably believe that Katsuki had caused them. Besides, even if his father was inclined to believe the lies, it wouldn’t matter. Izuku wasn’t going to be standing in front of him anytime soon.

“I didn’t mean my father. I meant my mate.”

“Your mate?” the man snorted with laughter. “You aren’t seeing him again. Besides, why the fuck would he care?”

“He’ll care.” There were no doubts about that. “I’d care if you hit him.”

“Guess the little prince went native, fell in love and all that,” another guard nearby said, joining the conversation. “He should be thanking us.”

Izuku arched an eyebrow, ignoring the way the word love twisted at his insides. Was that what he felt for Katsuki? “For what? Kidnapping me? I’m not sure where you got that idea from, but that’s not how it works.”

“We’re taking you home,” the first guard snorted. “So, yeah, you should be thanking us.”

“Since this is my home, I don’t think that’s happening,” Izuku snapped.

“Betrayed your country?” the second man asked, disgust heavy in his words. “For what, a cock up your ass?”

“Sniycia and its king were more than happy to sell me to Othya last spring,” Izuku pointed out. At least if they focused on him, they weren’t focusing on Ochako. They might hit Izuku but they couldn’t do anything too horrible, at least in theory. He was still born of the royal family they served. Ochako had no such protections against any of their attentions or advances.

Although, given how they thought he had betrayed Sniycia, Izuku wasn’t too sure how long his royal blood was going to protect him either.

“And now we’re bringing you back. How you wanna show your gratitude, huh? Gonna suck my dick?” the first man taunted.

“Why does my father even want me back in Sniycia?” Izuku asked, ignoring the poorly veiled threat in the man’s words. “The treaty with Othya and Sniycia is heavily in Sniycia’s favor. Bringing me back only threatens that.”

“The king shouldn’t be questioned,” the first man snapped. “Watch your mouth you little-”

“If the barbarian cares about you as much as you think he does, he’ll do whatever King Hisashi wants,” the second man said, cutting off his comrade. He pushed a strand of pale lavender hair behind his ear. “And you will be home where you belong.”

And turn Katsuki into a puppet? Izuku didn’t think so. Even if Katsuki didn’t arrive before they left the Othyan shore it wouldn’t matter. Izuku would find a way free, would find a way back home to Othya for both him and Ochako. He wasn’t going to be a pawn in his father’s games again. And there was no way he was going to be used against Katsuki.

Not that Katsuki was likely to meekly agree.

“What, no come back this time? No smart remark?” The guard with red hair shoved Izuku, nearly sending Izuku toppling from his horse again.

He struggled to stay up and turned a dark glare on the man who seemed determined to get a rise out of him by any means necessary. “Keep your hands off of me. Whether you want to consider me a prince of Sniycia or the consort of an emperor, you don’t have a right to touch me. Keep doing it and I’m going to separate your hands from the rest of your body.”

Could tempers rub off on someone? Izuku knew he’d always had a temper once pushed, but it wasn’t usually as violent as Katsuki’s was. He didn’t know if it was the stress of the situation or just a change from being around Katsuki, but he was grateful for it. Maybe it had always been there and Katsuki had just helped bring it out. Izuku couldn’t be sorry. He was done with people pushing him around and using him.

“You just wait until we’re on the ship and away from this savage place,” the man warned, leaning closer. It was clearly easier for him to balance since his hands weren’t bound. Asshole. “I’ll teach you.”

Izuku didn’t plan on giving the guard the opportunity, but he couldn’t repress the shiver that chased down his spine at those words. He needed to get him and Ochako out of here. The sooner the better.

“Did you hear something?” one of the soldiers from up ahead called.

Izuku strained his hearing, trying to focus on something other than the sound of the horse hooves hitting ground and his own heart beating too loudly in his chest. What had they heard?

A roar cut through the night, startling the horses. They shrieked and pulled at their bits, their instincts screaming at them to move, to get away from the nose. Their riders held them fast, for what little good it would do them. Izuku knew that roar, though he could scarcely believe it.

“What was that?!” someone shouted.

Had Katsuki really brought dragons? He couldn’t have, wouldn’t have, right? The dragons were endangered and it was one of the secrets Katsuki had been very quick to make sure Izuku understood when he’d first come to Othya. He wouldn’t bring them here, would he? If even one of the men who had kidnapped Izuku and Ochako escaped it could be disastrous.

Izuku looked up at the dark sky, hope that he was wrong warring with the hope that Katsuki was here.

The unmistakable outline of a dragon blotted out what little starlight there was as it turned and darted back towards the capital at Izuku’s back. He swallowed. If he was right, the men around him stood no chance. And that was fine with him.

“What are you looking at?” the soldier who had been tormenting him demanded, looking up into the sky currently devoid of dragon forms. “Do you know what that was?”

Izuku grinned, slow and mean. “I told you, you would regret this.”

“What is it?” the redhead demanded, raising his hand. “Tell me!”

“I don’t answer to the dead.” Izuku shrugged. “Sorry.”

“Answer me!” The guard lashed out again, catching Izuku’s cheek.

He hissed in a breath and pushed the pain back in a technique he had learned at a young age on the training grounds. He opened his mouth to retort.

Any words he might have said were drowned out by a thundering bellow that rocked the world around them. Everyone’s heads snapped up to the night sky as a large form swept over them, terrorizing the horses all the more.

Krishna swept close enough several men had to duck in their saddles, all but flattening themselves against their mount’s neck.

And Katsuki was astride the dragon that had caused so much distress and dread, looking more savage and enraged than Izuku had ever seen.

His mate wanted blood. And he was going to get it. This was the emperor who controlled so much of the continent, who had conquered country after country, who had come to Sniycia’s shores with nothing but death and the betterment of his people in mind.

Sniycia had no idea what they had done.

The dragons descended, each one landing next to the one before it, until they had formed a large circle around their targets- cutting off any escape route. Izuku kept his eyes on Krishna and Katsuki. Krishna lowered his shoulder enough for Katsuki to jump down. Other riders followed his lead, dismounting from the dragons who had seen fit to carry them. It was dizzying to realize there were more dragons than there were warriors who had come. Logically Katsuki had only wanted the best warriors readily available to come with him to save time. There didn’t have to be so many dragons. But there were.

“Perhaps we can discuss this?” One of the men called out. Izuku thought it was the leader who had spoken to him in the forest. He didn’t sound so sure of his success now.

Katsuki drew one of his weapons without answer, clearly not in the mood to talk.

“I tried to warn you,” Izuku said softly. His voice carried in the stillness broken only by the nervous movement of horses. Even Krishna had gone silent.

“Shut your mouth, cocksucker,” the redhead next to Izuku snapped.

Krishna’s rumble of fury drowned out anything anyone else may have said. The horses screamed, eyes wild as they looked for an escape from the large predator in front of them.

“Give us the Othyans you kidnapped,” Hanta called over the din.

“We didn’t kidnap any Othyan people,” someone countered.

“Wrong answer,” Ochako whispered from Izuku’s right, a few horses away. She was still too pale, her eyes a little glassy. Izuku couldn’t tell if she was still in shock or if the grief and horror of what she had done was really sinking in. She shivered in the winter night but pulled herself up to her full height. “We’re Othyan by the treaty signed by both the Othyan Emperor and Snyicia’s King. He means us.”

“The girl killed one of our own,” a guard protested.

“You attacked Mina and threatened both me and Izuku.” Ochako shrugged with a carelessness that Izuku knew she didn’t feel. “That’s self-defense.”

“We’re taking them both back,” Eijiro’s voice carried on the wind. “Pray to whatever gods you have now.”

“We have hostages.” The leader shifted in his saddle. “You can’t mean to attack. I can have them killed now.”

Izuku wasn’t going to give anyone the chance to put a blade to his throat. He was done being used against Katsuki for good behavior, done with everyone pushing mating instincts Katsuki couldn’t help to the breaking point in order to control him. Izuku didn’t want to be a pawn, not in anyone’s game. Especially not when it meant hurting Katsuki.

He threw himself to left and off the horse beneath him, hitting the ground with a heavy thud. He clenched his teeth as his shoulder protested, pain flaring to life somewhere in the muscle and nerves. Izuku didn’t pause to wonder what he’d done to it. He struggled to his feet. He needed to put more distance between him and the Sniycian party.

There was another thud and a sharp gasp as Ochako clearly followed his example. He turned to see her struggle to her feet and bolt away from their kidnappers, towards the closest dragons.

One of the guards grabbed Izuku’s arm, jostling the already injured shoulder. He swallowed his own gasp of pain and jerked away before they could get a stronger grip, sidestepping as another guard tried to grab hold. One of the dragons growled again and several horses pulled hard at their reins, a few rearing back on their hind legs. Izuku took the opporunity and ducked beneath one of the horses, trying not to focus on those flailing front legs. He took off, legs carrying him as fast as they could to Katsuki.

Someone shouted from behind him but it didn’t matter. Katsuki caught him as he stumbled and drew him closer. Izuku breathed in the campfire smoke and sweetness, something in his chest unclenching. He hadn’t allowed himself to consider that he could have been taken from Othya, that Katsuki wouldn’t make it in time. But now, with Katsuki’s free arm around him and his scent in Izuku’s lungs, Izuku could admit to the fear.

“Who hit you?” Katsuki’s voice was rage given form as he touched Izuku’s split lip, his eyes on the bruise Izuku was sure was forming on his cheek already.

“The redhead over there.” Izuku jerked his head back towards the kidnappers. “Can you cut these ties? And they took my sword, do you have one I can use?”

Katsuki pulled a knife without a word and cut the binds around Izuku’s hands, his eyes hard.

“Thanks.” Izuku rubbed his wrists with a hiss as feeling flooded back to his hands. “What about a sword?”

“If I ask you to stay with Krishna?”

“They attacked my people too, Kacchan. Give me a sword.” He wasn’t sitting this out. He wasn’t some damsel to be rescued and protected.

Katsuki growled but didn’t protest. He handed Izuku the sword in his hand and pulled his other one. The curved blade felt strange in Izuku’s hand, the weight entirely different from what he was used to carrying. But it was a weapon instead of a protective cage. He wasn’t about to complain.

“Thanks.”

“Where’s Round Face?”

“By the dragons over there.” Izuku nodded towards Ochako’s small form pressed against the large dragons on the far side of the circle.

Katsuki turned back towards the Sniycian party. “Don’t get fucked up again, got it?”

“You either.”

They moved as one, closing the distance between them and the kidnappers with quick strides. Othyan warriors followed not a full step behind, screaming for blood.

It was a slaughter rather than a true battle. The party Izuku’s father had sent had been meant for stealth rather than a fight. They were outnumbered and outclassed. They didn’t stand a chance against Katsuki’s rage, against Eijiro’s vivid fury, or any of the other Othyan warriors. Lightning arked through the air as Denki let loose charge after charge with a taunting grin. Hanta worked side-by-side with the lightning mage in the chaos to protect Denki’s blind spots whenever someone got too close. He moved with grace, each movement fluid from the last, almost like a dance, the long, black whip in his hand an extension of his body. The weighted tips of the pataga whip twined around the wrist of the nearest Sniycian soldier, jerking the man out of the saddle in a sharp movement. It was clear that the two had worked together often. Izuku knew that Denki’s mage work was often erratic and unpredictable, but it avoided Hanta entirely, as though the space the tall man occupied didn’t exist.

Screams and roars filled the air as the dragons lent their encouragement and men met their deaths at the end of blade or magic. Eijiro fought like a man possessed, not a single movement wasted as he mortally wounded soldier after soldier, his eyes dark with fury the likes of which Izuku had never seen in the redhead before. Eijiro was almost unmatched on the battlefield in that moment.

Almost, because Katsuki was there, was livid and out for blood. Every move served a purpose as Katsuki took life after life, his teeth bared in a silent snarl that turned more than one enemy white with fear. He left nothing but bodies in his wake, each soldier staring up at a cloudy night sky with filmed over eyes that would never truly see again.

It was over as quickly as it had begun, the Sniycian party all but destroyed. Two men remained, both kneeling in front of Katsuki, their hands raised and devoid of weapons. One of them was the leader.

“He has my sword.” Izuku motioned to the leader. “I want it back.”

“I-It’s here.” The man motioned very carefully to the ground in front of him, where swords and sheaths were piled.

“Go ahead.” Katsuki nodded, his eyes never leaving the prisoners in front of him. He held out his hand for his own sword. Izuku handed it over.

He stepped around Katsuki and knelt down. His sword lay near the top of the pile, still sheathed and unused. It was a relief to know that no one had used it against the Othyan people in battle. Izuku picked it up and stepped back as he settled the sheath and sword in their rightful place at his side.

“Will…” The other man, the guard with lavender hair, swallowed. “Will you kill us now?”

“Could you blame him?” Hitoshi asked from where he stood nearby. He hadn’t participated in the slaughter, probably due to the fact he was sick and shouldn’t have been here. Or maybe because he hadn’t had a weapon. But here he was.

“Tell that coward Hisashi that he’s broken the treaty,” Katsuki snarled. “If he wants a war, he has one.”

“We don’t-” the man started.

“You kidnap my consort and say you don’t want a war?” Katsuki’s tone was hard, each word heavy with the weight of what they had done. “Tell your king I’m coming. And this time, I’ll put his head on a pike for everyone to see.”

The two men stared at Katsuki with dawning horror, as though they just realized what they had unleashed.

Izuku swallowed back the bile that rose at the image Katsuki painted with his words. Hisashi was many things, but he was still Izuku’s father. Deserving such a death didn’t make it easier to hear the words, to imagine what was to come.

“Sero, Kami.” Katsuki bit off each name like he was still struggling to control his rage.

“Yes?” Hanta asked.

Izuku glanced over to see Hanta standing in front of Denki, blocking him from anyone else’s sight. Or, anyone that wasn’t Othyan at least.

“Pick a few warriors and have them escort these men back to their ship. I want to make sure they leave my shores. Have another group stay and take care of this mess.”

“We will.” Hanta nodded. Izuku thought he detected a note of relief in Hanta’s voice, but couldn’t place why. Hanta turned and tugged Denki with him as they went to talk to the other men.

Izuku picked his way through bodies and discarded weapons until he stood by Eijiro’s side. “Is Mina…” He couldn’t finish the question, couldn’t bare to imagine that she wasn’t okay.

“She’ll be alright,” Eijiro said, voice tight. “She probably has a nasty concussion. Healers should’ve fixed her by now.”

Izuku swallowed, the sting of tears familiar as he blinked. “I’m glad,” he said, his voice strangled and rough. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. I-”

“This wasn’t your fault.” Eijiro shook his head and flashed Izuku a small smile. “Tell her it wasn’t hers when you see her, alright?”

“I will,” Izuku promised.

“Izuku?” Ochako murmured.

He turned as she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. He hugged her tightly in turn, ignoring the pain sparking in his shoulder. “You okay?”

“I will be. I’m so glad that you’re okay. I heard them talking and I just…” Ochako shook her head. “Can we go home?”

“Home sounds good to me,” Hitoshi agreed.

“Yeah.” Izuku released a breath, searching for Katsuki amongst the carnage again. He found him frowning at something Hanta said as several Othyan warriors jerked the Snyician men to their feet. “Let’s go home.”

OoOoO

“What’s wrong with Denki?” Izuku asked as he followed Katsuki into their suite. He wanted to get out of his wet, stiff clothing as fast as possible before he dealt with the aftermath of his kidnapping.

“Fried his brain. He’ll be alright in a bit. He pushed past his limits, it always happens when he does. He won’t stay out of combat though. Not if Kiri, Sero, Mina, or me is there.”

“His own mage abilities fried his brain?” Izuku repeated, eyes wide. “I mean Ochako can get sick with too much weight or extended use but…”

“Everyone’s different, I guess.” Katsuki shrugged. “Sero’ll take care of him. Don’t worry too much. It’s never permanent.”

“Right.” Izuku swallowed and tried to believe that. “Right.”

Katsuki tugged off his tunic, already several layers ahead of Izuku. Izuku fingered the hem of his leather jerkin, words pushing at his lips. Katsuki still seemed furious and Izuku was starting to think it was at him, for causing all of this. He had been the one who had gone out. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Katsuki stilled but didn’t turn to look at Izuku.

“Everything. I should have never gone out, or something. Maybe if I hadn’t, Mina would be fine. Maybe if I hadn’t, this wouldn’t have happened. Now Denki has a fried brain, and Ochako killed someone, and if I had just…”

“Stop.” Katsuki turned to scowl at Izuku. “That shit isn’t your fault.”

“It is. They came for me.”

“Your father did a real number on you, you know that?” Katsuki shook his head. “Stop fuckin’ apologizing.”

Izuku licked chapped lips. “But you’re so mad…”

“You were fuckin’ kidnapped under your father’s orders, nerd. I’m not exactly happy about that. But I’m not mad at you.”

“Then…” Izuku struggled to explain the tension he felt between them.

“For gods sakes,” Katsuki growled. “I’m trying to be fucking nice or some shit. You already went through enough and you’ve got bruises all over. I’m tryin’ to stop myself from slamming you against the wall and taking you right the fuck now.” Katsuki’s gaze pinned Izuku, rooted him to the floor.

Izuku’s breath caught in his throat. He should change, make sure that people were alright, see if Ochako needed anything. He should make sure that Hitoshi was resting again. He needed to do so many things, could feel the weight of his responsibilities on his shoulders. This wasn’t the time to fall into bed and forget the rest of the world existed.

But he wanted Katsuki like an ache in his soul. He wanted to remember they were both still here, both safe. He wanted to forget that his father had tried to use Izuku’s life to control Katsuki again. He wanted to forget everything but the two of them together, the heat they created when they were together. It was selfish for Izuku to put his needs before everyone else’s. But for just a minute, he wanted to be selfish.

“Take me then.”

“M’not gonna be gentle about it,” Katsuki warned.

“Good.” Izuku undid his jerkin and let it hit the floor with a soft thump. “I don’t want gentle either.” He undid his boots with hands that shook more than he wanted to admit. Maybe the adrenaline was wearing off, or the cold that still clung to him sinking into his skin. The fire crackled in the heart at his side but Izuku barely felt the warmth. He glanced up and met Katsuki’s gaze. “Am I going to have to undress myself?”

Katsuki growled and hauled him close in a quick movement that Izuku had come to expect from his lover after these months. He wrapped his arms around Katsuki’s neck and went up on his toes, easing the difference in their heights as he pressed a kiss to Katsuki’s lips, hungry for more, for Katsuki.

Slow wasn’t enough for them, wasn’t what either of them wanted. The arms around Izuku’s waist tightened, pressing him closer against Katsuki’s bare chest, the heat of him blasting through Izuku and chasing away any chill that remained. The kisses deepened, both of them hungry for more, for faster and deeper. Izuku lost himself in the touches, his hands trailing down Katsuki’s arms as he mapped muscle and skin like it was the first time again.

He pulled back from the kisses to suck in several breaths, the scent of arousal already thick in the air between them. Izuku took another breath, head swimming in a way that had nothing to do with a lack of oxygen. He licked lips that tasted like Katsuki, like sin and promise and home. “Need you.”

Katsuki snarled, a beast released from his cage as he hauled Izuku close again, hot hands slipping under pants to knead Izuku’s ass. Izuku groaned, lost as the kisses backslid into a feral need to be close to one another, desire the very air they breathed into one another’s mouths. Izuku’s fingers dug into Katsuki’s arms as he tried to steady himself, tried to find an anchor to stop his whole world from spinning out of control.

“Pants off,” Katsuki murmured against his lips, his erection an insisting presence against Izuku’s hip.

“You have to let me go first.” Izuku rolled his hips forward and twin groans rose into the air.

“Make it quick,” Katsuki growled as he released Izuku.

Izuku shoved down his pants and kicked them aside with sharp movements. He turned to take in Katsuki’s body, now completely bare. Firelight danced over golden skin, paling only in comparison to the lust that burned in crimson eyes eclipsed by the black of his pupils. Izuku swallowed, sure he would be burned to ash on the spot. How could they want each other this much? Until it threatened to destroy, to incinerate. Until it was all that mattered.

“Need you.” Katsuki wrapped an arm around Izuku’s waist and tugged him closer. The blond’s hand clenched in the back of Izuku’s tunic. “Now.”

“Have me,” Izuku murmured, damp lips pressing kisses along Katsuki’s collarbone.

Katsuki reached around and grabbed Izuku’s ass, lofting him up and into Katsuki’s arms. He turned and slammed Izuku against the wall, lips taking Izuku’s in another breath stealing kiss. Izuku’s legs came around Katsuki’s waist on instinct, his hips rolling forward against Katsuki’s abs in a desperate need for friction.

“Fuck,” Katsuki rasped, pulling away from the kiss with the curse. “Tunic is in the damn way.”

“I can take it off.” Izuku reached for the tunic, his core tightening as he released his hold on Katsuki’s shoulders.

“Not fast enough,” Katsuki muttered with a curse. He released his grip on Izuku’s ass only to take the tunic in both hands and rip, teeth bared in a snarl at the fabric as it ripped up the middle.

Izuku’s eyes widened and he choked on a gasp as Katsuki smirked in triumph and released his hold on the tunic. It fell to either side of Izuku’s body, leaving his chest bared for Katsuki’s desires. His teeth and mouth found Izuku’s neck, where Katsuki began to suck marks to life along the expanse of freckled skin, high enough for the whole world to see.

Izuku’s nails dug into Katsuki’s shoulders as he held on, leaving crescent shaped marks as Izuku focused on trying to catch his breath again.

“Katsuki,” Izuku whimpered, grinding more insistently against Katsuki’s abs, desperate for more, for something to ease the increasing pressure in his gut. “Please. I need...” He just needed.

Katsuki grunted in reply, clearly too focused on the hickey he was intent on leaving just below Izuku’s ear for any real reply. One hand pulled away from Izuku’s ass to search blindly for the oil on the bedside table. He groaned, his search stilling as Izuku’s legs tightened, his cock scraping against Katsuki’s abs. Izuku whimpered again, the air in the room almost too humid to choke down.

“Got it.” Katsuki shifted, his focus moving to the pot of oil as he wet his fingers. Their cocks brushed, damp with precum and caught between their bodies, pulsing with need.

“Now. Now,” Izuku moaned. He leaned forward and nipped at where Katsuki’s shoulder and neck met, licking the salt of sweat away as he soothed the bite. “Wanna feel you tomorrow. Fuck me.”

“Shit.” Katsuki shuddered and shifted his grip on Izuku, fingers circling Izuku’s hole. “You sure, huh?”

Izuku whined and tried to press into the touch. “Don’t tease.”

Katsuki slipped two fingers in and Izuku arched, a high keen slipping from his lips. He rocked down, mindless as he fucked onto the fingers, as he tried to open himself up faster. He raised his head to Katsuki, their kiss more a smear of lips and a need to be close, to share the desire building between them.

The fire glinted off the pale gold of Katsuki’s hair, painting the whole room in oranges and yellows. Izuku tried to swallow as pleasure built, turning the blood in his veins into honey. He was stunning. How could one being be so gorgeous? Katsuki glanced up and grinned, sharp and predatory and triumphant and Izuku was lost for him all over again, cries of pleasure and need tumbling from his lips. His heart knocked against his chest, looking for the person it wanted to belong to.

Katsuki was three fingers deep and Izuku clenched around him, eyes falling closed as color burst behind his eyelids. Shameless noises dropped from his lips and filled the air, mingling with the obscene, wet sound as Katsuki’s fingers unfurled him faster.

“Fuck me,” Izuku moaned, mindless as pleasure crashed through his system. “Fuck me, fuck me. Don’t wanna cum this way. Please!”

“Anything you want,” Katsuki murmured, fingers sliding away.

Izuku moaned, the emptiness left behind almost too much. He squirmed, arms wrapping around Katsuki’s neck and pulling him closer.

Anything he wanted? He wanted this, right now. He wanted Katsuki, wanted to stay in this moment where he could believe that there was something more than instinct driving Katsuki’s actions. This man had conquered nations, threatened death like it was nothing. Izuku should’ve been terrified of him. But he didn’t, wasn’t. Katsuki was everything Izuku wanted, even if he couldn’t say it out loud. He was amazing, was everything.

Katsuki groaned as he thrust forward, filling Izuku in one movement. Twin gasps rose, mingled as they shared breath. Katsuki shifted again, gripping Izuku’s legs and hooking them over his arms. Izuku could do little but hang on as Katsuki began to thrust, unable to meet the pace from this angle, pleasure making his brain too thick to do anything more but focus on breathing and the lust that overwhelmed.

The sharp slap of flesh meeting filled the room and met Izuku’s breathless cries. His cock bounced against his stomach with each thrust, desperate for release and adding to the mess of sticky sweat and precum on Izuku’s stomach. He whimpered high in the back of his throat, the tension in his gut coiling further.

Katsuki’s pace stuttered before picking up again, faster and harder, as though he was just as desperate as Izuku. Izuku’s body jolted with each thrust, chest heaving with the effort it took to breathe. He felt lost, head spinning and dizzy from it as he met Katsuki’s gaze. Their lips met, more with a need to be close than what anyone could call a real kiss.

He didn’t know who came first, didn’t care. Heat erupted from within, seed shooting between them to paint both their chests. Izuku felt like his whole body was shaking, his breath sharp and burning, as though the air was too thin. He wouldn’t be surprised if Katsuki had stolen the oxygen from the room. He distantly heard Katsuki’s ragged groan, his grip on Izuku’s legs tightening hard enough to leave bruises.

He knocked his head against the wall, face warm and chest heaving as Katsuki pressed closer, as though all his strength had gone.

They slid down the wall, tunic bunching and Izuku’s back sticking as they made the journey down. Katsuki released his legs when they hit the floor, their foreheads pressed together, aftershocks still shaking Izuku’s body. He wriggled free, hissing in discomfort as he dislodged from Katsuki.

Katsuki fell back onto the floor in front of the fire, chest heaving like he’d fought in battle for hours. Izuku laughed, still breathless and dizzy with it, and followed suit, head pillowed on Katsuki’s outstretched arm. His eyes slid closed.

There was silence for long enough that Izuku was sure that Katsuki had fallen asleep. Izuku’s own limbs felt heavy, making any desire to move and clean up a distant thing to deal with later. He sighed, content in a way he hadn’t thought he could be a few hours ago. Whatever else awaited them outside the suite, in here he was safe.

“Wasn’t gonna let them take you back,” Katsuki said, voice a ragged croak of sound.

‘I know.” Izuku swallowed. “Never doubted it.”

“Good.”

“You brought the dragons,” Izuku said after a minute. “Why?”

“Like Krishna was gonna stay behind,” Katsuki snorted weakly. “Besides, dragons are faster than horses. Didn’t want them to get more of a lead.”

“But now my father will know…”

“S’not a big deal, nerd. I did what I had to.” But it was. They both knew that Katsuki’s decision was monumental. The world was going to know about the dragons soon. “M’not worried.”

“If you’re not, I guess I’m not,” Izuku said slowly, not convinced.

“Good.” Katsuki yawned, his arm flexing beneath Izuku’s head as his fingers burrowed in Izuku’s curls. “We’ll figure it out , shortstack.”

“Alright.” Izuku let the topic go for now. It was done, there was no point in arguing about it. And he really didn’t want to argue. “Kacchan?”

“Mmm?”

“Thank you for coming for me,” Izuku whispered.

“No shit, nerd,” Katsuki said, fingers tightening in Izuku’s curls. “You’re mine. Always will be.”

Izuku hugged the promise close to his heart. “Me too. Always.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki read over the letter in front of him again. The agreement to send troops and supplies immediately came from what was once Rublein. They had been one of Katsuki’s first conquests. He had taken the country during one frozen winter, had turned the snow red with blood of soldiers and the royal family. Now the steward Katsuki had left in charge promised immediate aid, well aware that their loyalties were to Katsuki.

Katsuki rolled his shoulders, as though he could relieve the tension that had settled into the muscle since Izuku had been kidnapped. Othya was preparing for war in the harsh winter once again. Katsuki hadn’t started it, at least not this time, but he would end it. He couldn’t let the fact that Hisashi had sent men on to Othyan soil with orders to kidnap a citizen go unanswered. The fact that the person they had been ordered to kidnap was his mate? That only made it a million times worse for everyone involved. If it was war that Hisashi wanted, it was what he would get. Katsuki didn’t care if he had to conquer the whole world to keep Izuku safe. He’d gladly do it.

Izuku sighed from where he sat curled up in Katsuki’s study, Vihan in his lap. He’d said he was reading more about Othyan history while he allowed both of his current alchemy experiments to sit, but once glance told Katsuki that idea had been abandoned a while ago. The books sat stacked and closed at Izuku’s side while the nerd stared into space, frowning at nothing.

“Bored?”

“Huh?” Izuku glanced up. “Oh. A little, I guess. I can’t focus on the pages. The words just won’t cooperate.”

Katsuki arched an eyebrow as Vihan whined and nudged at Izuku’s hand.

“He’s bored too. I’ve had Hitoshi or Ochako take him outside, but...” Izuku shrugged as he trailed off.

Katsuki knew what the nerd wasn’t saying. It had been three weeks since Sniycian guards had attacked Izuku while he’d been out of the castle with Mina and Ochako. He hadn’t really been outside of the castle proper since he’d been brought home. He’d trained with Katsuki at dawn each morning before he worked on his own research or helped Hitoshi and Mei with theirs. But he hadn’t gone down to the city below and he hadn’t gone farther from the castle than it took to let Vihan outside. He’d always been watched by guards at that point too.

He sighed and sat back in his chair, watching Izuku. They had discussed Hisashi’s role in Izuku’s childhood enough since meeting one another that Katski knew the bastard had been controlling. It hadn’t exactly been surprising news to learn, either. Hisashi had clearly been used to respect and obedience. He’d certainly enjoyed reminding Katsuki that he had control while preparations for the wedding and Izuku’s departure had been underway.

They hadn’t talked about everything Izuku had gone through in his life, but Katsuki knew enough. Enough to know that Hisashi had wanted to crush the very spirit that Katsuki liked about Izuku. He liked that Izuku stood on his own, even when the nerd pissed him off while they argued. The fact that Izuku wasn’t some fainting flower, that he had a bite to him, a core of steel, was important to Katsuki. It wasn’t hard to figure out that Hisashi wouldn’t have tolerated that behavior though. Katsuki had known for months now that Izuku’s need for freedom stemmed from Hisashi’s treatment of him. He might not know exactly why or how, but that didn’t matter. He knew it, and he’d worked hard to make sure that the nerd had as much freedom as Katsuki could give.

He’d been a little protective since Izuku had been kidnapped though. His instincts screamed, a beast pacing inside his chest in agitation that wouldn’t die. He wanted to keep Izuku with him, wanted to make sure that nothing touched his mate again. The very idea of something happening to Izuku, the idea that Katsuki could have been too late and lost him… It had his heart clench and the beast inside the cage of his chest snarl, aching for freedom. Katsuki hadn’t known fear in a long time. He didn’t like the acrid taste it left in his mouth, didn’t like the way it stalked his dreams. The only way he knew how to combat that was to keep Izuku close, to control the situations where his mate could be taken.

But that was hurting Izuku.

The beast inside of Katsuki that was so tied to the mate-tell growled. Hurting Izuku wasn’t acceptable to it, but neither was letting him walk into potential danger.

“You’re growling.”

“You want to go out.”

“And that makes you growl?” Izuku’s frown deepened. “I didn’t ask, Kacchan.”

“It’s written all over your face.” Katsuki didn’t want to fight with him. But the very thought of something happening set him on edge. He wasn’t used to this and he didn’t know how to control it any other way.

“Well, yeah, staying inside like this is hard. I know it’s because you don’t want something to happen. But the reports said they sailed the next day. And they were terrified of you, they weren’t about to come back and try again. It’s been three weeks! There’s been no sign of anyone coming into the country who wouldn’t be here. And you know I can protect myself. I gave in before because Mina was injured and Ochako was going into shock. I did what I had to to protect our people. Don’t…” Izuku hesitated for a moment.

“What?” Katsuki growled.

“Don’t punish me for that,” Izuku finished, the muscles of his throat working as he swallowed.

“Fuck, Izuku, that’s not what I’m trying to do.”

“I know you’re trying to protect me.” Izuku shook his head. “But it still feels like a punishment. Trust me just a little. Please.”

Katsuki’s jaw tightened as he watched Izuku carefully. The nerd did look a little pale. And Katsuki didn’t want him to start seeing the castle as a cage again. Not when Izuku had finally started feeling like it was home. He took a deep breath and shoved back when his instincts tried to cloud his mind. He was not going to be controlled by something the gods wanted to curse him with. He would not be Noboru, who had tried to cage Katsuki for years.

“Fine.”

Izuku’s eyes widened. “I can go out?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki bit off the word, annoyed at himself for letting it take this long. He pushed back from his desk. “Where do you wanna go?”

“You don’t have work that you need to get done? I can just ask Hitoshi or one of the others to come with me.”

“Not happening.” Katsuki stepped around his desk. “City or out towards the woods?”

“Woods,” Izuku said as he stood. He set Vihan on the ground gently. “Vihan isn’t a fan of the city. And I know you aren’t a people person.”

Katsuki snorted in surprised and hauled Izuku close. “Good catch.”

“It’s not hard.” Izuku rolled his eyes fondly, his hands resting on Katsuki’s chest. “Anyone else would tell you the same thing.”

“Smart ass.”

“You like that about me.” Izuku grinned.

Vihan nudged hard at their legs with a trill. He stretched up on his hind legs with a whine, his front paws pressing on Katsuki’s legs. Teeth tugged at his pants in a clear demand for them to hurry up.

“When did you teach the damn fox to be bossy?” Katsuki grumbled as he released Izuku.

“He probably learned from you,” Izuku countered with another blinding smile. He leaned down to run his fingers through Vihan’s fur. The fox yipped and nipped at his fingers before darting to the door.

“Grab your cloak.” Katsuki shook his head. “Let’s go.”

Snow glittered in the sunlight as they stepped outside, bright and blinding. It would have been easy to stay close to the castle, where guards patrolled the perimeter and watched for signs of danger. But it wasn’t what Izuku needed, wasn’t what Katsuki wanted either. He wanted time away from the press of people with expectations in their eyes when they looked at him. He understood the responsibility that came with being a king and he knew how to handle the pressure. He had been a king worried about his people before he’d killed Noboru. The title shift from prince to king had been mostly a formality at that point. He had been shouldering the burdens of Othya for over eight years with little rest. It wasn’t until Izuku that Katsuki had realized how much he wanted a break, a moment to just be Katsuki. No titles, no pressures, nothing but himself with his mate.

They couldn’t do that if they stayed close to the castle. Katsuki would always be a king first in the eyes of the Othyan people. That was how it had to be. Only a few saw him as just as Katsuki, and most of them were the friends he had made over the years. But Izuku was the one who pulled that desire to the forefront, who made him want to be just Katsuki for a while. When he looked at Katsuki he saw the man first, the king second. As long as he never forgot that Katsuki was also a king, they had learned a balance to it all.

They hiked through the untouched snow, forging paths of their own. Vihan bounced ahead, darting forward and back as he ran along the top of the frozen tundra, his yips of delight filling the air. Izuku’s laughter rose to meet the noise and there was color in his cheeks when Katsuki glanced at him. He knew some of it was from the bite of cold air, but the joy that shone in Izuku’s eyes matched, as though being away from the castle and any talk of war breathed life back into him.

“Mina said you found her that way?” Izuku asked, pointing towards the trees Katsuki kept to their left as they walked. The last time Izuku had walked under those boughs he’d been kidnapped. Katsuki wasn’t looking to chance any kind of repeat performance, even if the reports said there was no possibility of Snyician men on his soil now.

“Yeah. Kiri and I had been out playing. Hell if I remember what I’d come up with. But we kept moving further away from the castle. I wasn’t supposed to be this far, neither of us were. We found Mina curled up in the middle of a clearing of tall grass. She was dizzy and disoriented. She didn’t know why she was there and she couldn’t really remember where she was supposed to go. It was like watching someone try to hold clouds in their hands. It all just kept slipping away. So, we brought her back home and my parents took her in.”

“She and Eijiro are your family.” Izuku nodded. “Not the one you were born with, but the one you made. Like Hitoshi and Ochako are mine.”

“Yeah, guess so. How’d you meet the sleepy-eyed-fucker anyway?”

“He has a name.” Izuku shook his head when Katsuki remained silent, waiting for an answer. “I don’t know. It feels like forever ago, honestly. He’s been around for over a decade. He was a new alchemist in training, like me. We had different teachers but we were still doing most of our basics together. We were working on something and we just looked at each other and decided to… improve, we’ll say, what we were working on.”

“It blew up, didn’t it?” Katsuki smirked as Izuku blushed red.

“Who’s telling the story? Anyway, we did end up messing up. The potion did explode, and I think it melted through the table we were working on. It destroyed everything.” Izuku laughed softly. “We were in so much trouble. When our teachers asked if we could say what we did wrong, we both agreed that where we had gone wrong was we’d added too little earth compared to the more volatile ingredients.”

“Was that the answer your teachers wanted?”

“No,” Izuku admitted, drawing the word out. Vihan played in the snow ahead of them, sending flakes flying as he did. “They wanted us to say we shouldn’t have tried to change the potion in the first place. We just had a instant bond after that though. We sought each other out all the time. Our teachers hated it at first, but eventually they saw that we created some amazing things together, when we weren’t destroying everything. I think they gave it up for a lost cause.”

“I can see why.” Katsuki wasn’t about to admit he liked the purple-haired bastard Izuku called his best friend. There were worse people Izuku could’ve given a shit about, though.

“You like him.” Izuku smirked. “I can tell.”

“So, now you know everything, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I’ve learned how to read you. Self-defense.”

“I’m not that hard to figure out.”

“Ha! You’re one of the most difficult people to read I’ve ever met.”

“This is touching, really,” a voice came from behind them. “But could you stay still? I need to kill you.”

Katsuki spun around, pulling both swords from their sheaths as he did so. The man across from him stood at ease, as though he was asking about the weather rather than threatening to end a life. Large chunks of his flesh were scarred and wrinkled, as if they had been burned away. Crude hoops held the dead skin to the rest of his body, as though he had been stitched together in some rough patchwork. No one could look at the man and forget what he looked like. Which meant he probably didn't have a problem disposing of his targets.

“You Hisashi’s pet assassin?”

“I’m not anyone’s pet.” The man shrugged. “But he does employ me, I suppose.”

Katsuki remembered the threats Hisashi had leveled against Izuku last spring. He’d said he could have his son killed at any time by the black mage if he wanted, if Katsuki didn’t give in to the demands that Hisashi had presented wrapped in prettier worlds like alliance. At the time Katsuki hadn’t pushed- there had been no way to tell if Hisashi had been lying to get what he wanted. Now, he looked at the asshole across from them and wondered just how many of Hisashi’s promises had been true.

“I’ve never seen him,” Izuku muttered, his words tight with tension. “But I don’t think he’s lying.”

“No shit.” Katsuki turned his attention back to the man across from him. “This ‘cause of the war?”

“Consider me a failsafe,” the assassin said, lips curving up in a grotesque and crooked smile. Death danced in turquoise eyes. “They failed. So, now I’m here.”

“Right.” Katsuki shifted his weight and dug his boots further into the snow in hopes of obtaining a better grip.

Plumes of fire tinged a searing blue erupted from the man’s hands. Katsuki jumped back, shoving Izuku with him as he did. The flames faded leaving scorched air and melted snow in their wake. In the assassin’s right hand was now a wicked looking knife.

“Long range and short range,” Izuku surmised, sunlight gleaming off his blade. Katsuki didn’t remember when he’d pulled it. There was no sign of Vihan. Katsuki hoped that the fox had been smart and hidden himself. “That’s going to be difficult. And we’re too far away for help, right?”

“If he keeps throwing around blue flames someone is bound to see,” Katsuki muttered under his breath. His mind spun through different scenarios, discarding them as quickly as they came up. He knew enough about magecraft to know that the assassin had a limit, but there was no telling what it was or how long it would take to get there. The knife was probably in case Katsuki or Izuku got too close.

They could use the fact that there was two of them to their advantage. Katsuki stamped down on instincts that ordered him to protect his mate. Izuku wasn’t some weak and defenseless snowflake who screamed whenever something got too close. Katsuki had been training with him since the summer and he knew that the green-haired nerd could handle himself. He could sure as hell handle himself better than Hisashi knew. His skill could tip the scales in their favor.

Besides, there were healers and alchemists with potions back at the castle. What were a few burns compared to an assassin dead at their feet?

Katsuki surged forward, muscle tensing and adrenaline coursing through his veins. He didn’t hear Izuku move so much as feel the absence of him at Katsuki's side. He bared his teeth in a feral grin. Assassin didn’t stand a fucking chance.

He certainly tried to, though. Blue flames erupted from his left palm again and again as the hired killer attempted to keep both Katsuki and Izuku away from his body. Izuku’s sword had the longer reach and he was fast. Which meant that Katsuki just needed to wait for the right opening.

The assassin shifted to keep Izuku in his sights, his focus sliding away from Katsuki. Katsuki took the chance and closed the distance between himself and the walking corpse, blades moving to bite into flesh.

The man jumped back just in time to avoid the attack. He turned, brandishing his knife and flames. Katsuki grit his teeth and ducked beneath the flames, the inferno a presence against his back. Katsuki faintly heard Izuku’s taunts and the fire died.

He surged up with a powerful movement and his swords bit into flesh. Blood ran down the blades and dripped onto the ground as the man pulled back. He didn’t attempt to cover the wound in his torso with his hand though, like instinct would demand. Instead, he flipped the knife in his hand and lashed out.

Pain lanced up Katsuki’s forearm, the warmth of blood staining his skin. He’d received worse injuries during early morning training growing up and would never let the wound hamper him in battle. He adjusted his grip on the sword in his hand, preparing for his next attack.

Izuku’s snarl of rage ripped through the air, demanded attention. His eyes flicked from Katsuki’s arm to the assassin, fury swirling in his eyes.

“I think I’ve done enough damage.” The assassin smirked, still ignoring the blood running down his side. The knife was gone in a quick movement, secreted away to wherever he had pulled it from. He held up both hands as he backed away, no doubt ready with another round of fire.

“The fuck do you think you’re going?” Katsuki growled.

“I would stay but-” The man shrugged and fire raged to life again, forcing both Katsuki and Izuku to take a step back.

Katsuki blinked away spots as the flame disappeared, but the assassin was gone. As though he had never existed, except for a few burned trees, blood, and lots of melted snow.

“Can some mages make themselves invisible?” Izuku demanded, still scouring the landscape for the man. “How did he do that?”

“He’s your father’s pet, how the fuck should I know?” Katsuki growled. His instincts were on high alert, waiting for the smallest change. He didn’t sense shit.

“Ugh.” The world of Izuku's disgust was packed into that one sound.

The wind screamed across the landscape, bringing with it biting cold.

“We should head back in,” Katsuki said after a minute. His eyes scanned the surrounding area again, but there was nothing.

“I can’t believe my father would…” Izuku shook his head as he slid his sword home. “How can he be such a coward?”

“It’s not that surprising.” Katsuki shrugged.

“I guess not,” Izuku agreed. His eyes sharpened again as they landed on Katsuki’s arm. “Let me see that.”

“It’s a scratch, nerd.”

“I think I something to cure minor wounds in my lab…”

“Like you said, minor wound. I’ve dealt with worse. One more scar ain’t gonna do shit to me.”

“I’m not sure it will even scar.”

“See? Now stop fuckin’ worrying.”

“I’m allowed to worry.” Izuku frowned, worrying his lower lip between his teeth.

“Fine, don’t complain when your face freezes that way, shortstack.”

“You’re such a jerk.”

“Tch.”

“Baku!”

Katsuki glanced up as Eijiro skidded to a halt at his side, several armed guards and Hitoshi in his wake. Vihan yipped as he came back into view, nudging hard at Katsuki and Izuku’s legs. “You okay, bro? We got here as soon as we could!”

“He vanished. Find out if mages can do that shit.” Katsuki stepped to the side and kneeled, cleaning off his blades in the snow. It would do for now. He glanced up at Hitoshi as the purple-haired man shifted to check on Izuku. “What were you plannin’ to do?”

Hitoshi arched an eyebrow, and met Katsuki’s gaze with his own. Amusement and irritation stared back at Katsuki in equal measure.

“He can fight, you know.” Izuku laid a hand on Hitoshi’s arm, probably in reassurance that he was fine. “He’s very good.”

“At running his mouth, maybe,” Katsuki grumbled.

“We should get back.” Eijiro shifted his weight, frowning at the landscape around them that seemed empty of threats. The only presence the assassin had left behind to show he’d been there was a cut on Katsuki’s forearm and barren path of ground. Snow, grass, leaves, they were all gone. The only thing that was left behind was blackened earth.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Katsuki pushed himself up to his feet again.

“You going to lose your privilege to go outside?” Hitoshi asked Izuku, his voice low.

“No,” Katsuki growled. “We’re just going to have to be careful with the how.”

“Yeah,” Izuku agreed. He picked up Vihan and hugged the fox close him. He was peppered with licks to the face in return. “I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.”

“If they were after you.” Hitoshi shrugged.

“You think they were after Baku?” Eijiro chimed in.

“Why not?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow again. “There is no war if there is no king. And he doesn’t have an heir.”

“It wasn’t manly at all.” Eijiro shook his head hard. “I don’t like it.”

“Not the only one,” Katsuki snorted. “Let’s get back.”

“Do you think they were after you?” Izuku asked as everyone turned to head back to the castle.

“Doubt it. You’re the one they tried to kidnap. But it doesn’t matter. He didn’t do shit to either of us.”

“Yeah.” Izuku nodded but worry was heavy in his eyes. His gaze dropped to Katsuki’s forearm. “I guess.”

“Stop worrying,” Katsuki repeated. “I’m fine.”

“I know.” Izuku forced a smile.

“Do you?”

Izuku didn’t answer.

OoOoO

It was hours later when Katsuki was able to sit down at his desk again and look at the notices and preparations for war. Or, that was what he was supposed to be doing.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, his eyes fluttering closed. The weight of the responsibilities he had to his people as their king pressed hard on him, exhaustion shoving at the barriers of his mind. Fuck, he couldn’t remember the last time he had been this tired. Which didn’t matter. Not when he had a war to fight and people to provide for. He’d started this war, and while he didn’t fucking regret it, he needed to make sure they were ready for it. He was preparing for another war with Sniycia. Only this time, he wasn’t coming home with anything less than complete victory.

Muffled voices carried from next door. He had left Izuku in the lab on the other side of the stone wall with Hitoshi, checking on the complex experiments to see how they were developing. It was best for Izuku, who had been fretting over a scratch more than he should. He’d seen Katsuki with bruises and cuts on occasion before. Training could be as dangerous as battle at times, despite that no one was trying to actively kill him. Izuku had been starting to mutter under his breath about the different scenarios when Katsuki had told him to stop making a fuss. He felt fine, he’d know if something was wrong. He’d removed himself to his study after. Maybe if Izuku didn’t see the damn cut he’d feel better.

Izuku had followed with a concoction to cure minor wounds and a determined look in his eyes. Katsuki had taken it and watched as the skin on his arm knit itself back together before Izuku had breathed easier. He’d promised not to bug Katsuki about it anymore. And then gone back over to his laboratory.

Now Katsuki released a slow breath, trying to find the drive to finish the tasks in front of him. He was having a hard time focusing, likely from the exhaustion that tugged at him. And he didn’t really want to be working on this shit right now anyway. What Katsuki wanted was Izuku with him. Somewhere he could see the nerd and know that Izuku was fine. Nothing had happened. Hell, the nerd hadn’t even gotten a scratch on him.

Katsuki firmly booted his instincts to the back of his mind and slammed the door he imagined on them. He got it, the nerd was his mate through-and-through. No alchemy in the world could mimic what he felt for the green-haired man. This was the real deal, whether he liked it or not. Izuku was it for him, the only person alive who could rise to meet him. Izuku was the only person who could equal him, who made Katsuki not only better, but want to be better.

That was what a mate was supposed to be, right? Before the curse and the gods had fucked it all up, mates had been a blessing. Katsuki wasn’t letting any stupid fucking curse take his nerd from him. They’d figure it out. As soon as Katsuki put Hisashi’s greedy ass in its place.

Yeah, Hisashi’s mistake was going to cost him his life. And that was one death Katsuki was almost looking forward to.

Which was only happening if he handled the shit on his desk. He sighed and opened his eyes.

The study spun around him, like one of those tops Eijiro and Mina had played with when they were younger. Katsuki swallowed, nausea a sudden punch to his gut. He tried to stand but his limbs felt too heavy to move. He shivered, despite the fire that crackled in the fireplace and the magework on the room to keep it an acceptable level of warmth. It felt like he was sick as fuck, but he knew he’d been healthy this afternoon.

He’d been fine until a few minutes ago. And the only thing he could think was that fucking scratch.

He tried to call for Izuku but his voice wouldn’t work. He swallowed, his breathing labored like he’d run for miles after a battle in heavy armor. Black tinged his vision, unconscious creeping over everything he saw. His mind struggled against whatever this was- probably poison- with everything he had.

It wasn’t enough.

Unconsciousness reached for him with a grip like ice, tugged him away from the office and Izuku in the next room. He struggled, tried to get his lips to form even a damn sound.

And then there was nothing.

Chapter Text

“I think you finally figured it out.”

“You think so?”

“I’m looking at it.”

“That doesn’t mean that I succeeded.”

“You doubt my powers?”

“Mhm.”

“Fine, I’ll take a closer look.”

“Careful, Kacchan will be upset if we make a hole in the floor.”

“Yeah, that’s my intention.” Hitoshi rolled his eyes. “Relax, nervous wreck.”

Izuku worried his lower lip between his teeth as Hitoshi picked up the vial that held the potion that should create a decent-size explosion on contact. The vial swirled cranberry red as Hitoshi held it closer to the fire.

“When did it turn this color?”

“After I added the wyvern firesacks. It settles on that shade after it sits a bit.”

“I’d say it worked. No way to tell if there’s a blowback or anything until we use it.”

“I’ll have check with Kacchan about when we can do that. I’d like it to be soon, maybe within the next few days.” Izuku wanted to make sure that it worked as intended before the army was ready to move against Sniycia.

The thought of using his creation against the country he had been born in made his insides squirm uncomfortably. He had given his loyalty to Othya and Katsuki- that hadn’t changed. If this was what Katsuki needed to survive the war unscathed then Izuku would give it to him. Izuku’s father had broken the alliance between the two countries- as unfair as that alliance may have been to Othya. Now, Hisashi was going to suffer the consequences. And as usual, he was going to make his family suffer them too. Izuku didn’t want to go to war against Sniycia. But he hadn’t been left with much of a choice. His father had forced the issue and Katsuki was responding in kind.

Izuku was on Katsuki’s side. But that didn’t make the decisions looming in his future any easier to stomach.

“Asking permission?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow.

“No, but he might want to see the results. Besides, he’s a little on edge. It doesn’t hurt me to cut him some slack.” Izuku leaned his hip against the large table and folded his arms.

“No need to get defensive. You were just kidnapped, it’s not surprising Cinderbrain is jumpy after that.” Hitoshi mirrored Izuku’s position as he set the glass bottle back down.

“Technically that was three weeks ago,” Izuku hedged.

“Yes, eons ago,” Hitoshi said flatly. “Regardless of the eternity that has passed, I doubt that it makes a difference to Cinderbrain. Not the way he looks at you.”

Izuku shook his head. “You’re seeing things.”

“I thought you knew how much you were worth.”

“I do,” Izuku protested. “You’ve seen it.”

“If you know, then how are you blind when you see the way he looks at you?” Hitoshi leaned forward, his gaze intense.

“I…” Izuku didn’t think that this was the time to explain that Katsuki couldn’t mean him. Not the way Izuku wanted him to. After all, Izuku was just… Izuku. He had been born a prince of Sniycia and was a consort by marriage perhaps, but he had never felt like more than just Izuku. And he’d been made to feel less plenty in his life. And Katsuki was this amazing man, worth so much more than that. There wasn’t really a comparison. He knew that Katsuki cared, it was in every gesture and word. There was definitely a connection there- Izuku wasn’t that blind. That was more than enough. But love? That was like reaching for the stars.

“Your father issues are going to be the death of me.” Hitoshi ran fingers through his hair, agitation and amusement warring in his gaze. “Cinderbrain started a war for you, idiot.”

“Not exactly for me…”

Hitoshi leveled him with an unamused look.

“Alright,” Izuku conceded. “Maybe he did. And maybe you’re right.”

“I hear a but coming.”

“No.” Izuku shook his head. There was no contradiction. Maybe Hitoshi was right. Maybe Izuku was just being cautious because he was afraid of being wrong, of the crushing knowledge that Katsuki wanted him because of his mate instincts and there was nothing more there. But Hitoshi was right. Izuku had to stop letting his past in Sniycia influence his reactions. He’d been doing well since Katsuki had realized Ochako wasn’t an alchemist. There was no reason to stop now.

He picked up the other elixir they had come to check on, now a bright sunflower yellow swirled with gold. “I wonder why it changed to this color. The flower was a deep red. Powdering it didn’t change that. So why yellow?”

“Probably something to do with how the components interact with one another.”

“True.” While alchemy was a science in its approach, it wasn’t exactly an exact science. There was always going to be an element of the unknown while working to create explosions from nothing or cure illnesses and wounds. Adding in something as impossible as healing flowers from a golden-horned goat’s blood could do any number of things.

“How do you want to test that?”

“I don’t know. Just waiting until someone is about to die sounds morbid and awful. I’m trying to save people, not give them a false hope minutes before they die.” Izuku set the vial down again carefully.

“At least it’s a chance. It won’t be your fault if they die.”

“I know.”

He did know that it wouldn’t be his fault, at least in theory. Stopping death before it sank claws into someone and stole their soul away would be a miracle. If he ever cracked the way to do that, there would be little he couldn’t attempt in alchemy. But what if he didn’t succeed? What if he gave someone or their family a false hope that he couldn’t back up? Izuku wanted to save lives, not take them.

But what was the point in creating the possible cure if he never used it? He wished he could use it on himself, but there would be no redos if he was wrong. Not like there had been the other times when he’d come away with broken bones and bruises or sick to his stomach. He couldn’t fix the potion that was supposed to heal critical injuries and stop death if he was actually dead.

What if he just injured himself really badly? There was merit in that…

“I don’t like whatever idea you’re having.” Hitoshii frowned. “Not with your penchant for getting yourself injured.”

“Come on,” Izuku laughed. “I’m not that bad.”

“You’re the reason we had more bruises in the laboratory than on the training grounds.”

“You were right there with me! You’re the one who thought to add the gryphon feathers that one time. That didn’t turn out so well, did it?”

“My one mistake compared to your hundreds of bad decisions. Besides, it’s all due to your bad influence.”

“I’m the bad influence?”

“Absolutely. I would be living a quiet life if it weren’t for you.”

“Hah,” Izuku snorted. “Yeah right.”

“You doubt me.”

“I know you,” Izuku corrected.

Whatever retort Hitoshi would have uttered was lost as the door to Izuku’s laboratory slammed open with a resounding crack. Izuku started and pushed to his feet, throat dry. So much had gone wrong recently, between the kidnapping and assassination attempt. What could it be now?

Eijiro and Denki stood in the doorway, eyes wide and panicked. Izuku’s heart clenched in his chest, as though it was caught in a vice. He tried to swallow back the sense of dread that stirred.

“What happened?”

“Katsuki isn’t waking up,” Eijiro said in a rush, his voice strained- a wire pulled too tight.

Izuku felt like his world imploded on the words. It was as if there wasn’t air in the world anymore; or not that Izuku could breathe. It felt too thin, too insubstantial as he struggled to catch his breath. His heart stuttered to a stop before slamming back to life, a terrified staccato of sound that filled Izuku’s ears and blocked out everything else.

He had pushed past Denki and Eijiro before he realized he was moving, his only goal to get to Katsuki’s side. The why or how didn’t matter and they probably couldn’t tell him anyway. There were shouts behind him but they were dim, as though they were coming from a great distance. None of what they said mattered anyway. Nothing else mattered but getting to Katsuki’s side.

He yanked open the door and stepped inside, only to stumble as his eyes landed on Katsuki. He was slumped against his desk, papers scattered on the floor around him. He didn’t look like he was breathing. Someone’s hands caught Izuku and steadied him as he pushed forward, his knees weak.

He tried to speak but the words stuck in his throat, too heavy to be uttered. He touched Katsuki’s shoulder and received no reaction from his husband. He swallowed, fingers shaking as they moved to search for a pulse.

It was there, weak though it might be. Katsuki’s skin was cool to Izuku’s touch, the heat that usually radiated from his body missing. Izuku licked chapped lips, mind racing as he tried to think of what could be causing this reaction. Why was it so hard to think?

“Did you-” His voice came out a croak of sound. He swallowed around the lump in throat. “Did you try to wake him?”

“Yeah.” Eijiro nodded sharply. “Punched his shoulder too. Nothing.”

“He’s going to be mad about that when he wakes up,” Denki said, biting his lower lip.

Katsuki was a warrior who woke at the smallest sounds most of the time. He was only a heavy sleeper when exhaustion weighed on him and after he had started to trust Izuku again. There was no way he would sleep through something like one of Eijiro’s hard-hitting punches.

Panic thrummed in Izuku’s chest as he searched out Hitoshi’s gaze, nausea twisting his gut into knots. He had an idea of what might have happened, didn’t know if he was desperate to be proven wrong or right.

“His skin is cold and clammy, his pulse is weak, I can barely see him move to take a breath. The only thing I can think of is the cut on his arm the assassin gave him. And if that’s it…”

“Probably poison,” Hitoshi agreed, his eyes tight.

Izuku had given Katsuki a potion for this! He’d told him it was only to cure minor wounds, but it had been stronger. It should have wiped out any poisons that could have been lingering in Katsuki’s bloodstream. Izuku had wanted to forget about Sniycia’s tactics. He’d had shoved this kind of knowledge into a dark vault in the corner of his mind- where it belonged. But when the assassin had disappeared and Izuku had been left looking at Katsuki’s injuries it had slunk back in, a weight in his stomach nothing could banish.

There was only one poison his father could have used if the alchemy potions hadn’t worked. And Izuku didn’t want to think about that possibility. He didn’t want to be powerless.

“Poison?” Denki repeated with an audible swallow. Lightning sparked from his fingertips before he clenched his fists.

“What kind of poison are we talking about?” Eijiro frowned, glancing between Hitoshi and Izuku.

“My father favors it,” Izuku said, the words dropping like stones from his lips.

“It’s A Quiet Death,” Hitoshi agreed, all traces of sarcasm and dry humor erased from his features. “Hisashi would prefer it that way. It’s harder to trace back to him then. There’s no concrete proof and most people don’t even know he uses it. People just stop breathing a few hours after they come into contact with it. Usually the victims fall asleep first.”

“I didn’t think about it.” Izuku shook his head. “I’m an idiot. I didn’t even think that he would…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Eijiro said, placing a hand on Izuku’s shoulder in comfort. “You know what it is, right? That means you can fix it.”

“There’s no known antidote for the kind of poison Hisashi uses.” Hitoshi’s words were heavy and bitter.

Izuku’s fists clenched as helplessness tried to sink its claws into him.

“What do you mean?” Denki demanded, eyes narrowed. The smell of burned flesh rose into the air. Bile burned the back of Izuku’s throat as the odor filled his airways. “You’re alchemists. How is there a poison you can’t make?”

“We can make it,” Izuku corrected, swallowing hard. Another piece of information he wished he could forget. “I don’t like to and I tried to avoid it. But alchemy can create A Quiet Death. My father had it commissioned after my mother died.”

“Then how can you not stop it?” Eijiro asked quickly. His jaw clenched, as though he was fighting back his emotions.

“Because he specifically ordered the alchemists not create one.” Hitoshi shook his head. “What the king wants, he gets.”

“So, he’s just going to die?” Denki asked, tears pooling in his eyes. “Just like that?”

“No.” Izuku swallowed again, fighting back the terror and helplessness that battered at his mind and heart. “I have an idea.”

He tore himself away from Katsuki’s side and raced past his friends, back to his lab. He heard their footsteps on the stone behind him but paid them no mind. He had one alchemical remedy that might help. There was no telling if the vial filled with liquid a cheerful yellow color would work. It could do absolutely nothing, for all Izuku knew. But it couldn’t make things worse. In fact, it was better to try it than watching Katsuki die.

He snatched up the vial from the table and paused. He didn’t know exactly how long his father’s preferred poison took to kill someone. Nor did he know how long had passed since Katsuki had lost consciousness. Had he been trying to reach Izuku when it had happened and Izuku hadn’t heard? He swallowed, beating the guilt back. It didn’t matter. Not right now. Not as long as he could save the man he loved.

The acceptance settled over Izuku, a fact that warmed and numbed him all at once. Of course, he would admit that he was in love with Katsuki when he was dying on the other side of the wall. He didn’t know when he’d fallen- it seemed like a slow descent rather than instantaneous moment, despite that the culmination had come like a sucker punch. He was in love with Katsuki Bakugou, Emperor of Othya.

And that was fine. He could be in love with Katsuki, would embrace that. As long as Katsuki opened his eyes, it would be fine.

Izuku was stubborn. He would make Katsuki open his eyes.

He picked up the potion that was too light a shade of red to be Katsuki’s eyes.

“Izuku, what’re you...” Eijiro’s voice asked with clear alarm.

“Get down!” was the only warning Izuku offered.

He threw it at the wall, muscles coiling and releasing in quick succession. He ducked behind the table, the healing potion clutched close to him. There was a tinkle of glass and an explosion rocked the room. Bright yellows, oranges, and reds gave way to thick gray smoke. Izuku could hear his friends coughing, even with his ears ringing.

“We need to get out of here!” Eijiro shouted. “I need a team to check if that’s stable!”

Izuku didn’t listen. He surged to his feet, adrenaline propelling him forward.

“Izuku!”

He scrambled over pieces of stone, eyes burning from the smoke that clouded the air. He hissed in a breath as his ankle twisted under him, careened forward. He barely caught himself before he face-planted on the ground and kept going. His hip slammed into the sharp corner of Katsuki’s desk as his fingers found the skin of Katsuki’s arm.

“You know you’re crazy.” Hitoshi’s voice cut through the smoke as he stepped into the room. “You prove my earlier point.”

“Good,” Izuku muttered as he pushed Katsuki back in his seat. He pulled the stopper on the vial and tossed it aside. He didn’t care where it landed right now in the debris between both offices. He opened Katsuki’s mouth and pressed the vial to his lips, pinching his nose closed with the other hand. The contents disappeared into Katsuki’s mouth without any fuss.

Izuku carefully set the vial on the desk, anxiety and doubt clawing at his insides. He had no proof that this would work. He had no proof that this would do anything, really. Katsuki still might slip away, his life draining out of him. Or it could keep him in this limbo, where he was neither dead nor really alive. Izuku hadn’t considered that possibility before and he knew that it would be the last thing Katsuki wanted. He wrapped his arms around himself, as though he could somehow hold himself together if he tried hard enough.

“Did it work?” Denki asked from somewhere behind Izuku.

“I don’t know yet.”

Minutes ticked by unbearably slow, as though dragged through molasses. Izuku swallowed, his stomach knotting further as there was no change in Katsuki. Had he been too late? Had he utilized the flowers incorrectly? Or maybe the flowers had never been meant to work for anything other than the juno they had once belonged to. What-ifs chased around in his mind, doubts surging and threatening to swallow Izuku whole.

The tears didn’t come. It was as though if he cried, that would be it. Katsuki would be gone, there would be nothing he could do. He wasn’t going to cry yet, wasn’t going to give up. Katsuki said he was stubborn. He just hoped he was stubborn enough to keep Katsuki here, to give him a chance to fight. He hoped he had been intelligent enough to create something that could stop the unstoppable, no matter what it was.

He was going to figure out an antidote to this poison if it killed him, if it took the rest of his life.

“I don’t think it worked,” Eijiro murmured into the stillness.

Izuku took a ragged breath, grief so all-encompassing he wasn’t sure he’d ever surface again threatening to drag him under.

Katsuki coughed, his eyes fluttering open.

Izuku’s heart stopped again.

“Fuck,” Katsuki groaned. “The fuck hit me?”

“Kacchan?” Izuku whispered. He reached for Katsuki with hands that trembled.

Katsuki caught his hand and tugged him forward. Izuku went willingly, felt the steady rise and fall of Katsuki’s chest, the heart beating beneath muscle and bone. He sagged, the tears finally coming hot and fast. “I… I thought…”

“I’m fine,” Katsuki murmured, arms wrapping around Izuku’s waist.

“Thanks to juno flowers and Izuku maybe,” Hitoshi said, folding his arms. “The knife the flashy assassin cut you with was probably covered in poison.”

“A coward’s attack,” Eijiro agreed heatedly. He was grinning too hard for his words to hold the edge he probably wanted them to though. “Glad you’re here, Baku.”

“Yeah, me too.” Katsuki’s arms tightened around Izuku.

“You scared us.” Denki shook his head, tears sliding silently down his cheeks. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“I don’t intend to,” Katsuki snorted. “Go tell Mina and Sero what happened. We’ve got a meeting first thing tomorrow, got it?”

“Are you sure we should leave you alone?” Denki frowned. “You almost died. Maybe we should stick around. I mean…”

“I’m not an invalid,” Katsuki growled.

“If someone attacked right now, could you defend yourself?” Eijiro asked carefully.

“Izuku can handle it,” Hitoshi snorted. “He wasn’t poisoned a few minutes ago.”

“Still…” Denki bit his lower lip.

“Go,” Katsuki said firmly. “I can still kick your ass, fuckin’ poison attempt or not. I don’t need you hovering like some damn hens.”

“But…”

“Now.”

“Yeah.” Eijiro nodded, glancing from Izuku to Katsuki. “Got it.”

The sound of their footsteps faded as their friends left them alone.

“I see you made that damn door.”

Izuku laughed wetly and rubbed at his face, trying to rid himself of the tears that clouded his vision. “You were taking too long about it.”

“I guess we can just create the door out of the hole you made. A stable one, maybe.”

“I like that.” Izuku smiled softly. “It’ll be faster for both of us.”

“So you’ve mentioned.” Katsuki shook his head, something tender softening his eyes just a little.

Izuku leaned in and pressed their lips together. Katsuki tightened his hold on Izuku’s waist further and deepened the kiss in a slow and gentle exploration. They savored one another, as though it was the first time again. The salt of tears and the sweetness of the potion that had saved Katsuki’s life faded, until all Izuku could taste was Katsuki, until it swept away everything else.

He swallowed as he pulled back, cheeks heating. “I love you. I just wanted you to know, because I thought I lost you before, and I...”

Katsuki cut him off with another kiss that stole Izuku’s breath and left the room spinning. Izuku’s fingers tightening in tunic in his grasp as he tried to anchor himself. It was useless, it always had been when it came to Katsuki.

“Love you too, nerd,” Katsuki murmured as they both pulled back again, sharing humid breaths between each other.

Izuku smiled, his heart ready to burst. Katsuki was alive and he loved him back. That was way more than Izuku had ever thought he could hope for.

“Can you create an antidote for that damn poison?” Katsuki asked, reaching up to brush a curl behind Izuku’s ear.

Izuku nodded. “I can.”

“Good. We’re going to need it if Hisashi wants to play dirty.”

“Mmm…” Izuku leaned closer and rested his forehead against Katsuki’s. “Can I just focus on the fact that you’re alive, right now? The war will be there in the morning.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Izuku pressed their lips together again, too grateful that they were alive and together to care about the war drums that beat on the horizon, a promise to come.

Chapter Text

“There you are.”

Izuku glanced up as Ochako poked her head around the doorframe to the large alchemy laboratory he was currently sharing with Hitoshi.

“You couldn’t have been looking for us very hard.” Hitoshi gestured around the lab. “We’ve been here.”

Ochako stuck her tongue out at Hitoshi as she stepped into the room, glancing around. Her eyes widened as they landed on Mei’s table, currently piled high with ingredients and numerous bottled potions, all the color of cranberries. “Wow.”

“Mei has been working on the Crepitus potion for me.”

“He barely got a word in edgewise before she took the instructions from his hand and threw herself into the work,” Hitoshi snorted.

“She’s trying to make them something more portable and less noticeable. Something like compressing everything into a small tablet or powder that just needs to be added to water.”

“Is that actually doable?” Ochako cocked her head.

“I’m not sure. But it would be great if we could. And we won’t know until we try.” Izuku shrugged.

“What are you two working on then? It’s late, shouldn’t you be heading to bed?”

“I wasn’t aware I had a mother.” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow. “Where have you been all my life?”

“Jerk.” Ochako scrunched up her nose and crossed her arms. “Fine, be sleep deprived for all I care.”

“Don’t fight,” Izuku said as he nudged the dark liquid currently simmering over a flame in front of him.

“What are you working on?” Ochako repeated, leaning her hip against the table.

“The antidote for the poison that almost killed Kacchan.”

Izuku couldn’t count the number of times he had woken drenched in a cold sweat, his breathing labored since Katsuki had nearly died. It never mattered if Katsuki was next to him in bed or not, he could never fall asleep again. Finding an antidote to A Quiet Death, the poison that his father used as his own personal weapon had consumed most of his waking hours in the past few weeks.

He was close to finishing the antidote now, and wanted it done before they left for Sniycia. Izuku would have a makeshift lab that he could take with him, but almost none of it would be complex enough for the elixirs and antidotes that the military would need most. All of three of the alchemists had been working overtime to get ready for the war. Izuku was exhausted.

And Katsuki was right, they needed a lot more alchemists. Izuku was going to have to make finding people with interest and promise a priority when they came home again. Three people couldn’t do everything for an empire as large as Othya’s was. Izuku was going to need to see if he could teach others to be alchemists.

Yeah, that wasn’t daunting at all.

“For the war?” Ochako asked with a shaky exhale.

“Because I don’t want my father to use this to hurt anyone else.” He felt like a wire stretched tight, the night terrors that haunted his sleep stalking him during waking hours.

“But yeah, we figured Hisashi would use it during the war,” Hitoshi added when Izuku didn’t continue. “Consider it another weapon in our arsenal.”

“War seems to bring out the worst in everyone.” Ochako frowned, her eyes on the heavy tunic she twisted between her fingers. “I hate it.”

“We would all love world peace.” Hitoshi shrugged, almost dismissively. “But given that humans are well, human, I doubt it’s happening anytime soon.”

“I know that people can be cruel.” Ochako shook her head, dark hair escaping from behind her ears. “But war seems… different, I guess. It’s on a grander scale, maybe. And this war isn’t normal.”

“What war is?” Izuku asked softly, carefully adding crushed and dried starfish to the antidote. He stirred the mixture as it darkened further to an almost inky black. “War is bloody and painful. Even when there’s a victor there’s so much life lost, who really wins?”

“This war is with Sniycia though,” Ochako murmured, her voice loud in the almost silent laboratory. “Don’t you think that makes it worse?”

Izuku kept his gaze firmly on the antidote in front of him, as though he could avoid the question if he didn’t look at Ochako. Was it different? He supposed it was and it wasn’t. He had meant what he said about war. There were rarely victors in war, just people who came home with scars and nightmares and those who didn’t come home at all. Sure, one side got to call the shots afterwards, but only at the cost of the people they sent to win.

That wasn’t to say he disagreed with the war against Snyicia. Hisashi had kidnapped Izuku and broke the treaty between the two countries. That alone was grounds for war in the world they lived in, never mind the attempted assassination on the king of another country. There were consequences for the actions that a person made or ordered someone else to make. And when those decisions were made by a king- countries went to war.

It was a simple checks and balances system that usually kept those in power in some kind of control. It was clear that Hiashi thought himself above such worries like his people dying. Or had he been that arrogant and sure that his plans to kidnap Izuku or assassinate Katsuki would work.

The assassination attempt almost had.

Still, Ochako was right. No matter how justified this war might be to the Othyan people or anyone else, it was a confrontation against Izuku’s homeland. Against his own family. It made him uncomfortable and nauseous if he thought about it for too long. And it was hard not to, with the conflict looming on the horizon. It was a favored topic as the Othyan warriors prepared for combat. Izuku was often torn between anger at his father, and feeling sick.

“Have you spoken to anyone?” Ochako pressed when Izuku didn’t reply.

“Not recently.”

He had started letters to his siblings before the kidnapping attempt and hadn’t been able to finish them yet. He had tried, but the words wouldn’t come. What was he supposed to say now, after everything that had happened? He was part of the invading army. And he didn’t regret that fact. He didn’t want to be on the opposite side of a war from them and he was sure that they hadn’t had anything to do with Hisashi’s choices. Not that they could have done anything to stop him.

But he didn’t regret meeting Katsuki. For all the shit that they had gone through, the mistakes made on both sides, Izuku didn’t lament the events that had brought them together. At least, not anymore. It was romantic and silly, but he didn’t care. They’d gone through enough together that Izuku thought they were allowed romantic and silly moments. They were just few and far between right now.

If Hisashi wanted a war, he would be getting one. And Izuku had a feeling that his father was underestimating both of him and Katsuki.

“It might be better you don’t,” Hitoshi said as he leaned back.

“They’re his siblings.” Ochako’s frown deepened, as though the blood that tied Izuku to his siblings should explain everything. It wasn’t that easy, but Izuku appreciated the belief by one other person that it should be.

“They’re royalty of the kingdom we’re going to war with,” Hitoshi corrected. “It doesn’t matter that Izuku’s related to them.”

“Why not?” Ochako demanded. “Why doesn’t that matter?”

‘Because politically, his loyalty changed when he married Cinderbrain. Plus, Izuku gave Katsuki his loyalty at the beginning of the winter. If he writes his siblings it’s probably considered a betrayal of some sort.”

“That’s so stupid.”

“That’s the world we live in.”

“What would I say, anyway?” Izuku sighed. “Hope you’re doing well? This letter is being escorted by the Othyan army coming to conquer your country? Hope you’re not too upset?”

“It’s your father’s fault. It’s not theirs.” Ochako scuffed her boot against the floor. “And they’re like family to me too.”

“It’s not surprising that my father’s actions affect everyone around him while he remains unphased.”

“We’ll just have to work it out once the war is over,” Ochako sighed.

“Are we going with the military?” Hitoshi asked, shifting his attention to Izuku.

“I am. I’ll have to ask Kacchan who he wanted to bring with him. We haven’t talked about that yet.”

“It’s not a guest list. If people don’t go it doesn’t mean they’re not important. It just means they’re important here.” Ochako smiled faintly.

“Yes, we’re all itching to go to war against our homeland,” Hitoshi drawled.

“I’d rather not go, I think,” Ochako said, ignoring Hitoshi as though he hadn’t spoken. “I doubt I’d be any use in war. Even knowing that I’ve…”

“That’s not what your magework is for,” Izuku reassured her when she trailed off, skin paling. “No one would ask that of you.”

And if Katsuki had thought to use her ability in an offensive way, Izuku would just have to explain why that couldn’t happen. Ochako didn’t have the stomach for death. She was strong, but not everyone was strong in the same way. Izuku didn’t see anything wrong with her inability to use her magic to hurt others. It just meant that her talents and strengths lay elsewhere. And he’d rather avoid sending as many people he cared about to war as he could. He knew he couldn’t stop the friends he had made here in Othya, but if he could protect Ochako he would.

War didn’t care what side people were on. It mutilated without mercy. Izuku had seen his own alchemy master, who was without a doubt one of the brightest and strongest people Izuku knew left scarred from war. Toshinori had been a hero before he had been an alchemist, had saved people both ways. But one had left him with scars, both physical and mental, that would never heal fully. When the king called for war, heroes of the crown answered. And Toshinori had come back changed. By the time Izuku had met the hero he had so long admired, Toshinori’s smiles were far more forced, his body broken from the trials he’d gone through. He’d made a name for himself as an alchemist and he seemed content in that. Most of the time, anyway.

Sometimes Izuku thought he’d caught his teacher lost in memories of a brighter time. When his body and mind hadn’t betrayed him so quickly. When he’d been a hero of the people and the crown, instead of a revered alchemist no one wanted to let out of their sights, too afraid he’d break apart.

“Good,” Ochako breathed, clearly relieved by his assurances. “I’d be more help here anyway. I’m sure there are things I can do.”

“I think I’d rather go.” HItoshi shrugged. “Keep ‘Zuku out of trouble and all of that.”

“I’m not always in some kind of trouble, you know.” Izuku shook his head, lips curving in a smile, just as Hitoshi wanted.

“Who created a hole in the wall that proved to be unstable?”

“Extenuating circumstances.”

“Whose fault was it that we were covered in mud in the middle of court?”

“Yours!” Izuku laughed, the mood lightening.

“I never heard how that happened, you know.” Ochako leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “What really happened that day?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does if you’re blaming me!””

“It doesn’t,” Hitoshi insisted, elbowing Izuku in the ribs. “Or do you want me to tell her the story?”

“I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“No fair,” Ochako sighed. “You’ll never tell me.”

“Sorry, Ochako.”

“He’s not sorry,” Hitoshi added.

“I know he’s not.”

Izuku glanced at the antidote and stirred gently. It looked right this time. He wasn’t about to test it with any of the poison he had gotten his hands on, but he knew. It was a gut feeling that told him he’d done it right this time. No one else would wonder if their loved one was going to die because Hisashi liked quiet and deadly poisons instead of outright combat. “This is ready to be bottled.”

“Would a tablet be better?” Ochako asked, shifting closer as Hitoshi stepped away to grab a glass bottle.

“Not this time. Liquid absorbs into the system faster. I think this will be better.”

“Do you remember when Hitoshi said that love didn’t exist?” Ochako smiled and Izuku imagined he could see hearts floating above her head. “And now here you are.”

“I said romance doesn’t exist,” HItoshi said, nudging Ochako out of his way as he returned with several vials. “And it doesn’t.”

“How can you say that?” Ochako stamped her foot in indignation. “Look at Izuku and Katsuki!”

“What would be the reason?”

“Izuku saved Katsuki’s life! He risked his safety trying to save him. And Katsuki came for Izuku when he was kidnapped. How is that not romantic?”

“I could argue the logical reasons for all of that, but you’re not going to listen to me.” Hitoshi shook his head. “What is your definition of romance?”

“It’s this feeling of mystery and excitement and not so everyday. It’s doing things for the person you care about to show that love them and think about them. It isn’t forced, it just is.”

“Does that mean Kacchan taking me hunting for a juno was romantic?” Izuku asked as he carefully ladled antidote into the vials.

“I guess,” Ochako said after a minute. “Because he put your wants before his need to say no. So yes, that’s romantic in a way.”

“In a way.”

“Well it’s not flowers and moonlight and passionate words.” Ochako puffed out her cheeks in annoyance at HItoshi.

“If that’s romance, it’s not me and Kacchan,” Izuku laughed. “We might not be the romantic type at that point.”

“Every couple has their own romance.” Ochako wrinkled her nose. “Why are you so difficult about this? Don’t you want romance?”

“I want something solid and real. I want something I can trust and that I know I can believe in no matter what. I have that with Kacchan. I know he’s real, and he doesn’t lie to me. Even if it’s going to hurt my feelings, it’s the truth. We fight, we’re probably going to always fight because we’re both stubborn and passionate about what we believe in. But he’s not going to let anyone tear me down and even if I fall flat on my ass, he’s going to be there to haul me back up. He’ll let me try and let me be me. I’m just Izuku with him and he’s just Katsuki. That’s what matters.”

“How can you say that’s not romantic?” Ochako asked, eyes wide. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I guess it’s a different definition of romance.” Izuku smiled and capped the last vial. “To me romance is the stuff of courts. It’s there as long as it has its advantages or it’s amusing. Romance is all smoke and mirrors, no substance. Chika had her heart broken more than once by suitors who wooed with romantic gestures. What Kacchan and I have isn’t like that. It’s solid and dependable. So, to me, it’s not romance.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m happy though.” Izuku stretched, his spine cracking and popping from staying in one position too long. Katsuki had been working late with his council to ready for war. Maybe Izuku would just go and interrupt, pull his mate to bed. They both needed what little sleep they could grab.

Sometimes he caught Katsuki watching him late at night and wondered if he was the only one who had nightmares of what-ifs plaguing him. Katsuki didn’t want to talk about it and Izuku didn’t want to push. Nothing but time could soothe either of their fears anyway.

“Even with the war?” Ochako asked.

“Yeah, even then.”

“If you three are done gossiping,” Katsuki said as he stuck his head into the room. “C’mon, shortstack. Let’s hit the sack.”

“Is that a code?” Hitoshi smirked.

“Die,” Katsuki said without heat. “C’mon, nerd.”

“Hitoshi can you finish cleaning up?” Izuku pushed away from the desk.

“Yeah, yeah. Go sleep. You look like you need it more than me, and that’s saying something.”

“Night,” Izuku called as he crossed the room to Katsuki. “Meeting go well?”

“Went fine. Fuckin’ tired though.”

“Me too.”

Yeah, even with the war coming. This was exactly where Izuku wanted to be.

Chapter Text

“We’re not bringing any of the dragons?”

“No.”

“Sniycia knows they exist.”

“We don’t have the supplies to keep them fed or the tactics and strategies to use them in battle. Besides, they’re not mine to control or some shit. They offered to help us when Izuku was kidnapped. I’m not asking them to cross a sea and fight a war.”

“I guess,” Denki conceded, kicking at the freshly fallen snow. “It just seems like they’d be our secret weapon or something.”

“Or something,” Mina laughed from Katsuki’s other side. She rubbed her hands together, hunching between Eijiro and Katsuki’s bigger builds to protect her from the bitter wind. “Can you imagine trying to keep that many dragons fed and entertained?”

“Sounds like a nightmare,” Hanta agreed. He nudged Denki. “Don’t worry though, someone was bound to ask eventually.”

“I just thought it made sense. The party we attacked practically wet themselves at the sight of them.”

“I think Denki has a point,” Eijiro said. He wrapped an arm around Mina, as though he could protect her from the winter chill with his body. “Not this time, we’re almost ready to move out. But there’s no shame in asking them about it in the future. People know they exist, and it’s better that those people know dragons aren’t easy prey.”

“And if one of them dies in battle? They’re nearly extinct, fuckheads.” Katsuki folded his arms over his chest. “What then?”

“What could kill a dragon?” Denki frowned.

“Same shit that almost killed them in the stories people tell. It’s hard, not impossible.”

“Moot point right now,” Hanta interjected. “We’re not prepared to have them in battle regardless. Not when we’re moving out in a week.”

“Updates?” Katsuki asked, eyes scanning the landscape behind their little knot huddled against the wind.

Soldiers from across the empire were camped out in front of the Othyan castle, a city that rivaled the one of Dragonspire below, the inns bursting with military personnel. The smell of smoke and burning wood rose into the air, mingling with the constant chatter of conversation and clang of swords from the makeshift training grounds.

It had taken weeks, but they were almost ready to move out. Soldiers from every country Katsui had conquered in the past seven years had answered his summons, entering Othya in droves and settling in to wait for the order to move out. Katsuki wasn’t going to allow Snyicia the opportunity to pull anything this time. He was bringing everything he had at his disposal with him for this war, with only one goal in mind: to destroy them.

Hisashi had too much to answer for at this point. Katsuki wasn’t about to let any of it slide. Not that excuse for a treaty, not for his attempt to kidnap Izuku, and not for his attempts to have Katsuki assassinated. Hisashi was going to pay for each and every decision he had made when it came to Izuku and to the treatment of Othya. The opposing king had no idea what kind of hell he had unleashed. Which suited Katsuki just fine. Hisashi would learn. It would be too late to change shit by then, but that wasn’t Katsuki’s problem.

He was looking forward to being the last thing that coward saw before death claimed Hisashi’s life. He was looking forward to being the one to strike that final blow. He didn't enjoy war, but he knew when it was necessary. It often was, to keep the people who trusted him safe, to keep the people he cared about from harm. He didn’t like war, but he was good at it and he knew why war was needed. This time though, he looked forward to the conflict. Not to make Othya stronger, or to keep anyone else from harm. He was looking forward to the destruction he would create as he cut away the things Hisashi held dear.

Hisashi had tried to kidnap Izuku, had tried to kill Katsuki with a quiet poison that had almost stopped his heartbeat. Hisashi had tried to take away the things that Katsuki held dear, so he had started this war. Katsuki was more than happy to respond in kind. He was better at this than Hisashi was though, regardless of the differences in their age. Hisashi might know how to bully others to get his way, but Katsuki was a bigger bully. Hisashi wouldn’t find him so easy to manipulate. Not this time.

Katsuki couldn’t change the scars that Hiashi had left on Izuku. But he could take revenge for them. He could make sure they never happened again.

“Hitoshi said that anything alchemy-based we were waiting on is good to go now that the antidote is done. He and Izuku are producing a couple more batches for us and then we can consider their jobs done,” Mina reported with a grin.

“Rations are handled.” Hanta shifted his weight as though that would keep him warm. “A lot of dried and salted and smoked stuff, but it should be tasty for a short period. And once we’re there, the army can live off Sniycian land as we go. They have plenty of food, right?”

“Not enough meat.” Katsuki shook his head. “But it’ll work out.”

“It always does.” Eijiro nodded. “Soldiers from across the empire have arrived. They’ve all checked in, so everyone is accounted for. We should be just about ready to move out on that front. A lot of them are hoping for action, especially the Othyan contingents. So, no worries of people dragging their feet in battle against Snyicia.”

“Snyicia isn’t built for battle,” Mina added. “They aren’t a country with a mindset for war. They should be pretty easy to overtake. They’re sneakier though, so we could be underestimating them. We shouldn’t let our guard down.”

The four of them shared looks, as though Katsuki wasn’t standing right there.

“Oiy,” he snapped, bringing their attention back to him. “Stop that. I’m fine, it’s not gonna happen again.”

“Yeah, but…” Eijiro started.

“Enough. No hovering, no pestering me with stupid shit, none of that. You can all tell I’m fine. Like some fuckin’ poison was going to get the best of me.”

The fact that it nearly had hung silent in the air between the five of them, unspoken but very present in the eyes of the four people he considered his council and closest friends. It was similar to the look that haunted Izuku when he woke in the middle of the night, shaking and tears streaming down his cheeks. The nightmares kept coming no matter what Katsuki said or did though, a reminder that Katsuki had come too close to that final journey to the land of the gods. If that place was even open to him, after all the railing he had done against the divine assholes.

Izuku wasn’t the only one having a hard time sleeping through the night now. It wasn’t responsibility that kept Katsuki up, or the worry of what was to come. He wouldn’t call the dreams that lingered nightmares, but they sure as shit weren’t pleasant. Katsuki didn’t dwell on the past or what could have been, it didn’t do any good to waste his time with that shit. Too bad his mind didn’t want to listen. Near-death experiences and almost-kidnappings seemed to leave marks that Katsuki couldn’t so easily avoid. He didn’t remember the dreams, but that didn’t make the fear sitting heavy in his chest when he woke any easier.

“Says you,” Eijiro said softly.

“Yeah, says me. Now is that it?”

“The mages you requested are all ready to move out. Most of them are combat-oriented with their abilities, but there are a few who might be of use defensively. I think Kyoka is a good choice this time. She can make sure that no one can overhear our strategy sessions. And she’s pretty smart.”

“You just think she’s pretty,” Mina teased.

“So?” Denki stuck his tongue out at her. “That’s not a reason to bring anyone anywhere.”

“Except your bed.” Hanta nodded sagely.

“Exactly!” Denki gestured to Hanta. “He gets it!”

“Focus.” Katsuki rolled his eyes, used to their antics.

“I think the only question is who’s going with you this time.” Eijiro shrugged, tone carefully neutral.

“I’m guessing you have opinions.” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. Or, he meant to. Fuck if he could feel his face in this brutal cold.

“Duh,” Mina snorted. “That’s our job. It’s written somewhere in the rules of the world. We have to give you our thoughts even when you don’t want them.”

“I think that Denki and I should both go. We work better in battle together.” Hanta rubbed his hands over his arms.

“Can we head inside?” Mina asked. “It’s cold and there’s no real reason to be outside anymore.”

“I second that,” Hanta said quickly.

“The cold is good for you!” Eijiro grinned. “It’s manly, to be able to withstand the elements.”

“Well, I’m cold.” Mina rolled her eyes fondly. “I don’t care what’s manly, I’d rather be inside.”

“Quit your whining.” Katsuki turned back towards the castle, strides eating up the distance between him and the warmth indoors.

“Not whining. I’m worrying about things like frostbite and my toes being so numb they fall off. Not everyone enjoys the pain of their body warming to temperature again.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki repressed a groan as the warmth of the castle wrapped around them, the enchantments cast working hard to keep the large palace habitable compared to the still bitter conditions outside. He wasn’t about to admit it, but he was happier to be back inside too.

“I still think you should at least ask the dragons,” Denki said, shaking his hair to rid himself of snowflakes. “Shouldn’t they get a say?”

“We don’t have the time to come up with new strategies and tactics. We still can’t feed them on the long journey. So, unless you’re offering to become their new snack, it doesn’t matter.” Katsuki dusted at the snow still clinging to his boots and pants.

“No thanks.”

“Thought so.”

“Back on the topic at hand,” Hanta said with a smile in his voice. “Who do you want to stay here this time?”

Hanta and Denki did work exceptionally well together. And with Hanta’s unique weapon choice, it would give them an edge. No one expected the pataga whip the way that Hanta wielded it. Together the two men were useful in both ranged- and close-quarter combat, protecting one another’s blind spots in a way no one else could duplicate. It could be useful to have them both with him this time to use against Hisashi.

“Both of you should prepare to move out.”

“Got it.” Hanta nodded.

“Woo! Warmer weather. Sounds good to me, Baku.”

“Pain in the ass.”

“Nah, that’s Izuku’s job.” Denki grinned, hands already raised in defense as Katsuki turned, growl rumbling in his chest.

“Don’t kill him. You’d regret it later.” Mina slid between the two of them.

“Maybe.”

“You would.” She sounded so certain of that.

“Which of us are you taking with you, Baku?” Eijiro asked, his grin bright at the banter between friends and at odds with his serious eyes. Eijiro’s mind was clearly still focused on the upcoming campaign and the possible ramifications. He’d always been a good second to have at Katsuki’s side, be it on the battlefield or at home. Katsuki had faith in Eijiro’s abilities to handle what came his way regardless of the severity. He’d been steadfast in his loyalty since they were children.

The question was, did he want Eijiro here, watching over the empire that Katsuki had built, or with him on in battle? Mina was just as capable as Eijiro in either position, though they had their different strengths. In a perfect world he would take them both with him into battles. They worked well together and with him, allowing him the perfect unit to fall back on if ever necessary. Not that Katsuki needed backup. He was fuckin’ good at what he did.

“Eijiro, get ready to move out with me. Mina, you’ll be here this time.”

“Don’t let him do anything stupid,” Mina said, eyes narrowing.

“What, Kiri? I’m not his babysitter.”

“No. I meant, he better not let you do anything stupid.” Mina folded her arms. “Like going to their capital to meet with a treacherous king alone.”

“He got Izuku out of the deal, so it can’t be all bad,” Eijiro laughed.

“I don’t need a babysitter either.” Katsuki bared his teeth at Mina.

“Debatable,” Mina said dryly.

“Speaking of Izuku,” Eijiro interjected as both Denki and Hanta took a quick step away from Mina. “Is he coming with us?”

“That’s his family. It might be a conflict of interest.” Hanta frowned. “His loyalty is clearly to Othya now, but watching your family murdered and your birth country brought to heel can’t be easy.”

“He’s staying with Mina.” Katsuki shrugged.

Izuku was already prone to tears when his emotions overwhelmed. Katsuki didn’t doubt his mate’s abilities as a warrior, but there was no reason to bring Izuku back to Sniycia. Some would consider it needlessly cruel to let Izuku watch his childhood home be conquered. It would be easier to let Izuku stay in Othya and experiment with his alchemy. Better for everyone involved, too. Katsuki didn’t know that he wanted Izuku there when he executed the royal family. Izuku’s family.

He believed that Izuku loved him, there had been no reason for him to lie about that shit. Not when Katsuki had almost died minutes before. The emotion had been clear in Izuku’s eyes, in the sobs that had shaken his body as Katsuki had held him. So yeah, Izuku loved him. But Katsuki wasn’t about to pretend that kind of bond, still new and kind of raw, was unbreakable. Not when it came to executing parents and siblings. Even someone as shit as Hisashi, who had it coming, could be hard for Izuku to swallow. It would be better that Izuku stayed home.

Besides, Hiashi has already tried to kidnap Izuku once. And no one could be sure the assassin had been sent to kill Katsuki. There was just as much chance that Hisashi had meant Izuku to be the one murdered with the silent and deadly poison. Why put Izuku in more harm’s way? Yes, Izuku could take care of himself. But that didn’t mean that he should be forced to defend himself from that kind of shit. Bringing Izuku right to Sniycia might present more of a danger to the nerd than anything else.

“Does he know that?” Eijiro asked carefully.

Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “That he’s staying here? It hasn’t come up yet.”

His friends all exchanged long looks, their uncertainty in his decision clear despite the fact that they had yet to say anything.

“What?” Katsuki demanded.

“Shouldn’t you discuss it with him?” Mina frowned. “He’s your consort.”

“That means he should be here, protecting Othya and learning with you.”

“Which wasn’t your intention,” Mina snorted. Denki nodded at her side.

“Ochako mentioned that he was preparing to head out,” Denki added.

“And are you taking Hitoshi, for that matter? Another alchemist wouldn’t hurt and those two are brilliant together. Plus, Mei doesn’t seem like the battle type,” Hanta said, brows drawing close.

“Why would I take Izuku with me?”

“Because we’re conquering Sniycia? Because he’s your partner? Because he’s skilled.” Mina ticked off each point on a finger. “I can keep going.”

“You think he wants to watch his family executed?” Katsuki asked flatly.

“I think he has a right to make that decision,” Eijiro answered instead. “He would be upset if you didn’t talk to him at least.”

“Fuck.” Katsuki ran a hand through hair wet from snow. He had no interest in discussing this with Izuku. But he would, regardless of whether he wanted to or not. Communication went two ways and all that shit. If he fell back into bad habits now, it could fuck with the relationship that both of them had come to rely on. Not that Katsuki was exactly comfortable admitting it. He didn’t do weaknesses.

But Izuku was unique, as he had been in almost every other facet of Katsuki’s life.

“Fine, I’ll talk to him.”

“Glad to see you can be taught.” Mina grinned.

“Fuck off, pinky.”

“I think that’s Eijiro’s job now.” Denki cocked his head to the side. “Isn’t it?”

“I think we’ll get ready for the command to move out,” Hanta said quickly. He wrapped an arm around Denki’s neck and quickly steering him away from Katsuki and Mina, and down the corridor. Denki squawked in protest and was quickly hushed by whatever Hanta murmured.

Eijiro shook his head, smiling again. “C’mon, Mina. You can help me pack. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“Since I’m taking that as code for spending time with my mate before he leaves, that sounds good to me.” Mina took Eijiro’s hand in hers and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. Eijiro flushed a light red, his smile that much bigger.

“Go be stupid and romantic somewhere else,” Katsuki grumbled. “Before my eyes start bleeding.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Mina stuck her tongue out at him before she dragged Eijiro away and towards their quarters.

Katsuki glanced around the now-empty corridor and released a slow breath. He would be more at ease when the war was over and Sniycia was another addition to his empire. He would be a little less tense when the known threat to Izuku was gone. Hisashi had been stupid to make an enemy of Katsuki. He had been an idiot to make an enemy of his own son. Now there was nothing holding Katsuki back from destroying Hisashi and everything he had ever held dear.

The question, it seemed, was if Izuku was going to assist Katsuki with destroying his childhood home by coming with him.

Chapter Text

"Are you asking for my opinion?”

“You’re the one who came in here demanding to know what’s going on. No one asked for your opinion, old man.”

“Demanding?”

Izuku hesitated, his hand raised to knock on the door between his laboratory and Katsuki’s study. He had come looking for his husband with the intention of telling him that the last of the antidotes had been completed and they were ready to move out. At least, they were on Izuku’s front. Between their busy schedules preparing for the war, the two of them hadn’t had much time to sit down and discuss actually moving out. Izuku was hoping to do so today.

But maybe this was a bad time.

“The hell got you to drag yourself up here anyway?” Katsuki asked, irritation almost palpable.

“So now I cannot check in on you, is that so?”

“I know how to run a damn country.”

“I would expect nothing less. I am the one who taught you, after all.”

The man Katsuki was so annoyed at was the same counselor who had taught him about ruling a country? Katsuki had picked up a few things on his own, sure. His intelligence was as sharp as any blade. That most people underestimated Katsuki and thought he was nothing more than a brute was their mistake to make. But this man had encouraged that thirst for knowledge. He had taught Katsuki vital information at the risk of his own life.

Izuku knew now that Noboru would have made good on his threat to execute Aizawa. The pictures Katsuki painted about his childhood after his parents died were painfully clear. It was too obvious to Izuku that Katsuki hadn’t had a true childhood beyond the day his mother had died. Noboru had attempted to manipulate him from that moment forward, through whatever means necessary. That Katsuki was still his own man was a testament to both his own stubborn strength and the man on the other side of the door.

And wasn’t that what the world demanded of their royalty? Izuku doubted most people would consider his childhood a true one either. No matter what, fate found a way to steal that innocence from those the people would consider the most privileged. And they were privileged, in so many ways.

But they paid for it. They always did.

He pushed open the door built in the aftermath of another attempt on Katsuki’s life and Izuku’s panic and slipped into Katsuki’s study.

The man on the other side of Katsuki’s desk was tall and slender, with dark hair that hung to his shoulders and fell in equally dark eyes. He had heavy scars on his hands and another below his right eye. It was clear that Othya’s previous queen had chosen advisors who had also been warriors. Katsuki had mentioned something about his mentor drilling him in the arts of war as well one pre-dawn morning as they prepared to spar. Despite his slim form, this man was clearly a warrior to be respected. Izuku could see why Katsuki had learned from him. And he knew that Katsuki respected Aizawa, despite the annoyance that colored his words currently.

“You must be Aizawa.” Izuku smiled. “I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“You’re Izuku, hm?” Aizawa said slowly, eyes sweeping over Izuku in a quick assessment.

Izuku had learned not to show any unease at a young age. He had grown up under the scrutiny of his father and the court nobles in Sniycia, after all. But despite those early teachings, Izuku barely resisted the urge to squirm. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that Aizawa’s opinion mattered. He could feel it in the way Katsuki spoke of him.

“Yes, sir.” He swallowed and clasped his hands behind his back.

“I don’t bite,” Aizawa said dryly. “Even trouble children who deserve it.”

Katsuki snorted. “Told you he’d call you a trouble child, nerd.”

“Trouble finds trouble it would seem.” Aizawa shrugged. “I heard you blew up a wall in the castle.”

Izuku choked on his breath, eyes widening. “Is that what they’re saying?”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Aizawa arched an eyebrow.

“No! I just made a hole! Right there!” Izuku shook his head quickly, coughing. He gestured to the door he’d stepped through. “And Kacchan was dying at the time, and-”

“Relax, he doesn’t give a shit.” Katsuki reached out and tugged Izuku closer. “I probably did worse.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Izuku cocked his head. “Because Kacchan almost died a few weeks ago?”

Both Izuku and Katsuki had agreed that they should keep that fact quiet. No one knew what spies Hisashi was trying to slip into Othya in attempts to learn their weaknesses. And to tell the people how close Katsuki had actually come to dying would only dishearten them. They needed to believe in the utter strength of their king; especially when they were about to follow that king into battle.

But it didn’t surprise Izuku that Aizawa may have found out. Or that he had been told about the situation. In many ways, Aizawa had been the only constant and safe adult Katsuki had had growing up. He wasn’t a parent, but the bond forged between the two of them was hardly one that could be ignored.

“No.” Aizawa shook his head, voice tight and controlled. “I heard he was setting out for another war and had exposed dragons to outsiders. I came to find out what Katsuki was up to.”

“I told you a hundred times, I had my reasons.”

“It’s my fault. I was kidnapped and Kacchan was trying to make sure he reached me in time.” Izuku laced his fingers with Katsuki’s as he ignored Katsuki’s warning growl.

“It’s not your fault, shithead.”

“Katsuki is correct. You might be a troublemaker, but I wouldn’t lay that at your feet.”

“Are you coming with us to Sniycia?” Izuku smiled, nerves still twisting his stomach into knots but determined to make as good of an impression as possible.

“To keep the two of you out of trouble?”

“No one invited you, old man.”

Aizawa arched an eyebrow. “I could still kick your ass. Remember that.”

“As if,” Katsuki grumbled.

“No, I’m not accompanying Katsuki. Sleeping in tents again isn’t my idea of a good time, and it helps to have me on hand if Mina or Eijiro need the guidance. What would I do without someone banging on my door?”

“Besides, I can handle myself without him breathing down my neck.”

Aizawa grinned suddenly, sharp enough to cut but clearly amused. “Can you?”

“Fuck off.” Katsuki glared at Aizawa.

“Kacchan!”

“It’s fine.” Aizawa waved his hand dismissively. “I have errands and meetings to attend to. Don’t get into trouble while you’re gone.”

“If you don’t mind, we could come to visit when we’re back?” Izuku smiled warmly. “I’m sure you have a lot of stories to tell about Kacchan.”

“Not that you need to hear,” Katsuki groused at his side.

“I doubt I could stop you.” Aizawa shrugged as he turned away. Izuku thought he was secretly pleased, despite his dry words. He couldn’t say why though, it was just a feeling.

“It was nice to meet you.”

Aizawa waved over his shoulder before the door to the study closed behind him, blocking him from view.

“So that’s the man that trained you.”

“What about it?”

“Nothing. I liked meeting him. I can see why you respect him.”

“He’s annoying as fuck, but he knew what the hell he was talking about. And he didn’t have to do it. Most of the others wouldn’t come near me. Too many people scared of that coward Noboru’s shit.” Katsuki shrugged. “Aizawa didn’t give a shit. He didn’t move away, didn’t avoid me. He helped Mina and Eijiro learn what they needed to do and he taught me. To fight, to channel my anger, to rule. He might be a pain in the side, but he earned the right to be. Sometimes, anyway.”

“I would like to get to know him better after the war.”

“You can get to know him while I’m away if you stay here.”

“What?” Izuku tugged away from Katsuki’s hold. He turned to meet his gaze, folding his arms over his chest. “Why would I stay here?”

“Why not?” Katsuki scowled at him.

“Plenty of reasons. I’m a strong alchemist, for one.”

“And I’m taking the shit you made with me. I know how it works.”

“You need more than bottles and tablets. It makes sense to bring an alchemist with you. In case something comes up on the move. No, I won’t have access to as many instruments or ingredients, but I can bring the ones I know are necessary. One of Sniycia’s strengths is their alchemical minds. They will have Toshinori on their side, for example. And if my father is smart he’ll use those strengths to his advantages.”

Izuku couldn’t believe they were having this argument. He couldn’t believe that they were discussing whether or not he was going to go to war with the rest of Othya. Katsuki had to know that Izuku wasn’t some fragile prince. Didn’t he? He had to know by now that Izuku wouldn’t betray Othya to Sniycia, after everything that had happened. He had to know that Izuku was an asset, not a weakness. Izuku couldn’t imagine staying behind in Othya as nearly everyone else he cared for moved out to fight a war against Sniycia.

He didn’t want to sit here in a room empty of people and full of too many memories of Katsuki. He didn’t want to stay here while the man he was in love with went to risk his life while Izuku sat in comfortable safety.

Did he enjoy war? No. He didn’t know many people who enjoyed war, even those that were good at it. He had never gone to war, his father had neatly avoided any possibility of one since Izuku was old enough to remember. But he had spoken with generals, veteran soldiers, and Toshinori often enough to have a picture painted for him. Eventually the killing, the blood and the screams of the dying, got inside anyone’s head. Eventually soldiers had too many ghosts haunting them to keep on killing. He knew Katsuki was tired of war already. But it didn’t stop him from going out again and again, protecting his people and now his mate.

Izuku didn’t enjoy war. But that didn’t mean he wanted to stay behind and wait for the people he loved to come home. He dreaded the idea of waiting for news of who had won, who had survived.

“I can bring another alchemist,” Katsuki pointed out.

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “You’re not bringing Hitoshi and leaving me behind.”

“Why not?”

“Because you can’t use my best friend to keep me home! Besides, my alchemy isn’t the only reason I should go.”

Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Don’t give me that higher-than-thou king expression. I’ve dealt with it from people much better at it than you and it doesn’t suit you. You know I’m a strong and capable fighter. You’ve seen it before. You let me fight after I was kidnapped. The same reasons apply now. This is my country too. I should have a right to protect its people.”

“You can stay with Mina and protect them from here.” Katsuki was still scowling but his temper hadn’t flared. Izuku balled his fists, frustrated that Katsuki could control himself so completely while Izuku was unraveling. He preferred the beast inside his husband snarling and both of them involved than this distant and disciplined warrior.

“That’s not good enough. We fight well together.”

“I fight well with Kiri too. Are you saying I fight better with you?”

“Yes!” Izuku snapped. “You know we do. You’ve said as much!”

“We’ve never fought in a war together.”

“No better time to start!”

Katsuki was silent.

“Don’t cage me! I can help!”

“Damn it! Do you think I’m doing this to cage you? Is that what you really think after all of this shit?!” Katsuki roared, pushing to his feet. His control lay shattered in pieces at his feet. Izuku felt grim satisfaction, but not victory. He didn’t want to fight like this. But neither could he watch Katsuki leave for war without him. He couldn’t stay behind, powerless and useless.

“I don’t want to! But there are more reasons I should go than stay and yet you insist-”

“I’m leading a war against your family, Izuku,” Katsuki growled, a low and dangerous rumble in his chest. “Do you know what I do when I win a war? Do you realize I’m going to be killing your countrymen?”

Ah.

He was trying to protect Izuku. That made more sense than trying to lock him away. Izuku dragged air into his body through lungs that had nearly forgotten how to work. Fears were rarely rational and even scars that Izuku thought were long buried and forgotten had a nasty habit of ripping open at the worst opportunity. He struggled for rationality, for calm.

“I understand you’re trying to protect me. But we’re a team. I don’t want to stay behind while you take the risks. That’s not …” Izuku swallowed against the knot in his throat, trying to choose his words carefully now. “That’s now how we work. We’re equals, right? Othya is my home now. You’re my home. I don’t want to be left behind while you go to war.”

“Maybe you’re right. But your father has already tried to kidnap you. He may have sent someone to kill you. I don’t see a reason to put you within his reach.” Katsuki shoved fingers through his hair in agitation, but he sounded tired.

Izuku bit his lip. They both were so afraid of losing one another. It drove both of their actions in different ways, love and fear intertwined until Izuku couldn’t separate the two emotions.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki met his eyes and growled, reaching out to tug Izuku into his arms again. Izuku linked his arms around Katsuki’s neck, familiar with the way their bodies pressed against one another.

“Hah?”

“Are you afraid?”

Katsuki stiffened, the muscles beneath Izuku’s touch tensing. But he didn’t shout or disagree. He pressed Izuku impossibly closer, and breathed out slowly. “Maybe. I didn’t know this kind of fear till I realized how much I needed you. I haven’t needed anyone like I need you. I’m not used to this kind of fear.”

Izuku was at a loss for words. How did he argue against something that powerful? Katsuki must have known some kind of fear before Izuku. But still, the words were powerful, their own kind of magic weaved between the two of them, even in an argument.

“I’m afraid of losing you too,” Izuku said after a long minute. “At least if I go with you, you can keep an eye on me. And this is my home too. I should help. I’m your consort. I haven’t been given any duties, but I should have been. I should be now. Let me help.”

“All the more reason for you to stay.” Katsuki shook his head. “Learn to rule from Mina and Aizawa. Keep our home safe while I’m gone.”

“Mina has been taking care of your home for a lot longer. I’d rather learn from you when you come back. When we come back. Don’t leave me behind when I’d be of better assistance there.”

Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I would be. I know Sniycia in a way you don’t, and never will. I know it better than Hitoshi or Ochako. And you forget, I was trained as a warrior. I was trained to be part of the Sniycian military from birth, practically. I may have defied my father but there are things I know that can be helpful. A million things I can never teach you in the short period of time we have left. I can help with strategies. I can help win this war. Please, let me help.”

“Izuku…”

“Please,” Izuku repeated, licking lips that had gone dry.

He couldn’t make Katsuki bring him to Sniycia. And it would be foolish to follow them. But he wanted to be at Katsuki’s side. And he needed to be. His stomach still twisted at the idea of this war, at the line it drew in the sand between him and his family. But he’d chosen Katsuki. He’d made that choice in late autumn, and it had only strengthened each day since. He would stand by it, wanted to give Katsuki his support. He just needed Katsuki to believe what Izuku already knew.

“We’re better together. Better than my father ever imagined. Let me come.”

There was a sharp knock at the door, interrupting whatever Katsuki had been about to say.

“WHAT?!” Katsuki roared, pulling away from Izuku. “You better have a fuckin’ good reason to be here right now!”

Mina stuck her head into the study. No amusement sparkled in her eyes though, no flippant expression to piss Katsuki off. No, she looked well and truly worried. Almost panicked. Not quite, but it was there, churning in the rest of her emotions.

“Mina?” Izuku frowned, shoving the discussion with Katsuki aside. “What’s wrong?”

“The heir to Ashax is in your receiving hall. He requested an audience with you.” The words tumbled out, one on top of the other, as though Mina couldn’t hold them in any longer. Her eyes were locked on Katsuki.

“What?” Katsuki sounded deadly in that moment, even as he went quiet.

“Shouto’s here?” Izuku asked in astonishment. “Like, in Othya?”

“In Dragonspire, in the receiving hall,” Mina repeated.

“You know him?” Katsuki asked sharply, eyes turning to burn into Izuku’s.

“Yeah. Our fathers have been friendly on occasion, though I wouldn’t call them friends. We’ve always gotten along. When I was allowed to see him, that is. He wasn’t brought to Sniycia often and I was never allowed to leave, really.” Izuku shook his head, completely perplexed. “I’ve always liked him. But I don’t know why he’s here. I haven’t written to him in a while. He … didn’t have time anymore, I was told.”

“Ashax is a hostile nation to the north of us,” Mina murmured, eyes wide. “The king and Baku don’t get along.”

“That’s not surprising, he’s difficult from what I understand…” Izuku trailed off as Katsuki hissed in a breath.

“C’mon, shortstack. You might be helpful. Let’s see what the fuck the bastard wants.”

“You couldn’t leave me behind,” Izuku said stubbornly.

“Mina, tell them we’ll receive him. Give us thirty.”

“On it.” She was gone in the next heartbeat, the door thudding closed as her footsteps echoed down the hall.

“Should we change into something else?” Izuku wasn’t sure what the rules were for receiving royalty in Othya. In Sniycia he would’ve had to change into his best quickly.

“He interrupted me. He gets me as I am,” Katsuki growled, clearly not about to behave for visiting princes.

“He’s really not that bad.”

“He came uninvited and unannounced to Othya, nerd. We both know that rarely leads to anything good.”

He did know that. He just didn’t want to believe that Othya might be fighting a war on two fronts soon.

Izuku might not be going back to Sniycia after all.

Chapter Text

Not for the first time, Katsuki was glad that he didn’t use valets.

In the hours before his wedding last spring, valets and other servants had descended on the room Katsuki had been given to prepare for the ceremony. They had come armed with hairbrushes, arrogant superiority, and some overworked mess of an outfit that had been gifted from Hisashi. Unspoken had been the assumption that they were there to tame the barbarian king and make him presentable for the trumped-up wedding ceremony.

Katsuki had kicked them out, rather than put up with the hovering and fretting. He knew how to dress himself and use a comb. He had never understood how being royal suddenly meant that a man was supposed to be completely helpless for the simplest of tasks. He was glad he’d found other jobs for the men who had served as valets for Noboru when Katsuki had taken the throne. Noboru had enjoyed the attention and had enjoyed ordering them to draw him baths and fetch him the most extravagant clothing. If he hadn’t been dead, he would’ve fit right in in Sniycia.

Izuku hadn’t asked for a valet since coming to Othya, nor had he asked to bring one from Sniycia. After a few mishaps, he’d quickly adjusted to Katsuki’s style of handling such simple tasks himself. He wondered if Izuku was happier for the lack of valets hovering or coming and going from his room as they pleased. Probably, given how carefully Izuku guarded what freedoms he had. Katsuki was glad to have given him that, even if he hadn’t realized it at the time.

Now, he didn’t have to worry about anyone squawking about how he wasn’t fit to receive the prince waiting in his receiving room. Katsuki didn’t enjoy the frills and procedures so many other kings indulged in, and he certainly didn’t plan on wasting his time dressing up for someone who shouldn’t have been in Othya. Shouto Todoroki was an unannounced and unwanted problem Katsuki now had to deal with. And how the fuck had he crossed the border of Othya without anyone noticing? Something didn’t add up and Katsuki didn’t like it.

He couldn’t worry about Izuku wanting to accompany the military to Sniycia right now, and that pissed him off too. He’d rather settle that and he couldn’t. Why the fuck would Izuku want to go to war with his country of birth? Was he that keen on facing his family on a battlefield? And if Hisashi was trying to kill him, was taking Izuku to Sniycia creating more of a target, or keeping him safe from another attempt?

“You look like you’re about to tear someone’s head off.”

“I wonder why.” Katsuki grit his teeth and forced his emotions under control. He wasn’t about to give Ashax’s wayward prince anything to work with.

“He’s not like his father,” Izuku promised, almost breathless as he tried to keep up with Katsuki.

Katsuki caught himself and slowed his strides a fraction, allowing Izuku to catch up with him and keep pace. The grateful smile Izuku shot him was more than worth the delay.

“Maybe, maybe not.” Katsuki shrugged. “When was the last time you had any contact?”

“A year or two before you and I met. But I know him. If he’s here, it’s not with some kind of proclamation from his father. Why would Enji send the heir to his throne into certain danger?”

“Probably the same reason your father used your life as a bargaining chip.”

Izuku swallowed hard, skin paling beneath the map of freckles Katsuki knew about as well as the stars in the sky.

“Shit.” There were times Katsuki could forget how much that one decision still hurt Izuku. He forgot, caught up in running a kingdom, in the life that they were building together. He just didn’t think about it because Izuku’s smiles were bright enough to blind him and Katsuki had long ago accepted Izuku’s place in his life and in Othya. That Sniycia hadn’t understood how amazing Izuku was, had been Katsuki’s gain in more ways than one. But Hisashi wasn’t just some asshole. He was Izuku’s father and those wounds dug deep. “Look-”

“He’s ready!” Eijiro called as he jogged towards them, cutting Katsuki off. “Removed his weapons and his companions’ too. No fuss about it. Just the three of them. He swears he didn’t bring anyone else.”

“I guess that’s our cue,” Izuku murmured, his voice strained.

“Go announce we’ll be in in a moment,” Katsuki ordered. He was used to the demands of being a king, but he was getting damn tired of being interrupted all the time. Privacy might be a luxury for royalty and all that but Katsuki had fought hard for the privacy he did have. He wasn’t about to give it away because of a war, or a waiting prince from Ashax.

“Sure.” Eijiro shrugged and turned on his heel, heading back to the door that led to the receiving hall entrance.

“I didn’t mean it the way it came out.” Katsuki reached out and tugged Izuku closer, this thumb running up and down the crook of his elbow.

“You started a war for me.” Izuku’s smile was wobbly, but at least it was there. “It hurts, but you make it easier to deal with. Don’t worry. About me, I mean.”

“Tch.”

Izuku went on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss to Katsuki’s lips. He settled back before Katsuki could deepen the connection between them, his smile a little more real and steady. “Let’s go see what Shouto wants.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki groused. He released Izuku’s arm with a scowl.

“Come on, handsome. Just get it over with.”

“Die,” Katsuki said without any venom.

He closed the distance and yanked open the door to his receiving room, Izuku's barely stifled giggle ringing in his ears as he stepped into the hall.

Katsuki knew Shouto Todoroki immediately.

If he thought back, he thought he could catch the faded memory of a meeting when they were children, too soon after Mitsuki had died for any real clarity. The man who stood in front of him wasn’t a child anymore, but Katsuki doubted there were many people in the world who had the eyes Shouto did. Or the burn scar that covered the man’s left eye.

Shouto bowed, his form as close to perfect as one could get, as did the two companions who had accompanied him. Katsuki’s eyes swept over the small party. Their clothing was the rough fabric of commoners and it was stained from travel. That explained how they had probably slipped over the border unnoticed. Othya would have to do something about that so there was no repeat incidents like this one.

Their apparel may have kept them safe from prying eyes on the road, but not here. Katsuki knew warriors when he saw them and both the man and woman with Shouto held themselves with a readiness and poise that came from years of working with weapons and training their bodies. Until he knew their skill and intelligence, he would err on the side of caution. Better to overestimate his opponent than underestimate. He’d learned that the hard way as a teenager, full of arrogance and anger.

“Your Majesties,” Shouto said as he straightened, eyes guarded and serious and his mouth set in a firm line. “Thank you for granting me an audience on such short notice.”

Izuku shifted at Katsuki’s side but gave no other indication that he was surprised at Shouto’s greeting. Katsuki would bet that despite Izuku arguing for more responsibility as a consort that he hadn’t realized until now that his title and rank had changed. He wasn’t a prince third in line for a throne that would never be his. He was the consort to an emperor and that empire was still growing. Izuku was probably one of the most important people in the landscape of royal games and power plays now. There was no doubt that the nerd’s thoughts on the matter would be amusing.

“I’m not real big on the courtly manners and protocols,” Katsuki snorted. “You show up in the heart of Othya, unannounced and uninvited. What the fuck are you doing here?”

The man to Shouto’s right visibly bristled, blue eyes flashing with indignation. “That is no way to speak to-”

“It’s fine,” Shouto said without looking away from Katsuki. “He’s right.”

“But, Your Highness!”

“It’s fine, Tenya,” Shouto repeated firmly.

Katsuki watched Tenya bite back his response, mouth thinning as he nodded sharply. He clasped his hands behind his back and stood even taller. If he thought he was going to intimidate anyone in this room that way, he was mistaken. Katsuki was sure that most of his soldiers could handle whatever Shouto had brought. No one was stationed within the palace if they didn’t have the abilities needed should they be called upon. And that wasn’t even considering the skill Katsuki and Izuku held.

“It is a fair question,” the woman admitted. She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

“You did sneak in,” Mina agreed, almost cheerfully from her place to Izuku’s left. “It does make us question your motives. Especially since you’re hostile and all.”

“We are not hostile!” Tenya protested. “We have done nothing to suggest otherwise!”

“Uh… Are you aware Othya and Ashax have a history together?” Eijiro frowned from where he stood to Katsuki’s right. “A long, really bloody history?”

“Ashax is the reason we’re cursed,” Denki agreed, leaning against the wall. Hanta stood at his side.

Katsuki made a mental note to talk to Izuku about Hitoshi being included in these kind of things in the future. Annoyance or not, Katsuki couldn’t deny that Hitoshi was smart. He would probably catch things the others missed. And given how loyal Hitoshi was to Izuku, Katsuki wasn’t worried about a betrayal.

“Isn’t that a legend?” The woman tilted her head slightly, dark eyes sparking with interest and a keen intelligence. “I know the story, but Naxdohr didn’t really curse anyone, did he?”

“It’s real,” Izuku said on the heels of her question, voice sharp.

Katsuki glanced at Izuku from the corner of his eye and noted the stiff lines, the barely withheld depth of emotion in Izuku’s expressive features. Anger and pain vied for dominance in his eyes, deep affection intertwined with both emotions. When Izuku felt, he felt with his whole heart. And the curse… Well, it fucked with everyone who was affected by it in some way. And sometimes the waiting- the wondering when the curse would come crashing down- that was even worse.

Izuku swallowed and shifted slightly, as though he could stop the curse from claiming either of them as victims by staying close to Katsuki.

She glanced between Izuku and Katsuki, understanding flickering across her features before she schooled them again. “I understand. My apologies.”

“We are not personally hostile to you,” Tenya amended.

“I have reports your country is mobilizing for war. And now, here you are.” Katsuki arched an eyebrow, his quick-fire temper under iron control and years of rhetoric lessons coming to the forefront. “I’m at a loss as for what to think.”

He wasn’t going to be goaded into a reaction that could hurt Othya in any way. And they hadn’t come here to talk about mates or anything else. Their two nations had never been friendly, despite Tenya’s objections. Their shared history was littered with wars and bad blood over hundreds of years. Katsuki didn’t get along with the current king any more than his mother had before her passing. Noboru had been a coward when push came to shove, particularly outside of his own borders. Othya had lost more than enough over Noboru’s regency and Ashax had taken advantage of it quickly.

And now the heir to the throne stood in front of him with two companions, and no visible army in sight. Katsuki had no doubts in the validity of Denki’s information though. Something was brewing within the borders of Ashax and Katsuki was determined to find out what.

Shouto released a deep, slow, breath. “I need your assistance.”

“With?”

“I need you to help me overthrow my father and take his throne.” Shouto’s voice was even and cool, as though he hadn’t just suggested deposing his father.

Silence reigned in the hall, stretching out, an hourglass smashed.

Several of Katsuki’s friends watched Shouto with expressions of shock and disbelief, eyes wide and mouths hanging open.

Katsuki’s mind spun with possible scenarios. Why would Shouto want his help? Katsuki didn’t put other people on thrones, he took them for himself. When he left a country, it was with a steward in charge, not a new king. He was ruthless in his takeover. It was how he had amassed an empire in less than a decade. Why would Shouto come to him to lead a rebellion, essentially?

What lie was he trying to tell?

“Um…” Mina trailed off.

Katsuki glanced at Izuku and met his gaze. There were a million unspoken questions in those green depths, an alchemist and a prince who had learned that knowledge wasn’t just power- it was vital to the continuation of his limited freedom. Izuku was far more intelligent than most people gave him credit for. He was genius, the elixir that had saved Katsuki’s life had proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Given the time and right information, Izuku could probably figure out anything.

So Katsuki would get him the right information.

“Why should I?”

“I wasn’t aware you were so fond of my father.” Shouto arched an eyebrow, every inch the haughty and cold prince people whispered about.

“I have no problems with watching the blood slowly drain from your father’s body.” Katsuki dropped into his throne and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “But I don’t see what it gets me.”

“Other than my father dead.”

“Yeah, other than that.”

“An alliance between our kingdoms.”

“I’m at war with the last country I entered into an alliance with,” Katsuki growled.

Izuku shifted, his hand brushing Katsuki’s back as he sat down on the arm of the throne. Katsuki made a note that he would need to have one commissioned for Izuku. He should’ve had it done last summer, but he hadn’t known what to do with a mate he hadn’t wanted. Now, he knew exactly where Izuku’s place was. With him, at his side.

“I’m nothing like Hisashi.” Shouto folded his arms, clearly affronted by the idea.

“Right. Prove that.”

“I’m here, aren’t I? Besides, Izuku and I would not be friends if we were like either of our fathers.” Shouto scowled, his eyes shifting from Katsuki to Izuku.

“He’s not,” Izuku confirmed. “My father was hopeful our friendship would create some alliance with Ashax. It didn’t happen.”

“Ashax doesn’t enter into alliances,” Katsuki snorted dismissively. “Your father’s an idiot.”

“We already knew that.” Izuku smiled slightly.

“My father thinks that Ashax shouldn’t need to rely on anyone else. We’re strong enough on our own.” Shouto shook his head.

“What are your soldiers looking for?” Eijiro frowned.

“Me.”

“Him,” Katsuki said at the same moment. He glared at Shouto. “I’m guessing your dad’s not too thrilled you disappeared. Or did you tell him where you were going in some big fight?”

“He doesn’t know where I went.” Shouto’s mouth thinned. “Just that I’m not where he can keep an eye on me.”

“You know I don’t put people on thrones, right? I take them for myself.”

“You won’t be able to reach Ashax without my help.”

“Well if we’re discussing that, how did you get past the all the shit between us? Active volcanoes and marshlands and all that crap, right?”

“Momo knows a path.” Shouto gestured to the woman at his side. “It’s difficult, but doable.”

“Big enough for an army?” Mina cocked her head.

“Yes.” Momo nodded firmly, clearly confident in her abilities.

“How does no one know about it?” Eijiro frowned.

“Yeah, a path big enough for an army to use in invasion should be pretty obvious,” Hanta said, arms folded across his chest as he watched Momo with distrust.

“I found it while reading. It has been lost to time. The path is a bit overgrown, but you can bring an army through it.”

“It could be a trap.” Eijiro shook his head. “This could all be an elaborate trap.”

“It’s not,” Tenya said, expression earnest. “We are sincere in asking for your help.”

“Why? What changed?” Izuku asked, leaning further against Katsuki.

“I am tired my father’s treatment. You know what he’s like.” Shouto ran a hand through his hair, frustration simmering below the surface. “Our people deserve better.”

“True, but Enji has never been easy to deal with. You never made it sound like something like this was an option,” Izuku pressed.

“Everyone has their limits.”

“You’re what changed,” Katsuki surmised. He shook his head and leaned back. “You’re the consort to an emperor. He figures that since we’re mated, I’ll help his rebellion.”

“I’m asking for your aid,” Shouto snapped, indignation flashing in his eyes. “Will you give it to me or not?”

“You want me to risk my people, to put you on a throne you cannot win yourself. You want me to divide my attention and soldiers when I’m at war with Sniycia. Why should I help you? How is an alliance going to help me or my people? You’ve asked for a lot, but you haven’t given me any reason to entertain this.”

“An alliance between Ashax and Othya only benefits both of us. It would be for if either country needed the other. Not just in war, but in times of famine or disease. We have alchemists that could assist as you train your own. We would have to discuss details, but that doesn’t mean you would get nothing out of it. Ashax has plenty to offer. And of course, your war against Hisashi should come first. I am willing to assist,” Shouto argued.

“You bring any more than the two standing at your side?”

“No.” Shouto shook his head. “But I have the alchemical recipes Ashax created in recent years. One that instantly rots anything it touches, even stone. The other creates a wall of ice that weapons can’t break through.”

Izuku stiffened, all but vibrating with repressed interest.

Katsuki hissed out a breath. It wasn’t a bad deal. An alliance with Ashax would ensure that one of the largest countries in the world wouldn’t move against him, no matter how many other kingdoms he conquered. And if handled right, it could grow more powerful over the years, until it was so solid nothing could destroy it. Katsuki preferred to conquer if possible, but he could work with others when he had to.

And Shouto clearly wasn’t stupid. He’d come prepared to appeal to someone with that offer, and it wasn’t Katsuki. He’d offered a political alliance that Katsuki would have to be an idiot not to see the advantages of, and he appealed to Izuku’s thirst for alchemical knowledge.

Katsuki pushed up and away from the throne. “Wait here.”

“Where else am I going to go?” Shouto asked dryly. “I doubt you’re about to offer a tour.”

“Smartass,” Katsuki groused. He wasn’t about to admit that he enjoyed how Shouto was more than the icy veneer he showed the rest of the world. Fucker was still annoying and too arrogant.

His fingers caught at the sleeve of Izuku’s heavy tunic and tugged, a silent request that Izuku follow him out into the hall.

Mina started to follow and stopped short as Katsuki shook his head, understanding flickering over her features, approval shining in her eyes. Katsuki ignored her but was glad all the same when the door closed behind him and Izuku, leaving the two of them alone.

“What do you think?” Katsuki asked, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. Izuku paced back and forth as he tried to organize his thoughts. The stone dug into Katsuki’s shoulders as he shifted to keep his eyes on his mate.

“He’s sincere,” Izuku said at length, turning to face Katsuki as his pacing slowed. “He means everything he said. Like you, he doesn’t see a reason to lie. He never has.”

“You sure you know him that well? People lie, shorstack.”

“I know they do. I’m not naive, Kacchan.” Izuku shot him a reproachful look that bordered on a pout.

“Alright, alright. So, you think he’s telling the truth and he’s not leading us into a trap.”

“I don’t. It’s too straightforward for an ambush. I think he offered the information because he needs our help and you’re not the easiest person to convince. But you are the most powerful and likely to succeed.”

“It’s not a fuckin’ coincidence he came asking for help once you became my mate you know,” Katsuki said, hackles raised. It felt like Shouto had relied on that friendship with Izuku in hopes of manipulating Katsuki. He didn’t want anyone to think they could influence him through Izuku.

“Yeah, probably not,” Izuku agreed. “But that’s his mistake, right? Just because he’s my friend doesn’t mean that you’re going to help him. This is your decision after all.”

“Ours.”

“What?” Izuku met his gaze, eyes wide and lower lip caught between his teeth.

“It’s ours. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” Katsuki shifted, eyes skittering around the hall and focusing on anywhere but Izuku’s face.

“I- Um- Right. That’s- Ours.” Izuku swallowed, voice thick with emotion.

“You gonna burst out the waterworks now?”

“No.” Izuku took a deep breath, his voice steadier when he spoke again. “Alright. Well, agreeing to another war immediately after the one with Sniycia could spread our resources too thin. And depending on how the war does go, we might need time to recuperate and let our people rest. If that happens, Shouto has to be patient. And we have to be careful that his father doesn’t know he’s here. Otherwise Enji knows we’re coming and we lose the element of surprise.”

“Lots of what-ifs in that statement, nerd.”

“War has a lot of what-if factors.” Izuku shrugged. “What do you think we should do?”

“His alliance doesn’t hurt us, if we can win this damn war for him. And you get your hands on the alchemy he was flashing around.”

“Yeah but me wanting that shouldn’t matter. Othya comes first.”

But it did matter. Damn it, but it did. Katsuki wanted to give Izuku the chance to work on those alchemy projects, to make them stronger. Not just because it would be good for Othya, though it would be. He wanted to do it because it made Izuku smile and it made him excited. He wanted to give it to him because Izuku was willing to give the chance up if it meant the benefit of Othya.

“So, you want me to turn him down?”

“I think… We should say yes. I trust him, and I do think that he can help Othya. The terms of the alliance will have to be beneficial to us, like the last one with Sniycia.” Residual guilt flashed in Izuku’s eyes, knowledge of what Othya had paid for his life a burden Katsuki wished that Izuku wouldn’t carry. But the fucker was obstinate and cared too damn much about things he couldn’t control.

“They will be,” Katsuki snorted. “He’s the one who needs something from me. I’m not gonna rob him, but I will get something out of it.”

“Then I guess we’re going to war with Ashax.”

“Guess so.” Katsuki grinned and wrapped his arm around Izuku as he stepped closer, pressing their bodies close. “Gotta say, I don’t mind knocking that guy down a few pegs.”

“I’m sure that some people say the same thing about you.”

“They’re full of shit. I’m perfect.”

Izuku snorted and brushed his lips over Katsuki’s in another sweet kiss before pulling back. “Come on, let’s go tell him what we decided.”

Katsuki growled, shoving his rising desire into the corner. Now was not the time, no matter how much he wanted to taste and gorge on Izuku. He’d just have to make time later.

Shouto looked up as they re-entered the hall, his eyes tight and worried beneath the deceptively calm mask. So, he wasn’t as confident as he appeared. Katsuki didn’t feel too badly about that. Little shit, coming into Othya unannounced and expecting them to help with a rebellion just because Izuku was Katsuki’s mate.

“You’ve reached a decision, I gather?”

“We agree to the alliance. We can work out the details later. Lucky for you, I’m not like Hisashi either.”

“I am grateful.” Shouto bowed again.

“That I’m not Hisashi or that I’m helpin’ you?”

“Both,” Shouto said, a hint of a smile curving his lips upwards.

“You’re just damn lucky he likes you.” Katsuki jerked a thumb towards Izuku. “I wouldn’t fuck that up too much.”

“Kacchan, that’s not the only reason!”

“I am lucky to call him my friend,” Shouto agreed.

“Great. Now that that’s over, I have shit to do. We’ll have rooms prepared for you and someone will show you to them. Don’t backstab me or I’ll have your entrails cut out of your body and used to choke you. We clear?”

“Clear.” Shouto met Katsuki’s gaze evenly, even as his companions made noises of surprise and horror behind him.

“See? We’re good.” Katsuki grinned.

Izuku shook his head but he couldn’t hide his smile. “Welcome to Othya.”

Chapter Text

“That was a long day.”

“Mmm.”

“I didn’t expect Shouto to show up like that.”

“No one did.”

“It’ll be nice to have another friend around.”

“Keep an eye on him.”

“I will. I know it’s hard for you to trust him just yet.”

Katsuki grunted and shrugged out of his jerkin.

“I’ll be fine.” Izuku smiled warmly. “So don’t worry.”

“Hah?” Katsuki looked up sharply, eyes narrowing as he met Izuku’s clearly amused gaze. “Who the fuck said anything about that?”

“Right, silly me,” Izuku said, still too self-satisfied for Katsuki’s liking.

“Think you know me so well, huh?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Fuckin’ nerd.”

Izuku smiled as he moved to tug off his boots, that superior and smug look was both irritating and charming all at once. Katsuki didn’t like how Izuku got under his skin like this, until the nerd had an advantage over him just by smiling. But then Izuku looked at him like Katsuki could conquer the world and Katsuki felt like he could do just that. If Izuku asked for the stars, Katsuki would find a way to capture them.

Maybe it was balanced out in the fact that Izuku would do anything in turn. They didn’t need to say it. Reassuring words and platitudes weren’t needed between them anymore. Or, at least not often. They had gone through a lot of shit to get to this point. Not just in time, but with one another. Last spring, they had been strangers exchanging stupidly flowery vows to protect Izuku’s kingdom and his life. Now, Katsuki would destroy the world and lay it at Izuku’s feet if that was what he wanted. Not because some mating instincts told him to, but because it was Izuku.

“I’m coming to Sniycia with you.”

Katsuki scowled at Izuku. “Isn’t this a damn discussion?”

“I won’t let you leave me behind.”

“You won’t, huh?”

“You know I should be coming with you. You know that.” Izuku shook his head, mouth a firm line.

“We’re better together. Better than my father ever imagined.”

Izuku didn’t have to say the words again. They echoed in Katsuki’s head, the intensity that Izuku had said them with as fresh as though he had repeated them just now.

Katsuki shoved a hand through his hair, frustrated with both of them. Izuku was right in a lot of ways. He did know Sniycia better than anyone else. He knew the way Hisashi thought. Together, the two of them could probably come up with tactics and strategies that would overwhelm their opponents. And Izuku wasn’t an idiot who couldn’t hold a sword. He held his own against Katsuki in sparring multiple times a week and had proved himself capable time and again. There was no reason that Izuku should be left behind.

Except that Hisashi knew Katsuki would do anything for Izuku. He’d already used that against Katsuki and Othya once before. He’d tried to kidnap Izuku in an attempt to further control the both of them not long ago, and then had sent an assassin whose target was unknown. There was a chance that bringing Izuku to Sniycia was exactly what would give Hisashi the edge in the war. And this time, he would never let go of that control.

But if an attack came while Katsuki was away, would Izuku being in Othya be a help or make things more dangerous? It wasn’t Izuku’s talent and skill Katsuki doubted. He'd learned, all too well, to have faith in everyone else's determination to destroy them.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki released a short breath. There was really only one decision that felt right.

“Yeah.” Katsuki shook his head. “You’re comin’ to Sniycia.”

“You don’t sound too happy about that.”

Katsuki shot Izuku an unamused look. His instincts insisted on a different choice in this situation, but he'd beaten them into submission as best he could. He had no doubts that a large reason Izuku wanted to come was because Katsuki was going into battle. There was no reason for either of them to pretend that it was something either of them liked. No, Katsuki didn’t want Izuku near the blood and carnage of war. Hell, Katsuki didn’t really want to be there most of the time, either. But the situation and facts had forced his hand. It was what it was.

“No kidding.”

“Trust me to take care of myself,” Izuku murmured, shifting closer to where Katsuki sat. “I’m not going to let anything happen to me.”

“It’s war, shithead. You can’t promise that,” Katsuki growled as he drew Izuku into his arms.

“Mmm,” Izuku nuzzled closer, hands working up and under Katsuki’s tunic with nimble, talented fingers. “You rail against the gods all the time. We’ve defied them so far. I can promise whatever I want.”

“Only if you can keep the damn thing.”

“Let me show you how much I want to stay,” Izuku whispered, breath hot against Katsuki’s neck as he pressed Katsuki back into the bed, shoving the tunic further up his body. “I’ll fight the gods themselves to stay here. To stay with you.”

“Plan to fight the gods, huh?” Katsuki groaned as Izuku pressed closer, mouth finding every sensitive spot on his neck that Katsuki hadn’t been aware of before Izuku. “That’s blasphemy, shortstack.”

“I won’t be an easy opponent.”

Their lips met, the kiss eager and hot from the beginning as they tried to devour one another. Izuku smelled like a summer storm, wild and bracing and cleansing, and spilled ink over a page. He filled every crack in Katsuki’s heart as though it had never been there, as though he fit perfectly. They moved as one, hips rolling in a rhythm Katsuki knew would destroy him, their mouths angling for a deeper taste, for more. Katsuki always wanted more of Izuku, probably always would.

Izuku shoved at the tunic again, breaking the kiss with a moan. “Take this off.”

“Bossy.”

“You like me this way.” Izuku grinned, devastating and impossible to deny.

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki pushed him away and struggled with the tunic for a minute. He chucked it to the side of the bed, his attention back on Izuku, hair fluffed and lips wet. Blood rushed south, arousal a growing ache between Katsuki’s legs. He wanted so badly, wanted more than he could put into words. Instead he reached for Izuku, fingers encircling his wrist and yanked him close. Their legs tangled, bodies pressed against one another.

“Impatient?” Izuku asked, teeth grazing Katsuki’s collarbone.

Katsuki arched into the touch with a sharp intake of breath, squirmed as Izuku’s soft laughter whispered over his skin. “C’mere…”

“Let me make you feel good.” Izuku ran palms, rough from swordwork, down Katsuki’s sides, fingers hooking in the waistband of Katsuki’s pants. He pulled in a quick movement, retreating as he stripped Katsuki bare.

“Izuku…”

“Trust me.”

Whatever Katsuki had wanted to say was ripped away as Izuku pressed a kiss to his cock, lips parting to take it down in a slow descent. Katsuki groaned, fingers carding through Izuku’s curls and holding tight. Lust pressed into him, hot and sticky and all-consuming. How did he do this to Katsuki with just a touch? What magic did Izuku have that he could scatter thoughts so easily, until he was the only thing in Katsuki’s world that mattered?

Katsuki stared at the ceiling blindly as his hands fell away from their hold, his hips rocking up and into Izuku’s touch, desperate for more. More friction, more of Izuku, just more. They had barely begun and already Katsuki was lost, caught in the magnetism of Izuku. Every cough and gag, every wet slurp and suck drove Katsuki crazy, as though that was Izuku’s only mission. He bobbed and moved with Katsuki, unafraid to get messy, to choke in his ministrations. The heat of Izuku’s mouth, the way his tongue curled and teased, it destroyed Katsuki bit by bit. He swore he could hear his restraint as it left him, barrier after barrier falling.

“Izuku… Don’t wanna…” Katsuki couldn’t seem to form a full sentence, every wisp of thought one caught but one he couldn’t string together. The pressure in his gut coiled tighter. “Please!”

Izuku hummed and pulled back, dark green eyes flicking up to meet Katsuki’s gaze. He wrapped a hand around Katsuki’s cock, his stroke too light for what Katsuki craved. His voice was rough and sent shivers racing down Katsuki’s spine as he spoke. “I’m not done with you yet.”

“No?” Katsuki struggled to draw breath, the room -fuck, the whole world- spinning around him. His fingers clenched in bedsheets and fur, arousal heavy in the air as he breathed in, drowning in the scent of their desire.

“Not even close,” Izuku confirmed, hiking Katsuki’s legs up and over his compact, muscled shoulders. His breath whispered lower, brushing over tight balls and still moving. “Not even close.”

“What are you- Ah!” Katsuki cried out, body arching into Izuku’s touch again as Izuku spread his ass cheeks, tongue circling his hole without warning.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck...

Heavy breathing Katsuki barely recognized as his own filled the room as Izuku’s tongue plunged forth, his only job to destroy Katsuki entirely. And like with everything Izuku seemed to do, he devoted himself wholeheartedly, his entire being seemingly focused on this one task before him. Katsuki didn’t think he could resist Izuku.

Pleasure crashed through Katsuki’s body, hot, heavy, and absolute. His heart slammed into his ribs, desperate for freedom. He distantly heard a keen, high and needy, couldn’t believe that was his voice. His cock leaked down his stomach, flushed with desire and release that Katsuki couldn’t provide. He didn’t know when he had lost control so completely. Right now, it was a struggle not to drown under the waves of pleasure, the need to beg for more, for anything Izuku was willing to give. The words crowded in Katsuki’s throat, pushing at what pride remained, a wavering and shaky thing.

“Izuku…” His body ached for release, legs sliding on the sweat slick skin of Izuku’s shoulders and arms. His knuckles were white from how tightly he grasped the bedclothes, as though they were his only anchor to the world.

Izuku pulled back slowly, teeth sinking into his lower lip as he surveyed his work. Katsuki squirmed, skin flushing pink. He didn’t know if it was from Izuku’s gaze or the fire that burned in his core, that raced through his blood, a fire that Izuku alone seemed to quell. He just knew that he wanted something he couldn’t put a name too, until it threatened to tear him apart.

“So good for me, Katsuki. So, so good…”

Katsuki shuddered, eyes squeezing shut against the hot, drugging waves of lust that tugged at him, pressing him further into the mattress.

“Look at me, Katsuki.”

“Hah?” Katsuki forced his eyes open, met dark green that no one had warned him would seduce him like this.

“Can I fuck you?”

Katsuki’s breath stuttered to a stop, trapped in his chest like a caged thing. His body ached in agreement, cock throbbing at the thought. He swallowed hard, the air suddenly to thin and head spinning as he nodded, biting back pleading words behind his teeth. He’d never thought he would be here, never thought that he’d be seduced so completely by dark green eyes that whispered sin.

“Yes.”

Izuku draped his body over Katsuki’s, fingers already wet with oil moving between his damp thighs to tease his hole. Katsuki gasped, lost and dizzy with it as Izuku pressed kisses to the column of his throat, as he sunk his teeth into the flesh, marking Katsuki. Izuku thrust talented fingers in deep, working Katsuki open in a steady, all-consuming destruction.

Katsuki whimpered, fucking himself down on Izuku’s fingers. The pressure wasn’t enough, wasn’t what he craved with every fiber of his being. Izuku hummed against his throat, never changing his speed. He was too patient, too careful, and Katsuki felt like he was going to come apart from the building pressure, the need that clawed beneath his skin.

“Izuku...” Katsuki murmured, as though the name was the only word he knew now, eyes staring at the ceiling without really seeing it.

“Need you too,” Izuku whispered into the air, sticky and drenched with the scent of arousal and sweat. His fingers slipped free, leaving Katsuki feeling empty and too aware of it. He swallowed a whine that would’ve mortified. “Turn over.”

Katsuki could do nothing but obey as Izuku pulled away. He rolled to his stomach, hissing in a breath as his cock brushed against the sheets, shivers wracking his body. He rolled his hips forward, chasing the feeling, the pleasure that shot through him.

“No, you don’t,” Izuku said, voice burnt out and rough. He tugged Katsuki’s hips up and away from the bed, fingers digging into Katsuki’s hips hard enough to leave marks. His cock hung between his legs, heavy and needy, his ass vulnerable. Katsuki squirmed, the lack of friction and pressure driving what remained of his sanity further away.

“Fuck me,” Katsuki gasped. “Please.”

Izuku pressed in with a soft curse, his movement slow and controlled. Katsuki sucked in a sharp breath and tasted salt as the stretch threatened to destroy him. It was too good, too intimate, too much. He licked chapped lips as Izuku seated himself deeply and paused.

“What-” His voice nearly cracked and Katsuki swallowed again, the lust inside of his chest clawing at him, feral with the need for this moment, for the two of them. “What are you waiting for? Go.”

Fingers tightened where they bit into Katsuki’s hips as Izuku moved, beginning a fast and hard tempo that filled Katsuki again and again, until he didn’t have a moment to be left wanting. It was like fire igniting beneath Katsuki’s skin, an inferno that raged between them with every shift and thrust. He tried to meet Izuku each time, drowning in pleasure, burned by need.

The wet smack of bodies meeting filled the room, each snap of hips driving the breath further out of Katsuki’s lungs. Katsuki didn’t pay attention to the noises ripped from his throat now, couldn’t stop the moans and high-pitched keens if he tried. His fingers scrambled for purchase in sweat-damp sheets, his cries rising in pitch as Izuku’s rhythm turned erratic, both of them losing control, lost in each other and the connection between them.

“Gods… you look so good like this...so gorgeous...” Izuku rasped from somewhere above and behind Katsuki.

Gods, Katsuki wanted to see him. To know what he looked like when he fell apart in this way, to see how lust turned green eyes dark with need. He wanted to see Izuku intent on only him, only the two of them together. He just wanted so much, until it was everything. His heartbeat slammed in his chest.

“Touch me,” Katsuki pleaded, his cock weeping for contact between his legs.

The sounds that spilled from Izuku’s lips were unlike anything Katsuki had heard before. He reached forward, draping his body over Katsuki’s as he fucked into him, hand wrapping around Katsuki’s dick and stroking in time with the movement of his hips.

Katsuki’s hoarse shout echoed against the walls of their suite, his breathing ragged as he spilled over, fire burning through his veins and heart squeezing tight in his chest. His body shuddered as Izuku slammed into him again and again. Katsuki dragged in the scent of Izuku, all summer storm and spilled ink, like a man who was starving.

Izuku’s hips stuttered to a stop and heat filled Katsuki. Izuku’s teeth sunk into the muscle of Katsuki’s shoulder, another mark that would be left behind from this evening, a map that could tell each step of Katsuki’s seduction.

He gasped, trying to find his center of balance again, his body heavy as energy drained away. Izuku shifted and slid free of Katsuki’s aching body. He winced, shifting slightly. How did Izuku do this multiple times a week?

Katsuki slid flat on the mattress, his skin still humming. Izuku pressed on top of him, a heavy but welcome weight.

Silence reigned in the room, broken only by their harsh breathing and the crackle and pops of the fire burning in its hearth. Katsuki drifted, body loose and relaxed, content in this moment.

Izuku rolled off of him after a minute, a satisfied sigh escaping him. Katsuki couldn’t find it in him to be annoyed at the sound. He didn’t even have the energy to blush.

“Believe-” Izuku starred and paused, his voice a croak of sound. He wet his lips and swallowed. “Believe me now?”

“Believe what?” Katsuki asked, voice muffled even to his ears by the mattress. He turned his head just enough to look to his side. Izuku lay there, arms pillowed behind his head and a self-satisfied grin wide on his face. The glow of the fire painted him in soft orange and yellows. Katsuki swallowed, still sometimes surprised that this man was his. After all the shit they’d gone through, Izuku was still his. Just like Katsuki was Izuku’s.

“I’m not going anywhere. I want to be here.”

“I doubt the gods care, shortstack.” Katsuki stretched slowly. “But yeah, I guess.”

“You guess?”

“You’re annoyin’,” Katsuki grumbled, pinching Izuku’s side.

Izuku yelped, rubbing the offending spot. “Mean.”

Katsuki snorted.

“I mean it though,” Izuku continued. “I’m not going to be stupid or suicidal. And I really can help.”

“You already convinced me, nerd. You can stop.”

“I don’t want you to regret your decision,” Izuku murmured, grin falling away and dark eyes vulnerable.

Katsuki shook his head and leaned over, taking Izuku’s mouth in a searing kiss. Izuku was flushed pink and smiling again when he pulled back. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“I’ll try.” Izuku pressed closer, nose nuzzling along Katsuki’s neck. “No promises.”

“I’ll just remind your stupid ass if I need to.”

“Thanks.” Izuku’s smile was warm, the shadows chased away from his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuki flushed pink. “Shut up.”

‘Whatever you say, handsome.”

“Die.”

Chapter Text

Izuku breathed deeply, drinking in the sight of his homeland. Green meadows stretched as far as he could see in every direction, spotted by fruit trees and crystal-blue ponds. It was a far cry from the harsh cold and snow that they had left behind in Othya. Sunshine filtered through intermittent clouds, warming the landscape with golden light. It was everything he remembered, without any of the backstabbing and dark secrets that haunted Lemsari. He loved this soft splendor just as he had been charmed by the rugged beauty of Othya. Sniycia held its own beauty in the meadows and farms.

And they had come to conquer it.

Behind him, warriors set up camp and prepared for the coming battles. The sounds of chatter and the sharpening of blades filled the air, as did the scents of food being prepared and campfire smoke. Tents were being erected in quick and efficient movements as the people of Othya set up camp, creating temporary roots in Sniycian soil.

So much had changed since the military had last set foot here. A year wasn’t that long in the grand scheme of things. It was just a handful of months, a passing of the seasons as one faded into the next. There had been years where little had changed for Izuku other than his age and the knowledge he gathered.

This past year hadn’t been like that. Everything had changed. His home, his loyalties, his marriage status, what he believed alchemy could and couldn’t do, what species he thought were alive or extinct, everything. To be standing on Sniycian land again almost a full year since he’d departed, was strange. He hadn’t expected to return for years when he’d left- if he was even that lucky. Now here he was, preparing to conquer the country where he’d been born. The country he had called his own last spring. Hell, only a few months ago, he’d had a loyalty to Sniycia for no other reason than it had been his home.

Now Othya was his home, his kingdom to protect. Who could have predicted this turn of events? Izuku certainly couldn’t have.

And if there was a part of him that felt a tug of sorrow for his childhood home, for what he was going to do to help change the course of Sniycian history forever… Well, that as his right too.

“Is it strange?”

Izuku smiled as he turned to meet Shouto’s gaze. He motioned for the prince to join him. “What, being back?”

“Yes. And on the other side of the war this time,” Shouto said as he moved to Izuku’s side.

“A little,” Izuku admitted.

“I thought it might. It’s strange for me, and I haven’t visited Sniycia in years.”

“A lot of things are weird.” Like the fact that he now outranked Shouto. They had been friends as children, as much as two princes who exchanged letters and visited occasionally could be. Hisashi had never wanted Izuku to forget that Shouto was a crown prince however. Izuku had only been the youngest prince in Sniycia, meaning that even as friends Izuku had needed to watch his manners closely. Now he was the consort to an emperor.

“Is it what you remember?”

“It’s exactly what I remember. It just drives home that I’m the one who’s changed, rather than the world around me.”

“I think it’s a little of both. You’ve changed, but the world does too. No blade of grass is the same as last year. Each tree bears new fruit. We get so used to the view that we stop noticing.”

Izuku blinked. “When did you get wise?”

“I’ve always been wise,” Shouto said, a hint of a smile curving his lips upward. “You just haven’t noticed.”

“Says the guy who once agreed to sneak into Hisashi’s private quarters and steal his private stash of wine and replace it with fruit juice.” Hitoshi smirked as he came to stand at Izuku’s other side.

“You dared me to.” Shouto frowned. “You said I had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice. Yours was to do it, or be called a coward mercilessly.”

“You went ghost white when you knocked over that suit of armor. Who’s the coward?”

“I did not.”

“I remember it differently.”

“You can’t prove it, though.” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow. “Can you?”

“Izuku…”

“Nope.” Izuku held up his hands and shook his head. “I’m not getting involved.”

“Because he knows I’m right,” Hitoshi taunted.

“No. I’m not taking sides. It was a long time ago. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“So quick to back off. What don’t you want us to remember?” Hitoshi grinned.

“Nothing. I’m just not playing this game. I have to fight a war and everything. Important stuff.”

“We’re not important to you?”

“Now you’re trying to trip me up.”

“He likes playing with words and people.” Shouto nodded.

“Everyone has to have a talent.” Hitoshi shrugged, unphased by their comments. “That I am talented and handsome is the curse I bear.”

Izuku snorted, used to his best friend’s sense of humor and the way Hitoshi used it like a smokescreen at times.

Shouto arched an eyebrow as he watched Hitoshi, as though he could somehow peel back the layers and figure him out. Izuku could tell him that was a waste of time. Hitoshi wasn’t an easy person to learn to read. Izuku had known him for most of their lives, and he would be the first to say that Hitoshi kept his emotions close to his vest. He’d learned to hide what he was feeling and what he meant behind smirks and barbed words far better than Izuku had in Sniycia’s court.

“See something you like?” Hitoshi asked.

“I am trying to figure out if you’re serious.”

“Good luck.” Hitoshi glanced at Izuku. “Cinderbrain was looking for you.”

“Did he say why?”

“Mhm. Just after I finished braiding his hair.”

“Cinderbrain?” Shouto repeated curiously. “Who’s that?”

Izuku groaned. “Please ignore Hitoshi’s nickname. He does it to drive Kacchan crazy.”

“Kacchan?”

“He means Katsuki,” Hitoshi snorted, clearly amused at the confusion written all over Shouto’s expression. “It’s his pet name.”

“I hate you,” Izuku groaned, cheeks heating with blush. “So much.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“So, if I want to annoy Katsuki, I can use Cinderbrain?” Shouto asked. His smile grew as Izuku glared at him.

“No, you can’t. Besides, do you really want to annoy him? He’s helping you gain your throne and all.”

Shouto sighed and folded his arms. “Which is not being held hostage for my good behavior, I trust?”

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “It’s not. I’m just saying.”

“He’s saying pissing off the guy who could as easily take your throne for himself as give it to you might not be the best decision you’ve ever had.” Hitoshi shrugged. “But then again, who knows? Could work out great. I say go for it.”

“You still like causing trouble,” Shouto said coolly, watching Hitoshi with an unreadable expression.

“It passes the time.” Hitoshi shrugged again.

“And on that note, I’m going to go find Kacchan.”

“Probably in his tent!” Hitoshi called after Izuku.

Izuku wound his way through the camp, smiling and trading quick pleasantries with the warriors he passed. It was different from the last time he had been encamped with the army. At that time, they had been on their way back to Othya after Izuku’s father had neatly avoided the impending battles by offering Izuku’s life to Katsuki. None of the soldiers who had traveled with the military at the time had spoken to Izuku or trusted him during that ride. He had been the foreign prince who had stopped them from conquering another country. No one had had reason to trust him.

Most of the warriors preparing for the coming clashes didn’t know him. But the mood had shifted drastically in the months and seasons between then and now. Gone was the hostile atmosphere, replaced with a far more curious and open one. It was probably because Katsuki and the friends he held in his inner circle treated Izuku like theirs. Izuku was just glad for the change.

He found Katsuki outside his tent, staring at the map of Sniycia spread out on the table before him.

“You were looking for me?”

Katsuki motioned Izuku over without bothering to look away. “C’mere. I want your thoughts.”

“I am brilliant.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“What about?” Izuku asked as he crossed the distance to Katsuki’s side.

“War, nerd. What else?”

“What else?” Izuku murmured to himself. He pushed back the sick sense that twisted in his gut, the dread that wouldn’t go away. He’d made his decision. Not just the once to Katsuki in their suite, but every time he put Othya first afterwards. Every time he chose Katsuki and the life they were building.

He’d wanted to be here. This was part of that choice too.

“Alright, what do you need?”

“What’s going to be the best start to give us an advantage? Where would they least expect us to attack from?” Katsuki pointed to the map. “You know how Hisashi thinks.”

“Like a coward,” Izuku grumbled, the taste in his mouth sour and bitter. His father would rather use tricks and negotiations that bordered on blackmail than meet anyone in battle. There was merit to Hisashi’s style- it saved lives after all. But that didn’t mean that no one was hurt. Hisashi’s battles had fewer casualties, but the consequences were still felt by those affected. And it was never Hisashi who paid the price.

Katsuki’s answering grin as he met Izuku’s gaze was bloodthirsty and completely confident in victory. “But his son’s not.”

Izuku blinked and smiled slowly, the lingering reminder of his father’s actions throughout the years washed away by Katsuki’s faith in him. “Let me see what we have.”

“Looks like our best bet is to trap them in this valley. Scouts say their camp isn’t too far from there.” Katsuki tapped the map where the scouts indicated the enemy army was massing. “Right here.”

Izuku brushed his fingers over the parchment and ink that boiled everything about Sniycia down to landscape and cities. “It’s a good idea. But he will be expecting it. He might be a coward, but not all of his generals are stupid. I have no doubt that we can win, but I wouldn’t rely on the simple tactics. Crush them from the beginning. Consider it practice for the war with Ashax. But don’t underestimate Sniycia.”

“I’m not underestimating shit. That’s why I’ve got you here, right?” Katsuki bared his teeth.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m here.” Izuku frowned at the map, the countryside coming to vivid life in his mind’s eye. “So, let’s see what we can come up with together.”

OoOoO

They talked tactics long after the sunset bathed the world in soft tangerines and raspberry. Velvet night spread over the world, silver moonlight mingling with the golden glow of campfires dotted around the Othyan camp. They ate when someone brought them food, heads bent together over the parchment illuminated now by the light of lamps and the stars.

Together they moved troop placements and discussed the possible triumphant victories and dreaded defeats. They argued about the different tactic and found common ground as they meshed their ideas together. Katsuki knew how the Othyan military moved, how they worked best. He had a sharp mind that knew how to use every movement to his advantage. Izuku knew how the Sniycian army worked. He had spent years of his life training with their best, honing his skills and learning their tactics. He saw in puzzles and possibilities, his mind racing to unravel all the different scenarios that spread out in front of him. In this, his anxiety worked to his advantage.

Together, they crafted a plan that they believed would give Othya victory in battle and with the least number of casualties.

Izuku stretched, spine popping and cracking as he hooked his hands over his head. “I think that’s a winner.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki nodded and ran fingers through his hair. “And tomorrow we’ll put it into action.”

“Which means we should get some rest.” Izuku smiled and turned to head for the tent. “Instincts dulled by exhaustion are going to destroy us.”

“Get people killed is what you mean,” Katsuki growled. “Come on, nerd. Let’s get you your beauty rest.”

“What about you?”

“Me? Already perfect. Nothing in the world can improve that.”

“Conceited,” Izuku laughed. “But I guess that’s kind of true. You’re already gorgeous.”

“Tch.” Katsuki stripped off his tunic, and tossed it aside. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, nerd.”

“Is it flattery if it’s true?” Izuku grinned. “Besides, I’m right where I want to be.”

“In a tent preparing for war?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“I could do without that, actually.” Izuku crossed to Katsuki and pressed against him, fingers carding through the soft white blond strands of hair. “I meant, I’m here with you.”

“Same here,” Katsuki murmured.

Izuku sighed and leaned in, eyes fluttering closed as he brushed his lips against Katsuki’s soft ones. It was as natural as breathing, the most natural thing in the world. He angled for a deeper taste, their chests expanding against one another. Izuku inhaled through his nose and was surrounded by Katsuki’s scent.

He swept his tongue gently over Katsuki’s lower lip, a sampling and request all at once.

Katsuki’s response was instant as he slanted his mouth over Izuku’s, hands skimming down to grip his hips and hold tightly. He devoured Izuku, with his hands, his mouth, his body as they made their way to the bed, shucking the layers that stood in the way as they went. They seduced one another in the dark of their tent, bodies moving with one another as they traded humid breaths, skin sticky and slick from oil and sweat.

The orgasm wrapped around Izuku’s heart, pleasure molten in his veins as he spilled between them with a moan. Katsuki followed moments later with a gasp, eyes wide and fingers digging into Izuku’s hips hard enough to leave bruises on freckled skin.

They collapsed into one another, chests heaving, bodies pressed against one another. Izuku’s heart pounded against his ribcage, blood pounding in his ears.

“Should sleep,” he murmured, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

“Don’t think you were interested in sleep a few minutes ago.”

Izuku smiled. “You seduced me.”

“Sayin’ you can’t resist me, shortstack?”

“We already knew that.”

“Yeah, well.” Katsuki shifted and rolled off and onto his back. He tugged Izuku against his side,

They just fit together, as though they had been created with each other in mind. Izuku bit back a snort. According to the Othyan story of mates, they had been. That didn’t bother Izuku the way it had in the past. Not now, after everything they had done together.

“Be careful tomorrow.”

“Hah? Relax, nerd. I’m good at what I do.”

“You didn’t have me before telling you to be careful. So, be careful.”

“Have a little faith.”

“I do.”

“You gonna be a reckless shit?”

“I mean, that’s my job.” Izuku smiled. “But since you’re going to be looking for me when the battle is over, I guess I’ll try to be careful.”

“Fuckin’ better be,” Katsuki grumbled.

“I promise.”

Izuku had no intention of throwing his life away. Not when he had so much to live for.

“Good.” Katsuki yawned.

“Oh, no you don’t. We need to clean up first. Don’t fall asleep on me.”

“Fuck off.”

“Did that.” Izuku pinched Katsuki’s side.

Katsuki yelped and turned to glare at Izuku, his eyes red coals in the dark. “Now you’re in for it.”

“Prove it.”

They went to bed late that night.

OoOoO

Morning came too soon. Katsuki slipped back into the tent, bathed in the purples and pale blues of pre-dawn light. With him came the aromas of coffee and breakfast. The sounds of an army preparing for battle filtered into the tent, only muted as the flap slid back into place.

Izuku groaned and sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes and reaching blindly for the coffee that Katsuki held. His voice came out like a croak, rough with sleep. “Give.”

“Anyone else know you wake up anything less than a ray of sunshine?”

“Shut up.” Izuku could hear the arrogant smirk in Katsuki’s voice and swatted in his direction. “Just give me coffee.”

“Gonna say please?”

“You’re enjoying this too much,” Izuku grumbled. “Please?”

“Here, before anyone else realizes you wake up like this.” Katsuki pressed the mug of coffee into Izuku’s hands.

“Shut up.” Izuku inhaled the scent and took a drink, his brain slowly clearing away the cobwebs. “Didn’t get a lot of sleep.”

Katsuki snorted. “You weren’t complaining last night.”

“Not complaining now.”

“Right,” Katsuki said flatly. “Sure.”

“Let me wake up in peace.” Izuku wrinkled his nose.

“Can’t. We move out soon. Get ready.”

Izuku met Katsuki’s eyes and swallowed, cradling his coffee close. “It’s time, huh?”

“Yup. If you’re coming, you’re gonna want to get ready.”

“I never asked, I don’t see suits of armor around the castle.” Izuku’s gaze followed Katsuki as he moved away from the bed.

“That’s not a question.”

“Anytime I’ve seen you fight or trained with you, you weren’t using armor. You do use it right?” Izuku stood, coffee clutched in his hands.

“Nah. I walk into battle just like this.” Katsuki gave a look that clearly asked if Izuku was stupid. “We just don’t keep those useless dust collectors around.”

“If I had to guess, yours is light and designed for speed?” Izuku yawned. “That way you hit hard and move quickly.”

“Guess that brain of yours is waking up. I had a set crafted for you before we left. Shouldn’t hinder your fighting style in any way.”

“For me?” Izuku gaped.

“S’not like I don’t know your measurements.” Katsuki flushed, gaze anywhere in the tent but on Izuku. “Not a big deal.”

Izuku smiled, charmed by this side of Katsuki that he didn’t get to see often. Katsuki was many things, but vulnerable and uncertain weren’t ones that most people would use to describe him. But that was exactly what Izuku saw now, as Katsuki walked to a nearby chest and yanked it open. He pulled out a breastplate and held it out to Izuku.

“Here.”

Izuku set his coffee to the side and took the armor in hand. It was lighter than it looked, but it felt strong, sturdy. No one in Sniycia would expect the quick movements and staggering power that Othya would bring to the table. Especially not if everyone was dressed like this.

No wonder Othya won war after war.

“Does everyone wear this?”

“Most everyone.” Katsuki shrugged.

“Who came up with this design?” Izuku asked as he turned the chest piece over and over in his hands.

“I did.”

Izuku looked up in astonishment. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He knew how intelligent Katsuki was and how talented he was as a fighter. This armor was made for Katsuki’s style. It didn’t limit him in the slightest. Every time he thought he had Katsuki figured out, he found another facet. He was constantly surprised and delighted as he learned more. “Of course you did.”

“Think you can fight in that?”

“Absolutely.” Izuku nodded sharply. “I think it’s going to give me an edge. Thank you so much.”

“Make sure to try it on and all that before you start fighting.”

“I will.” Izuku stared at the armor piece, hit with the meaning behind it suddenly. “We’re really doing this.”

“Yup.”

“You’re worried about my father coming after me, aren’t you?”

“Just be good enough not to let him.” Katsuki glared at him. “Got it?”

“Yeah.” Izuku swallowed. Gods he hoped he didn’t run into any of his siblings on the battlefield.

“Ready to do this?”

Izuku took a deep breath. “Yeah. Ready.”

There was no going back.

Chapter Text

The stench of blood and gore was heavy in the air, a mark of death that had already visited too many since the order to battle had been given by both sides.

Katsuki breathed past it, used to the stink that twisted even the strongest of stomachs. He had made his home here in the years since he’d taken the throne. Each conquest had protected Othya and fed Jelena, the Goddess of Death. Her halls were probably far fuller thanks to Katsuki than the last several generations of Othyan monarchs. He wouldn’t be surprised if she walked the battlefield even now. Or, at least, her minions probably did.

Bodies piled around him amidst the long shadows cast by the sun as men on either side of the conflict were dealt fatal wounds. More Sniycian soldiers fell than Othyan warriors, however. If there was one thing Katsuki’s people were good at, it was war.

And no one was better at it than Katsuki. That wasn’t arrogance and pride talking, though Katsuki had been told he had both in equal measure. As Othya’s ruler he had to be the strongest, the most capable. No one wanted a weak king to lead them anywhere. And after Noboru, Othya had needed that strength more than ever. Katsuki’s childhood training and fury at Noboru’s actions had honed him into that king. He would not fail. Not his people, his mate, or himself.

Screams and the clangs of swords filled the air as Othyians and Snyicians clashed time and again. Katsuki grinned in grim satisfaction as he surged forward, his attention on his next opponent. Patches of the man’s armor gleamed in the sunlight as he shifted and paled, bringing his sword up to defend, rather than attack. Katsuki figured they didn’t teach offense before defense in Sniycia. In Katsuki’s opinion, the best defense was a damn good offense, and all that.

Katsuki saw the same flicker of surprise and horror in the man’s eyes as he had seen in the eyes of near every opponent he’d come against in battle. No one expected Katsuki to move with the speed he did. The Sniycian army used the same heavy armor as so many other countries had. Outdated, to Katsuki’s mind. He’d designed the armor that nearly every Othyan warrior now wore into battle out of necessity. Power and speed won battles. They kept people alive long enough to make it back home.

Pain skittered up Katsuki’s nerves as his blade hit bone. He yanked the blade back and brought his other weapon up, burying it in the soft flesh at the man’s neck as he doubled forward. He pulled the blade free and turned away as the man fell, eyes already cloudy with death. Another for Jelena’s halls.

He twisted around, eyes already scanning the field for another victim. The Othyian military had already driven the Sniycian to the riverbank, giving the enemy no choice but to fight and die, or surrender. It hadn’t been the original plan, but Izuku had been right about one thing- one of Hisashi’s generals wasn’t stupid.

“They’re coming from the east,” the scout reported, eyes trained on Katsuki.

“They’re probably trying to avoid being trapped by the river,” Izuku surmised, frowning in thought. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Deep river?” Katsuki asked, the map he and Izuku had spent hours standing over in his mind’s eye. The river cut through the terrain in his mind, possibilities unfolding. “Or superstition?”

“It wouldn’t be easy to cross, especially in the heavy armor they favor. That’s probably why they’re avoiding it. Unlike Othya, they’re not superstitious by nature. Although I have heard people talk about strange things happening on the banks of the Lacroy River. Usually the stories are at night, but I think people avoid it anyway. For practical reasons, of course.” Izuku smiled slightly.

So, even scholarly Sniycia had their ghosts and stories. If they wanted to avoid that, Katsuki was going to use it. He could adjust the formations, give orders to push the Sniycian army back to the river. At that point Othya would have the high ground, literally and figuratively. Hisashi’s army would be fighting two battles at that point. The real one against Katsuki and his people, and the one in their minds about what lived near the river. Sure, not every soldier believed in those stories. But enough probably had grandmothers who’d told them to stay clear as children. Enough would hesitate. And that was all Katsuki needed.

“Change of plans. Push them down to the river. We’ll pick them off.”

“We’ll need to adjust formations,” Izuku said, meeting Katsuki’s gaze. “But that shouldn’t be a problem. You want to use their fear of drowning against them?”

“Drowning, some creature lurking in the depths, I don’t care what’s on their mind. It works better for us.”

“Yeah,” Izuku nodded sharply. “Let’s do it.”

Katsuki sidestepped over sprawling limbs and spun around, barely keeping his footing in the bloody mud of the riverbank. He brought his swords up to meet the attack of his next opponent, adrenaline thrumming through his veins, feeding his muscles. The man snarled, towering over Katsuki and with a greatsword clasped between his meaty hands.

“You are going to die, pompous kingling.”

“Don’t waste your breath tellin’ me. Prove it,” Katsuki growled, already on the move again.

He studied the man in front of him, mind racing and senses thrown outward. His opponent was quicker than he looked, impressively strong. He wore chainmail and leather amidst his armor pieces, but not a full suit like many of his brethren. Perhaps he had been looking for speed and strength over protection. No doubt it worked, against any other opponent. He was clearly the odd one out in this country full of scholars and alchemists. But even the cerebral needed their defenders as they studied and discussed. This man was that duty in given physical form. And Katsuki knew all too well that people would do just about anything for loyalty and love, even for one’s country.

Katsuki waited, parrying each strike and keeping the enemy at bay as he worked to learn the fighting style utilized. Each clash of their swords and bodies sent blood and the grit of battle flying. Katsuki’s arms didn’t shake from the weight, despite the time he had spent embroiled in this conflict. It didn’t take a genius like Katsuki to figure out what had changed between his last war and this one. Mating really had given him an edge.

And people had feared him conquering the world before? They stood no chance now.

There.

There was the moment Katsuki needed. The man hefted the heavy sword above his head, clearly in the hopes that the extra momentum would give him the margin he needed. Katsuki shot forward and brought his weapons in and up, catching the mail where it was weak and plunging deep into the flesh beneath, slicing through muscle and organs. The blades caught on what must have been ribs as the man coughed, blood bubbling and foaming at his lips. Katsuki pulled his swords free once more. The man crashed to his knees, hands going to his stomach as though he could hold in his entrails, could cling to this life by sheer will alone.

Katsuki turned away, ignoring the soldier’s guttural cry of pain and despair as it rose into the air to join the ones just like it.

Fuck, he hated war. He hated the way he was sticky with sweat from the humidity and exertion. He shoved the exhaustion that had nothing to do with physical capabilities away, shoved it into a corner of his mind he didn’t deal with. He was nowhere near done with this war or the ones that came after. He didn’t have the time or right to be tired of the screams that haunted his sleep or the blood that stained his skin. He had people to protect and a world to conquer. The lives of his enemies meant nothing compared to those that looked to him with trust shining in their gazes and hope for their futures.

It was instinct to look for Izuku in the mess of warriors clashing that stretched down the bank.

He spotted the familiar flash of red hair amongst the sea. Eijiro gave everything he had to the fight in front of him, as he always had. He moved with grace and skill, one of Katsuki’s best warriors. No one could best him with the dual daggers he preferred to use. Eijiro had ignored everyone’s concerns about his fighting style wielding two short blades. He’d done what he knew in his heart and he’d been right. He was almost unmatched with the daggers as he moved, finding weakness after weakness. He dropped bodies almost as quickly as Katsuki did. But he did it with a sense of honor and respect for the lives he ended that Katsuki hadn’t felt in a long time. Eijiro still felt for those that he killed. He saw people- saw the lives he was taking away even as he fought to be able to go home to Mina.

Katsuki didn’t, couldn’t. He didn’t know how Eijiro did.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Katsuki’s attention. He shifted, the sword in his hand leading as he attacked. The man stared at him, eyes large. The sword fell from nerveless fingers and the body toppled back into the river, tinging the water pink as blood flowed from the wound in his throat.

Lightning crackled in the air, accompanied by the snap of a pataga whip. Katsuki caught sight of Hanta and Denki working side-by-side against enemies that attempted to give the two of them a wide berth. The pungent odor of burning flesh and hair rose up to join the stench of blood and gore.

“Kacchan!” Izuku appeared at his side, breathless and covered in dirt and mud. He coughed, but his smile was genuine and relieved, if tired. “I’m glad you’re okay. I lost track of you.”

“Worry about yourself,” Katsuki snorted, shoving aside the fact that he’d been searching for Izuku along the riverbank. “I’m fine.”

“In more ways than one.” Izuku shook his head. “The Sniycian’s are clearly overwhelmed. They’re scrambling, it won’t be long until they call for a retreat. They underestimated our speed and strength.”

“We’re not going to let them rest. We’ll hunt them all the way back to Lemsari.”

“We’re going to take Lemsari.”

“That went without saying, idiot.”

Whatever Izuku had been about to say was lost as he shoved Katsuki out of the way bodily, using his weight to propel the two of them out of the way of the heavy axe that buried itself in the mud where Katsuki had been standing. Katsuki sucked in a breath and coughed, choking on mud and grit churned into the air from the missed strike. He tugged himself away from the tangle of swords and limbs. How Izuku prevented either of them from being stabbed was beyond Katsuki.

The axe wielder snarled, eyes trained on the two of them as he pulled his weapon free of the muck.

“Ready?” Katsuki asked, focused on their enemy.

“Ready. Let’s do this,” Izuku agreed, confidence in every word. He brought his sword up and sunk into a fighting stance.

The axe wielder bared his teeth and hefted his halberd higher. “I’ll make you smears in the mud.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Izuku snapped. He was on the move within a heartbeat, reckless to the end.

They were going to talk about that soon. Kasuki didn’t plan to let Izuku die in battle because he was too quick to jump into danger. He didn’t have to prove himself to anyone. Izuku was good. Reckless or not, he moved with purpose, each strike calculated and powerful. Izuku was confident on the battlefield, sure of his decisions and in complete control of the energy beneath his skin. It was different from his brilliance in the laboratory, his intelligence staggering and intimidating to people who couldn’t keep up with him.

He was his own sun- his charm, honesty, and intelligence bringing people into his orbit- and he didn’t even know it.

Katsuki ducked to avoid the wild swing of the large weapon and surged forward. In this moment the exhaustion and aches of the battle that had begun to set in fell away, like a cloak removed. Together he and Izuku fought, weaving in and out of one another’s movements as though they had been fighting together for years rather than months.

Izuku spun to the right, dodging another attack. He swung his sword forward and hit home, the blade biting into the shoulder of their enemy. The man howled in pain and paused to shift his grip as Izuku darted back, his weapon dripping with blood.

Katsuki saw his opportunity and attacked, the curved blade of one of his swords slicing past vital tendons in the forearm. Their opponent cried out again, blood pouring down his arm and making the handle of his axe slippery. He relied heavily on the less damaged arm, changing his hold on the weapon.

“I will not lose,” the man said between gasps for air. “I will not let you destroy my home.”

Katsuki didn’t waste his breath. He’d heard it all before. Every country he invaded, every soldier he fought, every monarch he killed. They all said the same thing. The words were different but the sentiment was the same. Katsuki was the villain in their minds. He was the monster whispered about, the king whose hunger for land couldn’t be sated. He couldn’t be stopped. He didn’t care what people thought of him. Those extras weren’t his concern and they never lived long enough to see what he did with the kingdom when it became part of his.

“My father started it,” Izuku snapped, eyes narrowing.

“Don’t worry about it. He has his villains and I don’t give a shit.” Katsuki shook his head.

“You little shit!” The man shifted and rammed the butt of his axe into Izuku’s torso as he struggled to bring the blade around with his injuries.

Izuku gasped in pain. Katsuki could swear he could hear the rib crack from where he stood.

He snarled, rage clouding his vision as the beast tore free from its cage. He leapt forward, far more reckless than Izuku had been minutes before, swords all but begging for the taste of hot blood. For this man’s death at Katsuki’s hands.

The man lay dead at Katsuki’s feet when the haze cleared, his blood mixing with the mud and lapping water of the river. Katsuki kicked his body.

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki turned to glare at Izuku. “Be fuckin’ careful if you’re coming with me into battle, shithead. I’m not always gonna be here when you piss off the wrong person.”

Izuku smiled, even as pain flickered in his gaze. “I can fight.”

“Not the point, shitsnack. Stop being reckless.” Katsuki didn’t want to know what kind of pain would actually stop Izuku. He’d probably try to fight with broken limbs.

Not that Katsuki wouldn’t push past pain. But he was good enough that he didn’t have to worry about it often.

“I can see why people are afraid to face you on the battlefield,” Izuku said. “You’re good.”

“Fuck you,” Katsuki grumbled, eyes scanning their surroundings. He didn’t see any living Sniycian soldiers.

“They called retreat,” Izuku said, moving to Katsuki’s side. “A minute or two ago. Sniycia has lost this battle.”

“They’ll lose the whole godsdamned war.”

“I know.” Izuku nodded. “I never doubted you.”

“Between the two of us they’ve got no real chance.” Katsuki shrugged. “Let’s get back to camp. We need to clean up and plan our next move.”

“I like the sound of the clean part,” Izuku sighed longingly. “I miss our bath.”

“Fuckin’ nerd.”

Izuku sputtered on his laugh and hissed in a breath, his free hand going to his right side, where the broken rib was. “Don’t make me laugh, asshole. It hurts.”

“Yeah, take one of your shitty tasting things when we get back. Not letting you cough up blood in the middle of the night. Got it?”

“Those orders?” Izuku cocked his head, his eyes teasing.

“Bet your ass, they are. I’ll pour it down your throat if you try to fight. I’m not dealing with your dead weight because you were being stupid.”

“Alright, Kacchan.” Izuku’s smile warmed. “I’ll take one.”

“Let’s get back, nerd.”

“What about the bodies?” Izuku hesitated, eyes landing on a nearby corpse. “What do we do about them?”

“We collect our dead and send them off on a funeral pyre. It’s the Othyan sendoff, a warrior’s death for all of our people. The Sniycian’s can come get theirs for burial if they want. I figure that their families can bury them.”

“And if no one comes for them?” Izuku asked quietly.

Katsuki watched him for a long minute, trying to figure out where this was coming from. But then, he knew that Izuku cared too much. “We’ll get them and give them an Othyan pyre too. No one deserves to rot forgotten, waiting for the gods to collect their soul.”

“I thought you hated Jelena.”

“I do. But that doesn’t mean the rest do. I’m not gonna ignore centuries of traditions and bring more misfortune on our people. I think Jelena is a piece of shit. No doubt she knows it. But I respect the warriors who have passed. Don’t make yourself sick worrying. If they don’t collect their dead, we’ll take care of them. It’s the only respect we can offer.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re fuckin’ embarrassing. Let’s go.”

“Yeah. Let’s get ready for the next one.”

Katsuki released a slow breath. One step closer to Lemsari and Hisashi. Soon, that coward wasn’t going to be able to hurt anyone anymore.

Especially Izuku.

Chapter Text

War was exhausting.

Not that Izuku had really expected any different. But with each push forward, with each victory, came more late nights. Late nights discussing strategies or replenishing what alchemical products that he could, while Katsuki visited the wounded and checked on his people. Neither of them had slept much since landing on Sniycian shores. Izuku knew the warning about how a lack of sleep could be the death of them in battle. But there was too much to do and only so many hours in the day. They simply had to make do with what they had.

Even when he did sleep it was fitfully, his anxiety and overactive imagination given free rein to imagine the most horrible scenarios and put them on display. There was plenty of fodder in the battlefields soaked with blood, or the wounds that men and women alike now grappled with in the infirmary. Izuku’s mind did not need the ideas, but it ran with them anyway. The stench of blood and death and screams of the wounded and dying now followed Izuku to bed, where even exhaustion could not protect him from nightmares.

He dreamed of Mina, her hair matted with red and the snow stained pink with her blood. He dreamed of Eijiro, screaming in agony. He dreamed of the pallor of Ochako’s skin as blood had tricked down her wrist, the unshed tears in her eyes. He dreamed of Hitoshi, throat slit deeply for daring to follow Izuku. He dreamed of his siblings, staring at him with accusation, their words heavy with the weight of his perceived betrayal and dripping with malice. He dreamed of Hisashi, grinning with triumph and pride as he won. He dreamed of the bodies of his family laid out before him, where even in death he could hear them asking why.

More than anything though, more than even the deaths and accusations of treachery of his family- he dreamed of Katsuki.

His mind conjured Katsuki staring at him with eyes glassy with death. It imagined the war lost and Katsuki’s execution, or his death on the battlefield. Maybe Katsuki was poisoned again and this time, Izuku had no antidote. There were nightmares where Katsuki was convinced that Izuku had deceived him again and helped Sniycia. There were others where Katsuki called him a curse and left him to die. Even knowing that Katsuki loved him, deep-rooted insecurities and anxiety struck at Izuku. Losing Katsuki had become a terror that never fully left Izuku, even knowing how capable he was.

And there were some nightmares too terrible for him to put into words, visions where he didn’t just wake with a start- the reek of death in his nose and lungs- but with sobs wracking his body as he fought to breathe.

Katsuki demanded to know what had him so damn hysterical, but Izuku couldn’t put the dreams and fears into words. He didn’t want to talk about his nightmares. Katsuki had enough to worry about without adding Izuku’s twisted dreams on top of it all. So, when Katsuki pushed, Izuku shook his head and stayed quiet. The war would end and these hauntings would go away. It would be fine.

Izuku was telling himself that often enough that he almost believed it. Almost.

His responsibilities didn’t shift or fade away because he was tired though. There was still a war to win. There were elixirs to mix and warriors to make sure could be fed. There were strategies to hash out and information to be discussed. It didn’t matter how tired Izuku was- or even how tired Katsuki was. They had a responsibility to the people they had brought to Sniycia’s shores. And that outweighed any personal fears and weariness. That was part of being royalty. Izuku firmly believed that you were served only as you served. And he had been welcomed in Othya, treated with more kindness than he had experienced in a long time. He owed the people of Othya so much. What was exhaustion, comparatively?

“You’re late,” Eijiro said, his smile still warm and welcoming- if a little tired. It was a reminder that Izuku wasn’t the only one who was feeling the long battles.

“Only a little.” Izuku smiled in return. “Hitoshi needed my help finishing up something before I could come.”

“He’s not coming?” Denki asked from where he sat on a nearby wooden chest.

“No, he’s with Shouto right now.”

Unsaid went the understanding that no one was ready to leave Shouto on his own yet. While he and the friends he’d brought with him had been more than willing to assist in the war against Sniycia, there was still precautions to be taken. It might make them a little distrustful as a whole, but it also kept the Othyian’s safe. Besides, no one wanted Shouto’s father to find out where he was. The less Enji knew about the coming invasion, the better.

“Ah, babysitting duty.” Hanta nudged Denki gently from his seat next to him. “Remember when that was me?”

“You never babysat me,” Denki said, all but pouting.

“Sometimes you need one,” Katsuki snorted. “Or, you did. I guess you’re pretty alright now.”

“Ha.” Denki stuck his tongue out at Hanta.

“Now that we’re all here,” Katsuki said, before Eijiro or Hanta could reply. He shot Izuku an irritated glance. “We can get started. It’s not a fuckin’ playdate.”

“I had reasons. And it’s not like I made you wait that long.” Izuku rolled his eyes, irritated at Katsuki in a way he rarely seemed to be at anyone else. What was Katsuki’s problem? And why did he have to get under Izuku’s skin so quickly?

“Anyway,” Eijrio interjected quickly. “We have reports back from a few scouts. We knew we weren’t that far from the capital, and it looks like Hisashi is relying on the walls of his city and his castle of keep us out.”

“Ha. I had ideas how to get past that the first time,” Katsuki said dismissively. “He doesn’t stand a chance.”

“The walls have stood firm for ages,” Izuku murmured, the memory of his childhood home rising in his mind.

The limestone stone stood sharply against the blue sky, an impenetrable fortress to Izuku at the time. It had been as much a prison as a home, but it was all Izuku had known. It was still strange to know that if everything went the way they wanted, that fortress would fall. At least, it would figuratively. His stomach twisted at the thought. He wished giving his loyalty to Othya made this easier. It didn’t.

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll tear them down myself if I have to.”

“Somehow I don’t think taking the castle apart stone by stone is going to cut it.” Hanta shrugged. “But between the two of you, I have no doubt that we can win. You haven’t come up with a bad battle strategy yet.”

“Die,” Katsuki grumbled. “I don’t fuckin’ have bad strategies.”

“Yes, you’re legendary,” Izuku muttered. “We all know.”

“Problem, shithead?”

“I think you do,” Izuku snapped.

“You’re the one who came late and isn’t focusing.” Katsuki leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

“I’m here, isn’t that enough?”

“Guys, come on. I know we’ve been away from home for a while. Let’s just focus on the reports from the scouts and talk about a couple strategies. I know it’s hard…” Eijiro glanced between the two of them.

“Eh, I think they should just go take a nap and fuck it out.” Hanta shrugged. “They’re always more tolerable after sex.”

“Oh, you noticed that too, huh?” Denki grinned. “I thought I was the only one.”

“If you noticed it, there’s a good chance everyone else already has,” Hanta laughed.

“Rude.” Denki pouted.

“You two done?” Katsuki growled. “Think you’re real funny, huh?”

“I think it’s accurate.” Hanta pushed to his feet and tugged Denki up with him. “You two want to snipe at each other, that’s fine. We can give you room to do it.”

“It’s fine.” Izuku rubbed at his temples. He didn’t need a headache right now. “We have work to do.”

“The reports will wait,” Eijiro said. He picked them up when Izuku reached for them. “You two figure out what’s eating at you. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

“Wait a minute-” Izuku started.

“You don’t give me orders,” Katsuki snarled, hackles raised.

“We’re not going to stay and be your punching bags.” Denki frowned, glancing from one to the other. “If you need to sleep, do it. If you need to fuck it out, do that. Either way, I’m not sticking around to watch. That’s not my kink.”

“HAH?! Who the fuck asked you about-”

“Come on.” Hanta shook his head and stepped out of the tent. Denki followed on his heels.

Eijiro glanced from Izuku to Katsuki and back. “Whatever’s wrong, you need to figure it out. Don’t let your shit affect what we have to do still.”

“No one asked your opinion, Shitty Hair.”

“You’re going to get it anyway.” Eijiro shot Katsuki a look. “Figure it out.”

He turned and walked out of the tent. The flap flopped back into place.

“Assholes. Acting like they know what’s best.” Katsuki huffed and folded his arms.

“You’re the one who’s in a bad mood.” Izuku sat heavily on the chest Hanta and Denki had just vacated.

“You’re a fuckin’ liar,” Katsuki growled, turning to focus on Izuku. “Don’t treat me like I’m an idiot.”

“I never said anything like that.” Izuku puffed out his cheeks, annoyed. At himself, at Katsuki, at the war and the tent they were in and everything else. It was stupid, but he just wanted to go home. Back to Othya and their lives. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Look, I’m too fuckin’ tired for this. You wanna tell me what’s going on with you or not?”

“Why do you care?” Izuku asked, defensive and frustrated all the more for it.

“You’re a moron if you’re askin’ me that, shithead. You’re mine, I’m yours. Whatever flowery bullshit you wanna use, go ahead. But you don’t get to pick a fight with me and then pretend it’s all on me. LIke you’re some freaking paragon.”

“I didn’t say that either!” Izuku clenched the chest. The edge bit into his palms, his knuckles white.

“Fuck, Izuku! You usually can’t stop yappin’ about one thing or another! What the hell is it?” Katsuki looked like he was one step away from shaking Izuku.

“They’re just stupid nightmares!” Izuku pushed to his feet. “It’s fine, I’ll deal with it!”

“Shitty nerd.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair, frustration clearly simmering beneath his skin. “You don’t have to. What nightmares?”

“Normal. We’re fighting a war, Kacchan. It’s going to happen. It scares me what could happen. And I don’t want to talk about it and give it more weight.”

“Tch. I won’t die, stop worrying about that shit. I’m too good.” Katsuki reached for him.

“Reassuring,” Izuku said dryly. “You’re not the only nightmare I have, Kacchan. Just one of the more prevalent.”

“Tell me,” Katsuki demanded.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Izuku hedged. He really was exhausted. He didn't want to talk about this, or fight with Katsuki. It was like by talking about it, it made it that much more real.

“Izuku.” Katsuki’s tone was every inch the arrogant emperor used to being obeyed in that moment.

“No,” Izuku said through gritted teeth. “You can’t order me. We’re equals, remember?”

“Says the asshole who won’t tell me shit!”

“Well I’m sorry I don’t want to talk about the fact that you’re going to murder my family!” Izuku shouted, hot tears pricking at his eyes and blurring his vision. “Or that I’m helping you do it!”

“What?” Katsuki asked, voice carefully neutral and controlled.

The tears spilled over, hot against his skin and bitter to the taste. “That’s what you do, right? When you take over?”

“Yeah, I execute them. And I’m not apologizing for it. If I let them live, I’d have a bunch of people that can cause me issues later. I have symbols for resistances to rally around. I take the thrones for myself. Princes, princesses, whatever, they just cause more wars later.” Katsuki shook his head.

“They’re my family!” Izuku didn’t know why he thought that would matter. Or even why it should. He knew why Katsuki didn’t allow members of the royal family to live when he conquered a country. It made logical sense to execute the living royal family. There was nothing to rally around if there was no royal family remaining. He knew that. But…

“Which is why I didn’t want your ass here!” Katsuki snarled, stepping closer to Izuku. “Because I didn’t want you to see me kill them!”

“I know!” Izuku shoved back a lock of hair and scrubbed at his cheeks. “I know, okay?! I know that I’m the one who asked to be here. I know that I argued and fought to get here. I know and those reasons are still valid! But I…” He swallowed hard, memories of his siblings washing over him.

“Shortstack…” Katsuki hissed out a breath.

“I’m sorry,” Izuku whispered. “I’m sorry. I just... They’re my family.”

“I know.” Katsuki swallowed and reached for him. “I get it, alright? But that doesn’t change what I have to do.”

Izuku went into his arms, breathing in the campfire and sin and sweetness that had become calming and necessary as breathing at some point. He knew he was asking for the impossible. And that he was being selfish and unfair. But the idea of his brothers, his sisters, his nieces and nephews, all dying because of their relations to the throne… To Izuku… It was hard to swallow. He’d been willfully oblivious before, as though if he didn’t talk about it or think about it meant that it wasn’t true. But it was.

He had to come face to face with where his change in loyalty had brought him. It had given him wonderful things. It had given him a home in Othya, friends who cared about him. It had given him a chance to grow without his father’s influence. It had gotten him access to some of the most amazing alchemical ingredients he’d ever seen.

Most importantly, it had given him Katsuki.

But it had also brought him to the point where Sniycia was the threat. And to neutralize the threat permanently, his family had to die. All because Hiashi had gotten greedy. Because he couldn’t accept anything less than his demands carried out by those he considered his.

It wasn’t fair. And for all that Izuku knew that life wasn’t fair, he’d had enough. Katsuki had had enough unfairness in his life and so had Izuku. Why did Katsuki have to bathe himself in blood to keep Othya safe? To keep both of them safe?

Why did he have to murder his in-laws rather than get to know them?

“Talk to me, shortstack.” Katsuki held him impossibly closer. “Can’t fix it but…”

“Please don’t kill them,” Izuku whispered, burying his face in Katsuki’s neck.

Katsuki stilled for a moment. “Izuku…”

“I know. I get it. I’m asking for what seems like the impossible. And I’m selfish.” Izuku swallowed and pulled back to meet Katsuki’s gaze. “But they’re my siblings. I want you to get to know them. I want you to see them the way I do. I want them to know you the way I’m learning to. I want them to see that I’m happy.”

Katsuki drew a deep breath and started coughing, his body shaking as his lungs attempted to hack up whatever had inflamed them. Izuku frowned and rubbed his back in small circles, waiting for the coughing to subside.

“You okay?”

“Just a weird cough. I’m fine.” Katsuki shrugged. “You’re asking I let your siblings live, huh?”

“Please.” Izuku could barely breathe for hope, for wanting this so much. “I really do.”

“Not your father or that vapid whiny shit you call a stepmother, huh?” Katsuki nuzzled Izuku’s ear.

“He’s my father. So it… It’s hard to imagine him dead. And I don’t want you to have to do that. But he lost the right for me to ask for his life. He caused this. My siblings didn’t.”

“They might fight me, Izuku. They might not let me spare their lives. I need to have their loyalty. I need to know they won’t rebel against me.” Katsuki shook his head. “I can’t promise.”

“I know. I know that you can’t.” Izuku released a slow breath. He’d made his choice. If Katsuki couldn’t spare his siblings, then Izuku would need to find a way to come to terms with that.

“But we’ll see. ‘Cause Mina and Kiri are like my siblings, kinda. So, I guess we see what this war brings. I’m just not promising anything.”

Because Katsuki didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep.

“Thank you,” Izuku murmured. He went on tiptoe and brushed his lips over Katsuki’s in that way that he knew drove Katsuki crazy. “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” Katsuki shook his head and pressed a kiss to Izuku’s lips. “Come on. Let’s get some sleep. You look like you’re about to fall over. I can’t have that shit happening on the battlefield. No one’s gonna save your ass.”

“Yeah.” Izuku smiled slightly. “I think I’ll try to sleep. Come with me?”

“Tch. Fine, whatever,” Katsuki grumbled. He stepped back and started for the bed. “And you tell me when you wake up with one of those shitty dreams, got it?”

“I’d rather not have them.”

“Nerd.”

“Yeah, I heard you.” Izuku shook his head. “Come on, handsome.”

“You think you’re cute.”

“You think I am, at least.” Izuku smiled. “Isn’t that what matters?”

“Stop yapping.”

“Weren’t you just complaining I wasn’t talking?” Izuku smiled. He felt better for having talked to Katsuki. Even if it changed nothing, there was something reassuring and refreshing about it.

“Shut up and come to bed.”

“Yes, Kacchan.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki had conquered countries in more miserable conditions than this.

He knew he had, considering he’d overthrown kingdoms in the middle of the winter, with snow up to his thighs. Or in the dead heat of summer, where prolonged time in armor had been known to cause things like heat stroke. He knew he’d had days where he’d thought the weather couldn’t be more damn wretched.

And every damn time, it was like the gods got together and tried to outdo his expectations. Those assholes seemed to delight in finding ways to make Katsuki’s experience worse each time. Which, considering he was part of a warrior culture that delighted in strength and power, was bullshit. But Katsuki had learned at a young age that the gods would do as they wanted. And if the big shots wanted to lash out at him for refusing to worship them, that was fine. Katsuki would prove he could do this without their help.

But that didn’t mean he liked doing it in the pouring rain.

He blinked water away from his eyes, not releasing the hold on his weapons even to wipe it away. Before him, the city of Lemsari spread out. It was near silent, save for the rain that fell and the movement of soldiers. Gone were the scents of herbs and roasting foods, unwashed bodies and sour alcohol. Gone were the people shouting, the children playing in the streets, the vendors selling their wares. Lemsari was filled with ghosts of a long-ago spring day, a day where he’d had no idea what was waiting within the castle walls.

And if it was like this for him, Katsuki could only imagine what it was like for Izuku to see the city that had once been his home.

“Our soldiers are pushing forward,” Eijiro reported. “But I’m concerned. What kind of strategy leaves so few men to defend their city gates? It was a slaughter.”

Blood mingled with the rain, the cobbled streets slick with both fluids. Eijiro was right. It had been a slaughter, soldiers lining up to die in attempts to protect their capital, their king. It had been an impossible task that Hisashi had set before them, and they had died for it.

More blood would spill before the day was over, before the war had ended. But the last of it would belong to Hisashi and those related to him. No one else would have to die after that. Not for a king too afraid to meet Katsuki head on. Instead, Hisashi hid behind his castle walls, hoping that he could escape the inevitable.

Katsuki would be more than happy to send Hisashi to Jelena.

“Hisashi has more than his fair share of sins to answer for. The blood of these good men stains his hands as much as it stains mine.”

“Do you really think that?”

Katsuki turned at the sound of Izuku’s voice. He looked like a half-drowned creature, his hair almost black and pressed nearly flat against his skull. He used his free hand to push dripping locks away from his eyes, never looking away from Katsuki.

“I’ll check on the progress of our soldiers,” Eijiro murmured as he stepped back. He disappeared into the rain and press of soldiers, giving Izuku and Katsuki what little privacy he could.

“Do I think what?”

“That the blood of every soldier stains your hands?” Izuku closed the distance between them, ignoring the swords Katsuki still held in his hands.

“Yeah.” Katsuki shrugged. “One day I’ll stand before Jelena and answer for those lives. Might as well admit it while I live.”

“Does it stain my hands too?”

“You’re not a king.”

“I’m your consort. If it stains your hands, it stains mine too.” Stubborn obstinance flashed in Izuku’s eyes, all but daring Katsuki to disagree. “Got it?”

“You gonna tell the Goddess of a Death that?”

“If I have to.” Izuku nodded.

Katsuki shook his head. “Stubborn little shit, aren’t you?”

“I have to be, to be with you.” A startlingly bright smile cut through the rain and death, almost a breath of fresh air.

“Tch.”

“We should get moving,” Izuku sighed, his smile fading away. “The castle is likely to be heavily defended. My father probably hoped that this fight would exhaust our warriors and wound them. That way it’s easier for them to pick us off when we come to breach the castle walls. And the weather isn’t helping.”

“You sure you want to share that responsibility?” Katsuki asked, the words pulled out of him against his will. “It could include your family.”

Pain flickered in Izuku’s too expressive eyes. He’d never be a diplomat, his every emotion too easy to read. That was fine with Katsuki, he had little use for diplomats and their fancy words. He liked the straightforward. And if anyone wanted to use Izuku’s easily read emotions against him… Well, Izuku could take care of himself. He’d make them regret that decision.

“I know it could,” Izuku murmured, his voice barely heard over the pouring rain. “I want to believe that it won’t include them. But I know it will at least include my father. And that’s something that I’ll live with.”

Stubborn shit. He didn’t have to take that on his shoulders. But he refused to let Katsuki do it alone. And Katsuki knew it wasn’t because Izuku thought he was weak. It was because Izuku cared, because that was how he loved. Completely and without reservation, even if it hurt him. Stupid, stubborn, Izuku.

Katsuki couldn’t promise to save the royal family. There were so many possible scenarios that could come back to bite him in the ass if he did. There were too many possibilities, too many people that the Sniycian people could rally around. Katsuki didn’t want to have to come back to put down a rebellion. Killing the royal family, every member, was the best way to avoid that kind of shit.

But they were Izuku’s family. Izuku had memories of them, had emotions attached to them. What was Katsuki supposed to do with that? Could he really kill Izuku’s siblings while his mate was there? And he couldn’t send Izuku away. He knew that the nerd wouldn’t go. But could he let them live?

Damn it. And damn Izuku for putting him in this situation.

Maybe damn Katsuki for caring.

“C’mon, shortstack. Help me get into the castle without beating our heads against the front doors.”

“I have an idea.” Izuku nodded quickly, pushing aside his own emotions. “I just don’t know if my father or siblings thought of it.”

“Since I got the smart one, I doubt it.” Katsuki grinned.

A startled laugh escaped Izuku’s lips as he stepped back. “How do you know that?”

“Because I settle for nothing but the best. And you’re smart enough to keep up with me. Since I’m a genius…” Katsuki shrugged.

“You’re obnoxious,” Izuku said, his cheeks pink.

“Show me what you’ve got up your sleeve.”

“Follow me.”

Izuku led him through a twisting path of streets drenched by rain and still too quiet for Katsuki’s liking, the palace that housed Hiashi and his family looming above them.

“Where is everyone?”

“He probably emptied the city,” Izuku said. “By force, if he really needed to. I don’t know where he could have moved them, there are thousands of people who call Lemsari home. But he’s not used to being told no. So someone probably found a way to make it happen.”

“I would’ve thought he’d leave them. Make it harder on us and blame their deaths on the barbarian coming for blood.”

“You can’t be a king if there’s no one to rule.” Izuku shrugged. “No one to pay taxes, no one to come to you crying for help. Then you’re not a king, you’re just a man, aren’t you? And if he didn’t, one of my siblings probably did. Haruka might’ve thought of it. Or Chika, if she’s here.”

“All of Snyicia isn’t in your capital, nerd.”

“No, but it’s a city just like Dragonspire. The amount of life contained within is staggering. No one wants to see that much death, you know?”

He did. He’d seen more than enough death to last him a lifetime.

“Besides, for all that he’s a bad father, he’s not a horrible king.” Izuku shrugged, as though that fact somehow balanced out the emotional scars Hisashi had left him with over the course of his life.

Katsuki snorted, his hatred for Hisashi too strong for him to see the other king in any kind of positive light. Hisashi had done too much damage with his cunning plans and attempts at control. Izuku had been right in his wording. Hisashi wasn’t used to being told no. And no matter how good of a king he might be to the Sniycian people, it was never going to undo the damage he’d done to Izuku, or what he’d attempted to do to Othya. He’d ordered the kidnapping of a consort and the assassination of one of the ruling couple. Whether Katsuki or Izuku had been his intended target, it didn’t matter. Hisashi had signed his own death, and nothing was about to change that.

Not when he’d tried to take Izuku from Katsuki. Katsuki had no mercy in him. Maybe he hadn’t for a long time. But he intended to set an example that the rest of the world would soon see.

Touch Izuku, and Katsuki would obliterate them.

Izuku was a living piece of his heart, cut from his body. And no matter how much that weakness enraged Katsuki, it wasn’t going to change. So, Katsuki would make the consequences of hurting Izuku so severe that no one would be tempted to use that weakness against him.

Ever.

“What’s this idea of yours?” Katsuki demanded, his hold on his blades tightening. The city might seem deserted but appearances were bullshit. Katsuki wasn’t letting his guard down just because it looked like Hiashi had emptied out most of his city.

“You have no patience.” Izuku grumbled, his own sword still in hand. The Sniycian style blade certainly had its benefits in a fight, but Katsuki far preferred his curved blades. Now, maybe if the sword were larger- say a sword bigger than a person- Katsuki might be able to get behind that. Maybe he’d start training with more of that kind while they prepared for the war with Ashax. It depended on if the tradeoff of a slower speed for more power was going to be worth it.

“Well?”

“Here.” Izuku motioned as he slipped down a smaller side street. “This is right against the castle. If we blow a hole through the wall, we’ll be inside. The store room on the other side is used for unwanted things for the most part, so you won’t damage anything important.”

“Why is a wall of the main keep right up against the city like this? That’s shit design.”

“It’s an older part of the castle. I think the city just kept growing, and at some point some idiot agreed that it was fine for the city to be built right up against this part of the castle. It’s not near the suites or anything so they probably didn’t think it through. But we can use it. We can come at their soldiers from behind. No one knows what I’ve created, so they won’t be expecting it. And we know that it can blow past the stone.” Izuku placed his hand on the stone wall. “We might need a few of the crepitus in this spot, but that doesn’t matter.”

“It’s not bad plan,” Katsuki admitted, his mind on how he could get his men through such a small space as the alley. “We’ll need to place a few of the crepitus. I need this entire area wider. I don’t want our warriors going through single file, even if it gives us the element of surprise.”

“Yeah, I can do that. Let me go get Hitoshi, and we’ll start setting up. Have your heaviest hitters up ready to go when I tell you we’re ready.”

“I’ll be ready to go.”

“Arrogant.” Izuku wrinkled his nose. “And mine.”

“Go get the Troll Doll, nerd.”

“One day, you guys are going to have to get along.”

“Never.”

“Yeah, okay.” Izuku hesitated for a moment before plunging forward with whatever thought had crossed his mind. “You know, Shouto might be helpful too. He’s good in a fight.”

Trusting the foreign prince went against Katsuki’s instincts. But then again- Izuku had been a foreign prince once. And here they were, at a point where Katsuki wouldn’t want anyone else at his back.

“Tch. Whatever. You want him here, that’s fine. As long as he doesn’t fuck shit up, I don’t care.” Katsuki turned away. “Let’s get moving. I don’t want them getting any ideas. And I want out of this godsdamned rain.”

Things moved quickly after that as Izuku spun into action. He and Hitoshi discussed the best ways to create space without giving away their plans. They talked about the best way to set off the vials full of cranberry-colored liquid while Katsuki gathered the Othyan warriors. He left Hanta and Denki in charge of the group that would proceed toward the castle entrance, just as Hisashi expected. Katsuki didn’t know what the other king had planned to stop them, but he didn’t intend to wait too long to find out. Hanta and Denki knew the risks involved. They’d handle it.

The alchemy concoctions went off in quick succession once Izuku and Hitoshi deemed them ready. Shuddering explosions rocked the ground as vivid colors flared to life and smoke choked the air. Katsuki coughed, his body rejecting the grit and rubble that Izuku’s creation had cast into the air.

“Go!” Izuku called, the signal that the gaping hole wasn’t too unstable to let the warriors enter through.

Katsuki charged forward, a large contingent of Othyan warriors at his back, all screaming for their enemies’ throats.

The resulting carnage within the halls of the castle left the stone slick with blood and bodies from both sides littering the corridors. Hiashi surrendered not for the benefit of the men in his military, but because he had no choice. There was almost no one left to defend him.

Katsuki had warned the men who had come for Izuku that they had incited a war. He’d brought them one. One that would take Sniycia ages to recover from. Good thing it was about to become part of Katsuki’s empire. Katsuki took care of the people and lands he conquered. Once they were his, they were his. And nothing from the past mattered.

All he needed to do was mount Hiashi’s head on a spike and put it on the walls of his castle, for the whole world to see.

“Gather every last member of the royal family,” Katsuki ordered, sliding his now-clean swords into their sheaths. “And bring them to the receiving hall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The servant he’d addressed nodded quickly, eyes wide with fear. “Right away.”

“Go with him,” Katsuki said, motioning to several of his warriors. “Don’t let him out of your sight. I don’t want anyone sneaking someone out through a secret door, or the sewers, or any other shit. Leave guards to watch any little kids. Got it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” One man nodded. The group followed the trembling servant deeper into the castle.

“What do you need from us?” Tenya asked, his face somber.

“Tell your prince to go find Denki and Hanta. Whatever they need, you can help with.”

“I’m here,” Shouto said. “You wouldn’t prefer I come with you?”

“No. The less people coming with us, the better. Go find Denki and make sure he’s still got a brain or whatever.”

Shouto shrugged and motioned Tenya and Momo to follow him.

“Has that happened to you? The sewers part?” Izuku asked, closing the distance to Katsuki’s side.

“No. And that’s why it hasn’t. Because I don’t give them the chance to try that shit. I’m not an idiot.”

“Heh. No, you’re certainly not.” Izuku touched his arm. “I’ll show you to the receiving hall so you’re waiting for them.”

Katsuki shivered as water trickled down his back, his clothes and skin still soaked from the extended period out in the rain.

“Kacchan?”

“Huh?” Katsuki glanced up, pushing hair away from his eyes.

“Whatever happens…” Izuku hesitated, bruised shadows twisting in his eyes. “It won’t change that I love you.”

Katsuki’s stomach twisted on itself, as though attempting to curl into a ball. He reached out and hauled Izuku close, pressing their bodies as close together as he could through the armor and drenched fabric. “Stop that shit, alright? I told you I’ll do what I can.”

“I know,” Izuku offered a strained smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “But even if there’s nothing you can do, I wanted to make sure you knew.”

“Stop thinking about it, shortstack. You’ll make yourself sick.”

“It’s hard not to think about when I know what comes next.” Izuku swallowed.

“You and Hitoshi could go find your teacher.” Katsuki had no doubt that anyone who tried to attack the two alchemists would regret it. Izuku was a talented fighter and Hitoshi wasn’t such shit either. “Tell him about what you’ve discovered and created.”

“I could.” Izuku nodded slowly. “And I will. After we finish this.”

“Stubborn shit.”

“Yeah. But you like me anyway.”

“For some fuckin’ reason.” Katsuki shook his head and released Izuku slowly. “Let’s go.”

OoOoO

The receiving hall hadn’t changed since Katsuki’s last visit. Not that he’d particularly expected it too. But who knew, Zinnia could have decided to redecorate since Katsuki’s marriage. It wasn’t like the vapid woman had anything better to do with her time.

“They’ll be here in a minute,” Eijiro reported as he stepped inside. Twenty other highly skilled soldiers stood around the perimeter of the room, an unspoken sign that Katsuki wasn’t going to be giving the royal family any chance to escape or fight back. He’d won the war. This was just tidying up the loose ends. It wasn’t personal.

Katsuki’s gaze flicked to where Izuku stood by his side, muscles tensing at Eijiro’s announcement. It wasn’t supposed to be personal.

But this time it was. And Katsuki wasn’t sure what to do with that.

“Good. Did you give my order to Hitoshi?”

“Yeah. He said to tell you that you don’t get to tell him what to do. But he’s happy to start freeing the slaves.”

Izuku shifted at Katsuki’s side. “You’re freeing them already?”

“Fuckin’ hate slavery. Only cowards use it,” Katsuki snarled. “No one fuckin’ owns another person.”

“He does this anywhere we go that still keeps slaves.” Eijiro nodded.

“Problem?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“No. I’m glad.”

Voices carried from the corridor into the receiving hall, indistinct and muffled but there all the same. It was clear that the royal family had arrived.

“Let’s get this done.” Katsuki folded his arms across his chest. “I want to go home.”

“Me too,” Izuku echoed quietly.

The door opened, admitting Izuku’s father, step-mother, and siblings. The warriors who had escorted them nodded from the doorway and took up their own posts, guarding the exit. Katsuki had more soldiers at every possible exit from the hall after Izuku had pointed each of them out. He also had someone at that damn secret corridor that had once allowed Izuku to overhear Hisashi threaten to kill him.

“Izu…” One of the girls -Katsuki thought it was Rozalie- started forward, only to be stopped by one of her brothers. Katsuki felt Izuku stiffen even further at his side, as though he could somehow harden his heart if he tried hard enough. Izuku had chosen to stand at his side through what was about to come, but Katsuki fucking wished he’d decided to be somewhere else. This wasn’t going to be easy for him to watch. No matter what happened, it was Izuku’s family that Katsuki was putting to death this time.

Hisashi glared at Katsuki with undisguised hatred. “So, you finished what you started a year ago.”

“You had a chance to avoid it,” Katsuki snorted. “You could’ve. You’re the one who ordered Izuku kidnapped. You’re the one who sent an assassin after us.”

“Father!” The blonde- Aline- cried out. “You didn’t!”

“Silence!” Hisashi snapped.

“Hush, Aline,” a woman who looked painfully similar to Izuku murmured, drawing Aline into her arms. This had to be Chika, the one with the flying cats. Katsuki hadn’t met her before. Now, he might not ever have the chance to know her. Aline turned into her sister’s embrace, sobbing into the smaller woman’s shoulder.

Rozalie’s tears were silent as she stood in the embrace of one of her brothers. “Izu, do something,” she murmured, her voice tight. A little sister pleading for her big brother to make things right. “Please. He’s going to…”

“He won’t!” Zinnia exclaimed, half-hysterical already. “He won’t help! He doesn’t care what happens to us!”

“You didn’t give me a choice!” Izuku’s voice sounded torn from his throat, bloody and raw. “The treaty gave Sniycia everything, in exchange for me! You broke the treaty first!”

“If you’d come quietly,” Hisashi hissed, his attention and rage refocusing on Izuku. “We wouldn’t be here. I had plans-”

“ENOUGH.”

The hall went silent, all eyes turning to focus their attention on Katsuki. Even Hisashi was quiet.

“I don’t give a shit what your plans were. They don’t matter. You knew the consequences and here we are. Anyone says another word to my mate and I’ll rip your throat out with my bare hands.”

“Kacchan…”

“No.” He was done with this family hurting his mate. One way or another, it ended today.

Izuku, for once, didn’t argue with him. Though Katsuki had no doubt that he wanted to. That was fine. They could argue about whatever Izuku wanted, once this was done.

“You’re like a beast,” Hisashi spat. “Someone should have put a leash on you ages ago. Or better, a muzzle.”

Eijrio bristled from his position to Katsuki’s left, but wisely held his tongue.

“Yeah, I’m sure that your pet attack dog on a leash idea was great,” Katsuki said, his eyes narrowing. “Too bad that beast came for your throat.”

“Too bad the assassin failed,” Hisashi sneered. “At least then the savage creature would’ve been dead like it should be.”

“That’s the best you’ve got, old man?” Katsuki started, his anger a cold and vicious thing in his gut.

Izuku’s knife embedded itself in Hisashi’s shoulder within the next heartbeat. Screams rose into the air, the Sniycian royal family unprepared for the attack. Hiashi dropped to his knees, his skin far paler than it had been a minute ago as he reached for the knife.

“Leave it there,” Izuku snarled, fury darkening the green of his eyes.

Katsuki shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, Izuku. He’s going to be dead in a second.”

“Do you make a habit of talking to all the people you’re about to execute?” One of the siblings- that one was Haruka, Katsuki was pretty sure- drew himself to his full height. “Did you expect us to beg?”

“Your stubborn temper must come from your mother.” Katsuki bared his teeth at Haruka.

“It does,” Izuku murmured. “At least, that’s what Chika would say.”

“Absolutely,” Chika murmured, wiping her eyes on the backs of her hands as she released Aline. “But if you’re going to kill us, I’d prefer you get it over with. Waiting is its own form of torture. I’d like to believe the man Izuku is in love with isn’t that kind of man.”

Izuku’s breathing hitched. Just a little, followed by a shaky exhale. Katsuki could all but see his mate trying to prepare his soft heart for the bloodbath that was coming. It would be easy to say that he only had to because Hisashi had broken the alliance between Sniycia and Othya. It would be easy to shove the responsibility on someone else’s shoulders.

But this had been coming since Hisashi and Katsuki had come face-to-face. There was never a world where Hisashi survived Katsuki, where he was allowed to die from age, his people mourning him and his family around him. Whether it was the gods or fate, or whatever the fuck people liked to spout, Katsuki didn’t care. He hadn’t wanted someone dead this badly since Noboru. The hourglass had run out of sand. Hisashi’s number was up, his time had come. And Katsuki was happy to be the one to deliver the final blow.

It wasn’t personal usually. But this time it was.

Izuku shifted, drawing Katsuki’s attention to him. It was Izuku’s family that stood in front of him, waiting for their deaths. And all logic said that they had to die. It was what the emperor in Katsuki demanded. Safety for his people, for the empire that he had already created. Eliminate another war before it had the possibility to begin by destroying the royal bloodline, save for one. Save for Izuku, who was Katsuki’s.

Katsuki met Izuku’s huge, damp eyes. Sorrow and grief had sapped the light from them, but Izuku didn’t look away. He’d chosen Katsuki, and even when that decision caused him agony, he didn’t recant. He didn’t try to fight him for the lives of his family. He’d made his choice, and he’d stand by it. Even if it destroyed part of him to do it.

“They’re my siblings. I want you to get to know them. I want you to see them the way I do. I want them to know you the way I’m learning to. I want them to see that I’m happy.”

Fuck. What should Katsuki do? What did he want to do?

Chapter Text

“But if you’re going to kill us, I’d prefer you get it over with. Waiting is its own form of torture. I’d like to believe the man Izuku is in love with isn’t that kind of man.”

It felt like all the air had been sucked from the room.

Or maybe that was just Izuku. His chest felt too tight, like he couldn’t figure out how to breathe anymore.

Memories cascaded through his mind, years condensed into seconds. Izuku wanted to say something, the words shoving to be set free. He wanted to tell Chika that Katsuki wasn’t that kind of man, that he was far more than the rumors that named him a barbaric and bloodthirsty king. He wanted to reassure Aline and Rozalie that this hall and moment wasn’t the end of their short lives. He wanted to ask Katsuki not to do this. His stomach revolted at the idea of what was to come as body after body fell, blood pooling beneath each corpse and staining the floor until Izuku’s family lay dead and the river of blood never ended.

He wanted to say so much. But he couldn’t. He’d known that winning the war would bring them here. He’d known from the beginning. He’d tried to ignore it, tried to deny it, but that didn’t change what was inevitable. He knew why Katsuki felt this was necessary and logically he was right. Without a royal family to rally around, the chance of rebellion was far less, would only fade as the years passed.

And losing the war hadn’t been an option. Not when it meant Othya’s destruction. Not when it meant there was no one to protect the dragons from being hunted into extinction, or his friends from being chained and forced into a slavery that knew no end. And not when it meant Katsuki’s death.

There was no happy ending, no foreseeable outcome that didn’t end in pain and blood, death and horror. Izuku’s stomach twisted on itself in protest, his heart in his throat.

He’d asked Katsuki for a mercy that he knew Katsuki might not be able to offer. It had been selfish, born from nightmares and the crushing grief that Izuku had seen on the horizon. Othya would win the war that Hisashi had begun with his attempted kidnapping. There could be no future where they did not win, not only because of the skill Othya brought, but because Izuku couldn’t imagine it. He hadn’t wanted to think of a world where Hisashi won.

Katsuki broke their eye contact first as Hisashi shifted, maybe in an attempt to pull the dagger out of his shoulder. Izuku wanted to keep his eyes on Katsuki, as though that would protect him from what he knew was coming. It wouldn’t, just like it wouldn’t absolve Izuku of it. He’d told Katsuki that the blood of everyone who had fallen in this war stained his hands too. That included his family.

Because while Hisashi had arranged the marriage to protect Sniycia originally, Izuku had chosen his loyalty. It was to Katsuki. And that meant he’d help share the burdens Katsuki had been carrying alone.

And that included the deaths of every single person in this room. No matter who they were to Izuku. Gods, he felt sick.

“I’m not going to submit like a coward,” Hisashi snarled. He surged to his feet, the dagger Izuku had thrown in hand and the blade dark with his own blood. He started for Katsuki, his intentions written in every line of his face.

Izuku jerked forward, terror and fury rushing through his body in equal measure. Katsuki moved faster, a warrior trained from childhood to react, to kill. One of his swords was buried in Hisashi’s stomach between one heartbeat and the next. The dagger clattered to the floor.

Screams and shouts filled the air as Izuku’s siblings and stepmother watched Katsuki pull his blade free. Hisashi stumbled back, clutching at his belly in an instinctual attempt to stop the blood that welled. He dropped to his knees again, face pale and eyes clouded with pain.

“Father!” Isamu took a step toward his father and stumbled as Haruka grabbed his arm.

Haruka shook his head, eyes trained on Katsuki. “Don’t.”

“Let me go!” Isamu growled, struggling to free himself from Haruka’s grip. “That’s our father!”

Zinnia rushed to her husband’s side, shrieking as she dropped to her knees and placed a trembling hand to his shoulder. “My love! Oh, does it hurt badly?”

“Stupid woman,” Hisahi gasped.

“How could you?!” Zinnia glared up at Katsuki. “You monster! You just want him to suffer!”

“I could’ve cut his throat and let him choke on his blood. Would you prefer that when it's your turn? Or maybe your tendons cut, one by one, until you can’t run anymore?”

Izuku shivered, caught by the remoteness in Katsuki’s tone. This wasn’t the Katsuki he knew, the one who could make him laugh and infuriate him faster than anyone else in the world. This wasn’t the lover who had forced Izuku to fall in love despite both their best intentions. It wasn’t his Katsuki who stared down at Hisashi as though he was nothing but an ant. For all of Katsuki’s faults, he had never treated others as though they were bugs beneath his feet. Not in Izuku’s experience.

It gave him the strength to cross the distance to Katsuki, despite his family standing a few feet away. His shoulder brushed Katsuki’s, drawing his attention. The frigid look in Katsuki’s eyes as he glanced at Izuku could’ve rivaled the temperatures on Othya’s coldest winter nights. But Izuku wasn’t giving in. He didn’t know what was going on in Katsuki’s head. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t letting Katsuki go.

“Stay with me. Don’t go where I can’t follow you.” Izuku brushed his fingers over Katsuki’s cheek. No one else in the room mattered in that minute. “I need you here.”

The remoteness faded slowly, the fire that Katsuki held at his core spreading through his eyes and body again. Izuku swallowed, relief making him weak. Katsuki looked furious, but he was back. Izuku could deal with this. He could be Katsuki’s control if needed.

“Disgusting,” Hisashi gasped, his voice thready and weak.

Izuku glanced down at his father. Hate burned in bright blue eyes usually brimming with a smug superiority and intelligence.

“You’re… no son… of mine...” Hisashi hissed, hands dark with his blood as he pulled them away from his wound. He didn’t have long now. And still he lashed out again, choosing to wound rather than spend his time saying goodbye to those who loved him.

“I wish that was true.” Izuku shook his head and placed a hand on Katsuki’s arm before he could retaliate. There was nothing more that Katsuki could do, the light draining from Hisashi’s eyes as Izuku watched, his skin paler than a living being could be. “Goodbye, Father.”

Zinnia stared at Hiashi’s body as it slumped to the floor. She looked every bit her tenderly young age in that moment as she looked at Hiashi’s body as though he would shake it off and get back up. As though he would be giving her orders or indulging her in a minute, if she just waited. She reached for him, her hand shaking, loss and confusion in every line of her body. Izuku felt sorry for her.

She bared her teeth and struggled to her feet, hair sliding out of her elegant twist to wisp around her hair. Her voice rose in a wobbly, grating shriek. “I will destroy you! I’m nothing without him! I’ll find the most powerful men in the world and twist them, make it their goal to destroy you! I will end you!”

“Got wax in your ears?” Katsuki asked, his face stony. “Who said you were leaving alive?”

Zinnia swallowed, her hands balling into fists at her sides. With a grace that Izuku wouldn’t have expected of her, Zinnia lifted her chin and met Katsuki’s gaze. “I’m ready.”

“You’re braver than your husband,” Katsuki murmured. He closed the distance and placed his hand on her shoulder, shielding her body from view as he drove his sword into her stomach.

A pained gasp filled the air, her breathing harsh and fast. Katsuki pulled back his sword and slowly lowered Zinnia to the floor. He stood again as the breathing stopped, Zinnia’s eyes closed, a dark stain on her dress.

Katsuki glanced at Izuku before looking to his siblings. “I want to offer you an option.”

“On how we’d prefer to die?” Isamu sneered.

“Or, you can live. Swear loyalty to me via a binding oath, and I don’t have to kill you.”

“Why didn’t you offer Zinnia that?” Aline sniffed, face twisted with distrust. “Why didn’t you offer our father that?”

“They had to die.” Katsuki shrugged. “But you don’t.”

Izuku’s heart swelled, his breath catching. Katsuki had found a way to offer his siblings a chance at life. Maybe there was a chance that over time they’d come to know him the way Izuku did. At least a little, until they could see that he wasn’t the monster Zinnia had accused him of being. He’d been pushed to this moment, by Hisashi and by his own need to prove he was more than what Noboru had set out to make him. There was a chance, even if it was small, for that future.

“When you say swear by a binding oath,” Chika said, watching Katsuki carefully. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ll have a mage cast a spell so that the words you say are binding. If you break them, your life is forfeit. But as long as you don’t, you get to live. Talk to your brother, raise flying cats, whatever you do.”

Chika started and frowned, giving Katsuki a second look. “How do you know about the cats?”

“Me.” Izuku smiled slightly. “I told him about them when we were first getting to know one another.”

“Why does it have to be binding?” Haruka demanded.

“I’m not an idiot. I don’t need a fuckin’ rebellion when you think I’m busy. Izuku asked for your lives and I’m trying to give him that.”

“Why do you care what he wants?” Isamu snarled, wiping away his tears with harsh movements.

“If you’re askin’ me that, you’re the biggest fuckin’ moron in existence.” Katsuki shook his head.

Isamu bristled. “Watch it, you son of a-”

“He means it?” Rozalie cut him off, her eyes locked on Izuku. He remembered offering her hugs throughout her childhood, and sneaking sweets for her when no one had been looking. She had always trusted him to protect her, to look out for her. She’d never doubted in his ability to do so. She’d always just looked at him like he could do anything. “We can live?”

“He doesn’t lie,” Izuku spoke past the knot in his throat, hope a painful thing. “He’s never lied.”

“Don’t be stupid. Izuku can’t be trusted,” Isamu reached for Rozalie.

“I’m not being stupid,” Rozalie snapped, pinning their elder brother with a look. Her voice trembled. “Wanting to live isn’t stupid. And I want to...I’m not ready to die. And Izu...He’s never lied to me.” She stepped away from their siblings and curtsied before meeting Katsuki’s gaze. “I’ll swear whatever you want. I choose to live.”

“Me too,” Aline said. She moved to Rozalie’s side, hugging her arms around herself hard enough to leave bruises. “It doesn’t matter who I call king…”

“You’d rather bow to him?” Isamu roared in anger. “He just murdered our father!”

“I have children to think of, Isamu.” Chika touched his shoulder gently. “I have children I love and I want to see them grow. I want them to grow. Our father made his decisions. This one is mine.” She turned, her gaze sweeping over Katsuki and Izuku.

“Eijiro,” Katsuki said, watching Izuku’s sisters. “Go get Kyoka. Tell her I need oaths sworn.”

“On it.” Eijiro nodded and hurried to the door.

“What about you two?” Katsuki glanced at Isamu and Haruka.

“What future do I have in this world?” Haruka frowned. “I can only rule. I don’t know anything else.”

“I need a steward. Not like I’m gonna move here.” Katsuki shrugged.

“And you’d be content with that?” Haruka arched an eyebrow. “I was taught to rule by the man you just slaughtered.”

“Don’t be Hisashi and we should be fine.” Katsuki folded his arms. “So?”

“From crown prince to steward?”

“Alive or dead. You’re not a crown prince anymore.”

“Yes,” Haruka said after a long minute. “Yes, I’ll swear. But expect me to challenge you for Sniycia’s benefit if I think you’re wrong.”

“Fine with me. I like intelligence around me.” Katsuki glanced at Izuku, pride evident in his expression. Izuku flushed and smiled. It felt like maybe things would be okay. He could breathe again. In some impossible odds, things were working out.

“I’d rather die.”

Izuku’s gaze snapped to Isamu. He thought everyone else’s did too.

“Isamu…” He swallowed. They’d never been particularly close, their interests too vastly different, but Isamu was his brother regardless. He didn’t know how Isamu could say that, could mean that. Didn’t he want to live?

Isamu didn’t look at any of his siblings, his gaze firmly on Katsuki. “I don’t care how you do it. But I’d rather die than serve you. You killed my father.”

“Your father tried to kill me and broke our alliance by kidnapping your brother.”

“Maybe he wasn’t perfect.” Isamu shrugged as Katsuki snorted. “But he was my father. And I’d rather die.”

“So be it.”

Izuku ruthlessly shoved back his tears as Kyoka stepped into the room.

“Oaths first,” Katsuki motioned Kyoka closer.

OoOoO

He tracked down Toshinori the next morning, too many hours of nightmares tucked under his belt.

Katsuki had a meeting with Haruka to discuss what he expected of his new steward and of Sniycia from now on. Izuku had offered to stay and attend that meeting instead, anxiety choking him at the idea of his eldest brother and Katsuki dealing with each other alone. He didn’t want to lose another brother and despite the oath Haruka willingly swore, trust and liking each other would take time. If it ever came, at this point. Katsuki had killed their father after all. And while Izuku was sure Haruka understood the steps that Hisashi had taken that had forced everyone’s hand, it was still hard to swallow. It was even harder to believe he was gone. And that his final words to Izuku had been so hateful.

Well, no. That part was almost unfortunately believable. He just couldn’t deal with it right now. Not when Haruka was meeting with Katsuki, and Isamu was gone, and Sniycia was no longer a country but part of a much bigger empire. An empire where Izuku was consort.

Katsuki had refused to let him stay for the meeting though. He’d growled and all but kicked Izuku out, with orders to go find Toshinori or something. To do anything but try to be the barrier and bridge between his siblings and Katsuki. As though Izuku being there could somehow make this transition easier. He knew deep down it didn't make the change easier, in fact him being there probably made it worse. But he wanted to believe that things would work, that there was a future where his family and Katsuki actually got along. Wishful thinking, but Izuku was allowed his selfish desires every now and then.

Toshinori wasn’t hard to find. Izuku hadn’t really expected him to be. As a master alchemist and a decorated hero, Hisashi had treated Toshinori Yagi with every respect. Including gifting him a private laboratory and sitting room to do his work. Toshinori had always invited others to work with him, a man more at ease with laughter than with solitude. Or, that was what he’d told Izuku through the years. So, Izuku knew just where to look.

He was surprised to find his teacher alone this time. More surprised by how gaunt he looked, as though life had demanded too much of him. Izuku knew that Toshinori had scars from the battles he had fought as a hero and soldier, but this seemed like something more. But Toshinori wasted no time ushering Izuku into his sitting room with a large smile, same as ever.

“I’m sorry about your father, Zinnia, and Isamu.”

“Thanks.” Izuku shifted, grief an uncomfortable weight in his chest.

“How are you, my boy?”

“Good.” Izuku forced a smile, pushing the pain and the change away. He wanted to focus on the good things, the discoveries he had discovered in Othya and possibilities they offered.

“I’m glad to hear it. Tell me about your life now. I want to know everything.” Toshinori settled back in his seat.

“I don’t even know where to start!” Izuku laughed, caught the enormity of trying to explain everything in the last year.

“Pick somewhere,” Toshinori suggested with a grin.

“Okay, um…” Izuku cast his mind for something to begin with. “Oh! I know. You can come to Othya now. I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve discovered. What we’re still discovering! I’ve barely scratched the surface but I know there’s so much more. With your help I know we’ll do amazing things.”

“I’m too old to be traveling across the sea now.” Toshinori shook his head. “And I have students to train. None as bright as you, but they’re not bad.”

“But you have to come. You’re a master alchemist. What you could do is so much more than me!”

“Othya doesn’t need another master alchemist. It already has one. It has you.”

“What?! No! I- You don’t mean- No! Not- You think I’m a master now?” Izuku stumbled over his words, his face burning as he blushed. “Not as good as you. Please, even visit for a bit!”

“There’s no need.”

“We have dragons!”

“Wonderful! You’ll have to send me reports.”

“There’s nothing I can say to change your mind? Nothing in the whole world?”

“You don’t need me looking over your shoulder anymore,” Toshinori said gently. “You’ve grown. You barely needed me when you left and now, you’re a master of your own. It’s time for you to have your own adventures.”

“But what if I want you there?” Izuku countered. “What if I want to share what I’m creating?”

“Letters are a wonderful thing. There’s no reason you have to stop writing them.”

“You’re being deliberately difficult.” Izuku scowled.

Toshinori laughed, loud and warm. He always laughed like that, as though the laugh was bigger than his person. It filled the room, wrapped around Izuku like a hug. It was the kind of laugh that made people want to laugh with Toshinori. “I see your husband has rubbed off on you. Or is the term mate?”

Izuku stuck his tongue out, aware that he was blushing a darker shade of red. “Either is fine. Husband is… It almost seems too normal? Which is stupid. It’s still accurate and everything. But it just seems like it doesn’t do it justice. And mate… It seems kind of right. Maybe because everyone attaches such significance to it? But there’s this bullshit curse. It’s really weird. But I know that he means the world to me.”

“Both terms can feel both right and wrong at the same time. You were raised that marriage is a necessary evil. It isn’t for love, as commoners are taught- as I was taught. For royalty it’s all about gain. Who benefits can be different, but it’s always for someone’s gain. For you, it benefited Sniycia and your father. At least, at the time. Husband sounds strange when you attach it to such intense feelings because you weren’t raised to equate love and marriage. You never saw your father with your mother, for example.”

“I think he hated me because she died giving birth to me.” Izuku looked away, a strange mixture of grief and resentment filling his throat.

“He hated that you defied him. And he allowed his grief for Inko to harden, turning him hard with everyone else in his life. He didn’t-”

“He hated me,” Izuku said flatly. “He said I wasn’t his son. Those were his dying words.”

“Then that was his loss. He lost himself in his attempt to control everything and everyone around him. He was once a different man.”

“I can’t imagine that.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for that too.”

“It’s not your fault. I just have to adjust.”

Toshinori shook his head, sorrow heavy in his eyes. But he didn’t push the conversation, as though he knew that Izuku couldn’t discuss it further. Maybe he did. He knew Izuku better than most people did. “Back to discussing your mate. What was this about a curse?”

Izuku told him about the curse and the gods who had placed it on the Othyian people in quick words, the pain his father had caused an old thing. It was hard to talk about it with anyone.

Toshinori frowned and leaned forward, watching Izuku carefully. “And they let the curse stand, you say?”

“That’s the legend.” Izuku shrugged. “But I’ve heard stories to back it up.’

“And you’re sure it’s not something self-fulfilling? They believe in the curse, and therefore anything bad that happens is the fault of the curse. They believe so strongly in these instincts, so they give in to them.”

Izuku shook his head vehemently, hundreds of memories with Katsuki flickering through his mind’s eye. “No, I’m sure. I know Kacchan. He hates being controlled by anything, even his own instincts.”

“You’ve only known him a year.”

“It doesn’t matter. I know this. I might not know a thousand other things, but I know this.”

He had no words to explain how he knew that this wasn’t some self-fulfilling prophecy brought on by the belief that the Othyian people held in their gods. It had been in Hanta’s voice that night by the campfire, in Eijiro’s eyes as he tried to explain why he was protecting Mina. It had been in Katsuki’s voice a million times, in his body language as he answered Izuku’s questions about mates. His fury at his own helplessness had been evident from the beginning. Even Katsuki, who despised the gods his people prayed to, believed in the curse. He’d been believed in it so much that he hadn’t wanted a mate to lose.

“I see.” Toshinori sat back again, his fingers steepled. “Izuku, you read fairy tales as a child, didn’t you?”

“I- What?” Izuku blinked, caught off guard by the question.

“Humor me.”

“Um… Yes. I read almost everything I could find in the library while I was here. I read fairy tales too.”

“In fairy tales, they mention curses, don’t they?”

“This isn’t a story, though,” Izuku protested with a frown. “This is their lives. And mine too now.”

“I’m not making light of it,” Toshinori reassured him with a gentle smile. “But they do mention curses in most stories I’ve heard.”

“I guess? Where is this going?”

“More importantly,” Toshinori continued as though Izuku hadn’t spoken. “They mention that curses can be broken.”

Izuku stared at him, his lower jaw somewhere near the floor of the room. Comprehension dawned slowly.

“And I’d imagine even ones placed by the gods themselves has a means to be undone if someone tried hard enough. And given how intelligent I know you are and how stubborn- I think you could find a way.”

“You think I could- That there’s a way…” Izuku couldn’t form the words properly, his tongue tied in knots. The hope that wanted to take root in his body was staggering. He felt like he would be crushed under the weight of it alone. Had no one else ever tried? He’d have to ask Katsuki. Surely someone had, right?

But given how much faith the Othyian people tended to put in their gods, Izuku wasn’t so sure someone had actually tried. And even if they had, maybe they’d given up too quickly. If they were afraid the gods could create something worse than the curse already placed on them, they might not have tried hard enough.

But Izuku wasn’t afraid of the gods. And neither was Katsuki.

“Might as well give it a try, right?” Toshinori grinned.

“Thank you!” Izuku couldn’t express how grateful he was in this moment to his teacher. Toshinori had given him many things over the years. Knowledge and dedication were only some of the things he had inspired and helped Izuku learn. But in this moment, Izuku had never been more thankful, more fortunate, to know Toshinori. This was a gift he could never pay back. Not if this worked like Toshinori suggested.

“I’m happy to help you, my boy. More than happy.”

“No, really-”

“There you are.”

Izuku turned to meet Katsuki’s gaze, his heart leaping in his chest. The magnitude of what he felt for this man scared him sometimes. “Done already?”

“Working with someone competent, who was trained for this shit, has its perks. I’ll leave a contingent I trust here for a while. But we’ll be heading home soon, once we tie up a few loose ends.”

“Who are you leaving?”

“Yoarashi.”

“He’ll charm everyone in a matter of days.” Izuku grinned. “Oh! Let me introduce you to my master. Katsuki, this is Toshinori. Toshinori, this is Katsuki.”

“Don’t you mean Emperor Katsuki?” Toshinori frowned, starting to push out of his chair.

“No, I mean Katsuki. He’s not an emperor here, he’s mine first. Right?”

“Yeah, relax old man. You don’t need to bow or any shit.” Katsuki shoved Izuku over and dropped into the seat next to him. “He talks a lot about you.”

“Has he now? Good things?”

“Mostly.”

“Kacchan!”

“It’s fine, Izuku. Please, tell me about yourself, Katsuki. I didn’t get to meet you properly before Izuku left last time. I’d like to know you before you both leave again.” Toshinori settled back in his chair.

Izuku hummed to himself, glancing around at the room he’d known almost better than his own growing up. He had spent hours in Toshinori’s laboratory, learning and experimenting in equal measure. This had been his home almost more than anywhere else in the castle. This had been safety, a place where he had just been Izuku for a little bit of time.

He hadn’t had time to say goodbye properly before. He’d been numb in the weeks leading up the wedding, and after the ceremony and resulting night, they had departed. Now, he had the chance to say goodbye if he wanted.

But he didn’t feel the need to, the way he had when they had first left. He still had attachment to this place and to the memories within. But it didn’t feel like home anymore. While Izuku missed his siblings and would continue to miss them with an ache that no one who was an only child might understand, he didn’t belong here anymore. He belonged in Othya, at Katsuki’s side. That was home now.

And he was okay with that. When it was time to leave, he could do it with a clearer heart and mind, ready to face what the future brought them.

He was ready to go home.

And get started breaking that fucking curse.

Chapter Text

“We’re home.”

Katsuki glanced at Izuku, whose gaze was locked on the form of Dragonspire coming into focus into the distance. Around them Othya thawed, green sweeping over the landscape that had been frozen and white when they’d left. Katsuki liked Othya in almost every season- though winter annoyed him most. But there was something about the rebirth of temperate spring, the growth, that Katsuki had always appreciated. And it had nothing to do with his birthday.

A smile tugged at Katsuki’s lips. He remembered making this same journey last spring. At the time Izuku had never been outside of Sniycia- much less to Othya. He’d had no reason to call the castle home other than it was where he was going to be living. They’d barely known one another, Katsuki’s instincts and Izuku’s need to protect and save everyone having created the situation they’d found themselves in.

Hell, at the time neither of them had been sure that they’d wanted anything to do with each other. Katsuki had been furious at the instincts that clawed at him and insisted this foreign princling was his. He’d hated the lack of control he’d had over the situation and over himself. And Izuku hadn’t been different, really. They’d both been railing against the lack of control in their own lives. In a lot of ways, they were both lucky that anything had grown out of the rage and caustic distrust that had been the beginning of their relationship.

Now, Dragonspire was a home for both of them and Izuku was an essential part of Katsuki’s life. Not just because he was his mate, but because of who they were together, what they had created together. Katsuki had no idea how they had managed the connections that united them, a million threads that no one else could see that had nothing to do with their mating, but they had fumbled their way through it somehow. Fuck if he knew how. Didn’t matter though. What did matter was that Izuku was part of Othya, accepted by the people and the land as one of theirs. It was like he fit in this country far better than he had ever fit into his own.

“Took us fuckin’ long enough,” Katsuki grumbled.

It hadn’t taken nearly as long to set up the new government in Sniycia as it normally did when Katsuki conquered a country. Haruka was competent and already aware of most of the ins and outs of ruling. Where they had disagreed in their styles the two of them had argued until a solution had been reached. Usually, with Katsuki forcing his point, but not always. Haruka didn’t seem like a carbon copy of his father, for all that Hisashi had taught him to rule. The eldest of the Midoriya clan had some decent ideas when it came to running a country- and he did have knowledge of how Sniycia operated. There had been some things that worked for Othya that would work for Sniycia. There were others that wouldn’t. Their meetings had been interesting, to say the least.

But while it hadn’t taken as long to set everything up, Katsuki was itching to get home. He knew that they’d be leaving for another war once they’d regrouped and resupplied. There’d be even less down time between conquests than normal. But then again, this wasn’t a normal conquest. And every day that Ashax’s king spent looking for his missing heir was a day they lost the element of surprise. No one wanted to face Ashax prepared for the war. They weren’t pushovers and Katsuki hadn’t moved against them yet for a damn reason.

Not that he had a choice now. He had to set Shouto on the throne and create an alliance. Which wasn’t all bad. He might actually be able to rely on the alliance created between the two of them. Unlike the one he’d had with Hisashi, which had been a lot more perilous. No one was threatening anyone’s life this time. For all that everyone accused Katsuki and his people of being barbarians, it had been Hisashi who had brought matters of life and death into the supposed alliance.

And he was dead because of his meddling and schemes.

“You didn’t enjoy our vacation?” Izuku teased.

“That’s your definition of a vacation?” Katsuki snorted. “No wonder you’re so fucked up.”

“Hey!” Izuku wrinkled his nose. “Says the guy who doesn’t take a vacation. Ever.”

“I don’t think kings take vacations, nerd.”

“They don’t,” Izuku agreed. “But you should. You work hard, I don’t think your people would begrudge you some time to relax. I have no idea what we’d do, but it would be fun, right?”

“Thinking about next year taking a tour of the empire. Just a reminder to everyone that they answer to me. I don’t want my stewards getting too comfortable. You want to come?”

“That’s almost a vacation.” Despite his teasing, Izuku’s grin was blinding, his eyes bright with excitement. “I’d love to see more of the empire. I’ve seen more of the world since meeting you then I ever thought I would.”

“Since I plan to rule the world one day, you’re gonna see all of it.” Katsuki smirked.

“Your ambition is dangerous.” Izuku shook his head, but his smile didn’t fade. “No wonder the world fears you.”

“Respect or fear, whatever works.”

“I prefer respect. People fear Shouto’s dad. I’ve heard the whispers and they’re all tinged by a really ugly fear. But your people respect you. The difference is clear. They adore you.”

“Since Noboru was such shit, it’s not hard to be better. But I doubt everyone respects me, shortstack. The people in what was Sniycia don’t. They fear me. And that might never change. As long as they don’t cause issues, I don’t care if they fear me.” Katsuki shrugged. It didn’t bother him the way it would probably bother Izuku. He’d long ago made peace with that.

“That’s true,” Izuku sighed. “They might never see what I see.”

“No one sees what you see.”

“That’s not true.” Izuku frowned, shifting in his saddle to focus more of his attention on Katsuki. “There are other people who see you the same way. Mina, Eijiro, Denki, Hanta, they all do.”

Katsuki shook his head. “They’re my friends but they don’t see me that way. You’re always going on about how we’re equal, right? I don’t have to be a king with you?”

“Of course.”

“I’m their king first. I have to be. Sometimes we’re friends or family, whatever. But they know that when I give them orders to do what I say. They’ve argued with me when they thought that I was wrong, I don’t surround myself with weak shit so that’s not surprising. You’re the only one I’m not a king with. You’re the only one I’m like that with. So don’t expect anyone to ever see shit the way you do.”

Izuku paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Silence rose between them, broken only by the sounds of horse hooves striking the ground and the party chatting around them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“Huh,” Izuku said. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“I always make sense. Just like I’m always right.”

“Ha, sure.”

“What’s that mean, shortstack?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Izuku smiled charmingly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you saying I’m not always right, or that I don’t always make sense?” Katsuki scowled at Izuku.

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You know what I mean, shitsnack.”

“You say the nicest things to me.”

“Fuck off.”

“I’d planned to later. I guess you figured out my secret plan.”

Katsuki felt his face heat in a blush and growled, studiously ignoring it.

“Anyway,” Izuku said, that smug grin too fucking attractive. “It’ll be nice to see Mina and Ochako again. And I want to get working on the curse.”

“The curse?” Katsuki repeated, already frowning. The fuck did Izuku mean, work on the curse? There was nothing to work on.

“Yeah. I want to try to find a way to break it.”

“Break it.”

“Mhm.”

“How do you plan to do that? No one else has.”

“It’s okay, Kacchan,” Izuku said, his voice soft and almost tender. “I know you don’t really believe it can be done.”

Katsuki glowered at Izuku, even as something warm unfurled in his chest. He didn’t need protecting or coddling. He’d grown up quickly under Aizawa’s tutelage, under Noboru’s rule. He knew how to handle himself. “The fuck makes you think it can be?”

“It was something that Toshinori said to me when I saw him. In all the stories and fairy tales that have curses, there is also a way to break it. I know you don’t know what it is, or you’d have done it a long time ago. But there has to be something, lost to time, for all we know.”

“That’s a lot of maybes and ifs, Izuku.”

“Better than just waiting for it to strike, right?” Izuku met Katsuki’s gaze, the green of his eyes bright with conviction. “I’m not losing you without a fight.”

“Who said you’d lose me?” Katsuki asked, a weight in his chest.

“Or you lose me. Either way, I’m going to fight them with everything I have.”

Katsuki blew out a breath and looked back towards the horizon and rapidly approaching castle they called home. He had been taught that the curse was impossible to break, an insurmountable task. Naxdohr had originally placed it to protect the people of Ashax, and Othya’s own gods had let it stand in punishment. There was no removing something the gods had set in stone, no matter how much someone railed against it. Katsuki’s mother would have done so if she’d known of a way.

But she hadn’t, and she’d died of a broken heart soon after her husband had died.

Katsuki didn’t want the same fate to be his future. He didn’t want some stupid curse hanging over his head. Izuku was already a reckless idiot at times- Katsuki didn’t need more to worry about. If there was a way to break the curse, a real way, it was Katsuki’s duty as a king to try to find it. If they could ever find a way to end the curse, he was going to take it.

“Alright, so we fight this damn curse. Where the hell do you plan to start?”

“The library. I know in Sniycia that we collected knowledge. Judging from the size of your library, Othya did the same. If that doesn’t help, I’ll search other libraries and I’ll talk to historians. We’ll figure this out. We’ve already overcome so many other hurdles, right? What’s one more?” Izuku smiled.

“You’re insane. But yeah, let’s do it.”

“That makes you just as crazy as me,” Izuku pointed out. “But I’m glad, since it means we match. I’ll get started first thing tomorrow.”

“You have alchemy crap to restock for the coming war. Make sure that gets done first. The curse won’t be going anywhere.”

“Shit, right. Alright, Mei, Hitoshi and I will work on those first. I’ll read the texts in my spare time.”

“You won’t have much, but sounds like a good start.” Katsuki rolled his shoulders, stiff from being in the saddle so long. Now that they were almost to the courtyard, he could feel every protesting muscle.

“Mina will be waiting for us, right?”

“Yeah. She’s going to need to give me a report of what I missed. She would’ve sent a message about anything she felt I needed to know at war, but since she can handle shit, that doesn’t happen anymore. Kiri and her were trained to be able to handle anything that came up while I’m gone. I usually trust them not to fuck things up.”

“I bet Eijiro can’t wait to see her,” Izuku said, glancing behind him to where Katsuki knew Eijiro rode some distance behind them. The returning party was doing its best to give Katsuki and Izuku some semblance of privacy, even if it wasn’t much.

“Yeah they’re probably sick about it and all.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “It’s why I didn’t send him ahead. I do that and I won’t get a report for at least a day, probably two.”

“Would you be the same if I’d stayed behind?”

“I wouldn’t be some moon-sick puppy about it.”

“I would have missed you too, Kacchan. I’m glad I went with you.”

“Even with everything that happened, huh?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

He knew that what had happened in the receiving hall had been hard for Izuku. Izuku just didn’t talk about it much. As though he couldn’t voice the grief. He was all smiles and banter during the day, as though nothing had changed. At night he reached for Katsuki though. They were silent as Izuku tried to work through his grief. Gods knew emotions weren’t always logical. Mourning for a father whose last words had been meant in hatred and intents to hurt was probably normal.

“Even with everything that happened. It was fun to see you covered in mewing catwings. I still think we should have brought one back for Vihan as a playmate. Maybe I’ll write to Chika and ask.”

“After the war with Ashax, if you want a catwing to bug Vihan, you can do that.”

“I will. I bet it will adore you instantly. You’re so cuddly.”

“Tch. That’s you, shortstack.”

“Mmm... I don’t think so.”

“You’re home!” Mina called from the steps as the party poured into the courtyard.

Ochako stood beside her, Vihan in her arms. “Welcome back!”

“Thanks!” Izuku called as he dismounted.

Katsuki swung down, only to have a fennec fox jumping at his feet, claws digging through the fabric. He leaned down and rubbed Vihan’s head. “Yeah, yeah, missed you too, you little shit.”

“Vihan!” Izuku scooped their fox into his arms, and was promptly covered in wet licks from Vihan in excitement.

“We’re glad you’re back,” Mina said, already encircled in Eijiro’s arms. “It was boring without you.”

Katsuki snorted. “Somehow I doubt that. Go, you can give me your report tomorrow. Got it? Tomorrow.”

“Got it!” Mina grinned. She tugged Eijiro into the castle.

“Denki, make sure his horse and his shit gets taken care of, alright?”

“Why me!?” Denki whined.

“Because you don’t have a mate waiting for you. Hanta, help him out.”

“Yes, Baku. Come on, Denki,” Hanta laughed.

“You glad to be home?” Izuku smiled brightly, still being nuzzled and loved on by Vihan.

“More than you can imagine.”

Katsuki caught sight of Shouto from the corner of his eye as the Ashax crown prince paused to speak to Hitoshi, the two of them working side-by-side to unload their horses.

He was happy to be home- while it lasted. Within a few months the military would be moving out again, this time to put Shouto on Ashax’s throne. Katsuki still had to decide how best to approach that war. He’d have to talk to Shouto and the two retainers he’d brought to Othya. More information meant better tactics. And he was going to have to do it soon.

“Well, I’m glad to be home while it lasts,” Izuku murmured. “But I think we’re going to leave a lot sooner than I’d like.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“We should head inside.”

“I want a damn bath.” Katsuki stretched. “I miss that fucking thing when I’m gone.”

“Yeah, I think you love that bath more than me.”

“I mean you can’t do all the things that pool can do.” Katsuki grinned.

“It’s fine.” Izuku shrugged. “I’m equally in love. Come on, let’s go before someone comes looking for you.”

“Or Mei comes to find you and talk about whatever the fuck you alchemists talk about.”

“Good point,” Izuku laughed, already heading into the palace.

Yeah. It was nice to be home for a little bit.

Chapter Text

“Hand me the numbweed.”

“Here. Can I have the starfish and curare?” Izuku asked as he handed over the numbweed, his fingers already stained red from working with the plant. He couldn’t feel his hand- a side effect of working with the plant without gloves. And Hitoshi knew that.

Hitoshi nudged the new bag of curare leaves closer towards Izuku.

“Lazy ass,” Izuku muttered fondly, reaching across the table to snag the bag and the starfish he needed to prepare.

“I simply spend my energy efficiently,” Hitoshi corrected with a satisfied smirk.

“Is that what you’re doing?” Izuku diced the starfish parts quickly before turning to begin the process of watering down the curare.

He wanted as many strong healing potions created as possible going into the next war. Katsuki had made it clear that he didn’t think Ashax would be a pushover. They were deadly and dangerous. Katsuki hadn’t moved against them in his quest for more land yet for a reason. Not that Katsuki was usually reckless in his strategies, but the extra care in planning this war and Katsuki’s concern and caution alone spoke volumes to Izuku.

And worse, the Oythian military was fighting wars back to back. They hadn’t recovered entirely from the previous war with Sniycia and there were already discussions of when would be best to move out. How long did they allow the military to rest? How long could they push their element of surprise? Everything Izuku had heard about Enji told him the man wasn’t stupid. He’d figure out where his son had gone for help before long.

They’d barely been back a week and Izuku was already settling into the new routine. Katsuki was pouring over maps and designing strategies, or ordering those he trusted most to ready the provisions and other equipment. It wasn’t hard to figure out that Othya was preparing for another war- the evidence was everywhere.

And while the people were known warriors, Izuku was worried about pushing them so soon after returning from Sniycia. Maybe the war in Sniycia hadn’t been the most challenging Othya had ever faced, but it still took energy and people’s lives.

All Izuku could do right now was make sure that they left with a full stock of alchemical concoctions. The more varieties the better.

“You doubt me?” Hitoshi said after several minutes, bringing Izuku back to the present.

“Never.”

“Uh-huh”

Izuku was glad to be working in Hitoshi and Mei’s lab right now. He’d relocated in hopes of giving Katsuki privacy while he worked on strategies and met with Shouto. He knew that he could have stayed, but if someone came looking for Izuku… well, they weren’t privy to that meeting. Even people Izuku cared for deeply, like his best friend.

And it was nice, to have someone to tease. To not be alone. Even if Mei had the day off, at least he had Hitoshi here to keep him smiling. And if it kept his mind on his work and off what had happened in Sniycia- so much the better.

“There.” He sat back while the curare reduced and reached for the recipes Shouto had brought from Ashax. He hadn’t had a chance to look at them before departing for Sniycia, no matter how badly he’d wanted to. He’d put work first, but now he had time to look and start mastering what Ashax had created. If they planned to use these recipes against Othya, Izuku needed to know how to use them too. And more, he needed to be better at it than anyone in Ashax.

One caused rot, and the other a wall of thick ice. There was merit in both being used offensively and defensively. Izuku skimmed the ingredients, scribbling notes in his notebook as thoughts and questions came up. There was a science to the creations, but Izuku could see that they’d relied on some magical components too. There were a few ingredients that Izuku wasn’t familiar with for both recipes. He’d have to check with Mei if they were down in the market. And if they weren’t… Well, Mei said she knew people who could get her any kind of ingredient she needed and quickly. And none of these looked like dragon parts.

“You’re muttering to yourself.”

Izuku jumped and glanced away from his notes to meet Ochako’s amused gaze. “I didn’t hear you come in!”

“He’s always muttering. And she’s been standing there for at least five minutes,” Hitoshi said, still focused on his work.

“Sorry.” Izuku flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I was just really interested.”

“It’s fine.” Ochako smiled warmly. “I’m used to it. I’ve known you most of my life after all.”

And she’d always been patient with Izuku and his oddities. She’d never made him feel like less. It was just one of the many reasons he considered her such a good friend. A friend he’d cared about enough to lie about in order to save her from an unwanted marriage to some noble two or three times her age. He regretted lying to Katsuki for so long. He should have been honest long before Katsuki had found out and he knew that. But he didn’t regret getting her out of Sniycia. She was happier here, her smile brighter. It had been the right decision.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Mhm. I wanted to know how you were doing. We haven’t gotten to talk a lot since you came home. I know you’re both busy preparing for the war with Ashax. I missed you. And I was worried.”

“I’m fine,” Izuku said, perhaps a little too quickly.

“Convincing,” Hitoshi snorted.

“Shut up,” Izuku grumbled. He focused on Ochako. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Izuku…” Ochako hesitated, searching for words. “They’re still your family.”

Oh.

He didn’t want to talk about this. Even with the two people who would understand more than anyone else. They were from Sniycia, they had been by his side for more memories than Izuku could count. They knew Hisashi in a way that Katsuki didn’t, hadn’t, and never would. Even though he hadn’t been their father, they had seen the wounds he’d left behind. They knew Isamu- or they had. They’d known Zinnia, for the time she’d been a queen and part of the political and social landscape of Sniycia. Understanding was a wonderful and soothing thing.

But Izuku didn’t want it. He didn’t want to think about it or remember. He didn’t know how to make peace with it. So ignoring it felt like the next best thing.

“I’m fi-”

“Don’t say you’re fine,” Ochako interrupted sharply. Her tone softened again. “I know you too well. We both do. And you can’t just lock this away behind a smile.”

“Who said I’m doing that?” Izuku protested weakly.

“We’re not stupid,” Hitoshi said flatly. “You know that, right?”

“I know,” Izuku sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“So?” Ochako tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Talk to us.”

“I don’t know how. How to explain the mass of emotions knotted in my chest or what it was like. I stood there and watched as Isamu chose to die. I watched Zinnia die with more grace and decorum then I’d ever seen in her before. I didn’t know she had that in her! And my father…”

“Don’t stop now,” Ochako encouraged.

“You’re usually a chatterbox,” Hitoshi agreed. “Just ramble like you do, and we’ll untangle it like we usually do.”

Izuku breathed deeply, the knot of emotions heavy in his chest. The words burst forward like a tidal wave.

“He said I wasn’t his son. Those were his final words. He didn’t say goodbye to his wife or my siblings, or anything. He died telling me I wasn’t his son and being so hateful. I didn’t know he could be that hateful. I don’t know what I did to earn that kind of hate. I tried to be the son he wanted me to be for so long. I trained and I dressed right and I did everything he wanted. But…” Izuku couldn’t cry. He didn’t know why, perhaps he’d cried enough in Katsuki’s arms since that day in the receiving hall. He just knew that he couldn’t anymore.

“But you weren’t you.” Ochako shook her head. “You were hurting so much. I didn’t know how you held it all in.”

“Part of me was. I liked the training and pushing my body beyond its limits. It’s what makes training with Katsuki so much fun when I can. I liked seeing battle strategies and formations and trying to make them better- almost like a puzzle. I enjoyed those things. But there were so many other parts of it that made me miserable. When I ran into Toshinori and he offered to train me… I thought my father would be proud. We were talking about Toshinori Yagi after al! But he was angry when I said I was doing it no matter what he thought. I couldn't make him happy. I stayed out of his way and he still hated me. I don’t know what he wanted from me.”

“Some fathers are shit,” Hitoshi said, his tone and expression hard. Izuku knew he was speaking from personal experience. Hitoshi’s father had given very little- if anything- of value to his son. “It’s his failing, not yours.”

Izuku had once said something similar to Hitoshi.

“Maybe-”

“He was a piece of shit who let his emotions and grief overcome him. Your mother died and he never got over it. Just because he’s a bad father doesn’t make you a bad son. He wasn’t exactly warm and comforting to any of your siblings. He liked control and he used that to make people around him dance.” Hitoshi shrugged. “Don’t let him make you feel bad from the grave. His choices were his. They don’t reflect on you.”

“Easier said than done, but you’re right.”

“I know I am. So do us both a favor and listen to me.”

“What about Isamu?” Ochako laid a hand on Izuku’s arm. “I know that you two weren’t close, but I also know you loved him.”

“I just can’t imagine why he’d choose to die. He said he didn’t want to live under Kacchan’s rule. That Kacchan killed our father and he didn’t want to swear any type of oath. Why would he choose to die? He knew our father had caused this. He’d broken the treaty first. Why…” Izuku trailed off, at a loss for how to word the questions clamoring in his brain.

“Everyone has their limits,” Ochako sighed and shook her head. “He didn’t know Katsuki like you do. Or even like we do now. He just saw a man who killed his father and conquered his country. He didn’t want to learn anything else. Would you agree if Ashax’s king invaded and killed Katsuki?”

“Never.” Izuku swallowed. “But this is different.”

“It’s different because you love Katsuki. And because you love your siblings too. You had something to lose on both sides. You wanted it to work out. And I don’t blame you. I don’t know anyone who can blame you for wanting that. But maybe that’s me, because I’ve always liked happy endings.” Ochako shrugged. “People are never quite as simple as characters in stories though. Isamu found his limit. Right or wrong, it was his life, his choice. I wish he’d chosen differently, for you and for your brother and sisters back home. You gave them a choice, Izuku. You asked and Katsuki found a way. Together you offered them life. But you can’t make them take it. Just like with your father and so many choices in your life- it should be your choice. It was his.”

“It doesn’t make the pain easier. Wondering if I caused his death, or if I could have done something. Missing him because he was my brother and now he’s gone. Even when he was lazy and a pain, he was my brother. Now he’s nothing but a memory and I don’t know how to adjust. Just like I don’t know how to adjust to the fact that someone so powerful and controlling like my father is just… gone.”

“Time.” Hitoshi stirred the mixture he was heating. “Time will help. Plus, soon you’ll have too much to do to be thinking about it. And if it’s really bad, you could always ask Cinderbrain to fuck your brains out.”

“Hitoshi!” Ochako squealed.

Izuku sputtered with laughter, bright red and breathless at his best friend’s words. And it was exactly what he’d needed.

“I can’t believe you said that!” Ochako grumbled, her cheeks stained pink. “There are some things people don’t say.”

“Is that so?” Hitoshi arched an eyebrow.

“Thanks for checking on me. Both of you.” Izuku shook his head. “It feels better to let some of it off my chest.”

“That’s what we’re here for.” Ochako nodded, running her fingers through her hair. “That’s what friends are always for.”

“I know. I’ve never doubted that I have some of the best.”

“Flattery.” Hitoshi rolled his eyes.

“I think it’s sweet.” Ochako wrinkled her nose at Hitoshi. “Anyway, if you need to talk more, you know we’re here for you. It’s good to let this stuff out.”

“Thanks.”

He knew they were here. And he appreciated it.

Just like he was very glad the topic was over. At least, for now. He had a feeling Ochako would track him down if she felt he needed to talk. Hitoshi would just wait. He was probably more patient than he had any right to be.

“How many more of these do you have to do?” Ochako asked. She motioned to the various ingredients spread out on the tables, careful not to touch anything. Izuku had a feeling she was afraid to touch anything in the laboratories, and had been since she’d caused a serious explosion. Explosions had never stopped him, but he figured the event had had a lasting impression on Ochako.

“We’ll probably be working right up until we move out for war against Ashax. The more we have done, the better.” Izuku smiled. “Kind of like the more spells you have prepared or know the better off you are.”

“It’s more instinctual for me, but I see what you mean. Once I know the spell, it becomes second nature. So, the more I know, the more I can use. You guys have to prepare like I have to learn.”

“Basically.”

“True genius,” Hitoshi added dryly. “You didn’t learn that while you were here?”

“I’ve forgotten everything you tried to teach me.” Ochako stuck her tongue out. “Thank the gods.”

Hitoshi snorted and shook his head. “Probably better that way. You were awful.”

“Hey!”

“And on that note,” Izuku laughed and stood. “I have to go. I have a meeting with Katsuki and Shouto to get to. Wars don’t plan themselves I guess. Hitoshi, can you finish this one up for me?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it.” Hitoshi glanced at the station Izuku had claimed for himself. “Doesn’t look like it’ll be complicated. I can blame Ochako if it goes wrong.”

“Jerk.”

“Probably,” Hitoshi agreed.

“Bye, guys.” Izuku shook his head and hurried to the door. He did not want to be caught in the middle of their disagreement on if alchemy or magecraft was better. Even if they were teasing most of the time it could get heated. And he really did have a meeting to get to.

The corridors that had once been a confusing maze to Izuku were now second nature to navigate. The castle was big enough that he knew he could still get turned around. He’d probably spend years trying to explore and memorize every corridor and where they led. But at least now he knew the familiar paths. He knew enough that if he didn't go looking around, he could get anywhere he had been before. It made this place feel a bit more like home. A bit more like his.

Voices floated down the hall from Katsuki’s study, talking over one another as conversation moved from one topic to the next. It looked like he was the last to arrive again. Hopefully Katsuki wasn’t annoyed at him for it. Izuku knocked on the partially open door before stepping inside and closing it behind him.

“Welcome.” Shouto smiled slightly from where he leaned against the wall, Momo and Tenya on either side of him.

Izuku smiled and waved, shifting past Mina, Eijiro, and Denki who stood in the middle of the room. He made his way to Katsuki’s side and grinned as Katsuki shot him a look.

“You’re late.”

“I’m not late, everyone else was early.” Izuku leaned against the desk. “That’s not my fault.”

“Little shit.” Katsuki rolled his eyes before turning to address the room at large. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”

“Sorry to inconvenience you,” Shouto said, arching an eyebrow.

“Shut it. I’ve been looking over the maps I have and what you brought. If your dad is half as good as they say, it won’t be easy. Even for me. I need more information.”

“It’s a harsh place,” Momo said, frowning in thought. “King Enji rules in absolutes and the weather is not too different from here. Extreme winters and summers that can kill crops and livestock. He provides for his people- but he makes it clear the weak who need help may be… less?”

“He wants to help.” Tenya nodded. “But he has lost his way.”

“Corrupted by greed and power isn’t exactly a new story.” Mina shrugged. “But it doesn’t tell us anything about the terrain or how the military works together and moves. It doesn’t tell us if the people will fight alongside their military or if they’d prefer to back down and let the people trained do the work. Who he was or is isn’t important.”

“Ashax is mountainous. It doesn’t have as many open plains as Othya does- which will make living off the land harder for our forces. And my father is talented. He will know the terrain and use it to his advantage. But he’s used to relying on his own power at this point. It makes him blind to other options.” Shouto crossed the distance to the map spread out on the desk and pointed at a string of mountains. “I know these just as well as he does. He’ll try to trap us, but we can develop counterattacks he won’t be expecting if we’re careful.”

“Good. Write it all down for me. Every damn thing you can think of. You’re not always gonna be here while I’m planning.”

“Why not?” Tenya frowned. “It is our country, his throne and people.”

“Because some people like to sleep.” Denki grinned. “Unlike Baku.”

“I sleep, dipshit.”

“What he means,” Izuku cut in. “Is we need the information because we’re the ones running this war. Of course, Shouto is the one being placed on the throne and they are his people. But…”

“But you came to me.” Katsuki said, picking up as Izuku hesitated. He folded his arms. “I assume because you’ve got a brain under that pretty hair and know I’m good at what I do. I conquer. I take thrones. You want a throne, you do what I say.”

“And we will tell you about our plans so you can help them be the best versions. Kacchan and I did that in Sniycia. It helped. But we work better with fewer people. It’s not we want to talk to Mina and Eijiro and exclude you guys. It would just be me and Kacchan working together. Or just Kacchan. He’s good at this. Trust him.”

“It’s fine. I came to you for a reason, like Katsuki said.” Shouto shrugged. “I will write them down for you, and I will have Tenya and Momo do the same.”

“Didn’t you come here because Izuku was his consort? So you had an in?”

“Denki.” Mina elbowed her friend.

“Ow! What?” Denki frowned. “It’s true, right?”

“Yeah, what’s the big deal?” Eijiro shrugged. “We all know it.”

“It may have influenced my decision.” Shouto admitted with a smile. “I knew Hitoshi and Izuku briefly as children. I knew Izuku at least was here. And I’ve enjoyed seeing Hitoshi again too. I hoped that Izuku would help Katsuki agree. But Katsuki is good enough on his own that he was the obvious choice. No one else could hope to take on my father.”

“Thanks for the ringing endorsement,” Katsuki grumbled. “Can we get back to how we win the damn war?”

“By all means,” Shouto agreed, his tone cooling slightly.

“I wonder when they’re going to admit they like each other and stop circling like wolves,” Mina whispered as she slid closer to Izuku.

“Never,” Izuku murmured, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Give the alliance twenty years,” Mina snickered.

Katsuki ignored them and looked at the map of Ashax again. “We need to build strategies that can be adapted quickly and can use the mountains to our advantage. We don’t want to be backed into a corner, but we can let them think we are.”

“How many people are loyal to you over your father?” Izuku asked, shifting closer to look at the gathered information. Katsuki had been busy in the week since they’d returned from Sniycia.

“I’m not sure,” Shouto said slowly. “I want to believe that they would, but I’ve never been tried. They might not have faith in me yet.”

“If they try to sabotage us, they die. The ones who don’t can see how you rule. If you’re shit, you’ll figure it out fast,” Katsuki surmised. “Tell me more about these mountains. Any villages or that shit? And what about forests we can use to our advantage? Tell me about the cities. What ones are we going to need to conquer fast?”

Shouto nodded, his face set and serious. “Let’s start with the mountains.”

Together, the eight of them got to work trading information and discussing what they knew. Slowly, strategies and plans began to form.

The war with Ashax was right around the corner.

Chapter Text

“We’re almost ready to go, aren’t we?” Izuku asked from the doorway between their offices.

Katsuki nodded, still looking at the plans and maps spread out on the desk in front of him. There were notes pinned in different corners. Shouto’s scrawl detailing the inner workings of Coburn, the capital city they would conquer at the end of it all. Momo’s elegant script was pinned opposite, detailing the people of Ashax and the land. She had gone into great detail to explain the lay of the land and the difficulties the invading army would be facing. Diagonally across was Tenya’s multiple pages of notes, detailing the military movements and formations. Katsuki was surrounded by the secrets of Ashax’s inner workings, all the details possible to create strategies to win a war.

And he knew it was going to be dangerous. Far more so than the war against Sniycia. Sure, war was war, where people died and thrones and countries were up for grabs. But Sniycia had been inexperienced in war, and it had been far easier to predict their movements. Ashax was nothing like that. Ashax was a threat, equal in power to Othya. And worse, Othya’s military forces were tired from the previous war, while Ashax’s soldiers would be fresh and rested- ready to fight for their king and country.

He couldn’t make a single misstep. Too many lives hung in the balance. And if Enji thought he was weak, even for a moment, he would be coming for Othya and everything Katsuki cared about. There was a lot more riding on this damn war than just putting Shouto on a throne. But then again, the last war had left Katsuki with the blood of his father-in-law on his hands. Not that Katsuki regretted it. Hisashi had needed to answer for the shit he’d done.

Too bad his last words had been another attempt to hurt Izuku. Katsuki could’ve killed him again for that shit. But Izuku was made of stronger stuff. The words may have hurt - but Izuku wouldn’t dwell on them. He wouldn’t let them cloud the future they were building. Besides, in Katsuki’s opinion he’d have been better off if Hisashi hadn’t been his father. Too bad there was no doubting that shit. Izuku had too many traces of Hisashi in his features, even if his mother’s genes were predominant.

“We packed the last of the alchemical potions and powders coming with us. And a few instruments that Hitoshi and I will be bringing. We should be ready to move out whenever you are.”

“You and that gremlin plan on coming?”

“Were you going to ask me to stay home again?”

“Was thinking about it.” Not because Izuku was weak, but because he was strong. Strong enough that Katsuki could trust him to help run Othya the way he trusted Eijiro and Mina with that job. Izuku had been right when he’d said he should have more responsibility in Othya. He had been raised as a prince, with similar duties and responsibilities as Katsuki- even when their kingdoms had run differently. It was beyond time he had work to do in Othya other than make alchemical shit.

“Because it’s going to be dangerous?”

Katsuki glanced up and met eyes that had darkened, a storm brewing. One day he’d stop worrying that Katsuki was trying to cage him. Until then, at least he’d started reacting with anger, and not that panic. Made it easier to fight with him when he got difficult.

“No. Because you need to learn to help me rule Othya. You could learn from Eijiro or Mina, whoever stays this time. Haven’t figured it out yet.”

“That’s fair,” Izuku admitted, storm clouds receding from his eyes as he stepped further into the office. “And there have been a lot of changes.”

“No shit.”

“Shut up.” Izuku rolled his eyes. “What I meant was, I doubt you usually leave for another war this soon after coming back.”

“Nope. Not even when I first took the throne. And even then, it felt like I was always at war.”

“What was that like?” Izuku sat across from him, expression alive with curiosity. He always had questions about something. Fuckin’ nerd.

“What was it like? It fuckin’ sucked.”

The words were raw and honest, a truth he hadn’t admitted to anyone else. But this was Izuku, who had pulled the truth from him at every turn. Izuku matched him, pushed him to be better- to be more. Together they were better and stronger than they could ever be apart. It wasn’t strange to tell Izuku things he’d never told anyone else. It just was.

“Being away from home?”

“All of it. I did what I had to, to protect my country. But…”

“What happened?”

Katsuki could tell Izuku to fuck off. He knew he could shut the conversation down. Izuku knew that sometimes there were things people didn’t want to discuss so he wouldn’t take it personally if Katsuki changed the conversation. Some of the stupidest things about Katsuki’s past sometimes held tighter, their talons digging in until talking about them became hard. He’d told Izuku that Noboru had tried to kill him and it hadn’t been as hard. Not once he’d started talking. But those first few years as king? Trying to make sure he was doing the right thing, trying to make sure he didn’t fuck everything up and lose Othya? The words didn’t come so easy.

“After I killed Noboru, I remember looking at the treasury and at the reports pouring in that he’d ignored. Our people were starving and he’d done shit about it. He’d stuffed his gut and drained our resources and we’d had bad seasons. Crops had been shit. People were begging Laima to have pity on them. Everyone was afraid that they’d die in the next winter of starvation. No one would help them. Gods knew Noboru didn’t. We had raids and shit from other countries, thieves sneaking over the border to terrorize the towns closest to them. They had nothing and people were still greedy and took what Othyians didn’t have. Noboru wasn’t going to engage in war, or send soldiers to protect them when he’d been in control. Everyone thought Jelena was around the corner, waiting to steal their souls. Othya was on the verge of collapse.”

“I didn’t know that,” Izuku said softly. “There weren’t even whispers about it.”

“I doubt there was over there. Sniycia was across the sea. Until we declared war, we were too far away to be a real problem to anyone there. And no one thought a country as poor and ragged as Othya was going to be a threat anytime soon. Maybe ever again.”

“So, what did you do?”

“I didn’t have much of a choice. I looked at everything and we weren’t going to fuckin’ survive another hard winter. People had been dyin’ already. I wasn’t much better than that shit Noboru if I let them starve. But I didn’t have the money to fix it. I knew one way to get everything. The money, the food, the respect.”

Katsuki remembered that first year so clearly. He’d been overwhelmed by the weight of the throne- a job he had been training for his whole life. The lives of his people had been a burden he’d known he would have to shoulder, had even been eager to take it away from Noboru. But he hadn’t known how heavy that burden would be. It was like carrying the whole world, not just one crumbling country.

“You went to war.”

“Othya was known for their warriors and my people were hungry in a lot of ways. I just had to give them an outlet. So, I attacked neighboring countries who had sent those raiders and thieves. I was constantly trying to fix Othya’s internal issues and plan strategies for coming war. When I was at war, I had to make sure my men and women survived. And were fed.”

“It must have been hard.”

“Yeah. It was.” He had been untried when he’d first declared war on his closest neighbor. All he’d had were instincts and his ideas and strategies. He hadn’t known if he’d been good enough, he’d just been confident that he was smarter than most of the people around him. He’d stayed up late going over plans, making sure that they were airtight for the people who were following his lead. “But I handled it. It’s my job.”

“Did you sleep? Ever?” Izuku frowned, leaning forward. “Kacchan, this was a lot- even for one person. Even for a king.”

“I did what I had to. And yeah, I slept.” When he’d needed to. A weak king was a dead king, his country up for grabs. Katsuki didn’t have an heir. He didn’t have the luxury of mistakes or weaknesses.

“This is why you want to conquer the world?” Izuku cocked his head, watching Katsuki with eyes that saw too damn much. Izuku could strip away every barrier, cut through all the bullshit. He saw Katsuki, good and bad parts all intertwined. And he didn’t walk away. “That’s even more lives, Kacchan. That’s more responsibility.”

“I’ll handle it.” Katsuki shrugged, the knots in his back and shoulders twinging from tension that had settled there. “Besides, no one can attack me if they all answer to me.”

Izuku shook his head and stood, closing the distance between the two of them. “I guess I need to learn how to help run Othya that much faster.” He shifted behind Katsuki and pressed his thumbs into the muscles, working on the knots.

Katsuki barely bit back a groan as he leaned into Izuku’s touch.

“I can help you if I learn. I’d rather learn from you, but I can learn from Eijiro or Mina if that’s better. And I do know Sniycia if any issues come up. I could stay, if you want me to. I just worry. We work well together, I don’t want to send you into war with Ashax and not be there. It’s selfish.”

“How is it selfish?” Katsuki’s tone was a little more sluggish than he’d admit to as Izuku worked on the knots. His body relaxed, the exhaustion whispering through Katsuki’s veins. He wasn’t going to get any work done if Izuku kept this up.

“I don’t want to be there to help Shouto or because it’s the right thing to do. I mean, they are there and they do matter, but it’s not why I want to go. You are. I want to be with you to make sure nothing happens. I’m afraid of the nightmares that will come when I can’t make sure you’re okay. It is selfish.”

“I’m thinking of leaving Eijiro behind, bring Mina with me.”

“I work well with Eijiro, so that’s fine with me.” Izuku’s hands ran over Katsuki’s shoulders, as though Izuku was petting him. “If you think me staying behind is best, so I can learn, I will.”

“Is Hitoshi as good an alchemist as you?”

“Lean forward for me, handsome.”

Katsuki couldn’t hold back the groan this time as he complied, pleasure mingling with the exhaustion. Izuku’s hands continued their work, melting away knots like magic.

“He’s very good. He’s smart and talented and he’ll get shit done. If you’re not taking me, I insist you take him. Just remember, he’s only one person.”

“Yeah, I get it, shortstack.”

“I know this war is going to be harder. Ashax and Enji aren’t pushovers. And they’re rested. I don’t have doubts in you, I never have. Just promise me you’ll be careful and come back.” Izuku leaned forward, his lips brushing Katsuki’s ear in a light kiss.

“I said I was thinking about you staying,” Katsuki murmured. “Not that I’d made up my mind. If you think it’s better for you to come with, it might be. I’m not leaving you home to protect you. You get a say.”

Izuku was silent for several minutes as he massaged away the tension in Katsuki’s body, his hands powerful and sure of themselves as they moved and worked. Katsuki might as well have been putty in his hands. It was all he could do not to suggest they move to the bedroom. But he didn’t interrupt. He knew Izuku was weighing the pros and cons of both options. He’d make this decision based on logic more than emotion.

“I want to go with you,” Izuku said into the silence. “I can’t explain it exactly. I just think it’s better that I go with you. My expertise is going to be better served there. I don’t think Sniycia is going to be causing any problems. And even if they did, Eijiro is more than capable of taking care of anything that comes up. Probably more than I am, right now anyway. Let’s defeat Ashax and then you can teach me. I promise I’ll listen.”

“Yeah right,” Katsuki snorted. “I don’t believe that.”

“I will,” Izuku chuckled, his breath whispering over Katsuki’s neck.

Katsuki pushed to his feet and turned to face Izuku. “Time for bed.”

“Oh?” Izuku smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “What made you decide that?”

“You know exactly what,” Katsuki growled.

He hauled Izuku close and pressed their lips together, hunger a roar in his gut. Twin groans rose into the air as Izuku pressed closer and hooked his arms around Katsuki’s neck, his lips parting in invitation. Katsuki didn’t pull away until his lungs screamed for air.

“I think I’m ready for bed too.” Izuku grinned smugly.

“Come on, nerd. Before I take you right here on the desk.”

“Promises, promises.” Izuku took Katsuki’s hand and tugged toward the door. “Let’s go. Before someone comes looking for us.”

“Yeah.” Katsui followed.

Just a little longer before the screams and blood were back. Before responsibility pressed down on him so hard, he thought he would be crushed. Just a little longer where he was just Katsuki.

That was all he wanted.

Chapter Text

Izuku was sick of traveling. He was tired of rations and being surrounded by soldiers or even friends at all times. And honestly, sleeping beneath the stars lost its luster after a while. He missed the suite he shared with Katsuki back at the castle, both the comfort of it and the privacy it offered. He missed Vihan, Ochako, and Mei already. They hadn’t even crossed Othya’s border yet, and had a long campaign ahead of them. He knew that, but he couldn’t wait to be home already. Whoever romanticized the idea of quests and military campaigns- anything that required traveling so long that they were saddlesore- was full of shit.

“You look irritated,” Denki said with a grin. He brought his mount closer to Izuku’s on his right.

Izuku shrugged and forced a smile for his friend. “I guess I’m realizing how much this kind of travel takes out of you.”

“Yeah, it can be hard. I don’t think I’ve been this tired in years. We haven’t pushed like this since Baku took over the throne.”

“Right?” Mina chimed in, guiding her horse to Izuku’s left. “I know it’s for a good cause and all, but I miss my mate. And while I can sleep on rocks or in hammocks, I prefer down pillows and the finer things.”

Denki laughed. “Yeah, this is the first time you’re leaving your mate behind, right? What did Kiri do, send you with one of his shirts?”

“You’re just jealous.” Mina stuck her tongue out at Denki, her cheeks darkening as she blushed. “Since you don’t have a mate.”

“I don’t want a mate,” Denki corrected his grin brighter and fake suddenly. “I like what I have. I’m glad you and Kiri found something, Baku too. But since you guys were so lucky, I don’t want to be so unlucky. You know?”

Mina’s answering smile was tinged with sorrow. “Yeah, I know. We lucked out.”

“Hey! I have a question that’s been bugging me about that.” Denki focused on Izuku. “How did your dad know? About you and Baku? I’ve always wanted to ask but I know that you and Baku didn’t know how. But with the war and everything, did you find out?”

“Oh. That.” Izuku made a face. “Yeah. My older sister Chika found out. She made sure to tell me before we left. I guess she thought I should know how it all started.”

“So? Tell us,” Denki insisted. “We were there and all. And your dad seemed like he had these grand plans and then…”

“He was arrogant.” Izuku shifted in his saddle. “He was arrogant and he thought he was smarter than us. He underestimated what Kacchan and I could do. What Othya could do. I don’t know what his plans were, but I think his arrogance was his downfall.”

“Is that what happened the first time? He just guessed he had Baku’s mate?” Denki cocked his head.

Mina leaned closer, clearly interested in the reply.

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “He paid a mage who specialized in looking into all future possibilities a large sum of money to find out who Kacchan’s mate was after he heard about the legend. All they could tell him was that one of his children was the mate to the Emperor of Othya. That’s why he didn’t present me first. He didn’t know who it was.”

“Huh.” Denki frowned.

“Kind of anticlimactic.” Mina nodded. “I think we all thought Hiashi was bigger than he really was. He just had connections and luck. And I mean, maybe he was kind of smart. But you’re right. He was arrogant.”

“I mean, Baku is kinda arrogant.” Denki shrugged. “Aren’t all kings?”

“To a degree,” Izuku agreed. “But Kacchan is aware of the lives resting on his shoulders. My father used to be. But when he thought he could control Othya through me and Kacchan, he got greedy. And he didn’t have anyone he listened to. Kacchan has you guys, Hanta, and Eijiro. He has Aizawa if he needs him, and he has me. He has people who tell him when they think he’s wrong. It makes him stronger. My father wouldn’t have understood. He didn’t inspire that kind of loyalty.”

“That’s sad,” Mina sighed. “That he died never knowing those bonds. That loyalty that runs between us is stronger than any temptation of power or argument. It’s bonds we created, connections of love and family. That he never knew that… That seems really sad.”

“It was.” Izuku swallowed against the knot in his throat. He wished he could feel joy that his father was gone. After everything that Hisashi had done, Izuku thought he had that right. But he didn’t. He still grieved a man who had done everything he could at the end to make people around him miserable. But emotions couldn’t be controlled. Izuku wished they could be.

“We should be stopping in a minute,” Denki said into the silence between the three of them. “I can’t wait.”

“For what?” Izuku asked, glad for the distraction.

“There is a shrine up ahead dedicated to Ludis, the god of safe travels. We’re making a stop to pay respects. We already prayed and left offerings to keep Jelena away, and to entice Andris to fight beside us.”

“I haven’t heard that name before.”

“You’ve only been here a year. And Ludis is pretty minor compared to Andris and Jelena and the others. You’ll get there.” Mina smiled.

“But if he’s so minor…”

“We don’t want to offend him, you know?” Denki shrugged. “Better safe than sorry.”

The party slowed and came to a stop soon after. Izuku dismounted and stretched, ignoring the way his muscles protested the sudden change in position after so long in the saddle. One of the servants who had come along took the reins and led his horse to the side, perhaps to take a break of its own. Izuku scanned the growing number of Othyian people taking a moment to exercise and smiled as he spotted Katsuki ahead, currently watching as several men and women kneeled before a small shrine.

He made his way to Katsuki’s side as the Othyians worshippers placed several baskets of varying sizes on the little alter. Each basket was overflowing with breads, cheeses, and produce, the first flowers of spring were scattered among the bounty.

“That’s a big offering,” he murmured.

“Ludis is fond of his spring bounties.” Katsuki shrugged. “He likes to know he’s important.”

“I thought Denki said…” Izuku frowned.

“No one likes to be called a minor anything, nerd. And no one wants to offend the god who can plague their journey with pitfalls and roadblocks. He can still cause injuries and natural disasters if he’s pissed enough.”

“Did someone make an offering to him before we left for Sniycia?”

“Yeah. He has a shrine on the way out of Dragonsprire in that direction too. Generally, you make your offerings to him once you’re on the road. It’s supposed to show that you understand the need and gravity of his domain or some shit like that.”

“I don’t remember us doing that.” Izuku watched as the Othyians who must have been chosen to make the offerings bowed, first to the sacred altar of their deity, and then to Katsuki and Izuku. They made their way back to the party at large, leaving Izuku and Katsuki alone at the shrine made of stone and wood that showed weathering from the recent winter.

“Couple of soldiers did it, just like now. Eijiro went with them to pay his respects.”

“You didn’t?”

“We all know how much I like the fuckers. But figured I should show my gratitude for a safe travel this time. War is gonna be hard enough without him adding to it.” Katsuki shook his head and rolled his shoulders, as though that could rid him of the tension Izuku knew he carried in his shoulders.

When they were back home, Izuku would be able to take more of the burdens of Katsuki’s shoulders. That was his reminder right now, his mantra whenever he felt like he was doing too little to help. Katsuki would teach him. He just had to wait until this war was over, and then he could help. He could do so much more. He just needed to wait a little longer.

“And it gives everyone who’s stiff from travel a chance to relax.” Izuku snickered. “Ulterior motive?”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki snorted and elbowed him in the side.

Izuku yelped and rubbed the offended spot. “Jerk.”

“Yeah, yeah. Ready to go?”

“I guess so…” Izuku glanced at the altar and away. He paused and his head snapped back to look at the stone too fast. He gaped, eyes wide as he looked at where the baskets had been sitting not minutes before. Now, there was nothing. It was as though the baskets had never been there. There wasn’t even a petal left behind to show that something had once been there- an offering to the god whose shrine they stood before.

“What- Where? How?!” Izuku pointed at the spot, looking from Katsuki and back towards the wood and stone. “Where did it go?”

“Guess Ludis found our offering good enough if he took it so fast.”

“He took it?” Izuku repeated, incredulous. It was like the whole world had tilted.

“I told you the gods were real, nerd.”

“I know,” Izuku said, still staring at the spot.

“What, you didn’t believe me?”

“It’s not that.”

He’d known the curse was real, that someone or something had placed it on the Othyian people. He’d meant it when he’d told Toshinori that the curse wasn’t some fulfilling prophecy of the Othyian people’s creation. But gods- even knowing that the Othyian people had them- were more of a social construct to Izuku still. In Sniycia they’d been far removed ideas, long ago believed in idols. The science of alchemy and the powder of trade and money had held far more sway in Izuku’s homeland than any long ago believed in deity. While he’d known that Othya had believed- even when Katsuki hated the gods, he believed- it had still seemed more like an idea. Like maybe the gods were asleep now? Izuku couldn’t explain with words the shock at seeing a god perform a feat of power. If a minor god had accomplished this- what could a being with much more power accomplish?

And that was what Izuku was up against in breaking the curse. It was a sobering reminder.

“I mated a moron.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Ready to keep going?”

“Yeah.” Izuku nodded, letting the insult slide. Katsuki was right. It had taken a show of might right in front of him for Izuku to really wrap his head around the idea that the gods were watching them. That they might be waiting, playing a game of chess while they decided whose life to take away. He’d had all the proof before, had believed Katsuki- but it had taken this moment for it to really hit Izuku. The gods were real.

And they weren’t going to like him trying to mess with the curse. Not at all.

OoOoO

“Are you alright?”

Izuku smiled at Shouto and shifted in the saddle to give his friend more of his attention. He couldn’t wait until they were camped for the night. At least then he wouldn’t be riding.

“I’m fine. Was there something on your mind?”

“Guilty.” Shouto nodded. “I wanted to speak to you about something I feel you alone may understand.”

“You have my full attention.”

“I am about to kill my father.”

“Oh.”

Leave it to Shouto to get right to the point of the matter.

“I apologize if it puts you in an uncomfortable position. But you are the only one I could think to talk to about this.”

“Because my father was just executed,” Izuku surmised.

Damn it. Everyone wanted to discuss his father’s execution lately. And it was one of those topics that Izuku just didn’t want to discuss. But if anyone had a right to ask him about something like this, it was probably Shouto. After all, Shouto was preparing to have his own father executed. Not that Izuku had planned for his father to die. But that didn’t change what had happened, regardless of intent.

“Yes.” Shouto nodded.

“What do you want to know?”

“I know it will be difficult…” Shouto began.

“You’ll grieve. I know you think you hate him, and you might. But you’ll still grieve for his death. And for what you wanted your relationship to be, for what that relationship wasn’t. You really will hurt. I wish I could say it was easy, but it isn’t. I don’t think it ever could be.” Izuku rubbed at his sternum and the emotion that sat heavy in his chest.

“I wish it hadn’t come to this. I hate him for many reasons. But I didn’t want to be this person.”

“Trust me, so do I. I didn’t want my father to be the man he was. And there’s a part of me that thinks I should have been more deserving of his love. That it’s my failings, not his. But I can’t change what his actions created. And neither can you.”

“Yes, but your father attempted to kidnap you. My father has done no such thing.”

“Our positions aren’t the same,” Izuku agreed with a sigh. “But they mirror each other in a way. You have your reasons for overthrowing your father. And you believe that they are the right reasons. All you can do is hold on to that and remember you’re doing this for your people more than yourself.”

“It doesn’t sit easily in my chest,” Shouto said after a minute. “I thought it would, but it doesn’t.”

“You’re human.” Izuku shrugged. “I’d be more surprised if it did.”

“I guess.” Shouto looked down at his hands. “You’re right. But I wish it were easier.”

“Me too.”

“Did you know my father knew your mother?”

“Huh?” Izuku blinked, thrown off by the chance in topic. “He did?”

“Yes. I think they may have been friends once. I heard stories about her when I was young, shortly after she’d passed. I think my father found her to be a little strange, but a kind woman. Or, that’s what he said.”

“A little strange?” Izuku repeated, leaning forward. His siblings had rarely talked about his mother, and Hisashi had refused to discuss her. Izuku had been hungry about information for her through most of his childhood, until he had learned all that anyone would tell him.

“She knew things he said. And she had a knack with flowers, even ones that were near death. He said she wasn’t a fighter, she was too kind and soft. But he at least liked her. He knew Hisashi cared for her, but he thought Inko had been tied to Sniycia less than her husband?” Shouto shrugged and offered a half-smile. “It’s all he really said. And that was a long time ago.”

“No, I’m grateful. My father…” Izuku hesitated and blinked back tears that pricked his eyes, hot and unwanted. “He said that I wasn’t his son. Those were his last words. I figured they were just him being nasty. But sometimes, I wonder.”

“I know you favor your mother in looks more than most of your siblings. My father has said as much in the past.” Shouto frowned thoughtfully. “But I can see Hisashi in you as well. He really may just have been being nasty.”

“I know. But the words stick with me, you know? And there have been some things that have happened that I can’t quite explain. Things that maybe my mother could’ve, if she was alive.”

“Why don’t you write and ask some of your siblings? They might tell you now, since Hisashi isn’t alive to get angry at them anymore.”

“I might.”

He could probably ask Haruka or Chika. They were old enough to remember Inko, and maybe there was something they knew they’d never said. Maybe now they could tell him if he knew the questions to ask. Because there were anomalies that didn’t make sense scientifically. The way the junos had reacted to him every time he came into contact with them was top of that list. There had to be something, some explanation that made sense other than because he was that lucky. Maybe the answer lay with his mother’s grave, with the stories that Haruka or Chika could tell him.

All he could do was ask.

He penned the letter that night, after they had stopped to make camp. After they’d eaten and talked about strategies for the millionth time. After they’d had meetings with Shouto, Tenya, and Momo about what was to come in the land between Othya and Ashax. After the burdens of Othya had been settled and set down for the night, Izuku wrote to his siblings and asked. Asked about Hisashi’s final words, and the stories of his mother being a little strange.

He sent it with a messenger that Katsuki had given instructions to, and curled into his husband that night. He tried not to think about the past he didn’t know about, the future war- or the anxiety of what he might find out when they replied.

He lost himself in just being in the moment, in Katsuki’s touch as they lay with their legs helplessly tangled, in their murmurs in the darkness, and tried to find sleep.

And when morning dawned and they were ready to move out again, Izuku locked the questions away. He could worry and wonder when this war was over. He could deal with his personal problems when the war was over and won. When Othya was safe and Shouto had a throne. When they were home, he could think about it more.

Until then, Othya deserved his full attention. And he wouldn’t take the risk of giving it anything less than his all. Not with a curse hanging over him and Katsuki. Not when he knew the gods watched their every move now. He didn’t know what game the gods played when it came to the lives of Othyians and their mates.

But he wasn’t taking chances.

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.

Chapter Text

This was a familiar scene.

Othyian warriors stood on guard in the unfamiliar throne room as more were rounding up the royal family that was to be executed. Katsuki waited nearby, covered in mud, ash, and the blood of his enemies, the look in his eyes that of the cool and controlled conqueror. Only Izuku knew the man beneath the chill and filth. He was the only one who knew how exhausted Katsuki was, both of war and from the punishing limits Katsuki pushed himself to. Shouto paced nearby, not the distant prince of Ashax, but a son about to see his father murdered. A man about to take on a throne and crown far heavier than its weight. The lives of so many people would soon rest on Shouto’s shoulders. And no one could take that burden from him, no one could make it easier. There were those who could offer to share it if Shouto let them. But at the end of the day, no one could share the heavy decisions save a trusted consort. If Shouto chose one, that was.

Mina and Hitoshi stood to Izuku’s right, watching the room with sharp eyes even as they spoke softly, heads bent together. Hanta and Denki, as well as Tenya and Momo, were in the castle and city at large, controlling the goings on and seeing to the complete surrender of the army. They had conquered Ashax. And no one needed to know it was by the skin of their teeth. All that mattered was that they’d done it.

It had taken the last of their alchemy stores as the warriors had still struggled to gain every inch between their encampment and the capital. Everyone had been exhausted by the end, all but dragging their way through the gates of Coburn.

They might have still lost the war had several of contingents of soldiers loyal to Shouto not showed up at the last minute to offer assistance. The gates had opened for the tired Othyian soldiers as soldiers fresh and rested from Ashax joined their ranks. It had renewed the Othyian fighting spirit, allowing their forces to power through the last battle and win the war. But gods, it had been close. The war had been brutal and long, and all Izuku wanted was to go home.

Soon, they could all head home and recuperate. After they took care of one more thing.

Soon there would be more blood spilled, this time on the dark polished wood floors beneath his boots. Izuku swallowed back the nausea that rolled through his body as he thought back to Sniycia and his family. He was back in the receiving room hours after his brother had chosen death, the bodies removed. He was staring at the same stain on the floor where his father’s body had laid. He swallowed back the bile that burned his throat and blinked hard to stop the tears that stung. His nails dug into his palms in an attempt to bring himself back to the castle in Coburn, away from Sniycia and the wound that hadn’t quite healed. He wondered if it ever would.

“Daydream later, shortstack,” Katsuki muttered. “We’re about to get company.”

“I know.” Izuku swallowed again and met Katsuki’s gaze. Understanding burned in those red depths, despite the harsh quality of his voice.

That was another reason that he couldn’t wait to get back to Othya and their home in Dragonspire. No more sleeping in tents, no more rations. He could make Katsuki relax, could make him take the time to recover from this persistent cough he’d picked up. Izuku was going to make Katsuki take some time and if anyone wanted something from the Othyian king, they could deal with him. Or Mina, or Eijiro. Katsuki was going to take some time to heal, whether he wanted to or not. He might have pushed himself harder when he was seventeen- but now he had Izuku. And Izuku was going to take care of him.

Even if Katsuki didn’t like it.

“Ready?” Katsuki asked.

“Ready.” Izuku nodded firmly. He wouldn’t show weakness that anyone could use against Katsuki or Othya. Together, they would make everyone pause before attacking Othya. No one could know how close Othya had come to losing this war.

Denki was only alive because Katsuki had brought him to Hitoshi and Izuku with wild eyes and panic written in the pallor of his skin. He’d been covered in Denki’s blood and Denki had a hole in his chest too large to mean anything but death, his body sluggish and life almost gone. It had taken the most powerful of the healing potions they’d brought with them to save Denki, as it had saved Katsuki months ago. Izuku could’ve sworn he stopped breathing- knew Katsuki didn’t really breathe at all until Denki had opened his eyes, his body healed.

No one but Izuku knew that Katsuki had stayed up for hours that night, trying to find ways to improve every strategy they had to stop Denki from being vulnerable again. No one knew that when he finally did sleep, Katsuki had woken from nightmares that had left him shaking in Izuku’s arms. No one needed to know. No one ever would.

“Let’s get this over with.” Katsuki pulled his shoulders back even further, all traces of exhaustion falling away. “Shouto.”

“I’m ready.” Shouto nodded, coming to stand by Katsuki’s other side.

“Bring him in.” Katsuki motioned to the doors. “Mina be on guard.”

“Got it boss.”

The doors opened and Enji Todoroki as led into the throne room that had once been his, bound in chains and covered in gritty ash and blood- just as most of them were.

Ashax’s deposed king glowered at them, his gaze shifting from Mina, to Hitoshi, to Izuku. Izuku braced for the full force of his gaze just in time and didn’t react to the heavy weight of Enji’s contempt. And then it was gone, Enji’s ire moving to Shouto for a long minute before settling on Katsuki.

“I see my son brought home an army.”

“And that army kicked your ass.”

Enji scowled, but he couldn’t argue. They may have almost lost the war but almost didn’t matter now. Not when it was Enji bound and awaiting execution and not them. “I should have taken Othya when I had the chance.”

Izuku bristled at the words, reminded of the past Katsuki had talked about in the privacy of his office or their suite. Ashax had been quick to take land from Othya when Noboru had been the ruling regent. Some people would see it as a mercy, protecting people from Noboru’s selfish ways. But they hadn’t taken land that people had settled on. Ashax had simple chipped away at Othya’s border, expanding their country in a slow encroach. Had Katsuki not proved a force to be wary of the minute he’d taken the throne, Izuku had no doubt there wouldn’t be an Othya by now. And Katsuki wouldn’t be alive. Enji didn't take prisoners.

“Tch. That was your mistake.” Katsuki shrugged almost easily, but Izuku could see the way his muscles tensed at Enji’s words.

“Clearly my mistake was raising a child who would betray his own,” Enji countered, glare shifting to settle on Shouto again.

Shouto met his father’s glower with the same impassiveness that Izuku had seen time and again. Shouto used the apathetic expression as a shield, as though the words could not hurt if he didn’t show it. Katsuki used his anger and quick temper as shield when needed, his arrogance a weapon he wielded as surely as the two swords currently strapped to his back. Izuku knew that Enji’s words probably wounded, but there was nothing he could do. Unlike with Katsuki, he couldn’t make Shouto show him the emotional hurt and he couldn’t help. But that didn’t mean the words didn’t hurt, somewhere deep where Shouto would never show the world.

“You killed my mother,” Shouto said flatly. He didn’t offer further explanation or excuse as he met his father’s gaze, his own full of ice.

By the wall, Hitoshi shifted and Mina leaned closer, her whisper so soft Izuku couldn’t catch what she said.

Something like regret and sorrow flickered through Enji’s eyes for the briefest of moments. It disappeared as quickly as it had come, replaced with a contemptuous sneer. Izuku wondered briefly if every king and prince learned to hide their emotions behind a mask of some kind and thought of the smile he had learned to use. He supposed they did, another price royalty paid that no one saw.

“The Othyian barbarian doesn’t put people on thrones, he takes them. How long before he takes your life?” Enji all but spat the words out.

“The barbarian king is right here,” Katsuki snapped with a dark scowl. “And I don’t explain my decisions to dead men.”

He drew one of his blades and paused, gaze shifting from Enji to Shouto and back again. The scowl was still in place but Izuku caught the emotion that slid into crimson eyes. Izuku shifted closer, his arm brushing Katsuki’s in understanding. Katsuki’s eyes flicked to Izuku’s and away, the unspoken language they were learning to create filling the space between them with just their body language.

Did Katsuki offer the chance for Shouto to kill his father? Katsuki had loved his mother and Izuku had no doubts in his mind that Katsuki would like nothing more than to take revenge on the gods for what they had done. He could give Shouto that vengeance.

But Shouto would be taking his father’s life. Enji’s blood would stain Shouto’s hands for the rest of his life if he struck the final blow. Katsuki already had the lives of so many marring his hands- what was one more?

Izuku wanted to spare Katsuki another life, another person he sent to Jelena. Izuku had read somewhere that when someone appeared in Jelena’s halls the blood of everyone that person had killed appeared on their hands. What if that was true? Katsuki already had so many lives to carry in Othya, and the lives of those he had killed to protect Othya. Did he need another?

But Izuku couldn’t have killed his father. For all that Hisashi had done or hadn’t done in his life- he’d been his father. Shouto shouldn’t live with that knowledge, with that blood. Not any more than he already would for bringing Othya here.

They seemed to reach the same decision, the same knowledge in Katsuki’s eyes as he took on another burden, prepared to take another life. Izuku would have done anything to take that burden from Katsuki, but he knew that Katsuki wouldn’t let him. No matter what Izuku argued, this was one point that Katsuki would never budge on.

“You didn’t want to say goodbye, did you?” Katsuki glanced at Shouto. “Do it now.”

Shouto frowned, his attention still on Enji Todoroki. “Goodbye, father. I hope you find peace if there is an afterlife.”

“You need to leave?” Katsuki asked gruffly.

“No.” Shouto shook his head.

“He’s not weak,” Enji snorted, something suspiciously like pride in his voice.

The urge to protest that entire mindset was overwhelming. It wasn’t weak if Shouto didn’t want to watch his father die. It wasn’t weak that Izuku still felt nauseous if he thought back to the throne room where he’d watched his family make impossible choices- where his father, step-mother, and brother had died. The words sat heavy on his tongue, the same recklessness that Katsuki accused him of during battle surging through his veins.

“It’s not weak.” The weight of Enji’s stare settled on Izuku again, but he didn’t care. “It’s not weak to not want to watch someone who’s supposed to be your father die. Especially when his mother is already dead. It means you- or maybe it’s his mother’s doing- raised a child who’s capable of emotion beyond rage and contempt or cold indifference. Which means Ashax might be in good hands. As a king and a father, you should care.”

Was he talking to Enji or his own father’s ghost at this point? Izuku didn’t know. He just had this need to make Enji understand before he died. So that maybe Shouto wouldn’t live with the same questions and regrets that Izuku had.

“I already know that Ashax is in good hands,” Enji snorted dismissively. “I didn’t need you to tell me that.”

“Great. Now can you shut the fuck up so I can get this over with?” Katsuki growled. He closed the distance between the two monarchs with quick, agitated steps.

“By all means.” Enji shrugged, seemingly unconcerned with his looming demise.

Katsuki slid his blade home in the same way he had with Hisashi, with Isamu, with Zinnia. Enji didn’t gasp or cry out as others had. The only sign that anything had happened was eyes the color of turquoise stones widening in pain, his larger body tensing.

Katsuki stepped back and pulled the sword now wet with blood, free. Enji dropped to his knees, his hands going to the wound. It wouldn’t be long now. Katsuki always seemed to choose the quickest death for those that he had to execute- even those who had wronged him. He had more compassion and mercy in his heart than most people would admit or even understand. Izuku was lucky to call him his husband and other half.

They were silent as Enji took his last shuddering breath, his eyes going empty as his body slumped to the side. Shouto crossed to his father’s side and kneeled to close Enji’s eyes. “Goodbye father,” he murmured softly.

“Consider the alliance in full force as of now,” Katsuki said, breaking the silence that had fallen after Shouto’s words. “You need us, we’ll be here.”

“And if you need anything, you need only ask.” Shouto stood and faced Katsuki, every inch a king already.

Izuku smiled a little, sure that neither Shouto or Katsuki recognized the bond they had forged over the past few months. They’d probably both deny it if he pointed it out. It was good for both of them to have a friend who understood the pressures of kingship though. And he’d make sure to keep in touch with Shouto going forward. Not as Katsuki’s consort, but as Shouto’s friend.

Shouto glanced at the men who had brought Enji into the room. “Please, take him to be prepared for burial.”

One of the men nodded and gave a soft order. Together the men picked up Enji’s body, staggering a little under the weight of him before they left, their steps slow.

“We should head home,” Mina said, pushing away from the wall. “There’s a lot to do and I know our soldiers want to rest and help raise crops.”

And she wanted to see Eijiro, as well as get Denki back home, Izuku figured. She’d been on edge since Denki’s injury. Given how close the group Katsuki called his council was, Izuku wasn’t surprised. Katsuki had let Denki return to battle because he hadn’t had a choice if they wanted to win the war, but Hanta had been sticking even closer than before. Hitoshi had been checking on Denki too, worried in his own way. Not that he’d ever admit it. The fact that they’d nearly lost one of their friends wasn’t lost on anyone.

“Do you need us to leave some men here with you?” Izuku asked Shouto.

“No, I think I can manage. I need to prove to the people that I am capable without your support. I need to prove I’m strong enough.” Shouto smiled slightly. “Thank you though.”

“Othya would be the same way.” Katsuki nodded as he cleaned his sword.

Izuku shook his head. “I guess Sniycia was different. Just let us know if you need something, okay?”

“I will. And you do the same.” Shouto’s smile grew slightly. “Promise me you’ll write.”

“I will.” Izuku smiled. “I promise.”

“Alright.” Katsuki slid his sword back into its sheath. He coughed once, but it sounded harsh and too deep for Izuku’s liking. He wasn’t a healer, but he was an alchemist. He knew enough to be a little concerned, and he was. Katsuki turned toward the doors. “Let’s go home.”

“One thing before you go.”

Izuku glanced back at Shouto. “Hm?”

“What the fuck now?” Katsuki muttered bad-temperedly. “If this is about feasts to celebrate, or any of that, I don’t care. I’m sure we could rest here for the night. My people are going home.”

“I know,” Shouto said easily, unphased by Katsuki’s annoyance. “It may surprise you, but this isn’t about you.”

“Hah?!” Katsuki spun around.

Izuku sighed. They had been getting along. “Please don’t fight.”

Shouto shrugged dismissively and turned to look at Hitoshi. “Stay with me?”

Hitoshi blinked, confusion evident as he met Shouto’s gaze. “Excuse me?”

“Stay, please. Here, in Ashax, with me. I want… I want to try to make something work. Something like Katsuki and Izuku have. I’m a better person when you’re around. You might confuse me and aggravate me more than almost any person I’ve ever met, but you also make me smile and laugh more. You understand me in a way that… others do not.”

Izuku laughed as Hitoshi glanced at him, clearly off-kilter. He answered the unspoken question, the loyalty between Izuku and Hitoshi spanning so many years. And now it might span miles. “That’s your choice. I just want you happy.”

It would hurt, having Hitoshi so far away. He was Izuku’s best friend and brother in all but blood. He knew how Izuku’s mind worked and he was a talented alchemist. Izuku would miss him as both, but it was as a brother and friend that he wasn’t going to stand in the way of Hitoshi. After all, Hitoshi had followed him across an ocean and had stood by Izuku’s side as they’d gone to war with Sniycia.

And he’d seen this coming in the corner of his mind. The part of him that hadn’t been absorbed in the war and in Katsuki’s health had known. He’d seen the two of them together often enough, heads bent together in discussion. He had seen Shouto smile more and so had Hitoshi. Honestly, he had rarely seen one without the other for a while now.

“Well since you can’t live without me, I guess I could stay.” Hitoshi smirked, but the surprise and pleasure was clear in his eyes.

Izuku had known Hitoshi’s answer before it came. And if he was a little sad to know his friend would be a country away, he was happy to see Hitoshi with the same chances he’d shared with Katsuki.

Besides, wait until Ochako heard this!

“I can have your stuff sent here,” Izuku offered.

“It just gives more of a reason to work on the alchemy for some kind of two-way mirror connection.” Hitoshi shrugged as he mentioned one of his alchemy projects that they had been poking at for years. “Letters take a while.”

“Deal.” Izuku smiled and tugged his best friend into a tight hug.

“Did you just steal one of my best alchemists?” Katsuki asked from behind Izuku, a frown clear in his voice. “With romance?”

“And?” Shouto asked, sounding very smug.

“Fuck off,” Katsuki started, before dissolving into a harsh coughing fit.

Izuku pulled away to look at Katsuki, a shiver chasing up his spine. “I wish we could stay. But I think we should head home so he can rest and recover from this stupid cold or whatever. He’s been fighting it for a while.” And Katsuki had pushed too hard.

“Do you want my healers to take a look?” Shouto asked, frowning. “I can call for one.”

“It’s a fuckin’ cough. I don’t need anyone hovering over me. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Izuku promised as Shouto turned to look at him. “But I can’t change his mind. He’s stubborn like that.”

“I’m right here,” Katsuki growled.

“We are aware,” Hitoshi said dryly.

“Stay the night at least,” Shouto pressed. “Rest in a bed. That might help the cough.”

“Thank you,” Izuku said quickly, before Katsuki could say anything. “One night would be wonderful. It will let the military rest before we move out as well.”

“Fine,” Katsuki grumbled. “I guess it’s already late.”

Izuku tuned out the discussion of sleeping arrangements and dinner, watching Katsuki instead. He hoped a good night’s rest would be exactly what Katsuki needed. And failing that, being back home in Othya should help. Othya’s air always seemed sweeter, cleaner. And being home was known to be relaxing for most people.

But he couldn’t chase away the sense of dread that whispered through his veins saying it was more.

It was just a cough thanks to Katsuki pushing himself through two wars. That was reasonable. And something Izuku could and would fix, if necessary.

Nothing to worry about.

Chapter Text

They were finally home.

And thank the fucking gods, because Katsuki was tired of sleeping in a tent and eating rations. He was also kind of tired of Izuku hovering every time he coughed or shivered or anything. Yeah, maybe he had pushed his body a little too hard. It wasn’t like he’d had a choice between the two wars. There was no way he would’ve sent his people to Ashax without him. He’d gone to war and yeah, he’d probably made this stupid cough last longer than it usually would. He’d be fine with some rest. He just needed Izuku to quit fucking hovering.

He’d checked in with Eijiro and received an update on what had happened while he’d been away. There was a list of paperwork for him to take a look at when he had time, meetings to be held now that he was back. Being a king didn’t stop because he had a cough. There were no sick days. Maybe one day there would be, when Izuku knew the ins and outs of running Othya as well as Katsuki did. And if one of them was sick, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. For now, that wasn’t the case.

Besides, he had to start teaching Izuku how to help run Othya day-to-day.

Which he might be more willing to do, if Izuku wasn’t watching him with large, worried eyes. Like Katsuki was going to pass out because he coughed too hard. He didn’t need to be coddled. He never had been. And any chance of that had perished long ago, when his parents had died.

“Stop looking at me like that, nerd.” Katsuki folded his arms, glare focused entirely on his mate.

Other people wilted under the force of his scowl, turning into stuttering messes that realized they’d pissed off a king who was more than willing to conquer their country. Katsuki had learned how to wield power quickly. He’d learned how to weave fear into it too. If someone wasn’t going to respect him, they’d sure as fuck learn to fear him. He didn’t care if it was for his reputation, or if they thought he was a barbarian. He’d always used whatever he could get.

Izuku didn’t wilt. He never had and probably never would. He had a core of steel that allowed him to meet Katsuki’s glare without even a flinch. It meant they were even, which was good- even if part of Katsuki wished that Izuku would wilt just a little. So that he’d do what Katsuki said.

Which was never going to happen, and Katsuki knew it. Fuckin’ nerd.

“Looking at you like what?” Izuku arched an eyebrow, defiant and caring to the end.

“Like I’m about to pass the fuck out.”

“I don’t think you’re about to pass out, Kacchan.” Izuku shook his head as his lips quirked up in a smile. His eyes were still worried though. “I just want you to rest and get better.”

“What the hell do you define as resting?” Katsuki growled. He ignored the tightness in his chest that warned of an impending coughing fit. “I’m sitting at my desk.”

“I’d feel better if you weren’t working at all. You need to take time to actually rest. So that your body can recover properly. It’s not enough that you’re no longer expanding energy on the battlefield or traveling. You need to let your body focus on healing.”

“I can’t just take off because I don’t feel good. Kings don’t get that luxury, you know that.”

“I do,” Izuku agreed. “But I know that you’ve taken days to be with me when you could’ve been working. Let Eijiro and Mina worry about things for a few days. You said you heal fast, right? You’ll be back to normal in no time if you let yourself rest first.”

“You think you can order me around, huh?” Katsuki snorted, torn between irritation and amusement. “You know I usually take care of myself.”

“You do. You’re probably way better at it than I ever have been or will be,” Izuku laughed. “We both know how reckless I am. But you said you’re rarely sick, right?”

“So?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “What does that have to do with shit?”

“I can almost guarantee you don’t know how to take care of yourself when you are sick. Your body usually just burns it away before it can take hold. This time, it didn’t. So, you should do what I say.”

“Because?”

“Because I have been sick.” Izuku shrugged, as though that explained everything. “So, I know what your body needs.”

“You’ve been hovering since we left Ashax and I haven’t given in. What makes you think I’m gonna listen now?” He wasn’t some invalid that Izuku had to nurse back to health. It was just a stupid cough. He didn’t have a fever, he wasn’t vomiting up food or blood, or anything else. He was fine.

“Kacchan, you’re stubborn but not stupid. You know that I’m going to worry. I have anxiety, worrying is part of what I do, whether we like it or not.” Izuku’s smile softened with self-awareness. “I’m not asking you lay in bed doing nothing.”

“You’re not?” Katsuki asked, skeptical.

“Nope. I want you to rest, not be bored out of your mind. What if you just take the rest of today and tomorrow? I can take the time too if you’d prefer. Other than taking Vihan out we can just relax in our suite and hide from the world. You can read a few documents so you get some work done. I can pop into the library and get a few books on the history of Othya and the gods. I figure that’s a good place to start for curse breaking. We’ll just take it easy.”

That sounded reasonable. Damn Izuku for being reasonable about all of this.

But Katsuki was tired and his cough was irritating. So, yeah. Maybe it would be a good idea to take the rest of the day and the next one to just take it easy. Maybe it would be better if Katsuki just listened to Izuku and took the time to relax. He didn’t have to stop working entirely if there were things he had to work on. And after the wars- especially the one with Ashax- it would be nice to just stop and breathe.

“Fine,” he sighed. “Sure. Let’s do that. On one condition.”

Izuku frowned. “What?”

“You stop fuckin’ hovering,” Katsuki started. His own body cut him off, the tightness in his chest twisting as he coughed. It was like his body was trying to hack up his own lungs. His fingers gripped the arms of his chair, as though that could somehow stabilize him.

Izuku was at his side between one cough and the next, rubbing Katsuki’s back soothingly.

The spasm slowed and eventually subsided. Katsuki took a deep breath, the office around him spinning too much. He met Izuku’s gaze, green eyes dark with worry again.

He sighed. “Come on, nerd. Let’s go.”

OoOoO

A few days of rest wasn’t kicking the cough.

In fact, it continued to rob him of breath, until whatever room he was in spun around him at dizzying speeds. He was still tired, even though he slept like a rock at night and did next to nothing during the day. His friends had joined forces with Izuku and had barred him from training at dawn or doing anything for Othya. He felt fine other than the cough and being a little tired, but they were nothing if not persistent. Mina and Eijiro had led the argument and Mina had been quick to point out that they were his stewards for a reason. And it wasn’t just for war. Katsuki had admitted she was right with bad tempered grace.

He was bored, irritated, and had to admit that he was sick. Worse, the worry in Izuku’s eyes wasn’t going away. It was increasing with every day, with every coughing fit that left Katsuki gasping for breath and waiting for the room to stop spinning. He didn’t know what was stewing beneath the mop of green curls, but Katsuki was pretty sure he wasn’t going to like it. Izuku wouldn’t answer when Katsuki asked what he was thinking. Instead, he’d deflect with a discussion about the alchemical texts that Toshinori had sent and what he’d found within. Or he’d talk about something he’d found in the books about the gods and Othyian History. And no amount of demanding was getting Katsuki answers.

“What was your father like?” Izuku asked, breaking the quiet that had fallen.

Katsuki shot him a hard look, trying to decipher what Izuku was trying to get at by asking about his father. Masaru hadn’t come up in a lot of conversations, even less that Katsuki’s mother had. Parents weren’t a casual conversation topic for either of them. Why was Izuku asking now? It didn’t feel like the kind of shit he was asking to fill the silence and pass time. This question had meaning, a reason.

Izuku met Katsuki’s gaze, his own expressive eyes impossible to read. Katsuki didn’t like that. He hadn’t realized how much he’d come to rely on Izuku being easy to read, how willing he was to share his emotions, until it was gone. He grit his teeth against the frustration that ignited beneath his skin.

“Why?”

“Please? Unless it’s too painful. I understand that.”

“He was my old man.” Katsuki shrugged. “He was softer than my mother- quieter. She commanded a room. But he wasn’t weak. He learned things because he was easier to talk to. My mother demanded respect for both of them. She had to as queen and she was good at it. My father used his talents to help her like you help me. They adored each other. And he was a good dad, even if I was a lot more like my mom.”

“He sounds great, like everything your mother needed.” Izuku’s smile was soft and sorrowful.

“He was,” Katsuki murmured. “I’ve said it before, but his death destroyed her.” It was why Katsuki had been orphaned at seven and left to Noboru’s care. It was why Othya had been in such bad shape when Katsuki had finally been able to take the throne. Because Mitsuki had cared too much about her mate- until she’d died rather than live without him.

And hell, maybe it was like mother, like son. Katsuki had no plans to die anytime soon, or to let the gods take Izuku away from him. He’d fight to the end. But Mitsuki hadn’t chosen to die. She’d just been unable to keep going. Broken hearts didn’t pierce lungs, but they did destroy an appetite or most any motivation.

“What was his sickness like?”

Understanding slammed into Katsuki with the force of a dragon. “It’s not the curse.”

“How do you know that?” Izuku argued, tension and fear bleeding into his eyes. “How do you know it’s not?”

“Because my father’s sickness was a hell of a lot more severe. Eijiro’s parents died the same way.”

“What if it starts with the cough? How do you know? Do you remember? How do you know they didn’t hide the cough from you?” Izuku demanded, knuckles turning white from how hard he was clenching his fists. “You don’t.”

“Calm the fuck down.” Katsuki pushed out of chair, intent on reaching Izuku. He wasn’t sure if he was going to shake him or pull him into his arms. This was what Izuku had been worrying about and avoiding talking about. This was what had Izuku so messed up. It was all about this stupid cough.

Izuku shot up out of his chair, shaking his head hard. “I don’t want to lose you. You thought the curse would take me, but what if it takes you?”

“Easy. I wouldn’t suffer as much as if it took you. Would you just calm down and listen to me?”

“No.” Izuku shook his head, tears glimmering in his eyes. “You want to prove it’s not the curse?”

“No shit,” Katsuki snarled. “I want you to calm the fuck down. It’s just a damn cough.”

“Take my potions. You know I brew some of the strongest work and Toshinori has said so himself. Take them.”

“Doesn’t that shit just cure poisons and wounds? How’s it going to take care of a cough?” Katsuki wasn’t about to agree to something that was only going to freak Izuku out more- like some false positive.

“No, they cure disease too. Any fevers or illnesses. I’d make you take one of the ones with juno flowers, but I’m out.” Izuku watched Katsuki, his jaw clenched in a sure sign of stubborn resolve. “Which won’t be for long. Please? I’ll give you the strongest one I have. One that I know helped my sister Aline when she was sick. If it doesn’t cure your cough then it’s not natural. Please, Kacchan.”

“Fine,” Katsuki sighed. “Go get it.”

“I already have it.” Izuku reached behind him and picked up a vial that had been hidden by a stack of books. It shimmered in the fading sunlight, highlighting the lilac purple swirling through a brilliant blue. “I was going to make you take it no matter what. I didn’t care if I had to bully you into it.”

“As if you could,” Katsuki grumbled, taking the glass from Izuku’s hand. “Once the cough is gone, you’re gonna relax, got me?”

“You can give me all the orders you want,” Izuku said, the ghost of a smile appearing and gone in seconds, fear chasing it away. “After.”

“Best I’m going to get, isn’t it?” Katsuki knew when he was beat.

Izuku just folded his arms and waited, eyes moving from the vial to Katsuki and back again.

“Fine, shitsnack. Fuckin’ relax.”

“Now I know I pissed you off.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes as he uncorked the top of the vial and brought it to his lips. He swallowed the contents in two gulps and made a face. It tasted like straight sugar, enough to rot Katsuki’s teeth. He glared at Izuku.

“It’s meant to be easier to take when you’re sick.” Izuku shrugged. “I can try to adjust the flavor for next time but I can’t promise it. That could render its effects useless”

“There’s not gonna be a next time. I told you, I don’t get sick. This is the first time I can really remember something taking hold.” Katsuki set the bottle down. The glass made weird clanking sound, like it was too heavy. He arched an eyebrow.

“We leaded it.” Izuku smiled slightly, fear still too present in green depths. “How do you feel?”

“The same. But I feel fine when I’m not coughing, so I guess we just wait.”

Izuku nodded. “You’ve been coughing regularly, at least every thirty minutes. So, if you don’t cough for a few hours we’ll know we’re okay. I can also track down a healer and see if they can check you out.”

“Izuku…”

“I can’t stop worrying. I can’t stop being afraid that the curse is here. When you first told me about the curse I didn’t understand. It was more like an intellectual curiosity. But I’ve seen how people react when the curse is mentioned. I’ve seen how people I respect shrink back in fear. And not much scares them. I know you believe in it. You curse the gods because of it. It’s why your parents are dead. I thought we’d have longer than this. And maybe I’m wrong. I want to be! But…”

“But you can’t prove this in your lab,” Katsuki sighed heavily and raked a hand through his hair. “You either wait for the cough to go away or not. You can’t fix this and you don’t like being helpless any more than I do.”

“What’s the point of being a great alchemist if I can’t cure my husband’s cough?” Izuku swallowed.

“C’mere shortstack.” He opened his arms and Izuku closed the distance between them willingly, wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s waist and burying his head in Katsuki’s neck. Katsuki held him tightly, breathing in the smell that would never be anyone but Izuku. The spilled ink and herbs were a little sharper than the earth after a storm, but it was still Izuku. Every note of his scent made up Katsuki’s mate- his other half.

He wished that Izuku hadn’t carried this fear alone. They were going to have to talk about that. Izuku hadn’t had to carry this stupid fear. He could have just told Katsuki and they would have fixed it earlier. Katsuki wasn’t cursed. They hadn’t had long enough, hadn’t done enough together. The curse wasn’t here yet. He refused to believe it.

The gods couldn’t have either of them with this stupid curse. If Izuku wanted to break it, they would. They had the time. They had to. Katsuki refused to believe anything else.

“You haven’t coughed,” Izuku said as he finally pulled back, wiping at his eyes.

Tear tracks marked his cheeks and Katsuki knew that his tunic was wet. He just didn’t care. If Izuku had needed to cry to get this fear out of his system, fine. It had to be better than holding it in. He still didn’t know what to do when Izuku cried but he had learned how to deal with it. He’d probably never know what to do with tears. But since Izuku was an emotional person, one who cried as easy as breathing it seemed- he just dealt with it. He didn’t really have another option.

“Told you it was just a stupid cough.”

“I guess so.” Izuku smiled slowly. “I may have been worried about nothing, but I’m not sorry. You matter too much.”

“You’re embarrassing is what you are,” Katsuki grumbled, looking away from Izuku.

“You like me this way, handsome.”

“Die,” Katsuki said flatly.

“I can probably tell Mina and Eijiro that you’re fine again. They’ll stop stonewalling you from working then.”

“I can’t believe they sided with you.”

“They just like me better.”

Katsuki went to reply and stopped short. Something twisted and pressed on his lungs, as though someone was sitting on Katsuki’s chest or pressing him into the ground. He couldn’t breathe past the force. He coughed hard enough he took a step back, his body doubling over as it shook from the force of his cough. He wanted to take a breath but couldn’t, his body trying hard to expel whatever it was that had irritated it.

Slowly, the coughs stopped. Katsuki straightened carefully and wiped at his mouth. Flecks of red stained his hand as he pulled it away, dark and unmistakable as anything but blood. He looked away and up at Izuku, who had gone too pale, his freckles standing out against ghost-white skin.

Katsuki wanted to tell the gods to fuck themselves. They didn’t own him. He couldn’t make his lips move.

Neither of them spoke.

Maybe there was nothing to say.

The curse was here. And it had chosen who would die.

Chapter Text

“Stop lookin’ at me like that.”

“Like what?” Izuku swallowed hard, nails digging into his palms.

“Like I’m about to fall over dead. I’m gonna be fine, nerd.”

“You can’t promise that.” Izuku took a deep breath, trying to keep the fear that was twisting up his insides under control. “You’ve never lied to me before. Don’t start now.”

He’d known it was the curse. Not at first, but the anxiety had been there. It had started as a quiet voice in the back of his mind, a bully that kept poking at the idea of the misfortune set down by the gods. He’d told himself again and again that it wasn’t, couldn’t be.. When any of the Othyians he’d come to call friends had talked about the curse, they had acted like it would come after him. That was why Katsuki hadn’t wanted to care about him at the beginning, why he hadn’t wanted a mate. The curse was supposed to take Izuku away.

But instead it had fallen on Katsuki. It wasn’t fair.

Not that curses were ever fair.

But it wasn’t right that the gods were taking Othya’s king. It wasn’t fair that they were taking away the man that everyone looked to, the one person that so many people believed was unstoppable, invincible. What would happen to Othya if Katsuki died? Would the enemies Katsuki had made over the years swarm the land, hoping to conquer and pillage and claim?

Would Izuku be able to stop them? Would the Othyian people even let him try to help? It wasn’t like he was Othyian through anything but marriage and loyalty.

His heart twisted as though in a vise. He didn’t want to let Katsuki go. The healing potion hadn’t worked, but there was always the one that had saved Katsuki’s life before. He’d have to create it again, which would require more flowers from the juno’s blood. But that was fine. Izuku would pay whatever price it cost if it meant keeping Katsuki here, healthy and alive.

“I’m not gonna die. The gods aren’t gonna take me fuckin’ anywhere. I have shit to do and I don’t feel like dying.” Katsuki folded his arms, the picture of stubborn strength as he all but challenged the gods.

Gods Izuku had had a hard time believing in, despite all the evidence. At least, until he’d seen it with his own eyes. Now he knew and he had to race against the curse they’d set. He didn’t know how long it was going to take for the curse to steal Katsuki’s life. He just knew that he couldn’t let it.

He’d thought they’d have more time. Why, he didn’t know. Curses were supposed to come when they were least expected and wanted. They were supposed to be cruel and heartbreaking for the people they affected. And there was no known way to break this particular curse. Not yet, anyway. Izuku had planned to take some time to figure it out once they were back from their campaign to set Shouto on the throne in Ashax. But time wasn’t on his side.

He wasn’t going to give up. He couldn’t. He’d figure out how to break the curse. He had to.

“You don’t feel like it?” He forced a smile. It felt fake, but it was the best he could do. He didn’t want to add to Katsuki’s worries and stress. They leaned on each other as partners, but in this moment, Izuku was the one who had to step up. Katsuki didn’t need his tears or the fear that was clawing at his gut. He needed to know he could depend on Izuku.

“I’ll be fine,” Katsuki repeated, jaw tight in pure obstinate defiance. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“You can’t promise that.” Izuku folded his arms over his chest.

“Why not?” Katsuki demanded. “You sure as fuck did before we left for Sniycia. You told me you’d fight the damn gods to stay here.”

“I remember-”

“I’m makin’ the same damn promise. And I’m gonna win.” Katsuki’s scowl dared Izuku to contradict him.

“It’s different!” Izuku snapped. He turned away from Katsuki to pace the length of their bedroom, anger and a sickening terror mixing in his stomach.

“Why? Why is it different?” Katsuki snarled, stepping directly into Izuku’s path.

“Because it’s you!” Izuku fought the need to shake his husband. “Because yes, I’m reckless but I’ve always made it! Because we’re talking about gods who probably hate you as much as you hate them! It’s just different!”

“You wanna break the curse, right?” Katsuki growled, hauling Izuku closer. “We’ll just break it. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving.”

Izuku placed his hand on Katsuki’s chest in an attempt to create distance between them. “We’re just going in circles.”

“Yeah, so calm down and listen to me.”

Izuku glared at Katsuki. He knew he couldn’t give up. He knew that breaking the curse was possibly their only option. That didn’t make the sickening sense of dread any less overwhelming, any less terrifying. Could he live without Katsuki?

Maybe. But he didn’t want to try to learn.

“If I was the one who was sick you wouldn’t be so calm. You’d be furious and scared. I’m human, Katsuki. I can’t help my emotions.” Izuku forced himself to swallow back the anger, to focus on logic. Maybe that would get through to Katsuki when the sheer horror of the situation clearly wasn’t.

“You can trust me,” Katsuki countered. “Together we’ll figure this stupid curse out. Got it?”

“If I said just trust me, would you?” Izuku blew out a breath. “I’m not letting you go. I can’t just let you go. I’m going to fight this with everything I have in me.”

“Good. Now stop winding yourself up.”

“You’re a jerk.” Izuku sighed and let Katsuki hold him close, his hands trapped between their chests. “You know that?”

“Might be. Guess that makes me your jerk, huh?”

“Yeah, it does.” Izuku smiled weakly. “Just don’t go anywhere I can’t follow you, okay? I finally like the life we have. I don’t want to lose it all.”

“I’m not going to leave. I’ve got too much to do still. Even if I have to fight the gods myself, I’ll be around,” Katsuki promised, the crimson of his eyes dark and serious.

“You can’t…”

“Shut up,” Katsuki murmured. “We’re done arguing. I’m not leaving, we’re gonna break the shitty curse. So just shut it.”

He cut off Izuku’s reply, bringing their mouths together in a kiss so achingly tender it stole Izuku’s breath. He pressed closer, deepening the kiss, chasing down the taste of Katsuki. Izuku squirmed and freed his hands. His fingers tunneled through blond hair far softer than it looked, pressing them closer.

Katsuki’s hands skimmed down his back and cupped his ass, pressing them impossibly closer as the kiss changed from tender and soft to desperate, needy.

Izuku broke away only when his lungs demanded it. He tugged hard at Katsuki’s shirt, meeting Katsuki’s gaze. “Need to touch you.”

Katsuki stripped off his tunic and Izuku’s followed in short succession, both pieces of clothing tossed who knew where in the room. Their bodies pressed together, mouths finding one another again as though even that brief time apart had been too long.

Izuku was the one who led them to the blanket he’d spread out on the balcony earlier this afternoon, in hopes that the late afternoon sun would help Katsuki’s cough. Now, they tumbled to the ground together, lost in one another’s touches.

The scent of arousal rose into the air, sharp and heady as they moved together, pleasure building. Their legs tangled together as hands and mouths found sensitive spots learned months ago. They stripped each other down with quick movements, twin moans rose into the air as skin met skin, their cocks brushing.

Izuku whimpered as Katsuki prepped him beneath the stars, fingers stretching and teasing in equal measure. His heart felt like it was too full, like it would burst at any moment. How could anyone love someone else this much? Until it was all encompassing, until it was everything?

He groaned, reaching for Katsuki. “Now, now. Please.”

Their lips met again, desperate to be near each other more than a real kiss. There was an acidic taste of fear layered beneath the need and pleasure, beneath the taste so uniquely Katsuki that Izuku would know it even blind. They were both afraid, both trying so hard to hold on to the here and now, to each other. The future loomed just around the corner, uncertain and with the potential to destroy everything. But for now, it was just them beneath the stars.

Tears, hot and bitter, fell from Izuku’s eyes as he met Katsuki’s every move, soaking the curls at his temples. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this had been a goodbye as much as it had been a promise not to leave. His fingers dug into Katsuki’s shoulders hard enough to leave marks behind as they moved together, pleasure an avalanche that threatened to bury them. But it couldn’t erase the dread that had settled, the anxiety that reminded Izuku they were living on borrowed time.

He cried out as release rushed through him, a burning heat that threatened to obliterate all thought. Katsuki collapsed on top of him with a groan, their skin sticky from sweat and sperm. Izuku’s heartbeat thundered in his ears as he lay there, trying to catch his breath again.

A soft summer breeze blew over the balcony, cooling Izuku’s heated skin. He swallowed, trying to wet a throat and mouth that had gone dry.

“I’ll find a way to break the curse,” he croaked. “I promise.”

Katsuki groaned and rolled to the side, starfishing out on the blankets. He turned his head and met Izuku’s gaze. “Yeah, we will. The gods don’t know what the hell they’re up against.”

“And if I can’t…” Izuku paused as his heart squeezed painfully and blinked back more tears. He didn’t even want to imagine failing. “Where you go, I go.”

“No.” Katsuki’s eyes hardened. “Don’t make stupid promises. I’m not dying, and you’re not following me anywhere.”

“Giving orders?” Izuku swallowed against the painful lump in his throat. His voice sounded strangled, even to his own ears.

“Yeah, and I got another. Listen to me.” Katsuki pushed up on his elbow, looming over Izuku as their gazes clashed again, Katsuki’s eyes intense. “I am not going anywhere. We’ll figure this shit out. It’s gonna take a lot more than this curse to take me out. Got me?”

“Got it.” Izuku let Katsuki’s stubborn, bullheaded, confidence fill him.

“Good,” Katsuki grumbled. He dropped back onto the blankets. “And you’re gonna lift this ban on me not doing work.”

“I’m not.” Izuku shook his head as Katsuki scowled at him. “What if you get worse?”

“If it’s a curse, I’m gonna get worse regardless.”

“We’re not arguing because you won’t win. Just shut up and deal with it.”

“Now who’s giving orders?”

“They’re good ones, so you’re going to listen.”

“We’ll see,” Katsuki said, stubborn to the last.

“We will.” Izuku had no intentions of letting Katsuki make things worse.

It was a sickness, right? Izuku would exhaust every option to treat it, including forcing Katsuki to rest more. No one had made the healing elixirs Izuku had since coming to Othya. Once he had more flowers created from juno blood, he’d try that. He’d try anything.

“You look less lost and worried now. More like you’re gonna be the reckless nerd I know. Don’t do stupid shit, got me?” Katsuki tugged Izuku close again.

“You love me stupid and reckless.”

“More like in spite of it,” Katsuki grumbled, looking away from Izuku.

“Then let me be stupid and reckless if it works. I’ll tell you before I do anything really stupid.”

“You better. I’m doing whatever it is with you. Got it?”

“Got it.” A small smile tugged at Izuku’s lips.

They’d fix this. Together. They had to.

Chapter Text

Izuku watched as the alchemy he was working on lightened, turning sunflower yellow. Soon streaks of gold would appear in the mixture, signaling that the elixir was done.

Izuku was beyond impatient for it to be done. He’d collected the juno flowers on a quick excursion a few days ago with Denki and Ochako’s help. Now he just had to wait for the Oustra elixir to be finished.

Katsuki had been the one to name the potion that had saved his life. Mina had been suggesting names on their way home from Ashax to pass the time. Dzieveba had been the forerunner. The word meant Life in the ancient Othyian language that Katsuki had taught her and Eijiro as a child. Izuku had heard the language in passing, usually when Katsuki was exhausted, but he had yet to learn it.

Katsuki had shrugged.

“I’ll teach you one day. It’s not used much anymore since trade needs a common tongue and all. Besides, it’s a stupid name. Too literal for what you created. It didn’t give me life. It just removed the poison.”

Mina stuck her tongue out at him.

“It saved your life though,” Hanta pointed out, grinning unrepentantly when Katsuki shifted in his saddle to scowl at him. “You keep looking at people like that and your face is gonna freeze that way.”

“Die,” Katsuki grumbled.

Izuku smiled. “Toshinori is bugging me for a name. I’ve got to give him something. Why not Dzieveba?”

“It did save your life. That’s a blessing, don’t you think?” Hanta shrugged.

“If you wanna call it a blessing at least use the right name. The Oustra Tree is all about blessings and life.”

“You have a Tree of Life?” Izuku asked, leaning forward in his saddle curiously.

“Yeah, old legend. It connects the past, present, and future and blesses people.” Katsuki coughed, his hands tightening on his thighs as he clearly fought to breathe.

Izuku frowned, worry a constant buzz in his mind. “Oustra it is.”

Izuku was hoping that since the elixir had saved Katsuki’s life once, it would do it again. After all, wasn’t the curse like a poison? And if it was a sickness, there had to be some kind of root that could be healed. Whatever it took, Izuku was going to find the answer. This seemed like the most logical starting place.

If this failed, he’d regroup. But it wasn’t going to fail. It had brought Katsuki back from near death once. And the juno flowers were probably more magical than scientific, given their healing properties came from golden goat blood. Izuku was willing to put his faith in magic. He was willing to put his faith in just about anything to fix it- save the gods themselves.

He didn’t understand how so many people in Othya could still worship the very gods who had allowed a curse like what he was facing to stand. He knew Katsuki respected the beliefs of his people and paid his respects as needed. But he did it out of responsibility- not desire or gratefulness. How did the Othyians still cling to gods who didn’t care about them?

The Oustra elixir flashed gold for a moment and Izuku released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He poured the liquid into vials with hands that shook. He took another deep breath and capped them, trying to calm his nerves.

He had to believe that this would work. He had backup plans if it didn’t. But he needed to believe it would. He needed to know Katsuki would be okay.

How had he come to depend on one person so much? How could he love Katsuki with such force that even the idea of losing him made his heart ache and terror sing in his veins?

He picked up one of the glass bottles and headed for the courtyard where the dragons were likely to be sunning themselves. Mina and Eijiro had enforced the ban on how much Katsuki was allowed to work as the curse had progressed. It was the only way they could help, the only way they knew how to protect the man who was like their brother. Katsuki had snarled and growled, but complied with ill grace.

Since he couldn’t be in his office, there was little doubt Katsuki would be with the dragons.

Izuku stepped into the sun and heat and spotted Katsuki immediately. He was leaning against Krishna, documents surrounding him on either side. Dragons sunned themselves on the roof of the castle and the open spots on the courtyard, many others playing amongst themselves in the sky above them.

Izuku couldn’t help smiling at their antics. Vihan, who had followed when he left the laboratory, started pestering the closest dragon immediately. The dragons might not be Katsuki’s, but they clearly respected and cared for him. Which meant that Vihan could annoy them and climb all over them, and nothing would happen to him.

“Behave, Vihan.” Izuku folded his arms as the fox yipped in reply and shook his head, turning back to Katsuki.

“He’s lucky they don’t eat him. Or flatten him.” Katsuki rolled his eyes and pushed himself up and away from Krishna. The gray dragon grumbled as Katsuki left his side. Krishna wasn’t stupid. He knew something was wrong and he wanted to make it right.

“Yeah, I’m glad they at least tolerate him.” Izuku smiled as one of the smaller dragons nudged Vihan.

“You finished it, huh?” Katsuki motioned to the vial in Izuku’s hand.

“Yeah.” Izuku passed it over. “Let’s see if it works.”

Katsuki uncorked the vial. “Think your alchemy can defeat gods, nerd?”

“Well, you claim that since I’m yours, I’m the best. So, let's hope so. Because plan B is going back to the library and finding even more ancient texts to read. I can read fast, but I don’t know if I can read fast enough to find something that will fix this.” Izuku shifted his weight from foot to foot nervously. He needed this to work.

“To sticking it to the assholes who put us here,” Katsuki said, raising the bottle in a mock toast. He brought the vial to his lips and swallowed it in one gulp, making a face as he pulled away. “Why does all the alchemy you give me to drink taste like shit?”

“How do you know what shit tastes like?” Izuku asked sweetly.

“You...” Katsuki growled and reached for Izuku, who ducked away with a laugh.

“Natural curiosity!” Izuku held up his hands placatingly. “That’s all. Besides, you didn’t complain about the taste last time. I don’t know what it tastes like and Denki said he didn’t really remember.”

“Doubt either of us really tasted it, idiot. We were both unconscious when it was used on us.”

“True,” Izuku agreed. He closed the distance between the two of them again, since Katsuki didn’t look ready to murder him. “Do you feel any different?”

“Not really. But when I’m not coughing, I feel fine. Which is why I need to be doing my job. Kings don’t get sick days.” Katsuki folded his arms with a scowl.

“I know. But we don’t know if using more energy will speed the process along like any regular illness. We don’t really know anything. Eijiro told me about the plague that took his parents and I agree- it wasn’t anything like what you have now.”

“Which means you should be letting me work, not siding with those two.”

“We’ll see. I want you alive more than anything in the world. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. I’m going to err on the side of caution.”

“Stubborn shit,” Katsuki growled.

“Yup. But next time I’m sick you can swaddle me in cotton and tell me the lab is off limits. I doubt I’ll be happy about it either.” Izuku smiled slightly.

He knew that giving up control was hard for Katsuki. It didn’t matter that he’d left Eijiro and Mina in charge when he was away for months. He was at home and the empire was his responsibility. Katsuki took his duties incredibly seriously and trusted very few. And the curse wasn’t helping matters. Neither of them liked being so out of control. And with gods in play...

But he couldn’t just let Katsuki work. They didn’t know how to handle the curse or how quickly it would progress. Katsuki’s coughing fits were already lasting for longer amounts of time. No one knew what came next.

“I’ll remember that when you’re whining about not feeling well and being barred from your lab.” Katsuki smirked.

“How do you know I whine? I haven’t been sick since we met,” Izuku teased.

Katsuki coughed hard, stumbling back into Krishna as his body shook from the force of his coughs. The glass fell to the stone and shattered. Krishna roared in fury, eyes whirling like a storm barely contained.

Izuku couldn’t do anything but watch as Katsuki struggled to breathe through the coughing fits. Was that the aim? Would Katsuki die because he never stopped coughing, until he couldn’t draw a breath? His nails bit into the palms of his hands, his knuckles white from the pressure.

Had Katsuki watched his parents die like this? Maybe not struggling to breathe, but in other horrible ways? What was wrong with the gods who claimed to care for Othya?

Katsuki’s coughing quieted and eventually came to a stop. The only sound in the courtyard was his ragging breathing as he struggled for control again. Even the dragons were quiet.

“I guess we know it’s not like a normal sickness,” Izuku whispered, his voice raw and hoarse as though he had been screaming. Fear was an ugly cloud in his brain. “That would’ve been too easy.”

“Yeah.” Katsuki nodded and patted Krishna’s hide in thanks. Krishna rumbled in answer. “Time for the ancient books no one’s read in a while.”

“I guess so.”

“Bring on the moldy scrolls.”

Izuku cocked his head. “Do you think we’ll find mold?”

“No, idiot.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying. Give me at least half of them, alright? It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do. And I’m not some damsel in distress for you to save. I can do the work too.”

“You’re the furthest thing from a damsel,” Izuku said. His lips quirked up in the ghost of a smile.

“Damn right.”

OoOoO

Katsuki was getting worse.

The attacks were coming closer and closer together and he was coughing up blood now. Izuku had already felt like they were pressed for time. Now? It felt like they were racing against a deadline looming impossibly closer, as though each day was borrowed time.

Izuku slumped against the door of Katsuki’s office. He’d been trying to do as much research as possible in the last week, but Mina and Eijiro had needed help with several situations that had come up. There had been a few diplomats who had felt that they were important enough they couldn’t be bothered with either of Katsuki’s stewards. One pompous diplomat had demanded a private audience with Katsuki immediately for the insult.

It would have been laughable normally. After all, Katsuki could care less about the insult someone claimed had been given. Especially someone from Tastrye, a country that neighbored what had once been Sniycia. Izuku had figured any representatives from that area would want to be careful not to make themselves Katsuki’s next target.

But both Mina and Eijiro were stressed and worried. They’d pulled Izuku in, hoping he could handle the situation as consort. No one wanted to explain what was going on with Katsuki. And Othya didn’t need anyone thinking that the empire was weak.

There was nothing like learning on the job. Izuku had wanted to help with the day-to-day running of Othya. Now, he was.

He’d have preferred to learn from Katsuki, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Mina and Eijiro needed him now and Katsuki was still reading the texts and scrolls with single-minded focus.

Gods, he was tired though. He’d feel better when Katsuki was healthy, when they both slept through the night without coughing attacks, nightmares, or the pressure of time running out. They needed to find a way to break the curse. But the answers weren’t coming easy.

“Izuku?” Mina’s whisper came from the other side of the heavy door. “Can we come hide too?”

Clearly he wasn’t the only one who thought of Katsuki’s office as safe and quiet.

Izuku pushed away from the door and tugged it open. “Come on.”

Eijiro and Mina slipped through the space he’d created and into Katsuki’s office. The door closed behind them with a soft thud.

Eijiro turned and offered Izuku a sheepish smile. “Sorry. If we use either of our offices people will come looking for us. When Katsuki is at war and I need to get work done without anyone bothering me, I come here. I think people realize that I’m here, but they don’t bother me.”

“They know,” Mina confirmed. She dropped into Katsuki’s chair. “But everyone knows not to bother Katsuki unless they really need to. So even when he’s away his office is considered off limits without an emergency. It’s the best place to hide in the castle. Even if it’s kind of in plain sight.”

“That explains why people don’t usually bother me in my lab. It must be close enough that it gets some of the benefits.” Izuku dug up a smile for his friends. “Are you both okay?”

“Yeah, just need a break every now and then. Thanks for helping with those diplomats.” Eijiro ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect so much pushback from people.”

“They’re assholes.” Mina shrugged. “They would’ve pushed either way. I’m more concerned about the Othyian people realizing something is wrong with Katsuki. More than just being sick, I mean. We keep dragging this on and coming up with excuses? People are gonna realize what’s going on.”

“Yeah,” Eijiro sighed heavily and leaned against the wall. “What do we do? People are going to be upset and scared. This is their king.”

“Doesn’t help they lost their queen and her consort to the curse either.” Mina rubbed her temples, as though she could avoid a coming headache. “People are going completely freak.”

“We’re going to figure it out,” Izuku said firmly, with a lot more strength than he felt. “This is Kacchan we’re talking about. He’s strong and he’s amazing. He’s going to conquer this. We’ll find an answer and we’ll break the curse. We have to.”

“Yeah.” Eijiro nodded quickly. “Izuku is right. I believe in Baku.”

Mina shook her head, but didn’t contradict either of them. They all needed to believe there was a way out of the curse. No one was ready to admit that the curse might claim another life. Especially Katsuki’s.

Never mind that the same curse still hung over Mina’s and Eijiro’s heads.

“Is this where the party is?” Denki poked his head in through the doorway that connected the lab and office.

“As long as you don’t tell anyone we’re here, it is.” Mina shot him a warning look.

“Why do you look at me like that?” Denki asked, giving Mina a wounded look. “Kiri, tell her I wouldn’t.”

“He can keep a secret,” Eijiro jumped in. He hesitated and added, “Kind of.”

“Hey! Izuku tell them!”

“Denki’s loyal to a fault.” Izuku smiled. “But Denki, you’re not very good at secrets.”

“I just forget what’s supposed to be a secret and what’s not. That’s not my fault,” Denki protested, wrinkling his nose.

“Yeah. No one realized you’d mess with your short-term memory,” Mina agreed. “That much lighting isn’t good for anyone.”

“Is that what it is?” Izuku frowned. “Short-term memory loss and brain damage?”

“You’ve seen me after a fight.” Denki shrugged. “And that’s after learning some control. I try to remember, but unless I do it the right way and give a lot of attention to it…”

“And he’s always had a hard time paying attention to things,” Mina added, her smile softer. “But anyone who underestimates him or thinks he’s stupid is a moron. Because he’s not.”

“Yeah!” Eijiro grinned. “And he’s the best to get in trouble with.”

Denki grinned. “Yeah we’ll have to do that when Baku is better. Make him have a few drinks with us again.”

“My kind of night.” Eijiro nodded, the stress falling away for a minute.

“Denki, did you close the lab door behind you?” Izuku had no intention of anyone else find them.

“Mhm. I was looking for you and when I heard the voices closed the door. I figured you needed some time away from everyone.”

“Looking for me?”

“Oh!” Denki held out parchment sealed with dark blue wax. “You have a letter.”

Izuku took the letter carefully. His father’s last words echoed in his mind and the conversation about his mother with Shouto on the way to Ashax rushed back. He’d written to his sibling asking for answers that night. But the war with Ashax and everything that had followed had driven his questions and hunger to know more about his mother from his mind. There had been a war to survive and the realization of the curse. There hadn’t been room for anything else. Not when Katsuki’s life was on the line.

Did he really want to know what his siblings had said? He had enough to worry about right now. Othya and Katsuki were his priorities. Nothing else mattered. Not right now. Not when the gods were waiting to take another life with their vicious curse.

“Izuku?”

He looked up and met Eijiro’s concerned gaze. “Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Izuku forced a smile. “I’m going to check on Katsuki. You know where I am if you need me.”

“Tell him we’ll stop by soon,” Eijiro said, still watching Izuku with clear concern.

“And tell him to put the books down for now. No more studying for either of you tonight, okay?” Mina folded her arms. “Don’t ask me how I know, just do what I say.”

“She’s bossy.” Denki grinned. “I would do what she says.”

“I’ll tell him.” Izuku promised. He left the office, heading for their suite with quick, impatient steps, the letter crushed in his hand.

He wanted to see Katsuki, wanted to make sure that the curse hadn’t struck when Izuku hadn’t been looking. He could understand why Katsuki hated the gods now. How could he not, when this threat hung over everyone’s heads. Katsuki had grown up knowing the curse had stolen his parents and orphaned him, leaving Noboru in control. He had known that the curse could take Eijiro or Mina the minute Eijiro’s own tell had gone off. Everyone he cared about had the same threat looming over their heads.

What gods allowed their people to suffer like this?

“Kacchan?”

Katsuki looked up from the scroll he was reading. He’d taken over their sitting room, ancient scrolls and texts piled on every available surface. Vihan was in the corner, chowing down on his evening meal.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m wasting my godsdamned time,” Katsuki growled. He set down the scroll with a dark glower. “There’s nothing in here about how to stop the curse or how to break it. It’s like a fuckin’ goose chase and I don’t like it.”

“Research can be frustrating,” Izuku agreed. “It used to annoy some of the other alchemy students.”

“But not you, right, nerd?” Katsuki folded his arms as he sat back again.

“No.” Izuku shook his head, flushing sheepishly. “I love research. It’s like figuring out a mystery. My brain sees the patterns and the inconsistencies. It’s why I like alchemy and creating new things with it.”

“Nerd.” The nickname was infused with bad-tempered affection.

“I never denied that.”

“What’s that say?” Katsuki nodded toward the crushed parchment in Izuku’s hand.

“I haven’t read it yet. I think it’s from my siblings.”

Understanding sharpened Katsuki’s gaze and he stood. “The questions about your mom.”

“I think so.”

“So, what’s the hold up?”

“I’m afraid of what it says,” Izuku admitted. “We already have the curse to worry about. I don’t need the distraction right now.”

“Want me to read it?” Katsuki held out his hand. “You can’t avoid it.”

“Why not?”

“Because my mate’s not weak.”

Izuku dropped onto the closest couch with a heavy sigh. The cushions dipped under Katsuki’s weight, his arm brushing against Izuku’s. Izuku leaned against Katsuki, too aware of how warm Katsuki felt. He knew logically that Katsuki ran warm, he had long before the curse. Now though, he wondered if it meant a rising fever, a continuation of the curse.

Katsuki took the letter with hands calloused from constant sword work, his touch gentle. He broke the seal and smoothed out the parchment, obscuring the handwriting as he pressed the parchment over a book to help smooth the damage Izuku had created.

“Kacchan…”

“Here.” Katsuki held out the letter. “Get it over with.”

“Right.” Izuku took the letter carefully.

“It doesn’t change shit about you, shortstack. Whatever it says, it doesn’t change crap. Got it?”

“Yeah.” Izuku smiled slightly, bolstered by Katsuki’s words. “I got it.”

He looked down at the parchment.

Izuku,

I’m so glad to hear from you. I hope that this letter finds you in good health, and that this might be the first of many between us. I am overjoyed that you are happy in Othya, but I find I miss my brother. I know Haruka, Aline, and Rozalie miss you as well.

Will you tell me about your life? What are you working on in your alchemy? I know I will not understand most of it, but I still want to hear them. Tell me about Katsuki. What is he like as your husband? I don’t care about the title of emperor, but I do care about him as yours.

My garden is thriving! Thank you for asking about it. I recently babied some very pretty snapdragons to thriving bloom. The children love playing in the garden and their delighted shrieks bring me joy.

You asked me about our father, his last words, and our mother. Izuku, I wish you could have known our mother. She would have been delighted by your smile and your strength. She was always smiling, never wanting others to worry. I think you get that from her. She was strong and she kept our father in line. She also kept him smiling. They loved one another in a way that I hope you love your husband. I wish I had found it with my husband.

You are our father’s son, too. I see him in your curls, your blinding intelligence. He wasn’t kind at the end. He lost his way after our mother’s death. I know he hurt you. I know he hurt all of us. It’s hard to explain watching the change that came over him. But I know that your birth is not in question, despite what he said.

Our mother did use to tell stories, however. Haruka, Isamu, and I used to gather around her in the gardens. We would beg her for stories. She used to tell amazing ones, about knights and dragons, kings and wizards. Her favorite were stories about her own mother, though. She said her mother could command nature itself, for she was part of it. Her mother would walk, and flowers would grow where she’d stepped. She spoke with animals and conveyed her desires and needs. Mother claimed that our grandmother was a wood spirit with hair the color of moss.

Haruka had asked where grandmother had gone and mother said that her own mother had gone back to her castle made of clouds after fighting a grand battle. Mother said she’d been a young lady when that had happened, shortly before she met father. Our mother told us we were descendants of that same wood spirit. We just had to treat nature kindly and it would respond to our desires.

It was a lovely story. I wish you had heard it the way that I had. I can’t even begin to tell the stories the way she did. I thought of them as wonderful fairy tales for us.

I hope this helps with the questions you have. I’m sorry I never shared the memories with you earlier.

I hope to hear from you soon. Give my best to your husband, and to Ochako and Hitoshi.

All my love,
Chika.

“I guess that explains why the juno react to me the way they do.” Izuku leaned back with a frown. “My mother could do the same thing as Chika. Or, so I’m told. She was very good with flowers, could save plants others thought long gone. I barely know anything about my mother other than that. My father never wanted people to talk about her.”

“So, you’re like Mina. You’ve got a little bit of magic in you.” Katsuki shrugged. “Probably why the juno stopped attacking us in the winter. You wanna look into it?”

“Maybe one day.” Izuku shrugged. “Right now, I’m not worried about it. You’re right, it doesn’t change anything about me. And we have bigger worries.”

“I’m always right. It’s part of me charm.”

Izuku wrinkled his nose at Katsuki. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Tch. Shows what you fuckin’ know.”

“Either way, I’ll worry about it later. The curse matters a lot more.”

And Izuku wasn’t ready to dwell on it. Not when Katsuki was cursed, not when they were running out of time. He didn’t know how to feel about what Chika had written. It felt too impossible, like something in a story and not that happened to him. But it also explained the way junos reacted to him. The way he’d known which plants would work best for what alchemy he was working on, even before experimenting. It explained how Chika could save flowers that should have died from sudden cold snaps or too little sun.

He didn’t know what he wanted to do with this information yet. He needed to look into it, maybe ask Mina if she’d heard anything about it. But now wasn’t the time. All that mattered was breaking the curse. He could worry about everything else in a future that had Katsuki there, free of the curse.

“Tell me what you’ve learned. Even if it seems silly, don’t leave it out. We’ll figure this out together.”

“Bossy little shit.” Katsuki picked up the scroll he’d been looking at. “Alright, so this is about the gift of mates being created. It says…”

Chapter Text

“Can I ask a question?”

“You’ve been askin’ them since we met. I doubt it’s gonna stop anytime soon.”

Amusement flickered in deep green eyes shadowed by exhaustion. There were dark circles under Izuku’s eyes- evidence of how little he’d been sleeping.

Katsuki wondered which of them the curse would try to take first. His body was betraying him more with every day passing, handkerchiefs dotted with blood his lungs had coughed up. He didn’t even have control over his own body anymore. It was just like being helpless while the curse haunted the people he loved. And Katsuki was helpless. All he could do was search for a way to break the curse and fight the gods every step of the way. He had too much shit to do. He didn't plan on dying anytime soon.

Izuku was barely sleeping. Instead, he ran himself ragged with research and trying to help Mina and Eijiro when needed. Gods knew the three of them wouldn’t let Katsuki help. Instead, Izuku took the responsibilities on his shoulders while they both tried to find answers to a curse that had stood strong for thousands of years.

Sand kept trickling through the hourglass and neither of them knew when they were going to run out.

Katsuki cleared his throat, pushing back the emotion that threatened. He wasn’t giving up. He’d be defiant to the bitter end. “Ask.”

“Has anyone ever broken the curse? Is there any kind of legend that even hints at the possibility? Even if it seems like a stupid fairytale, don’t dismiss it.”

“You’re thinkin’ about it because of what your sister said, aren’t you?”

Izuku had said he was going to put it aside until they had broken the curse, that he didn’t have the time to consider what Chika’s story suggested. Maybe the nerd had compartmentalized it. He was too damn good at doing that. But the letter and its contents still influenced him, still drove his questions.

“We’ve exhausted all the other options I can think of. And legends are often based in a grain of truth. Or a phenomenon people didn't understand. Since we’re talking about a curse that’s haunted your people for thousands of years, I would be surprised if there wasn’t a legend of any kind giving people hope for a future without it.” Izuku leaned forward as he spoke, expression intent like when he thought of something new for one of his alchemy experiments.

“I’ve never heard of anything.” Katsuki frowned. “People talk about the Tragedy of Faswor and other ones like it. They’re warnings and horror stories all in one.”

“There’s nothing?” Izuku frowned deeply. “That doesn’t make sense. There should be something. People need hope, need to know that there’s a way out. Maybe something that doesn’t involve praying to the gods. I can’t imagine you’re the only person who’s ever hated the gods for what they’ve done.”

“Most of them are convinced the only way to be saved is to pray to the gods. When they find someone they care about but don’t get a mate-tell for, they’re overjoyed. They think they’ve dodged the worst thing imaginable.” Katsuki shook his head. “People celebrate those unions a lot more than any mating.”

“I can’t imagine how hard that is. Knowing that finding your other half is actually mourned by the people you care about.” Izuku bit his lower lip.

“They don’t know what they’re missing.” Katsuki shrugged as Izuku flushed pink and glanced up at him. “Anyway, I’d have heard any legend about the curse breaking. But some shit might be lost to time. We’re talking about thousands of years.”

“Wouldn’t this one have survived though?” Izuku argued.

“Sometimes stuff gets lost that shouldn’t. Life goes on and if it wasn’t ever widely known people could forget about it.”

“Do you think there’s any chance it was written down?” Izuku pressed, insistent on chasing down this line of thought. “Any chance at all? Or was it all done orally and we’re fucked.”

“If it was written down, we have it in the library. My father collected all kinds of records in an attempt to preserve Othyian history and culture.” Katsuki pushed away from the balcony where Izuku had set up for the day, the sun strong and heat thick in the air. “Come on.”

“I thought we pulled out everything we could from the library.” Izuku scrambled to his feet, picking up the scrolls and books he’d brought outside.

“We weren’t looking for legends, shortstack.””

“Good point, I guess.” Izuku set his stack of books on a nearby table. He paused, fingers brushing over the cover of one.

“Nerd?”

Izuku looked up, too many emotions whirling in his eyes for Katsuki to catch them all. “I’m not letting you go. We’re going to figure this out. I don’t… I can’t…” Izuku blinked hard.

“I told you, I’m not goin’ anywhere. Stop thinkin’ like that,” Katsuki said, his voice rough with repressed emotion. “Let’s go find the damn legend we need and stick it to the gods.”

“Yeah.” Izuku nodded slowly. He released a shaky breath. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

OoOoO

“You were looking for me?”

Katsuki looked up from the large book open on his lap. Izuku was still lost in the scroll he’d started on, his nose practically pressed against the ink and parchment. Katsuki kicked Izuku under the table.

“Ow!” Izuku’s head snapped up and he pinned Katsuki with a petulant glare. “What was that for?”

“Librarian is here, idiot.” Katsuki rolled his eyes and set the book on the table.

“Your Majesty. Consort.” Rasa nodded respectfully to both of them, her dark skin glimmering in the sunlight that spilled through the windows. Izuku had insisted they set up near the windows again, as though the amount of sunlight Katsuki received was going to help repel the curse.

“Hi Rasa.” Izuku’s fake smile was firmly in place again.

“What can I do for you?”

“Do you know if there are any ancient legends kept here? It might be faded, or only referenced in another work.”

“We have legends about the creation of everything,” Rasa arched an eyebrow. “You’ll need to be a lot more specific.”

“Anything to do with the curse. Probably around the time it was set in place and anything for a hundred or so years after.” Izuku glanced at Katsuki. “That range sound about right?”

“How the hell should I know?” Katsuki grumbled. “It sounds as good a place as any I guess.”

“Anything to do with the curse,” Rasa repeated, eyes sharp as she glanced at Katsuki. “Are you cursed?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said as Izuku tried to stumble over an excuse. “Looks like the gods like me as much as I like them.”

“Clearly.” She shook her head with a heavy sigh. “At least you’ve honored them. What did they give you in return? Nothing but trouble.”

“I can handle anything they throw at me.” Katsuki fought his temper. “And I’m not about to lay down and die.”

“Wouldn’t be a king worth respecting if you did.” Rasa glanced at Izuku. “So, you want to break the curse, do you?”

“Sounds like a better idea than to try to go to war with gods, don’t you think?” Izuku motioned to the books and scrolls in front of them. “We started with these but anything you can think of would be appreciated. I read fast but I don’t know if I read fast enough for all of this.”

Rasa looked at the covers. “Between this and the books you have piled in your suite I think you have almost everything I can offer.”

“Almost?” Izuku asked, even as his fake smile slipped, face falling.

Katsuki nudged him under the table again, a reminder that neither of them were alone in this quest.

“I have two or three I want to add. I’ll be right back.” Rasa nodded firmly and disappeared back into the bookshelves.

“Gonna go to war with the gods, nerd?” Katsuki arched an eyebrow.

“If that’s what we have to do, yeah. I’d rather not, I’m not really sure how to go about killing a god. But if that’s what it takes to keep you here, then that’s what we do.” Izuku met his gaze defiantly, as though daring Katsuki to disagree.

"Do you ever ask yourself if what you’re talkin’ about is actually possible?” Katsuki smirked despite himself.

“I’m an alchemist. So, not really.”

“Right. Reckless shit.”

“I’ll try to be less reckless for you,” Izuku said with a crooked smile that made Katsuki’s heart skip a beat. “After this.”

“Here you go.” Rasa reappeared, two enormous books and a scroll in her arms. “If anything has what you’re looking for, it’s going to be one of these.”

“Why’s that?” Izuku asked, already reaching for the scroll.

Rasa set her armful down with a thud. She brushed her curls out of her face with impatient hands. “These are the oldest books I can find. The castle didn’t exist when the curse was placed. It was built later. These texts were brought to us soon after for safekeeping. This one-” she touched one of the books, “Is the history of Othya to that point. So is the scroll you have in your hands. The other book is every legend that the writer could get her hands on. If there’s any mention of it, it’s in one of these books.”

“Thank you.” Izuku smiled and this time it was real. “Thank you very much.”

“Thanks Rasa,” Katsuki said, already reaching for the book of legends.

“If you need anything else just yell. And good luck.” She smiled and disappeared back into the shelves.

“I guess it makes sense for you to start on the legends,” Izuku said, already unrolling the scroll. “You know them better, so you’ll know what to look for.”

“Let me know if you find somethin’.”

Izuku hummed in agreement, already distracted by the scroll in his hands and the knowledge in the ink.

Katsuki sunk deeper into his chair and opened the book with care to the first page.

Silence descended over their table as the sun continued its path across the sky. Katsuki couldn’t say how long it was quiet for as they both searched the texts for clues to beat this fuckin’ curse.

When he stumbled upon the entry, near the end of the book, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He straightened, rereading the passage a second time. “Izuku.”

“What?” Izuku’s voice seemed impossibly loud in the hush that had descended.

“I’ve got something.”

Izuku was by his side between one heartbeat and the next, his intoxicating scent surrounding Katsuki.

“What is it?”

“Here.” Katsuki pointed to the text. “The part about the Hero, Kriss.”

“I’ve seen that name.” Izuku frowned and snagged the other book. He flipped through the pages with hurried hands. “Here! See? It says that he killed the minotaur that threatened Othya and later prevented a war when Ashax threatened. He lived a content life with his wife after that. It doesn’t say much else about him. History moves on to the next event.”

“Yeah, well this legend says that wife was his mate.”

Izuku leaned closer, his breath warm on Katsuki’s cheek.

Kriss threw the minotaur’s head down. It rolled to a stop at the feet of Andris, looking up at him with sightless eyes.

“I’ve completed the tasks. I have saved my country. Now, lift your curse!”

“You think you can demand anything of us?” Skaista demanded. “You are our champion!”

“I have done as you demanded,” Kriss repeated. “My mate is dying. I have no more time! Lift your curse!”

“We cannot,” Jelena spoke.

“But we can tell you how to,” Laima added, speaking for the first time. “Listen well, mortal child…”

And Kriss did as the goddess suggested and his mate’s life was spared.

“It doesn’t say how!” Izuku snapped, pushing away. His eyes darkened with anger. “Why?!”

“Hell if I know,” Katsuki growled. “I didn’t write the thing. I’ve never heard of this damn legend.”

“A lot of good that does us.” Izuku folded his arms. “We know he was real but we don’t know how he did it.”

“Let me see the damn history book.” Katsuki snagged the book from where Izuku had left it on the table. “I’ll see if it says something you missed.”

“It doesn’t. It doesn’t even say he was on a mission from the gods.” Izuku frowned. “Those are the gods, right? Laima is the Goddess of the Harvest?”

“Yeah. Jelena is Goddess of Death, which you knew. Andris is the God of War and Bloodlust. Skaista is the Goddess of Wisdom and Marriage. There were probably more there too.”

“How did he talk to them?” Izuku’s frown deepened as he picked up the book.

“They probably appeared to him, He was their servant, right? Cleaned up after their shit and all that,” Katsuki snorted with disgust.

“It suggests he summoned them,” Izuku said after a moment. He looked up with Katsuki with wide eyes. “It suggests there’s a way to summon the gods.”

“What?” Katsuki hauled Izuku down into his lap. “Let me see that and stop hovering.”

“Right here.” Izuku pointed to the passage. “It suggests how he ‘commanded a presence with the gods’. And the gods gave him an answer.”

“After he jumped through hoops for the fuckers,” Katsuki pointed out.

“It doesn’t matter.” Izuku shook his head. “He found a way. At least, according to the legend.”

“Izuku, it’s a legend,” Katsuki growled. “Just because the guy was real doesn’t mean-”

HIs body cut him off, his chest tightening in on itself. Izuku scrambled off his lap as he started to cough, blood wetting the handkerchief Izuku shoved into his hand. His lungs burned with the need for air, his chest muscles spasming. The coughing attack subsided far slower than it had come, leaving Katsuki gasping for breath as the room spun around him.

Izuku met his gaze, fear and rage clashing in his eyes. “New research project.”

“What?” Katsuki rasped, his voice like gravel.

“We’re going to find a way to summon the gods.”

Chapter Text

“I think I found something.” Izuku frowned down at the book. The parchment was yellowed with age, the words barely visible on the manuscript in some places. They looked more like streaks of what had once been fresh black ink than any language. It took all of Izuku’s attention to puzzle out what the words had been when they’d been written, each sentence a possible clue that would teach them how to beat this curse once and for all.

Katsuki was running out of time. Neither of them said it aloud, instead focusing on what they could do to break the curse that had already chosen its next victim. Neither of them was going to go down without a fight. That wasn’t how they were.

But it didn’t change the blood that stained the handkerchief. It didn't change the sharp, pained gasps after each coughing fit, as though Katsuki was learning how to breathe again. Izuku knew they would both fight the curse until the end, whether they won or lost. But that didn’t change what it was doing to Katsuki right now, the toll it was taking. Katsuki was strong, stronger than anyone Izuku had ever met. But he was still human. There was a limit to what he could handle. Even if Katsuki denied it, it was true. The human body could only take so much abuse.

Katsuki might be reaching his own limits.

Izuku didn’t care how long it took him to find a way to summon the gods. He wasn’t sleeping, wasn’t about to leave the library at all, until he found it. This was the one lead they had. And no matter how frightening the idea of summoning deities was on a primal level, Izuku was going to do it. With Katsuki’s life was in the balance? He’d do anything.

“What’s it say?” Katsuki asked, voice still strained from the most recent coughing jag.

“It suggests a summoning circle, several different types of flowers native to Othya I think, and some runes I don’t recognize. Maybe they’re Othyian in design. Can you come look?”

The sound of a chair scraping across the floor echoed in the quiet library as Katsuki stood and moved to Izuku’s side. He leaned close, the warmth of his body a blanket against the chill of the topic they were discussing. Izuku leaned closer, taking support in Katsuki’s presence. He wasn’t going to lose this. They weren’t going to lose this. They’d fought too hard for their happiness to allow gods with some grudge from thousands of years ago to take it away.

“Yeah, those are Othyian. They’re ancient, no one uses them anymore. Takes too much time to write them out. But I know ‘em.” Katsuki leaned against Izuku as he looked at the runes scribbled in the book.

“Does everyone know them?”

“Nah. I learned them as a prince. I didn’t want anyone having secrets I couldn’t figure out. Not even my ancestors. I’m not fluent or anything, but I know enough.”

“I bet Mei can get me the flowers this suggests using, if we don’t already have them here. We might, I did ask her to stock up on any natural Othyian ingredients. And this line, it suggests using blood? Probably our blood in the circle?”

“Nerd.”

“I would imagine the circle is supposed to protect us from the gods. They probably won’t like being summoned.” Izuku tapped a rhythm on the page as he thought, his mind whirling with possibilities. “I wonder, is there a way to choose which god you summon? It doesn’t mention here. I don’t know if that’s because this summoning is for a specific god and it doesn’t say? Maybe that part was lost to time. Or is it a gamble? Whoever you get is who you get. I’d prefer we didn’t get-”

“Izuku.” Katsuki shook his shoulder.

“Huh?” Izuku glanced up, met Katsuki’s glower.

“You’re not summoning any of these assholes.”

“Like hell I’m not.” Izuku frowned. “We don’t have any other information outside of what the myth of Kriss suggests. And this suggests there is a way!” He gestured to the book in his lap. “We have to try it.”

“No,” Katsuki snarled, eyes narrowing. “You’re fuckin’ not. There’s no damn guarantee that circle protects us from their shit. We’ll keep looking for something else.”

“We don’t even know if it works,” Izuku argued. He placed the book on the table carefully, all too aware of its age, its fragile nature. “But how can we have this chance and not use it?”

“Are you listening to yourself? You’re talking about summoning the damn gods like it’s one of your alchemy experiments. They could erase you with a thought.” Katsuki folded his arms, jaw clenched. “The answer is no.”

“I’m not asking your permission, Kacchan.” Izuku pushed out of the chair and turned to face Katsuki straight on. “I’m going to summon the gods. I can’t let this chance go. I don’t care what you say or how pissed they are. I am doing this.”

“Reckless, stupid, shithead,” Katsuki growled, anger a flame in his eyes. “You aren’t going to listen to a thing I say, are you?”

“No.” Izuku shook his head, mouth a firm line. “I don’t want to fight with you. But I am doing this. You don’t have to be there. I know that while you hate the gods, you also believe in their power. I know they’re real. But I don’t care about their power. All I care about is finding a way to break this stupid curse, so we can live the rest of our lives. I don’t have anything to lose with you already sick.”

“Like hell you’re doing this without me!” Katsuki looked as if he was considering shaking Izuku. Hard. “You want to summon the gods, you’re not doing this without me, shitsnack. We do this, we do this together.”

“But you said…”

“Like I’m going to let you be stupid on your own.” Katsuki folded his arms. “Bad idea or not.”

Izuku released a slow breath, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders. Despite his bold words, he didn’t want to face some cosmic deity alone. He doubted that whichever god they got was going to appreciate the forced summoning, especially considering they’d already placed the curse on Katsuki. Izuku was willing to go head-to-head with the gods if that was what it took, but that didn’t mean he was looking forward to it.

Fear was a pulse beneath his skin, in every heartbeat, at the very idea of what they were about to accomplish. He swallowed and met Katsuki’s still furious gaze. “It suggests doing it late at night. We should have enough time to do it tonight if we get moving.”

“Might as well.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair, pale blond spikes springing back into place. “Fuck it. Yeah. Let’s go summon a god.”

OoOoO

“Ready?” Izuku asked.

“Yup.”

Izuku glanced around the throne room. The runes and flowers the summoning had suggested were spread over the floor in an intricate patterned circle. The text said that the circle, specifically the runes, would protect them from the god’s potential wrath. Hopefully it really would. Izuku had no interest in becoming someone spoken of in past tense.

Another pile of flowers was set in the middle of the circle, a sacrifice that when combined with blood and fire, would call down the god. The circle would keep the god in question contained, while allowing Katsuki and Izuku to question them. He took a deep breath. There was no going back.

“We’re ready too,” Mina said, arms wrapped around Eijiro.

Ochako leaned against the wall, Hanta and Denki at her sides. “We’re really doing this.”

“You’re not doing shit,” Katsuki snapped. “You’re leaving. All of you.”

“No.” Eijiro shook his head. “Mina and I are mates. We have a right to be here.”

“You’re trying to find out how to break the curse. We should be here.” The gold of Mina’s eyes sparked with a stubborn light. “You know we should be.”

“I want to know what it takes to break the curse too,” Hanta agreed. “If I find my mate…” He shook his head and glanced towards Denki.

“I just want to see a god.” Denki shrugged. “I know that they don’t want to help us and I don’t think they’re gonna help us. So, I just want to see what they look like. I want to know who’s gonna curse me if I find a mate.”

“If Izuku is here, I’m here,” Ochako said firmly.

Izuku and Katsuki exchanged looks, an unspoken conversation flowing between the two of them without sound.

Izuku knew that Katsuki didn’t want their friends here. They had both agreed to use their own blood, hoping that using blood from both of them would give them an extra level of protection from the god. They could in theory ask everyone to add their blood to the summoning and hope it protected them too. Mina and Eijiro were already mates, with the same curse hanging over their heads. Hanta and Denki could suffer the same fate if they found their mates. Even Ochako, could be in danger from the curse. She lived in Othya now, the possibility that she was someone’s mate couldn’t be ignored.

But there was no guarantee that adding their blood to the summoning was going to protect anyone from the god. There was no assurance that they wouldn’t be smited within the first crucial minutes after the god had been summoned. There was honestly no way to be sure that this would even work. Or that Katsuki and Izuku would survive.

They couldn’t allow their friends to take the same risks. Izuku knew that Katsuki wouldn’t allow him to do this alone. It didn’t matter that he was an emperor who thousands looked to for protection and guidance. If Izuku was doing this, Katsuki was going to do it too. They were in this together, just like Katsuki had said.

But Mina and Eijiro didn’t need to lose their lives if something went wrong. They were Katsuki’s stewards. Neither did Denki, Hanta, or Ochako need to risk their lives or wellbeing. Yes, the curse was a possibility for all of them. And that gave them rights to be here. Maybe.

Because their lives were still Katsuki’s and Izuku’s to protect. And that meant risking their own lives so no one else had to.

“No.” Katsuki shook his head. “Out. We’ll tell you what they say. If it even fuckin’ works.”

“You need to go,” Izuku agreed, his arm brushing against Katsuki’s as they stood together, a united front.

“Like hell I do!” Mina folded her arms, her jaw clenched and fire in her eyes. “You can’t make me leave.”

“You’re my stewards. Do what I say and get out of here.” Katsuki met Mina’s glare with one of his own impressive scowls.

“If we fail, you can keep looking for a way.” Izuku nodded, meeting Eijiro’s gaze. “Don’t be stupid. We’re already cursed, you’re not. What if this makes the gods take notice of you two? What if they curse you tomorrow because of this? We’re talking about gods. Please.”

“What kind of man am I if I let you guys do this on your own? What kind of friend, or brother?” Eijiro demanded. “You can’t ask me to sit by.”

“I’m asking you to put Mina before me.” Katsuki folded his arms.

“Low blow!” Mina protested. She closed the distance between them, poking Katsuki in the chest. “Don’t play that card, you stupid jackass.”

“You are a jerk,” Eijiro agreed. “We’re not afraid.”

“We need to know Othya is taken care of if something goes wrong.” Izuku shook his head. “You need to go. We’re wasting time we don’t have. Katsuki is cursed. You’re not. He’s already dying. We need to perform this summoning. Get out. Please.”

Denki was the one who pushed away from the wall. “Come on guys.”

“Denki!” Mina spun to face him. “You’re not serious.”

“Baku is one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. And Izuku’s just as passionate and hard headed. Neither of them is going to change their mind. I don’t want to watch Baku die. I don’t want to see that passion drain from Izuku’s eyes. They’re my family and I want to help. This is how we help. So, come on.” Denki motioned to the door.

“Come on, Ochako.” Hanta wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll find Kyoka and you two can talk magecraft.”

“I guess…” Ochako murmured, glancing at Izuku.

Izuku nodded encouragingly. “I’ll come find you soon. I promise.”

“I hate when he makes sense,” Mina muttered, temper written all over her face. “I want to stay. I don’t want you two to take this risk alone.”

“Me either.” Eijiro frowned heavily. “Do you two know what you’re asking us?”

“Yeah, we do.” Katsuki nodded.

“I’m going to wait for you two to come out. So don’t waste time, got it?” Mina’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She ducked forward and wrapped her arms around Katsuki, hugging tightly. “You guys are all the family I have.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Katsuki grumbled. But he wrapped his arms around Mina, held her just as tightly.

Izuku swallowed back the emotion that threatened. “We’re going to be safe. If you don’t hear from us in two hours, come back in, okay?”

“We will.” Eijiro pinned Izuku with a hard look. “Don’t let anything happen to either of you, got it?”

“Got it,” Izuku promised. “Go.”

Mina pulled away and took Eijiro’s hand. “Let’s leave these idiots to it.”

Eijiro nodded and the two of them followed Hanta and Ochako out of the throne room.

“Figure it out,” Denki ordered. He closed the door as he followed the others out of the throne room.

“Like we don’t already know all that shit,” Katsuki snorted. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Time to summon a god.” Izuku’s heart slammed against his ribcage. “Can I have your knife? We need to spill a little blood.”

Katsuki pulled the knife out its sheath. “How much blood we talking about?”

“We need enough to bind the god and stop them from hurting either of us.” Izuku frowned thoughtfully. “So more than a prick of a finger, but not a gushing amount.”

“Blood on the flowers, right?” Katsuki drew the knife over his palm, a line of blood welling up in its wake.

“Yeah.” Izuku made a face as he watched Katsuki clench his hands, the blood dripping over the petals and stems. “Do you know how many important muscles and nerves are in your hands?”

“It’ll heal.” Katsuki shrugged. He held out the knife. “Your turn.”

Izuku took the knife and ran it across his palm. Pain flared. It wasn’t the worst injury he’d ever received, but gods did it hurt. He resisted the urge to pull away and shifted over the circle. He was careful of the runes as he clenched his fist, watching as the blood fell to the flowers below.

“Okay.” Izuku released a breath and handed the knife back to Katsuki for cleaning. He picked up a clean bandage from where it sat on Katsuki’s throne. “Let me wrap your wound.”

“Gods know you’ll nag me if you don’t.” Katsuki rolled his eyes, but he allowed Izuku to bandage the cut. “Your turn. Hand out.”

Izuku complied, watching as Katsuki repeated the bandaging process. “I think we’re ready. Finally.”

“Go ahead.”

Izuku took a deep breath and repeated the words the text had said to use. The words were in the ancient Othyian tongue, unfamiliar and heavy on his tongue. Katsuki’s voice rose to join his, stronger and more sure of the words. Their voices mingled and rose as they repeated the phrase, which Katsuki had translated roughly to demanding that one of the gods appear before them and binding them to the rules that they could not harm Katsuki or Izuku.

There was a flash of light, bright enough to blind. Izuku turned his head away on instinct, spots dancing behind his eyelids even as he closed them.

“Who dares command me to appear?” The voice was a whisper of moonlight across the sky.

Izuku opened his eyes, trying to see past the spots. And then… He could do nothing but gape at the being in front of them.

She was tall and slim, her skin a shade of palest gray and hair a soft halo of glowing moonlight. Small golden horns, similar to those of deer antlers, jutted out her hair and golden markings that were both delicate and fierce looking, were etched into her face. There was no doubt that she was a goddess- Izuku had never seen someone so other.

“Well?” the goddess demanded.

“Jelena.” The venom in Katsuki’s voice couldn’t be mistaken.

“That’s your goddess of death?” Izuku hissed, eyes wide.

“Yeah, that’s her.” Katsuki scowled. “Should’ve known we would summon one of the head assholes.”

“Ah. Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya. I suppose that explains why it was me.”

“You know why we summoned you, don’t you?” Izuku swallowed as Jelena turned pale eyes on him. He held his ground, even as his heart slammed against the cage of his ribs like a frightened bird. His instincts screamed at him to run, to hide. No one wanted the goddess’s attention on them like this.

But Katsuki’s life was at stake. He wouldn’t back down now. He couldn’t.

“I am aware,” Jelena said stiffly. “I don’t see why I should help you. The curse has stood for thousands of years.”

“A curse you let stand!” Katsuki snarled. “You allowed the blessing to turn to a curse! On your own fuckin’ people!”

“Remember to whom you are speaking.” Jelena folded her arms, the movement almost jarringly human. “I am a goddess and I could destroy you as soon as I am released from this summoning if I chose to.”

“Hah?! You think I give a shit!” Katsuki shot back. “You already marked me for death! Won’t be long until I’m in your halls, right?”

“You expect me to care? To help you?”

“What the fuck are gods for if not to protect their people?” Katsuki demanded. “Why the hell should we pray to you if you don’t give a shit?”

“Enough!” Jelena commanded, eyes flashing. “I am a goddess!”

“You’re not going to help, are you?” Izuku watched her closely, aware of Katsuki at his side.

“Help? Why should I? Do you know how long it took us to curse him? We tried to turn him cold and cruel, but you pulled him back. We tried to have him killed in battle, but he would not die. We had no choice but to use a sickness. Soon he will not be able to stop coughing, will not be able to recover. He will die. That is the curse of the Othyian people. I shall not need to smite him. Time will bring him to me soon enough.” Jelena looked so haughty, so sure of herself and her place above them.

“You made us warriors!” Katsuki’s fury echoed off the walls of the throne room. “You made us what we were and gave us mates! And when you felt we were too greedy, you turned that blessing into a curse that has gotten worse. It’s been thousands of years! Fuckin’ let it go!”

“You do not tell a goddess what to do!” Jelena flung back, the whisper of moonlight transforming into a boom of sound.

“If I lose him,” Izuku began, his voice shaking with the effort to repress the rage that burned so hot it had burned away the fear until there was nothing left. “I will summon you. I will summon you every godsdamned day for the rest of my life. And I don’t care what you throw at me! All that will matter is me, summoning you. I’ll make you stand here for hours! I’ll teach others to do it too! I’ll teach all of Othya! I will let them summon every god and goddess in your pantheon every time they want the smallest thing. Do you understand? No matter what it takes. I will be a constant thorn in your side. It will be my goal to make your existence miserable long after I’ve come to rest in your halls. And I’ll be glad of it.” He bared his teeth as he’d seen Katsuki do before, anger and panic a thrum in his chest.

“Release me,” Jelena said, her voice frigid.

“Not until you tell me how to break the curse,” Izuku countered.

Jelena’s eyes narrowed, her gaze moving from Izuku to Katsuki, and back again. “You already have enough clues. You are closer to breaking the curse than anyone else has ever been. I am not giving you any more.”

“What clues?” Katsuki demanded, frustration and arrogance in every line of his body.

Jelena turned to look at him, her gaze like that of a noble woman who had found a bug in her quarters. “Be quiet.”

Katsuki choked on his breath, the coughs rattling in his chest. Blood covered Katsuki’s lips, coated his hands as he moved to cover his mouth, eyes narrowed still in absolute loathing.

“Stop!”

“I am a goddess!” Jelena exclaimed, her voice rising over Katsuki’s coughing, over Izuku’s shouts. Her eyes darted around the throne room like anxious bird. “You do not question me! You have all the tools you require. Either figure it out or let him die!”

“Fine! Have what you want! Go!” Izuku deliberately scuffed the runes on the floor, breaking the circle. “You’re released!”

Jelena disappeared, leaving behind the faint scent of death and burnt flowers.

The coughing was gone as quickly as it had come. Katsuki sank to his knees, his breathing shallow and harsh. Izuku dropped to his knees at Katsuki’s side, trying to search for a way to soothe him without making anything worse. “Kacchan?”

“I’m… I’m fine, nerd,” Katsuki bit out between gasps. “Stop… Stop hovering.”

“What now?” Izuku sat back, watching as Katsuki wiped his mouth.

“She said we’ve got all the tools we require, right?” Katsuki sat back. “We’ve got the answer. We just need to figure out what the hell it is.”

“Fuck.” Izuku shook his head. “What did we uncover that we don’t realize?”

“Guess it’s back to the books.”

“Yeah.”

Jelena had certainly made one thing clear.

They were almost out of time.

Chapter Text

Their friends were waiting for them when they emerged from the throne room.

Of course they were.

“So?” Mina arched an eyebrow, arms folded as she leaned back in Eijiro’s embrace. “What did they say?”

“Who did you get?” Hanta asked from where he stood, leaning against the closest wall. He looked lazy and at ease. It was deceptive, one look at his eyes showed that he was anything but relaxed right now.

“Why who?” Ochako frowned. “Does that matter?”

“It tells us how likely the god they summoned was to help,” Eijiro explained, arms tightening around Mina’s waist. “Laima is the goddess of the Harvest and had nothing to do with the curse. She might be more sympathetic.”

“I want to know what they said and who it was.” Sparks of lightning danced over Denki’s hands. He didn’t seem to notice. “It sounded female.”

“You were listening at the door?” Izuku asked, shifting at Katsuki’s side.

“Yes,” Denki and Mina both said at the same time. Neither looked repentant.

“We summoned Jelena,” Katsuki said. His words fell like stones into a still pond.

“Jelena?” Eijiro demanded, his voice harsh. “You summoned the Goddess of Death?”

“We didn’t exactly get to choose which of the gods we summoned.” Izuku shrugged, a shadow of a smile on his lips. “And she wasn’t happy about it either.”

“You didn’t expect any of them to be overjoyed they’d been summoned, right?” Hanta arched an eyebrow.

“No.” Izuku shook his head. “But I had been hoping for clearer answers.”

“She didn’t give you anything?” Denki’s face fell.

“She gave us shit,” Katsuki grumbled. “Pissed that we summoned her, pissed we’re trying to break the curse. Pissed that the attempts they’ve already made to curse me haven’t worked. She gave us some cryptic clue and disappeared.”

“They already tried to curse you?” Ochako frowned. “How does a curse stop working? Or not work at all?”

“She didn’t exactly go into detail about the nature of the magic involved.” Izuku shrugged. “But I didn’t ask. We were already kind of arguing.”

“I wanted to argue with a goddess too.” Mina made a face. “Way to hog all the fun.”

Eijiro made a choking noise behind her. “Fun?”

“Absolutely.” Mina nodded.

“What Izuku was saying makes sense.” Denki folded his arms, brow furrowed in thought. “About the curse.”

“How?” Hanta pushed away from the wall.

“It’s just magic, right? Sometimes I make a spell and it doesn’t… catch? I guess that’s the best word. It doesn’t catch right. The magic falls apart and the spell fails.” Denki shrugged. “Maybe the other times they tried to curse Baku were the same way.”

“That makes sense.” Ochako wrinkled her nose in clear irritation. “I should’ve realized that. A curse is just an advanced magecraft. In theory, anyway. It’s hard to pin down because I’ve never met a mage who worked in curses.”

“Me either,” Denki agreed.

“Best explanation we have.” Izuku ran a hand through his hair. “She said we have all the tools and we were closer to breaking the curse than anyone else. She wouldn’t give us anything else.”

“Real damn helpful.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “So, we’re back to research and backtracking.”

Damn he was tired. That attack had felt worse than it had before. It had been like his lungs had been trying to wrench themselves straight from his chest. He couldn’t be sure if that was because Jelena had caused this one personally or it just meant they were that much closer to being out of time. It didn’t matter either way. They had to find the answers fast. Katsuki had no intention of giving that stuck up goddess anything like what she wanted. If she wanted him to visit her halls, she’d have to wait a while. He didn’t plan on dying for a long time.

“If we knew how to break the curse, we’d have broken it already.” Mina’s hands fisted on Eijiro’s forearms. “No one wants to be stuck under this stupid thing.”

“Why won’t they remove it? Did she say?” Eijiro asked, his gaze finding Katsuki’s.

“No.” Katsuki wished so much that he had better news. “She kept shouting she was a goddess. Like we didn’t know. But I already know why.”

“You do?” Eijiro frowned.

“Yeah. Pride.”

“Kacchan’s right,” Izuku sighed.

“Pride? Pride in watching their people die?” Mina stiffened further in Eijiro’s arms. “Are you serious?”

“No, I mean they’re too proud to take it back. I don’t know if they want to, but I can tell you they won’t. I don’t think they know how to admit they’re wrong. And even us trying to break it is an insult to them. Because they’re our gods. They can’t be wrong, can’t be challenged.” Katsuki ran a hand through his hair, frustrated at the beings that expected prayer and worship when they had done nothing to earn it. Or at least, most of them hadn’t earned it.

“That’s bullshit.” Ochako frowned. “That’s… so wrong. On so many levels.”

“Yeah,” Denki’s laugh was bitter. “Welcome to the curse.”

“I guess the question is what did you guys already do? Or what do you already know, that Jelena doesn’t want to admit to? If there’s a way to break the curse and you found it…” Mina trailed off.

“It has to be something small,” Hanta added. “It seems insignificant or you’d have realized by now.”

“So, what is it?” Eijiro frowned, puzzled frustration in every line of his body.

“We don’t know yet.” Izuku leaned back against Katsuki, their bodies brushing. A reminder that they were in this together.

“But we’re gonna figure it out.” It was a promise from their king. He wasn’t going to let this stupid curse defeat them.

Losing wasn’t an option. Ever.

OoOoO

“We’re going to be late.”

Katsuki grunted in acknowledgement, eyes still on the reports that had arrived earlier in the day from Yoarashi. It looked like Sniycia was adjusting as well as could have been expected. There had been a few issues but they were smaller overall and they had come from the nobles who had flourished under Hisashi’s rule. Yoarashi had assisted Haruka in handling anything that had cropped up. It sounded like everything was going well though, far better than it had for some of the countries Katsuki had conquered in the past. Then again, he’d been an untried conqueror and ruler both in those days. Now, he knew what he was doing.

It probably helped that he hadn’t had to murder the entire royal family this time.

“Mina’s not going to wait for you to get there.”

“Give me a second.”

“No.” Izuku’s voice took on that stubborn quality it had when he’d dug his heels in. “We’re going to be late. I don’t want to miss the mating ceremony. I’ve never seen one before and they matter to me.”

Katsuki set the report on his desk with a scowl. Red clashed with stormy green as he met Izuku’s obstinate glower.

“I’ll go without you,” Izuku added before Katsuki could get a word in.

“Fuckin’ pain in the ass, you know that?” Katsuki shoved back from his desk.

“Only if you ask really nicely.” A wicked grin chased away the irritation in Izuku’s gaze.

Katsuki could feel the heat of blush crawl up his neck. “Shut it. Let’s go.”

“What’s a mating ceremony like?” Izuku asked as Katsuki closed the door of his office behind them. They fell into step as they headed for the courtyard, their arms brushing from how close they walked together.

“Nothing like your Sniycian wedding was.” Katsuki snorted with disgust as he thought back to their wedding. It had been a spectacle as the royal family and nobles of the court had shown off for one another. “Yours was all about who could draw the most attention. Selfish twats. I don’t know if every Sniycian wedding is like that shit but ours was.”

“It was pretty normal.” Izuku shrugged. “Both Haruka and Chika’s weddings were like that too. There’s dancing to celebrate and the most elaborate food and drink. But everything is very stiff. Kind of like you’re showing off your wealth but you can’t have too much fun, you know? Or show it, at least.”

“The only thing that’s similar about our mating ceremonies or weddings are the dance, food, and drink.” Katsuki raised his hand in acknowledgement as one of the passing guards waved. “It’s all about having fun. We’re celebrating two people becoming one. They found each other in the mess of life and decided to join their lives. It’s supposed to be something worth enjoying. Here, if you do something stiff and formal it’s kind of an insult. Like you don’t want to wish the couple happiness. Or the couple doesn’t want you to celebrate.”

“So, the better the party, the more years of happiness you offer them?”

“Pretty much.”

“That sounds a lot better than what I grew up with.”

“That’s not hard, shortstack.”

“No, I guess it’s not.”

Katsuki took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air as they stepped outside. The sinking sun bathed the castle and surrounding landscape in warm tangerines and buttery yellows. People that Mina and Eijiro considered important to them milled around the large courtyard, talking in clusters as they waited for the festivities to start.

The rest of summer had passed in a haze of research and sticky humidity. Both Katsuki and Izuku had been trying to find the clues Jelena had said they already had, backtracking their steps and scrutinizing every move they had made since deciding to break the curse. They hadn’t turned up anything that seemed noteworthy enough a goddess would allude to it.

Izuku had been the one to suggest looking back even further, to the start of their relationship. He’d pointed out that they didn’t know when they had made the choices they had made, so there was no point in ignoring the large chunks of time. But even counting over a year’s worth of time, the two of them were no closer to figuring out what they had done that no one else had. Katsuki didn’t know any mated pairs right now other than Mina and Eijiro and himself and Izuku. He couldn’t ask his mother what she and his father had- or hadn’t- tried. They were flying blind.

Katsuki’s coughing attacks hadn’t gotten better as the months had passed. But neither had they gotten worse. It had been encouraging enough that Izuku, Mina, and Eijiro had repealed their stupid ban to stop Katsuki from working or training. He was still supposed to go easy on himself in training, but he didn’t have to worry about losing muscle, stamina, or fighting prowess in the meantime.

And he was back to ruling his own kingdom and the empire beyond it. Izuku was still insisting on helping now that he had an idea of how much work was on Katsuki’s plate. And Mina and Eijiro were still traitors who tried to order him to relax too often.

The feeling of living on borrowed time hadn’t quite vanished. Jelena had been very clear she expected Katsuki in her halls soon if they didn’t figure out how to break the curse. But as weeks had stretched into months, and Katsuki’s attacks had stayed steady, they’d all allowed themselves to focus on other things.

Othyian people loved to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate the end of the harvest than with a mating ceremony?

Mina looked both pretty and a warrior in her golden leggings and tunic. Ochako had done something with Mina’s short, wild hair and flowers, threading them through the pink strands in a way that looked right and not overwhelming. She glowed from within as she met Eijiro in the center of the crowd, far brighter than the sunset.

Eijiro was dressed in leggings of brown and a vest of the deepest red, grinning like a lunatic and chest puffed out with pride. They’d both had their clothes made special for the ceremony with some nice needlework accents, but neither was dripping in jewels. They didn’t need to be. Their joy would’ve outshone any sparkling gem on their person.