Chapter Text
Yamada Hitoshi was many things. He was ambitious, antisocial, constantly exhausted, hard-working when he wanted to be, and despite popular belief, had a great sense of humor. He also was not a complete idiot. He knew his parents knew this, so he could not help but wonder why they bothered keeping secrets from him if they were going to make it so abundantly obvious that they were, in fact, keeping secrets from him.
Granted, it was mostly his father who sucked at keeping secrets. He was anything but covert. For the past ten minutes, he had been continuously pulling his mate over to whisper into his ear while periodically glancing over at either Katsuki or Hitoshi, and it became obvious to the purple-haired omega that something was going on.
Hitoshi glanced over at the two his parents were currently gossiping about like a pair of juveniles. Eijirou and Katsuki were sitting nearly squished together as people crowded around the table, but neither looked particularly annoyed by their close proximity to each other. They were being bombarded with questions and requests, although most were targeted at the redhead. Whenever a question was asked of Katsuki, Eijirou would swiftly and easily redirect everyone’s attention back to himself. Katsuki was thankful for his constant distractions, since he had no real answers to any of the things asked of him.
“How do you plan to prove your worth as queen?” someone had asked, leaving Katsuki floundering.
“Prince Katsuki just may surprise you all,” Eijirou cut in, grinning wide. “We both have much maturing to do, and I hope you all will be with us along every step of the way!” That led to everyone making promises of remaining by the prince’s side as long as they lived.
Another had dared to ask, “What’s a Tulian like you know about war?” Katsuki had been expecting questions like that, but he knew no answer he gave would be good enough for them.
Fortunately, Eijirou took over again. “Last I checked, you’ve fought just as many battles as the Tulian of the group,” Eijirou had said jokingly, but the glare he sent to the young man who spoke said more than enough. Everyone laughed at the embarrassed man’s expense, since never having fought in a battle was a sign of never fully maturing.
The one inquiry that really threw Katsuki for a loop came from an elderly omega woman. “You will be able to properly produce strong, healthy heirs, yes?” The blond’s eyes had nearly popped out his skull, his face just about catching aflame from how hot his cheeks became.
Eijirou had flushed as well, his traitorous mind concocting various images of the omega round with his pups. “Man, you all are thinking much farther ahead than either of us!” He had laughed but it was nervous and strained. “We should all be focusing on the wedding for now!” That successfully moved the questioning to plans for the ceremony.
Currently, Katsuki was listening intently to Eijirou explain what was planned for the upcoming ceremony. He honestly knew absolutely nothing about Adrian weddings, and he was shocked by just how extensive the whole process seemed to be. He also had no idea what some of these events entailed, least of all the “Battle of Warriors,” or whatever they all kept mentioning. The blond made a mental note to ask about it later.
“What allies have accepted the invite?” a middle-aged beta man asked. Katsuki tilted his head slightly in confusion.
He whispered, “You invite allied kingdoms to your wedding ceremonies?”
Eijirou nodded and whispered back, “Yes, don’t worry, I’ll explain everything again later.” Katsuki nodded, satisfied with that. Louder, Eijirou said, “The kingdoms of Creati, Ingenium, and Endeavor have accepted.”
Everyone groaned at hearing that last one, and Katsuki could understand why. The only kingdom to rival Tulia’s old-fashioned, conservative views was Endeavor. Some would say Endeavor was like Tulia if Tulia had a proper military, open trading routes, and terribly bizarre weather conditions. The king, Todoroki Enji, just made the kingdom even more deplorable, since he was a deplorable man himself. Katsuki was not looking forward to meeting him.
Eijirou was no more excited about the Todoroki’s presence in his home, but since he was a prince, he had to act like one. “King Todoroki Enji may have his faults, but he will still be an honored guest. You will all treat him with the same respect you would give King Iida and King Yaoyorozu,” he said, loud enough for every person in the shop to hear.
A head of lilac suddenly popped into view between two random people, Hitoshi pushing his way through the throng of Adrians. His dark eyes bored into Katsuki’s, his face looking nothing short of disinterested. When he spoke, his voice was hard as steel. “I have just one question for Prince Bakugou,” he said.
Eijirou held up a hand. “Now, Hitoshi, hold on. Why don’t you all just let him be for today?”
Hitoshi didn’t even spare him a glance. “He can speak for himself,” he said, eyes narrowing at the other omega. “Can’t you, Prince Bakugou?”
Katsuki glared back, standing from his chair. “I can. Ask your question.”
Hitoshi slowly looked the blond up and down, almost contemplatively. “Are you weak?”
Katsuki’s eyes widened, not having expected that. It was strange that he was being asked whether or not he was weak rather than being told he was.
Eijirou slammed his hands on the table, also standing up now. He looked outraged. “That’s enough! If another person decides to disrespect Katsuki, I swear that I will—”
“Eijirou-sama,” Katsuki cut in softly, amazingly halting the redhead in his threat. He seemed to calm significantly at the sound of his voice, now giving his full attention to the blond next to him. Katsuki, however, never removed his gaze from Hitoshi who had paid no mind to the other prince’s outburst. “You want to know if I am weak?” he asked Hitoshi.
The other nodded. “Are you as they all say? Because I have reason to believe that there is more to Tulian omegas than any Adrian seems willing to believe.” Katsuki figured his “reason to believe” was his mother himself. “So…Prince Bakugou Katsuki, are you weak?”
Eijirou looked between the two of them in confusion, surprised that Katsuki was not upset. Maybe it was wrong of him to assume that Katsuki would be short-tempered just because he was easily flustered and annoyed. Katsuki looked anything but flustered or angry; he was as calm as can be, his head held high and his gaze determined.
He declared, “I am not weak.”
Hitoshi crossed his arms, unconvinced. “That so?”
“You all want me to prove myself so much, then I will.”
Hitoshi’s lips twitched into a smirk for a split second. “I’ll make sure that you do, Your Highness.”
“Hitoshi!” Hizashi’s voice shrilled from the opposite side of the shop but was just as loud as if he had been directly beside them.
“What?” said omega grumbled, glancing sideways at his father. Hizashi was still standing next to Shouta, but now he had his hands on his hips and a disapproving frown on his face.
“No antagonizing the prince!” he yelled.
Hitoshi rolled his eyes as his mother slapped a hand over the blond man’s mouth with a quiet hiss of warning. “I wasn’t antagonizing anyone,” their son grumbled. “I was just giving him an opportunity.”
Katsuki huffed, curious as to how that previous interaction was supposed to have offered him an opportunity for anything. “Everyone keeps questioning my abilities, my worth, and how I plan to show it, but I have yet to see someone showcase their own to me,” Katsuki said with a meaningful glance to everyone in the room.
“That is usually how it goes, Prince Katsuki,” Shouta said in a tone that suggested he spoke from experience.
“Damn hypocrites,” Katsuki mumbled low enough that only Eijirou was able to hear him. The alpha snorted a laugh before he could stop himself and cleared his throat when people looked at him questioningly.
It was strange how much the omega prince reminded Hitoshi of his own mother, although he supposed “abnormal” omegas were similar in many ways. They were willing to stand up for themselves, speak out without permission, and do as they pleased without apology. They were unafraid to be themselves, even if it led to the most negative of consequences. It made Hitoshi just that much more grateful to his parents that he never had to grow up in such a constrictive environment, where every action he made and every word he spoke would be scrutinized and controlled.
He knew for a fact that Adria was a land where omegas could be whoever they wanted to be, while many kingdoms were not unlike Tulia in their treatment of omegas. The Adrian was equally curious and excited to witness the changes Katsuki would go through firsthand. Not that he was particularly eager to interact with the other omega; something about the way he carried himself rubbed Hitoshi the wrong way. Then again, Hitoshi didn’t like most people.
For example, when he first met Eijirou years ago, he thought he was the most annoying person to have ever graced this earth, but over time he had grown to respect and admire him much like every other Adrian.
Hitoshi’s attention was drawn away from the princes by two more patrons entering the shop. He sighed internally; just more noise to help along his never-ending headache.
The two to walk in were Izuku and Ochako, having seen the many people entering the shop and wondering what all the commotion was about. Hitoshi raised a fine brow at the sight of the two, silently wondering just how many Tulians were going to visit his family’s shop that day. He contemplated retreating behind the counter as he usually did when the shop got busy, just so he could avoid as much human interaction as possible. Sadly, considering the crowd around him and how noticeable the two princes were, he doubted he would be able to sneak away successfully. Besides, he was admittedly slightly curious about the newcomers as well.
Ochako and Izuku spotted their prince no more than a few seconds after walking through the doorway, seeing him sitting beside Eijirou and surrounded by people. Izuku winced sympathetically, knowing from previous experiences that Katsuki was likely being bombarded with inane and intrusive questions. And if there was anything Katsuki hated more than arrogant, self-important alphas trying to put him in his place, it was being questioned by people he did not know.
Ochako came to the same consensus, a frown marring her usually bright features. She had long grown tired of these people’s treatment of Katsuki, finding it unjust and disrespectful. And yes, she knew better than almost anyone that Katsuki could handle himself and was not shy about standing up for himself when the situation called for it, but her instincts told her to put a stop to this anyway. Even if Katsuki became upset with her as he had before.
Izuku, on the other hand, was reluctant to enter the scene and consequently cause one. He also did not want to interrupt Katsuki’s alone time with the prince, even though it seemed like that ship had long sailed. Still, the moment he and Ochako walked over, Katsuki would no longer be able to interact with Eijirou without the watchful eye of Ochako.
Izuku was unsure of whether Katsuki’s slight change in demeanor around the other prince whenever Ochako was nearby was due to her obvious dislike and distrust of the redheaded alpha or some other reason Izuku could not begin to guess. Either way, Katsuki and Eijirou deserved to be able to get to know each other before the wedding day, and Katsuki more than anything deserved the opportunity to decide if Eijirou was someone he could accept as a mate—even if the choice to have him as one was already decided long ago.
Ochako, only thinking about protecting her prince, marched over and maneuvered her way through the large crowd—much larger than she had initially realized—without touching anyone for too long. Izuku followed, not really having much of a choice otherwise. He could either stay behind and watch the spectacle unfold as a bystander or do his best to unsuccessfully temper his friend. He could at the very least prevent her from physically harming anyone, which he knew was a very real concern when it came to his two surprisingly (and unsurprisingly) temperamental childhood friends.
Katsuki caught sight of the beta approaching their table. He held back a smirk as she stared Hitoshi down until he took a begrudged step back with a painful looking eyeroll, allowing her to take his place directly in front of the blond. As relieved as he was to see his friend, he also knew there was a spectacle sure to follow her presence. It was impossible for her to have overlooked the amount of people crowding around him or his obvious displeasure for it.
Katsuki could see Ochako gearing herself up to once again yell at more Adrians—a fun pastime for her one could assume—but he held up a hand to impede her oncoming rant. He sent her a warning look and she reluctantly kept quiet.
Eijirou pretended to not notice the interaction between the two, instead giving Ochako a wide grin. “Uraraka-san! What a coincidence seeing you here,” he said, and Ochako kept herself from pointing out that it was not really much of a coincidence at all. They had all decided to go into town at the same time after all.
“Hello, Kirishima-sama,” she said smoothly, carefully keeping the contempt from her features. She did, however, send glares to everyone else around her. A few appeared to cower at the look, while most simply glared in return.
Eijirou also ignored her glaring, knowing that there was no helping her need to protect Katsuki. He could respect that after all. While he doubted that Katsuki was weak—surely not mentally but perhaps physically—he was happy to know that the omega had people to help him if the need ever came to be. Not that Eijirou wouldn’t be one of those people as well, but he couldn’t always be by Katsuki’s side. Even if he was coming to think that he wanted to.
The redhead looked behind Ochako to see Izuku, who was trying and failing to pretend he could not feel Hitoshi’s eyes on him. The purple-haired omega did not seem to care about decency or anything of the like, seemingly content to observe the noble. “Hello, Midoriya-san,” Eijirou greeted, holding back a chuckle.
“H-Hello, K-Kirishima-sama,” the omega stuttered.
Katsuki raised an eyebrow at the stuttering, knowing that Izuku only stuttered when he was nervous or uncomfortable. “What is it, Izuku?” he questioned, masking the worry he was feeling with a neutral tone.
Izuku wildly shook his head. “N-Nothing, Kacchan!” he then gasped loudly and Katsuki knew what was coming. “I am so sorry! I m-meant Katsuki-sama!”
“Izuku, you know I do not care about formality between us. You are my…dearest friend,” he said, feeling embarrassed by the admission despite it being so blatantly obvious to anyone who saw them interact. Izuku looked about ready to cry, or even worse, hug Katsuki, so he continued before he could do either. “Anyway, why are you stuttering so much? You sound like thirteen-year-old you.”
“Oh…” Izuku murmured, figuring he had no choice but to speak up now.
“That’s probably my fault,” Hitoshi suddenly said, drawing Katsuki’s attention to him. The blond glared at his words, silently ordering him to elaborate. Hitoshi did. “My staring probably made him uncomfortable.”
“And why were you staring at him?” Katsuki asked, the question sounding much more like a demand.
Hitoshi ignored the question and turned back to Izuku. “What is your relation to Prince Bakugou?”
Izuku looked surprised by the question. “We are childhood friends, and we grew up together.”
“So, really, you’re just a random omega who follows him around,” Hitoshi deadpanned.
Izuku gasped in offense. Katsuki and Ochako looked beyond outraged. “He is my friend, so of course I will remain by his side as long as I can! And I am not random! How dare you!”
“Are you looking to pick a fight?” Katsuki growled out, his eyes thunderous.
“Just who are you anyway?” Ochako hissed, stepping in front of Izuku to block him from sight. Since Izuku was taller than the brunette and Hitoshi was quite tall himself, it did not do much.
The Adrian was surprised by the amount of venom in all of their voices—especially Izuku and Ochako, considering they had seemed pleasant and easy-going up until that point. Still, instead of apologizing Hitoshi merely raised an eyebrow at the three. “Am I wrong?” he asked.
“Yes!” all three yelled back.
“Okay, let’s calm down, everyone,” Eijirou said, trying to mitigate the situation. “Hitoshi, maybe if you got to know Midoriya-san, you would find that he is actually an amazing person,” he said.
Izuku’s eyes widened at the praise, not having expected to ever hear it from the alpha. Or perhaps anyone. “Oh…thank you, Kirishima-sama,” he said, feeling touched.
Eijirou smiled kindly. “I’m only telling it how it is,” he said and Izuku could feel his face grow warm. Neither he nor Izuku caught Katsuki’s look of displeasure at the exchange.
“Eijirou-sama,” the blond called, successfully recapturing the alpha’s attention. “We still have yet to eat, and I am quite hungry.”
“Oh, you’re right. I had forgotten in all of the excitement,” he said.
Katsuki resisted rolling his eyes. “By ‘excitement,’ do you mean all of the people annoying us for most of the day?”
Eijirou fought a smile. “You really shouldn’t say things like that, Katsuki. It may upset people.”
“My fucking breathing patterns upset people,” he grumbled in return.
Eijirou snickered quietly as to not draw attention back to them. “You have been increasingly vulgar lately,” he commented, not at all judgmental or chastising. Still, Katsuki instantly grew defensive at his words.
“Do you have a problem with that?” he asked bitingly, partially challenging but sincerely asking. Katsuki had always been fairly vulgar—which really meant that he cursed up a storm without a second thought—and he was hard-pressed to change that aspect of himself, no matter how much he enjoyed the alpha’s company.
Eijirou smiled easily. “I fucking love it, actually.”
Katsuki looked away so Eijirou wouldn’t see his smile. “Can we just eat already?” he asked, eager to end this whole conversation and ignoring the warm feeling in his gut. Why did Eijirou make him feel so strange all the time? He never had to hold back smiles, only force them. Yet, being in the other prince's presence made him want to smile all the damn time.
The alpha smirked, as if he could read Katsuki’s thoughts. “Anything for you, Your Highness,” he said, gesturing grandly to Katsuki’s forgotten chair. Again, Katsuki had to fight a grin, beyond amused by the alpha’s antics.
The omega sat down, making a show of crossing his legs and pretending to sweep his hair behind his ear as he did. “Well, it is about time you started showing me the respect I deserve,” he joked.
Instead of continuing the joke as Katsuki expected, Eijirou grew serious. “I plan to show you nothing but the respect you deserve, Katsuki.”
Katsuki’s eyes widened at the sincerity seeping from his words, knowing that he meant each one.
Eijirou turned away before Katsuki could even think to respond to that, waving down Shouta from across the room. The omega began walking towards the kitchen before he even opened his mouth. “Shouta-san! Four bowls of your best soup, please!”
“That would be all of them!” Hizashi yelled back, drawing laughs from multiple patrons who seemed to agree wholeheartedly. Shouta rolled his eyes with a secretly pleased smile as Hizashi joined him in the kitchen.
Many of the people within the shop had dispersed after Eijirou stopped giving them his full attention to instead focus on single-handedly holding the conversation between Katsuki and himself. The alpha did not seem to mind being the only one talking; after multiple conversations with Katsuki, he was more than used to being the only one speaking between them. Katsuki was always content to let his words wash over him and give single-word responses whenever he felt it appropriate.
He would never, for as long as he lived, admit to this but the alpha’s voice was pleasing to the ears.
Izuku, Ochako, and Hitoshi were at a nearby table. Izuku sat, feeling weirdly trapped, between Ochako and Hitoshi. The two were glaring daggers at each other, so Izuku was stuck uncomfortably sipping at the delicious soup in front of him and hoping for the two to leave each other alone already.
“Why are you sitting with us?” Ochako asked, displeased by his company.
“I want to speak with Midoriya,” Hitoshi answered.
The beta crossed her arms defiantly. “Well, you cannot speak with him.”
“I would think that’d be his decision to make,” Hitoshi said with clear irritation.
Ochako continued as if she had not heard him. “And why would want to speak with a Tulian omega, anyway?”
“I personally know a Tulian omega,” Hitoshi began, and Izuku’s brain scrambled to figure out who that could possibly be.
What Tulian omega besides me or Kacchan could he have possibly met? he wondered.
Ochako simply asked. “And who is that?”
“None of your concern,” Hitoshi replied instantly. Ochako huffed, fed up with his attitude. “As I was saying, they are different in every way from the image painted by foreigners and even Tulians of Tulian omegas.”
“And your point is?” Ochako interrupted impatiently.
Hitoshi narrowed his eyes at the interruption. “The point is, I expected Prince Bakugou to fall somewhere along the lines of an omega with a personality, but what I saw on the day of his arrival was nothing more than a subservient weakling unfit to rule any kingdom.” Ochako gritted her teeth. “You all claim that he is different than he seems, and while that may be true to some extent, I have no reason to believe that Prince Bakugou is someone worth the respect of the Adrian people. You two do not seem to be much either, if I can be perfectly honest.”
“By all means, be as honest as you wish. Nothing seemed to stop you earlier,” Ochako grumbled bitterly.
Izuku frowned but was surprisingly unoffended. “I can understand why you would feel that way,” he admitted in shame. “I mean, Kacchan has always dreamed of ruling, but once he presented everything changed for him. He fought against his parents—even our kingdom’s—wishes for a long time but…eventually he became just what they wanted.” Hitoshi had figured that much already. “But only on the outside!” Izuku rushed to add. “Kacchan is no weakling, and if everyone would stop placing labels on him without even bothering to speak with him first, I think everyone would be able to see that.”
Ochako suddenly scoffed loudly. Izuku and Hitoshi looked at her in shock. “And why does Katsuki-sama need to prove himself to such unworthy people in the first place?”
Both omega’s eyes widened, one in astonishment and the other in offense. “’Unworthy?’” Hitoshi repeated angrily. “You think we’re unworthy of Prince Bakugou?” he asked incredulously.
“Katsuki-sama would have been a wonderful ruler for Tulia, but because your prince could not find himself a mate, Katsuki-sama was forced to come here!” she exclaimed, her voice steadily rising. “None of you appreciate the sacrifices he has made!”
“Wait, Uraraka-san, that is—” Izuku tried, only to be drowned out by Hitoshi.
“Prince Bakugou was unable to find a mate as well, just like Kirishima-sama. That’s why he was eligible to be married off in the first place,” Hitoshi rebutted. “And last I checked, the whole reason this farce of a marriage was established in the first place was became your ‘oh-so great kingdom’ needed our protection.”
Izuku’s brow furrowed in contemplation. “Wait, how do you know about—?”
“You have no idea the kinds of things Katsuki-sama has had to suffer through because of your kingdom!” Ochako hissed.
Hitoshi rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t go blaming Adria for your kingdom’s flawed, archaic thinking. Any suffering Prince Bakugou endured was entirely Tulia’s doing, and you know it.”
“Tulia is a wonderful kingdom!”
“Bullshit,” Hitoshi snapped. “I bet Prince Bakugou and Midoriya are glad to be gone from it.”
The beta abruptly stood from her chair, nearly knocking it backwards onto the ground. She was so angry she could feel her body shake with rage. She planted one hand on the table and leaned over Izuku to get in the other omega’s face. Izuku leaned as far back as he could without tumbling. Hitoshi stared back unfazed and unafraid. “Katsuki-sama and Izuku-kun would never choose the kingdom of Adria over our homeland.”
“Uraraka-san…” Izuku was beyond flabbergasted. He had never seen Ochako like this and he could not understand what brought her to this point. He also could not bring himself to say that Hitoshi was likely correct in his assumption.
Someone loudly clearing their throat interrupted whatever Izuku may have said. All three heads turned to see Shouta standing beside their table. Only Hitoshi was able to spot the annoyance hidden beneath his tired, apathetic gaze. “You two need to calm down. I do not need another scene in my shop,” he said. Glaring down at his son, he added, “And Hitoshi, stop picking fights with the damn Tulians already. Go help your father in the kitchen if you are going to be a nuisance.”
Hitoshi sucked his teeth but remained seated. “It’s not like anything I said was untrue,” he mumbled.
Shouta sighed heavily. “This is not the way to make friends, Hitoshi.”
Hitoshi bristled with annoyance. “I’m not trying to make friends with them!” he denied. “And that’s rich coming from someone whose only friend is their husband.”
“Do not sass me,” Shouta reprimanded. “I will give your father free reign to tell everyone in this shop all of the embarrassing stories of your youth,” he threatened.
“You wouldn’t!”
While the two omegas were bickering, Ochako glanced over to see whether Katsuki had noticed their dispute. It did not appear so, since he and Eijirou were so consumed with each other. All she saw was the redhead droning on and on about some inane topic while Katsuki sat and watched him with his head in his hand and the faintest trace of a smile on his face. Ochako was practically seething at the sight of them.
“Come, Izuku-kun, we are leaving,” she told him.
Izuku opened his mouth to protest but Hitoshi cut in before he could. “You haven’t paid yet.”
“No worries,” Shouta said unconcernedly. “Hitoshi can pay for both of your meals.”
Said omega glared at his mother. “Why do I have to pay for them?”
“Oh no! You do not have to do that!” Izuku interjected before Shouta could respond. “I am not leaving anyway.”
Ochako frowned. “Yes, you are!”
“I am going to speak with Hitoshi-san and Shouta-san more,” Izuku stated. “You can leave if you want to, Uraraka-san.”
The beta was at a loss for words. She was so used to Izuku going along with whatever she or Katsuki did, never had she considered that he would so openly go against her. Feeling defeated, Ochako flopped back down into her chair, body lifeless and her face downcast.
Hitoshi seemed amused by the situation, smirking smugly at the woman. “So, you’re staying then, Uraraka-san?” She ignored him. “What’s wrong? Not used to your omega defying you?”
“I am not her omega,” Izuku corrected, straight-faced. He neglected to add that even if they wanted to be, betas and omegas were not allowed to become lovers in their homeland.
Hitoshi raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “She sure acts like she owns you,” he said. He personally did not believe that anyone owned their significant other, but he was sure that was the mindset of the Tulian people in regards to omega partners.
“You know nothing,” Ochako hissed furiously. “I only wish to keep Izuku-kun away from disgusting people like you.”
“Midoriya seems to like me. He even said he wanted to talk to me,” Hitoshi drawled with a lazy smirk.
“Alright. That is quite enough,” Shouta snapped, putting a stop to their arguing. He flicked his son on the ear who flinched at the sharp pain, rubbing his ear afterwards. “Stop picking fights with her. Do you understand me?” When Hitoshi gave a reluctant nod, he turned to Ochako with a fierce stare. “You need to get a hold of yourself. You are acting unbecoming of a knight. And if you ever speak that way about my son again, you will regret it.” Ochako looked down in shame and the shopkeeper finally turned to Izuku, who looked startled at the attention. Shouta made sure to soften his gaze. “That was good, what you did. You should speak up for yourself more. Tell others how you are feeling and what you want. Show them you are not weak, just like your prince.”
Izuku brightened at the word of advice. “Yes, Shouta-san!”
“Good,” Shouta said, pleased. He then mumbled under his breath, “Bunch of brats.”
“Um, I would like to ask something,” Izuku said unsurely. Shouta gestured for him to go ahead. “How did you become a shopkeeper?”
“I asked the king for permission to open my own shop and he granted it to me,” Shouta answered.
Izuku was wide-eyed. “Is it really that simple?”
Shouta nodded. “It is here.” Izuku seemed to be mulling over this information heavily. “There were not as many food shops when I proposed the idea, so that surely played a part. Had I asked to open a smithery, he may have denied me considering there were already so many back then.” Izuku looked as if he wanted to take notes. Shouta found his attentiveness quite endearing. “Are you interested in opening a shop of your own?”
Izuku was stunned by the question. “I never considered it before,” he said honestly. He took moment to entertain the idea. “I have always thought Tulia needed more education centers, especially for omegas, but Adria clearly does not share that problem so I do not see how one could be of any use. And that is not really a shop either…”
“You’d want to teach?” Hitoshi asked.
“Well, it does not have to be me! I mean, most of my education comes from reading in secret, so I doubt I would be a good teacher! There are surely much more capable people to do it!” he hurriedly said.
“Don’t doubt yourself so much,” Hitoshi said. “If you’re more knowledgeable about something than someone else, that’s already the first step. And you must be patient and kind if you were able to deal with both Prince Bakugou and Uraraka-san for so many years.” When both his mother and Ochako sent him matching glares, he held his hands up in surrender. “Alright, that was the last one. I swear.”
Izuku was a deep red by the end of his little speech. “Do you really think so, Hitoshi-san?”
The other omega shrugged. “Sure. You can’t be any worse of a teacher than my mom when it comes to cooking,” he said.
“It is not my fault that the only thing you can make without burning it is soup. My teaching skills have nothing to do with it,” Shouta rebutted.
Izuku rubbed his cheek self-consciously. “I am not that great of a cook either. I was rarely even allowed in the kitchen,” he said with a laugh. “The one to cook was always my—” Izuku cut himself off, his expression closing off entirely. Hitoshi and Shouta shared a concerned glance while Ochako whispered something to Izuku, who was now on the verge of tears. The omega wiped at his watery eyes. “Sorry. My mother,” he finished.
The two Adrians could only guess the story to that, but they knew for certain that it was a tragic one.
“No apologies necessary,” Shouta assured him.
“Sorry,” Izuku apologized reflexively.
Hitoshi decided to change the subject. “Well, if not teaching, then what would you want to do?”
Izuku gave him a bittersweet smile. “I always dreamed of becoming a knight and fighting alongside Kacchan.”
“’Kacchan?’” Shouta parroted in confusion.
“It’s his nickname for Prince Bakugou,” Hitoshi explained with a hint of amusement.
Shouta raised an eyebrow in surprise. “That is an awfully cutesy name for the prince,” he remarked. Izuku was just about to begin panicking, thinking that someone was finally going to call him out on his informality, when the older omega continued. “Prince Katsuki is not very cute, so I am not sure how fitting it is.”
Hitoshi gave an unattractive snort. “I think Kirishima-sama would beg to differ.”
Shouta nearly rolled his eyes. “Kirishima-sama is absolutely infatuated with him, so I would say he is a slightly biased.” Ochako scoffed in disbelief, but they ignored her. “So, what is stopping you?” Shouta asked Izuku, going back to the previous subject.
The noble had no answer to that, realizing that every obstacle he faced before was now literally miles and miles behind him. “I do not know,” he replied truthfully.
Shouta smiled. “The correct answer was ‘nothing,’” he said. “I keep trying to tell Hitoshi the same thing about him joining the Royal Guard.”
“You wish to be a knight as well?” Izuku asked with a mixture of excitement and wonder. He had not expected that of the purple-haired omega.
“Come on, mom. Why did you have to mention that?” Hitoshi groaned exasperatedly. He sighed heavily before answering. “Yeah, I did want to be a knight, but it’s never going to happen.”
Izuku frowned, as if he was disappointed for him. “Why do you say that?”
Hitoshi looked uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “I just…don’t mix well with the other knights,” he said.
“But you are such a nice person!” Izuku exclaimed passionately, catching Hitoshi off guard. “And I bet you are really strong too!”
“You think I’m nice?” Hitoshi asked with no small amount of disbelief. When Izuku nodded enthusiastically he gave an awkward chuckle. “That’s a first,” he murmured far too quietly for anyone to hear.
“We should join the Royal Guard together!” Izuku continued on, seemingly oblivious to Hitoshi’s increasing discomfort. “We will become the two strongest omegas in the Royal Guard—even stronger than Denki-san and Amajiki-san combined!” he jested.
Hitoshi stared at him expressionlessly for a long moment before hastily rising from his seat. “I’m going upstairs,” he told his mother before walking away without another word.
Izuku looked to Shouta for answers, but the shopkeeper merely shrugged. “My son is, admittedly, not the best with social interactions. I can assure you that you did nothing wrong, nor did you offend him in any way,” he said. “He just does not know how to respond to people his own age showing him kindness. He was much the same with Kirishima-sama.”
“Oh,” Izuku said dumbly, still reeling slightly from Hitoshi’s unexpected departure. “I still feel bad.”
Shouta shook his head. “Of course you do,” he said, possibly fond if Izuku wasn’t imagining things. “You should finish your soup,” he then said while pointing at their mostly untouched bowls. “Although, they are likely cold by this point.”
Izuku gasped, having completely forgotten about his food. He took a sip and found that it was about as cold as expected. He sighed sadly before looking back at Shouta. “I hate to waste food, so I will finish it.” Shouta nodded, satisfied with his response. He saw Ochako take a sip of hers from the corner of his eye. “It really is delicious, Shouta-san. I can see why your shop is so popular.”
Shouta turned away before Izuku could see his reaction to the praise. This boy is a menace, he thought to himself. “Just shut up and finish your soup.”
Izuku smiled to himself and did just that.
When the four finally returned to the castle a few hours later, Ochako had expected Katsuki to quickly bid Eijirou farewell and spend the rest of the day with her and Izuku, as he tended to do. After all, it was not like he preferred spending time with anyone else over them.
Or at least…she had thought that before.
“Eijirou-sama?” Katsuki stopped the prince right when he was about to say his goodbyes.
“Yes, Katsuki?” Eijirou turned so he was facing the blond, naturally towering over him with his considerably taller height. There was at least a head’s difference between the two princes, Katsuki only coming eye level with his chest. Normally, Katsuki would hate having anyone looking down on him—whether that be figurative or literal—but with Eijirou, he never felt anything but comfortable and respected.
Katsuki gave the alpha a tentative glance, pulling nervously at his gloves. He had no idea why he was feeling any nervousness at all; he only wanted to ask a simple question. It’s not like he cared at all how the redhead answered. “Would you like to take a walk with me through the garden?”
Eijirou gaped dumbly at the question before quickly collecting himself. He grinned and nodded almost manically. “Yeah, that’d be great! I’d love to!”
Katsuki bit his lip to prevent himself from smiling too widely. It really was ridiculous—and not at all endearing—how excited the alpha could get at times.
“Hold on,” Ochako interrupted their moment, her face twisted into a dark look. Izuku sighed quietly behind her, knowing what was coming next. “Katsuki-sama, I was hoping we could spend the rest of the day together.”
Katsuki raised an eyebrow. Usually, he and Ochako left each other to their own devices, never really asking for the other’s company. “Perhaps tomorrow,” he offered dubiously.
“Uraraka-san,” Izuku whispered to get her attention. “We should let Kacchan and Kirishima-sama spend as much time alone together as possible.”
Ochako looked at him like he was insane. “Kirishima-sama does not own him!” she snapped, startling everyone.
Izuku shook his head frantically, thrown-off by the direction this conversation was heading. “I never—!”
Ochako ignored him, whipping around to face a dumbstruck Katsuki. “Katsuki-sama, tell him you do not want to go with him!”
“Uraraka-san, control yourself!” Eijirou ordered, his patience wearing thin.
The brunette rounded on the alpha. “I refuse to listen to a word you say! You are not my prince!” she shouted.
Katsuki stepped between them, his back to Eijirou. Eijirou was shocked by the protective action while Ochako felt betrayed by it. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded, his face twisted into a vicious scowl.
“Me?” she whispered unbelievingly. “You are the one who has been acting abnormal, Katsuki-sama!”
“What?” he asked incredulously. “What the fuck are you even talking about?”
The woman stomped her foot in frustration, ignoring the judging gazes of the various knights watching them. She turned and marched away without another word, leaving everyone beyond confused.
“I wonder what that was all about with Uraraka-san,” Eijirou pondered aloud as he and Katsuki walked through the garden a few minutes later. He spotted Tsuyu in the distance tending to the flowers and sent her a wave before continuing. “That seemed out-of-character for her.”
Katsuki sighed heavily and massaged his temples. “I do not want to think about that. She has been acting strange lately,” he said. “She clearly hates the thought of us.”
“Oh? Is there an ‘us,’ Katsuki?” Eijirou asked cheekily.
The blond rolled his eyes skyward. “I mean our upcoming marriage, you insufferable alpha.” Eijirou laughed. “You promised to tell me more about the ceremony,” he reminded him.
“Oh, yeah! I nearly forgot,” Eijirou exclaimed. “There’s quite a lot to explain. Why don’t we sit?” he suggested, leading them to a nearby bench. “So, the ceremony itself is actually only a small part of Adrian weddings, especially between royalty.”
“So, what else is there?” Katsuki asked, as impatient as Eijirou had come to expect (and adore).
“Well, I already mentioned how other kingdoms’ rulers are invited to royal weddings.” Katsuki nodded. “Yeah, so, throughout the week multiple festivities are held.”
“Your weddings last a whole week?” Katsuki asked in surprise. “That seems…excessive.”
Eijirou chuckled. “Most foreigners think that, but it’s actually super fun. I mean, the last royal wedding was between my parents so obviously I wasn’t a part of it, but Adrian weddings in general are fun. The whole week is dedicated to feasts, parades, and parties.”
Katsuki blinked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the information. “I see.”
“Don’t worry, Katsuki. I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Eijirou said reassuringly. Katsuki refused to admit how much it worked to calm his nerves, even just slightly. “Then comes the actual ceremony. I should warn you though. There is a part that may seem a bit…unappealing to you.”
And the nerves were back. “What is it?”
“We have to cut open the palms of our hands,” he said. Katsuki’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Eijirou hurried to explain. “It’s not anything weird, I swear! It’s just a way of showing loyalty to each other. We make small cuts in our hands until they bleed a little and then hold hands.”
“So, swapping blood is not weird to you?” Katsuki questioned, honestly kind of freaked out.
“Uh…no?” Eijirou rubbed the back of his head, feeling embarrassed now. “I always thought it was super manly, you know?” Katsuki looked unconvinced. Eijirou sighed quietly. “I get it, it’s strange. And besides, you value your hands, so cutting them is obviously out of the question. I’ll ask my father if we can forgo that this time.”
“You would do that?” Katsuki asked. The “for me” went unspoken.
“Of course,” Eijirou replied instantly. “I’m sure you were expecting to get married one day in a Tulian ceremony, so I can sacrifice this one thing.”
“Tulian weddings are a bleak affair,” Katsuki said with a roll of his eyes. Katsuki had never imagined himself getting married; he had only ever cared about one day becoming king. “The most ‘romantic’ part to them is the ‘First Dance,’ since it is often the first time a couple will ever touch one another.”
“That’s kind of sweet, actually,” Eijirou said sincerely. “There’s usually lots of dancing during the parties and feasts, so if you want us to have our own version of that…” the alpha trailed off with a blush.
Katsuki raised an eyebrow, both at his bashfulness and the thought of him dancing. “You know how to dance?”
Eijirou gave him a look of mock offense. “Of course! I am a prince after all. I have to act princely every now and then, and dancing is usually included in that.”
Katsuki pretended to think about that. “I suppose you are a prince.” Eijirou rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “That does not mean that you are a good dancer, however. And I refuse to dance with some mediocre dancer.”
“Oh, so I suppose that you’re some amazing dancer, then?” Eijirou chaffed.
Katsuki smirked confidently. It was the most attractive Eijirou had seen him so far. “I am amazing at everything I do,” he declared.
Eijirou smiled affectionately, putting his arm behind Katsuki on the bench. He pressed closer to the blond, making sure to not invade his personal space more than Katsuki had previously shown he was comfortable with. The blond did not move away or ask him to back up, so Eijirou took his lack of protest as an okay.
This close, the omega’s sugary scent was all Eijirou could focus on. The alpha inhaled deeply, humming happily at the downright intoxicating scent. Eijirou had been in the presence of many omegas before—many of those instances being intimate in nature—yet none of them have had scents that even come close to the wonder that was Katsuki’s.
“Why do you keep smelling me?” Katsuki questioned but did not move away. “Is my scent strange to you?”
Eijirou inhaled again, letting the aroma wash over him again. “You have an amazing scent.”
“What do I smell like?”
“I don’t know,” Eijirou said. Katsuki could not hide his disappointment at the answer. “It’s sweet though. It’s like nothing I’ve ever smelt before. It makes me want to—”
Katsuki tilted his head in confusion when the alpha stopped short. “Makes you want to what?” he prompted.
Eijirou shook his head and backed away. “Nothing. Sorry.” Katsuki crossed his arms and pouted angrily. Eijirou couldn’t help but chuckle at the unintentionally adorable sight. “It’s inappropriate. I’ll save it for after the wedding ceremony.” Katsuki bit his lip anxiously. Even he was not naïve enough to miss the implication of that.
“And what comes after the ceremony?” Katsuki asked after a moment. “Will we…?” the blond trailed off, refusing to say those words or of that nature. He may be foulmouthed, but sex was a topic he strayed from even thinking about.
Thankfully, Eijirou knew what he was trying to say. “No, there’s actually a hunt directly after the ceremony,” he explained. “Um, and then we…uh…consummate our marriage.”
Katsuki nodded with a flushed face, clearing his throat discreetly. He would not show how terrified he was of the idea. “I suppose the hunts are much larger for royal weddings?”
“Not really,” Eijirou said. “Most of the time, the visiting kingdoms don’t participate so they’re about the same size as any other ceremonial hunt.”
“Would there not be more people involved since the entire kingdom would be present?” Katsuki asked confusedly.
Eijirou looked similarly confused by the question before something seemed to click in his brain. “Oh! This must be another cultural difference,” he began. “Every wedding—whether between royals, nobles, or commoners—is celebrated the exact same way. The current king will officiate the wedding, and the week leading up to it is filled with celebrations that anyone and everyone participates in. The only difference is that royal weddings have the Battle of Warriors take place in that week before them.”
Katsuki remembered many of the Adrians in the shop mentioning that over and over again. “What is this ‘Battle of Warriors’ you keep mentioning?”
Eijirou grinned excitedly. “The Battle of Warriors is what our kingdom is most known for, outside of our skills in battle of course. It is essentially a large tournament held each year in which anyone is welcome to duel. Many foreigners will come to Adria just for the chance to fight. The champion of the tournament has the opportunity to challenge anyone they wish to a duel.”
Katsuki actually thought that sounded awesome. “Even royalty?”
“Especially royalty,” Eijirou smirked.
Katsuki could not believe his ears. “Have you ever won the tournament?”
“Five years in row,” he answered, somehow not sounding at all arrogant or smug. “I challenged my father each time, and I got my ass handed to me,” he said with a laugh. “The first year I participated I lost to Amajiki-san in the semi-finals. He then lost to his mate who began courting him after the duel.” At Katsuki’s blank look he added, “Tall, dark-heard omega in the Royal Guard.”
Katsuki made a sound of recognition. “That meek, quiet one who is hiding behind his alpha most of the time?”
Eijirou nodded. “That’s the one.”
“You lost to that guy?”
Eijirou laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. I told you he was much stronger than he looks.”
Katsuki huffed, “Yes, I remember how much you loved complimenting him.”
The alpha smirked. “You don’t have to be jealous, Katsuki. My heart only has enough room for one omega,” he whispered huskily into Katsuki’s ear.
The blond jerked away and covered his ear, his cheeks a tell-tale pink color. “Do not do that! And I was not jealous!”
“Sure, sure.” Katsuki wanted to punch the smug look of the redhead’s face. “Don’t you want to know which omega that is?” Katsuki rolled his eyes; it was obviously going to be him. Not that Katsuki thought Eijirou loved him or anything ridiculous like that. The alpha suddenly gave him a shit-eating grin. “It’s Denki, of course!”
Katsuki had no idea what kind of expression he was making but it must have been comical because Eijirou nearly fell off the bench in his fit of laughter. Katsuki glared at him. “Asshole,” he grumbled.
Eijirou wiped away an imaginary tear as he got his laughter under control. “You should’ve seen your face. Come on, Katsuki, obviously I was joking. Both Denki and Amajiki-san are mated, and their alphas would kick my ass if I so much as looked at their omegas the wrong way.”
“They would never be able to beat you,” Katsuki mumbled, hoping Eijirou would not hear.
He did, and he was immensely flattered by his words. He gave Katsuki a genuine smile. “I’m glad you think so.” Katsuki had to look away from the tender gaze. “And, just for the record, no one would ever be able to beat you either,” he said meaningfully. He then swiftly changed the topic back to wedding festivities.
Katsuki was left to wonder just what he meant by that statement.
Izuku awoke suddenly and without reason from his slumber that night, gradually bringing himself into a sitting position and tiredly rubbing his eyes. The omega’s room was deathly silent, entirely empty of anyone else and peaceful in the stillness of the night. And yet, there was a lurking sense of unease that Izuku could not understand.
With a moment’s consideration, Izuku got out of bed. He figured he might as well check around his room to settle his inexplicable nerves. He was surely just being paranoid—he had never been a fan of the dark after all—but it would not hurt to look around for a few moments before retreating back to the comfort of his bed after he found nothing.
Just as his feet hit the floor with a quiet thud, a slightly louder thud could be heard from outside his bed chambers. Izuku felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart stopping for a beat before nearly threatening to burst out of his chest the next second.
Is someone outside? he wondered silently. He then shook his head, mentally berating himself. This is a castle. It was probably someone who accidently bumped into something, he reasoned.
The omega listened with bated breath for another sound but all he could hear was silence, as if there had never been a sound that disrupted the quiet to begin with. Not feeling any safer with the return to silence, Izuku made the quick decision to investigate the noise himself. He really hoped he would not come to regret this decision, or even worse, not have the chance to regret it at all.
The noble tiptoed over to the double doors that separated him from whoever stood on the other side, putting his ear against the wood. He closed his eyes as he listened but the sound of a voice beyond the door made his eyes shoot open in fear as an involuntary gasp left his mouth. He could not recognize the voice since it had been so quiet, but even the simple thought of a person standing outside his door in the middle of the night unsettled the omega to the core.
Izuku swallowed heavily, building up the courage to open the door. “I am not a coward,” he whispered to himself. “Kacchan would open the door without hesitation—which admittedly may be more reckless than brave. And then he would beat up whoever was out there…probably.” Izuku sighed quietly, silently praying that he would not die the moment he walked out the door. Surely, he was just being dramatic—there were no dangers within the castle.
Izuku gripped the doorknob of one of the doors, turning it at a painstakingly slow pace but not daring to open it any faster. Finally, after what felt like an hour, the door was cracked open just enough for Izuku to peek his head out. There he saw a hooded figure shrouded in the darkness of the long corridor, their visage one so disquieting and out of place that Izuku nearly slammed his door closed and hid away. The only thing that stopped him was his awareness of where the mysterious figure was standing.
They were right outside of Katsuki’s chambers.
Izuku’s brain went into a state of panic at this realization. Katsuki, his best friend and prince, was undoubtedly in danger and Izuku was the only one who seemed to be aware of this. Izuku was no fighter but he knew how to fight, and he would not hesitate to fend off this intruder. Even if it cost him his life.
The stranger had their hand resting on the prince’s door, tracing incomprehensible patterns onto the wood, their mumbled words imperceptible to Izuku due to the darkness of their surroundings. The figure did not seem to notice Izuku’s presence at all, apparently too lost in whatever it was they were doing.
Izuku quickly pulled his door all the way open and ran out of his room, fists raised and ready to strike. He would not let anyone hurt Katsuki.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his shaky voice echoing throughout the hallway that held only the two of them.
At first, the figure did not move an inch, did not even acknowledge the omega’s presence. Izuku inched closer and asked again. This time, the figure turned its head just enough for Izuku to see part of their face. Izuku’s already large green eyes widened even further.
Ochako smiled at him, the curving of her lips feeling off for some reason and yet still familiar in a way. “Uraraka-san? What are you doing up so late?” he asked confusedly. The beta woman said nothing and removed her hand from the door, the appendage slowly sliding down the wood before falling limply at her side. “Why are you standing outside Kacchan’s door?” he tried again.
Ochako finally spoke, her voice almost a whisper as if she dreaded anyone but Izuku hearing her. “I was going to check on him,” she said.
The omega chuckled uneasily. “Kacchan is perfectly safe, Uraraka-san,” Izuku assured, disregarding the fact that he had just feared for his friend’s safety not even five minutes ago. A part of him still did, but he knew Ochako would nerve cause harm to their friend. “You should go back to sleep. It would do you no good to be tired if you wish to protect our prince,” he tried to joke.
Ochako giggled. Izuku would have found it quite cute had it not been such a bizarre sound to hear from the knight.
Ochako’s eyes leisurely trailed down the omega’s body, the look in her eyes changing to one Izuku was not wholly comfortable with. It was different from the desperate looks she had given him earlier in the day but equally as unnerving. “I do not think I have ever seen you in your nightgown,” Ochako practically purred.
Izuku looked down at himself and his ankle-length, dark green nightgown. “Well, you have never been in my bedroom at night.”
“Are you offering?” she asked forcefully, suddenly in Izuku’s face. Her hand inched closer to his body.
Without even taking the time to think about the repercussions, Izuku roughly shoved the beta away. Ochako fell to the ground with a painful sounding thud, her eyes wide as she looked up at him from the ground. The scarce lighting of the corridor shone directly onto her face now, showing her expression almost fully.
It was terrifying.
“I am so sorry!” he whisper-yelled, conscious of Katsuki sleeping just behind that door. As bad as he felt for pushing her, he did not move closer to help her up. “You startled me.”
She gasped, as if the possibility had never crossed her mind. “Oh no! I am so sorry, Izuku-kun.” The way she said his name made the omega shudder. “That was inappropriate of me. Can you forgive me?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Izuku nodded. He could never stay upset with his friends for too long. “Of course, Uraraka-san. Just…never do that again, okay?”
The beta nodded her head and she actually appeared contrite. “Never again,” she affirmed.
Izuku sighed tiredly, his exhaustion catching up with him. “I am going to go back to sleep now, okay? You should really rest too. Today was stressful.” They both knew that was primarily due to Ochako’s own actions but neither felt the need to point that out. “Goodnight, Uraraka-san.”
“Goodnight, Izuku-kun,” she whispered back.
Izuku ignored how she remained on the ground even as he closed his chamber door behind him, shrouding the corridor in complete and utter darkness once again.