Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For royalty, soulmates were irrelevant. For centuries, the call of a soulmate was ignored for favourable ties with other nations. Leading into the 21st century, royalty had completely forgotten that soulmates were a matter to them. Love was a ridiculous and unwanted aspect of marriage. And that’s what Katsuki had lived by. He knew he had a soulmate - all the literature told him so - but he knew he would never meet them. And if he did, marriage was out of the question unless they were royalty themselves, and the ties was strong enough of course. Other than that - Katsuki was bound for a loveless, business-like marriage. 

Katsuki didn’t care for much, he wanted an education, he wanted to see the world a little, and he valued his solitude. Being of royal blood demanded that he was more than just an average person, one that could follow his heart. He had a responsibility to the people of his kingdom, one that he was more than happy to take on, but disregarded seeking the happiness of ordinary people. Yet, there was still part of him that wondered. Was a soulmate all that people made them out to be? 

He didn’t have the luxury to find out. 

“You can’t be serious,” Katsuki scoffed, watching the other men and women in the meeting recoil. Eijiro grimaced at Katsuki’s side, but it didn’t deter the frustration that had built within him.  Eijiro was in this meeting for whatever fucking reason he was - a prince from an ally nation, in the kingdom before the Founding Day Ball. 

Katsuki had been silent for most of their time together, but he rarely spoke these days to anyone - especially when they were idiots. But this particular meeting was proving to be a headache. Politicians made him so fucking angry; yet, as his mother said, they were beating around the bush, so they needed their asses kicked. 

One member cleared their throat, sitting up straight as Katsuki tapped his finger into the desk. “Your highness, we can’t just -” 

“It’s an issue of money, right? What’s the fucking problem? We aren’t bankrupt or even on the verge, what’s the issue of paying the citizens more money when they’ve been demanding it for years? Are we not the leading kingdom in terms of advancements? Why do we underpay half of the people that reside here?” Katsuki asked again and again, watching them all stiffen in their seat, almost afraid to speak next because they knew what he was saying was right. Katsuki didn’t need to tell them that they were being greedy, it was already evident from the tax break they were willing to give the well off members of their kingdom. 

“We can’t just give away money when we need -” 

“What in the fuck do we need more money for? Tell me exactly what department needs more money?” he huffed, standing abruptly and making everyone stand at his departure. Katsuki grabbed his coat, flinging it around his shoulder and leaving his arms free, he crossed his arms. “You give me facts and numbers, dumbass. I want a solution to this by the end of the week. If you can’t resolve this fuck up, I will, and I’ll make sure the people damn well know it too.” 

With one final glare, Katsuki left the meeting with Eijiro in tow. “You didn’t have to be so firm with them,” he said, cautiously looking over his shoulder. Katsuki grunted back. 

“Look shitty hair, I shouldn’t have to tell you that taxing poor people is bad,” he snarled, looking at Eijiro’s solemn face, making Katsuki stop in his tracks, “do I need to tell you that?” 

Eijiro shook his head, folding his arms and making the white shirt he wore stretch over his muscles in his arms and chest. Even for being a prince, the fucker worked out like a bodybuilder. Sure, Katsuki worked out himself, but he wasn’t as defined as Eijiro was; fucker looked like he would bust out of every shirt he wore. “Bakugou, you know I’m on your side on this, but even so, for the sovereign to get entangled in political affairs is almost unheard of,” he reminded. 

“That’s rich coming from you, Oh, King Kirishima,” Katsuki scoffed, turning back and going back down the hall. 

“Shut up,” Eijiro huffed, shoving Katsuki’s shoulder with a laugh. Katsuki rolled his eyes and continued on beside the other prince.“but dude, seriously, my kingdom is small, the government is even smaller. I have to get involved. Your kingdom is a stronghold of power, your government can govern itself, but you still insist on getting involved,” Eijiro said, reminding Katsuki that their circumstances differed. It wasn’t lost on Katsuki, and part of him wanted to rule over a smaller kingdom in order to have an influence over moves such as those in the meeting - but it held no real power, and Katsuki was always proud to bear the name Bakugou. 

“Why the fuck are you here so early?” Katsuki groaned. 

“I came to drink with my best friend,” Eijiro smiled, hooking his arm around Katsuki’s shoulders. 

“Fuck off,” Katsuki huffed, not daring to remove Eijiro’s arm.

“But nah! My girlfriend just moved here for a job in the fashion industry. She’s trying to source some textiles manufacturers to ship what she needs, but it’s taking some time,” he explained.

“This is pinky right?” Katsuki asked and Eijiro nodded back, “get her to send a formal inquiry to me.” 

“What?” he laughed. 

“I wanna see what she’s getting at. If we can ship multiple things along with textiles, it’ll give us reason to see each other more,” Katsuki shrugged only to watch Eijiro’s features soften and his hand lay across his chest. 

“I knew you cared, bro,” he said in a loving tone. Katsuki laughed.

“Shut up,” he scoffed, looking at Eijiro and noticing a soft pattern at his collar. Katsuki reached up, tugging at it to reveal two pink serpents entangled and draped over his neck and possibly wrapping over his shoulder. “Is she your soulmate?” Katsuki said aloud.

“Oh…” Eijiro said, shoving the collar back up, “yeah. We haven’t told anyone yet. Not even my parents,” he confessed quietly.

“Why the fuck not?” Katsuki asked, the two of them stopping in their tracks. 

“It’s complicated,” Eijiro said, looking away and scratching the back of his head. 

“They want to marry you off?” Katsuki realised. 

“Yeah,” Eijiro sighed with a shrug. 

“Get in line,” Katsuki huffed, sulking off to his next public outing that was bound to be on the news in some capacity. Eijiro, of course, tagged along so Katsuki didn’t kill himself in public. 

After that, the other royal families began to trickle in, the week becoming far shorter with all the people that were now bothering him. He was forced to greet every person that came to the palace, talking to them for too fucking long and Katsuki wished he was anywhere else in the world. 

When Katsuki stood in the foyer, he was surprised to find the one person he had been waiting for more than anyone - Todoroki Shoto. As always, his blue suit was pristine, with the Todoroki crest embellished in a pin on his lapel. He bowed before Katsuki, and in return Katsuki did the same. 

“Half and half,” Katsuki greeted to Shoto, who rolled his eyes in return. 

“Katsuki,” he huffed. 

“How’s the soulmate search going?” Katsuki mocked. 

“Do you know how to have a conversation without making me want to throttle you?” 

“What is it your father said to us? Soulmates make for the strongest kingdoms?” Katsuki teased, watching as Shoto pinched his brow, nodding along. 

“Not like it matters to me,” Shoto huffed, though it was clear it still weighed on him. 

“Heard he isn’t giving Touya the throne until he finds his soulmate and he is refusing to do that to spite your father,” Katsuki smirked, watching and Shoto huffed and looked down at the ground, already dreading this conversation. “Then, considering your sister is married and queen of a different nation, Natsuo is officially an officer in the army, that just leaves you to take up your brother’s place as the crown prince.”

“God, I hate being early to these things when you’re involved,” Shoto sighed to himself before Katsuki shrugged. Maybe it was petty of him, but he found it endlessly ironic that Half and Half’s problem was needing to find a soulmate, when Katsuki’s was that he could never find his at all, for all the good it would do. 

He also just really, really loved it when he could rile him up enough to get some shit thrown back. Still, judging by the annoyed look on Shoto’s face, he wasn’t gonna get any of that until there were less witnesses around. “Whatever,” he said, already dismissing the topic that he himself had brought up. “I’m gonna get that Todoroki whiskey you promised, right?” 

“Unfortunately I’m a man of my word, asshole,” Shoto sighed, bowing back to Katsuki and walking off. 

Katsuki was glad that the other royals he had met from boarding school were aware of his attitude and could handle him.It made keeping their acquaintances easier over the years.  

Before he even knew it, the day of the Founding Day Ball - the Bakugou Kingdom’s annual celebration to commemorate the history of the kingdom and to wish for greatness in the future. It was something that many of other royals attended, as a form of allyship; what it really was, was a chance to make new deals to win the favour of the Bakugou kingdom.  

Katsuki adjusted the mildly uncomfortable vest and sash, trying to look less like a pompous prince and more worthy of righteous adoration. As his mother threw his red cloak at him, he huffed, trying to fix the two strings in place without strangling himself; though that did seem like a fun way to get out of the evening ahead. Katsuki ignored the ringing in his pocket, most likely a text from his aide asking where the hell he was for a meeting. 

“Why the fuck are am I getting dressed up for? Not like this Founding Day Ball is any fucking different than usual,” he snapped to the waiting Queen, her arms folded as she stared at his reflection with a scowl in her brow. 

“Cause, brat , we need to find you a wife and we have political ties to work out,” she grunted back, rolling her eyes in the reflection. Katsuki stepped away, coming back to face his mother. 

“And who fucking else is left? We have more ties than any other fucking nation.”

“Can you just play nice with others, for once? Which brings me to my next point...I know you haven’t spoken to him since you were kids but -”

“No! Not Deku!” Katsuki groaned, hand clenched right in the side of his red velvet cape, the trim suffocating him. 

Mitsuki’s hand came up and smacked the side of his head. “Izuku is a prince just like you, stop calling him that.”

“I’ll give the nerd five minutes and that’s it,” Katsuki compromised but the tutt from his mother proved that it was only wishful thinking. 

“That boarding school did nothing for you,” she muttered, walking to the armchair in his room. She pulled her jacket back over her shoulders and Katsuki turned to her, following after her. 

“Thanks to fucking UA, I got to avoid that loser for nearly ten years, and then I had responsibilities once I turned eighteen,” he countered and Mitsuki rolled her eyes. 

“You are a ridiculous child,” she said, raising her hand to hit him again before lowering it and left. Katsuki followed her once more, making his way out and adjusting his attire as he walked. He didn’t have the time later to change, everything was planned out perfectly, so fitting in a different attire into the mix was going to be hard. Easy to just dress once for the day, he supposed. “You need to think about a wife this time. It’s nearing your twenty-fifth birthday and by law, you are required to take a bride,” Mitsuki reminded in a harsh tone. 

“Or groom,” Katsuki interrupted, and his mother nodded back. 

“Yes, or groom. Can you just hurry up and pick someone? Find them mildly attractive, we can sort out the political shit once it's all settled. Have a baby, and call it a day. That’s all you need,” she rattled off, like it were a simple matter. It was never going to be a simple matter. 

“You old hag, I can’t very well have a spouse when I have other shit to deal with, including a trade agreement between two hostile enemies that don’t know how close my foot is from meeting their asses,” Katsuki grunted, navigating the halls as his mother stopped them before the grand staircase. They would be parting in opposite directions, he thought. 

“Can you at least try to think of making some alliances? Your father and I got lucky - we’re soulmates, and he’s a lot more agreeable than you-” 

“Hey-” 

His mother carried on like he didn’t say anything. “Which made our agreements with the other kingdoms a lot easier. You on the other hand are young, unmarried, and an asshole. You need to secure your line and make some fucking friends for once - or when your father and I aren’t here, you’re gonna be alone.” 

She was right, not that he wanted to admit it. 

His mothers face softened for a moment. “Just find someone Katsuki. If they’re your soulmate or not, you need someone by your side.” 

And he hated agreeing with his mother. 

“I hate you,” he huffed. 

“I know honey, now I have to be off. Inko is coming and I have to prepare their rooms,” she sighed, still keeping a smile on her face as she spoke. 

Katsuki perked, grabbing his mother’s wrist to stop her leaving completely. “Auntie Inko is coming? For how long?” 

“Two months. But you also know that Izuku is staying here that long too. Along with his guests,” Mitsuki scoffed and Katsuki contemplated for a moment. 

“Auntie will make up for the annoying nerd,” Katsuki grumbled. Mitsuki cackled back, running her hand through his hair. 

“Go kick some ass sweetie,” she said, kissing his temple. Katsuki rolled his eyes and fixed his coat again. With a confirming nod from his mother, he set a devilish smirk back on his lips. 

“I always do, hag,” he said, saunting off to the meeting that he was both excited to attend and dreading the people that would get on every single one of his nerves. 

To no one’s surprise, Katsuki’s day dragged on, the ever present foreboding of the night’s events soured his mood. All those stupid diplomats and politicians, royals and nobles, all crammed into one ballroom that gave no room to breathe. Katsuki’s only saving grace was the fact that he was one of the few people allowed out into the garden just outside the doors of the ballroom. 

As he walked in, everyone bowing and eager to surround him, he eyed the doors and wished he could sneak to them as soon as possible. 

Wandering the floor, mingling just as he had always done - briefly acknowledge the person before promptly fucking off - he grabbed a tumbler of whisky and walked the perimeter of the ballroom. 

He had to admit, he was watching the nerd from a distance the whole night. At first, he wasn’t sure why he had a fascination with the guy all of a sudden, but it dawned on him; Katsuki wasn’t looking at Deku, he was looking at the woman next to him. Her brunette hair was cut into bangs with long strands on either side of her face, with the rest of the length tied back into a ponytail. Her dress was unusual for these types of events, the women opting for elaborate and extravagant dresses that would draw attention; hers drew attention for another reason. It looked like a red modern party dress; a plunging neckline that would have reached the bottom of her sternum but was cut into a corset-like configuration. It drew in her waist and flared out at her hip, cut short at midthigh. If she wore only that, she would have been the talk of the night for being so underdressed and almost seen as scandalous for a royal ball - but to wear a sheer white blouse underneath, hiding most of her figure and anything revealing, she dulled herself down. 

Part of Katsuki disliked it, but he wasn’t sure why. 

Before Katsuki could escape into the garden alone, Deku saw him, and immediately chased after. Katsuki rolled his eyes as he crept away from the party. Katsuki put the tumbler down after drinking the remainder and waited for his life to end in a series of sentences he couldn’t possibly interrupt. He wasn’t sure where Deku would start - the absence of over ten years left a lot of room for the bastard to rattle on how he liked - but he knew that after Deku was appointed a new role to get him familiar with the inner workings of the kingdom, he’d talk about trade. 

It wasn’t a conversation Katsuki was willing to have. 

He’d been studying the trade agreements and policies of his kingdom since he was ten, with fourteen years of knowledge under his belt, Katsuki would only talk down to the future king of a foreign kingdom. Under normal circumstances, he would more than happily put Deku in his place, but there was something off about Katsuki that felt rude to do so at an event such as this. 

Katsuki hadn’t even seen Auntie Inko yet. 

Before he had the chance to hide into the maze of flowers and bushes, Deku was clutching into Katsuki’s forearm, keeping him in place. Katsuki was about to yell back when Katsuki saw the brunette slip past the doors and rush towards the pair. Katsuki straightened, unsure as to the feeling that now ran around in his chest; yet as she looked at him curiously, he couldn’t stop the twist of shame that he was not more put together. 

He wanted to...impress her? Impossible. 

“Your Highness, you can’t just run from a party! We were midway through a discussion with a diplomat that could -” she began only to be interrupted.

“Kacchan! Hear me out!” Deku said, huffing and puffing. His vest was slightly out of place with his royal sash and pin slipping down his shoulder; Deku looked more like he was playing pretend rather than being an actual prince. Katsuki scoffed, shaking the nerd off. 

“I came out here to be alone, nerd, fuck off,” he grunted, ready to walk off. 

“That isn’t very polite, sir,” she huffed and all sense of wanting to impress the woman was gone. Either she was an idiot for not recognising a royal’s attire, or was blatantly ignoring it; each option was not something that Katsuki was going to take lightly. 

“This is Prince Katsuki! The one I told you about -” he corrected the woman lightly, before turning back to Katsuki. Little brat. “It’s so good to see you again, Kacchan!” Deku’s voice was cheery and bright - and already Katsuki was tired of it. 

“I’m not your friend, just tell me whatever the fuck you came out here for then fuck off,” Katsuki resolved, crossing his arms as Deku’s eyes lit up. 

For over thirty minutes, Katsuki and Deku argued back and forth, trying to come to an understanding on Deku’s kingdom’s issue. It was a constant back and forth, Deku claiming that his poorer people were struggling because of a lack of rain - disrupting a supply chain of wheat growth - and asking for neighbouring kingdoms’ assistance in providing supplies they could not grow. Katsuki was already questioning how there was a shortage to begin with, as the lack of rain shouldn’t have much foundation for their supplies to run low. 

“I don’t understand your hesitation on the matter, it’s a simple discussion on imports and exports,” Deku finally exclaimed, defeat already winning over his eyes. Katsuki was not in the mood for this shit. 

“Deku, you’ve only just stepped up to trade agreements and it fucking shows. You can’t just ask another country to give you shit because you’re running low,” Katsuki groaned, rubbing his temple. 

“We’ve been allies for centuries, it’s only natural to assume we could -” 

“If you have a formal inquiry, do so whenever fucking else you can. Not now. I don’t have time to teach you fucking trade policies,” Katsuki grunted back at Deku’s insistence. 

“Prince Izuku is well aware of trade policies, he doesn’t need a lecture on -” 

“I’m not speaking to someone I’ve never fucking met before on issues that don’t concern her,” he huffed, trying his best to ignore her. 

“How would you know if it concerns me or not, your highness? Like you’ve just said, we’ve never met before. I’m just as well versed as any royal on trade matters, and this is the exact opportunity to discuss things for the Midoriya Kingdom as it is for you to discuss matters on tax exemptions with the Todoroki kingdom,” she seethed. 

“I don’t know who the fuck you are, but you have no idea what you’re saying, especially to a royal,” he snapped back. 

“Your highness, I would suggest not talking to Prince Katsuki about this matter anymore,” she started to Deku before she glanced at Katsuki. “It’s clear he doesn’t wish to be civil at all on this matter,” The round face girl sneered. Katsuki’s eyes widened. A commoner, a snarky one at that, had no authority to speak to a prince like that, regardless on who she was hanging around with. Katsuki grabbed hold of her wrist and dragged her to him, her chest flush up against his own and the same anger that burned in him was burning in her eyes. 

“I’d watch my fucking tone, if I were you, Round Face,” he snapped. Deku butt in between them, dragging them apart as she clutched to her wrist. 

“Kacchan, we’ll discuss this another time and place,” Deku said, almost laughing as he kept guard over the woman who still drilled holes into Katsuki’s face.

“Don’t call me that. We’re not fucking kids anymore,” Katsuki finally snapped back to Deku. 

“It’d be good if he acted like it,” she muttered and Katsuki growled, almost stepping back into her space. 

“Ochako,” Deku warned, his voice low and almost uncharacteristic of him. She immediately relaxed. 

Ochako . 

“Sorry, your highness,” she said, bowing her head, but kept her gaze locked on his, almost a feral as he felt in that moment. He was sure that if she got the chance, she wouldn’t let titles get in the way of throwing a fist at his face. 

“Shitty deku. Shitty round face,” Katsuki muttered, clenching his hand shut as he felt a strange ache creep under his skin. Rolling his shoulders, he pushed on and forgot about the whole thing. 

~*~*~

Katsuki woke up with a headache, brutally wicked, a hangover that he hadn’t experienced since he was a teen, but most of all, his hand prickled with pain, like a thorn caught in his palm.

Sitting up, Katsuki brought his hand up and noticed the one thing he’d never thought he’d see. A tattoo, at the centre of his palm; a pink rose, surrounded by lily of the valley, stem after stem, sprouting from the rose and bringing forth the colour of it amongst the stark white. Katsuki flushed as he saw the ridiculously feminine tattoo and cursed the moment more than anything, because he knew exactly what it meant. He had touched his soulmate. 

Oh, what kind of fucked up fate was this?! Why did his soulmate have to be into flowers?

Katsuki dressed quickly, trying to ignore the bouquet that was now decorating his palm, but the flash of colour kept his attention waning. Katsuki threw the tan suit jacket over his shoulders, resting in place and adjusting his dress shirt sleeves to be rolled up to his forearm. As he looked at his reflection, he tugged at the black vest with thin red stripes down, matching his red slacks. He didn’t care much for appearances, but his mother said his style was always unmatched by other prancing royals. 

“Oi, dunce head, get me gloves,” Katsuki called out, watching Denki poke his head into the room with a furrow in his brow.

“You don’t normally wear your gloves, your highness?” he questioned, his suit out of place for a household staff member. Though it were very rare that Denki looked like he worked for a royal household, it was a miracle he looked alive most days. Katsuki mentally thanked Kyoka for kicking her soulmates ass everyday to get the bastard there on time. The few times Katsuki had met her were brief but not unpleasant - she was a good music instructor, and also helped Katsuki get his drumset to help with his anger management. 

“I asked for them, idiot, go get them!” Katsuki shouted and Denki shrugged, lazily walking off down the hall. “I want them in the next fucking five minutes, asshat, hurry the fuck up or I’m telling Ears that you’re slacking off again!” 

With that, Katsuki heard hurried steps echoing down the end of the hall. 

That was more like it. 

Days went by, a flowing bouquet of flowers bloomed up his arm and all he wanted to do was hide away. Each day, Katsuki was met with Deku and Ochako, her disdain for him was so clear, she may as well have been spitting in Katsuki’s face every time they met. It was like his mother had seen Katsuki’s outburst with Deku and scheduled the two to see each other every day since that night. 

Katsuki rarely avoided people. He hated people outwardly and was always up for a fight - but with the round-faced Ochako, something made his skin crawl. Moreover, he didn’t want to fight her, but it seemed like a natural occurrence once the two were set next to one another. In another time, maybe they could have been acquaintances that would bicker, but now this was the fate that they were handed; repeatedly seeing one another and wanting to tear the other to pieces. 

With yet another trade dispute between the two royals, Ochako sat beside Deku, glaring at him with her hand on the hilt of the sword on her hip. 

Ochako was almost in military dress compared to the night at the ball - less like a doll that was forced into a dress she didn’t want to wear. Tight black pants with a simple white dress shirt were one thing, but over her shoulders was thrown an imperial army jacket from the Midoriya kingdom, linked by golden ropes and a broach of the same kingdom’s crest. On her hips however, hung a sword, and the way she rested her wrist upon it was natural, as though she had done it without thinking. 

If Katsuki didn’t know any better, he’d say she was a knight, but most would carry guns now. She was not noble, but of high rank, considering how she tailed a royal every day. 

Who the hell was she?

“Are you even listening?” she snapped, making Katsuki flick his attention to her. “Maybe if you paid attention, you’d actually give a damn.” She was pissing him off more than usual. 

“If I wanted to hear from the moron that gets into this idiots bed, I would have called Mei here for this meeting and not you,” he growled back. Deku looked at Katsuki with the colour drained from his face. 

“Kacchan, we aren’t -” 

Ochako practically jumped the distance of the table, grabbing hold of the collar of Katsuki’s shirt. “Listen here asshole!” she roared. “If I sleep with the prince, it isn’t your fucking business. We’re having a meeting, stop making this shit so difficult,” she said, practically screaming in his face, nostrils flaring and a fire burning in her gaze. Katsuki grabbed hold of both of her forearms, dragging her over the table until she was back on her feet. She gasped at the suddenness of it all, but once there grounded, she returned to her rage, shoving his hands off of her. Katsuki kept his grip as he walked her to the door. 

“Get the fuck out of here,” he snapped, throwing her out. “If you touch me again, I’ll have you shot.” 

“Love to see you try, fucking asshole.” 

Katsuki slammed the door behind him and turned back to Deku. 

“This is going to be a difficult two months,” he said, sitting back down and sinking down into the chair. 

With one meeting done for the day, Katsuki completely forgot that he had to see her once more the next day, and the day after that. Ever since that night out in the garden, it seemed as though they were going to be hellbent on ruining the other, and Katsuki was almost excited - and terrified - to find out. 

With yet another meeting of Ochako glaring at him, Katsuki sighed, rubbing his temple. 

“Get your fucking guard dog to stand down for once,” he huffed, reclining back into his chair. 

“I can show you what a guard dog really looks like, your highness,” she spat and Katsuki sat up straight, his hands resting on the table. 

“I’m surprised you even know how to use that thing and it isn’t just for show,” he challenged as her thumb pressed on the hilt, sliding the sword an inch out of its sheath. 

“Ochako, can you step out, please?” Deku asked, voice cracking. 

“As you wish, your highness,” she said politely towards Deku before turning her attention to Katsuki, her happiness dropping from her features, “jackass,” she snapped back. 

“Fuck you too, cheeks,” he snarled, watching her walk out the door and slamming it behind her. 

“You two are killing me,” Deku sighed to himself. 

Katsuki, for once, agreed; being around her was slowly killing him. 

After yet another day of waking up to see his tattoo still remaining on his hand, he got up and wandered down to get breakfast. Before he could, he was met with the sight of the two people that couldn’t seem to be away from each other. Deku was still a distance away, just out of the dining area, followed closely by Ochako. Katsuki hissed, ducking behind a wall and just out of sight. Why was she always there? 

“You look nice today,” Ochako said to Deku, her cheeks slightly flushed. Katsuki huffed as he stayed away from the pair. 

“Thanks,” Deku said, “got a bunch of important meetings,” he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. 

“I won’t keep you. I’m going to explore the garden from the ball. I bet it looks even better during the day,” she smiled before her feet touched together and she gave over a rigid bow. 

Deku watched as she walked away, and Katsuki groaned. The loser was in love with her, wasn't he? How irritating. 

He wasn’t sure why, but something about them together made his skin crawl. Katsuki walked the short distance to Deku and tapped on the nerd’s shoulder. 

“That round face who’s always on your stupid tail, who is she really? Besides being a pain in the fucking ass,” Katsuki jut his chin in the direction she had just walked and Deku glanced back. 

“Ochako?” he asked and Katsuki nodded back, “she’s an advisor. When you left for your boarding school, I didn’t really have any friends. My mother wanted people around me that weren’t royals, and weren’t going to treat me any differently. I became friends with Ochako and Tenya Iida,” he explained. 

“Tensei’s brother,” Katsuki recalled.  

“Yeah!” Deku confirmed. “Ever since, they’ve been trusted friends and my most loyal advisors,” he said with a pleasant sigh that made Katsuki’s stomach turn. 

“So why wasn’t that nerd there with you,” Katsuki asked. 

“Tensei hasn’t been well, so Iida went to check on him. Ochako could still come. Why do you ask about her?” 

Katsuki wasn’t exactly sure how to answer. “She’s got the nerve to touch royalty,” he grumbled. 

“She’s a little protective,” Deku laughed, blushing as he spoke. 

“What? Is she your shitty soulmate or something?” 

“Oh, no! We’re just friends,” Deku squeaked, shaking his hands in front of him. 

“Stop freaking out on me, Deku. If she’s not your fucking soulmate, why are you so freaking worked up?” Katsuki huffed, walking to his next meeting he knew that Deku was supposed to be at. The little time they had to spend together was best. 

“It’s strange. A lot of people think we should be,” Deku continued and Katsuki rolled his eyes, following the hall and ignoring the nerd. “But she met her soulmate last week at the ball,” Deku sighed, and Katsuki stopped. He heard back to the nerd and stared him down. 

“What?” 

“Yeah. She apparently has her tattoo and everything. She won’t show me though,” he sighed wistfully. Katsuki was just staring— the knowledge that two people were bound the same night, and those two people had met as well. “Kacchan, is everything alright?” Deku asked softly. Katsuki’s trance was broken and he came back to reality.   

“Fine! Stupid nerd! Let’s just get to this shitty thing,” he grunted, the two walking off to the meeting room. 

For the entire meeting, on god knows what, Katsuki was thinking about the tattoo that had formed on his hand overnight. He clenched his fist and what it meant and thought of one person the entire time too. Her stupid round face and the smile she held for Deku of all fucking people. 

She was Katsuki’s. 

Shit. 

No she wasn’t, what the hell was he thinking.

Fuck. He had to find her. 

When the meeting was done, Katsuki raced to the area he heard her say before leaving Deku’s side. The garden. 

He raced there, going through every flower and bush, trying to figure out where the fuck she could be. The only place he hadn’t looked was the one he should have expected. Roses.  

Marching there, he caught sight of her, her fingers lightly brushing over a pink rose. His heart lurched before he called out roughly. 

“Oi! Round face!” 

Katsuki marched to her, her face scowling back at him and she was almost ready to trudge off but she reconsidered at the last moment. 

“What is it, your highness?” She huffed, crossing her arms. Katsuki reached the distance between them and tugged the same arm as he had done the week before. 

“Where’s the tattoo?” Katsuki growled. There was no reason to specify - Ochako knew exactly what tattoo he was referring to. Her eyes widened and she pulled away, her elbow thrusting out and meeting his ribs. Katsuki was sent off, but he was already grabbing at her waist, tugging them back together. Strangely, it was nice to be close to her as they were - it was like he had never been complete until he was pressed back to her. 

“Get off of me,” she muttered, her voice small but dark; warning him that she would react the same way as she had just done. 

“Where is it?” he said, his hand reaching for the hand that he had touched just the once. Fear gripped her eyes once more and she reacted quickly. 

“Where’s yours!” she shouted, pushing on his chest and giving her the distance she so craved. Her arms folded over her chest, hiding her wrist under her arm discreetly. Katsuki’s hand tightened and she glanced down, seeing his shaking hand. “See. It’s a personal question. You don’t just show it off to anyone,” she huffed, walking backwards - as though she didn’t trust him if her back was turned. “I have to get to prince Izuku’s side. Excuse me, your highness,” she said, giving a bow of her head before she finally let her guard down. 

“Is it where I grabbed you?” Katsuki shouted and with that, she stopped. She looked over her shoulder, holding her hands to her chest. 

“E-excuse me?” 

“I’m not dumb, round face,” he said, walking to her slowly, tucking his hands back into his pockets and moved around her so they would be face to face once more. “If the night I got my soulmate mark is same as you did, I think there’s cause to fucking ask.” Her cheeks flushed, lips pursing as though she was contemplating her options.

“You asked,” she said, pulling up her sleeve and showing his family crest on her wrist; an orange and green emblem, two battling stags and the coat read ‘Born in Blood and Fire’. The flames that were at the edge of the crest licked around her wrist to show the unbreakable soulmate bond. 

Ochako reached for him and took his glove off his hand. In the moment, he wasn’t even registering her doing so, so caught up in the fact that he was branded to her. Part of him was saddened for her; that she had to be stuck with him. Her fingers delicately touched at his palm, folding over his hand, but there was no need as the flowers that started to bloom a week earlier had now encompassed his entire hand and wrist - the lily of the valley sprouting over his knuckles and joints. She stared down at the pink rose on his palm before her large brown eyes bore down into his own. He forgot how to breathe when she looked at him like that. “What does this mean?” she asked softly, stepping back into him. 

And then, fear gripped him, taking all desires from his body, and made him step away from the one person that he was meant to trust more than anything else. 

“Nothing.” 

“Then why ask?” she scoffed, pushing her sleeve back down and hiding the crest of his family. He almost reached to stop her but pulled back that desire. “You’re either the biggest tease in the whole kingdom, or you’re an asshole,” she said, a snarl at the end of her words. 

“Excuse me?” he replied sharply, an electricity in the air that he had never felt. He wanted to grasp it, to take hold of the tension and make sense of it, but it was an impossible task.

“You heard me,” she barked. 

“I could put you in jail for that sorta talk,” he threatened, and with one defiant step into him, her hands bound at her sides and a scowl that could rival his own, she jut her chin up at him. 

“Dare you,” she snapped. She didn’t care for the height difference between them, Katsuki could see that as much, she’d have bound up and taken him to the floor in a battle of fists if she was so willing. She let out a shaking breath before she stepped away, her hand running through her hair. “You shouldn’t have asked, your highness. Even I know you can’t marry the one you want. Not like you care much anyhow,” she said, straightening out the jacket draped over her shoulders. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he grunted.

“I can’t believe my soulmate is the heartless Prince Katsuki,” she said, almost as though she were speaking to herself; whispering her disappointment. 

“I’d watch my tone if I were -” 

“So much for a great love,” she said, voice breaking slightly. Katsuki straightened, frowning as she turned away.

“What?” he asked quietly. She was already walking away before he could get an answer. 

Katsuki wandered the halls for the remainder of the day, lost in thoughts that all circled back to her. The one person he never thought he’d meet. They had known each other less than a week, and she had thoroughly confused and bewitched him. All rational thought was gone when it came to her - she stole his mind, and made it impossible to think of anything other than her. 

He never would have thought that love was an option - that he would feel it when every other emotion failed. Yet,  whenever she challenged him, there was a spark in her eyes, and it made Katsuki want to live in it. 

But she walked away, tearing herself from his life. Her words were brutal, almost accusing him of being incapable of giving her the great love she sort after. 

But she was right, wasn’t she? He wasn’t free to have his soulmate, regardless of who she was, unless she were royal. 

Yet, she was the one to walk away before he could; breaking the trance he was under before he realised he was lost inside it. How was she more rational about it than he? She had the freedom to choose - to love as she wanted amongst everyone else, but she was resolved to live lovelessly the minute she found out it was him. 

Why was he the foolish one? 

How could his heart not catch up to his head, because as soon as she walked away, he longed to chase after her. 

Chapter Text

Ochako had been a romantic since she was a toddler, seeing her beautiful parents being soulmates made her wish for a love like that. She would sit in the fields of pink rose bushes, humming love songs into the air as she plucked petal after petal, wishing for her love to sweep her away. That’s what love was to Ochako - a moment away from being in reach, dancing in the air and finally finding her. Her life shifted into being a royal prince’s advisor, keeping the future King Izuku humble and cheering him on, she still held out hope for love that was all encompassing. When Ochako and Izuku first touched - a way to determine if they fit together - no soulmate mark appeared. After, Ochako had felt her chest deflate - having unknowingly held her breath as she waited for her love to begin. 

It hadn’t. 

Instead, she was given a job that kept her family afloat, whisking her away to far away places to help Izuku make decisions and give him a wider view on the world. It was in these far away places that Ochako had come to the conclusion that royalty - The Midoriya's excluded - were the most irritating people to spend time with. Royal events were even more maddening. If Ochako wanted to converse with people that had no interest in helping the lower class, she would have just stuck her head into a raging fire instead. It would give her the same result; a rage that boiled and quite possibly ringing ears. She hadn’t considered what putting her head into a raging fire would do to her ears, but she could guess it wasn’t pleasant. 

Izuku knew she didn’t like these events, but he always smiled at her and made her feel appreciated. It was the least he could do, and still, it was like she was doing some good, even if it was just out of pity. 

As they parted from the aggressive prince Katsuki, Ochako rubbed her wrist, the ache on her skin was almost scorching. She flexed her fingers out, trying to shake out the sensation that was now thrumming through her arm. 

“What’s the matter?” Izuku asked, leaning over to her. Ochako stiffened, pushing her hand behind her back. 

“My arm feels like it’s burning,” she said, trying to brush the subject aside. 

“Burning?” he asked, almost reaching for her. Ochako skipped in front of him and kept a distance between them. 

“It was probably that prince’s grip, he was really firm,” she explained, “it’ll be alright. Let’s continue,” she said, gesturing back to the ballroom. And yet, before she was completely back inside, she glanced over her shoulder to see the Prince sitting alone and staring up at the moon. He couldn’t stop clenching his fist to the point it shook against his knee. Ochako returned to the party, convincing herself that her encounter with Prince Katsuki was nothing more than a wrong first impression, one that would not be rectified. 

Ochako had no plans on meeting the prince ever again. 

~*~*~

She stunned him. That’s all he could think of as he walked away from her confession that afternoon. Every word stunned him in a way that left his feet feeling unsteady and unfamiliar. 

So, Katsuki had found it hard to sleep; troubled with the face of his soulmate, disappointed that her other half was him . He understood, in a way. There were many things Katsuki had been called over his lifetime, but the one consistent complaint had always been - difficult. Katsuki was difficult. But he hadn’t expected his soulmate to outright dismiss him. 

“So much for a great love.”  

How could she say that, without a shred of remorse? Why would she say that to him of all people! Fuck her! He sat up in bed, huffing as he ran a hand through his hair. Why the hell did this bother him so much? It wasn’t like they were ever going to fit together? They both knew it was impossible. Yet, the sadness in her was enough to have him thinking about her for hours after they had left each other. 

With what little sleep he got, he dressed in a pair of black trousers and a white dress shirt, rolling up the sleeves to his elbow. He looked down at the growing tattoo, the rose blooming and wilting in the same image that made his head hurt - and a new occurrence, wrapping vines that now bound around his wrist like a bracelet. Part of Katsuki wanted to stare at it, to understand what every element of his tattoo meant, but couldn’t afford to waste time. Bringing his glove over his knuckles, he noted that he needed to get ones that reached further up his fingers as well as further down his wrist to mark the new blemish on his skin. 

Katsuki didn’t know his schedule, but it was bound to be filled with whatever nonsense his mother had given him. He wanted to sleep more, not getting his full eight hours was weighing on him. Everything that was going on was too distracting as it was, and with the start of his day focused on the tattoo, he was left in a weird frame of mind. 

Over his breakfast, Bakugou had a meeting with political assistants and government officials. They were trying to provide excuses for lack of transparency on medical fees that had no right being fees in the first place. For most of the meeting, Katsuki was focusing on keeping his food down and not rolling his eyes. It wasn’t until he was the chef came to make him a coffee, that he asked for it to be to go. Thank fuck for Sato. 

After he grabbed his coffee, leaving the men there gaping in surprise, he walked down the halls until - of fucking course - he saw Ochako in her military dress uniform. From what he’d seen, Ochako would often just wear the uniform trousers, white blouse, and coat swept over her shoulders that was held in place by a golden chain. Today, however, she was wearing a black jacket with dark green embellishments; a staple of traditional Midoriya military uniforms. It was stiff on her body, held tight to her torso by silver buttons that seemed to dig into her. In all, Ochako didn’t look all that comfortable. Her face was tilted up to look at one of the many ancestral portraits that lined the halls of the Bakugou palace. Downing the remnants of his coffee, he placed his mug down and sauntered over to her. 

“Round face,” Katsuki greeted and as Ochako turned to him, she sneered. A soulmate’s gaze , Katsuki thought with a scoff. 

“Asshole,” she spat back, and Katsuki scoffed as he folded his arms. Ochako feigned an apologetic look before she curtsy to him. “I’m sorry, Your highness . Why do I get the pleasure of speaking with you?” Katsuki held in the laugh that bubbled at his lips but gave a short bow in return. 

“I’m bored with the company. You at least fight me,” he replied and Ochako frowned at his words.

“You have a strange way of keeping company, your highness,” she said, the first of the pair to break the tension and laugh, even if it was held at the back of her throat. Even as she pursed her lip, he smirked back at her. Katsuki offered his arm. 

“I know I’m no Deku, but you reckon you can spare some time to walk with me?” he asked, trying to prepare himself for the disappointment of her rejection. Ochako glanced down at his arm then back to his face before she removed her jacket and placed it on a side table, letting her hand looped up underneath and held his forearm delicately. 

“Let’s see how well the Bakugou prince can show me around,” she joked, and for the first time since they met, Katsuki finally felt like he was getting it right. 

He found it hard to start a conversation with her, distracted by her physically. For starters, she wasn’t wearing the white blouse he had thought she would - instead, she wore a black tank top, though it looked far more rigid than a normal workout top. Katsuki wanted to question it, but decided that looking at her bare shoulders and arms was an oddity he liked. The second thing was, he couldn’t stop looking at her; she almost seemed to catch in the air. When they made it outside, and the wind picked up, her being seemed to continue endlessly. In the way her hair waved back behind her, her smiling spreading and eyes lighting up when she met the light of day. How could anyone keep a coherent thought when she was so distracting . 

How could one woman be so distracting? It wasn’t normal. 

Ochako was the one that guided them to the garden. It seemed as though she were bound there, that something within held her by the root and wasn’t willing to let her go in the slightest. He didn’t mind, he could figure out where to find her that way. The thought had him questioning something, and he finally spoke. 

“What do the flowers mean?” Katsuki asked and Ochako turned to him, a crease developing at the edge of her brow. 

“Hm?” 

“The lily of the valley. Why do I have fucking flowers on my hand?” he snapped, displaying the gloved hand. 

“Oh,” she said, tucking one of the long strands of hair behind her ear as she blushed. He didn’t know he could make her look so...beautiful. Fuck, he didn’t know he could find someone so awe-inspiring. “Uh, well, the town where I’m from, they grow naturally. They grow so much there that most of the town just plucks them out like weeds. My house is covered in them. My mother almost called me Lily too.” 

He didn’t like that. 

Ochako suited her much better.

“And the rose?” he questioned, his hand flexing out as he felt like vines were snaking up his forearm. To that, she looked away, not wishing to meet his eye, not even for a moment. She straightened her shoulders as she pulled away, walking ahead of him. 

“Not sure. Maybe cause I like pink?” she shrugged and continued on in the garden and Katsuki stopped, frowning back at her.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he yelled and Ochako turned, giving him another shrug walking backwards.

“Look, I get it’s supposed to be relevant to me, but I don’t know, tell me more details about it since you won’t show me,” she said, her voice catching in the air and whispering back to him. Katsuki bound his hand and moved quickly to walk next to her again. She was just being irritating now. How could she bring out this many emotions from him in the span of a few minutes. That irritated him more. 

“I don’t look at it often enough to tell you,” he lied. He looked at it all the time; but he didn’t want her to know that. 

“Well then, I can’t help you,” she sighed, walking in time with each of his steps as they moved on. “Stubborn bastard,” she whispered and Katsuki’s brow kicked up in surprise.

“What was that?” he asked, trying to hide the smile that came onto his face. 

“Nothing, your highness,” she lied, lifting her chin and not even daring to hide her smile. Katsuki couldn’t help but smile back. She broke every rule that he had designed for himself, and for once, he didn’t care that he was defying his own internal laws. 

It was Ochako’s turn to speak, holding onto his forearm as she took them down another path.

“Can I ask something?” she asked, Katsuki restraining himself from saying ‘you just did’ but  it was easy when curiosity was overtaking her features. She was curious about something that only he knew. 

“What?” 

“Why is your family motto ‘born in blood and fire’? I have never understood it and Izuku isn’t much help because he goes into a deep family history that feels quite invasive,” she explained and Katsuki rolled his eyes. 

“That sounds like the nerd,” he scoffed. “Though, he was probably right about what he told you, but he doesn’t know the true meaning.”

“Will you tell me? Soulmate to soulmate?” she asked, holding his arm tighter and pressing her body into his side as her lashes fluttered. Katsuki sighed, rubbing his eyes with his gloved hand. 

“You’re a conniving bitch, you know that?” 

“Yep.” 

Instead of answering straight away, Katsuki took her hand, running his fingers over the mark he left on her body; his family etched into her skin forever. With a tentative touch over the crest, Katuki looked back to Ochako, who was breathing a little heavier than he anticipated. 

“It was a long time ago, but before our motto was ‘Until the moon rises’, as many in our family were seen to be moon spirits. When those from Shigiraki’s kingdom got suspicious of the power the moon supposedly held, they burnt down the old castle,” he said, moving them a few more feet to the gap in the tree line to reveal a stone palace, half blackened by its history and collapsed by time, “you can see it there,” he said, pointing over to it as Ochako moved in front of him.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“On that night, my family fought against the full weight of the Shigaraki army. It was said that only my ancestors foughts as everyone else within the castle died. Two Bakugou’s against an entire army. So that’s why we’re seen the way we are; fierce, unyielding, and brutal,” he explained. 

“I understand now,” she murmured, nodding to herself before she met his eye again, “for a Bakugou...your power lays with your convictions. You are not a Bakugou until you fight for everything you want,” she elaborated, and to be fair she was correct. It surprised him a little, that she understood him without him having to walk her through every meaning.

“Yeah. You get that better than the nerd. Tried telling him once but he got caught up in the semantics of who was who and which century it all fucking happened in,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“That sounds like Izuku,” she mimicked his sentiments, and he scoffed, continuing to walk with him through the maze of bushes. 

It felt like they talked for hours, wandering through the lush gardens, sneaking behind bushes just to find one another at the other side. Katsuki thought it may have been a form of flirting for them, and true to form, when she smiled, he thought he had been given the title of king right there. Her smiles were never half-hearted - even when they were mocking, she put every effort into making it as big as her genuine ones. They took up her whole face, spreading from her lips to lift up her cheeks, and finally her squinting eyes that held affection, even if it was for the duration of her grin.

As the afternoon sun lit up the garden in a golden hue, enhancing every flower in its bloom, Katsuki walked behind Ochako as she breathed in the scent of the magnolias. It was temptation that had him acting without reason, his bare knuckles running over her shoulder blades in a barely present touch, following down the length of her arm. Ochako held her breath and looked at him, their eyes not straying for a moment, his hand resting near her wrist as he continued to look at her. 

“What exactly do you advise the nerd on anyway?” he asked, voice low and grating. Ochako took in a shaking breath as she turned to him, her wrist lifting so now she touched the inside of his wrist as well. Just touching each other felt like pleasure and sin all in one - he couldn’t define the way it made his body react. Touching her was one thing, the way it sent a shiver down his spine as he watched her shoulders roll and her breath hitch, but the minute she touched him, it was like he ran too hot to make words form. 

“Civilian matters. What common people think,” she replied, pulling herself away and skirting around him. He was glad she did, because if he had his way, he’d do improper things to the woman in a damn public flower garden. 

“Seriously?” he asked, clearing his throat. Ochako swayed slightly as she walked ahead of him, taking her time in answering.

“More or less. I’m around to help Izuku to clear his mind on matters. He tends to overthink,” she grimaced with a slight laugh. 

“No shit,” Katsuki scoffed. To that, Ochako turned, pursing her lips as she rocked back and forth on her heels. 

“I’m not just his advisor. If he doesn’t pick a husband or wife by the time he’s twenty-five, I’ll be his betrothed,” she confessed, chewing on the inside of her lip. 

“What?” 

Ochako cleared her throat, hand binding on either side of her thighs, still rocking slightly. “Queen Inko has been very eager for Izuku to marry. Her kingdom isn’t as large as yours, she doesn’t care for royal line or ties and is perfectly happy with how small they are. Izuku has shown interest in me in the past, so we’re a perfect fit.” 

“You know I’m your soulmate, and you’d still pick him?” he sneered and Ochako looked back at him in horror. 

“I didn’t pick him. I didn’t even pick you ,” she exclaimed in a strangled shout, and her words dug into him. “You happened to me. He is...my security.” Ochako’s voice cracked before she drew in a long breath and cleared her throat. She had to blink hard to stop herself from getting too emotional before she spoke. “Excuse me, you highness,” she said, giving him a pitiful bow and walking off back to the palace and making him process her words. He turned, watching her walk away her arms coiling around herself as a form of comfort and all Katsuki could think was: I could be holding you instead. 

He had to remind himself that everything he was feeling was a result of them being soulmates. The emotions weren’t real, they were forced upon on them and nothing more. But still, he wished they were real, wished that being with her could lead somewhere other than disappointment. 

Days had passed, Katsuki getting whisked off to meetings and public events to give back to the kingdom that he had sworn to protect. He liked the public events to a degree, like going to community centres and seeing where the funds he fought hard to give them go to use - but getting dressed up, having his stupid formal jackets with pins and sash was just ridiculous. 

Making it back to the palace, he was ready to get out of the fucking get up and get ready for whatever dinner he had to attend with Auntie Inko and the nerd. Although he was excited to see his Auntie, he didn’t want to do twenty fucking questions with Deku about the trade agreements he was beginning to understand. Sometimes, it felt like Katsuki lost brain cells when he talked to Izuku. 

“Do you dress to impress me, your highness?” a voice asked and Katsuki stopped adjusting the jacket - the stupid pins still snagging on his dress shirt - and looked up to see Ochako.

“Why the fuck should I?” he asked, rolling his shoulders and feeling at ease in his clothes again. 

“I’m your soulmate, and I can’t help but notice you’re putting in a lot of effort with all of these suits lately,” she teased. Katsuki rolled his eyes. 

“Oh fuck off,” he sneered. 

“As you wish, your highness,” she said, giving a curt bow before spinning off away from him. Watching her go made his heart lurch and he raced to keep up with her. 

“What’s the nerd up to today?” he asked and as he looked down at her, he could see the hint of a smirk on her face. 

“Not exactly sure. Tenya was with him today so I was allowed to relax,” she beamed. He liked seeing her shoulders less tense, as the last time he had seen her - her whole body was tense and she could barely look at him. Now, it seemed like she wanted more time. He understood the feeling. 

“And you decided to wander the halls,” he asked, looking her over.

She was dressed rather nicely, compared to her usual attire; a pale pink summer dress that hugged at her waist before it fell in a cascade of fabric just to the top of her knees. Katsuki was sure if she spun around she’d look like a dancer of some kind; perpetually beautiful as she weaved through the world. 

He wasn't sure why he thought of that. 

“I’m looking at the art,” she said, and he noticed which one she had stopped in front of; Katsuki’s. His heart ached at the thought that she still looked for him, even if it was just a piece of him, in some way. “It’s strange seeing you in portrait form,” she said, tilting her head as she examined the details. He didn’t like the portraits, in the red cloak that ran down to the floor, hand resting on the hilt of his blade in its sheath as the other gripped the back of his throne. It had been painted years prior, when he had turned eighteen and the throne could be rightfully given to him at any point. He looked young and cocky; but it felt false, even to him.

“What? Doesn’t capture the asshole in it?” he said, mocking himself before she could. 

“They make you look lonely, like they can see what I see,” she whispered and suddenly she tensed up again, her hand covering her mouth as she realised what she had said. 

“What?”

Ochako turned to him and bit her lip as worry buried itself in between her brows. “I don’t know. It’s just when I look at you...I can feel that you’re alone. You don’t like it but you also don’t know any other way,” she explained, face bright with embarrassment. 

“How did you -” Katsuki couldn’t finish what he was going to say when Ochako’s phone began to ring. She fetched it from her pocket before she realised who it was. 

“Oh, that’s Izuku. I have to go, your highness,” she said, giving a short bow and hurrying off down the hall. 

Katsuki wondered if Ochako would always walk away - she’d always leave him baffled and unable to comprehend what she had said. There were things that Katsuki lacked, he was aware but didn’t care much either way, but every time Ochako spoke, it revealed layer upon layer of faults he had unconsciously covered in order to give himself to his kingdom. He didn’t know how to be a person built for another; he was made for the many, an individual was incomparable to the thousands of people he had to care for. Yet, when Ochako looked at him, when she gave him the time of day, it was all he ever craved for. He wanted to be good enough to be her person. 

It was then that he had to remind himself that he was a Bakugou prince; he wasn’t going to end up with Ochako, no matter what brand they had left on the other. 

Maybe it was because of that thought - left to fester in his brain all day - that he couldn’t sleep that night. Tossing and turning was driving him to the brink of insanity and he’d given in, pacing back and forth in his room to burn off the anger. 

Why the fuck was it that any time he couldn’t sleep, it was her fault? She left him in a state of unrest and she didn’t fucking care. She needed to care. About what though? About what he’s feeling or about him? Or was it just because he wanted her to feel deeper - to feel for him deeper?

In a frustrated huff, he threw on his robe and marched his way down to the guest suites. When he figured out which one was hers, Katsuki knocked on her door, curling and unfurling his fist as he waited for her to answer. In a few moments, he was met with a sleepy Ochako, who yawned as she opened the door up. 

“Your highness,” Ochako blushed, folding her arms over her chest. “I wasn’t expecting anyone this late. I’m sorry,” she cleared her throat as she looked him over. It was then he realised he was in a pair of boxers and a red robe that was still flung open. He wasn’t embarrassed, but this wasn’t what had been expecting to wear when he was going to ask her this. 

“I don’t give a shit about the way you look,” he lied. He very much liked the way she looked right then; sexy and relaxed all in one. She wore a t-shirt that was far too big for her, and it hung off her frame to her midthigh. When she crossed her arms over herself, it tugged the fabric to her figure and lifted the shirt slightly. He was truly fucked if she looked so fucking hot in just an oversized shirt. 

“Why are you here?” she asked. 

“I...I…” 

Why the fuck couldn’t he get the goddamn words out!? He wanted to say them! So fucking desperately, but it wasn’t coming past his damn throat. 

“Is everything alright?” she asked, voice soft and cautious. 

“I want to go out with you,” he spoke, the words spilling without restraint. 

“What?” 

“Don’t make me repeat myself!” he found himself snarling, his fear of rejection coming out in a fit of anger. Katsuki huffed, tapping it down as he looked back up to her. 

“I’m sorry, I just don’t understand what you mean,” she explained and Katsuki didn’t realise he had a soulmate that couldn’t understand the basics. 

“I mean I want to go out. Show the kingdom to you. Like everyone else,” he said, sentences clipped and direct; he didn’t know how to handle this if she said no. 

“Your highness,” she said, the same softness as earlier and the pity she held made him feel sick. He didn’t want pity. He wanted her to say yes. “I don’t know what’s brought this on, but -” 

“If your excuse has something to do with shitty Deku, just tell me to leave, I don’t have time for him,” he huffed, trying not to hold his breath as she stomped her foot in protest to his words. 

“Izuku is my friend, your highness, more than anything else. I won’t agree to this unless you start behaving better around him,” she demanded, her face determined. Katsuki could see this was a make or break for her.

“Fine,” he confirmed. 

“Then I agree. I’ll pick a place, and we’ll have...lunch...or something,” she nodded and Katsuki nodded back. Ochako smiled as she closed her door and Katsuki turned, walked back down the hall and cheered to himself. 

He was doing this right. 

It felt right . 

*~*~*

Ochako cracked the door open as she heard Katsuki turn to leave, watching as he pumped his fist at his side, a slight spring in his step as he walked away. He was happy, because of her . The more she knew about that man, the more she became confused. 

She knew she shouldn’t have been hopeful, knew that theirs was not a match that could last eternity like so many others. Yet, when he looked at her, when he smiled just for her, she couldn’t help but feel as though love had already started to make its way between them. The tattoo around her wrist had scorched higher, the flames licking up her arm, crossing paths to burn higher. 

Ochako burned for Katsuki, and her mark proved it.

Chapter Text

Katsuki sat with his arms crossed, watching as the pink haired woman lined up her papers and began to fret around. “What’s your name again?” Katsuki asked as the woman stiffened at his voice. Then, as though she didn’t like his tone, she straightened, put her hands on her hips and snarled back at him. 

“Seriously? I’m your best friend’s girlfriend, and you don’t know my name?” she said, looking down at him with narrowed eyes. As he looked at her, she was an eccentric woman; her clothes seemed to be the top fashion, hair a blend of pinks to make it a multi-layered show of art. Her tattoo was the only defining part of her fashion sense that clashed. It was a red spiked line of scales that ran up her right arm. It bloomed into a bunch of red roses as it raced up her bicep. It extended so much further than he even realised. 

Katsuki knew that soulmate marks expanded over time and with great love and admiration they transitioned into how the couple felt about each other, but he’d never truly seen something so intricate. Part of him wanted to ask her if their love was as passionate as their tattoos would indicate. He held his tongue. Maybe it was because he wasn’t sure how his own soulmate connection would go - if it would expand up his arm and encompass his entire body. Maybe it would fade into non-existence and he’d be alone for the rest of his life. He didn’t want that faint outline of flowers on his hand for the rest of his life, knowing he’d lost something; but it wasn’t entirely up to him. He had his chance, he just had to take it. 

“I rarely know his name, so you’re not winning any favours with me right now,” Katsuki said. It was a small joke, but with his dry delivery, he wasn’t sure that she would have gotten it. She lifted her chin in pride and announced herself. 

“Mina. Ashido Mina.” 

She held herself so tightly together, he was worried that if he spoke she’d shatter. Instead of dealing with her delicate nature, he waved off his hand and sunk into his chair. “You should relax, pinky. I’m not gonna bite, especially not you.” 

“I don’t think I want this meeting,” she said quietly and Katsuki quirked a brow. 

“You’re not even from this fucking kingdom and you’re meeting the prince. You should be thankful that I’m even here,” he replied back with a bite. 

“You kiss your soulmate with that mouth?” she snapped and Katsuki stiffened. Mina smirked, her arms crossing over her chest. “Ah, I get it,” she said smugly.

“Don’t try to read me, pinky, you’re gonna fail,” he groaned. Mina sat down in her chair, kicking her feet up onto his desk. He growled at her but Mina didn’t bother to budge. She felt like she had a step up on him, and that may have been the case, but the cocky attitude wasn’t what he was gonna put up with. Katsuki leaned forward to bark at her when Mina threw her head back. 

“I think soulmates are tricky things. And with your personality, you’re gonna be a hard man to love,” she said. Katsuki couldn’t argue. And those words that Ochako spoke to him once before echoed in his mind. So much for a great love. Katsuki slouched back, unable to fight back against her, so knocked on the desk. 

“Fuck you, let’s get on with today’s meeting,” he said and Mina sat up straight, her feet finally lifting off the desk.

“Really? I’m still able to have a meeting?” she asked, almost too stunned for words. 

“I’m trying to get you a manufacturer contract, the least you could do is try and convince me,” he said, dealing out his own smirk. 

“Really?” Mina repeated it like she was broken.

Katsuki shrugged. “I hate Eijiro, but I do love him enough to do this much. Lemme hear how I can keep the fucker around.” 

“Well, you see -”

The meeting with Mina went really well. For the most part, Katsuki didn’t separate them, leaning over her shoulder as he criticised and helped strengthen her proposal. He’d have to go through a few different committees to get it all approved and if he could make it as fool proof as he could, he’d help her as he saw fit. Mina was good at this, he could see, as she negotiated terms with him, understanding the struggle and was determined to see her business succeed as much as possible. Katsuki was happy to collaborate with her in whatever way he could. In the end, Eijiro came by his office, picking Mina up with a gentlemanly hand extended to her, and she took it without hesitation. She was enamoured by Eijiro, and he to her - so clearly in love with each other. As he looked at their hands entwined, he was sure he saw petals from Mina’s tattoo move further up her shoulder. 

With the meeting over, Katsuki rounded a corner towards the kitchens, his hands in his pockets as he saw Ochako peering around to see the main entrance hall. Furrowing his brow, he crept up behind her, flicking her stupid dangling earring that symbolised the Midoriya kingdom. He hated seeing her wear those ridiculous green colours that Deku had to keep reinforcing with that stupid royal hair. Seeing it on Ochako made Katsuki want to start a war over something as trivial as the colour green. 

Ochako clasped her hands over her mouth as she turned to Katsuki, her shock clear in her wide eyes. There was a flush over her cheeks as she calmed herself down and then gently whacked his stomach. 

“You scared me,” she snapped, looking around the corner briefly. Katsuki clutched at her shoulder as he looked where her attention was fixated. 

“What are you looking at?” he asked, his volume matching hers. 

“Prince Todoroki. He looked like he’s constipated or something,” she said, and as Katsuki looked, he saw Shoto standing awkwardly in front of Princess Momo and he gaped. This wasn’t fucking happening with Eijiro here. Fuck. Or even Izuku! They’d never believe Katsuki. 

“Oh fuck, move,” he said, making them crouch down and peer around the corner as inconspicuously as possible. 

“What?” she questioned. 

“I’ve said this princess could be Shoto’s soulmate for years, and I think I’m about to win a bet with Eijiro.” Shoto rubbed at the back of his neck as he refused to introduce himself. Of course they’d all been friends since they were children, but Shoto and Momo never interacted, like he saw what was right in front of him and continued to ignore it all. 

“Do you think they’re going to -” 

“Shh,” he hissed, chewing on his thumb nail. “I’ve never seen him this stupefied before,” Katsuki said, watching Shoto try to get out of this interaction without offending. At the moment, Katsuki could tell that Momo was offended. 

“Want some popcorn?” Ochako asked, lifting a bag of popcorn over her shoulder. Katsuki scowled down. The fuck did that come from?

“How did you have this ready?” he asked. 

“I was gonna watch a movie in my room,” she said with a shrug, and Katsuki grinned. 

“Perfect timing,” he said, leaning over and taking some to shove into his mouth. 

From their vantage point, Katsuki and Ochako watched as the elegant princess tossed her long hair over her shoulder and straightened out her spine. She wore a flowing, floral dress with a blazer over top and flat sandals. She looked powerful, yet relaxed. Very Momo-esque. It worked for her though, he had to admit. Dealing with Momo in the past, Katsuki knew she was a powerhouse for her kingdom. It wasn’t particularly large, but it was loaded with industries. Most of the Bakugou kingdom had the Yaoyorozu kingdom as the largest importer of goods that were some of the best selling throughout the country. It was hard to run without a Yaoyorozu on one's side. 

“Yaoyorozu Momo,” she introduced herself, her hand extending in a limp greeting. 

“Todoroki Shoto,” he said, examining her hand, glancing at it without taking.

“Come on, man. Take it. Change your life,” Ochako whispered and Katsuki smirked. 

“She’s gonna have to. He’s too chicken,” Katsuki said, knowing that the pair contradict one another. 

“I bet you he’s gonna take it if she clears her throat,” she challenged and Katsuki scoffed. 

“You’re on,” Katsuki said, but knowing Shoto, it’d take his father’s demanding scowl to make Shoto move. More than anything, Shoto hated touch, saying that it always made him too uncomfortable to approach anyone, so he often bowed instead. He wasn’t scared to meet his soulmate, just the idea of touching someone was truly too daunting. 

Like Katsuki predicted, Momo cleared her throat and Shoto simply inclined his head as a form of response. “Just so you’re aware, when someone extends their hand, you typically shake it,” she said as politely as possible but all Shoto did was raise his chin, a furrow in his brow as he started on in confusion. 

“I’m a prince,” he said, as though it needed some sort of explanation. 

“Ohh, not a good look,” Ochako said with a hiss, popping another piece of popcorn into her mouth. 

“He’s not wrong,” Katsuki said, and Ochako swatted Katsuki's side again. 

“Watch this,” she said, as though she knew Momo thoroughly from just watching her briefly.  

“I’m a princess. It’d be respectful to take the hand of someone that offers it,” she parried back.

“I…I don’t have a soulmate,” he said, clearing his throat. Momo’s hand shook before she tucked it behind her back, both her hands clasping together until her knuckles turned white. 

“I suppose that you’re waiting for yours,” she replied, licking her lips and trying to stand strongly. She was disappointed. Katsuki wanted to talk to her, to make her understand that Shoto was just like that, he couldn’t be told what or who to interact with, especially how. He was a strong willed person that had so many responsibilities thrust onto his shoulders that he was never expected to take on. 

Then, Shoto did something that made Ochako and Katsuki both gasp. He stepped towards Momo, closing the gap between them and making the distance between their touch so small that Momo could easily brush against him. Ochako and Katsuki began munching hard on the popcorn with wide eyes of anticipation. 

“Would you offer your hand once again to see if we fit?” he asked and Ochako leaned forwards. 

“Do it,” Ochako whispered, her lips pursed as she anxiously waited for the obvious soulmate pair to touch. Momo stepped back, creating the distance they had once before and all the hope Katsuki had for them was gone. 

“I…I have a meeting with the Bakugou Prince, excuse me,” Momo said and Katsuki frowned. Ochako peered up at him, concern written into her features. 

“You have a meeting with her?” Ochako whispered and he shook his head. 

“First I’m hearing about it,” he admitted. They watched the pair bow to each other and part ways. Katsuki stood up, offering his hand to Ochako, which she took, and he helped her up to her feet.

“So, she was a little chicken and he’s a moron?” 

“Best I can come up with,” he huffed. 

“Sad that none of us won,” she said, but he was sure that she forgot what their bet actually was. “Would have been interesting to see what you would have claimed for your prize.” Ochako’s cheeks were bright pink, and he smirked, leaning down to invade the space they shared.

“Is that right? What would you have claimed, oh Royal Advisor?” he asked, his tone sultry and low, teasing her with thoughts he could only dare to imagine. 

“I…have a meeting with Prince Izuku, excuse me,” she said, pushing past him and Katsuki laughed. He could see her flushed cheeks and knew exactly what she had just done. 

“Chicken!” he yelled. 

“Takes one to know one,” she said over her shoulder, but soon, she turned to show off a beaming smile before skipping off to fuck knows where. Watching her go made Katsuki smile too. It was the only time watching someone leave made him feel somewhat happy - because he knew she’d be coming back. 

Katsuki looked back down to the foyer and sighed, racing off to the direction he saw Momo racing off to. It wasn’t hard to find - or hear her clacking heels - as she walked briskly down the corridor towards the dining area. There wouldn’t be anyone there, and more likely than not, she was hiding from other people. Especially Shoto. Katsuki sighed as he caught up. Momo turned, looked at him before bowing with an incline of her head and continued on. Scoffing, Katsuki caught her bicep gently. 

“Heard you had a meeting with me.” 

Momo raised her brow, pulling away from him. “I don’t recall there ever being such a meeting.” 

Katsuki smirked, folded his arms over his chest and raised his brow at her lie. “Strange. I saw you talking with Shoto earlier, and you gave the impression that we have a fucking meeting. So, what’s the truth, princess?” he asked and Momo rolled her eyes, rubbing at her brow. 

“I hate you,” she muttered as she looked back up at him, “why were you eavesdropping?” she asked. 

“Found my soulmate looking at your blossoming romance,” he admitted and Momo’s face dropped, jaw going slack as she looked him over. 

“You have a soulmate?” she said, voice coming out in whispered shock. 

“Wanna see the gardens? Hear they’re enlightening and shit,” he said, and Momo sighed, allowing him to guide her outside and into the gardens that he was raving about. She didn't seem all that interested until Katsuki removed his gloves and showed off the blooming lily of the valley that had spread out across his palm and forearm. Momo stared at it and turned to him. She finally believed him. 

“So, a soulmate?” she said, inspecting his tattoo at a distance. 

“Yep. Met her by accident. She absolutely hates me,” he said with a laugh and Momo looked at him in shock. She wasn’t expecting that. Neither was Katsuki, but he was sure that he and Ochako could make it in the end. Then, she laughed, covering her face as she tried to hide her amusement, but Katsuki couldn’t help but chuckle along with her. 

“Is that right?” she said, shaking her head.

“Fuck yeah.” 

“You seem happy though?” she questioned. Katsuki let himself smile. 

“Oh, fuck yeah,” he repeated with a laugh. 

“Well, that’s good.” 

“So, why the fuck are you scared?” 

“W-what are you talking about?” she said, trying to pull away. Katsuki clasped his hand onto hers as it remained hooked onto his arm. They’d always been able to confide in each other when they were younger, and sometimes Momo was even able to calm his thoughts with more rational ones. He wanted to be that for her now. 

“I don’t know about you, but I just saw you give your hand to him like a challenge for whether or not he’d be your soulmate. And when the fucker decided to grow a pair, you ran away. You got the fuck out of there like your damn dress was on fire. Might as well of had a cartoon dust cloud following your path,” 

“You’re very funny,” she said, rolling her eyes. 

“Why are you so fucking scared?” he asked her again and finally she sighed, pushing her weight into his and making their path weave. 

“I don’t know! It’s Shoto! I’ve always seen him and knew I liked him in some way, but I’ve never…I don’t know! It's strange!” Momo exclaimed, holding onto Katsuki’s arm with such force, he wasn’t sure she was used to touching other people. 

It occurred to him then that no matter who the royal was, touching others wasn’t seen as something to be done, even friends. Maybe it was a soulmate thing, or something that was just bred into royals that made them so unapproachable. As he squeezed Momo’s hand back, he felt how lonely he had been before Ochako had released him from the unknown. 

“It’s a risk, Momo. Just take the damn leap. It might hurt on the way down, but fuck it! You’re a fucking princess! You can overcome anything that’s ahead of you,” he said, passing through the gardens with slow steps, to ease them both into the idea of a future with another person. Momo stopped, turning to him with worry etched into her brow.

“Katsuki,” she sighed, “I wouldn’t normally take your advice on this, but please understand. I’m scared. I could risk my whole kingdom on a man that I might not be able to have,” she explained. Katsuki shrugged, moving towards a tree and leaning against it.

“What do you mean?” he asked, and Momo scoffed, as though he were an idiot. It was fun to watch her figure it out - to understand what it meant for a woman like her to have a soulmate, especially if it was Shoto. Momo fisted her hands into the skirt of her dress and found a stone chair and sat down. Her knee wouldn’t stop bouncing.

“What if he’s my soulmate? Will I have to leave my kingdom behind and just give them money instead? Leave it to my father and that's my line done? I’ll be giving my family name up for Todoroki. If he’s not? I think I’ll just break my own heart at this point,” she explained and Katsuki rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in defeat. 

“If he’s your damn soulmate, then you can talk about it,” he groaned, watching as Momo’s head snapped to his, and he realised she still wasn’t getting it. He may have hated talking to other people, but he knew it fucking worked for other people. “There’s nobody demanding you to give up your birthright because you're gonna be with someone. You are allowed to negotiate what you want for the rest of your life. It isn’t like once you become soulmates that he’s gonna own your ass. It’s equal! The fuck do you think of him?” 

“I’m just scared!” she squeaked, putting her hands over her face. 

“Then start being brave, idiot! He’s probably scared too! Why do you think he really wouldn’t touch your hand? And also, why do you think he offered to touch you once you asked! He wants you just as much as you obviously want him.” 

“Stop making sense, I don’t like it,” she groaned, her head falling back. Katsuki sat next to her, patting her knee as he got comfortable. 

“I can tell,” he snickered. Momo sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. 

“I’m scared I’ll mess up somehow, and I won’t ever be able to fix it,” she explained, more timidly than she’d ever sounded before. It was very strange to hear her be so self deprecating.

“If you fuck it up, blame me and my bad advice,” he said, squeezing her knee before hooking his arm with hers. 

Momo laughed at him, holding onto his arm as though it were her only lifeline in that moment. Katsuki let her, let them be as they were and stay in silence. There was peace in silence, especially for royals that never have a moment to themselves, the quiet was their solitude before diving back into the chaos that was their world. 

And so, for some time, they sat next to each other, breathed in the flowers of the garden, and let the sun and air soak into their skin. It was a beautiful day if Katsuki had any understanding of what beautiful days were like, with soft winds that brought refreshing air, and sun that wasn’t too beating but merely to counter the cool breeze. In the quiet, the world kept turning and life kept going without him even moving in it. To escape it, to know that for one moment, he didn’t even have to think - it was the most relaxing time he’d had in an age. 

Momo eventually had to leave him, and Katsuki had to continue on with his day, allowing him to get back to his own tasks. For Katsuki, the rest of his day consisted of meetings about diversifying their imports and trying to expand exports. In all, it was a very tedious and boring sort of day. It wasn’t out of the ordinary or all that stressful, but after everything that was discussed and had happened that day, Katsuki was just over feeling listless when it never used to feel this way. 

He wrapped up his day, went to his room and laid back into the expanse of his bed. Katsuki stared at his ceiling, wondering when he started to resent the work he did - not that it wasn’t fulfilling or worth doing, but because it felt as though he wasn’t doing enough, that it was holding him from accomplishing exactly what he needed to do. Raising his hand up, he looked at the blooming flowers, watching as the little bulbs seemed to jingle like bells on his arms. Soulmate marks were so strange, their ability to move and grow and not even feeling it was otherworldly. 

Even then, he liked to watch it, thinking that the reason it reacted as such was because Ochako was looking at her mark too. 

In the morning, he dressed comfortably, remembering that he and Ochako had promised each other to go on an outing. It wasn’t supposed to be formal in any way, but he was also fucking nervous; he’d never done this, never had to think about his intentions and what having a soulmate would mean for dating. Dating was never a thing to consider. As he adjusted his rolled up sleeves for the third time after rolling them back down and then back up again, he kept them up and ran his fingers through his hair, refusing to look in the mirror once again. 

Putting his keys and phone in his pockets, he wandered out of his room and went straight to the kitchen. He ate alongside the chefs as they prepared food for themselves and the other members of the household. It was how he usually liked his meals - surrounded by life and the people that relied on him as much as he relied on them. He finished his meal quickly and began to make his way out towards the guest suites. 

Katsuki was slightly distracted by the time he made it up the stairs and towards the guest quarters that it wasn’t until he heard scuffling feet that he finally looked up. In leggings and a sports bra, Ochako was skipping down the hall with headphones in and looking at her phone.

Whenever he looked at her, it was as though everything became clear - there was no longer a haze that clouded his vision, and not a weight that pressed deep within his chest. He could breathe, and he could see - all because she came back into the room and acted as though she didn’t feel it too. It wasn’t just him though, was it? He wasn’t a lovesick fool of a prince that wanted a thing so much that he created the connection between him and his soulmate. Katsuki knew she had to feel it too. 

She almost ran straight into his chest if he hadn’t reached out and grasped her biceps. 

And when their eyes locked, and her breath caught in a small gasp, he knew it for certain that she felt something for him.. 

To what extent, it wasn’t clear, but he could tell that whatever rhythm his heart beat in, hers did too. 

“What are you wearing?” he asked, feeling way too overdressed if they were doing something else. He thought for sure they wanted to explore the city together. At least that was what he thought of doing - showing her the home that he grew up in, a home that maybe, they could share. 

Ochako seemed to register what was going on, starting to curtsy in front of him. “I’m so sorry, your -” Katsuki growled, gripping her arms a little harder and forcing her upright again.

“None of that shit. Katsuki is fine,” he said, shaking his head as he let her go. Touching her for long periods of time felt strange also. From what he knew, touching your soulmate was a revolutionary thing - that it changed how every little bit of how you interacted with the world - but touching Ochako felt like he was tainting something precious. He needed to savour the times where he could get one touch and not take too much without her asking for it. So, he pulled his hands behind his back and clenched one and wrapped his hand around the other. To keep temptation at bay. 

“Really?” she asked. Katsuki shrugged before raising a brow at her. 

“I’m not repeating myself,” he said, urging her to answer his earlier question. Ochako took a look down at herself before folding her arms over her chest - as though anything about her could be indecent or improper. He liked everything about her, from her stupidly chubby cheeks to the curve on her body to the way she dressed. In fairness, this particular choice of clothing was making him think some pretty indecent thoughts - but that was something he could keep to himself. He cleared his throat to redirect his attention back to the conversation. 

“I forgot I signed up for some training today, I thought I could sneak it in, but you’re way too early,” she explained, shifting her weight from side to side, embarrassed and ashamed of the choices she was making. Katsuki sighed, running a hand through his hair before he moved back towards the stairs. 

“Let’s go,” he called over his shoulder. 

“I’ll have to chang-” she tried to explain in a shout.  

“We’re going to your training. I’ll meet you there if you wanna take all fucking day,” he said, soon hearing her feet carrying after him in a hurried walk.

Katsuki was lucky that this palace was his families, because when they made it to the gym area of the palace, he could easily slip into the bathroom and change. He was in his tracksuit pants and tank top, pushing his sneakers on and testing out how it all felt before he went over to Ochako. 

“We’re not going to interrupt anyone else here, are we?” she asked, stretching her upper body first. Katsuki scoffed back at her. 

“I own the damn palace. Let’s see if someone kicks us out,” he said, and Ochako narrowed her eyes. 

“I’m only working out until my allotted time, so don’t try and pull rank here,” she snapped, moving to stretch her legs, from her ankles and calves and showcasing the exact ways her curvy body was built - there were so many hidden muscles that were hidden by delicious and plump skin. She was toned, with strong calves and thighs and biceps that showed the true strength that she wore on her shoulders. 

Ochako was built to be a fighter but liked serving Izuku in different ways. 

That thought made Katsuki jaw tighten in frustration, because the fucker wandered to where it shouldn’t have. To jealousy, to where his imagination of two people could run wild. And he hated the image of it. The thought of them next to each other made his stomach flip. 

“Fine, but you better work your ass off,” he urged her. 

Well…not too much. Her ass was like it was sculpted by a fucking renaissance artist.

For a good half hour, they worked side by side, from core training to weight lifting and small bouts of cardio in between. They worked in a circuit, trading off their last equipment used to the other as they continued on, and came back around once they’d all finished for their next set. 

It was a good balance, until Ochako sighed and moved towards the free mats towards the side of the room. It was used a lot for sparring and one on one fighting. Sometimes it was used for basic move training, but it was in groups to make sure the form was correct. 

But as she moved over to the mats, she began to stretch before moving into different taekwondo moves, shifting her weight perfectly before moving to the next phase and then the next. She was doing fine, but he could see that she was shifting her weight incorrectly, and would falter as she tried to position herself into her next move. When her foot slipped once more and she almost landed on her ass, Katsuki sighed and moved behind her. 

As he stood behind her, he repositioned her shoulders and kicked her foot back slightly so it was more in line with how her body was meant to work in such a position. 

“Like this,” he said, straightening out her back, “your form is off,” he corrected, stepping back and feeling the clench in his jaw. He hadn’t intended to touch her so much, to feel how electrified her skin was when it touched his own. It was strange, and he wasn’t sure how to feel about it. 

“Then show me,” she asked, tilting her head as she shifted from taekwondo to kickboxing with one kick. He could see the shift. 

“You know mixed martial arts, huh?” he asked. 

“Saw that, huh?” she grinned, swaying her weight back and forth as though she were dancing. 

“Yeah. Doesn’t mean you’re any good,” he said, rolling his eyes. Ochako narrowed her eyes again, her hands on her hips. 

“Wanna bet?” 

“You want to test yourself against me?” 

Ochako shrugged. “Why not?” 

“I’m a prince with a fuckload of experience in fighting,” he reminded her, and she scoffed. 

“You’re also a prince with a death wish,” she said, changing her form up, lowering her centre of gravity and did so with a devilish gleam in her eyes. 

“You’re gonna die, cheeks,” he threatened. 

“C’mon then,” she challenged, and Katsuki lunged. With a giggle, she moved, slipping in a few jabs that he evaded easily, but there was something about them that made sense. This wasn’t a fight - it was trading moves, to see what they could or couldn’t do, couldn’t understand about each other. 

Each blow they tried to land, the other easily slipped it off, knowing exactly how to counter one another. It was easy, and somehow fun to miss a punch or a kick when the other moved in just behind to miss their own. It was as though they were dancing alongside each other, just slightly off beat but perfectly in time. They worked to show each other what they could do. 

He had to admit, she was a fucking wonder - managing to kick and knee him with only a few seconds to defend himself. Each time, his hands would hit her knee or ankle to stop the blow, and each time the pain would ricochet up his arm and to his shoulder. It meant she packed a fucking punch, even when she didn’t intend to. 

Then, as he smiled and enjoyed their fighting dance, Ochako slipped down, kicking his feet out and began to curl her calf and thigh around his neck. Smirking, Katsuki moved around, so that both of her thighs locked around his head. Managing to sit up on his haunches, he picked her up off of her back and he could feel her grip slacken. With her weight against gravity, she began to slip, and to save herself, one thigh went loose, and he pushed her back into the mats. With Ochako winded, and Katsuki with the advantage again, he locked her hands into place above her head with one hand and one hand on her struggling thigh. 

Katsuki laid on top of her, pinning her wrists down to the mat and wondering how - even as sweat and frustration marred her body, she still looked like she was carved into being - that she couldn’t exist for how perfect she was. How was Ochako so goddamn beautiful, so damn smart, and skilled that whatever she tried would be exactly as perfect as she needed it to be. 

She was so damn perfect for him, and he didn’t care about how many flowers ran over his skin, as long as something about him was always marked by her. 

“You’re good,” he panted, rising to his feet and offering his hand to her. Ochako sighed, taking his hand and getting hoisted to her feet. “Not great, but you’re good,” he joked, smiling as he tried to catch his breath. Ochako grinned back at him. She shook her head as she began to stretch out her body. 

“Thank you...Katsuki,” she said, and his name on her tongue was heaven. She walked away, not even knowing the kind of sway she had over his mind, his body, and something that tugged deep in his chest. “I suppose we should head back. I have a bit more I need to do, a few different meetings…and things,” she said, letting her words trail off as their eyes met again. He understood where she was coming from, because every time he looked at her, he could barely remember how to breathe, let alone think enough to form a sentence. It took effort to be effortless with her.

After grabbing two bottles of water for them, he guided them back out, seeing if they could salvage the rest of their day and possibly even see the city. There was a peaceful silence as they walked side by side, a perfect quiet that gave them time in one another's company. Katsuki could spend hours of quiet with Ochako, to just watch her exist and it felt right - that even though he knew very little about her, there was something so deep and unknown about her that it strung them together. 

As they were walking past the main hall, two people caught his eye and he stopped in his tracks. He had to. They weren’t so fucking lucky. Twice in two days?! 

“Ochako, wait,” he said, holding her hand. There was a spark that raced up his arm, that kept sparking in such a delightful way that he didn’t want to let her go. Earlier, he was sure there was something wrong with their connection, that there was something wrong with him and he was tainting this experience for them - but this feeling, maybe this was the feeling everyone raved about. 

“What is it?” she asked in a whisper and he pointed off to the odd couple that couldn’t seem to get their shit together. 

Momo stood in front of Shoto. From what he knew from gossip around the palace was that Momo was set to be going to a gala in town to celebrate some new grant her kingdom had installed to help small businesses. It was long and convoluted, so he didn’t pay much attention. Her dress, however, made a statement. It had a plunging neckline and the back went down to the small dip of her spine, and with the velvet navy colour, it made her pale skin look like it was refined in the setting light of the day. Shoto stood across from her, stunned. 

Without much warning, Momo stepped towards him, her breath held before her hands fisted into his lapels and making the stiff guy Shoto already was go rigid. Then, her hand delicately guided up his neck and she pressed into him, making their lips meet. Ochako gasped next to Katsuki, her hands going to her mouth as Momo did something so uncharacteristic. She took a chance, and Katsuki was proud of her for that. 

Shoto moved next, his hand slipping to the small of her back and making sure their bodies were bound tightly together as he deepened a kiss they both had longed for. Katsuki wanted to wolf whistle from his spot but decided against it for their sake. They parted, and on their skin tattoos had already started to form. It took hours for Katsuki and Ochako’s to come about, but Momo and Shoto’s appeared almost instantly after they parted. On Momo’s back flames had already started to blaze from an orange glow to an intense blue. On Shoto’s neck were red jewels, sparkling as Momo inspected it. She turned to show Shoto the mark and their eyes locked. 

“Oh,” he said, and Momo cleared her throat, cheeks going red. 

“Yes.” 

“Shall we have some tea?” he asked, extending his arm out to her. Momo smiled and hooked her arm into his.

“I think it’d be best,” she said, beaming up at him like a wonder. Fuck. Long time coming.  

“That’s a strange response to finding out they’re soulmates,” Ochako said, seemingly trying to keep in an amused laugh. He smirked back at her as she cleared her throat. 

“He’s emotionally stunted, but fuck man,” he said, shaking his head at that idiot he sometimes liked to call a friend. He was glad Momo grew a pair for the both of them. She deserved it, really. 

“Do you want to go for a walk?” she asked. 

“Yeah, sounds fine,” he said, trying not to be too hopeful, to not give away how fast his heart was racing that she wanted to spend even more time with him. Being with her, knowing that they were destined to be together, it made every little interaction so much more special. He couldn’t get over that someone so beautiful, so talented and fun was going to be his, and he was going to be hers, forever. 

They wandered the gardens, talking about their interests and how they had lived prior to their meeting. It was revealing and both seemed unable to keep the truth out of their mouths. Whenever Ochako smiled at him, Katsuki couldn’t stop talking, kept telling her every little aspect of his life just to see if she’d laugh with him. She was such a wonder, with so many little interests and ambitions that even she didn’t think she’d achieve but did. Ochako was everything Katsuki didn’t know he needed or wanted. If there were any doubts of their soulmate status, he couldn’t argue them now when she was standing right in front of him; perfect for him in every way. 

“I’m sorry we didn’t get to go on an actual date,” she eventually said, and Katsuki chuckled. Pressing his hand to the small of her back, he guided them around to the water fountain. It was a nice area, with benches pressed in between rose bushes and lilies of the valley that hung over the sides of the hedges and around the edge of the fountain. 

“I’m not the most traditional man to begin with, so you’re gonna be surprised when I say that I consider sparring equal to dating,” he teased and Ochako snorted. 

“Good to know,” she giggled. Katsuki could live in that sound, and being close to her was like living inside a dream - it couldn’t be real to feel as good as he did. How did she make breathing feel like it was a blessing? How did she make him feel like living without her was ever an option? Now that he had found her, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to lose her, not even for a second. 

“You said something after we found out we were soulmates,” he said, the thought that had pestered him for some time, coming to the forefront. 

“I’ve said a lot of things,” she said, trying to play coy. He huffed, rubbing at his brow, knowing this talk could change them - change the trajectory of their union. 

“You said, ‘so much for a great love’. Did you mean that?” he asked, trying not to hear the crack in his voice as he spoke. Getting to know her, understanding her in a way that just before this walk hadn’t told him. 

“Katsuki,” she sighed, stopping their walk and avoiding his eyes. 

“I don’t want a lie, I don’t want you to pretend things were better, I want you to be honest with me,” he said, trying not to overwhelm her, but every time she pulled away, something in him broke.

“You and I didn’t get on. We were butting heads for days after we marked each other, and it didn’t make sense that we would love one another. How could we be destined to want each other for the rest of our lives if we couldn’t stand the sight of each other? I said it to be mean, and I was hurt too. I didn’t want my soulmate to be cruel to me every chance he could and expect love in return. I don’t work that way.

“If I could take it back now that we know each other better, I would, but I can’t do that. I think it also made you realise that I’m not going to roll over and take whatever nonsense you dish out. I’m a person. I’m your person. You should treat me better. Sorry for rambling. I just wanted you to know that when we found out, all my hopes for a love that all other soulmates had vanished. Not just because it was you, but because of your title.” 

“My title?” 

Ochako rolled her eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Katsuki, you know what I’m talking about.” 

“Tell me anyway,” he said, stepping closer to her. Ochako’s mouth started to work, as though she was formulating the words but couldn’t get them to come out the way she wanted. He wanted to touch her, to encourage her to speak when a shrill ringing invaded their tentative peace and she stepped away, grabbing her phone from her leggings pocket and biting her lip at whoever it was. 

“I have to take this,” she mumbled, stepping away from him and speaking in soft and short sentences. It didn’t last more than a few minutes, but in that time, her shoulders became tense and she was no longer the woman that was walking so at ease with him just moments before. 

She gave a nod as she spoke and the phone call was done. Ochako walked back over to him, her eyes dazed and demeanour worrying him. 

“Who was it?” he asked, going to reach for her, but she pulled away, walking past him. 

“Izuku, I have to go,” she muttered again, as though she were in a trance and was unable to get out of it. 

Initially, Katsuki let her walk ahead, let her go and allowed her to go wherever she needed to. But then the ache in his chest started to worsen, and he felt like he wasn’t able to breathe. Shooting off from his spot, he raced towards the palace, following the feeling in his chest, until he felt like he could, until he was no longer dying. Until his heart started to beat without crushing his ribs, and he was standing outside the guest meeting room and there were voices inside that were exchanged back and forth. Standing off to the side, avoiding being seen by whoever may leave or whoever may wander past. 

Katsuki waited.

He would wait until he was no longer able to keep his eyes open, and even then, he’d wait for her. 

It felt like hours before the door to the room opened again, and when he expected Ochako to walk out, it was Izuku who came out first with Tenya on his heels. They were both in a frenzy and couldn’t drag their attention to anything other than their phones and a panicked schedule they couldn’t stop muttering about. Katsuki took a step towards the meeting room when Ochako came out, her eyes misty with emotion and her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth. 

As their eyes met, Ochako’s tears came and she almost began to sob. He rushed over to her, his heart lurching and knew he had to comfort her somehow.

“What happened?” he asked, cradling her face in his hands. Ochako sniffed and pulled away, clearing her throat as she looked at anything that wasn’t Katsuki. Why wasn’t she looking at him? Ochako reached up, clearing her face of the tears that had fallen. 

“The trip was cut short,” she confessed and Katsuki’s face dropped. He hadn’t expected it. Katsuki’s hands flexed at his sides. 

“Why?” 

“Something came up. Inko is trying to get this policy put through, but Izuku was the one handling it, and a deadline got pushed up and he has to go home,” she said, trying to move past him, but he held onto her arm, making her look at him. Her eyes were red rimmed and glassy. 

“How long do you have?” he asked. 

“A few days, maybe?” She told him. Katsuki didn’t know he was acting until his hand had slid around her waist and tugged her in, his lips hovering over hers. Ochako abruptly put her hand to his mouth, stopping his descent. “Your highness, you can’t,” she whispered.

Katsuki growled, moving her hand away. 

“Says who? Name me one fucking person who says -” 

“You do, Katsuki, your entire royal line has -”  Katsuki refused to be hurt like this - to have her rip his heart out. He surged forward and kissed her. 

Katsuki had never kissed someone before, known what to do with his mouth or even how much force there was supposed to go into it; yet, as soon as their lips met, it was like something had taken over him. 

He pushed her back, both of them stumbling until her back hit a wall, and Katsuki had free reign over what he wanted to do. He felt like he devoured her, kissing her with ferocity and letting his hand tangle in her hair. Ochako sighed and moaned, tilting her head from side to side as each change in their kiss told them so many things about the other. 

Most of all, their kiss, in every touch, told them how much they fit together. 

The fact that they were soulmates was just cemented by the way in which their lips fought for just another taste of the other. Katsuki bit at her bottom lip, unable to stop himself from feasting on any part of her. Ochako let her tongue run over the seam of his lip, as though she needed to tempt him for more. There was no need for temptation; he wanted every part of her. 

But he needed to breathe more. Pulling away from her was so hard, that every time he dared to part from her, they collided back together until he finally ripped them apart. Ochako’s eyes were glassy, a sheen of tears ready to fall at any second. 

“I don’t fucking care, Ochako,” he muttered, breathing just as hard as she was. Her hands were gripping into the front of his shirt, fisting the material as though she couldn’t bear to let him go even for a second. He had felt that she was eager for the kiss, but maybe she’d been just as lost as he was. 

“I have to go,” she said, her voice breaking as she pulled away from him. Katsuki’s chest was tight, he felt that when her hand had fisted in his shirt, she’d ripped his heart out as they parted. 

Don’t. 

He prayed. 

Don’t let me go. 

Don’t leave me. 

“We fit together.” 

“No. No, we don’t,” she said, turning around and her rushed walk turned into a full on run. 

Katsuki watched the tattoo on his hand change, and as she ran, a bulb of a lily fell and withered away.