Work Text:
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki has been doing farm work for as long as he can remember, helping his parents in the field, taking care of their livestock, and going into town to sell their goods. His parents sadly passed when he was sixteen, leaving almost all of the work on his shoulders to bear. Well almost…
After a month of doing the work on his own, Katsuki put an ad out in the town square for a farm hand and immediately got a response from another alpha.
Kirishima was looking for work to support him and his newly mated omega, Mina. They were the same age as Katsuki, and he offered them a room in his house, and paid them weekly.
The couple helped take the burden off his shoulders. Kirishima worked with him from sunrise to dusk, and Mina kept the house clean and prepared meals for them. Katsuki wished he could find an omega of his own…
The alpha, pushing the age of twenty-five, still hasn’t found an omega to give his bite to and live his life with. It’s not as if he didn’t have time to search for one, he just hasn’t found one that made his alpha want to mate.
It’s not a bad thing, there are plenty of unmated alphas who move through life with no problems. But he could feel something inside him, telling him his mate is out there, waiting for him.
Katsuki decides to head back to the house and get water and a small snack before he feeds the livestock. Pushing the door open, he sees Mina in the kitchen washing dishes and humming to herself.
“Finally ready to eat something?” She asks, spinning around and flashing him a smirk, “You’re lucky I predicted this and made you a sandwich. It’s in the fridge.”
He rolls his eyes at her and pulls the fridge door open, grabbing a pitcher of water and the food she prepared for him, “Where’s Shitty Hair’s food?”
Mina chuckles, turning back to do the dishes, “He took it with him to town. He should actually be back soon.”
Katsuki hums, placing the food and water down on the table before grabbing a cup from the cupboard and sitting down. He pours himself a cup and downs it immediately before filling it up again, “All that’s left is to feed the livestock.”
”Oh, I can go do that,” she says, turning the faucet off and drying her hands, “Besides, I needa get outta the house for a bit.”
”Don’t forget to check the chicken coup in case those fuckers laid any eggs,” he tells her, biting into his sandwich.
She waves him off, “Yeah, yeah I know,” Mina says before leaving out the door.
He narrows his eyes, “Oi! I fucking mean it!” Katsuki shouts back at her. Damn, Pinky. Every time she goes to feed the animals, she rushes so she can play with the cats after. Katsuki knows he’s going to have to go out there and make sure the chickens aren’t hiding their eggs for the millionth time. Greedy Fucks…
Taking another bite of his sandwich, he enjoys the peace and quiet for a moment. It’s been rather difficult to enjoy solitude when his alpha and omega friend love to yap his ear off at every opportunity presented to them. Sometimes he thinks about going on vacation, getting as far away from the fucking farm as he can and just relaxing somewhere like a forest or a garden. Katsuki closes his eyes and leans his head back for a moment, relishing in the silence– until he hears a pair of boots on the porch.
“Goddamnit…” he mumbles.
“Yo, Bakugo!” Kirishima shouts, opening the door and shutting it behind him, “The market was booming today. Got a full bag of coins,” he says, plopping the leather sack down causing the coins to clink inside.
Katsuki reaches for the bag and opens it up, “Not bad, Shitty Hair. You sold everything?”
Kirishima nods, “Yep, the kingdom was booming today ‘cause the King posted an announcement.”
The King? That guy barely made any sort of public appearance since his wife passed away. From the rumors Katsuki’s heard, the guy never remarried, and anything regarding him became private. It’s understandable. If Katsuki had an omega and they died tragically, he would want to disappear from the public eye as well.
“What did he want?” he grumbles, taking another bite.
Kirishima shrugs the leather sack from his shoulder and begins searching through it until he finds what he’s looking for and slaps it onto the table.
Katsuki looks down at the flyer and starts reading-
Beginning on the day of the new moon, any unmated Alpha is free to seek the hand of His Majesty's Omega Child. Simply find the child and present them to the King. The first to do so will be granted permission to marry the Omega. However, any person who takes up this precious task and fails shall forfeit their lives.
Any interested parties need to report to the palace blah blah blah-
Katsuki stops reading, choking on his food, and reaches for the cup of water before downing the whole thing in one gulp.
“Woah, Bro, are you okay?” Kirishima asks, patting his back a few times.
He picks the flyer up and rereads it just to make sure his eyes aren't deceiving him, “Are you fucking serious? The King is offering his child’s hand in marriage to the first fucker that finds them? His omega child?”
Kirishima nods, “I mean we always knew the King had a child, but to offer them up to the first person who finds them is a bit suspicious. Normally for people of status, they have arranged marriages or contracts. It’s a bit weird that he wouldn’t go through the normal channels like other kingdoms.”
Kirishima has a point. Katsuki is not a very political man- only lending an ear when it comes to something regarding his farm- but this announcement has him wishing he paid a bit more attention, so he could have a full consensus on why the King saw this as an opportunity to offer his pup up like some prize to be won. The omega heir hadn’t made any public appearances since the Queen died, Katsuki assumed that the child had also passed and the King chose not to disclose it.
Katsuki remembered the first time he got a glimpse of the omega heir. He went into town with his mother to gather supplies for the coming winter. They stopped to see the King give a speech to the masses. The child was a perfect mixture of both parents, shining emerald eyes and hair like their mother, and freckles that resembled stars like their father. But the most lingering detail was the big, bright smile on their face as they waved to everyone. Katsuki had to admit as a pup, he found the heir cute but kept that thought to himself, knowing a royal like them would never look in his direction.
But now, things are different. Now, the King has decided, after all of these years, to offer them up on a silver platter, and all Katsuki has to do is find them.
He feels his Alpha stir within him, making him want to pursue this crazy challenge, even if it costs him his life.
݁ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ ♕ ݁ . ݁˖. ⊹ ₊ . ݁
Izuku sits at his desk, looking down at the flyer his father sent out to their people– knowing all of it is in vain because he is hidden away in the palace, far from prying eyes.
“The least he could have done is use a more recent picture of you,” his personal maid and oldest friend, Ochako says, making his bed.
He nods and turns to her, “I know, I barely look like this anymore,” Izuku says, picking up the flyer and waving it around, “It’s as if he doesn’t want me to be happy.”
Ochako sighs, sitting down on the chair next to him, “It’s going to be okay, Izuku. I’m sure someone will come around and find you.”
“Yeah, right… he has this place locked up like the treasury room! I can’t even go outside to walk through the garden without being dragged back here!”
After Izuku presented as an omega, his father locked him away, forbidding him from leaving his room under any circumstance. His meals were brought to him and the only human contact he had is with his maid, Ochako– a fellow omega who he is extremely grateful to have in his life, though he feels a bit bad because being his maid and all has locked her up too.
“I just want someone…something…not that spending time with you is horrible, Ochako, I just…”
She sighs, rubbing his back, “I know, I mean…it couldn’t hurt to ask him for a pet or something? That way, you’re not cooped up in your room alone all day, drawing and reading… you know?”
Izuku looks at her, knowing she means well. A pet couldn’t hurt to ask for, right? It’s something to keep him busy and should fill the hole he feels in his chest. He nods his head, “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll write a letter and ask him.”
Ochako smiles at him, “Yes, I can have one of the knights deliver it to him as soon as possible.”
He doesn’t waste any time - grabbing a fresh sheet of paper and a quill– Izuku starts writing away, requesting to have some sort of animal as a companion; a puppy or a kitten, perhaps a sheep… Oh, a ram would be perfect. Izuku has always loved them. Before his mother died, she had a pet ram she took care of. Sadly, when she passed, his father got rid of it– saying he didn’t have time to take care of such a temperamental animal.
A pang of guilt struck him in his chest, his eyes welling with tears as the memory of his beloved mother played out in his head. Izuku was young when she left this earth, barely old enough to take care of himself on his own.
The King's grief and paranoia at losing the last of his family had meant Izuku’s world shrank from the expanse of the kingdom to the palace and it's grounds. Izuku spent his days locked away from the public eye and from other palace workers other than Ochako. His world felt so small…small and lonely…
Izuku takes a deep breath in, finishes off his letter, and sticks it into an envelope before sealing it with wax, and applying his seal. Ochako takes the letter and gives him one last smile before taking her leave, the door closing and locking behind her.
He stares out at the garden, watching a butterfly land on one of the morning glories vines blooming right in front of his window. “One day, I hope I can be like you. Spread my wings and fly far away from this prison…” Izuku watches the butterfly take flight again, soaring up into the sky past the palace walls.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki groans, slamming his hand down on the table. It’s been two months since the King put out the witchhunt for his omega child to be wed by the first person who could win at this fucking game of hide and seek. He knows others have taken up the challenge, perishing and their bodies cast aside.
Kirishima and Mina sweep the town for any leads on where the omega is and also sell their goods to collect some coins. Katsuki stays back and spends his days working on the farm. It isn’t like he can’t handle the work on his own, but without Kirishima helping him with the heavy loads, he’s growing tired day by day.
He takes another sip of his ale, looking up at the clock as the ticking noise starts to give him a headache, “Where the fuck are they?” Katsuki groans out. Both those idiots were usually back before sundown in time for dinner, but today, it’s been three hours since sunset and still nothing.
Katsuki is getting worried that something must have happened to both of them, getting stuck in a ditch or maybe someone tried to steal the goods they were selling in town. He takes another swig and decides if they’re not back by the time he finishes his drink, he’s going to go look for them himself.
All this bullshit because the King wants to play fucking games with people. He’s known since he was just a brat, that cocky fake fucking smile and his fake laugh that the King was a piece of shit. To dangle his omega child to the masses like some prize to be won is just sick.
Katsuki downs the rest of his ale, slamming it on the table with a thud. He glances at the clock before standing up and walking over to the door. His hand grazes the knob. Just as it turns, he pulls the door open and sees a frazzled Mina panting in front of Kirishima, who’s lugging his leather sack in.
“The fuck took you both so long? Thought the fuckin’ wolves or some shit got ya,” he groans out, grabbing the sack for Kirishima and bringing it over to the table.
“Sorry, Kat. We were on our way back when the King called us to the palace. It was kinda weird, so… we requested it in writing just to be sure we didn't miss anything,” Mina says, placing her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
The King? The fuck does he want?
“Explain,” he demands, taking a seat and putting his boots up on the table.
Kirishima rushes over to the leather pack, undoing the laces and rummaging through it until he finds what he’s looking for, and pulls a scroll out handing it to Katsuki.
He reaches for it and undoes the seal, pulling the parchment open and reading over it.
Dear Head of the Bakugou Family,
At His Majesty's request, the best of your Prized Rams shall be delivered to the palace in the next seven days. Please have them prepped and ready before arrival.
It was signed by some Royalist lackey. The asshole didn’t even write it his Royal self.
And what was this bullshit about delivering their best ram? This is the first time the King has requested something like that, what would he want with it? It’s not like people to slaughter and eat rams or sheep in this kingdom, it was looked upon as taboo to partake in eating the meat.
“The fuck does he want with my ram?” He growls out, slamming the paper on the table, “And what the fuck does prepped and ready mean?”
Kirishima sighs as Mina goes to the fridge pulling out their pitcher of water, “Dunno dude, he said ‘Farmer, I request one of your best rams to be delivered to my palace within the next week.’ Other than that he didn’t give us any other details,” he shrugs, accepting the glass of water from Mina.
Weird isn’t even the beginning of it. Normally, the King allows us farm folk to work out here in the fields undisturbed. It’s the first he’s ever gotten a request for anything directly, especially for a fucking ram. Out of all the animals he’s got hanging around here, why that one?
“He’s outta his goddamn mind if he thinks Ima’ send fucking Dynamy to the palace to be slaughtered. Why the fuck couldn’t he ask for like a cow or some shit like a normal fucking person?”
Mina shrugs, “Dunno, but something seemed a bit off about him. Like the energy in the air, I really don’t wanna go back there in this lifetime.”
Kirishima nods, “I agree, he was giving ominous bad guy vibes, bro,” he takes a seat next to Katsuki and sips his water, “So you gonna do it?”
Katsuki groans, hands flying into his hair to grip it, “Well, I’m gonna fucking have to. Don’t wanna risk having some assholes show up and throw us in a dungeon or something for ignoring the King’s demand.”
This is fucking bullshit. Now not only he is on the hunt for some royal omega, he’s also gotta give up his best ram to some fuck that’s probably not even gonna take care of him. He could go about giving the King his second-best ram, but that one is expecting a calf and won’t leave his mate alone for a second.
Mina sits there, fingers against her lips in deep thought. It’s one of the first times Katsuki’s seen her really focusing on something and not running her mouth for the millionth time.
“Oi, Pinky,” he waves his hand in front of her face, “Talk, I know you’re thinking up a plan.”
Her eyes blink as they focus on Katsuki and Kirishima, she takes a deep breath and holds her hand out, “Let me see the scroll again.”
Kirishima picks it up from the table and hands it over to her, she pulls it open and scans over it a few times– scratching the top of her head before placing it down, “You know, with what Kiri and I heard and what this letter says I wanna say that Dynamy will be safe.”
“Doesn’t fucking matter, I don’t wanna give him up. I’ve had Dynamy since I was a fucking pup, there’s no way on this planet I could just give him up-”
“Wait, you’re not thinking,” she points to the paper, “The King wants your best ram, I don't think he would go about killing him and eating the mutton knowing full well he created that law when the Queen passed not to feast on sheeps and rams.”
“So, you think he wants it for his pelt?” Kirishima asks, looking over at the paper.
Mina shakes her head, “I can’t be too sure, buuuuuut. This might be our in, so we can search the palace for the omega.”
Katsuki’s ears twitch hearing Mina’s words, she’s making fucking sense for once in her life.
“Think about it, one of us can go in disguise as the ram and scope out the palace to see if he’s hiding his heir in there. I mean if I was a King and my child is an omega, I wouldn’t dare let them out of my sight.”
Kirishima looks between the two of them, “I dunno, Mina, it’s kinda risky. Katsuki and I are too big to be disguised as a ram, and there’s no way I’m sending you in there.”
“Shitty Hair has got a point, how the fuck are we supposed to do this? Also, how the fuck are we supposed ta’ get outta there after we discover whatever the fuck we need to?”
Mina smiles a cheshire grin and Katsuki immediately knows he’s about to be in some deep shit…again.
“What we can do is, we bring Katsuki in disguise to the King and let him know we can lend the ram over for…uhh… three days, yeah- three days because he’s the best we got. That’s enough time for whoever to search and get out of there before they get caught.”
It wasn’t too bad of a plan, still… “How the fuck are we supposed to disguise someone as a fucking ram? I’m not killing any from my flock for something that’s not guaranteed, Pinky.”
“Why don’t you just shave a ram’s pelt? Then you wouldn’t have to slaughter them?” Kirishima chimes in.
Katsuki scoffs, “It’s the wrong fuckin’ season for that shit, their coats aren’t long enough for what we’re needing.”
She sighs and starts twirling a lock of her hair, “Kiri and I pass by this apothecary shop every morning on our way into town, I stopped in there once to get…uh…things and I know the woman sells charms in there. I bet she might have one that can disguise one of you as a ram.”
“I dunno, Kats, this is still too risky to me,” Kirishima says, shrugging his shoulders.
Katsuki honestly doesn’t know what else to think, to give up his prized ram and kiss this opportunity goodbye, or go forward with the plan and scope out the one place where no one else could set foot in, where the omega could be hiding. It’s a tough call, but… this might be his only shot at finding a mate.
He nods., “Do it.”
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
This is a bad fucking idea.
Katsuki trots between Mina and Kirishima. Kirishima held him on a leash as they made their way up the palace steps. Fucking Pinky was right. She went to the apothecary the next day and got an amulet that changes the wearer into a ram. First of all, who the fuck is asking to be a ram? And second of all, what the fuck?
The green emerald amulet wrapped around his neck is pretty well hidden by the wool coat that engulfs him, making his body run hotter than normal. Is this how it feels for them? He definitely needs to give his flock a shave after he gets back, if he gets back. Who the fuck knows what’s going to happen to him when he walks through those large golden doors?
“Remember the plan, Kats. Get in, find what you’re looking for, and get out. The scent patches you're wearing, so no one can detect you, should last you the full three days. I know they can be annoying, but it's essential that you don't take them off. Remember, you still got those spares in your pockets just in case, right?” Kirishima whispers as they go up the steps.
Katsuki sends him a look because he can’t fucking talk, and he is not for the life of him going to ‘Baa’ in front of his friends. He has a fucking reputation to uphold.
The guards pull the doors open and they step inside, making their way to the throne room. Katsuki has never been inside the palace before, the place is huge– decorated with paintings, expensive vases and furniture. If he wasn’t on a mission right now to find the King’s omega he would loot the place for all its worth.
The trio approach a large door with a plush red curtain, one of the guards pulls the curtain aside and opens it for them. Kirishima leads the way walking straight in towards the red floor runner leading up to the throne.
Katsuki immediately sees the King and fully understands what Kirishima and Mina were trying to tell him the other day. The man looked ominous, shaggy dark hair with eyes to match, he looks completely different from what he remembered. A large gold scepter in his hand with a matching crown on his head. Disgusting.
Kirishima and Mina bow to him, “Your majesty, as you requested, I brought my best ram,” Kirishima said, trying to sound as formal as he could.
The King pauses for a moment, his face twisted up in confusion before a chuckle escapes his lips, “Ah yes, the ram.. We are very pleased that you fulfilled our request and with such haste at that.”
Kirishima nods his head, “Of course, Your Highness, anything for you.” He holds the leash up, presenting it to the King, “This is my ram Kats- Kats!”
“Very good, we shall take good care of him,” The King promises, gesturing to one of the guards who hands Kirishima a large bag of coins, “For your troubles.”
Before the guard takes the leash, Kirishima stands up, “My King, there’s no need for this. We’re just happy to serve you, but-”
The King’s brows furrow together, “But what?”
“Uh, well…I can lend you Kats but I can’t fully give them up, they’re my best ram and they’re…expecting with…their…uh mate…?”
What the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK? Kirishima when I get outta here you’re fucking dead.
“Why would you bring me a ram you’re not willing to give up? Do you enjoy wasting my time, boy?” The King growls out.
Kirishima shakes his head, “No, my King, you requested my best one, and I brought them to you. But with winter approaching, I need them for fleece and their calves for the next winter. I- I can bring you my third-best ram in three days' time, I can trim him and prep him for you, my King,” he says bowing his head.
The King sits there for a moment, pondering his words. Katsuki is sweating bricks. If he declines, they are fucked– he is fucked.
“Fine, very well. Keep the coins. In three days' time, bring your second-best ram. We will make sure this one is taken care of until then,” he grunts out.
Kirishima nods his head, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You may go now. Guard, take the ram to the maid. She will know what to do with it.”
Katsuki watches Kirishima and Mina walk out of the throne room, sending him one last smile as the doors close behind them.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Walking down the corridor, the guard passes him off to a maid with brown hair and pink cheeks. They have a quick discussion about Katsuki and how long he’s staying in the palace before she thanks him, and starts walking.
She holds the leash and leads him deeper into the palace, each step making him worry about where he’s headed. Katsuki knows he’s not going to be slaughtered with the promise of being returned to Kirishima in three days, but anything else seems like fair game. He looks around as he trots behind her, trying to create a mental map of where to go in case he needs to escape.
They stop in front of a large wooden door and she knocks a few times until someone calls out for them to come in. She opens the door and Katsuki immediately notices a large round bed, tall windows overlooking a garden, and sitting in the corner is someone with a mess of curly green hair.
”Your Highness, look what I got,” Cheeks says, her voice cheery and somewhat soothing. It reminds him of Mina talking to Kirishima when she nurses him while he’s sick.
The head of curls turns around, and Katsuki’s eyes go wide as he meets a pair of pretty emerald ones. His Highness has creamy soft looking skin with the freckles that look like stars on his cheeks, and a big bright toothy smile he has on his face… Katsuki can feel his heart race and his body feels warmer than normal.
“Oh, my gosh! Really?” His Highness asks, crossing the threshold and getting down on his knees in front of Katsuki.
Katsuki picks up on the man’s scent immediately, vanilla and mint- It’s so intoxicating he can feel his mouth start to water.
Cheeks nods, “Yup, the King just had a farmer bring their best ram just for you, Izuku.”
Izuku? As in Prince Izuku? He looks a lot different from what Kastsuki remembers— taller, more filled out, but it’s that big bright smile that gives him away. The picture they used on the flyer did not do him justice at all. He looks like a completely different person. The real Prince Izuku is so ethereal with the light of the sun shining in from behind him, it’s like there is a halo wrapping around the crown of his head.
The prince smiles and pets the top of Katsuki’s fleece head, sending shivers down Katsuki’s spine, “I love them. Do you know if they have a name, Ochako?”
She sighs, “No, they didn’t tell me their name. You could check to see if they’re wearing a collar or something.”
Prince Izuku nods and starts searching along Katsuki’s neck, fingers moving over his coat, searching for some sort of tag. But Katsuki doesn’t have one. The only thing he’s wearing is the ram amulet. He’s about to move until Prince Izuku finds it and looks over, “Mmmm, not really a tag, but it has an engraving of a ram on it.”
Her brow quirks up and she leans in to inspect the amulet, “Oh…” she mumbles before pulling away, “That’s a bit odd, I mean I guess you can name them then. The guard said the farmer would be coming back in a few days so maybe until then you can use a placeholder name,” she says, clasping her hands and smiling.
He watches Prince Izuku’s face sadden, “He only gave him to me for three days?” he asks, voice fragile and unbelieving.
Ochako sighs, “Well, from what I understand, this ram is the only one they prepped and they need him back. But, they will be bringing you another that will stay by your side.”
“But…I don’t want another ram…I want Baa-chan…” He protests, wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s fleeced neck.
Katsuki lefts out a huff in approval, nuzzling his face against Izuku’s.
“Baa-chan?” Ochako asks, raising her brow.
“His name,” Prince Izuku says, petting the top of Katsuki’s head.
She sighs, speaking softly, “There’s nothing I can do to make him stay, King’s orders.”
Prince Izuku lets out a whimper, “I…I understand…” he says sadly.
Katsuki huffs, moving his head closer to Prince Izuku’s hand, who rewards him with a chuckle.
”I think he likes you,” Cheeks says, sitting down on the ground next to him.
Izuku smiles, “You think so? I’m glad I finally have something to be mine and will keep me company, if only for a few days.”
Cheeks smiles at him, “Well, you have fun, I gotta go clean some of the rooms– but, I’ll be back in a few hours to check in, and bring you and your new… friend a snack.”
Katsuki watches her take her leave, closing the door behind her.
Prince Izuku sighs and pets the top of Katsuki’s head, “I know you just got here Baa-chan, but I’m gonna give you a bath so I can wash off that…smell you got going on,” he says, waving his hand in front of his nose.
First of all, Katsuki doesn’t stink– he smelled like any other freshly washed ram. Thank you very much.
His eyes go wide as Prince Izuku reaches for the amulet–
Oh shit.
No no no no no, absolutely not.
Katsuki runs, avoiding Prince Izuku’s hand before turning back to him, snorting his nose in disapproval.
There’s no fuckin’ way on this planet Katsuki’s cover is gonna get blown because some omega prince wants to give him a fuckin’ bubble bath.
“Come’on, Baa-chan,” Prince Izuku says, walking over to him, “Just a quick dip.”
Katsuki growls as Prince Izuku lunges toward him, taking off to the opposite end of the room and skidding to a stop.
He watches Prince Izuku take a low stance as he slowly approaches him, “Baa-chan, please…just…let…me…” He lunges again, fingers barely grabbing onto the amulet as Katsuki lets out a ‘Baa’ in fear– running back towards the opposite end of the room.
Who the hell did this guy think he is? Well…technically he’s a prince but fuck, why does he wanna bathe him so bad? Katsuki doubts the prince has the right soaps to wash his fleece coat, those essentials oils are going to fuck it up. Why was he even worried about that shit right now?
Katsuki sees Prince Izuku slowly approaching with a sheet in his hands, holding it out like some sort of bull tamer. He snorts, seeing how ridiculous he looks, and puts his right cloven hoof forward, dragging it back against the carpet, making it look like he’s about to charge him.
“No, don’t do that. Come on, I wanna just bathe you. Pleaseeeee…” Prince Izuku begs, batting those long, dark lashes as his green eyes blink at him.
Katsuki snorts at him again, shaking his head in disapproval as his eyes narrow in anticipation.
Prince Izuku drops the sheet and holds his hands up, “Fine, you win. But you can’t sleep in my bed if you don’t bathe.”
Katsuki rolls his eyes, that is fine with him. It wouldn’t be his first time sleeping on the ground. It’s not like he minded, smelling Prince Izuku’s scent made him feel some type of way– so keeping a distance might be best.
The prince sits next to him on the floor and goes back to petting the top of his head. Katsuki leans into it, his eyes closing as he enjoys the physical contact that he craves. He feels something tug and before he realizes it, Katsuki is engulfed in a cloud of smoke, limbs start slowly growing out and the fleece that once coated his body has disappeared as he sits on the ground in his human form with prince Izuku’s hand petting his head.
His eyes look down into those emerald ones, watching them widen and his mouth agape, “A- Wh- WHO ARE YOU?” Prince Izuku shouts.
Katsuki immediately covers the prince’s mouth with his hand and looks around while the prince squirms in his grasp.
DAMNIT.
How the fuck did his cover get blown an hour into their plan? Fuck, he’s fucked, his friends are fucked. He can’t fucking die yet, who the fuck is going to take care of his animals, and plow the fucking fields?
He doesn’t hear anyone come for them and turns back to the prince, “I’m gonna move my hand, and if you scream I’ll knock your ass out, and jump out the window.”
Katsuki slowly moves his hand away and sees the prince bite down on his lip, brows downturned in thought, “Who are you?” he whispers.
“Katsuki Bakugou, I’m the guy your fucking dad- I mean the King- asked to bring you a ram,” he says
Prince Izuku nods his head, “Uh-huh, and you’re a half ram-half man…what would that be…a…erm…” he puts his hand up to his chin in thought.
“A satyr?”
“Yes! A satyr, are you one of those?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.
Katsuki chuckles, “Fuck no, I was wearing that amulet disguising myself as a ram,” he says pointing to it.
Izuku holds it up, the bright emerald sparkling with the light filtering into the room, “Oh…I see…so wait, what are you doing here?”
Katsuki sighs, tilting his head back, wondering where he should start, “Well… I don’t know if you know, but the King put out a letter telling the people whoever could find their omega heir they would have the ability to marry them. He made it sound the heir had gone missing somewhere in the kingdom, but… I came here because I was pretty sure that bastard was hiding them from under our nose and…well…” Katsuki gestures to the Prince, “Here you are.”
Those emerald eyes downturn as he nods in thought, “So, you infiltrated the palace so you would have the opportunity to marry me?”
Katsuki shrugs, “I mean, it didn’t sound like a bad idea at the time. If that’s not something you want, you can give me that back and I’ll be on my merry way,” he says, holding his hand out.
Prince Izuku looks at the amulet before those pretty emerald eyes flick back to Katsuki. Katsuki can see something in his eye, although he may not be able to put his finger on it exactly, he can at least make out the curiosity in his gaze. Minutes go by as they sit in silence, Katsuki fully prepared to abandon the mission and go home with his tail tucked between his legs.
“I mean…I would like to know more about the person I’m going to spend my life with before I agree to any sort of marriage,” Prince Izuku murmurs out.
Well, that’s a first.
From the things Kirishima has told him about nobles, they usually have arranged marriages that they just agree to. They really don’t learn about their new permanent life partner till after the wedding when they spend their first night together. It’s not like Katsuki is opposed to getting to know Prince Izuku, but he had three fucking days for the omega to decide if he wants him. He isn’t going to force Prince Izuku to be his husband without him being sure that’s what he wanted.
“I agree, most people learn more about the one they’re about to marry before even getting to the point of being engaged. But, I’m only here for three days before my friend takes me back to the farm. It’s not a lot of fucking time but I wouldn’t mind hearing about the mysterious omega prince.”
He watches the prince's cheeks dust a light pink color as he turns his head away, “I- I haven’t really had a lot of human interaction with anyone other than Ochako…”
“Really? You don’t talk to anyone else other than Cheeks?” He asks in disbelief. Not that he shouldn’t have seen that coming, but at least for the prince to not be able to talk to other people in the palace was extremely odd.
“Cheeks? Oh, Ochako. Yeah, my father doesn’t let me leave my room. Only omegas are allowed in here, so I mostly see her,” he says, bringing his knees up to his chest while thumbing over the emerald.
Katsuki can feel his alpha raging in his chest. How dare that fucking slimeball trap him in this room. It wasn’t like Prince Izuku was a doll that he could keep locked up in a case, he deserved to get out, breathe in fresh air, and feel the warmth of the sun on his skin.
“How long?” Katsuki asks, “How long have you been stuck in this room?”
Izuku sighs, “Well, when my mother passed, I was forbidden from leaving the palace– he was afraid someone would try to pupnap me because of my status. I only got confined to my room when I presented as an omega. He said he didn’t want anything to happen, like accidentally getting bitten by another alpha… At first, I understood, but as time went on I felt like…well…” he looks out the glass window, “Trapped…”
Katsuki can smell the distress coming from the prince, his instincts telling him to comfort him and scent him properly to provide relief. But he can’t do that, Katsuki isn’t about to overstep boundaries and make things worse. He reaches out and places his hand on Prince Izuku’s knee, giving it a firm squeeze.
Those emerald eyes look up at him, watery with the tears threatening to spill over onto those freckled cheeks. Katsuki kinda wishes he didn’t have to wear his scent patches, so Izuku can smell exactly how he feels, and that the prince is safe with him.
Prince Izuku wipes his eyes and chuckles to himself, “Sorry, I’ve been lonely for so long, I just…I’m happy I have someone other than Ochako to talk to about this.”
Katsuki offers a small smile, “Well, I’m not going anywhere…well…at least for the next three days.”
Katsuki watches Prince Izuku nod his head and slowly hand the amulet back to Katsuki who gently accepts it back. Stringing it over his neck, it lies above his tunic, the picture of the golden ram sparkling.
Izuku’s eyes widened, “You didn’t turn back? I thought putting it back on would turn you into a ram,” he says, holding his chin between his fingers.
Katsuki shook his head, “Nah, you gotta rub the front of it for it to activate. “I’ll turn back if someone comes.”
“Okay, well…tell me more about yourself, Katsuki,” Prince Izuku says, giving him a soft smile.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
They talked for hours, watching the sun slowly moving across the sky. In that time, Katsuki learned quite a bit about Prince Izuku. He had an abundant amount of hobbies, from sewing, drawing, reading…the list went on.
Katsuki told him about farm life, taking care of animals, and keeping his crops in tip-top shape. He told him about how he met Kirishima and Mina and how his once empty house felt more like a home with those bozo’s running around. Prince Izuku questioned him a lot, writing down notes as they went along. Katsuki would be lying if he didn’t find it cute that he paid attention to everything coming out of his mouth.
“So, when you milk the cows, how much pressure do you apply to get the most amount of milk?” Prince Izuku asks, placing the quill against his lips.
Katsuki chuckles, shaking his head, “I dunno, I just…” he made a fist, imagining milking his cow. “I dunno, I just do it till it sprays out.”
“Ooooooh, interesting,” he says, writing down what he said onto the parchment, “And how do you know they don’t have any more?”
“Well, normally the milk stops flowing when they’re fuckin’ empty,” he says, flabbergasted that the prince would be so interested in the mechanics of milking a cow, “You know, if you come with me, I can just show you.”
Izuku’s eyes lit up, glittering like a thousand stars. It makes Katsuki’s stomach flutter, his cheeks heating up from seeing something so cute. Those pink lips form a smile. “Actually, that sounds like a lot of fun.”
Bury him, now.
Why is he so fucking cute?
How is Katsuki supposed to control himself for two more days when he looks at him like that?
He turns his head to the side, “Tch, far from it. It gets hot as fuck and tiring after a while.”
Prince Izuku chuckles, “I’m sure it does bu-”
Knock-Knock
Both their eyes widen in fear, and Katsuki doesn’t waste a beat and rubs the amulet, turning him back into a ram.
The knob turns and Cheeks pokes her head in before entering, closing the door behind her. She has a tray with two silver cloches sitting on it. “Hey Izuku, sorry to bother you, but I got you both a snack!”
Prince Izuku smiles, getting up from the ground and walking over to her. Cheeks sets the food down on the desk and pulls the domes off, an assortment of fruits, cheese, crackers and small sandwiches sit on the plate, and Katsuki feels his stomach rumble.
“So how are things with you both?” she asks.
“Oh, things with me and Ka- Ka…Kacchan are fine,” Izuku stutters.
If Katsuki had hands, he would slap himself in the face. This fucking nerd just spill the fucking beans, how the fuck is he supposed to justify calling him that?
“Kacchan?” she questions, “I thought his name was Baa-chan?” Cheeks says looking over at Katsuki, a smirk on her lips.
Prince Izuku’s cheeks turn red, and Katsuki trots up to him to help comfort the panic he’s feeling at that moment. His hand immediately rests on Katsuki’s horned head, and he sighs, “He responds better to Kacchan.”
Fuck…
Cheek’s lips turn upward, “Aww, soo cute,” she reaches out to pet him, “Hi Kaccha-”
Katsuki makes a move to bite her hand as she pulls it back quickly, brows raised in disbelief.
“I don’t think he likes me,” she mutters to Prince Izuku, who sighs.
“Yeah, it took a bit for Kacchan to get used to me, but he’ll warm up to you. Right Kacchan?” he asks, looking down at him.
Katsuki snorts and turns his head toward the food, silently telling the prince he’s hungry and wants to eat.
Cheeks sighs and takes a step back, “I’ll leave you to it, I’ll be back in a couple of hours to run your bath and bring you both supper,” she says before her eyes widen, “Oh! Does he have to uh…go?”
Prince Izuku looks at Katsuki with a questioning look before turning back to her, “Uh…go?”
She chuckles, “To the bathroom?”
“Oh! No, I don’t believe so…” he says, looking at Katsuki, who narrows his eyes.
“Well…if he does,” she says, walking to Prince Izuku, placing a key in his hand, “This is the key to the door for the garden. If he has to go to the bathroom then unlock the door so he can relieve himself. The groundskeeper already knows and will clean up the mess every morning.” Cheeks smiles looking towards the door, “Just don’t stay out there too long during the day, okay?”
Katsuki sees Izuku’s lips turn up into a smile, nodding his head, “I won’t, thanks, Ochako.”
The cheery maid returns the prince’s nods, “I’ll be back later.”
Katsuki watches her leave, and once the door closes, he feels a tug on his neck before a cloud of white smoke starts seeping out of the amulet. His body starts to grow again, bones popping into place and the fleece shrinking into his skin. Katsuki feels a dull ache on the crown of his head as the two large ram horns shrink into his skull.
He shakes his head, blinking his eyes, adjusting his vision. Katsuki will never get over the weird feeling of changing back and forth.Tto feel his body being stretched one moment and then crushed the next, it isn’t painful, it just felt…unnatural…
Prince Izuku starts snacking on the food, and Katsuki swipes a piece of fruit, popping it into his mouth. The sweet watery taste of the grape on his tongue makes him want another. Katsuki had skipped breakfast, he had been too nervous about the plan to have an appetite, but now, here with Prince Izuku, it has returned, so he helps himself to a handful of the sweet fruit.
“It’s nice of her to bring us a snack before dinner, that usually doesn’t happen.”
He raises his brow, “What? Why the hell not?” Katsuki asks, eating another grape.
Prince Izuku shrugs, “Well, she’s usually a lot busier during the day. No one but her is allowed in this part of the palace, so she does all the cleaning and delivers my meals.”
Katsuki had to hand it to Cheeks, she must have been extremely overworked handling a whole wing of the palace to herself. Cheeks is a bit odd, she never once addressed Prince Izuku properly since he got here. Always calling him by his first name or saying your highness, but never as Prince Izuku.
He takes a seat on one of the chairs. “She doesn’t address you by your title?” Katsuki asks.
Prince Izuku chuckles and shakes his head, “Nah, I don’t like the formalities of it all. Yes, I’m a prince, but at the end of the day, I’m just me.” He picks up a sandwich and sighs, “But my father doesn’t know, so if he were to show up, she would address me properly, not wanting to be thrown out of the palace or worse.”
Katsuki nods his head in understanding, based off of his impression of the King, that tracks.
“So you wouldn’t like it if I called you Your Highness?” Katsuki asks, but doesn’t hear a response. Turning to him, he sees those emerald eyes widen up at him, and his mouth agape. The Prince’s freckled cheeks are dusted a rosy red, and he could smell his scent intensifying. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Prince Izuku answered with a shakes of his head, taking a large gulp of water, “But, please call me Izuku.”
Katsuki raises his brow but doesn’t press on it. He starts digging in on the cheese and crackers, both of them sitting in a comfortable silence as they stare out the large glass window overlooking the garden.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Night came and Ochako told them she’s heading off to bed, with the tug of the amulet, Katsuki and Izuku spent the night talking in hushed whispers. A candle sat between them on the ground, illuminating their bodies in a warm orange glow.
“Nah, it was fuckin’ hilarious watching her eat bird feed.” Katsuki whispers, “She said ‘but there’s sunflower seeds in here! I thought you brought this bag home from the field for us to make food!’ then I told her how the fuck could I harvest sunflowers in winter? Long story short, Pinky was pissed until I gave her a bag to shut her whining trap.”
Izuku chuckles, covering his mouth while slapping his knee, “I- I can’t believe she ate that without asking. Is there a difference between bird feed and regular seeds?”
Katsuki nodded, “Well, bird feed is mixed with a bunch of other seeds that you can spread out for them to eat. Normally, I keep a stash of sunflowers and add them to the feed to last us through the winter.”
“Fascinating, I’m learning so much from you Kaccha- I mean Katsuki,” Izuku muttered, turning his eyes away.
He could feel the heat rush up to his cheeks, turning his face toward the garden. “If you wanna call me that, you can,” Katsuki mumbles to himself.
A moment goes by when he doesn’t hear a response and turns back, locking eyes with Izuku. The glow of the candle made him look absolutely ethereal as the shadows danced around the corners of his face. “I can?” Izuku whispers.
Katsuki can’t keep eye contact with Izuku when he looks so damn cute like that, his eyes trying to look at anything else as he focuses them on the carpeted floor, “Tch, I fucking said you can. Call me whatever the fuck you want.”
“Okay, Kacchan.”
He doesn’t look but can feel his heart pounding in his chest, how could a fucking nickname make him feel this way?
“So, other than farmwork, do you have any dreams or aspirations?” Izuku asks.
Katsuki does have a dream, to go off somewhere far away to relax and unwind with his mate… if he ever gets one. But that idea is out of reach, with the long grueling hours of working on the farm Katsuki doesn’t have time for something like dreams.
He shrugs his shoulders, “Nah, not really. Too busy working to have things like dreams.”
He watches Izuku’s eyes sadden, pulling his knees up to his chest as he hums, “I see…”
“D’you got dreams, Izuku?”
Izuku sighs, looking out the window once again, I do…but…I don’t think it’s possible for someone in my…situation…”
Katsuki feels his heart drop, but scoots his back against the side of the bed to look out the window with Izuku, “You wanna tell me?”
He sees Izuku turn back and scoot himself to the bed, sitting side by side with the candle separating the space between them.
“I…I wanna see the world…” he mumbles, “I’ve read a lot of stories about having adventures and traveling to different kingdoms. It’s kinda like my only escape from this–place…” Izuku pulls his knees up to his chest.
He nods his head, he didn’t realize how similar Izuku’s dream is to his. It’s as if they were two sides of the same coin that got sliced right down the middle, but are slowly being glued together again.
Katsuki sighs, “Suppose you go to see the world, what would you even do?” He raises his brow.
“I…haven’t really thought about it,” he sees Izuku turn toward him, eyes glowing under the candle light, “but, I wanna see it all,” Izuku flashes him a big smile and chuckles to himself, “It’s just a dream though…”
Izuku turns, laying his head against the footboard of his bed, looking up at the ceiling.
Katsuki can’t help his desire to pull him close and tell him it’s going to be okay, his alpha telling him to comfort the omega. He scoots closer, arm brushing up against Izuku’s, “The day you get outta here, find me, and I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go.”
He watches Izuku’s eyes widen for a moment before softening, holding up his pinky finger, “You promise?” Izuku whispers.
Katsuki chuckles to himself, seeing how childlike Izuku can be, but nonetheless, he hooks his pinky around Izuku’s, “Promise.”
They talk for a while longer before turning in for bed, Katsuki takes on his ram form and settles on a blanket Izuku laid out for him. Closing his eyes, sleep takes him immediately, dreaming about a freckled boy with a big smile on his face.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki woke up from the light peeking in through the curtains, his body felt like it’s laying on a soft fluffy cloud handpicked by the gods themselves. He hears soft snores to his side and turns his head to see Izuku sleeping peacefully next to him. Heat rises to his cheeks while his eyes wander from those freckles, down to Izuku’s pink plush parted lips.
His alpha stirs, demanding to know how the omega tastes. Katsuki bites down on his bottom lip, trying to wrench his control back until he feels the bed dip and Izuku scoot next to him– arms slowly wrapping around his waist and pulling him closer.
Having the prince this close makes his head dizzy, that delicious scent filling his nose has his eyes roll back. If he doesn’t get out of this bed and far fucking away from Izuku he knows his alpha will take full control. The last thing he wants to do is take advantage of him, especially when he already told Katsuki he wants to get to know the person he marries first. It would be wrong of him to pin the prince against the bed and give him his bite, no matter how fucking bad he wants to.
Holding his breath, Katsuki slowly shimmies his way out of Izuku’s hold– pulling the pillow from behind his head to replace his body. He watches Izuku immediately cling to the pillow, rubbing his cheek against it and a sigh escaping his lips.
Katsuki scratches the back of his head, he doesn’t remember getting into Izuku’s bed in the first fucking place. Another thing is he fell asleep as a ram, when the fuck did he change back?
He decides to go to the bathroom, quietly closing the door behind him so he doesn’t wake Izuku up.
After relieving himself, he washes his hands and looks up into the mirror, his own cheeks flushed a bright pink color. Katsuki splashes his face with cold water, running it through his hair to cool himself down from the sight he just witnessed. Izuku’s sleeping face returns to his mind, and he grunts, splashing himself again.
Knock-knock
“Kacchan?” Izuku asks through the door.
FUCK.
“M’ almost done,” he grunts out, shaking the water from his hair.
Katsuki hears Izuku yawn, “If you wanna brush your teeth, there’s a new toothbrush in the drawer.”
He hears the sound of Izuku’s footsteps retreating and sighs to himself before getting the toothbrush Izuku was talking about to brush his teeth.
Katsuki leaves the bathroom and sees Izuku sitting at his desk, staring out at the garden. He noticed him yesterday just admiring the flowers while they ate, and at random moments just looking out the window multiple times. He feels a bit useless, unable to help his prince escape the confines of these four walls. All Izuku wanted was freedom…but Katsuki is determined to grant that wish for him.
He sits down in the chair next to Izuku, watching him jump up, “KACCHAN! You scared me, you’re so quiet,” he says, placing his hand over his heart.
“Maybe you’re just really loud,” Katsuki says, chuckling to himself.
Izuku’s eyebrows shoot up, and his mouth hangs open, “I’m not loud!”
“Yeah, you are. I could hear you walking around out here while I was in the fucking bathroom, bigfoot,” He snorts, covering his hand with his mouth. It’s not like he meant a word he says; Katsuki just enjoys Izuku’s reactions. They’re completely over the top and animated; he can hear the gears turning in that freckled brain.
“B-BIGFOOT? EXCUSE ME?” Izuku yells out. Katsuki leans over and places his hand over Izuku’s mouth.
He glances at the door and waits a moment before looking back to Izuku, “You tryna get me found out?”
Izuku shakes his head no, eyes wide and staring up at him. All Katsuki can do is just stare, feeling those plush lips against his hand. They’re soft… He presses his hand firmer against them and hears a whimper escape Izuku’s throat. His alpha stirs, wanting to hear that pretty little noise again. For once, Katsuki complies, keeping his hand over those lips as he leans in closer, “You sure you’re not tryna get us caught…Izuku?” he whispers.
Another whine vibrates from Izuku’s throat, and Katsuki slowly pulls away, his lips pulling up into a smirk, “You should get washed up. Cheeks might come in at any moment.”
Izuku sits there in a daze for a moment before blinking his eyes and rushing off to the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a thud. Katsuki chuckles to himself before rubbing the front of the amulet, changing back into a ram.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki was right about Cheeks coming at any moment. After he changed into a ram, she knocked on the door and opened it, holding two plates of food in her hands. “Good morning, Kacchan,” she says with a big smile on her face.
He shudders, not liking the way she said his name like that. It only sounds good coming from Izuku and Izuku alone.
“I brought you breakfast,” she says, placing one of the plates down on the ground. It’s a mix of different fruits and veggies, which isn’t his typical kind of breakfast, but he can’t complain.
His ear twitches up hearing the bathroom door close and turns to Izuku, who’s drying off his face with a towel, “Oh, Ochako! Good morning.”
Katsuki huffs and walks to Izuku, nudging his hand with his horn. Izuku gets the message, placing his hand on Katsuki’s head and starts petting him. He won’t admit it, but Katsuki really likes Izuku touching him, even if he is a fucking ram at the moment.
“I brought you some breakfast, Izuku. I’ll be a little busy today, but I’ll swing by around lunch time and bring you something to eat,” she smiles at him.
Izuku nods, “No problem, Ochako. Thanks for bringing Kacchan and I food,” he says, waving to her as she leaves the room.
Once the door closes, Izuku rubs the amulet and Katsuki changes back into his human form. Shaking his head, he sits down on the ground and grabs an orange slice, “At least she knocks first, fucking Pinky would just barge into my room if I slept in.”
Izuku chuckles, “From what you told me about her, it seems like she keeps you in line.”
“The fuck she does, Pinky just likes to rile me up because she thinks it’s,” he puts up air quotations, “‘Funny.’ Nothing funny about that shit.” He hears Izuku bursting into laughter and can’t help the small smile that pulls his lips up, it’s like music to his ears.
He watches Izuku pick up his plate and join him on the floor, looking out the window as he feeds himself pieces of toast and eggs. Katsuki eats his fruit until a piece of toast is shoved into his vision, “You want some, Kacchan?”
Katsuki sees those shining emerald eyes and accepts the toast. Pinching it between the width of his thumb and forefinger, he takes a moment to notice it's slathered in butter and sugar -before he takes a bite. Memories of his childhood- of his mother when he'd run into the house after helping his father with the morning chores of gathering eggs- to see a plate of sugar toast and fruit set out for breakfast.
A smile finds his lips, and he decides to return the favor, picking up a strawberry he holds it up toward Izuku. He expects the Prince to pick the strawberry with his hands and eat it, so he’s pleasantly surprised when leans forward, bites down on the strawberry and chews it; all while maintaining eye contact with Katsuki.
Watching Izuku swallow and finally pluck the strawberry from his fingers and eating the remains of the fruit has Katsuki feel like he could fucking combust right then and there.
Katsuki distracts himself from his thoughts by returning to his toast, staring out at the garden. He moves the plate of fruit between them and Izuku offers him slices of bacon and spoonfuls of eggs. It felt so right…so good to share a meal with someone who isn’t Kirishima or Mina.
After their meal, Katsuki places the plates on Izuku’s desk and sits next to him on the bed, watching him draw. Izuku is extremely talented, drawing the garden to a tee. He wants to see more of his drawings, where he started, witness his growth, and how he became as good as he is.
“You’re really good at that, Izuku,” Katsuki says, leaning closer to the sketchbook.
He sees the pencil in Izuku’s hand stop as he slowly turns to him, cheeks flushed and mouth parted. Katsuki’s eyes look from his lips back up into those emerald eyes, heart slamming in his chest as he leans in slowly.
Wanna be closer…
Izuku also starts to lean in, eyes fluttering shut.
Wanna taste him…
Katsuki can feel Izuku’s breath on his face and his hands grip down on his pants.
Wanna ki-
Knock-knock
Katsuki feels the chain of the amulet dig into his skin as Izuku tugs on it. He barely realizes that he is turning back into a ram until his weight dips down onto the bed and he falls onto the floor with a thud.
Cheeks walks into the room, her lips downturned as she looks up at Izuku, “Um, Your Highness… your presence has been requested…” she says sadly.
He hears Izuku’s breath hitch, his scent sours as he nods his head, “I…I understand…”
Izuku gets off the bed and walks toward the door, something inside of Katsuki tells him whatever his presence is being needed for isn’t good. He quickly follows him, but Cheeks blocks his way, shaking her head.
Katsuki lets out a growl, leaning his head forward and pointing his horns at her. He’s going with Izuku, he can’t let him be on his own–
“It’s okay, Kacchan,” Izuku gives him a sad smile and pets the top of his head, “I’ll be right back, promise.”
Katsuki lets out another huff and watches Izuku leave with Cheeks, the door closing behind them.
Katsuki can’t help the sinking feeling he has in his gut and starts pacing in the room, all four of his feet stomping in his worry that something is happening to him. He climbs up on top of the bed, looking down at the sketch Izuku was working on and his mind starts to think back to what happened before Cheeks made her grand entrance.
They were about to kiss…
Gods, they really fucking were…
But, would Izuku want that? At that moment, it felt like it…
What if they had?
What would Izuku’s lips feel like? Soft or rough? Would they be sweet like sugar toast? Or fruity like strawberries?
His mind starts to spiral, consumed by the what-ifs of the situation. He doesn’t notice how much time has passed until the door opens, and he catches a whiff of sour vanilla. Raising his head, he sees Izuku, the light faded from his eyes as the door closes with a click.
He watches Izuku cross the room and lean over to rub the amulet once more, changing Katsuki back into a human.
“Izuku, are you okay?” Katsuki asks, his voice laced with concern.
Izuku shakes his head and sits down on the bed, leaning against Katsuki’s side, “K-Kacchan…” he asks, voice shaking, “C-can you hold me…please…”
Katsuki wastes no time, wrapping his arms around Izuku and resting his head on top of him. Izuku starts sobbing, tears falling down onto his shirt– Katsuki pulls him closer, rubbing the small of his back as he softly hushes him, “Shhh…It’s okay…I got you…”
He hears Izuku take a shuddering breath in and nods his head, “You’re soo warm…” he whispers.
Katsuki chuckles, “Maybe you’re just cold.”
Izuku chuckles, shrugging his shoulders, “Maybe…”
He waits a beat, seeing if Izuku will say anything else. “You wanna talk about it?” Katsuki offers, his hand reaching up towards those green curls and massaging the back of his neck.
He feels Izuku shake his head, a soft whimper coming from his throat.
“M’kay. I’m here if you need to talk, okay?”
Katsuki holds him until Izuku finally pulls away and picks up the sketchbook. He settles himself between Katsuki’s legs, back brushing against his chest as he goes back to drawing. That once sour scent slowly fading back into vanilla and mint, something Katsuki has grown accustomed to.
He watches Izuku; making small talk with him to clear the tense air. Katsuki continues to rub small circles on Izuku’s sides trying to provide any sort of comfort that he can. Nothing escalates like before, Katsuki makes sure of it– the last thing he wants is to make Izuku uncomfortable.
All he wants to do is comfort his friend-
Wait.
Friend?
Is Izuku his friend? Does Izuku feel that way towards Katsuki?
They literally met just yesterday, but it feels like he’s known him since he was a pup. He didn’t even warm up to Kirishima as quickly as he did with Izuku. It’s strange…He wants to give Izuku the world, to hold him close and never let him go. Katsuki doesn’t want to go back home tomorrow; he wants to stay… As long as he has Izuku by his side, everything in his life feels complete.
݁ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ ♕ ݁ . ݁˖. ⊹ ₊ . ݁
Izuku gasps with a start, being shaken awake as a pair of ruby eyes came into focus.
“KAC-MMPHH,” Katsuki’s hand slaps over Izuku’s mouth, his lips pressing up against that warm hand.
“Shh, you’re gonna wake up everyone in the damn kingdom,” Katsuki whispers before removing one hand and taking Izuku’s hand in his other. “Come. We don’t have a lot of time,” he says before pulling Izuku out of bed.
He likes the feel of Katsuki’s warm calloused hand in his, it’s a testament to how hard he really works at the farm. Izuku wishes Katsuki could stay. After spending the last two days together, he feels as if he’s known him his whole life. His omega longs to shove his nose into his throat and breathe in his scent, but the patches that cover Katsuki’s neck prevent him from getting even the slightest whiff.
Izuku sees Katsuki hold up a key and put it into the hole to unlock the garden, “While you were snoozing away, I was watching the guard rotation, and I think I have a good handle on it. We got about ten minutes till the next set of guards walk past this area.”
“What?” he asks in disbelief. He couldn’t go outside. He’s forbidden, he-
“Put something warm on. Come on!” He whispers again.
Izuku moves quickly, opening his closet and pulling out two dark colored fluffy wool jackets and handing one to Katsuki, “It…might be a bit small for you…” he says, putting on his own jacket.
“It’s fine,” he mumbles, pulling it over his body.
He sees the fabric pull taut against the muscles on his biceps and feels his mouth water, “A-arm…” he says breathlessly.
“Huh?” Katsuki asks, raising a brow at him.
Izuku puts his hands up, “N-nothing…”
Katsuki doesn’t ask him anything more as he turns the knob and opens the door to the garden. The cool night air hits Izuku and he shivers slightly, gripping the sides of his jacket. He watches Katsuki walk out first, ushering Izuku to follow him.
Taking a deep breath in, he takes a step, then another, and another until he’s one away from being onthe grass. Freedom to the outside world is just one footfall away… But, Izuku’s frightened, scared they’re going to get caught. He doesn’t want anything to happen to Katsuki or himself, but mostly Katsuki…
He’s about to go back inside until he sees Katsuki raise his hand to him, “Come, Izuku…”
Izuku reaches out, grasping his hand as he slowly steps outside, the cool wet grass squelches under his feet and he feels the wind blowing in his hair.
He’s free, if only for a bit, Izuku is free…
A smile finds his lips as Katsuki walks him around the garden, holding onto Izuku’s hand as he leads the way. He feels his heart drumming in his chest as he walks further into the garden, looking at the forget-me-nots and allium’s.
His lips curl up into a smile remembering the last time he was out here with his mother, picking a pink carnation and placing it above her ear.
She taught him many things about flowers, showing him how to tend to them and the meanings behind most of them.
This garden was her pride and joy, something she personally attended to in her free time. Since she passed, the groundskeeper kept up the maintenance, as if she never left.
The wind blows again, but this time it feels a bit warm as it hits his face, as if someone is caressing his cheeks. He knows no one is there but it makes him think for a split second his mother is watching over him. Tears form in the corners of his eyes and he sniffles.
He runs into Katsuki’s back and looks up at him.
“Why are you cryin?” Katsuki asks softly.
Izuku chuckles, wiping his eyes, “Sorry…I just…my mother is the one that planted the flowers here, we both would come here everyday tending to them and having picnics. It just…” he takes a deep breath before letting it out, “Makes me miss her…sorry, Kacchan.”
Katsuki chuckles, “Don’t hav’ta say sorry about that, I didn’t know. Just wanted you to come out here ‘cause I catch you staring out the window all the time.”
He feels Katsuki’s warm hand on his cheek, wiping away another stray tear, “You wanna go back inside?” Katsuki asks.
Izuku rests his hand over Katsuki’s and leans into his touch, “No, just a bit longer,” he whispers.
The wind blows again, and Izuku looks up into those ruby red eyes, the glow of the moon shining down on him creating a halo on the crown of his head. His mind thinks about earlier, how close they were…alone… He licks his lips, and something inside of him pulls him closer, taking a step forward. One of his hands still clasped between Katsuki’s, the other holding his hand to his cheek, “Kacchan…”
He sees Katsuki lean closer into his space, “Yeah?”
Izuku bites his lower lip between his teeth before letting it go, “I- uh…”
They’re close, just like earlier… barely a breath apart, “Izuku…”
He leans forward and presses his lips to Katsuki, feeling his body flood with warmth as Katsuki kisses him back. His first kiss… Izuku’s happy he could share something like this with someone as caring and thoughtful as Katsuki.
Pulling away with parted lips, he rests his head against Katsuki’s to catch his breath, “Wow…” he breathes out. He feels Katsuki wrap his arms around him, pulling him closer and rests his hand against the man's chest– feeling Katsuki’s heart pounding under the pads of his fingers.
They stand in each other’s embrace. It’s as if time freezes for just a moment before he feels Katsuki pull away first, “We should get back inside…the guards… they should be back any moment…” he whispers.
Izuku nods, sad that he can’t spend more time outside in the garden but he also understands why and follows Katsuki back to his room.
The door clicks shut and he hears the lock turn into place as he sheds the jacket he’s wearing, putting it back into the closet before doing the same with Katsuki’s. He brings the jacket to his face and inhales. Now that he is inside his room again he can smell the difference between his room and the garden. Despite being stuck indoors once again, Izuku is giddy with happiness. After the moment they just shared, he doesn’t even think he can go back to sleep, his face still warm and his lips long for another taste.
Would he get another taste if he asked? Izuku doesn’t want to come off as greedy, but he also can’t ignore the feelings that are bubbling inside his stomach.
There will be other times to kiss Katsuki right? Tomorrow night they can-
Wait…
Katsuki is leaving tomorrow…
The flutters in his stomach immediately sour as he realizes this is his last night with him. He couldn’t go, Izuku doesn’t want him to go… After the time and the moments they’ve shared, he wants to experience it everyday. How could he go back to his life of grey when Katsuki brought so much color to it?
Katsuki takes his hand and leads them back to the bed and Izuku lets out a whine, “I don’t wanna go back to bed now…”
Katsuki chuckles, “You gotta at least lie down, the sun will be coming up in a few hours.”
Climbing into bed, he pulls the blanket over his legs and feels the bed dip, Katsuki taking a seat at the edge of it. He stares up at him, those alluring ruby eyes softening as his hand ruffles the top of Izuku’s head. Izuku instinctively leans into the touch, wanting to relish in whatever physical contact he would have left with Katsuki.
“Kacchan…I-” he mumbles, unsure of how to ask for something so selfish.
“Use your words, Izuku,” Katsuki breathes out.
Izuku takes a breath and grips the blanket, “I- I want you to stay here…with me…”
A sad smile finds Katsuki’s lips, “I wish I could, but I have to leave tomorrow…”
Shaking his head, his hands pull Katsuki’s warm hand off his head and he holds it, giving it a squeeze, “I meant…please sleep with me tonight…just hold me…please…?” he begs. Izuku can feel the tears welling in his eyes again, afraid of rejection and the knowledge that he won’t see him again after this.
Katsuki sighs and scoots closer to Izuku, laying down on the bed, “Only till you fall asleep,” he says, pulling him close.
Izuku nuzzles his face into Katsuki’s warm chest and hums, closing his eyes. He breathes in, smelling the scent of powder, and it makes his brows furrow for a moment. Izuku wants to know what Katsuki smells like before he goes, so he can burn it into his memory, “Kacchan, uhm…can…can I…I wanna smell your scent…” he mumbles.
He feels Katsuki flinch and his heart sinks, realizing he’s asked for too much already, “I mean you don’t have to, I understand why you don’t want to take them off and that's fine. Holding me is more than enough.” he mutters, cheeks warm from embarrassment that how would even ask something like that in the first place.
“I…I don’t want you to go into any kinda heat if I take them off,” he says, scratching the top of Izuku’s head, “Don’t wanna do somethin that you wouldn’t be okay with…”
Izuku offers him a sad small smile, “It’s okay, Kacchan. I’ve been on suppressants for so long, it would take months for my body to regulate.”
He feels Katsuki’s heart beat faster before he breathes out, “Okay.”
Izuku feels Katsuki sit up and watches him peel back the patches. The smell of cinnamon and smoke fills his senses and his body pounces. Shoving his nose into Katsuki’s sweat gland to breathe in that intoxicating scent. He feels Katsuki’s hands on his back, pulling him closer as both their scents start to mix together and fill the air.
“You…smell good…Kacchan…” he breathes out, rubbing his face deeper into the gland.
Katsuki groans, “You smell fuckin good too, Izuku…”
Izuku rubs his neck against Katsuki’s trying to scent himself properly, his omega instincts taking over as his arms snake around his neck. He wants to bathe in it, be consumed by it. Anything to show that he’s made the decision to give himself over to him.
Katsuki immediately gets the message and starts to scent him properly, rubbing against his neck before bringing his wrists up and scenting them. Izuku watches Katsuki kiss his hands before moving back to his neck once again.
“Fuck… I don’t wanna go… just wanna stay here like this forever…with you…” he whispers in Izuku’s ear, making a shiver run down his spine.
“M-me too…I want to stay like this…forever…as long as I’m with you.”
⋅.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳♡˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.⋅
Ochako walks down the corridor until she reaches Prince Izuku’s room, knocking softly as she lets herself in and the smell of cinnamon and vanilla fill the air. She closes the door and looks over at the bed, spotting Izuku cuddled up against a man with spiky blond hair, both of them fast asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.
She lets out a chuckle. Ochako knew she recognized that amulet from her friend's shop. She didn’t want to say anything at the time, knowing this might be Prince Izuku’s one chance to escape this place.
Ochako walks over to the bed and reaches out to shake Prince Izuku awake, “Izuku, you gotta get up.”
“Mnnnghhh… fiveee moreee minutesss…” he mumbles out, nuzzling his face into the blond man’s chest.
She chuckles, “You and your friend need to get up,” Ochako says, shaking him a bit rougher.
Watching Prince Izuku stir, “Don’t wanna…” he says, pulling the blond closer.
Ochako sighs, “You gotta eat, you only have a few more hours before I gotta take him back.”
“Don’t want Kacchan to go…he’s mine…” he mumbles.
She looks over both of them, and notices there’s no claim bite, and sighs in relief before shaking both of them awake, “I’m trying to give you as much time together as I can. Now, get up before I grab the bucket!”
Kacchan’s eyes open first, before widening in fear, “Shit…”
Ochako looks at him before shaking Izuku, “Come on, Izuku, get up!” she shouts.
Prince Izuku groans and slowly sits up, stretching his arms over his head before he blinks his eyes open, “Hmm?” he mumbles.
“You and…uh…Kacchan need to get up and eat. You only got a few more hours before we have to give him back,” she says, shooting Katsuki a knowing look.
“Oh…yeah…Kacchan…wait. KACCHAN!” Prince Izuku looks to the side and sees Kacchan in his bed not in his ram form and slowly looks back at Ochako who is giving him a smirk, “Ochako…I can explain…”
She puts her hand up, “No need, I recognized the amulet from Himiko’s shop. I’ve known the whole time. Now, both of you go brush your teeth, so you can eat breakfast.”
With that, she turns and walks out the door. Closing it behind her, she lets out a sigh of relief, “Hopefully, he will take Izuku with him.”
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki feels his heart race. He’s fucked. They’re both fucked. Maybe if they leave now they can make an escape out to the garden…wait. Fuck. He doesn’t know his way around the palace at all.
He looks over at Izuku who's looking up at him with those emerald eyes, “We need to get outta here, Izuku. She could be back any second.”
Izuku shakes his head, “It’s okay, I know Ochako won’t say anything. I trust her as much as I trust you,” he says, placing his hand over Katsuki’s.
“How can you be so sure? She works for the fuckin’ King!”
“Because…well…I’ve known her since I was a pup. Her mom was my mother’s maid before she passed, after that she left the palace and moved outside of the kingdom. Ochako visits her once a month to give her coins and spend time before coming back." He sighs, “She’s trapped here just like me. Ochako won’t leave till I do.”
Katsuki sees the sad look in Izuku’s eyes and cups his cheek, rubbing those freckles with his thumb, “I see…well, if you trust her, then I trust her.”
They both get out of bed, brush their teeth and sit down at Izuku’s desk, before hearing a knock at the door. Cheeks walks in with two platters and sets them down on the desk, “I made sure to ask them to give you extra sugar toast and bacon,” she says.
“Thanks, Ochako,” Izuku smiles before bringing the toast up to his lips.
Katsuki stares at her, eyes narrowing, “You gonna watch over him after I go?” he asks, voice dripping with overprotectiveness.
She leans back against the wall, nodding her head, “With my life, you have good reason not to believe me when I say this, but Izuku’s happiness is my first priority.”
He nods his head, “Good, the Nerd needs as many people in his corner that he can get.”
Cheeks smiles, “Well, I think the person for that job is you Ka- uhhh…”
“Bakugou,” he says, “Katsuki Bakugou.”
“Bakugou?” she questions, putting her finger to her chin.
“You know me?” he asks.
Cheeks chuckles to herself, “No, not personally, but my mom buys eggs from you.” She turns to Izuku, “Anyways, I have to take Bakugou after lunch to the throne room, I’m just letting you know okay?”
Katsuki sees the light in Izuku’s eyes dim as he nods his head, “Okay…”
She takes her leave after that and they eat in a heavy silence. Katsuki only has a few more hours with Izuku till he has to go back home. He doesn’t want to…He couldn’t leave now…
They finish their food and Izuku takes Katsuki’s hand, leading them back to the bed and climbs up onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around his neck he feels Izuku shove his face into his scent gland and a sigh escapes his lips, “Kacchan, I really don’t want you to go…”
Katsuki wraps his arms around Izuku, nuzzling against his scent gland, “I don’t wanna fucking go either…” An idea pops into his mind and his mouth moves before he can even think, “Come with me…”
Izuku pulls back, resting his forehead against Katsuki’s, “You know I can’t…If I go missing, my father will turn the kingdom upside down,” those emerald eyes start to turn glassy, “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Kacchan, I-” Izuku closes his mouth turning away as a tear rolls down his cheek.
Katsuki can’t handle seeing Izuku cry like this. Cupping his cheek, he turns Izuku back to face him– wiping that stray tear away, “Izuku…” he breathes out, “I came here for a completely different reason, at first I wanted to take up on the King’s challenge and see if I could find his omega heir.” He sighs, “I never expected that the person I would meet would be so kind, curious and lonely…just like me…” Katsuki closes his eyes, “I didn’t expect to feel this way about someone I just met only a few days ago but…I think-” He pulls away, “I think I…” Katsuki trails off.
He hears Izuku’s breath hitch but keeps going, “I can’t see my life without you Izuku. I wanna wake up every morning next to you. Wanna show you how to milk a fucking cow. Wanna hear you to talk to me about flowers and shit. I wanna give you the world, because you deserve it for fucking you over like this. I wanna…” Katsuki leans in closer, their lips a breath apart, “I wanna make you mine, Izuku.”
Katsuki cants forward and presses his lips to Izuku’s in a searing, putting his whole body into it, kissing him with everything he can give. His hand rests on Izuku’s back while the other tangles itself in those green curls, pulling him closer. He feels Izuku kissing him back, gripping his hair as they fall back on the bed, the prince laying on top of him. Tears spilling from both of their eyes as their hands roam each other’s bodies, mapping out each detail they could before Katsuki has to go.
Izuku pulls away first, panting for air as he rests his head against Katsuki’s, “Kacchan…I wanna be yours…” he breathes out.
Katsuki feels his heart about to thump out of his chest hearing Izuku admit he wants the same thing, he can’t help but smile and kiss his tear riddled cheeks.
Izuku chuckles but leans into the kisses, a soft smile on his lips, “Kacchan…I think…I think I’m falling in love with you…”
His eyes meet Izuku’s and he thinks back to what Izuku said that first day he met him, on how he wanted to get to know a person before agreeing to marry them. Katsuki’s heart swells and he can’t help the chuckle that escapes his lips, “Yeah? I think I am too…” he nuzzles his nose against Izuku’s, “Think I’m fallin hard and fast…”
Izuku leans forward and kisses him, both of them desperate to use the final hours they have together, basking in each other's embrace.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki sits on the bed while Izuku selects clothes, blankets and other things he wants the alpha to scent. Rubbing the blanket against his scent gland he can’t help but think about the challenge, causing his scent to slightly sour. Once he’s back with Kirishima he could turn around and march his ass back into the palace and tell the King he knows where Izuku is.
But…
Is that what Izuku wants?
He feels the bed dip next to him and a pair of arms wrap around his waist, “Kacchan, you okay?” Izuku asks.
Katsuki sighs, placing the blanket down and resting his hand on Izuku’s head, “I’m okay, I just…I want to know how you feel about me telling the King I found you and taking you home with me.”
His eyes glance down at Izuku, who’s in deep thought, “If you do, there’s something you need to know…” he pulls his arms back and takes Katsuki’s hands in his, “My Father isn’t going to play fair. There’s been many people who have taken his challenge and failed. I’ve seen it with my own eyes…” Izuku clears his throat, “He’s going to take you into a room and have you perform some sort of clever trial to test you. It changes each time, but essentially you have to find me.”
“Find you how? Like a game of fuckin hide and seek?” Katsuki asks, lacing his fingers between the Prince’s.
Izuku shakes his head, “No, it’s like illusion magic, similar to your amulet, but it’s never the same… I won’t be wearing one,” he points to Katsuki’s emerald, “I just wish I could help you…”
Katsuki’s hand slides down to Izuku’s cheek, tilting his head up, “Izuku…telling me what you have is more than enough help. No matter what happens just know I choose you, in this life or the next.” he whispers.
He watches those emerald eyes gloss over again and pulls him into an embrace, resting his head on top of Izuku’s, “It’s okay, Baby. I got you.” His hands rub Izuku’s back, trying to offer him some sort of comfort.
“I just don’t want to lose you Kacchan,” he sniffles, “I can’t bear going on if I knew something happened to you…”
Katsuki hates this shit. He hates that Izuku is in this predicament in the first place– The only way he can save the Prince from this hell is to take the risk and challenge the King. He leans back and cups Izuku’s cheeks, “I’m going to come here as soon as I fuckin can and bring you back with me. I promise.”
Izuku blinks his eyes at him and holds his pinky up, “You promise?” he asks softly.
Katsuki chuckles and intertwines his pinky with Izuku’s, “I promise.”
Their fingers unlace and Katsuki grabs Izuku’s hand, pulling his pinky up to his lips and kissing it, “Gods, I fucking promise, Izuku. I’m going to bring you home with me.”
Katsuki returns to scenting Izuku’s items as Izuku climbs out of his lap and walks over to a drawer, pulling out a green handkerchief. He watches the Prince rub the cloth against his scent gland, really working it in as much as he can before sitting back down on the bed. He holds it up to Katsuki, his cheeks a rosy pink color, “This is for you… I- uh… thought it’s only fair I scent something for you as well.”
He takes the handkerchief and moves it up to his nose, inhaling Izuku’s vanilla mint scent and sighs, “You didn’t have to do that for me, Izuku,” he says softly.
Izuku smiles, “I just wanted to give you something of mine, I don’t really have anything you can take with you that won’t be noticeable,” he rubs the back of his neck.
Katsuki kisses the top of Izuku’s head. Pocketing the cloth, he takes out his box of spare scent patches, “Should probably put these back on in a bit.”
He looks down at the white box and sees Izuku take it from him, “Ca-Can I?” he asks.
Katsuki nods and watches Izuku open the box, taking out two patches giving them a sniff. His nose scrunches and he shakes his head, “Smells like powder…” he says in disgust.
“Yeah, it’s extra strength so my scent doesn’t leak out when I’m in my ram form,” he explains.
Izuku nods and peels back the patch, leaning forward he places it against Katsuki’s scent gland and rubs his hand over it so it sticks. He does it to the other gland and Katsuki is back to smelling like he bathed in baby powder.
“I don’t like it…” Izuku mumbles.
“Won’t be for long, I promise.” Katsuki says, reassuring Izuku that he will be back to rescue him.
He hears a knock at the door and Cheeks walks in with two plates of food, a sad smile on her lips, “Hey, guys…I have your lunch.”
Izuku gets up and takes the plates from her and walks them over to the bed, “Thanks, Ochako.” he smiles at her.
“It’s no problem,” her eyes downturn and her smile fades, “Uhm… I am pretty sure I don’t need to remind you, but after you finish eating, I have to take Bakugou back to the throne room…”
He watches Izuku nod his head, “I- I understand…”
She looks over at Katsuki and nods to him before taking her leave. Both of them don’t have an appetite, the plate of sandwiches and fruit sit on the bed as they hold each other for their last hour together.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki trots next to Cheeks, his cloven hoofs clicking as they hit the marble. He doesn’t want to go, he wants to stay with Izuku till the end of time, trapped in that room or not.
“You’re gonna come back, right?” Cheeks asks, “To get him out of here?”
He looks up and huffs, trying to tell her yes in the best way he can.
She nods, “Good,” Cheeks stop walking and kneels down, “I dunno if Izuku mentioned it to you but I feel like I should let you know what’s going to happen. Once you come forward to the King about knowing where Izuku is, he’s going to take you into one of the rooms deep in the palace. The King will then bring in several omegas who have been transformed into different animals. His Highness will be among them. Your task will be to point out which of the animals he is. You'll have one chance to choose him. If you pick correctly, you win, if you don't, well-” she makes a morbid slicing motion against her neck, “If I knew more information I would tell you but the King keeps that secret only for a few select personnel.”
Katsuki huffs again, letting her know he understands what she said and they continue on. She eventually hands him off to one of the guards to escort him back to the throne room. In passing, he sees his third prized ram walking in the direction he came from and sighs.
He sees Kirishima there and his eyes look up at the King. Brows furrowing, he's tempted to gnaw away at the amulet so he can challenge him right then and there to bring Izuku back. But if he did that, he would be risking not only his life, but Kirishima and Mina’s in the process.
Katsuki walks up to Kirishima and the guard hands him the leash before walking away. He watches Kirishima and Mina bow, thanking the King for giving them back their ram.
“Of course, thank you for providing a replacement. You may go.” the King says, waving them out.
The trio walk out of the palace, the doors closing behind them. Katsuki stays in his ram form, his head hung low as he drowns out the sights and sounds of the people in passing. His mind can’t stop thinking about Izuku, how bad he needs to go back there and save him from his prison.
Once they’re out of town, Katsuki stops and snorts at Kirishima, who reaches down for the necklace and rubs the amulet. A cloud of smoke engulfs Katsuki as he slowly shifts back into his human form. He blinks and shakes his head before looking over at his friends.
“Hey, man, did you find him?” Kirishima asks.
Mina chimes in, “He had to. While you were gone, we swept the town trying to find more information, but there was nothing.”
Katsuki looks between them, brows furrowed as they keep firing off question after question. It’s a damn shame the world isn’t equipped with a mute spell he can use at any time, because the last thing he wants to do is put up with his friends’ interrogations.
“Yeah, I fucking found him,” he grunts before walking in the direction of the farm.
“Him?” Mina asks, walking ahead of him before spinning around. “What’s he like?” she asks.
Katsuki thinks for a moment, what is Izuku like? How could he even describe the wonderful person that he is without sounding like a complete and utter sap?
He chuckles to himself, “Well, he talks a lot. He’s curious about every little thing, and doesn’t hesitate to ask questions,” Katsuki rubs the back of his neck. “But he’s kind and soft, nothing I would expect from a prince raised in a palace… He’s got these big emerald eyes, freckles that remind me of the stars, and his smile makes me think everything's gonna be okay…” He sighs, thinking about Izuku and how bad he wants to wrap his arms around him once again. To just have the chance to hold him once more in case he does fail the King’s challenge.
“It sounds like you’re in love,” Mina says, her lips pulling up into her Cheshire grin.
Katsuki couldn’t even deny it, he looks at Kirishima, who’s flashing him a toothy grin before nudging his shoulder.
“Dude, you’re in love? But you just met the guy.”
“Well, it doesn’t feel like we just met– Feels like I’ve known him my whole life…” Katsuki says, looking up at the sky. The wind blows through his hair, and it makes him think about the night he spent in the garden with Izuku, sharing his first kiss with him and falling asleep in his embrace.
Gods, he wants to just turn around and run back to the palace, back to his Izuku…
Katsuki trudges forward as the couple keeps asking him questions about Izuku. He answers some of them but doesn’t give too much away. He wants to keep some of the moments he shared with Izuku to himself.
Once he gets to the farm, he goes inside the house and straight to his room, closing and locking it behind him.
He stumbles forward, walking to his cold, empty bed. Katsuki feels his heart twist as his knees give out and he thumps onto the ground. Tears stream down his face as he slams his fist against the mattress. He doesn’t want to be here. How could he just walk out of the palace? How could he just leave Izuku there by himself again?
Katsuki could have taken him. They could have escaped through the garden and figured a way out…together…
“Damn it!” he grunts out, slamming his fist down again.
Knock-knock
“Kats, are you okay?” Mina calls out.
Katsuki wipes his face, “M- I’m fuckin fine,” he grunts out, “Just go.”
He hears her sigh, “If you need anything, let us know, okay?”
Mina’s footsteps echo through the home, and Katsuki takes a deep breath in, trying to calm himself down. He pulls himself up onto his bed and falls back on the pillow, reaching into his pocket, he pulls out Izuku’s handkerchief bringing it to his nose. “I’m gonna save you, Izuku… I fucking swear on my life…”
Katsuki lays there, his mind swirling with thoughts on Izuku and the awaited challenge. There has to be a way he can pass it without failing…there’s gotta…
He pulls the amulet up to his face, the emerald shining under the moonlight coming from his window. Katsuki feels his eyes get heavy as they slowly close, pulling him under into a dreamless sleep.
݁ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ ♕ ݁ . ݁˖. ⊹ ₊ . ݁
Izuku sits in the garden with Ochako, the scented blanket covering him as she rubs small circles into his back.
“It’s gonna be okay. I know he’ll come back,” she says softly.
He sniffles as another wave of tears flows from his eyes, “W-what i-if… what if he fails? Ochako- I-I I can’t go on knowing he died trying to save me…”
Ochako wraps her arms around him, “He’s not going to, you need to believe in him.”
Izuku takes a shaky breath in, “Ochako, I love him… I love him more than anything or anyone. Before, my life used to be so dull, each day felt the same… get up, get ready, read or sketch, eat, rinse and repeat.” He sniffles and wipes his eyes, “B-but when Kacchan came into my life, he brought so much color to it. Talking to me about his life and telling me these funny stories about his friends…” A small smile finds his lips, “He’s brash, not afraid to speak his mind… but he’s also so caring and soft…I never thought I could get to know someone so well in only a few days. I didn’t think I could fall in love with someone so easily…” He wipes the tears falling from his cheeks, “I always thought I would be trapped here and die behind these walls without meeting someone else…” Izuku’s body shivers, feeling the wind blow in his hair, “He gives me so much hope… I’m just scared…”
Ochako tightens her grip around him, resting her cheek on his shoulder, “I know, but Bakugou isn’t like those other people who have tried and failed.”
Izuku looks at her, “No, he’s not…”
“Those other people only cared because of your status, only wanted you for the power they could get. Bakugou wants you for you, that’s what sets him apart from the rest. When he comes back, I know for sure he’s going to pass, no second questions about it.”
He listens to her words, knowing she’s trying to calm him down– but it doesn’t help the dread that pools in his belly. Izuku’s seen with his own eyes what’s happened, how difficult the challenge is. The most recent one had him and a few other omegas turned into deer and the alpha gloated, saying he wouldn't fall for such a trick. But he chose wrong… Izuku had a front row seat as one of the guards took care of him, before dragging their lifeless body off.
“You’re right, I need to believe in him. I have to believe in him…” he whispers.
Ochako hums, “He’s smart, I know he’ll figure out the trick to the challenge.”
Izuku nods his head and looks up at the moon; the same moon he saw that last night with Kacchan in the garden.
“Come, let’s go inside before the guards spot us,” she says, getting up from her seat.
He follows after her, clutching the blanket around him– when he gets to the door, Izuku takes one last look at the garden before Ochako closes and locks the door behind him. Holding the key up she looks down at his hand before closing it, “You hold onto it.” she says, “I know you know you shouldn’t go out there but, I trust you to make the right decisions.”
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki wakes up to chickens cawing and grumbles to himself, “I didn’t fucking miss that shit…”
He rolls out of bed and laces up his boots before making his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Looking up in the mirror he sees the bags under his eyes and how unruly his hair is. He looks absolutely pathetic, never has he looked so dead in his life. Katsuki finishes up and leaves the bathroom, walking down the stairs, he sees Mina sitting at the table with a mug of coffee in her hands.
She looks up at him and offers a small smile, “I already fed them, they should quiet down in a bit.”
He nods his head and goes to make himself a cup of coffee, silence filling the air between them before Mina speaks up again, “You gonna go after him today?”
Katsuki sits across from her, taking a sip before placing the mug down, “Yeah, yeah I am.”
She nods, “So you just walk in and tell the King you found him and then that's it?”
“No, apparently, after you declare you have found Izuku, he takes you into a room with a bunch of other omegas and uses magic to change all of them, including Izuku into some sort of animal. You then have one shot to pick Izuku out from the group, if you're right, you pass, but if you’re wrong…well…you read the flyer…”
“I see,” she whispers, “So… you’re basically walking into your own grave…”
“Essentially. But there’s gotta be some sort of loophole. Magic isn’t perfect, like the fucking amulet,” he points to the emerald that’s still around his neck, “Yeah, I changed into a fuckin ram, but my scent could still be detected which was why I had’ta wear those fuckin patches.”
Mina sits for a moment in silence, her face screwed up in concentration. If anyone would have any sort of understanding about magic, it would be her; she spent a shitload of time in the apothecary’s shop, buying that shit she puts on her face.
“I don’t know much about active magic… I could ask, but I dunno if Himiko would know either. She specializes in potions and enchantment. Not many people study it these days,” she shrugs.
Katsuki shakes his head, knowing that if they were to travel to the apothecary’s shop it would be almost a full day’s trip. It would be a waste of time going down there and if Mina’s right and Himiko doesn’t know then it would of been for naught, “Nah, I’m going to get him today. I don’t have time to wait for somethin’ like that.”
Mina takes another sip of coffee, “You really love him, huh?”
He sighs, looking down at his drink, “More than anything in the world…I would give up my fuckin’ farm if that meant I could hold him in my arms once more…”
“Wow,” she breathes out, “Coming from you that means a lot, I only say that, because I know how much you care about this place.”
“You don’t even know the half of it. I would do anything for him…”
He sees her hand rest on top of his and looks up at her and sees a smile on her lips, “I’m happy you found someone you love and who returns those feelings for you.”
Katsuki holds her hand, accepting whatever comfort she’s trying to give him before he leaves the farm, “Thanks, Mina,” he whispers.
He sees tears well up in her eyes, “You better come back, Katsuki. Promise me you’ll come back.”
Katsuki opens his mouth but hears a sob coming from behind him, turning around he sees Kirishima standing there with tears in his eyes.
“Nah, I can’t handle both of you crying around my fuckin’ coffee this early in the morning,” Katsuki grunts out.
Kirishima walks over, taking a seat next to Katsuki, “I’m sorry man, I just- It’s soo manly that you’re about to go after him knowing what might happen.”
Mina’s and Katsuki’s hands are joined by Kirishima’s and Katsuki can’t help but feel how loved he is by his friends, “I’ll come back, Eijirou, I promise,” he says softly.
They sit at the table, drinking their coffee and talking amongst themselves while Mina fixes breakfast. His last supper before heading off to the palace alone…
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki walks into town. A shiver goes down his back as the wind blows through his freshly washed and styled hair. Mina insisted he shower and allow her to apply one of her weird fuckin' face masks that's supposed to make his skin appealing or whatever. He couldn’t exactly tell her no, wanting to enjoy whatever moments he had left with his friends in case for some reason he did fail.
Kirishima gave him a white tunic and a pair of his black leather pants, telling him he needs to look ‘manly’ when he rescues the love of his life. Paired with his black boots, he looks like some middle class townsfolk. Which for him is a good thing, the last thing he wants is for the King to find out he’s associated with Kirishima– at least, if he dies, he can rest peacefully knowing his friends are safe.
He walks towards the gate, spotting four guardsman posted at the entrance. When he gets within hearing distance of them, one of the guards steps into his path. “Greetings, fellow alpha. Please, state your name and what business brings you to His Majesty’s palace.”
Katsuki eyes the guardsmen and the long pikes they carry, his brows furrowing as he pulls out the flyer and shows it to the guard who addressed him. “Name’s Katsuki. I’m here to see the King about his challenge.”
The guards chuckle in unison.
“I see. Very well.” The guard gestures to his companions and the gate is pulled open. “Follow me,” he instructs, starting off toward the palace’s grand entrance.
He feels his stomach twisting and turning with anxiety, afraid about what would happen to him once he sees the King. Katsuki thought about it in the shower, fully accepting his fate if it came down to him taking his last breath.
The guard from the gate hands him off to another guard stationed at the palace doors. “Got another one.”
The new guard frowns and nods in silent acknowledgement and opens the palace door. Things don’t look as intimidating as they had when Katsuki was a ram, but the sense of doom that hangs in the air as he is led back to the throne presses down on him with each step.
Yet another set of guards stand at the entrance to the throne room. This time, there is no introduction from the gate guard about Katsuki’s purpose here as the ornate double doors of the throne room are pushed inside and Katsuki locks eyes onto the King. A sense of dread starts to creep up his skin making it crawl with goosebumps.
“Well, who do we have here?” The King asks, leaning forward on his throne. It’s not until the King speaks that Katsuki realizes that he isn’t alone. Courtiers twitter in groups around the room, watching Katsuki with bemused interest. Was he gonna have to declare his intentions in front of all these random ass people?
Katsuki barely remembers to genuflect, bowing to the King– not out of respect, but because if he didn’t he would get imprisoned or killed on the spot, “My name's Katsuki, I’ve come to accept your challenge for your omegan heir.”
A scatter of voices goes through the onlookers of the court.
“Katsuki, you say?” The sound of his name has Katsuki looking up at the King. He is scratching at his beard, bored.
“That’s correct, Your Majesty,” Katsuki says.
“You are here to accept our challenge?” he chuckles, “You know what will happen if you fail, Katsuki?”
Katsuki gets to his feet and nods his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Once we begin, you will not be able to back out of it, understood?”
Katsuki feels his heart racing, adrenaline pumping in his veins. He still has the opportunity to turn back but he knows just beyond those doors, down the hall, Izuku is there.
“Yes, I fully understand.”
“Excellent. Well then, tell me… Where is our heir?”
“Your Majesty, they are here in the palace.”
“Are you sure?” The King hums. “We shall not be accused of ending a perfectly good alpha. We will give you the opportunity to change your answer. Are we not kind?” He says mockingly.
Katsuki can feel a tick of irritation in his head, but doesn’t address it. “As kind as Your Majesty is, I don’t need to change my answer.”
“Are you sure, Kastuki?”
Swallowing the snarky remark he was about to give, Katsuki nods his head, “I’m positive.”
The King claps in faux excitement. “Very good, my boy, you have passed the first trial!”
There is a pause where Katsuki is sure the King is waiting for him to be startled at the prospect of another, undisclosed trial, but Katsuki doesn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
“Imasuji-” The king snaps, turning to one of the guards, “Take our esteemed Katsuki to the holding room while the preparations are made.”
“Yessir,” the guard says, giving a salute before grabbing Katsuki by the arm, “Come on, lets go.” he grunts out, shoving him forward.
Katsuki growls but listens, not wanting to overstep his boundaries and blow his one chance. The guard barks directions to him and it took every drop of self control in Katsuki’s being to not turn around and punch this guy square in the face. Even if he did, Katsuki doesn’t think the guy would feel it. He’s big, towering over him like a sturdy oak tree– the muscles that bulge under his skin didn't look natural in the slightest, some pink muscle fiber can be seen through small openings along his arms making Katsuki’s skin crawl. And his fuckin scent… smelled like blood and piss, fucking disgusting.
The fuck is up with this place?
They approach a door and the guard opens it, shoving Katsuki inside, “Someone will come get you when they’re ready.” The door slams and he hears a lock click into place.
“Fucking weirdo,” he breathes out. Katsuki looks around the room, it’s smaller in comparison to Izuku’s. The walls are lined with books and other trinkets, there's a window showing a small grassy area, and in the middle of the room there's two chairs and a chess board sitting on a table.
He takes a seat and looks down at the board in front of him, the marble pieces lined up without a speck of dust in sight. Katsuki looks down at his white pieces before glancing at the black pieces on the other side of the chessboard. A smirk pulls at his lips as he leans over and flicks the King, watching it topple over.
Katsuki leans back in the chair, his boots kicking up and resting on the table next to the board. How fuckin long does it take to round up some omegas and throw them into a room together? He’s got shit to do today, like rescue the love of his life and get his fucking ram back because there’s no way he’s leaving him in this stuck up place.
Some time passes before he hears a knock at the door and it slowly opens, Cheeks looks at him with a smile on her face, “You came.”
Katsuki shrugs, “Had to. How is he?” he asks, watching her close the door.
“He’s fine, despondent, but fine. How are you holding up?” She asks, taking a seat.
He looks down at the chessboard before letting out a sigh, “I’m okay, been worse but okay…”
Cheeks nods her head, “I didn’t get to look in the room but from what the guards were saying they rounded up like ten omegas, including Izuku.”
“Ten?!”
“Yeah, it’s a bit more than usual, it’s odd…” she says, putting her finger to her chin.
He’s completely fucked, how the hell is he supposed to pick Izuku out of ten fuckin omegas?
“It’s okay, I know that you’ll choose him. Just breathe, Bakugou,” she says, gesturing her hands up to breathe in and letting them fall to breathe out.
Katsuki follows her lead, and he feels his body calm down a little. He’s still nervous, but Cheeks is right, he needs to stay calm.
She slowly gets up, “Come on, let’s go.” she says, walking over to the door and opening it for him. Katsuki follows her out into the hall and down one of the corridors. He recognizes the route that they’re taking and looks over to the right, seeing Izuku’s door before passing it.
They walk up a spiral staircase and reach a black door at the top. Cheeks knocks on it before turning the knob and opening the door. Katsuki’s eyes immediately spots the King, a couple of guards, a woman wearing a black cloak with chains around her hands, and the other omegas who look similar to Izuku but with different hair styles, skin tones and genders.
He sees Izuku looking at him, those emerald eyes wide and glistening with tears.
Izuku’s here.
He’s right there.
Katsuki feels his heart race, wanting to run up to Izuku and wrap his arms around him, but he doesn’t. Clenching his fist until his knuckles turn white he hears the King chuckle, “Well, now that we're here I’ll explain the rules.”
He points over the omegas, “One of these omegas is my heir, your job is to figure out which one they are.”
Katsuki opens his mouth but the King interjects, “Ah, no. See this is the fun part,” He waves Ochako over, who’s holding a blind fold in her hands. “Put it on him.”
He watches her flinch but follows orders, stepping behind Katsuki and putting the blindfold over his eyes.
“Now, when you take the blindfold off, these omegas will be bunnies. It’s up to you to choose which one is my heir. If you get it wrong, well… you know what happens…” He says, chuckling to himself.
“And if I get it right?” He asks, voice laced with determination.
“Well, no one has been right so far, but we keep our word, if you are right, then you have the right to marry our omega heir.”
Katsuki bites his tongue, “If I win, I’ll be taking the heir home with me…” he mumbles.
The King scoffs, “Home? With you? Why, who would run our kingdom if we perish one day?”
“I mean, it sounds like you think I’m going to choose right with what you're saying, Your Majesty,” he says, nonchalantly.
“Don’t speak to His Majesty that way, you-”
“It’s fine, Jin,” the King grunts out, Katsuki hears footsteps approaching him making his body run cold, “If you can pick out my heir, you can do whatever you want with them. But trust me when I say this, boy. Nobody wins this challenge for a reason.”
Katsuki nods in understanding, at least if he wins, he’s secured Izuku’s freedom…if the King keeps his word.
“Okay, Utsushimi… get on with it,” the King barks out.
He hears the chains rattle, “Y-yes, Your Majesty…” she mumbles out.
Katsuki feels a cool air engulf the room, goosebumps crawl up his skin making him feel uneasy and lightheaded.
He feels the blindfold slip off his eyes, blinking them open to adjust to the light in the room before spotting ten bunnies on the floor.
Oh Gods…he’s fucked…
“Take as much time as you need,” the King says, sitting down in a chair.
Katsuki takes a step forward, “Can I… pick them up?” he asks.
The King barks out a laugh, “Sure, whatever you need to do to figure out who our heir is.”
He nods his head and gets down to his knees and starts looking over the bunnies. They all look the same, fur as white as snow and black eyes. It would be hard to detect Izuku between the others if they’re the same.
Katsuki reaches out and pulls one of the bunnies into his lap, catching a whiff of their scent… sugar and tea? Crinkling his nose, he sets the bunny to the side and looks over the rest of them– his eyes widening in realization, the magic can’t mask their scent just like the amulet.
He starts picking up one bunny at a time, sniffing their scent before putting them down to the side. Picking up another he smells the faintest hint of mint, he looks over at the bunny before shoving his nose straight into the fur and inhaling… mint and…watermelon? Nope.
Setting the bunny to the side, he looks over and sees he’s down to the last four. One of these has to be Izuku. He knows it. Picking up the next bunny he hears it purr softly, before bringing it up to his nose and takes a sniff…mint and…vanilla…Izuku.
A smile finds his lips as he pets the top of the bunny’s head. Scratching between his ears he’s rewarded with another purr.
“This one. This is your heir,” Katsuki says confidently.
The King gets up and walks over to him, “Are you sure? We will allow you this one chance to change your mind.”
Katsuki shakes his head, “No, I’m positive. It’s this one.”
“Utsushimi, release the illusion,” the King orders.
Katsuki watches the woman nod her head before snapping her fingers, the bunnies in the room all change back into their human form and in his arms is Izuku. A big bright smile on his lips as he leans forward and hugs Katsuki toppling him over to the floor.
“H-how? This is impossible!” The King grunts out, “You must have cheated!”
Katsuki looks over to him, brows furrowed, “How could I cheat when you blindfolded me, Your Majesty?”
The King growls, taking a step forward, “There’s no one who has passed this test ever. How did you know?”
He shrugs, “I didn’t, I just went with my gut.”
Izuku looks up at the King, “Father, he won,” he says softly, “Aren’t you going to keep your promise?”
The King looks around at the guards, Ochako, the other omegas before landing on Katsuki and Izuku. He lets out a sigh before straightening himself, “Very well,” he grunts out, “Congratulations, you have passed our challenge, my boy. You may take him and go.”
“Thank you, Father.” Izuku doesn’t waste a beat, getting up from the ground he takes Katsuki’s hand and leaves the room, descending down the steps with haste. They run straight into Izuku’s room, the door closing before he locks it with a click.
Katsuki’s panting, trying to catch his breath as he looks into Izuku’s emerald eyes, “I did it…” he says smiling.
“You did it, Kacchan…” Izuku breathes out, throwing his arms over Katsuki’s shoulder and letting out a sob. “You did it.”
Katsuki wraps his arms around Izuku holding him, one of his hands snakes into those green curls pulling his head closer, “I did it, Izuku.”
After a few minutes he pulls away, resting his hands on Izuku’s hips, “You excited to come home with me to my farm?”
Izuku nods, “Yes, I’m excited for you to show me how to milk a cow,” he chuckles.
Katsuki rolls his eyes and flicks his forehead, “Sounds like you’re more excited about farm work than being with me, Nerd.”
“Maybe a bit, but… if it means I get to spend my life with you, I’ll milk as many cows as I need to.”
He rests his forehead against Izuku’s, “Gods, Izuku…I love you,” he says softly.
Izuku hums, “I love you too, Kacchan…”
Katsuki leans forward and captures Izuku’s lips. The kiss is soft– filled with their overwhelming emotions from the last few days. He pulls Izuku closer until there's no space left between them. Katsuki pulls away, trailing kisses on Izuku’s freckled cheeks and down to his neck, “Fuck Izu…wanna-”
Knock-knock
The door opens and Cheeks walks in, shutting the door behind her. She looks at them and covers her mouth, “Oh! Did I interrupt something?”
Katsuki brows furrow, “Yes, you fuckin’ did… again!” he growls out.
“Again?” She questions.
He sees Izuku’s face turn red as he wiggles out of Katsuki’s grip, “Ehahaha, what are you doing here Ochako?”
Cheeks smiles at Izuku and hands him a large bag, “I came to help you pack,” she looks over at Katsuki before turning back to Izuku, “But I can go if you want?”
He watches Izuku accept the bag, “No, it’s fine you can stay, please help me pack. I don't know what to bring with me.”
She nods and sticks her tongue out at Katsuki before following Izuku to his closet. Katsuki treads behind them, helping Cheeks fold Izuku’s clothes as he stuffs them into the large bag.
Izuku pads across the room, grabbing a few sketch books and supplies before placing them in the bag as well, “Is this enough?” he asks.
“It’s a start, I’ll make sure to pack what I can and bring it to you when I go to see my mother next week.” she says.
He smiles and wraps his arms around her, “Thank you, Ochako…for everything…”
Cheeks hugs him back and Katsuki stands there not wanting to ruin their moment, he knows how important she is to Izuku. He has to thank her, if not for her warning he would have most likely failed the challenge and wouldn’t have been able to save Izuku.
Katsuki ties the bag closed and feels a pair of arms wrap around his waist.
“Thank you,” Cheeks whispers, “For saving him.”
He chuckles, “Nah, thanks for warning me about the challenge. If it wasn’t for you I don’t think I would have passed.”
Cheeks chuckles before pulling away, “Please take care of him. Izuku’s like family to me.”
Katsuki nods, “I’ll keep him safe, I promise.”
Her lips curl up into a smile, “Good, well… I need to get back to my duties. Oh, wait…” Cheeks reaches into her pocket and pulls out a brown leather pouch. “Here,” she says, handing it to Izuku, “Before I came here I stopped by the Late Queen’s quarters and took this. Before she passed she instructed my mother that the day Izuku leaves the palace to give this to him. I don’t know what’s inside, but I wanted to keep that final request she had.”
Izuku wipes his eyes, clutching the pouch to his chest, “Thanks, Ochako.”
She nods her head, “Of course. Oh, and I’ll see what I can do to bring your ram back, he’s in the other room” she says looking at Katsuki, before waving, “I’ll see you boys next week,” she promises before taking her leave.
“You ready to go?” Katsuki asks, picking up the bag.
Izuku sighs, looking out the window again toward the garden.
Katsuki watches him and chuckles to himself, he drops the bag back onto the bed and takes Izuku’s hand, “Come on, let’s take one last walk.”
He walks towards the door to the garden and turns the knob before opening it. The smell of fresh cut grass fills his senses as he pulls Izuku with him. Katsuki watches the Prince looking in awe at the flowers, his eyes sparkling with wonder.
“They look so much prettier in person and during the day,” Izuku says softly, reaching out to touch one of the tulips, “I think the only thing I’m sad about leaving is not being able to see this garden again.” he trails off.
Katsuki sighs, he wishes there was a way he could take it with them– Wait.
“Izuku, why don’t you harvest some of the seeds from the flowers?” he asks.
“Harvest…the…seeds…?” Izuku asks. His eyes go wide in realization, letting go of Katsuki’s hand and running back into his room. He returns a few minutes later with different colored handkerchiefs in his hands, leaving the pouch behind and starts doing what Katsuki tells him, harvesting the pods of the flowers and stuffing them into his pockets.
Katsuki follows him in silence, letting Izuku work and offering up his pockets when he runs out of space. He’s going to have to figure out where the hell they can plant these flowers, but that’s something he can worry about later. The only thing that mattered to him is making Izuku feel happy and not leaving his mother’s memory behind.
They walk up to a patch of morning glories, a mix of blues, purples, pinks, reds and whites intertwining together.
“These are my favorite,” Izuku says, plucking a pink one out and glancing over it, “There’s different meanings for each flower and color,” he stands up and walks over to Katsuki, putting the red one behind his ear, “This one reminds me of you.”
Katsuki chuckles, “Oh yeah? What does it mean?”
“Well, the general meaning of them are new beginnings. But the pink one…is gratitude and affection,” He smiles before turning back to the patch.
Katsuki feels heat flood to his cheeks and squats next to Izuku, he points to a red one, “What’s that one mean?”
Izuku looks to where his finger is pointing, “The red ones mean strength, passion and romantic love.”
He smiles before plucking the flower and looking over it, “Then this one reminds me of you.” Katsuki whispers, putting it behind Izuku’s ear. His eyes watch Izuku’s cheeks turn red before he leans forward and places a kiss against them.
“Kacchan…” He breathes out, blinking his emerald eyes up.
Katsuki chuckles before kissing his button nose, “Get your seeds, Baby. We have a long way home.”
Izuku finishes up grabbing the seeds from the garden before they both go back into his room. Katsuki slings the bag over his shoulder and Izuku locks the door to the garden– placing the key down on his desk. He looks around one last time and Katsuki walks up to him, lacing his fingers with Izuku’s, “Ready, Izuku?”
Izuku nods, “I’m ready.”
They both walk out of the palace, hand in hand. One of the guards sees them and leads the pair out another entrance into the town.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki can’t wait for Izuku to see his farm– to see his home. It’s not as big and shiny as the palace Izuku once resided in, but at least here the Prince would be free to roam around. His heart starts to race, wondering what Izuku would say once he feasts his eyes on it. Maybe he won’t like it one bit and turn back to beg for the King’s forgiveness to be let back into his room…or maybe…
“Wow, Kacchan! Your farm is huge!” Izuku shouts, a big bright smile on his lips as they walk past the rice field.
Katsuki chuckles, “You haven’t seen nothin yet, Nerd.”
They walk down the road and Katsuki hears Izuku gasp, he turns his head spotting his
a vegetable garden. As they continue on more of the farm can be seen, the grassy area where there's cows and sheep are roaming about and his tracker sitting in the field.
“Woooow-” Izuku breathes out in awe.
Katsuki can’t help the pride that swells in his chest, hearing how excited the Prince is looking at a fraction of what he has to offer.
Trudging up the dirt road, Katsuki sees his large red barn, the blue chicken coop and his home– a two story white farmhouse with a grey roof.
“You like it?” Katsuki asks, leading Izuku up the steps.
“It’s amazing, bigger than I imagined,” he breathes out.
“It's no palace, but welcome home, Izuku.”
Katsuki opens the door and the smell of freshly baked strawberry pie fills the room. Izuku walks in first, following after letting the door close on its own. He sets Izuku’s bag down on one of the chairs and lets out a long sigh.
“Love, I already told you, Kat made his choice. All we can do is believe in him and wait till he comes home. You know if he does and there’s still work to do he’s going to scream your ears off-”
Katsuki snickers to himself in amusement, he’s excited to see the shocked look on his friends faces when they walk through the door– Especially since he brought Izuku with him to stay.
Katsuki turns around and locks eyes with Mina’s, he flashes her a smirk, “Told yah I would be back.”
A sob escapes her lips, “Kat?” She whispers, taking a step forward.
Hearing Mina call his name like that makes his heart pang with hurt. She’s been worried about him… Katsuki feels bad that he made his friends worried about his well-being, but he had to save Izuku from that prison… He doesn’t regret his decision one bit.
Swallowing down the sob that tries to escape his throat he grunts out, “Dunno why you’re gettin all sad and shit, weren’t you just trying to give your mate a pep talk about believing in me?”
He watches a tear roll down her cheek as she quickly wipes it away, “Yeah, giving him a pep talk…not myself, you jerk!” she yells at him, “Got me stress baking over here! Do you have any idea how bad stress is for your skin?!”
Katsuki rolls his eyes, “That’s why you’re using that weird mud skin crap? Stressing out to the point you have to rub shit all over your face?”
Mina chuckles and rushes over to him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging the life out of him, “You’re such an ass, an ass I was worried about!”
He chuckles, returning the hug, “I said I would be back, and I brought someone with me.”
She pulls away from him and looks over at Izuku, standing there awkwardly. He waves his hand to her, “Hello.” Izuku looks tense, it’s understandable given this is the second new person he’s interacted with in the last few days. Katsuki thinks he doesn’t want to give a bad impression but he knows regardless his friends will love Izuku for who he is.
Mina looks back at Katsuki, “Oh, he is cute, just like you said.” She walks over to Izuku, ignoring Katsuki’s grumbling, flashing him a bright smile, “Hello, Your Highness. Welcome to our home. I’m Mina.”
Izuku nods stiffly, his cheeks flushing pink. “Izuku’s fine. It’s nice to meet you Mina, I've heard so much about you from Kacchan.”
He reaches his hand out to her and she takes it, before pulling him into a hug. Izuku looks over at Katsuki, who shrugs his shoulders knowing damn well that he’s going to get along with her just fine.
She pulls back. “I’m soo happy to have another omega in this house,” she groans out. “The smell of alpha was becoming unbearable.”
“Oi! I don’t fuckin stink!” Katsuki barks out, knowing damn well she forced him to take a long ass shower earlier.
Mina snickers covering her mouth with her hand, “Mhmm, sureee… Anyways, let me go get Ei. He should be in the barn right now!” She quickly leaves out the door before popping her head in again. “Oh, and it’s very nice to meet you too, Izuku.”
With that she takes her leave, Izuku and Katsuki standing in the kitchen alone.
“I’m gonna take your things upstairs—we have a guest room you can have,” Katsuki says, slinging the bag over his shoulder.
Izuku reaches out, grabbing Katsuki’s arm. “Uh… actually… can I-”
Katsuki turns to him, that same rosy hue on those freckled cheeks makes his head spin at how cute he looks.
“Can I stay with you? In…your room?” Izuku asks, turning his face away.
Oh.
Oh.
OH.
His brain short circuits for a moment, did he hear that right? Izuku wants to stay with him…in his room? Katsuki feels his face start to burn as it crawls up to the tips of his ears and down his chest.
It’s not like they haven’t shared a bed before but…this is different…
He clears his throat and takes Izuku’s hand in his before grunting out, “Come, let me show you to our room.”
Katsuki leads Izuku deeper into the home and up the stairs, passing a few doors before stopping at the end of that hall. He opens the door and for a moment Katsuki feels a bit embarrassed at how small his room is compared to Izuku’s old room.
It's about one third the size and his bed takes up a good chunk of it. There’s a wooden bedside table and a small desk in the corner where Katsuki divides up the coin they earn in the town. The other side of the room has two large bi-fold doors that he uses as a closet and storage space for his things. His window sits in the middle of the room overlooking the front of the farm and out toward the road.
“It’s not much, but it’s ours,” he says, placing Izuku’s bag down on the bed.
He looks up at Izuku, who’s mouth parted, emerald eyes taking everything in. He looks down, locking onto Katsuki’s eyes as a smile tugs on the corners of his lips.
“It’s perfect.”
Katsuki feels his heart swell with warmth. Leaning forward, he pulls Izuku closer and wraps his arms around his waist. He feels Izuku’s hands in his hair and the smallest purr escapes his throat.
‘He’s here,’ Katsuki thinks to himself. ‘Izuku’s here and thinks my room is perfect. Our room is perfect.’
“Kacchan, you’re purring,” Izuku whispers, massaging his scalp.
Katsuki buries his face deeper into Izuku’s stomach and lets out a sigh.
“Shut up,” he says softly, “Don't tell anyone or they’ll never let it go.”
Izuku chuckles, the warmth of it causing Katsuki’s chest to flutter. “I won’t. I don’t want anyone else to see this soft side of you.”
He hums, “Only for you, Izuku.”
Katsuki pulls Izuku onto his lap, nuzzling his face into his scent gland and letting out another soft purr. He hears Izuku purring, pulling him closer and nuzzling into Katsuki’s neck.
“I love you, Kacchan,” Izuku whispers.
Katsuki pulls away, rubbing his cheek against Izuku’s.
“I love you too, Izuku.”
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
Katsuki sighs, wiping the sweat from his brow and looking down at the baskets of apples.
“That should be enough to take into town tomorrow.”
Picking them up, he puts them on a wheel barrow and starts walking back to the house.
It’s been three months since he brought Izuku home. A lot has changed…
It was Izuku’s idea to have locals come out, and for a small entrance fee, they could help with the harvest and take a basket full of farm-fresh goods. It helped the harvest go smoothly and put more coins into their winter coffers.
Katsuki also hired additional help, two betas fresh out of school looking for work to fill their pockets with coins. They’re hard workers—a couple of idiots, but hardworking.
With the extra bodies, Katsuki has more free time on his hands to take breaks when he needs them. Kirishima stays in the fields, and he sends the two new guys into town to sell their goods.
Cheeks quit her job at the palace, making sure to pack up the rest of Izuku’s belongings and returning Katsuki’s ram to him. She comes by every so often, but for the most part, she works at the apothecary's shop.
Things with Izuku are going swimmingly. He helps Mina prepare food, clean up the house and works in his garden that Katsuki helped him set up. It’s a small patch of land as big as the garden in the palace.
Katsuki catches him out there everyday tending to it. He’s even got Mina getting her hands dirty and teaching her all about flowers.
There’s just one last promise he has to keep.
Katsuki walks up to the house, grabbing one of the smaller baskets of apples and bringing it with him. He kicks the door open, seeing Izuku and Mina washing dishes. Setting the basket of apples down, he walks over to them and wraps his arms around Izuku’s waist.
“Hey,” he whispers, pressing his lips to the fresh mating mark on Izuku’s neck.
Izuku chuckles, “Kacchan, what are you doing back so early?”
“Came to check on you,” he breathes out, placing another kiss on the mark, “I also harvested some apples for us.”
“Okay, gross,” Mina says in disgust, shutting the water off for the sink. “I’ll be in my room. Call me when you’re done, Izuku,” she says sweetly to him before giving Katsuki a disgruntled look.
“Yeah, get outta here!” Katsuki growls, “No one asked you to watch, Pinky!”
“I didn’t have to watch, my ears heard everything,” she shoots back before scurrying off.
Izuku chuckles before spinning around and facing Katsuki, “You hungry?”
He nods, “Just a bit.”
“I can fix something up for you, it’ll just take me a few minutes,” Izuku says, wiggling past Katsuki and opening the fridge.
Katsuki walks over and closes the fridge door, staring down at Izukus. Those bright emerald eyes shining up at him makes his stomach pool with warmth. He places his hand against Izuku’s soft freckled cheek and sees them start to flush.
“Actually, I had something else in mind,” he whispers, leaning into Izuku’s space.
“Oh,” Izuku breathes out, “Right now?” he asks, looking around.
Katsuki chuckles, gripping Izuku’s chin and forcing him to look up, “Yeah, been thinking about it all day.”
“O-OH!” Izuku whimpers, “I mean, if that’s what you want…”
Katsuki leans in and presses his lips to Izuku’s, the kiss sending lightning through his body. He feels Izuku’s arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer while Katsuki’s hands roam down to rest on his hips.
He pulls away and rests his forehead against Izuku’s, “I’m full.”
“Kacchan!” Izuku giggles, slapping his arm, “I thought you were talking about something else.”
Katsuki ruffles the top of his head, “Not when I’m fuckin working. I’m covered in dirt and sweat.”
Izuku bumps his hip and opens the fridge again, “Let me make you a snack at least.”
He nods and walks over to the table, making small talk with his omega on what else needs to be done today. Izuku serves him a plate of rice, grilled chicken and veggies. Katsuki’s mouth waters as he digs in, savoring each bite.
“Kaminari and Sero should be back soon, I should probably get Mina so we can prepare dinner in a bit,” Izuku says, taking a seat next to Katsuki and handing him a glass of water.
He mutters a thank you and takes a large gulp of the cool refreshing water, “Actually, I have to talk to you about something.”
Izuku leans his elbows on the table, “Is everything okay?” he asks, placing his hand over Katsuki’s.
He nods, “Yeah, everythings fine. I just-” Katsuki sighs, “Remember when we were in the palace and you told me about wanting to see the world?”
“Yeah, I remember. Why do you ask?” Izuku questions, those emerald eyes looking up at him.
Katsuki takes Izuku’s hand, rubbing his thumb over him, “Well, winter is coming up… and usually there’s not much work that can be done. I figured now that we have the extra help and it being our slow season… you would want to…see the world with me?”
Izuku lets out a gasp, tears filling his eyes as his hand grips tighter down on Katsuki’s, “Really? Are you—really? But—are you sure we can just leave the farm like this?”
Katsuki chuckles and places his other hand on top of Izuku’s, “The farm will be fine. There’s a few kingdoms we can visit that are only a few day’s trip. We would only be gone for a couple of months,” he says softly, “Besides, I trust Kirishima enough to hold down the fort.”
Fresh tears fall onto Izuku’s cheeks and Katsuki wipes them away, “We won’t be leaving now, but in two months' time,” Katsuki continues. “I wanted you to think about it—”
“I’ll go with you.” Izuku says immediately, no hesitation in his voice. “I wanna go and see the world with you, Kacchan.”
Katsuki feels his lips curl up into a smile and brings Izuku’s hand up to his lips, placing a small kiss on his knuckles. “I wanna see the world with you too, Izuku.” He says softly, tumbling at the small golden band on Izuku’s ring finger they got from the pouch his mother left him.
Katsuki still can’t believe how lucky he is to be mated and married to someone as kind and breathtaking as Izuku. To be able to see that bright shining smile everyday… for the rest of his life.
⟡ ݁ . ݁ . ݁˖ ݁ ⊹ ₊ .⟡. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁ ݁˖ . ݁ . ݁⟡
The next two months fly by, and by the time Katsuki blinks his eyes, it’s finally the first day of winter.
“You sure you packed everything?” Mina asks, looking over Katsuki’s shoulder.
He groans, frustration bubbling in his chest. “Yes, for the thousandth time, I got everything!”
“Ohhhh, you made him angry again, Mina,” Kaminari chuckles, leaning back on the couch.
“He’s always angry…” Sero mutters.
“I can still fucking hear you!” Katsuki growls, zipping up his bag, “If yah wanna harass someone, why don’t you bother Kirishima?”
“Because he doesn’t get as riled up as you,” Kaminari says, pushing his pointer fingers together.
“I’ll kill him…” He grunts out before feeling a familiar hand on his head.
“You got everything, Kacchan?” Izuku asks, setting his bag down.
Kaminari sighs, “Saved again by Izuku.”
Mina flicks Kaminari’s head before taking a seat next to him on the couch, “One day, Izuku’s gonna be sleeping and not be able to help you out.”
Sero chuckles, “She has a point—”
“You too, both of you behave. They’re gonna be gone for the next few months, you know what that means?” Mina asks, a sly grin on her lips.
“No work?”
“Party?”
“It means, you can help me clean the house everyday,” she says smugly.
They both groan in defeat, hanging their heads as if it’s the end of the world.
Kaminari rolls his eyes, “Man…I don’t wanna clean!”
Katsuki gets up, shooting both of the betas a look, “You’re gonna listen to Pinky and do whatever she says. If she says you’re cleaning the fuckin house, you better grab a mop, understand?”
Sero raises his hands in defense, “Yes, Boss.”
Kaminari sighs, “As long as I don’t have to clean any toilets.”
Mina smirks a Cheshire grin, “Oh, toilets? Thanks for volunteering, Kami!”
“My life is a circus, and I’m the clown…” he sighs in defeat.
Sero reaches over and pinches his nose, making a honking sound.
“Anyways, I told Ochako to come by when she can to help and so Mina doesn’t feel alone being the only omega here.” Izuku says, rubbing Katsuki’s arm.
“Thank you, Izuku,” Mina hums, getting up and giving Izuku a hug. “I know you love me,”
“Like hell he does!” Katsuki growls, pulling Izuku to his side and flashing his fangs. “Mine…” he whispers to his mate.
“Kacchan…” Izuku sighs.
“He’s mine! You got Kirishima!” Katsuki barks out.
Mina rolls her eyes, “Possessive…”
“What was that?!” He snaps back at her.
Mina sits back down on the couch, smiling sweetly, “Nothing, nothing at all.”
“That’s what I thought,” Katsuki huffs.
Kirishima walks through the door, “Hey, she’s all ready for you.”
Katsuki nods his head before picking up their bags and waving to his friends, “I’ll be back in a few months. Don’t burn the house down! I’m looking at you, Kaminari!”
“It was one time…” he mutters.
Izuku smiles at them, “Bye, everyone! I’ll make sure to bring something back for you.”
They all say their goodbyes as Katsuki and Izuku walk out the front door. Kirishima follows them and helps Katsuki place their bags into the riding tote that’s strapped onto the horse.
“You stay safe out there, Kats,” Kirishima says, holding his fist up to Katsuki.
He bumps his fist. Katsuki trusts Kirishima to keep everyone in line, he’s one of the first real friends he’s made and appreciates that he’s stayed with him for all these years. Without Kirishima, and even, Mina he wouldn’t be where he is now.
He sighs, “Make sure to keep them out of trouble, and protect the house while I’m gone.”
Kirishima nods, “You can count on me, Bro.”
“Thanks, Kirishima,” Katsuki says, seeing his friend’s eyes tear up, “Don’t fuckin’ cry… it’s not…manly.”
“R-right,” Kirishima sobs, wiping his eyes and flashes him a toothy grin.
Katsuki climbs up onto the horse and offers Izuku his hand, “Easy, Nerd,” he says softly and helps pull Izuku on behind him as Katsuki takes the reins.
He feels Izuku’s arms wrap around his waist, the smaller man’s face resting on Katsuki’s back.
“You ready?” Katsuki asks.
“Yeah,” Izuku says softly, squeezing his waist.
Katsuki nods to Kirishima one last time before he takes off down the dirt road. The wind whipping through his hair and Izuku’s arms squeezing him tighter.
“You okay, Izuku?” He asks.
He feels Izuku nod his head, “I’m fine, as long as I’m with you.”
Katsuki smiles to himself and places one hand against Izuku’s– he has to admit he’s a bit nervous heading off into the great unknown.
But as long as he has Izuku by his side, everything in his life feels complete.
.