justatypicalwizard

[justatypicalwizard]

Rules for requests.

1. No straightforward smut. I usually avoid it in my fics, resorting to allusions.

2. If I really don’t vibe with your ask (character or plot wise) I may not write it, but I will let you know.

[justatypicalwizard]

Weave your own web, my prince

BNHA royal au x reader ❥⋰ Another marital season bears down Katsuki's shoulders. His mother tortures him with a new guard - one that will follow each and every step the prince takes. Soon Katsuki decides, it's time to act on his responsibilities and decides his target will be the guard. Tons of royals flush the corridors of the Bakugo castle, among others Shoto - the Todoroki prince on the make. What will come out of their rivalry? Will Katsuki be able to break out of his mothers web of plans and schemes? Will he be able to claim what he desires or will it run through his fingers? ❥⋰ Reader is referred to as Cat. Word count: 16k ❥⋰ I just want to say I had so much fun writing this piece. I really tried to elevate my language and make something fun. I hope you find it entertaining!

Katsuki hated Spring with all of his heart. He loved the new life peeking out of every corner, he loved the birds that came from far lands with new stories to croak about, he loved the fresh air saturated with the scent of juicy grass and wildflowers. Katsuki hated Spring because Spring meant courting season, the awful marital hunt.

The young, and only, son of queen Mitsuki and king Masaru attained a position on the grand bachelor and maiden list as soon as his 15th Spring approached and has been on it since. Despite the weight of the crown bearing hard on the prince’s temples he refused to find a wife each and every year. The queen was on the verge of forcing someone on him. On March nights Mitsuki cursed at her son’s undeniable masculinity. It would be easier if he was a girl.

The martial aspect of Spring pricked at his side like a thorn but there were other nuisances. It was a time when not only did you have to stand up to your enemies, you also had to let them into your home. Trains of carriages and caravans climb up the steep hill road leading into the Bakugo lands. The castle swole with lace, silk, gossip and scheme. It was full of two-faced ministers, greedy lords, gasping matrons and pale princesses.

Katsuki wondered whether he preferred to travel abroad for courting or let that multitude inside his own stone and gem walls. At least the army was here, some units preparing as if for war. Units like his mothers personal guards.

Day and night, Summer or Winter these soldiers run at top speed, and at top secrecy. They were always in the corner, lingering to the queen like a shadow, flat and easy to miss. Katsuki was supposed to build his own unit such as this, pull it together, brick by brick from desperate, lonely and crazy, ones that would sacrifice their life in the name of loyalty and gratitude. Ones that would sparkle at his side like gems in his crown. Ones that would slice throats without even a blink at his single word. That was, of course, a massive exaggeration but the queen made sure to give him this lecture every time a new rumour could be heard about the assassin known as Denki flirting with a cook or when the archiver and historian girl Mina messed up a few very important dates in the chronicle of Katsuki’s life. At least Kirishima was reliable.

Katsuki stomped towards his mother’s writing room in her open-for-guests chambers. The guests took off and it was once more high time to try to persuade him. Names and oil paintings were hung up in the representative corridors leading to the ballroom. Small noses, corseted waists and absent eyes that gazed up into the sky peeking out through the grand windows. All of these seasons maidens presented like cattle on a Sunday village market. Soon bachelors would accompany the lonely girls on the other side of the hallway.

The angry boy slowed down, his boots finally giving the echo of the corridor a break. Slick black hair pulled into a tight ponytail. Diamonds scattering the crown of her head, packed onto a delicate silver web, signalling her worth but also painfully reminding of the lack of a real queens’ crown. At least it matched her eyes.

Yaoyorozu was one of the candidates for Katsuki. Despite her mathematical calmness and chin raised to touch the sky, she fumed every time she saw him. The Yaoyorozu family lacked a crow but swam in wealth. Their banks held and operated on the riches of the neighbourhood kingdom making them important players on the royal courts.

Lord Yaoyorozu tried his luck with the family of his own king but with poor results. Many princes adorned the king’s right hand but none of them would marry with someone of a lower status. At least that’s what they officially said. Next on the list was Katsuki who also refused to take Momo Yaoyorozu. The girl was beautiful, smart and wealthy, but it all meant nothing as her father’s ambitions were too high for her crystal-heel-clad feet.

Another portrait that stung Katsuki’s eyes was yet to be hung. He huffed, a short pathetic laugh. What an irony that the cheeky round face that poked through the messily scattered cloth lay beneath Momo. Someone should quickly gather this portrait or else whatever commoner left this will be punished for offence to a highborn.

Uraraka, a princess well known for Katsuki, smiled cheekily from the frame. Another candidate, this time a real princess. Such a pity her royal family had less funds than the Yaoyorozu. A pity for her, a blessing for Katsuki. She was being held as an option courtesy of friendship rather than position.

Leaving the lifeless faces Katsuki wondered which girl had it worse, which was scattered around more. The wealthy but unprivileged lady or the poor but accepted princess. One thing he knew, he would pick none of them.

Three knocks were enough to be welcomed by his mother. She seemed to be alone in the room. Bookshelves that once were mighty oaks bent under the weight of thousands of books, chronicles and registers. Rugs secured the stone floor giving the room a warmer touch, just as Mitsuki liked. Despite a rather early hour candle flames glistered and twitched around the desk, trapped in glass lanterns. Little daylight was allowed through the narrow windows, always leaving the room in a state of half-shadow.

Katsuki knew that in these elaborately planned out shadows figures lingered in defence of his mother. The prince felt the presence right now but he knew better than to comment on it. Those ears will hear everything but speak of nothing.

“So glad you made it that quick.” The queen turned slightly in her rich chair to face him. The old and well-used wood cracked slightly, though the quiet of the room made it seem like thunder.

“Stop tip-toeing around it and tell me what you have to, old hag.” Katsuki knew what this conversation would be about, he guessed what the bulky volumes in front of his mother were - genealogical trees of high families. It was the same every year.

“Fine. I command you to pick a wife this season. You know the old candidates but there are a few new ones worth taking a look at.” She proceeded to open the book but her son’s harsh voice left her only grazing the cover.

“You can command your little chess pieces of soldiers around, not me. I will not take any of these fake, trained pushovers.” His resistance was hardy.

“You know your responsibilities as a male, and only, heir to the throne. It gets more dangerous each year.” Always the same. Katsuki had enough of it.

“You and dad don’t look like you’re gonna drop dead any moment, which is a pity.” He snarled at his mother like a kid throwing a tantrum - which in fact he was. “I will secure the family line just-” The fierceness of his voice lost its momentum. “Just when I find the right person.”

Did he just admit to his mother that he believed in love? Did he believe in love? He thought about it every Spring, what was it that he was looking for. The princesses were obviously not a match for him because they were all a lifeless mass of similar faces, similar gowns, similar smiles. They were taught to be interested in you, to abide by every need and want, to not ask questions but at the same time to demand the best, tastiest, wealthiest and most luxurious. Katsuki did not wish to play this game. Was he really looking for someone who will make his heart skip a beat? Might as well try.

“Anything else?” He walked around the room grabbing objects and examining them, anything to look away from the disappointed mother in the centre. She sighed.

“Yes. Because of the situation at Todoroki’s I decided to have two of my personal guards watching over you. They have a schedule and will follow your steps for the next months, as long as this farce will take.” Now this, this was new.

Mother was letting two of her dogs off leash. Both excited and annoyed, Katsuki gave her a questioning look. He moved towards her desk, and pushing his abdomen hard into the edge he looked down on his mother. Or so he thought.

“Don’t try to order them around, they already know what to do and they will not abide by a single need of yours.” Though sitting lower she was still looming over him, her shadow longer than his, extended by two additional people.

Finally, he got why she decided such a thing. It was not to keep him safe, it was to make him miserable, push him to his limit and make him succumb to her wants. Who knows what these people will do or how much they will foist themselves on him. Katsuki felt a hand creep up on his throat and ball into a vice grip, suffocating him. He also knew that he will peel those fingers off one by one.

“Meet your daytime guard. Then leave.” Mitsuki gestured to a woman who grew out of the shadow behind her chair.

Katsuki looked the intruder in the eye and let out a short huff, turning on his heel and leaving the writing room in a sour mood.

A few mornings and evenings later Katsuki figured out a bit more about the strange duo following him around. The woman was there during the day while the bulky man with dark wavy hair and a scar on his face guarded his person at nightime. They changed in the evening and morning without much talk.

Those past days the young prince tried to ignore the presence but it became overwhelming, always hearing additional steps behind you. This and the preparation for hosting the ass clapping festival as Katsuki liked to title it.

The castle changed into a busy anthill with servants-ants running back and forth, carrying anything from bouquets to wooden tables all around the place. The prince was needed here and there for very important business such as fitting fancy costumes, giving his opinion on a flower arrangement or signing fifty greeting letters that will be left on the nightstands of the guests’ beds. In simple words, Katsuki had enough.

“Your highness, you are needed in the fitting room.” Shall the white, laced blouses be damned.

Maids jumped around his partially undressed form as they tried to baste a rich red robe around his torso. The loose scraps of material and pins scratched at his skin leaving red marks and giving Katsuki a scowl. The air in the room was stiff and seemed to lack oxygen. The blonde was getting dizzy with all the heavy perfume and powder dancing around in the light of the candles.

“Give me more pins, I need to tighten it here.” One of the seamstresses squeaked.

“Take them yourself, I can’t move right now.” The other one argued

His head slumped down and a deep sigh escaped his lips. How much longer will this take?

“Excuse me. The prince is needed for his evening duties.” A new voice made an interruption.

“We were promised the price will be available today. This fitting was due for a few days.” One of the working women bickered while resting hands on her hips.

“Well, your time has passed.”

The half finished robe was pulled down Katsuki’s arms and shoved into a terrified maid's hands. The prince felt a small hand on the back of his arm. The fingers were so tiny, yet they quickly clasped down in a vice grip, pulling him out of the stuffy fitting room and out into the cold corridor.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do now?” He did not even mind who forced him outside. The preparations, the long days of doing absolute shit, the constant feeling of being watched even in his sleep, Katsuki was too fed up to care.

“Nothing. Or maybe a walk outside would be refreshing if you ask me.”

The prince finally looked up at his companion. It was no one other than the guard woman following him around. She was propped up the corridor wall, arms crossed on her chest, looking out of the window on the ground below.

“Is there something wrong, your highness? Do you wish to go back to the fitting room? You looked rather displeased there and the seamstresses did take their time, didn’t they?” The girl asked with a raised brow.

“Did you really just pull me out of there and lie to them?”

“Are you unhappy with that?”

“Not even a bit. Let’s go outside.”

The evening breeze was refreshing, like a cold shower after a good workout. Katsuki and the guard strolled the park outside of the castle. It was a maze of high hedges, fancy bushes and ponds. The long path led to the grand lake far at the back. The further they got from the castle, the easier it was to mistake the small lights in the windows with stars in the sky. It was peaceful here, sleepy.

“If you wish to know, the name is Cat, my prince.” The guard, Cat, opened her mouth without warning, breaking the melodic tune of night critters.

“Cat is your real name?” He questioned with a brow raised over a scowl. His companion only laughed softly, speaking up no more. Of course it isn’t her name. Of course he would never learn it.

Moonlight shone down on the rich overseas rug giving the warm colours a cold tune. Gold thread twisted and turned forming seemingly endless patterns. Katsuki also twisted in his fur bed sheets, unable to fall asleep. Sweat clung to his overheated body like a second skin. He has to ask for summer sheets, thin like his patience with the restless night.

Pouring himself a goblet of lukewarm water he cursed, exhaustion weighing his shoulders down. Nonetheless, he slipped a soft cotton shirt over his head, pulled on the trousers he left forgotten in the corner and took off in search of some peace in the sleeping castle. The nightguard stalking his every step.

Not finding any relief in his own chambers, Katsuki turned his steps towards his mother’s private rooms and squares. The crushing difference between what was Katsuki’s and what Mitsuki owned was a demonstration of power. Everywhere she could, the queen reminded her son that he was her property. Everywhere he was able to, Katsuki pushed back.

Right now his strategy for enraging the woman was strolling through her chambers at times he shouldn’t. He should be asleep, redying himself for a day packed to the brim with responsibilities. Instead, he opted for passing the scarce guards in silence, looking for a place that would put his nerves at ease.

Far off in the quiet wing of the castle he fished out a familiar figure.

“The fuck you doing there, sneaking around?” He calls out, his voice too loud, cutting through the quiet night like thunder.

There’s a shuffle and Cat turns around to face him fully just as Katsuki enters the square. The smell of flowers is heavy in the air, the queen’s private fruit garden oversaturated with the sweetness of spring life. Katsuki thinks, just for a second, that there’s a glimmer of panic in the guards eye, but her usual polite-jaded expression overtakes her face instantly.

“I am enjoying free time, my prince.” She bows slightly upon his arrival.

“Free time.” The blonde weighs the word on his tongue like a caramel drop. “Sounds exotic.”

“Is there anything you need, my prince?” No response, just blind civility. Noone in this castle, in this world, talked with Katsuki. They obeyed, listened and answered by not one person ever held a conversation with him. Maybe not counting the deliberately selected group of idiots that he called his party. But they are gone now, always seemingly busy during spring. The queen just wanted them away from him, so as not to give him any ideas. Friends were forbidden for a prince.

I need you to shut the fuck up and stop rubbing your free-will into my face. He wanted to shout but the memory of the fitting room, how she freed him of the constricting hands of seamstresses brought Katsuki to a halt. She had more freedom than him, she could do as she pleased when her duty hours were off. Maybe he could use it.

“I need you to speak to me as equals.” He stated, taking a step closer, entering the moonlight square.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, my prince.”

“I don’t want you to suddenly call me by my name, I just want - just talk to me for fuck’s sake.” This is embarrassing. Katsuki cursed the moon’s silver dick for shining so finely today. The pink tinting his cheeks must have been in plain sight. Something shifted in Cat’s expression, relaxation passed over her features, mingling with the usual disinterest.

“Fine.” Her steps were silent as she proceeded to a bench carved out in marble. “I’m listening then.”

“I promise this will stay between us.” The prince dropped down bluntly next to her, swinging his arm over the cool backrest of the uncomfortable bench, his other playing with the loose strings of his cotton shirt, untied, letting his chest breathe fresh night air.

“There is no such thing as a promise here, on court.”

His head whipped her way only to be met with a small smirk. So the woman could speak her mind when she wanted to.

A rich, plump flower sat next to Cat’s head. More of them scattered around the bush leaning on the marble. The one that seemed to nearly graze her cheek was big and flashy, oozing with juices that threatened to spill if you touched it ever so slightly. Katsuki found it repulsive, his mind suddenly drifting off to the thought of wetness.

He looked back, straight ahead to free himself from the shameless flower. His mother tortured him with bees and flower analogies, how he would have to find his flower someday to bear a fruit. It was one of these bushes she made him observe to understand his duty.

Katsuki shook off the nasty feeling.

“So, what do you usually do in your free time?”

“I sleep.”

From the corner of his eye the blonde followed Cat’s movement. She was interested in the flower, poking at it only to get her fingers sticky. Her displeased expression amused him.

“You’re not sleeping now.”

“That’s true.” She stood up and wandered the little maze of flowerbeds and dwarfed trees to find the fountain in the centre. Katsuki following her steps.

A figure appeared in the shadow, leaning on a pillar, watching his every move. The beast of a man, his night time guard, too loud for his own good. A string of curses left Katsuki’s lips. He wasn’t allowed any privacy.

“Cat.” She focused on him, shaking her palm, droplets of water flying in the air. “Switch with the other guy for the night. I want you to guard me.”

It took her a few blinks to think through his order. “And what would I have from it? I would have to be up all night.”

“The next day off. He will take your shift.” The blonde shrugged, as if it was nothing, a mere proposition of business partners too wealthy to mind a single thing. “Besides, if you really care about your rest you would be sleeping right now.” A chuckle left Cat’s lips and Katsuki felt like smiling himself. He did not succumb to the temptation.

“Well, I could use a day off. Have business to take care of.” She came closer and the prince once again thought about the flower. “Did you hear Hound? What do you think about it?”

Hound, the man with messy hair and a messy beard, messy uniform and a crystal clear, sharp look to his eyes stepped onto the square. To Katsuki, he seemed to utterly despise his position, impatience and anger dripping from his face.

“Fine by me.”

“Goodnight then.” Hound huffed at the politeness, turning his back to Katsuki after a short and forced bow, disappearing into the darkness.

“Don’t mind him, my prince, he doesn’t like anyone beside the queen.” Despite Hound’s posture the queen was the real beast here, making a person so blindly loyal.

At once Katsuki felt at ease, alone. He looked up into the sky speckled with stars so very prominent in the moon’s silvery hue. His body felt dry, the sweat of his restless tossing evaporated into the quiet night. He felt fresh and lulled, as if he could fall asleep on the uncomfortable marble bench, his guard sitting on the other side, gazing at the obnoxious flower. He would feel like a still life that hung in the dining room, unmoving and eternal. His life would be still for once, peaceful and silent.

All of it a dream that would never come true.

“What business do you have for tomorrow?” He asked as he sat on the flat surface of the fountain. Every time the light breeze flew by it scooped loose droplets from the fountain, lifting them into the air, letting them dance in the moonlight. It was one of Katsuki’s favourite places to sit as a child, the drops of water hitting his back on hot summer days.

“If I can speak to you as equal for the time being then my business is none of yours, my prince.” Harsh, he thought. He didn’t mind.

“Keep your secrets then.” He scoffed, letting one of his hands dip into the water. It was cool and for a second Katsuki craved nothing more but to tear off his clothes and sink, letting his ears fill up, muffling the sounds of the unbearable world around him. But instead he said. “Just wait until you ask me for something.”

“I would never.” Annoyance forced a scrunch on the bridge of his nose, his pretty face going all ugly. Why didn’t she want to lean on him? He was her ruler. “I would never put more burden on your shoulders, my prince.”

My prince, he was hers but she was not his. She didn’t abide by his needs because she was told to refuse. She was a soldier, a sword in his mothers long-reaching hands that would never be held by him. Her presence reminded Katsuki that he is watched, controlled. Her sharp edge was just underneath his neck, forcing him to hold his chin high, like a prince, and to always look forward, like a future king.

“Why do you have more freedom than I do, huh?” The ugliness never left his face.

“Because I'm nobody.”

“You don’t seem sad about being nobody.”

“Because I’m not.”

Anger bubbled in Katsuki’s veins, promising a night robbed of sleep, one spent twirling in his sheets, gritting his teeth together. Why was this lowborn, this nobody so very free. Why was a capitan, a special guard whose whole existence was dedicated to one painfully narrow task so full of life, so nonchalant. Why did she get to take deep breaths while he was bound to huffs and silent screams. She would never be genuine with him, she did not hold the conversation, she did not answer the questions. She did not talk to him like he wanted, needed. This was a mistake, no longer did he care if it was Hound or Cat at his door tonight. He returned to square one. 

Without another word, Katsuki stood up and left for his chambers. This time the steps following him were silent. The exotic flower leaked its juice onto the marble bench, the sweet stickiness running down to pool at the stone path. It cried silently.

Salty water kissed the shore, although it was running away. The sea wanted to override from the adorned tents and sparkish servants littering the beach. Katsuki’s brows were arched in a nasty frown as he gazed into the endless green and blue and foam, sympathising with it. He would also rather be somewhere else.

While in the castle, the whole party seemed quite peaceful, reserved, safe for a few shallow friendships that were now being brought back to life. The closer they got to the shore, the louder the multitude got. Further away from hawk-like eyes of chaperones and scrutinising queens, the youthful spirit flourished.

Looking to the right Katsuki fished out Ochaco’s round face. She was seemingly discussing some matter with a well known klutz. Oh, how Katsuki despised Midoriya. As much as Ochaco’s dusty wardrobe reminded of her rather pitiful standing in regards to wealth, Midoriya was the embodiment of her kingdom’s woes. The greenish boy was a historian, respected astronomer, mathematician was he also? Katsuki was not interested in what he was seemingly good at. His wandering eyes, never bold enough to look anyone in the face, shaking hands that drop anything they hold, stuttering voice that can’t produce one legible sentence. All that Midoriya was Katsuki hated. If not for the fact that Ochaco’s outright crush on her kingdom’s scholar kept her far from him, maybe he would even mock them.

“If you consider princess Ochaco a valuable cover for your marital affairs, my prince, I’d suggest you tell her not to touch her dear servant’s hand that often.” Capitan cat did not budge a muscle, gazing straight into the sea.

“Half of these people already know. They don’t mind ‘cause she’s not a real player anyway.” Katsuki answered, also keeping his gaze steady. He felt as if they were two predators, wild cats still in tall grass, awaiting prey on the horizon.

At the back of the tent Yaoyorozu burned holes in the back of Katsuki’s head. She sat straight like a stick. No need to hold that head up so high, no one's gonna put a crown on it either way. After a few nasty fights Katsuki knew better than to start with the queen-wannabe. It was enough that he called her princess in front of everyone.

To Momo’s right, drinking the same tea from a finely painted porcelain, sat Jiro. Katsuki pitied the dark haired girl. If not for being Momo’s personal maid, she would be a nice companion. Unfortunately, she had to listen to her lady’s venomous whispering, while also sending Katsuki glances, hers apologetic.

“The Yaoyorozu ladies must have received your letter, my prince.” Cat stated disinterested.

“Glad to hear that.” Katsuki made sure to welcome Momo with a letter clarifying that she is not on his personal list of candidates. This way he saved both of them unnecessary troubles.

Wind blew salt from over the sea, slapping the blonde’s pale cheeks. A gasp and commotion could be heard at the back of the party. A maid of honour slipped on a lace and fell face-flat onto the sand. Despite no harm caused she needed fanning, a chair and at least three people ensuring her safety.

At that moment Katsuki agreed with his mother. This didn’t happen a lot but as he looked his companion up and down he did admit, through gritted teeth, that his mother at least had taste. Cat was dressed in black. Her boots reached her lower thigh, she must have at least a few knives up there. Simple trousers with horse ride edging in the inside on her legs. A jacket, not too official, nothing that would catch unwanted attention. Under the fine, black material a white sheer blouse peaked out.

Katsuki caught her gaze, she was looking at him from the corner of her vigilant eye.

“Is everything alright, my prince.” Her stance was fine, elegant even, with knees together, head high and hands behind a straight back. She did not look like she sported a stick in her butt like Momo, but rather, like she was born to look down on others, despite being shorter than him.

Suddenly, Katsuki wanted to see her in that white blouse. The delicate material would surely dance in the breeze, as if someone draped bed sheets over a statue. Would she look less sharp without the black jacket widening her shoulders.

“Aren’t you hot in that?” It was indeed a hot, spring day.

“I am.” Cat answered with a lazy blink.

“Then take it off, the jacket.”

And she did, and Katsuki, for a moment, felt as excited, as if she was stripping naked in front of him. He was wrong and right. The material was indeed soft and loose around her, dancing in the light breeze, catching salt to scrub out later. Yet, she did not look even a slight bit softer. Her strange pupils were still in the corner of her eyes.

“Thank you, my prince, this does feel better.”

In comparison to all of the clownish servants and maids behind her back, Cat looked like an empress inspecting the sea as if it washed the shore only for her.

“Oh, Captain!” Giggles erupted behind Katsuki and the corner of his red eyes caught an intruder.

In between colourful dresses another gem in the Todoroki’s crown entertained the maids with cheap tricks. Their restless feet tiptoed to see him better. They couldn’t decide whether to look at his handsome face or glamorous crimson wings. The hybrid, the mutant, the eyes and ears of Todoroki, Capitan Hawks. Katsuki wondered how many of those drooling maids with hungry eyes knew what the man really did for a living. Behind the adorned misfit a shadow of a man, a certain Shinso.

“I’ve never seen this… maid with you before.” If not for the proximity of the man, his voice would die out in the salty wind. The Todoroki prince grew out of thin air in front of Katsuki.

Of course Shoto wouldn’t bother with a greeting, how could the ethereal prince mind something as mundane. Right now the blonde didn’t know whether he’d rather look at Hawk’s stupid tricks or at Shoto’s stoic face. Neither, if he could choose. Those two rarely came in pairs.

“Cat’s not a maid, she’s a guard.” Although he would rather sit quietly through the fact that for the last weeks he moved around with a babysitter, Katsuki felt that his captain’s rank should be highlighted in front of the Todoroki prince. If he had to move around with a her he’d at least show her off, make it seem as if she was a precious and deadly decoration, a blade fastened to his hip.

“Oh yes, my brother’s emerging a few months ago has everyone alert.” Shoto sighed as if he was talking about an unfavourable score in a knight tournament, not about a serial killer stalking the highbourns. A serial killer who came from his own royal family. “Nothing I can do about it right now.” The half and half prince looked into the sea.

You could evaporate from the world and that would surely make that psycho of a brother happy. Katsuki thought but couldn’t really say anything, shouldn’t. Talking about the missing brother in broad daylight was taboo. Cat also seemed to know that.

“Beautiful day for some recreation on the beach, your highness.” Her strange pupils, now more round and relaxed, locked on Shoto. “Are you feeling well, is there anything you would fancy?” Suddenly, Katsuki felt as if Cat was a bit too hospitable.

“Hm, I do maybe feel a little bit bored.” If that was true, Shoto’s plain face hid all of his emotions.

“Is there anything we can do to change that, your highness?” We? Of course, Katsuki should be the one asking that and walking around entertaining the guests. “Maybe a horse ride?” The stoic prince perked up for a moment, nodding his head lightly. “Very well, I will send for steed.”

Soon three sizable horses were brought over, stablemen with bowed heads passing the reins into royal hands. Before they took off Shoto gestured for his captain to come over. Nestled in the saddle, he spoke in a disinterested tone. “We’re going off for a ride, I will be in the Bakugo captain’s care.”

“Do you wish for me to fly over you, your highness?” Katsuki swore he heard a few gasps upon the word fly. It was not an everyday view to see the captain use his wings for something else than showing off. Katsuki was certain the blonde mutant was a creature of the night.

“No need Hawks.” Without another word Shoto dug the heels of his boots into the horse’s side.

It wasn’t long before Katsuki felt left out. He rode slowly behind his two companions, comparing their stances and words. They both seemed rather stiff. Cat’s hips swayed with the horse’s movement, similar to his, but her shoulders were tense, hands gripping the rein with a strange focus to it. Shoto looked like he mounted a horse for the first time. Sure, he kept in the saddle but his body lacked the natural movement. Katsuki was sure his ass would hurt in the evening.

Despite their weird riding, the two managed to uphold a shallow conversation. The blonde deemed the words that left their mouth absolute rubbish, but at the same time he couldn’t find a moment to butt in. Cat and Shoto created an awkward but sturdy combination.

“I find it a day too beautiful to talk about my work.” Cat’s voice was soft, as if she was talking to a child.

“You simply can’t talk about it.” Shoto learned no new boundaries since they saw each other last time, still speaking whatever came to his mind.

“I’m content you understand, your highness.” There was no sense for Katsuki to feel threatened by Shoto’s shallow discovery. Everyone on the court had their secrets and no person yielding a sword was without sins. Every guard, especially the one designated to a prince, was there for a reason no ears should ever catch. The same went for Hawks, who was left far behind in the avalanche of satin and lace, Katsuki knew the man did some shady business but what kind exactly, no clue.

“But the day indeed is beautiful.” Shoto was a poor rider and the fact was painfully visible. The Todoroki prince wasn’t looking ahead of him and if not for the slow pace of their ride, he would surely divert off the route. His eyes were locked on Cat who guided the small group.

Katsuki wanted her to put on the coat once again and shield her chest chiselled in stone. The white blouse, swept by the wind, seemed too vague, to see-through for her. Shoto was looking at his mighty guard and she presented herself in a blouse suitable for a lady in distress, who wandered off too far in her nightgown. Cat’s high-waisted trousers hugged her form accentuating the movement of her hips and Shoto was looking.

“Yes, the weather is warm, very warm in fact.” The prince breathed out and let the rein loose. His horse started to turn the moment it felt a lack of a humans’ hand but Cat was quick to bend down and put it in its track.

“Your highness, you shouldn’t let it loose. The Bakugo horses are known for being feisty.” She scolded him softly.

“Oh, sorry, I just got a bit hot.” Shoto answered, no emotions lacing his tone, as he shrugged off his rich coat. How can he feel at ease after just being scolded by a guard. He tucked the garment around his saddle and kept on with his poor ride, taking back the rein from Cat. Now, both of them were only in white, cotton blouses and Katsuki felt it was too intimate for his liking. Kicking his horse, he jammed between the two.

“I was fucking bored back at the picnic but now it’s even worse.” The blonde brute eyed Shoto who looked back at him with a slightly shocked expression. The fuck you staring at.

“What would make you feel better, my prince?” Cat still looked ahead of herself, disregarding the disruption to her conversation.

“Some action.” He grunted in response. “Like a race.”

Oh, how his blood started to rush in his veins at the thought of challenging his guard. What if he could make her sweat and gasp? Would she fight for her breath, biting her lips while trying to win? Was she even competitive?

“To the southern beach gate.” Katsuki grinned, snaring her into a battle. He also wished to get rid of Shoto, leaving him behind in his poor attempts to catch up.

“Okay.” Cat answered, looking at him from the corner of her eye, unfazed.

Digging his heels hard into the horse’s sides the blonde rushed forward, forcing a canter. He lay low, nearly hugging the massive neck of his steed, gripping the rein hard enough to leave marks on his palms. The horse cut through the sweeping shore line, water splashing from under its hooves. Without looking behind, Katsuki pulled the rein, forcing the animal to turn, guiding it towards a more grassy ground. As soon as his steed felt soil instead of sand it rushed forward with confidence, making Katsuki’s golden hair dishelve in the wind.

The prince reached the gate in master time. He raced the beach since he was six or seven. Gasping, he turned the horse around, combing his now unkempt hair back with his hand. Neither Cat nor Shoto showed up from behind the tall cliffs that hugged the beach from one side. Katsuki relaxed in the saddle, unclipping his own coat and taking it off to feel the breeze hit his softly clothed skin. The prince couldn’t wait to see the look of defeat on Cat’s face.

Soon the two figures turned and came in view, but despite starting with two horses they only came back with one. They neared him and Katsuki felt as if he lost, despite winning the short race. Shoto sat behind his captain, due to the slow pace at the finishing line he wasn’t hugging her tightly, rather his hands sat loosely in her tights. He was flushed tightly against her back, the saddle too small for two people to feel comfortable. As Cat guided the horse close to him, she made it stand side-to-side so that they all could look at each other. Katsuki had a perfect view of how Shoto’s crotch pushed into Cat’s butt, the saddle still too small despite Katsuki’s displeased look.

“Congratulations, my prince, you won.” Cat said without a hint of discomfort.

“Why the fuck are you on one horse? This idiot has his own.” The blonde spoke but his gaze was locked onto where their bodies connected.

“It would be an utmost disrespect of my if I left prince Todoroki alone, my highness, as price Todoroki cannot race.” Katsuki felt a dissonance. With the delicate highborn strapped onto her back, she looked like Todoroki's guard rather than Bakugo’s and such sharing did not fit into his mind. Now, the blonde wished for Hawks who could assist his damned useless prince, to set his Cat free. “The third horse should follow us.” But of course, the damn thing didn’t.

After a while they decided to head back, Cat and Shoto even closer than before. Katsuki didn’t know if he preferred to ride behind them to keep watch over Shoto’s hands or rather in front to save himself the sight of their phantom hugging. As soon as they wandered back to the multitude, which didn’t ignore Shoto’s position, Katsuki jumped off the horse shooting the two a hateful glare. Cat slid off of the horse first and lent a hand to Shoto who gracefully accepted it. They looked like a lady and knight but reversed. The blonde scoffed and threw Cat’s jacket into her hands after grabbing it from her saddle. He draped his coat back over his shoulders and his captain followed, without a word.

“My prince.” Hawks seemed to catch interest in the strange situation. Shoto stood there, between the massive horses in his cotton undershirt only, like a lost child. Of course he forgot his coat as it stayed on the steed that wandered off. “What happened?”

“We raced.” The half and half answered his concerned guard. “Cat offered to take me on her horse to ensure my safety.” He began picking at the hem of his sleeves, as if only now realising his attire.

“Captain.” Hawks bowed his head slightly to Cat in a silent ‘thank you’ which she seemed to ignore. “Did you like it, my prince?”

Shoto looked up slightly. The sky reflected in one of his eyes. “No.” He breathed out after a second of silence.

“Gather yourself, we’re heading inside.” Katsuki scoffed having heard enough of this nonsense. Few heads turned his way, displeased frowns springing on their faces.

He felt immense anger burning in his inside and bubbling up in his veins. The blonde was helpless despite his raging. Nothing he did, no action he undertook today went out as planned. Everywhere he went, the captain’s attitude reminded him that he did not rule over her, every move she made screamed of his mother’s doing. She was perfect in every ounce. Steady, royal and polite. Reserved but at the same time sweet and somehow caring for the ones she had to be, to the tip of her fingers that grazed Shoto’s as he slid off of the horse. Katsuki had enough of this court coded, pompous bullshit. Cat still had plenty of hours of her duty, following his steps wherever he went, entering every room he went into in spite of his curses. So he will head back into the castle, back into his chambers. He will close the door behind them and show her that even though she is under his mothers rule, he will be the one holding her lead. She is stuck with him just as much as he is stuck with her and he will prove to her that there is not one person in this kingdom that doesn’t do as he pleases.

One thing that day went as he planned so far as tiny raindrops fell from the sky bringing the picnic to an end.

“I want you to guard me tonight.”

“As you wish, my prince.”

Katsuki’s attitude was visible in plain sight, his boot clad feet stomping angrily on the paved floor of the castle grounds. A pair of silent steps following his every turn. The rain was hammering down by the time the whole multitude reached safety under a roof and it swept up the dust in corridors, barging in through arched doorways. As he passed down his mother’s fruit garden, Katsuki spotted the obnoxiously rich flowers being tossed around, their soft and fleshy petals torn off clean, revealing a juicy weeping core.

Serves them right, die. He thought as a chill crept up his spine. The flowers and bees will haunt him till the end of his days.

Laundry girls and guards jumped off of his route, as the angry prince stormed through corridors. Just a second longer, a few passageways and he will be safe and sound in his chambers, by the fireplace devouring on its warmth. And then… then what?

“Stop right there, brat.” A voice, harsh like the upcoming thunder, made him halt. Not her, not at this moment! “In, now.” She looked down on him, a frown passing through her features, a hand rich in golden rings holding the door open for him. “Alone.” She spat, looking at the guard behind his back.

With a heart full of hate and stomach bursting with anger Katsuki entered one of the endless rooms of the queen’s. Half-shadow seemed to stick to her butt, the places she spent her time in never lit properly. Was it her preference, safety precautions, or was it simply her ruthlessness oozing out, never letting her taste brightness.

Rulers pay high prices for their power. She used to say, Katsuki barely old enough to reach her knee, as he gripped the silky fabric of her dress, the two of them strolling through parks.

Did it backlash, mother? All the years you spent moulding me in the shape you wanted hitting you back with twice the strength. Katsuki will never be the same as her, he will not let her rule over this kingdom, through his hands, after she closes her eyes for the last time.

“What is it this time, you old hag?” The prince didn’t even bother stepping inside the room, opting for standing in the doorway, his back pressing into the oak.

“I’ve heard you’re overusing one of the guards.” So she took an interest in his little nightly escapades with Cat. Look how caring she could be when it came to her own pawns, merely the second night and she already went into action. “I don’t care how many kitchen girls, maids of honour of even stable boys you fuck, but listen to me carefully here.” The queen’s accusation finger darted his way. “Don’t you dare touch that guard, she has her own duties to fulfil.”

A few painfully long seconds passed by as Katsuki mulled over her words. He had no such intentions in the first place. Sure, a foggy image of putting the stubborn and nonchalant capitan in her place played on repeat in his brain, but he never even thought it through. There was no plan, no certainty in his actions, just plain and primal instincts telling him to assess his superiority. God, did her lessons get to me finally?

And then it clicked. What better place for the one who held her chin so high, the one who shone like a finely polished blade in his mother’s secret box of knives, the one that treated him with so little respect, what better place than under him? Your own games will eat you up, mother. He thought, as a grin crept up his poorly lit face. Once again he reached for the scarce reserves of self-discipline and fought off the smile.

“If you’re really interested in my bedding so much then remember this: I’m not a whore.” He spat, turning to grab the handle, nearly shaking with excitement.

“She’s to be conferred a title of nobility. Don’t you dare destroy it!” But he was no longer listening, the heavy doors swinging open to reveal the disinterested capitan.

Mitsuki was left in silence and darkness, free to contemplate and place the conversation deep within her web. He may not listen, that idiot, but she surely will. Out of all, this outcome was one she didn’t think about earlier, but all is not lost. An easy way out of this mess popped up in her head and let her back rest deep within the cushions of her seating. If he does something stupid, she strikes. If he reflects on his actions and takes the right path, she may see it as a small parenting victory. Plans inside plan, Katsuki. You still know so little.

Inside his chambers, Katsuki sat in front of the fireplace. Patting the place next to his, he gestured for Cat to sit. With curiosity written all over her face, she entered the dimly lit room and sat, legs crossed.

“Speak with me, Cat.” He said, no doubt she knew what he wanted. In the fruit garden, Katsuki felt the need to have her be true to him. Now, it was only a game. He didn’t care whether she was forcing, lying or spitting facts about herself, all he needed was for her to feel safe. Could he fool her, lure her like a moth to light, or will he just have to take her by force?

He slowly got why they called her Cat. The captain was agile and quick, silent and with a certain liquid-like laziness to her. Cats’ had claws, sure, but they would not stand a chance in front of a lion.

“So, you’re gonna become a nobility? How generous of my mother.” The blonde nearly laughed. So very generous to me.

“My task requires me to attain that title, yes.” She was looking around the room, from the fur draped bed in the far back, through the windows now obliterated with heavy covers, to the fireplace that cast a warm hue on her features.

“If I was you, I’d rather stay a nobody.” A slight scrunch to her nose and Katsuki knew she wanted to say something but her lips remained a straight line. “Not spilling your secrets, huh?”

“You’re not spilling yours, my prince.” Her turn of tables was sudden, she seemed a master at guiding a conversation away from herself.

“What secrets do I have? There is no such thing as privacy for a prince.” His eyes wandered to her crossed legs, just for a second, not to draw unwanted attention from the vigilant, strange eyes. Will she fight? Will she tear her claws into his back or will she succumb, like a cute little kitten?

“Everyone has secrets.”

“And my mother has the most.”

Cat let out a small, genuine laugh. It was like a warm breeze from over the beach on a spring day that you don’t expect, one that has you thinking about the beauty of summer, glistering water and hot days. One that puts a smile on your face. For a second Katsuki thought that making her hate him could hurt. But then, she rested her hands on the floor behind her, her chest stretching, the adorned buttons reflecting the light of the fireplace, the crest of his royal family. His thought was gone, like a single strand of silk that snaps. It was replaced with the need to tear those buttons, one by one, showing her how deep in his ass he had her duty.

“When will you get the title?”

“In a month.” Her eyes never really landed on him since she entered the room.

“So simultaneously with the first engagements.” He stated, matter-of-factly.

There was a shuffle and one of the covers moved as if a strong wind smacked the side of the castle. In an instant Cat went from relaxed and lazy to high alert. It made Katsuki second guess his strength over her.

“Stay put, my prince, I will check this.” With a knife steady in her hand, the captain crept up to the window, her steps silent as ever. After peaking out her head slowly she let her shoulders slump back. “It’s just a fat owl.”

Cat took her place back beside him, hiding the knife away. Just how many did she hold?

“Speaking of engagements.” Something shifted in the way she was looking at him, from under her lashes, her pupils strangely small. Suddenly, Katsuki felt like a prey. “How is your wife hunt going?”

So he wasn’t the only one titling the whole farce a hunt. Nonetheless, the question took him off guard and the blonde promised himself to punish her for each and every time she’d done that so far.

“Like each year. I’m sending hateful letters and pretending not to see Ochaco’s tries to get pregnant with that useless scholar of hers.” He had to take it slow, getting closer inch by inch.

Cat hummed in response, seemingly falling in deep thought. Turning, she lay down, her cheeks facing the fireplace to catch more of the delicious warmth. “Your mother seems to be displeased with your doings, my prince.”

“Nothing I do ever pleases her.” He scoffed, drinking in her vulnerable position, with hands under her head, one leg propped up.

“That’s because you’re acting like a pawn, not like a player.” The punishment of hers will be severe. “Instead of breaking her rules, challenge them. Make your own plans and put them into action, let them collide with hers to see who can weave a better web.” Cat looked him straight in the eye and what Katsuki saw was some kind of amusement, as if the woman was a spectator in a theatre, watching the play unfold before her.

Once again Katsuki felt like he realised something too late.

“Do you want to be a nobility?” He asked, his voice shaky with excitement and unease.

“I’ve already told you, I was fine as a nobody but my task requires me to be elevated.” Her voice was utterly disinterested, as if she was talking about someone else.

She was forced into things just as much as he was. She was a pawn and how could she not be exasperated with his doings. He was indeed acting like the little chess piece in his mothers arms, able to move only one square each side on his own. All the while he had the potential to become a player. Don’t worry my dear, I will answer your silent prayer. With the way she spoke to him, to the best of her ability given her position, the way she moved, the way she looked at him. It was all a quiet ask for him to use the given situation.

Katsuki didn’t know the details of this supposed mission of hers, why she had to become a nobility, but what he knew, finally caught, was that she looked for a way to wiggle out of it. He was the way.

On all fours, the prince crept up to his capitan. She was just about to question what is it that you need, my prince but he silenced her ask with his lips.

His hands roamed the thick black jacket, tearing the upper buttons just as he wished to, lips clasped tightly around hers, tongue exploring the bratty, nonchalant mouth. As he tore down the jacket and blouse from one of her shoulders, revealing her soft skin and one of her breasts, he spotted little scars scattered every now and then. Without second thought he began marking the uneven skin from the crook of her neck to the soft mound. Katsuki felt the need to grind on her tight, his excitement growing at the taste of her cleavage and then he received a hard kick to his abdomen.

He felt the heat of her body slip from under him as he fell forward, cheek hitting the place where she was just a second ago, the prickly rug damaging the side of his face. A weight on his back forced him down, a dull pain spreading from under one of his shoulder blades. The prince wanted to gasp but there was no air in his lungs, his throat constricted by a tiny hand with nails way too sharp.

“What is it that you’re doing, my prince?” Her voice was venomous, like she wanted to spit on him. Her hand grabbed his fair hair, letting him take in a shaky breath. He was forced to look at her from the corner of his eye, his scalp burning with the way she tugged his strands.

Her jacket and blouse were still undone, now both of her breasts spilling out, revealing a set of marks twin to the one he just gave her. Katsuki started to laugh.

“So you’re allowed to sleep around with others but I’m not good enough for you, huh?” The blonde didn’t know what hurt more, the grip on his hair, the knee in his shoulder blade or the rejection and lack of willpower to throw her off.

“You’re my prince, I could not possibly sleep with you.” She spat.

“Prince this, prince that. Fuck you.” He bared his teeth at her, but all that it gave him was dust in his mouth. “I’m too much of a price to get to dick you down but not prince enough to not treat me like a peasant thief! Let go of me, posing danger to your crown is punished by death.”

“I’m not posing any danger to you, my prince. Just keeping you on the right track. My ass is not beside it.”

“Everyone gets to tell me what to do. Get the hell off of me and fuck off, you and everyone!” His trashing built up. The prince tried to surpass the pain in his back but the more he moved, the harder she pushed. Her knee slid dangerously to his spine and dug in, earning a cry from him.

“Then stop fucking around and start acting. Stop pushing your nose in other peoples’ games and start playing your own, my prince.” With that she let go.

As soon as he felt relief in his back, Katsuki jumped to his knees with a hiss, the bruised muscles burning. He swung around drawing a knife of his own but the captain was already at the door. She pulled the loose material of her blouse making her breasts jiggle and fall back into their constricts. Katsuki wished to grab them as hard as her throat to choke all of her curses right out, fuck her until she couldn’t think of any more.

A look of disgust, one of hatred, fear or at least hurt, anything would be better than the expression she held. Her eyes were focused, crazed, corners of her lips turned upwards in a grin, the overall look apologetic. She traced the hickeys on her neck with a finger before letting her arm loose.

Cat pushed the door open and disappeared into the night. Mere seconds after the knife dug into the wood just where her forehead was. Katsuki stood alone in the dimly lit room unable to throw the look of her face out of his head. Once again he felt like his actions were not his own, like he was a puppet with millions of strings pulled by everyone.

The golden prince asking for a private audience with the queen was nearly as rare as getting struck by lightning twice, or shitting out a diamond. Yet, here he was, opening the door to her sombre writing room, the lowlife soldiers and gardeners whispering behind his back.

Yesterday night had him thinking hard, hard enough to cause a persistent headache. He didn’t give a shit about Cat’s rejection. Truth be told, he did not need overflowing affection to force her into a relationship, which is what he demanded right now.

Katsuki has been beaten in training, thousands of bruises littering his skin after every match with Kirishima. The prince was berated for his attitude by scholars and other hotshots of this kingdom. He was feared and despised by damsels who faked their interest, performing the never ending ritual of fluttering their eyelashes and sparing him glances appropriate for virgins. Katsuki was many things and beard even more every day on the court, but never has he felt as used as he does now.

Stop pushing your nose in other peoples’ games and start playing your own, my prince.

He wished never to play any games, he desired nothing more but a truthful life and even more clear ruling. He promised himself that he would never be like his mother. He was supposed to be a lion, a dragon, not a spider sitting in the dark, weaving never ending strings of lies and deception. Katsuki will achieve what he wants, and he will force the woman that used him so badly last night to finally see with her own eyes that a crystal clear world is possible, under his watchful eye.

She will watch and she will gape in awe. Then, she will thank me.

Was it a simple demonstration of power that he wanted? Did he feel the need to snatch one of his mother’s toys for his own use to anger her? Did he want Cat to sob, kneeling and clutching his cloak, thanking him for breaking her out from the web. Did he want to break her out? Was he seeing a reflection of himself in her so very strange eyes, what he could have been if he let his mother toss him around? Or maybe he simply wanted to silence her, show her that at the end of the day he’s the one dealing the cards of their fate.

Katsuki was not sure what his intentions were. What he did plan though, all night long, was his next step.

“Listen closely ‘cause I’ll only say it once.” The blonde shut the heavy door, leaving all of the whispers and commotion outside. The smell of parchment and ink was heavy in the dusty air.

“What do you want from me today, brat?” Mitsuki sighed.

“I decided on my bride. I want -”

The queen started silencing him, waving a ring-heavy hand in front of her face. This indeed was a strange day because Katsuki listened.

“Let me savour this moment, son.” Son. The word left her lips so rarely it sounded exotic. The queen stood up, shoving the dark adorned chair and straightening her dress. She circled the desk, reached for two goblets and poured wine for both of them, blood red wine. “So, who’s the unlucky one?”.

“Cat, in a month. When she will become a nobility.” The vessel felt odd in his hand. Katsuki never really drank with his mother on other occasions than representative ones. This intimate moment, the two of them sharing good wine, discussing the future, and coming to an agreement, Katsuki could almost get fooled. Almost.

“Not a chance.” She threw disinterested, not interrupting her savouring of the wine.

“One scandal is all I need to make the girl utterly worthless, the only option she - the both of you will have is either give her away to me or have her disgraced for life.” The bloody liquid shook in his golden goblet.

“As if you would be able to corner her.” The queen laughed, a venomous, derogatory snicker. “Don’t even get started. I already know about everything from yesterday.”

Katsuki scoffed. So she did run back to her torturer and spill out everything, just as she promised she wouldn’t.

There is no such thing as a promise here, on court.

Of course, she never even promised anything in the first place.

“And here I was, thinking you got smarter over the night.” The queen sat down by the desk, getting back to her initial position and attitude, cold, closed, and angry.

“What is your problem? Why can’t I get her? She’s strong and seems rather clever, knows a lot about the court and will be free of any family baggage.” Katsuki put the wine on his mother’s desk, restraining himself from dousing her mocking face in it.

“The girl has other duties.” Dipping a long quill in ink, she began to write, not sparing her son even a glance.

“Ones that she doesn’t want.”

“Did she tell you that?”

“No. But-”

“Then that is not true.” When Mitsuki finally turned towards Katsuki, her gaze was stern and utterly disappointed. A grimace twisted her face, one that often blemished his. They were so similar. “Make a smart choice, take Ochaco. Her family is too poor to pose any political danger to us and they will gladly agree to whatever we say. If you despise her that much you can beget a son with any whore in this kingdom and we will simply make Ochoco pretend it’s hers. From what it looks like the princess already has a sweetheart so as long as you let her keep that boy in her chambers, you won’t have to even look at her a second time.”

Katsuki gritted his teeth until his jaw cried out in pain.

“Is this the life you want for me?” He asked with unconcealed anger oozing out of every pore in his body.

“That’s a life I don’t want for anyone.” She shoved the quill down the long inkpot and looked at her prince. “But you’re a future king, you don’t get the courtesy of doing what you like or want. You do what’s best for the nation, for all of your people.”

Thousands of thoughts spiralled in Katsuki’s aching head, none of which showed him a route to victory in this war. Either way he will lose something. Now, he has to pick how much damage he will inflict on himself in order to please everybody else, to secure the nation, to become a king.

“And what if I give you a compromise, mother.” Without a doubt the name took her by surprise. For a second she saw her little boy, the fair haired ball of anger, clinging to the hem of her dress, shouting and cursing into the air. Mitsuki knew that time was long gone. If she kept treating him like a child, like a son, she would lose her priorities, their shared priorities - the lineage, the court, the kingdom.

“What compromise would it be?”

“I take Ochaco and you give me Cat as a mother of my children. Ochaco will pretend it’s hers in front of the whole damn world. Inside my chambers I get to savour my real family.”

There was a long while of utter silence. No scolding, snickering or curses left the queen’s lips, much to Katsuki’s surprise. Fear and excitement started to sink into his bones, fear for rejection, excitement for the time glimmer of hope that the silence lit.

“I will think about it. That is-” A long sigh, biting her lower lip and looking at the narrow window. “That’s not the best option but it also ain’t the worst one.”

Their gaze met for the last time this day. Her eyes were distant, calculating something in her head, weighing the options and fitting them into her web.

“I will think about it. For now, Cat is withdrawn from your side due to your abuse. The last outbreak of the Todoroki eldest forces me to strengthen their garda with my own forces. I do not wish to put more of my soldiers into broad daylight than I have to, therefore Cat will be appointed as another guard for Todoroki. Kirishima, who I will bring back, and Hound will guard your side in the daytime. For the night, a new guard will be appointed but do care to keep him out of the picture as much as you can.”

“Did you know that our families would already be connected if not for my sister's holy order?”

“Everyone has their duties.”

The lukewarm conversation between Shoto and his newly appointed babysitter made Katsuki nauseous. They were discussing everything and nothing at the same time. How the weather was nice, who would likely get engaged this year, what tea is the most refreshing for the upcoming summer, how buffed sleeves are going into fashion.

“That’s true, but it would be nice to have Katsuki and my sister married.” Saying this the half and half prince looked at his blonde companion. Biting his tongue, Katsuki forced himself to look away. The Todoroki princess was not needed in this conversation. “We did not suppose that Queen Bakugo would only bear one child. That’s a pity but we are still looking for a way to connect our bloodlines.”

We. Shoto was speaking as if he had a say in his fathers plans. The thought of the ethereal prince having more power in his kingdom than Katsuki had in his angered him further. Kirishima huffed quietly as he always did when his golden bastard of a prince became moody. Hound seemed to be sleeping in the back of the open sun terrace where a small social gathering was being held. Supposedly courtesy of Katsuki, truthly his mother's.

“Creating an alliance between the two neighbourhood kingdoms would be a powerful move, your highness.”

“It would. Do you want to try?” Despite a few wide-eyed stares, Shoto grabbed a golden plate with rich chocolate pralines and offered it to Cat.

“I must refuse, your highness.” With a polite face and a tiny smile, the capitan shook her head.

“Such a pity. You don’t like sweets?”

“I do. I just simply don’t have the appetite right now.” Of course she couldn’t scold him by telling the prince that offering what should be for the royals to a mere guard is a faux pas. Katsuki snickered, catching Cat’s gaze, savouring it as long as she spared it.

“Hawks also likse sweets, don’t you?” The centre of all female attention of the room (maybe beside Ochaco) nodded his head. “You two have something in common. That and the fact that you’re both called with animal names.”

The two guards looked at each other. Hawks flashed his signature grin while Cat answered with lack of interest, looking up into the sky .The warm breeze made loose strands of her hair dance. Katsuki wished to comb his fingers in them and grip tight.

“That’s funny. Birds and cats don’t usually go together.” Shoto laughed and a few other people decided it would be a good idea to accompany, even if the joke was lame.

“It’s just a pseudonym, your highness.”

“Oh, so you do have a name? Hawks also has one.” A few interested heads turned their way. “But sadly I don’t know it. And even if I would, I couldn't really tell you.”

“Likewise, your highness.”

Never in his life has Katsuki experienced such a talkative Shoto. The blonde honestly thought that the lack of expression on the stone-like face of the half and half prince connected with his utter silence was the bane of his existence. A chirping Shoto came out to be even worse.

“Now that you’re in my party-” Katsuki hated the sound of those words. “I should have Hawks take you for a flight. The sea looks magnificent from that height.”

Cat clicked her tongue but shut her mouth, opting for a smile only.

“It would be an honour.” The winged man butted in. “Unless you’re scared of heights.”

“I am not, thank you very much.” The civil smile that Cat graced Shoto with turned ironic when she faced Hawks. Katsuki guessed cats and birds indeed don’t go well together, as the two seemed to hold some kind of grudge.

“You should try now! I want to see Hawks fly. The terrace is a perfect spot to take off.” Shoto pointed at the dead drop that fanned out on the other side of the railing. “Believe me it’s fun.”

Without an appropriate option to say no, Cat was left nearing the edge of the sun terrace, looking over into the ground down below. Every head was turned her way, some glances jealous as the winged capitan’s hands snaked around her waist. She twisted in his grab, placing her arms around his neck.

“Should you feel scared, don’t hesitate to use your legs as well.” A grin sprung on his handsome face and a maid sitting behind Katsuki started to fan herself. Katsuki wished for nothing more than to rip the sticky hands of the capitan away from Cat but any outburst could blow his cover. Shoto looked as pleased as punch.

“Thank you, I’ll see how it goes.” At least Cat’s face made Katsuki less angry as she held a slightly disgusted grimace, looking over her shoulder at the drop. Maybe it could be fun, hearing her bloody scream as they take off.

Nothing like that happened. One second Hawks was standing on the railing, with the captain in his hands, the next they were gone. He fell face-forward into the air and a couple of loud flirts later they were both far away, heading for the sea.

Few girls ran to the edge of the terrace, squinting their eyes in the sun, trying to make out the shrinking figures. Hound puffed out air through his nose, standing up from his sitting point, taking the place of the now gone guards beside Shoto’s back.

“Katsuki.”

“Young prince.”

Young prince. The adjective must have tasted like a well aged wine on the tongue of King Todoroki. He savoured every second of diminishing Katsuki. This, the aggression, dominance, and ruthlessness was a game the golden prince knew how to play, and he was more than happy to compete.

“You are not needed in this conversation.” His mother graced him with a pale cheek and a side eyed look. There was no need for her to go to the extent of turning to face him fully, for he was barely a prince.

“Why so? As a future king he may want to bear witness to changes.” Spite as sweet as sun kissed strawberries.

The Queen sent a dirty look towards King Todoroki, but abided by his unusual invitation. As Katsuki took a step inside the darkened room his gaze met Shoto. Changes? What changes were they talking about?

Suddenly Katsuki was back to his youth. Mitsuki dragged him by the shoulder that stretched painfully with every insistent tug. They nearly ran, passing monumental columns and soaring windows. The small, maybe ten years old Katsuki was thrown into a room, the doors shutting behind them as darkness enveloped his boyish figure.

“You are not to play a king when you are not one!”

She yelled, gritting her teeth. All the young prince did was slam through the door to a council meeting, shouting his ideas to the thousand-year-old ministers, just like his mother did every time she felt the need to be heard.

Was he being stuffed in a costume, with a fake crown and staff just now? Were they going to burst in laughter straight to his face? Were they, once again, leaving him behind, deciding what’s the best for him without bothering to ask the object’s opinion? Was this even going to be about him? With two Todoroki members present nothing was certain.

“What are you discussing?” Katsuki knew better than to allow them such games.

“The possibility of connecting our bloodlines.” The Todoroki King outran Mitsuki in his explanation.

“Have you kept a daughter in hiding all these years?” Katsuki snickered, spreading out in the richly padded chair, the soft cushions embracing his tired back.

“It shall not be a true blood connection but one that will be politically accurate.” His mother swished yet another blood red wine around a crystal glass. Some wondered whether she ever drank them or simply held them as decoration.

“And one that will please Shoto.” Since when did the King care for his childrens’ pleasure?

The ethereal prince kept his cool, the porcelain mask that he seemed to have been born with secured his face, declining Katsuki any chance at guessing what hid under the facade. If anything lay there at all.

Weave your own web.

He will not, Katsuki will stand up to any fight thrown his way. He will clash, head straight, with anything that stands in his way. If he is to become the king he wishes to be, he needs to target the right opponent, one that will one day bear the twin seat of kingship.

“So are you finally getting some bitches, half n’ half?”

“I would certainly not call her that.” Shoto looked down to the floor. He seemed to be tracing the hewed lines of the stone, peaking out of the opulent rugs, as if he longed for their cold in this castle burning with hatred.

“Then what would you?”

“I would like to know if she finally decided to give out her name.”

That sickly sweet, hazy gaze, his ring heavy fingers rubbing mindless circles into the chair’s armrest, the lightness of his shoulders. Shoto, despite being the least persistent, the most insular, the quietest and the most delicate looked like a captor in this very moment. He didn’t even spare Katsuki a glance. Why would he? Shoto already got what Katsuki couldn’t have.

There was always the possibility of a misunderstanding. It couldn’t be the enigmatic Cat he was talking about. As much as the golden prince fought with the idea, his instincts told him otherwise. What other nameless woman caught Shoto’s scarce interest? Who else was soon to bear a political position.

The Queen gazed upon a window, a small one embedded into the sloping ceiling, where the moon showed its palace cheek. It was shamelessly bright this might, no clouds obscuring the view. Katsuki wondered whether his mother was a werewolf or a witch, looking so intensely into the silvery disc, not sparing her son even one glance.

Later that night, away in his chambers Katsuki sought the centre of this labyrinth. He was forcefully removed from the small meeting held between the monarchs, as he started an argument that is and would always be out of his power, his mother’s words.

Was it all planned? Was Cat meant for Shoto from the very beginning? It that why she was getting the title? Was she supposed to get closer to the half and half prince by Katsuki’s means?

That would be pointless. She could just be admitted to the Todoroki prince from the beginning. Katsuki’s involvement in this operation didn’t make sense. He was an additional piece that didn’t fit anywhere. And his mother never used to be futile in her resources.

Ever since Katsuki was fifteen, he was forced into every marital council meeting. They were held in a rather grand room, seating kings and queens, their ministers and right-hands. Servants run round with bowed heads pouring wine to goblets that never seemed to be resting on the table, rather the content was being poured down thirsty throats. The chatter was loud, the whole room buzzing like a bees nest. Or more like hornets with how sharp these peoples’ claws were.

The golden prince paced around the castle looking for such a meeting. Sure as hell he should hear them from one of many open doors, he should smell the rich appetisers resting on the long table, he should get a damned invitation to take part! Just as he got one every year, one that was laced with his mother’s threats. If you don’t come I will kill you. Not this year.

As much as the guards and servants tried to dodge his questions, running away in the halls, hiding in chambers, pretending to be busy, all it took was one, too squeaky, cook’s helper. Katsuki learned the meeting was already being held. His mother sure as hell tried to keep him out of this one.

As he stormed the hallways towards the grand room with the painfully long table he gathered his thoughts. Of course he would burst with his decision - he will be with Cat. Katsuki never before wanted any particular wife, he was never interested in any woman like that. Suddenly, in a matter of a few months, one has given him several reasons to claim her.

Of course it would never be love that would be the thing, the force that pushed him towards someone. Katsuki was not sure whether he even knew what love tasted like. But the thought of taking away one of his mother’s swords excited him as if he was a young boy on his first horse ride. The prince would take the guard, a person so very intimate to his mother, and show her how much better he is. Without the web, the schemes, the grand plans and dirty business, without all this gruesome fakeness she will have the opportunity to be free. And he will savour her freedom as if it was his own. He will hold the decision of her title, he will make her stay a nobody - a sweet, safe and secured nobody.

Together the two of them will rub what best they hold on one another. Her confidence, high held chin and perfect stance, will be the best decoration for his crown, one that she will be in his private chambers - a queen worth her place. Then, Katsuki will grace her with all the time, resources and freedom she will want. Of course as long as she fulfils her duties in the keeping of the lineage, but that is a price she will surely be able to pay. That woman is not stupid.

The golden prince, the golden king will make her pleased and he will spread out a new and better world in front of her - one ruled by lions and cats, not by spiders.

Katsuki will beat Shoto in this game. He will never let the ethereal, thin as air and nonexistent in his own way, take away such a precious gem, one pulsing with life that will surely die out in the cold hands of the Todoroki. He will not let her be taken away from the kingdom she is accustomed to.

Cat will be sharp and nonchalant, lazy and harsh, smiling and teasing all for Katsuki, never for Shoto nor for anyone else.

Was it a pathetic feeling of, once in his life, being phantom close to someone? Was his conqueror nature building up in his veins, ready to overflow any given second? Was it resistance or maybe simply a caprice? With all due respect, Katsuki did not care which he chose to side with, the only thing he was certain as he pushed the door to the meeting room was that he would walk out of here with Cat in hand.

To his utter surprise there were no servants moving around in a mismatched pattern around the room. Wine was scarce as everyone, bunched around the far end of the long table, preferred to keep a sober mind. All the heads darted his way as Katsuki strolled closer to them, hiding his shock at the unusual scene.

“I honestly thought younge prince would be absent today.” King Todoroki laughed shortly, propping both of his elbows on the table, observing Katsuki like a predator.

“How could I miss the council meeting where I announce my bride.”

Despite the king being decision making here, the blonde spoke his words to Shoto. They held a short and intense stare - Katsuki fierce, Shoto not seemingly comprehending.

“And who would that be?” Lord Yaoyorozu peaked from behind the King, his gaze held hope, or rather despair.

“That will be…” For a split second Katsuki looked at his mother. He screamed inside, his ego trashing in the golden cage it was kept hostage. Why from all moments did he have to instinctively look at her? It was his decision, his statement, his milestone and step to take. Why did his gaze wander to her face, and more importantly, why was she nodding? “That will be princess Ochaco.”

Murmurs spread through the small gathering. Someone seemed to pat king Uraraka for he perked up suddenly, whispering prayers.

“That girl is disgraced!” Yaoyorozu seemed too enraged with his defeat, spitting venom on the poor princess. “I want her dignity checked!”

“First of all, her ass is no business of yours, Lord.” As much as he hated himself for this, Katsuki mimicked the manner in which King Todoroki diminished him, piercing the red-faced man with undeniable truth - difference in positions. “Second, I’ve known her for the longest time. That green-haired idiot does not interest me, she can keep him or kill him for all I care. I just want you all off my back and my heir on the way.”

Once again Katsuki mindlessly strayed towards his mother’s gaze. She was eying him intensely, her palms gripping the armrests of her throne. A smirk grazed her sharp features. She threw a quick order at the Yaoyorozu Lord sitting next to her and soon the whole row changed seats, allowing for Katsuki to take place by her side.

“We will play this out just as you wanted.” She whispered when he came close to her and a shiver went up his spine. We, as you wanted. She accepted his compromise. Katsuki came out with a proposition and she heard him, thought it through and let it pass. They were playing on the same side. The prince didn’t know what thrilled him more, the idea of his plan working out or the feeling of having one of the most powerful people next to him, with him for once.

“Very well. Now let’s get back to the matter we were discussing before someone decided it was his turn to speak.” Katsuki remembered, it was the Todoroki King who laughed at his mother hard enough, at the counsil meeting, to make her punish her own son so hard. He started to understand Shoto a bit more - if he had a father like this he would also detach himself from reality.

“Shoto.”

“I ask for the hand of a lady from your kingdom, your highness.” The prince, delicate as a flower, bowed his head slightly, but it quickly sprung up towards the Bakugo Queen. He looked like a kid waiting for a response, whether he can go play outside or not.

“With all due respect, I must decline your offer for now.”

It was the second time this day when the small gathering went rampage with whispers. The men in the room looked around each other in disbelief. The show certainly didn’t go along with the script.

With a hard tug of his father’s hand, Shoto was pushed back into the seat from his standing position. The now disorientated prince looked around the room, at the Queen’s face and finally at Katsuki who was now grinning wide. Something flicked behind his glassy eyes, something like understanding.

“And why is that, your highness?” King Todoroki seemed to send the deadliest looks of them all. At first they were directed at the Queen but soon, he caught Katsuki’s unpleasant smile. “So that’s how you’re playing it out.”

He must have caught the act quickly. The night of Katsuki’s bursting in during the small gathering the four of them held, it gave him out. But it didn’t matter, it had already been decided and no amount of the King’s trashing could override his mother’s words. After all, Cat was a property of the Bakugo’s.

“Bring the girl here.” The King demanded.

“There’s no need for that.”

“If we are to decide on an agreement tonight, the girl will come here. I find it obvious that you suddenly decide to gatekeep a thing that, one way or another, was supposed to connect our kingdoms. I want to, at least, hear the girl say it. I want her to pick!” This time it was the King speaking to Katsuki and not his mother. His nails would surely leave bloody marks with how hard the young prince was digging them into his own palms - all out of excitement. “I want her to come here, look at you, and tell us all she picks you.”

Cold sweat seemed to grow on Katsuki’s skin. One look at his mother and she knew he didn’t talk to the very girl. Yet, he was sure she would pick him over Shoto.

“What is going on, who are you talking about?” King Uraraka seemed as lost as the rest of the people, save for the Bakugos and Todorokis. “Weren’t you just talking about marrying Ochaco, prince?”

“And I will. I will make her my wife and then both of us can go back to our own… picks.”

Finally, the Uraraka king seemed to understand. His gaze lowered slightly as his back plopped against the chair. Despite the rather pitiful look of a man who knew his worthlessness, he did not oppose a single word. Maybe he knew what Katsuki was offering was honestly the best option for his daughter. Even though their royal family would most likely be a mixture of green, blonde and god knows what else.

“Fine. Go get the girl.”

A few long minutes passed in silence. The only sound in the room was the cracking of wood in the big fireplace. The air seemed to buzz with anticipation and unease. No one dared to look at each other. No one except for Katsuki drilling holes in Shoto’s mismatched head.

When the doors opened to reveal Cat all faced her way. She stood by the large, wooden wings.

“Come.” The Queen ordered.

Cat looked into the hallway she just came through as if someone would be there. After a second she came closer, with a few long strides, and was now standing with her hands behind a straight back, waiting for more orders. Despite her confident face she was looking upwards.

“Due to a misunderstanding we wish to ask you something.” The Queen turned directly to her guard and Katsuki followed her gaze. Cat was standing just behind his shoulder. If he reached out his hand he could grab her, touch her, signal to her to give the damn right answer to the upcoming question. But she was looking upwards, avoiding even his mother’s gaze, like a good soldier. “Do you wish to attain a title of nobility and be honoured with the possibility of connecting the Bakugos to the Todorokis in a political agreement, or do you wish to stay lowborned and help to elongate the Bakugo lineage.”

Silence fell upon the room as all awaited for an answer, one that could change the political stability of millions of square kilometres. Some feared, some sought possibilities, others clenched their jaws or bore their eyes into the guard, standing alone like a single strand of grass in a thunderstorm.

Cat took in a sharp breath and for the first time, she looked down on the Queen. At that moment Katsuki knew his world was about to fall apart once again. She never would and never will talk to him, with him, as he needs it.

Slowly, the woman went lower and lower, bending her knees, her back, her neck. She dropped onto the floor silently which made her voice contrast even more. She spoke with reserve and power.

“If I may beg you, your highnesses, I wish to finish the original plan.” I pick Shoto, I wish to be a nobility, I hate you. Katsuki braced himself for one of these, what other reason would she have for not looking at him as she made her decision? Cat picked her head up from next to her knee and looked straight at the Queen. “I missed four breaks in my service.”

The Queen gasped. It was short and unexpected, only for Katsuki and Cat to see. She blinked a few times as if trying to get rid of the shock from her features before she faced the other way, back to the awaiting group.

“Enji, I think we might have overdone ourselves this time.” Both Todorokis turned abruptly towards the Queen. Shoto was shell shocked from hearing his fathers name fall out of the queen's lips. The King looked stunned as his son.

“The original plan.” He muttered.

“What the fuck is the original plan? What break in service?” Katsuki cried out like a madman for truthly, he felt mad. Plans in plans in plans.

“Everyone out!” The Queen rising to her feet was all that it took for the rest of the men to usher out of the room. All they did was look back behind the shoulders and whisper. Weak.

It was only the five of them left and the room felt like a gruesome overkill. Without much comprehension Katsuki switched between looking at his mother and Cat, both of whom didn't spare him a single glance since the enigmatic words. King Todoroki was still seated in his original place, with his face in his palms, calculating something meticulously in his head. Shoto looked as disorientated as he was at the beginning, failing to grasp even a strand of understanding in this strange situation. Now, he opted to look at his father’s cheek, awaiting an explanation.

“What is the original plan?” Katsuki hated the need to repeat himself.

“The original plan can come in, I think.” The Queen sighed, gulping down wine that she greedily clawed at the moment she sat back in her spacious throne. Soon, she repeated the same but this time she was shouting.

The doors began to open slowly, as if someone was testing the waters before jumping into the whirlpool before him. A crimson wing was first to enter, then a halo of golden hair and strange marked eyes that quickly fished out his target in the group. Hawks came to a stop just behind his king, mimicking the way in which Cat was holding herself.

“Did the two of you… proceed with the plan?” Enji Todoroki broke the silence first.

“Yes, my king.” Hawks answered for them both.

“When?”

“First thing when we came here, around four months ago.” Hawks looked somewhere far, into a memory maybe, one that was not brought back to life, wrestled out of the nooks and crannies of his privacy. “We did not expect… such obstacles.”

“Because there shouldn’t have been any obstacles in the first place.” The Queen was looking down, on the table, her eyes darkened. “We got caught up in our sons’ stupid games, Enji.” The king's name felt oddly at home on her tongue. The third person she used, how she removed both of the princes from the conversation. Thai was not meant for their ears, they were only unlocking this secret because someone, by mistake, pushed the keys into their hands in a hurry. They stood in the right place at the right time.

“Then we shall proceed with the plan.” The Todoroki King finally looked up and turned towards Hawks. His ever-scolding gaze felt light right now, like he was testing something, looking for a sign on his guard's face.

“I will ask for the last time…” Katsuki desperately tried to earn some attention, to finally know what the whole farce was about.

“What you will do is shut up and listen, for I will only tell it once.” His mother’s words were sharp but her gaze was apologising when she looked at him. As if she was silently trying to tell him, I’m sorry. And Katsuki will understand her, because in the end even she was stripped down from the possibility of choosing who really dealt the cards.

“The original plan, one that has been going on for years now, was to breed, create two strong people - a man and a woman. Many were tested, many like the ones that consist of my or the King’s personal guards.” Katsuki knew who she meant, not the regular soldiers but the ones like Cat and Hound. “When we found two that would perfectly match each other we were supposed to title them nobility and marry them together to produce even better offspring. Children that would join the two kingdoms with a tie so strong that no one would have the guts to attack and expose oneself to the power.”

“And these people are…” Shoto finally mustered the strength to mutter.

“At this point there is no denying that the plan will succeed. There is no chance Shoto will have Cat and neither can Katsuki. Both of you could ruin the royal lineage if your supposed firstborn came out with red wings.”

From the very beginning, from the moment Katsuki wandered his mother’s garden at night and found Cat shuffling around the bush, she already weaved her web. They already weaved their web. The business she had to take care of at free days, the hickeys he found under her collar, around her breast, maybe even further. The fat owl who sat that night on the windowsill. It was him, him all along, everywhere behind her, inside her, with her.

Her strange pupils that now, finally, found a place in Katsuki’s mind. A cat, elongated and extremely sensitive to light and relaxation. Maybe she didn’t have such grand evidence of her animal nature like Hawks but sure as hell she acted on her instincts.

“We need to arrange the wedding quickly or else you will miraculously bear a child in three months.” The Queen sighed.

“Best to do it next week, as an opening of the season.” The King answered.

Katsuki lacked the willpower to fight anymore. How could he win her over when he already lost at the beginning. Soon, he will have a seat in the first row to see Cat take the hand of a different man. In a matter of months he will be able to look at the fruit of their… what was it between them? Nature, instincts, orders, loyalty or love? Maybe he would ask her. Maybe she will tell him what’s it like?

As Katsuki looked at Cat, she was already gazing into him, through him. For the first time since he met her she looked taken aback. Her plan worked and all that will have to settle into her brain. Apart from the trouble on her face there was also regret, her eyes spoke a silent apology. Not for Shoto, not for the Queen but for him. She used everyone she could. From the moment she realised Katsuki was after her, she led him to inappropriate actions and ran off to Shoto. Then, the half and half also started to pose as an obstacle, like he always does. But somehow, in this enormous whirlwind of schemes and lies, they found the way to each other.

What else could push people to do things that crazy if not love? And when she could finally face him, face Hawks, Katsuki saw one of the most beautiful smiles he would ever experience in his life. And as the two could finally close into an embrace, Hawks ever so attentive of her abdomen, and seal their feelings with a kiss, Katsuki couldn't look away, no matter how hard he tried.

Thank you so much for reading! I'm thinking about a small continuation of how Katsuki's and everyone's life is after the wedding, but that's a matter for another day.

[justatypicalwizard]

Hey, so the two day requests are over, thank you so much for all of them, it was really nice to write something new and experience what concepts you guys came up with.

Initially it was supposed to be just for the time being, but since it was really a lot of fun the info requests open will be visible in my about me for now.

I will update small requests rules later.

Once again, thank you very much and have a lovelly day!

[justatypicalwizard]

Hellooo! Could you possibly write a childhood friends to lovers w/ bakugo??? Some hurt/comfort in there too possibly? I could see maybe an argument or a misunderstanding sort of thing. Have as much creative freedom as you want with it!! :)

Hellooooo! Thanks for sending such a nice ask. But. I. Think. I. Fucked. This. One. Up.

I still like what I wrote but it's not really angsty, sorry. Comfort? Yes. Angst? As much as a teenage love drama can be.

Still, it was exciting to write, once again something new for me, fresh ideas smell nice.

I tried to create a situation where reader would match Bakugo's shitty attitude during school years and the idea of a totally unromantic relationship came to my head. Like, if that Bakugo was supposed to confess anyhow to anyone, it might be through some totally random conversation that kinda pushed both him and reader up agains the wall. Oh and they would bicker, because, why not.

Anyway, enjoy.

Bakugo x reader, childhood friends to lovers, slight angst, comfort

“Look at that, what a shitty love letter.” You snickered as you put the piece of paper up to his face.

You and Bakugo, both middle-schoolers, sat on the rug in his bedroom. Your backpack was thrown under one of the big drums from his set, your blazer hanging from his desk seat, the pins from your hair scattered on his nightstand.

Bakugo grunted, nodding slowly, but on the inside twisted. He knew the letter well enough, he could recite what was written if you woke him up in the middle of the night, like a prayer. The letter was his.

It was eating at him for a longer time now. Somewhere after summer break he realised he had a crush on you. Yet, it seemed rather problematic, to confess anyhow.

If the two of you would simply be classmates, he could come up to you and say it to your face. Unfortunately, you were more than two students attending the same class. You often stayed at his place, ate dinner and played games. You snickered when he picked on others and pinched some girls here and there yourself. Honestly, both of you were two little pieces of shit that happened to find each other. It was amazing, but also constraining.

What if you laughed at him? How should he say it? When you were glued to the screen killing some mutants in a game, when you were idly turning a biscuit in your hands before you ate it, when you were running together during P.E.? You were way too close for a normal confession. His had to be… abnormal.

So he resorted to a letter, just to test the waters. God bless, because you dissolved into laughter the moment you read through the text again.

“Do you know who wrote it?” Bakugo asked, silently praying that the answer would be no.

“Nah, I barely saw it flying from my locker. Actually, I would miss it if not for some girl who picked it up.” You turned the piece of paper in your hands. “She looked between me and the letter and, believe me, it looked as if she saw a ghost.”

From that day on Bakugo decided to forget about his crush.

It was around fall again when you two met for coffee and shittalk. A fall several years later. School children dragged their feet towards the doomed monument of education and you made fun of them.

“I’d never go back to high school.” You laughed, following a group of sad-looking boys with your gaze. “Not even talking about you.” You eyed Bakugo’s scars up and down.

Whatever happened during his UA years was not taboo between you. Despite going to different schools and getting separated you managed to keep in touch. Maybe it was the little-shit-nature that didn’t allow you to forget each other, the two gremlins sitting in your heads calling one another.

“I’d never go back to middle school even.” The blonde spat.

“Okay, your worst memory from middle school.”

So Bakugo told you, for the umpteenth time, the story where the worst teacher spotted him picking on Deku. And just like always you cracked a laugh because god, you were both so stupid back then. Poor Midoriya, what had he even done to you?

“One of my worst was definitely getting that ugly love letter, you remember?” Red no longer crawled up his cheeks when he thought about how humiliating this memory was, but still, ouch. “It just made me feel so down.”

“As in?” He crooked a brow. Why did a love letter, out of all things, make you feel down?

“Promiss not to laugh at me.” You grinned.

“Can’t do that.”

“Whatever.” You shrug and went on. “You know how I tried to be boyish and all that, always hanging with you and your idiots, having messy hair and playing video games. Cliche, I know. I liked it at that time but it also repelled all the good-looking guys.” You propped your chin on your palm, looking to the side. “I did have a few crushes back then but I felt like everyone would laugh at me if it ever got out. And then the letter. First the girl who picked it up. I remember her face really well. She was shocked, the bully girl getting a love letter. Only pretty girls receive them. I bet she was chitchatting behind my back about it soon.” A loose strand of hair fell from the updo on your head. You blew it to the side. “I also wondered who could have sent it and it must have been some looser. No handsome or cool guy would get a crush on me. So, yeah. I kinda regret being so closed off during school.”

“But you laughed your ass off when you brought it to my house. Even threw it into my bin.” Bakugo had to look at his own love letter, in his own bin, until he threw out trash that day.

“It was safer to set the tone than to be at your mercy out of all people.” You rolled your eyes. “A defence mechanism or some shit.”

“A defence mechanism against what, someone having a crush on you?”

“I told you, middle school was weird and I never want to go back. I’m happy to be an adult and have my frontal lobe developed.” You threw your hands around in the air. “Besides, it might have even been a prank and that I would not live through.”

“It was not a prank.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I wrote that letter.” It was Bakugo’s turn to shrug, as if the chilly fall air could reach him through the glass of the window. “And thanks for calling it ugly and stupid.”

“It was yours?” The blonde didn’t expect fireworks and kisses for a reaction but sure he also didn’t expect such a nasty face. “You had a crush on me?”

“Years ago. Besides it’s not weird, you practically lived in my house, liked to kick nerds and you were a girl. What else did middle school me need?”

You laughed so hard that a few heads turned towards your table with glares.

“We really do belong together, don’t we?” You finally managed to say something from under all the laughter. “What, do you still have a crush on me, or do I need to kick someone in front of you?”

“Hah, as if. Maybe you have a crush on me?”

“I don’t know.”

Bakugo eyed you but your gaze was focused on the half-drunk coffee.

“I also don’t know.”

“Maybe let’s just start to date each other and have it over with.” You laughed, taking the cup in your hands and sipping the lukewarm drink.

“You’re talking to Dynamight here, do you know how many women would kill to go on a date with me?”

“Dynamight, Dynamight.” You waved your hand as if trying to get rid of an annoying fly. “Sorry, for me you’ll always be Katsuki who drums like stupid and sends ugly-ass love letters.”

“Fine then. Let's date. You won’t last a month.”

“Boy, I give you two weeks and you’ll go running. I’m so unromantic.”

“Again with that shitty love-defence or what? We don’t have to do romantic junk, I don’t care. I don’t have time for that either way. You wanna be my girl or what?”

“Jeez fine, get off my head.”

And you laughed a bit. The gremlins if your heads could finally hold hands.

[justatypicalwizard]

Feel like adding a bit here apart from the AI.

Ya'll not literature sommeliers, to come and pick apart a text to point out junk. Comstructive opinion in a different thing.

I have a very complicated debate in my head because despite agreeing that anyone can have whatever opinion they want about anything theres also this other side. I feel uneasy about people, who tear apart and point out mistakes in works (no matter what type of) that they could never do better themselves. Pointing out mitakes in writing when you cant even finish a school essay. Pointing out mistakes in sewing projects when you cant even cut fabric straight. Pointing out mistakes in painting when you cant tell oil from acrylic apart.

That's why teachers are superior! (Good ones obviously). Because they should be very knowledgable about something before they start teaching and grading others.

One again, sometimes all it takes to see a mistake are eyes. But you have no idea what lead to that mistake and not always it's laziness or ignorance of the creating person. Sometimes that mistake is a bandaid that holds together a bunch of mistakes underneath that the creator tried to correct because they're learning learning learning learning.

Mental short-sightedness doesn't look cute on you.

If ANY of yall EVER do this shit to me, im deleting every single fic out of spite.

If I ever catch one of yall doing this to another author and I know youre a follower of my work I will block you personally on every platform

None of yall are the fic police. I DESPISE genai. I think its an insult to art, humanity, and the planet itself. But aint not a single fucking person here qualified to pick apart a strangers fic looking for a gotcha moment to make yourselves feel superior. If you think something is ai you can ask the author (most are proud of the ai use and will just tell you straight up) if they say yes you have your answer and can warn people. If they say no and you dont believe them you block and quietly keep it between you and maybe a close group of friends. Spreading misinformation is DANGEROUS. And NONE of you doing this shit are anywhere near qualified to do it.

THIS GOES DOUBLY FOR ARTISTS.

[justatypicalwizard]

Hi! I saw your requests were open so if you would like to, may i request a sanemi x reader? Like the plot is sanemi’s wife dragging him along to the mall while she buys a bunch of useless expensive stuff she absolutely does NOT need and sanemi just complains about it. I really like your writing! Have a great day!

Hi! I guess this didn't turn out 100% as you requested because buying expensive, useless stuff really doesn't sit right with me *laughing awkwardly here* But I tried to grasp the idea of buying junk that the reader thinks they need. Anyway, this is my take, hope you enjoy it.

Sanemi Shinazugawa x reader who roams the mall (he doesn’t like it)

Whoever said you were a level headed person was probably right, because you were, until you saw the arts and crafts section of any store. And when your mind was set on yet another project of yours? Death to whoever tried to stop you.

That’s why Sanemi found himself in the third all-purpose store inside the gigantic hive-like mall, where everything from neons and adds to people themselves seemed to be buzzing.

“The stuff is cheaper there, you just have to hunt for some things.” You threw over your shoulder as you dived in the section of plastic charms.

Maybe each one of these items does not cost a lot but if you bundle them… Sanemi was sure you’ve already spent more than you should. He’d never seen you splash out like that on clothes or shoes, neither on fancy electronics or jewellery. But the new special extra thin origami paper that allows for extra detailed projects in a range of colours from cherry blossom to luxurious jade?

Goddamn he thought and goddamn he said.

“You know I have some free time on hand and I really wanted to dive into that bag making.” Your head popped from a bundle of fluffy yarns. Buy two get one free.

“I know, it’s just that you have to put that junk somewhere at home.” That’s the next thing Sanemi found a nuisance. Your money was your money, but your shared apartment space was, well, shared.

“No problem, I’m just gonna throw it into the closet.” Ah yes, the closet. The white haired never dared to open it, for an avalanche of colorful everything would fall and bury him alive. He insisted on it himself, seeing you slowly corrupt every shelf with random creative supplies. “I made some space since I finished sewing the skirt.”

“Didn’t you leave tons of scraps for a scrap-bag?” Honestly, other people would be amazed at how good Sanemi was at remembering tiny details about you, and the ideas you seem to throw like seeds on a fertile ground. “Why don’t you start with the scrap-bag if you want to do a bag?”

“I will, I just need some stuff for it, like a few metal rings and some kind of a belt for the strap, and maybe some tags, or embroidery supplies, since I’m short, so make them myself, and—” Completely forgotten, ignored all the way, resorting to frustration eased only by a roll of his eyes.

At the checkout the total had two zeroes.

Finally, after the third store you seemed to be satisfied. You babbled about getting something to eat or stopping by the general store for ingredients when your eyes shore, as if you saw the promised land itself.

When Sanemi saw the nicely smiling lady in a magenta blazer and a matching pencil skirt, waving at you, he thought he’d pluck her eyes out himself. Dry Goods Store read the pinkish neon sign above the cramped store. It was mostly swarmed by older ladies.

“I’m just gonna see what they have for the future. I think this store is new.” You weren’t even looking at him and that irked him the most. He grabbed your hand.

“Don’t be stupid and go buy more stuff. You already spent a ton!”

Turning around you looked hurt. It stung his pride slightly, making his girl sad. But someone should get you back on track and he was already over the edge, ready to serve you a nice silver platter with a piece of his mind. 

“I know but I’m gonna use all of this. Besides, how often do I go and spend on myself? I just got my paycheck.” You faced him fully. “Besides, I never rant about how much you spend on running shoes.”

“I use these running shoes, not put them into a closet only to forget what I even bought them for.”

“Yes but that happens every two months. And even one of these shoes costs more than everything that I bought today.”

“I buy new ones when my old ones get worn out.”

“Then maybe you should run less so that they don’t get destroyed so much.”

“Do you even hear yourself? Run less? My goal is to run more!” Sanemi crossed hands over his chest, building up defence.

“And I’m here for you and for your carved out tights. But to run more you have to use these shoes and buy new ones.” You put down your bags and began gesturing like a madman calculating. “And I, to get better at arts and crafts, have to have a lot of supplies. Do you know what it’s like when you’re in the middle of a project and suddenly you need a weird little part that you don’t have so the whole thing gets delayed a few days? I don’t have time to go to the mall every day. And then I lose interest and have unfinished things lying around.” You were panting at that point.

“That’s called short-lived enthusiasm.”

“That’s called inspiration. And your jock brain won’t get it.” You hit your forehead a few times, made a monkey sound and turned on your heel, heading towards the Dry Goods Store.

Sanemi swore that if not for your agility, he would toss you over his shoulder and walk out of the mall forcefully. If any guard would try to challenge him, he would flash the wedding ring and tell them that he married a woman barking mad and she’s having an attack. She can bite, kick and tell you really nasty but accurate comments about your clothes.

But you were already at the counter, looking at lace. Ten, then fifteen, then twenty minutes passed before you walked out, or rather slumped out of the store. From a twinkling little star you turned into goop.

“The fuck?”

“Walk ahead, don’t look back.”

Only when you were safely tucked in your passenger car seat, did you let out what dragged your shoulders all the way from the store to the parking lot.

“I really better fucking ace that bag or else I’m gonna explode.”

“Why?”

“I will tell you if you promise me that you’ll keep your head shut about whatever I’m gonna say. Father, I already know that I have sinned.” You turned towards the sky, that was obstructed by the roof of the car, but still, some kind of a prayer.

“I’m not gonna prom—”

“Promiss.”

“No because—”

“Promiss.”

“What—”

Then, you whipped out a receipt. The total was… it, well, it, uh, for how much lace?

A pretty white lace rolled over your lap and onto the handbrake. It was a fair amount, but now a lot lot.

“That’s the price for this?”

With a regretful look plastered all over your face you nodded slowly.

Sanemi looked the other way, not wanting to burst all over your already slumping form.

“Well now my shoes don’t look so expensive, eh?”

“It’s Italian. Partially handmade in some small craftsman show or whatever. I didn’t know. And the lady already cut it.” Your forehead bounced on your lap as you sighed clutching the lace.

“You didn’t ask the price?”

“I never thought it would cost so much, it’s just some silly arts and crafts supply!”

“Your words, not mine. And I think that’s more than enough supply shopping for the whole month.” Sanemi said starting the engine, to which you only nodded. “At least the bag will be pretty.”

“Now I’m scared to sew it. What if I break it!” Your eyes were starting to swell with fat tears of desperation.

“Nonsense, you’re fucking good at it. I wanna see that bag done by the end of the month or else I’m taking this lace and using it as a headband for running.”

“You would never.”

“Not if you give me a kiss.”

“Bastard.” And you kissed him on the cheek.

[justatypicalwizard]

Meta-isekai | K. Bakugo ✧.* Act III Scene II

☞ ♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥•♥ ☜

-`♡´- In which Bakugo gets isekaied into a shoyo romance. -`♡´-

Peak stupidity ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

Read on AO3 (link in the future) ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

ʚɞ At first he just looked your way. Then he motioned with his hand a few times. Finally, to his utter frustration, he had to get up and put you in the seat himself. Gently, of course but translated from Katsu-dictionary. The author leaves the rest to the reader's imagination.

“I'm sorry but I'm meeting with someone in a second.” You stated matter-of-factly. Were you so diligent that the mere thought of making Deku wait troubled you, or was it sitting next to Lord Explosion Murder that made you so stiff?

“Yeah, the nerd, as in Deku, had to take a rain check. He asked me to help you instead.” Bakugo opened the math book that you managed to idly slip onto the table.

Suddenly he felt very dumb. You were still drilling holes in the side of his skull, apparently not satisfied with the scarce answer. Bakugo stared at some graphs or shit, not even knowing what topic to take up. He should have asked Deku what you were doing right now but the blonde was too troubled with the dark clouds lingering in his mind. How much time passed in his world? Was there any damage done? What will he come back to? Will he go back?

Apart from some short moments of rather dubious amusement, Bakugo was still more than stressed on a daily basis.

“Are you alright?” You crooked a brow his way.

Falling into old routines Bakugo reacted with a forceful defence. “What the fuck would not be alright?”

You looked at a loss of words. Under the table The Cat shuddered at the crashing loss of love energy. It attacked Bakugo's calf, clawed its way up his leg and squished its face from under the wood and started to violently shake its fluffy head.

“Okay, I don’t know what's going on and  who are you even?”

Now Bakugo was short of thoughts. Who was he? The whole stunt during the sports day, the thinking, planning, calculating. The focusing eyes. Who was he?

“I mean, I know who you are but, eh. Listen, I don’t think we ever talked one on one, nonetheless scheduled any tutoring, so, maybe let's start with honorifics?” You gave him your name. This act of rationality seemed to ease the tension around your heads. “Midoriya didn’t tell me about the switch  wonder why.”

“Maybe he's too busy with Ochaco now.” Bakugo laughed breathily.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“He really… he?”

“I guess so.”

“Wow. I mean, I'm not even angry anymore.”

“Were you angry?”

“Wouldn't you be?”

Bakugo grinned. “By this time I'd go ballistic.”

Tag list: @ita606 @blueberrysoaps @bakunianadecorazon @makaroni-and-chez

[justatypicalwizard]

Since your requests are open,

would you be okay with a Sanemi x Reader who has a motherly relationship with Muichiro? Like Sanemi sees the reader doting on Muichiro and ajdjsjs MY HEARTT

If not rhats totally okay! :) Or just Sanemi fluff in general

Hiiii! Thank you for this ask. This is something I've never written before so it was quite intersting to try out. I don't think it's very very fluff but there surely is underlying... something there.

I hope you like it!

Sanemi Shinazugawa x reader who is motherly towards Muichiro

Warning: slight talk of gender roles

For Muichiro and master Oyakata’s sake they all treated the mist hashira like an equal. Power-wise he truthly was, similarly to his insular nature, one could mistake him for an old man.

Yet, it was the small things. Muichiro gazing, open-eyed, at two butterflies dancing in the sky. Muichiro smelling pastries and darting his head slightly. The butterfly girls having to alter his uniform or make an entire new one every half a year because he still grows.

It was something the others intentionally ignored, that the mist hashira was but a child. A very old child.

There must have been something of respect in it, encouragement to keep up his act because it clearly worked in his favour as a demon slayer. But you always tried to ease his mind when you were around.

At first your attempts were timid. An additional rice ball sneaked so that he wouldn’t notice, after meeting in the Oyakata mansion where you worked. He should get more to eat, despite his reluctantness to be treated differently.

You gently stirred the Oyakata children’s play routine towards the isolated mist hashira, so that the eldest son and him may have an opportunity to talk. They have very much in common.

Then you resorted to some more immediate measures, like slipping little origami animals into Muishiro’s hands when he stood idly under one of the great wisteria trees. Initially he was taken aback, negatively. He handed the animals back to you saying that he didn’t need them.

Yet, you managed to convince him that they were just leftovers from the Oyakata children’s playtime and otherwise they would be forgotten or even destroyed. Paper is precious. So he took them back to his estate. What was he doing with them? No one knows. You silently prayed he understood they were tokens of gratitude.

A motherly figure was never your intention. Your body never bore children of your own but there was something intricate, natural in the way you handled every little Oyakata that extended their arms your way. You were gentle, caring and spoke in a  voice soft like a cotton blanket, whenever a child was around.

Whether it were the teachings of Lady Oyakata, or something more natural, more primal, you didn’t know and didn’t mind it being a closed book. You simply did things that put a smile on both your and a child’s face.

And this didn’t go unnoticed. Every rice ball, every paper animal, every attempt was broad as daylight to Sanemi Shinazugawa. He observed you, out of spite at first.

Shinazugawa has a deeply embedded respect for hierarchy. Respect or fear? Can this man be afraid of anything? Not openly, not consciously, but ghosts of the past rarely let one out of their grip.

So what was a lowly servant doing orbiting around the mist hashira so freely. And undermining his position nonetheless. It’s every man for himself, no need to be extra careful of somebody unless it has its purpose. Like with caring for Oyakata’s weakening body so that his mind can stay as sharp as a sword’s edge.

Muichiro was deemed mature enough to be seen as a hashira, why turn the world upside down?

This changed when Shinazugawa stopped at the mist estate. Scarce hospitality was expected, as there was nearly no one to take care of the house, especially not a woman. Yet, when being served a very poor tea, he spotted a set of colorful bundles standing on one of the chests. They were paper animals. A dragon, a butterfly, a rabbit.

They were still and delicate, like your silhouette standing behind the wisteria tree, diligently watching the children play.

Shinazugawa didn’t ask about the origami pieces. Instead he asked the supposed craftsman.

“He’s not a child.” He said, back resting on the trunk of a tree.

“I am aware, sir.” You pinched the green serpent hiding in your hands. You did not cease to watch the dark haired hashira on the other side of the garden.

“Then why do you keep giving him these useless things?”

“Because I’d like to show my gratitude, sir.”

“I don’t see you showing your gratitude to the other hashiras.” Despite having such pretty violet eyes he was able to make such an ugly face.

You went silent for a moment, eyes still zeroed in on the mist hashira as if looking away meant danger. Finally, you turned and faced him, looking at his chest, for it was unthinkable to match his gaze.

“You are absolutely right, sir. If you wish, I may offer you this token of my gratitude for your work.” You held the green serpent in your open palms. “But, sir, may I speak freely?”

“Do so.” Shinazugawa was a bit shocked at the amount of politeness that surrounded you. Guess that was the way around the Oyakata mansion. Suddenly, the wind hashira felt brash, like a boar facing a beautiful heron.

“Thank you.” And you looked up, straight at his face. Yours was calm. “If I may, I crafted this piece with the mist hashira in mind and I would be grateful, if you allowed me to pursue my initial intent. I am skilled in more than paper crafts and may show my gratitude towards you in a different way, if you’ll grace me with your patience.” With that you bowed your head and resorted to looking at his chest, as if his permission for speaking up had passed.

Shinazugawa felt anger bubble up his veins because he realised, it was clearly you who stirred this conversation and apparently, you reached a harbour. So you’ll have it your way no matter what, huh?

Suddenly, Lady Oyakata summoned you. Bowing your head again you skipped towards the woman who already disappeared behind the large sliding doors. Your steps were light and barely made a sound.

Next time the hashira met in the Oyakata mansion, you silently approached the wind hashira with a bundle in your hands. Bowing, you handed him an ohagi. You must have found out on the sly. Not bad, he thought to himself.

Then a rather odd thing happened. Muichiro stood right in front of you, eyes drilling into the wind hashira.

“Why are you giving him things?” The mist swordsman's blatant question irked Shinazugawa.

“Sir, I simply wished to show my gratitude. I was unable to give this to you the last time. Please, accept my humble offering.” And you pressed the green serpent into Muichiro’s hands.

He looked pleased, forgetting about your betrayal. Nodding his head he turned around, inspecting the paper animal from every side, careful not to crush it.

Shinazugawa was beyond irritated at this point. First, you wrapped Muishiro around your finger, gods knows why! Then, you gave him the same excuse, showing gratitude. Did you employ the same techniques while talking with both Muichiro and Shinazugawa himself! Goddamn, one was a grown man and the other was a—

In the end it was Shinazugawa, who failed to show the mist hashira proper respect.

He turned your way with the intent to scold you about just anything, but you were glancing at him, or rather past him. Your face was gentle, with a smile stretching from one rosy summit of your cheek to the other. You were looking at Muichiro turning the paper serpent in his fingers but Shinazugawa’s sudden movement made you catch his gaze.

For a second you looked at him with these soft, dreamy, honey-sweet eyes.

Shinazugawa felt more aggravated. The picture was scorched into his brain. You irritated him. In a gentle manner you were able to push through with whatever you wished. Like a river shaping the rocks. And now he will be thinking about this face, and about how protective the mist hashira was towards you. Apparently, he stepped in the middle of something… that he didn’t understand.

What a nuisance.

From that day on you kept handing him pastries. But he was always secondary to the mist hashira. He started to feel competitive. What could he possibly do you win over your attention, how could he overcome this motherly instinct of yours—

A very dangerous thought popped up in his head as he looked down on you. No, he could never have his own children. But there was something exciting about the thought. You, your gentle persistence, your dreamy eyes, your paper animals, all for a little someone that would be his, Shinazugawa’s doing.

He coughed, looking away. This was getting dangerous. And stupid. He should order you to stop bringing him sweets.

But he never did.

[justatypicalwizard]

Once I got an ao3 comment in cyrillic so I had to deepl translate it and it was very sweet

[justatypicalwizard]

[justatypicalwizard]

fascinated by this screenshot where they took out the poster's username and replaced it with a very small picture of alex the lion

[justatypicalwizard]

Maomao is an icon 💅🏻

[justatypicalwizard]

Might regrett this later but

Opening requests

For about 2 days. Writing:

Bakugo, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Link (BOTW/TOTK); possibly Giyuu, Kirishima

Ask about others if you want.

Hit me in asks.

[justatypicalwizard]

MARIN KITAGAWA | その着せ替え人形は恋をする

[justatypicalwizard]

This website so not cool that you stand out if you don't reblog shit

And stand out not in the positive way

a post will have 500 notes and only 48 of them will be reblogs. i promise you that reblogging something will not ruin your aesthetic on this utterly swagless website.

[justatypicalwizard]

We have to bring back physical concert tickets I'm so serious

[justatypicalwizard]

Sensitive file | K. Bakugo

A video filed away as sensitive. It's you and Bakugo on it. It leads you to the shore where you swim and a storm starts. Slight NSFW. WC: 2k Part one of two

The street lamps smudge over the black canvas of the night sky. The inside of the leather clad car is surprisingly quiet, only a whisper of the, otherwise, roaring engine detectable. The vehicle seems to be gliding over the smooth, black, dead asphalt embedded in the ground like scar tissue.

Equally deep scars snake around the hand that changes the gear, a higher number pops in place and you feel your back push into the soft passenger seat. Nothing inside the car matches the velocity that it moves with.

Glancing to the side you zero in on the glistering lights of the shrinking city — gold, white, blue. If you close your eyes you can imagine the buzz of the neons and the warmth radiating off the heated streets. But you leave the electric monolith of life behind as you turn to look at the road ahead.

The track is getting more narrow, hugging the sides of the sports car like a distant family member during an unwelcome reunion — suffocatingly. Your driver slows his pretty machine allowing it to finally breathe, not only cut through the air without a second thought. Upon opening the window you also inhale deeply, the salty smell of the sea makes a deep nostalgia surface.

What is this longing for? You think and say aloud. Bakugo bats his red eye at you to which you pay no mind, happily sinking in the strange mood.

“You mean?” The grown reaches your ear accompanied with a crunch under the tires. You just entered a rural area with roads as old as local ghost stories and the dried lips of women chanting them.

“Nothing in particular.” A vague answer, too vague for your liking right now. “Or maybe no, not nothing, but… have you ever felt longing for something that isn’t even yours in the first place? Like a connection to something that’s only in your head but ultimately it’s enough to make you feel good.”

You turn your face his way but as much as Bakugo wants to look you in the eye, he has to be patient about the rocky road. The tiny stones escape from under the heavy tires scratching the chassis which sits too low for its own good.

“I don’t know. I guess? Difficult question.” He sums up your messy confession.

“Well, that’s how the sea makes me feel — peaceful. No matter if it’s cold, hot, quiet or stormy.”

“Then it’s good we’re here, if you like it so much.”

You only shrug, gathering your things as the car comes to a stop in front of a small inn. Phone, wallet, shit you lost the chapstick because the lights inside the vehicle already went out.

Bakugo is outside, his silhouette dark, face hidden as if he was anonymously testifying someone’s sins in a trashy TV series.

You make your way up the stairs and inside the warm, light-themed room. Thin, white curtains frame the open windows. They dance in the wind catching the faint prophecy of a future storm in their silky arms. Behind a wooden counter the receptionist, an older woman, checks you in.

“Secrecy is quite important for me, if you don’t mind.” Bakugo taps his fingers on the oak. “I don’t want my friend here to have any problems with weirdos from the internet. Psycho fans, have you ever heard of them?”

The woman shakes her round head, the styled hair on top flies to the sides.

“They can come after you wherever you are.” The blonde seems to take a liking in scaring older ladies. A wicked toothy smile brings the corners of his face up and he hands in some cash. A key is traded in return. The small token of your accommodation lands in the back pocket of his pants.

“We’ll be back late.” The woman nods, not paying you much mind, too occupied with the thought of housing Dynamight, the hero.

With the first step you take outside you realise how blinding the inside of the inn was. Or maybe it’s just alarming how dark it is outside. Looking upwards you see stars, thousands of them.

You and Bakugo take course for the thing you rather hear than see in the darkness. Soon your feet dig in the sand and the slushy hum of the water is the only sound you can hear.

“Now you happy?” Bakugo asks, his voice comes from a few steps behind.

“Mhm.” You purr, stopping midway between the cement walking path and the sea. There is nothing in front of you besides the dark pit of the water and the starry coping of the world.

“I drove you all the way here so let’s at least have some fun.” Now he got closer, but you didn’t hear his stomping boots. That’s because he’s holding them in his hand.

The fluffy tail of a dark cloud passes over the shining disc of the moon, releasing the light. It’s full tonight. Now, up close you can see Bakugo’s features.

“You wanna come swim?" He asks.

“Okay.” And you’re both taking off your shirts.

The warmth sticks to your skin. There’s a breeze but it’s not enough to make you waver and break down in shivers. The water is warm, it’s going to feel like an embrace.

“Where you going like that?” The blonde asks. He points an accusatory finger your way, aiming at your underwear. “We’re skinny dipping.” You receive the same smile as the old lady behind the wooden counter. “What, you chicken?”

“No.” Like a mimic, you match his crazed smile and pull your bra off. He hooks his thumbs in his briefs and pulls them down. At the same time you shake off the panties from your ankle.

A wave sneaks up the sand and you see it as an outstretched hand, inviting you to dance. With a tiny laugh you run, legs stretching to the maximum, lungs setting ablaze, arms thrown up and forward.

You launch into the water and the only thing you hear are bubbles escaping from under your cannonball body. The cold electrocutes your nerves and your throwing limbs everywhere, the only thing in mind is to get up, up. Your head breaks the surface and you’re once again breathing. It’s pitiful, how a few seconds without something so trivial as air can turn you animalistic.

The cold of the water merges into warmth. Now you can feel the breeze slap your wet cheeks and you hide as high as your nose, under the wet blanket.

It’s relaxing, calming, humbling, to be practically alone against the mighty ocean.

Turning your head towards the coast, you swim on your back, lazily moving your hands to stay afloat. The sea is calm today, letting you rest in its rocking hold.

A collection of fingers embraces your head and you bump into an abdomen. Opening your eyes reluctantly, you see his wet strands sticking to his forehead. You also see his nose and lips. And eyes. Though you can focus only on one at a time, making your gaze run back and forth.

“You’re calm right now?” He, once again, asks. Bakugo Katsuki seems to have an awful lot of questions today.

“No, I’m stupid.”

“Huh, that I already know.”

“Renting a room with you alone for the night. Disappearing on the beach. Getting naked and swimming in the water utterly alone — it’s idiotic.”

“I don’t give a fuck.” His index digs into the soft of your cheek.

“You never do. You didn’t give a fuck about the video as well. Did you?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then why did you search for me afterwards? Why, suddenly, you were in the corridors, in the canteen, in the parking lot?”

Bakugo chuckles like he does when you ask something seemingly obvious. This man really believes that his mind sets the order for the whole world.

“Because I have the hots for you, stupid. And I’m really irritated that I saw myself going down on you but I don’t remember shit about it. It looked like something worth keeping in mind.”

You can feel the warm breath escape through his nose as he leans down for a kiss. It’s like balancing on the tip of the mountain of filth, one step forward and you're buried under the avalanche of him. You stay on top. You need to remain calm in order to keep the balance on the surface of the water.

“I don’t do one-night-stands.” He wants to comment but you shoot a finger and seal his lips. He obeys and it makes you warm between your tights. “Not ones I can remember.”

“So you want me as your boyfriend.”

“Or you want me as your girlfriend.”

A stronger wave comes crashing into you. Bakugo pulls you up, palming everything on the way from your neck to your lower back. It gives you a deja vu, you know you’ve been here, you explored his skin and warmth, yet you don’t remember anything. All you can do is recall the damned video of you two…

“Boyfriend.” Bakugo speaks, setting you on the wobbly sea bed.

“Girlfriend.”

Whoever admits first loses. You feel the game, the challenge, in his grip, you see it in his grin, you feel it as you lick your lips clean of him.

Another wave, an older and bigger sister of the previous, pushes you towards the shore. You look upwards and see that Bakugo’s crown of fair hair is no longer sprinkled with stars. Dark clouds gather in the sky, chasing the little grey bunny that hid the moon a while ago. The wind builds momentum. The old lady in the inn must have already closed the windows. A storm is coming.

Both you and Bakugo splash towards the sandy beach. You grab a fistful of your clothes and run towards a small wooden shelter-shack. Someone must be taking care of it during the day. But now, at night, it’s empty, alone, promising to keep all the secrets it heard. The doors leading inside are closed but the tiny porch enclosed in a wooden roof will be more than enough to wait the storm out.

You throw your shirt on the floor and sit down. Bakugo does the same but you don’t touch. The question hanging in the air hasn’t been answered yet.

“How do you imagine it? Being together.” You speak first, taking the lead.

“Simple, we’re together. We do all the stuff we do now but we’re, like, a couple. We don’t give a bat shit about what anyone’s saying.” He’s looking forward. “And what? Are you gonna be crazy about it or what?”

“No.” You shake your head. “I don’t want a difficult relationship. I want it easy, peaceful and sweet. Mine.”

“Like the sea.”

“I thought I told you the sea is not mine, it only gives me peace.”

“Whatever.”

“Are you gonna be like it?” You pointed towards the building waves. They started to crash over the shore, slapping the beach and tearing it apart, sucking it inside.

“There’s a storm oncoming, bad timing for a metaphor.”

“I’m ready for a storm here and there. But are you capable of being both? The storm and the calm?”

“Maybe that’s too early for wedding vows but I can swear I’m gonna be my best.”

A thunder tunes in with your laugh.

“Bakugo Katsuki, sitting naked, in the storm, on the porch of a shitty shack, in the middle of the week, somewhere by the sea, vowing that he’s gonna be the best for me. Well, I think I’m gonna take it.”

“I already took you, in front of the camera, so you’re a runner-up.”

“Shut it.”

You lean in and he meets you halfway. Your feet dangle over the edge of the filth mountain. Suddenly it’s no longer a slope, it's an abyss. So you dive and you fall on his lap. It's warm, your back is cold from the harsh slaps of the wind. He pays it no mind too occupied by your mouth.

“It’s a pity my phone is dead. I’d make another video for Hawks, so he can have a collection of porn starring us both.” He breathes into your ear. You shudder and laugh.

“It’s not porn. It's evidence filed away as sensitive.”

To be continued