Chapter Text
“Missed Opportunities”
“Your majesty?”
Katsuki tries to ignore his bothersome subordinate call as he navigates deeper into the cold void. The shimmering twilight orange sun rays barely scraped the edges of the sunken ship they explored. He couldn’t tell what was more annoying, Deku’s worried glare scraping the back of his neck or searching for something with such lack of light.
“Your maje—”
“If you say that word one more time, I will bury you deeper into the ocean with this ship.” Katsuki threatened. The ship seemed to groan in agreement.
Deku ignored the threat and swam closer to the prince, “I am just saying that we are running out of time before—”
“I know what day it is, my mother won’t let me hear the end of it!”
“Then perhaps we should go now before she realizes you’re gone?”
“Perhaps not.” The prince continued to dig through the rubble. He wasn’t worried about being late, the show couldn’t start without him. After all, he was the only son of seven who was born with the gift of the siren’s song. “Next time I’m bringing Tenya, at least he helps.”
“I don’t know what we’re looking for!”
Katsuki rolled his eyes and moved along the ship’s endless curves. This ship was massive with wide halls and furniture floating about. The entire boat leaned at the edge of the sand surface, barely perched over the endless darkness of the abyssal plain. The current was definitely going to whisk it into the depths where no mer dared venture. This boat only had a few days left before its ultimate demise and the prince wanted to explore every inch before it happened. He would retrieve any treasure he could to help with his cause.
“Ouch!” Deku squeaks as he rubs his head. The furniture around the ship has been rising toward the ceiling so Deku must have hit his head. “I hate this place.”
“You hate it because you’re scared.” Katsuki glared at him before continuing his search.
“Excuse me for not wanting to end up in the depths.” This time, Deku wasn’t following him, folding his arms as Katsuki ventured further down through a hole in the floor. The hole barely scraped his beautiful marmalade and black scales. The prince barely fit through but he made it to the hold. “They say the depths make you go mad, you know?”
“Spare me a history lesson.” Katsuki called back. This floor was pitch black and barely had any furniture. For a moment, he floated in darkness, but his marmalade scales began to omit a soft glow allowing him to see at least to the edge of his fins. Deku begins to ramble on as Katsuki tries to remember where he saw the human trinket on their last visit. Clink.
“—There is even speculation that a mer king went mad—”
Clink.
“Deku shut up!” Katsuki hissed, trying to follow the sound through the darkness was bad enough, but Deku talking in between made it worse. Rolling against the jagged wood floor was a shiny gold tube that he was searching for. He snatched it from the ground and held it up, “Found it!”
“Oh great, we can finally--!” Why had he stopped talking? Bakugou brushed his tail hard against the water swimming back to his companion.
“Deku?” He slowly peaked his head through the hole, the darkness loosening its grip on his sight as he searched the room with his eyes. No sign of him! He turned around to see a large gray shark at the edge of the room staring directly at him. Its jaw slowly opened with pride as he discovered his new meal and Katsuki dove back into the darkness.
The prince cursed loudly as the shark followed him down into the hold. The force of its body breaking through the hole and scattering debris everywhere. His heart pounded against his chest as he swam further away with the beast following close behind. The hold was huge but eventually he would have nowhere to turn and the cursed beast knew where he was thanks to his phosphorescent scales. He was practically a swimming bait beacon. Which may not have been a bad idea!
“Come and get it big boy!” Katsuki teased and the shark swam faster, jaws wide as he neared him. He felt his heart pound against his ribs as every muscle and fiber under his scales glowing as bright as possible. The light revealed most of the room, making it easier to navigate. Katsuki hastily made his way through the hold, dodging the masts as he made his way to the edge of the ship. Just inches from the edge of the wall, the prince turned around to face the beast as it barreled to him.
When the shark was just inches before him, he darted up the side of the wall away from the beast who slammed into the wall. The force shook the entire ship as if it too felt its pain. The shark floated to its side as it twitched in agony. Katsuki tightened his fist as he focused the warm magic in his veins, his finger tips glowing as he descended on the beast, pulling his arm back. The poor beast had no chance to recover as the prince slammed his fist against the rubber edge of his skin. The force of magic behind it slammed the beast through the wall and into the abyssal plain.
He took a deep sigh, his fists hot from the magic release. It had been a while since his last combat. He almost forgot how amazing it felt to use combative magic. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a chance to enjoy the victory because the ship made a loud groan before shifting over the edge of the perch. Shit, I am not getting home on time. He swam out the giant gaping hole and above the ship's hold to see the deck. He didn’t see Deku! Did he escape and get help? A giant mast pole barely scrapes by him and wakes the prince from his thoughts. The ship is slowly making its final descent into the dark depths of the ocean sending debris and sand all over the water.
“Y-your majesty!” He heard a cry. Ugh! Katsuki follows the sound of the cry swimming further to the crumbling ship. “Deku!” “Your majesty, right here!” Along the edge of the deck, Deku waves his arms trying to get the prince’s attention. He sees his servant stuck under a metal caliber that humans use. What did they call these?
“I am stuck under the canon!” Deku cries, trying to wretch his fin beneath the weighted weapon. A canon! Katsuki approaches the canon, pushing his shoulder against the cold metal as Deku tugs his emerald fins. They both groan with the ship as it makes its descent further into the depths. Darkness begins to swallow them and Katsukis scales glow as if fighting back.
“Leave me here your majesty.” Deku pants. “Save yourself!”
“No you idiot, I won’t leave you here!” Katsuki growls, pushing with both hands. His guess was the weight of the ship and weapon were holding them down. It was making everything heavier. They would both need more strength to escape and return to the light. He would never abandon any mer. His job was to protect his kingdom.
“We do this together.” Katsuki looked directly at Deku and held his chin. “Focus on me!”
“Yes, your majesty.” Deku responds. He takes a deep breath, focusing again on the warm magic flowing through his body. It rubs against the surface of his skin like a blanket and he takes a deep breath.
The prince sings softly, “Strength.”
A small jolt runs through his fingers and pricks Deku’s chin. Deku’s green eyes give off a light glow connecting to the prince’s magic. They took hold of the cold metal, pulling against the weight of the ocean, of the weapon, and of the darkness. The cannon jerks and with another tug Deku’s fin slips away with ease. Together they swim with all their might away from the darkness.
~
“97..! 98--” The crewmen shouted as a circle enclosed the excitement. Taishiro bulldozed through the clamoring crowd of drunken men. He shoved every shoulder and yanked every collar out of his path. “Move your hides, where is his majesty!?”
“99--!”
The soldier collapsed onto the ground, panting as heaping sweat rolled over his shoulder. His face was buried on the wood surface deck. His majesty, prince Eijirou, continued to push through and shoved his arms up shakily to a full plank position to everyone’s cheers.
“100!!” Everyone screamed. Eijirou stands quickly and shouts along with them before sharing high fives. The soldier who just lost lifted his body to his knees before bowing his head in shame. Eijirou turns to him and offers a hand with a wide grin.
“You almost had me!” The prince offered, panting and rubbing the sweat off his brow with his other hand. “Let’s keep working together to get stronger.”
The soldier sighed and pulled his silver hair back. The embarrassment still laden on his shoulders. His crewmates and fellow soldiers cheered and encouraged him to stand.
“I would’ve had you, I just had too many drinks.” He grinned and took the prince’s hand. The prince pulled him to stand and they shook on his victory. Tetsu was a strong worthy rival of the prince, Eijirou made a note to continue to spar with him on the mainland.
Taishiro grabbed the prince’s shoulders, “Great victory, sire. A word?”
Before he could even respond, his guardian was already yanking him out of the crowd. Eijirou never doubted his guardian’s strength, but the fact that he was able to keep such a grip on him despite his immense sweat was impressive. They stood at the foredeck just before the bow. The sea breeze mercifully soothed his hot skin.
“I thought I could go a little more, but today’s work really tired me out!” The prince beamed.
“Might I remind you that you are not a part of this--” His arms gesture every direction of the ship, “group of scallywags and crewmates. You are a prince!”
The prince folds his arms, “Royalty or not, it's not cool to watch these guys work all day. As a leader, I should be joining them in their efforts to make a safe voyage.”
“It will not be a safe voyage if you keep messing around. Think of your safety and image!”
“I thought of my image.” He frowns. “Hence me trading and donating all these goods to our neighboring allies. This trip was my idea after all.”
“Yes, at the cost of your mother’s sanity.” He sighs. “This wasn’t just for your image or good of heart--”
“Sir Taishiro--!” His voice warned. He wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.
Taishiro poked the prince’s chest, “Don’t mess around. I saw what else you did--you also snuck out to find something, either some new adventure or pleasure for your loins.”
“How did you--?”
“As your guardian and your trainer, I know more than you think. Your safety is the most important, future king. Start acting like it!”
Eijirou rolled his eyes before turning to look over the bow. He doesn’t know how his guardian found out that he snuck away a few times during their voyage these past few weeks. But it didn’t matter. He was going to explore and discover as much as possible before being trapped on his own land for the rest of his life. He wouldn’t widdle away behind castle walls like his father and grandfather. He was a man first and everyone should have the freedom to explore as he pleased. Or who they pleased.
“Alright, I get it. I’d hate to worry my parents more.” Eijirou sighed and began tying his hair back into a ponytail. This heat was unbearable. The worst part was, he wasn't sure if it was due to the actual temperature or getting caught.
“So then we shall return to the castle sooner?”
“Absolutely not! Tomorrow’s my birthday.” He beamed. “One more day on the ship wouldn’t hurt.”
“Of course, your majesty.”