Chapter Text
With the constant moving of the crowd, in the flurry of people, you managed to lose him. Which in honesty wasn’t the easiest thing to do with such a colorful looking guy. A strike of fire lit up from across the square, followed by gasps from passersby. You smiled, pulling Katsuki along.
There, sitting all by his lonesome at a wooden bench table was Shoto. He wore the proudest grin.
“Found us a seat.” His eyes widen at the plates in your hands, already glittering in delight. You swing a leg over, setting one in front of him. Katsuki takes a seat next to you, going about it a lot slower and fancy looking. You roll your eyes.
Digging into the pastry, it slightly burns your tongue, but you don’t mind one bit. You can feel someone’s eyes on you and sure enough as people pass by, they look on. Some with longing, some with envy, most just with curiosity. Remembering Katsuki’s words, you swallow. Picking off a piece of the fried dough, you offer it to him with soft eyes and quirked lips. He squints just fast enough to catch.
He takes it, and you watch as he experiences the wonder that comes with fried food. A piece of sugar marks his face, right under his lip, close to his jawline. For a second you think of just leaving it there, imagining the funny looks he’d get. With a chuckle to yourself, you reach up and wipe it away with your finger.
Strangers would go on to say he was sunburned, having spent all day in the direct heat would do that to a person. Still, you say he blushed. The prominent, arrogant, ever cocky King of Ace was blushing over a single touch.
He leans close to your face, half hidden by your hair. His breath is light against your neck, “You’re rather good at this. You been holding out on me?” You can hear the teasing in his voice, in the way his words tilt up, as if they’re smirking right along with him.
You respond in the same tone, aware of all the peering eyes. “Really regretting not just letting you walk around like an idiot.” It was said like a love poem, a declaration of undying devotion. A few hushed ‘awe’s’ were even heard from nosy passerby.
With empty plates and full stomachs, y’all head out for the markets. The colors are bright and full of life, pulling your attention in every way it can. Sellers called out their products and prices, claiming each offer better than the last. A certain storefront spoke to you in a way the others hadn’t.
There were dozens of clocks on display, each one unique and handmade. You felt entranced by it all, amazed by the amount of time put into details. A particularly fun piece was carved in the shape of a rabbit, one of the most well-known and beloved animals from your home kingdom of Hearts.
Shoto came up next to you, looking at the clock in your hands before scanning the others. A large grandfather clock was ticking the loudest, off in a corner. Shoto snickered, motioning to it.
“Reminds me of when we’d hide in the one at my place.” He explained.
You set the rabbit on the table, agreeing. When you would go spend time in his kingdom and your mom would come back to take you home, you both would hide in an old grandfather clock that had an empty compartment in the middle of it. Not wanting your days of reckless fun to end.
“Too bad we don’t fit anymore.” You replied with a laugh. He nodded towards the one you’d put down.
“That one’s nice too. I’m sure your mother would appreciate it.”
You watch the little hand click methodically with each fleeting second. It completes its round and starts up again. “Makes me think of home.” You mumbled.
“Keep this up, and people will start thinking you’re engaged to him.” Katsuki grumbled from behind you too. You’d forgotten about your scheme and the lie you relentlessly have to showcase. Annoyed, you grab his hand, gripping it in yours.
“We wouldn’t want that, would we now? Sweetheart?” You tease him, bringing your face as close to his as you dare.
“No.” He whispers. Shoto groans from the side.
“Get a room. You two disgust me.” He laughs at your glare and continues down the market. You’re already marching off to give him a well-deserved retort when something taps the side of your thigh. Pausing, you look down.
A little girl in a threadbare gown has stars in her eyes, along with a trembling flower in her hand. She stands before you, smile getting bigger by the second. She looks to you like a dream come true, like she’s waiting for reality to kick in, for the awake to hit.
You give her a soft smile back, temporarily letting go of Katsuki’s hand to kneel before her, get on her level.
“Hi, I’m Y/n.” She takes a second to reply, gaining confidence.
“I’m Marcie.” She squeaks out.
“Nice to meet you, Marcie.” You reply. She takes a step back, now able to stick out her arms straight in front of her. The flower turned out to be a flower crown, detailed and delicately woven. You lean your head down, allowing her to set it softly onto your head. Satisfied, she takes a step back, hands clasped. You stand, doing a quick twirl to show off her creation.
A woman stands behind Marcie, her features strikingly similar. Her mother. Thank you, she mouths. You shake your head, lifting a hand to your heart and making a motion of sending love her way. Doing another twirl for fun, you end up facing the stocky build of Katsuki’s chest.
The crease between his eyes is flattened, his eyebrows slightly raised, lip fighting a turn up. You curtsy, laughing. You couldn’t deny the flush creeping up your cheeks. No one could deny his own either.
The ride back to the castle was uneventful. And somehow, between walking around the village and acting as though you were madly in love with him, you didn’t mind sitting in close proximity to Katsuki. The warmth emanating from his arms as they rested on your leg while he held onto the reins was welcome.
“You were good-” He starts, “Or- I mean, you weren’t horrible today.” His attempt at a compliment made you laugh. You could feel him relax behind you.
“You weren’t horrible today either.” You reply. “See? Pretending to be in love wasn’t as bad as you thought.” He gave an unconvinced grunt.
Small flurries float down from the sky, surrounding you in a cold wind. Shoto rides up closer, crashing through any “moment” that was happening before. “Enough with the banter. Something tells me we should pick up the pace.” His eyes flick from the clouds above to the further, thicker ones gaining speed with every second. The small flurries have turned to full snowflakes. They cover the path at first landing and melting but soon gather on top of one another.
The guards who’d been following at a slower pace behind you two, ride up closer. One speaks, worry covering his face. “Your Majesty,” he lowers his head before continuing, “we have unfortunate news.”
Katsuki takes a hand off the reins, gesturing for him to hurry up and say it. The guard nods once, “This storm is looking to turn into a blizzard. The chances of making it back to the castle tonight are very slim. And unsafe.”
By now, the path wasn’t visible. The horses were taking slow steps, your own shivering under your touch. You hear Katsuki let out a loud sigh.
“Blizzards don’t just happen. Were none of you informed about this before we left the town?” He spits out. The guard flinches. You close your eyes, giving your brain a second to catch up and ignore the growing cold around your knuckles.
Turning your head and giving the man a reassuring smile, you asked, “What’s your name?” His lips shut, eyes looking back to Katsuki as if waiting for permission. You hated it. “Don’t worry about him. I’m the one asking.” You clarified.
“Altan.” He offered, voice barely carried and heard.
“Okay, Altan. Thank you for warning us.” He tried fixing his confusion at your reply while you went to face Shoto. You widen your eyes, speaking without words.
“I have an idea.” Shoto spoke up. “You all stay back here.” The group slowed, coming to a stop. He rode to the very front and shot a hand out. Strong flames engulfed the air, evaporating all the snow. It was muddy but at least not as cold. It lasted for a whole ten seconds before the snow covered it all again, with a fierceness stronger than before.
You wrapped a gloved hand around your stomach, gathering warmth where it was so sparse. Shoto turns back, “I never said it would work.”
The wind howled through the trees, twisting your hair from your neck. Your shoulders shake, teeth holding back from chattering, every hair standing on end. A heavy fabric gets looped over your head. A hooded cloak.
“Keep it up; I had the guards pack some just in case.” Katsuki’s scratchy whisper reaches your ear.
“Thank you.” You will the wind to carry back to him.
“Your Majesty, we know of an Inn for overnight stay.” Altan speaks up again from the crowd of frost-filled haired guards.
Katsuki takes a deep breath, about to argue. “We will not-”
You bring your heel back to hit his shin behind you.
He coughs, “Lead the way.”
The heavy armored guards gave a low bow of their heads before walking past us, their horses making lines in the snow. Katsuki’s arms looped back around to grab the reins. You retreat further back into the cloak, ending up right against his chest, his thighs fitting around yours. It’d be too obvious to jerk away now.
“I won’t stand for such a move next time.” He clenches and unclenches the leather in his hands, keeping the blood flowing. For a second you thought he was talking about you moving back, until you remembered that Katsuki has pride the size of any castle.
“I won’t stand for you not asking me my opinion next time.” You spit back. He was damned if he assumed you’d sit back and keep quiet. Like the small, submissive queen everyone thought you to be. Only another pedestal for the crown to be set upon. “Once we rule, we rule together or not at all.”
He stays quiet. Until, “I agree. I will remember next time.”
You sit up straighter. “Good. And I won’t kick so hard next time.”
“You’re telling me your goal wasn’t to give me a bruise?” He says in mock disbelief. You cringe.
“Surely it can’t be that bad.” You were convinced.
The snow keeps coming, making your breath come out as fog. The small Inn growing with closeness seemed like an oasis.
“Surely.” He repeated, quiet. And with an unintentional smile.