Chapter Text
The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the birds were singing and Kirishima was utterly miserable. Laughter floated out from the garden party in progress, mocking him. He sighed and rolled one stiff shoulder.
“How long, Kiri,” came a voice from behind him, “are you going to pine for the princess like you’re in some bad romance novel?”
Kaminari walked around a hedge, his ears barely visible over the high collar of his coat. Kirishima glanced at him numbly and went back to watching the guests. You were standing among other people in similarly gorgeous attire, the centre of attention, as you should be. It was a ball to win your hand, after all.
“I’m not pining,” he said after a moment. “Knights don’t pine. It’s not manly.”
“Yearn, then,” Kaminari suggested. “Ache. Long for. Hanker.”
He wrinkled his nose. Hanker was a word you used for roast beef. You were about as far from beef as it could get.
Kaminari also winced in regret. “Okay, so maybe that wasn’t quite right. But no matter how you cut it, you’re still over here and she’s still over there.”
Kirishima looked down at his boots. “That’s how it should be. How it’s always been-“
“Yes, your family has been serving Fiore and the royal family for generations, and this is your blood-bound duty, blah blah. Honestly, who cares about something some crotchety old geezer came up with centuries ago?” The blonde courtier rolled his eyes. “Even if you did, there aren’t any laws saying you can’t love the princess and protect her at the same time.”
Kirishima’s jaw tightened. Maybe there weren’t any written formalities, but there unspoken rules all the same. And one of them was that he’d never be worthy of you, ever.
Kaminari leaned against a statue of a nymph, hands deep in his pockets. “What are you going to do if she gets married to one of these suitors?”
“My duty,” Kirishima bit out. “I’m going to watch over her, from a distance, like I always have.” Like he always would.
His friend looked dubious. “But how long-“
Kaminari got cut off as the hum of conversation suddenly fell silent. The assembly of nobles and royals turned to look as someone strode onto the lawn, intent. You were watching the newcomer, but Kirishima was watching you. Your brow furrowed in confusion as you tried to place the guest.
“Ahem,” said the announcer belatedly. “The Duke of Extalia, Katsuki Bakugou.”
You were almost grateful when Bakugou burst onto the scene, because it gave you the opportunity to pry yourself from the clammy grip of a man old enough to be your grandfather. You tried to discreetly clench your hands in the voluminous folds of your silk skirts. “Please excuse me,” you murmured, before drifting in the duke’s direction.
The glower he bestowed on you almost made you falter, but years of poise training took over and you kept sailing across the grass like you weren’t intimidated by his palpable annoyance. “Your Grace, welcome. A pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“I’m sure it is,” he muttered. You blinked when he glanced around with a grimace. “How much longer is it?”
“The party? Perhaps an hour more-“
“No,” he interrupted impatiently. “This whole sham. The ball, the stupid hide-and-seek, all the idiots panting to get married. How long do I have to endure it?”
You stared at him, nonplussed. You didn’t know whether to rejoice in finding someone who felt the same way you did, or be offended at being included in ‘the whole sham’. “Three more days,” you finally answered. “You already missed two of the total five.”
“Great, just great.” He scowled at nothing in particular and thrust his elbow at you. “Come on, I have to look like I made an effort or they’ll never let me hear the end of it.”
You took his arm, faintly feeling laughter bubble up in you. You had never seen anyone try so little. It was refreshing. “We wouldn’t want that. Should I smile brightly and let them think I am being won over by your charm?”
“Gods, no. Like Deku and Uraraka need any encouragement.” He seemed to be repressing a shudder. “For the record, I’m sure you’re okay and all, but I don’t want to get married anytime soon.”
You really had to laugh this time, because the irony was too great. He gave you a dead look in response as you promenaded. “But you’re here for the suitors’ ball anyway?”
“Because they made me,” he growled. “You have no idea how irritating my staff can be when they make up their minds. I should just have them all fired, or better yet, executed.”
You hid your grin behind your fan. “It would probably do wonders for public morale, no doubt.”
Bakugou smirked. “I am the state, so if I’m happy…”
You were about to respond when an avuncular voice boomed out. “Ah, if it isn’t my favourite niece!”
Bakugou went back to being testy at the sight of a huge figure, almost blinding in his red and gold regalia. You smiled in genuine pleasure and flicked the fan at him in mock reprimand. “I’m your only niece, Uncle Toshi.”
“And all the more precious for it! That’s why we’re having this ball, after all.” He noticed the fierce glare Bakugou was directing at him. “Greetings, young man. Are you enjoying yourself so far?”
“Like hell I am-“
“He means to say,” you cut in hurriedly, “that we should start with the archery competition now. I’m sure our guests are eager to prove themselves.”
Your uncle nodded solemnly. “I look forward to your demonstration, young Bakugou.” He strode off to make the announcement after flashing you that patented grin which was stamped on every coin in the country.
You slid your hand from Bakugou’s elbow. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I will see you in the field shortly.”
He nodded and went away with a distinct sigh of relief. You scanned the fountains, the flowers and the tables of refreshment until you spotted a familiar head of crimson hair. You picked up your skirts and hurried after him, all thoughts of proper behaviour gone at the sight of the one person you wanted to see the most.
“Kiri, wait!”
Kirishima froze at the sound of his name and swallowed hard. He’d been hoping to be spared the details, but apparently he was too late. He turned around with a guilty expression. “Did you call me, your highness?”
You frowned at him. “It’s just us and Kaminari. Why’re you being so formal all of a sudden?”
“You still have guests.” He looked over at the lawn pointedly.
You dismissed it with a graceful flick of your fan. “Oh, hush. I’ve known you since you were six. You’re deflecting. What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing, princess. We were just discussing tomorrow’s regatta and the threat of pirates. I still think it’s a bad idea.”
“Hmm, well, it’s too late to change our plans, but I’ll tell Aizawa you’re worried. Escort me to my chamber now?” You slipped your hand into the crook of his elbow before he could protest.
Kirishima ignored Kaminari’s distant snicker and tried not to focus on how close your face was, or how bright your eyes were. “W-why are we going to your rooms now? I thought you had to be there to watch the archery competition.”
“It’s because of the competition,” you explained patiently. “The fencing and magic demonstrations are right after, remember? I have to open all of them, and I can’t do it in this dress.”
“Ah, r-right.” He exhaled slowly and nodded after steeling his determination. “Let’s go, then.”
You hummed happily as you walked along, the melody weaving itself into the air in silvery notes. A light drizzle started up, gently misting the flowers and leaves. Kirishima risked a glance at you and nearly stumbled at the sheer beauty of it all. The dew had settled into the sweep of your hair like a crystal crown, a million tiny diamonds glimmering in the afternoon sun. He looked away quickly, heat rising to his cheeks. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t.
“Where were you leaving to, Kiri? It’s unlike you to not stay on guard when I’m around.” You looked up at him curiously.
He cleared his throat. “Just checking on the perimeter postings before the games started. And I wasn’t going to leave you unprotected, Kendo was going to swap with me.”
You nodded thoughtfully just as your bedroom door came into view. “I see. Well then, this should only take a couple of minutes, so just wait for me here.”
The door didn’t shut completely behind you, so he could hear it as you called for your maid. Ashido’s cheerful response came from somewhere inside. Kirishima took the interval to reflect on previous events. You’d never shown any interest in the potential candidates until today. But Bakugou had somehow made you laugh – a real laugh, not the polite one you reserved for society – in the short span of time he’d been there. “No wonder he’s a duke, huh.”
His dejected musings were cut short by the conversation inside. “So, did you like the Duke?” Ashido’s voice was hopeful. Kirishima’s heart started hammering faster.
“Well, he was very interesting. I’ve never met anyone like him before.” He could hear the smile in your voice, and it hurt more than a man could admit to. “Here, I’ve finished unlacing the sleeves.”
There was a rustle as yards of expensive silk fell to the ground. Kirishima coloured and hurriedly shut the door. He didn’t really want the limits of his virtue tested at the moment. He leaned his forehead against the cool blue marble of the palace and sighed. It didn’t matter what he felt or what he wanted. In the end, you would marry someone who was your equal, someone stronger and smarter than him. Someone like Bakugou, who, by all accounts was a force to be reckoned with.
“It doesn’t matter what I want,” he whispered, “because she doesn’t want me.”
His head snapped up as the door suddenly opened and you stepped out, adjusting the cuffs of your outfit. “Kiri? Are you alright?”
He shook off the reverie and blinked at you. “I’m fine, your highness.”
“Your highness? Now I know something’s definitely wrong.” He froze in delicious terror as you pressed a palm to his cheek. Your fingers slid to his throat, cool, perfect. “Strange, you seem slightly feverish. Maybe you should take rest-“
“No! I’m fine, I really am. Knights don’t catch colds. We should get going, if you’re ready.”
You pursed your lips, clearly not convinced. But you knew him as well as he knew you, so you didn’t comment. “Then lead the way, brave knight.”
To six year-old Kirishima, the palace was a living fairy-tale. Graceful spires soaring into the sky, ivory turrets with banners flying, people in colourful clothes, all surrounded by miles of lush gardens. It symbolized everything that made Fiore prosperous and great. He tipped his head back to take it all in and nearly fell over. “Whoa.”
“Easy there, young man.” A huge hand caught him and propped him up. “It’s all right now.”
Kirishima looked up at the owner of the giant hand and squeaked in delighted surprise. “All Might!”
The king laughed, a booming, reassuring sound. “I’ll never understand that nickname. Surely that’s not all I am, right, Aizawa?”
A sleepy-looking man in dark clothes and a huge grey scarf looked up from a scroll, bored. “I wouldn’t know, your majesty.”
All Might deflated a bit, but perked up again and beamed at Kirishima. “I hear the captain of the guard found you wandering on the streets. What is your name, boy?”
“E-Eijiro Kirishima, sir.”
“A fine name, indeed! Now, would you happen to have seen a girl about your age here? I’m afraid my niece has decided to play hide-and-seek again.”
Kirishima brightened. He was good at hide-and-seek. “No, I haven’t sir, but I can find her.”
“Good lad. Aizawa, where did they last see her?”
“Somewhere near the rose maze,” came a tired reply. Kirishima geared up to sprint off and make himself useful before realising he had no idea where this maze was. Aizawa pointed to a gate. “That way, kid.”
Kirishima grinned brilliantly and ran out in the indicated direction. He managed to catch the end of All Might’s sentence. “…maybe he’ll get her to open up, Aizawa.”
He searched everywhere. In the alcoves, under the bushes, behind the statues. After a while, even he was ready to admit defeat. None of the other kids ever managed to hide so thoroughly. He slumped against a tree with a huff.
“Ouch!” An apple thunked off Kirishima’s head painfully. He scowled and looked up at the offending tree. A pair of wide eyes looked back at him. He stared. Surely it couldn’t be that easy. “Erm, hi?”
You shrank back into the tree, leafy shadows dappling your face. Okay then, he’d just have to climb it himself. You looked around frantically as Kirishima plonked himself onto the same branch. He guessed you really didn’t want to be found. “How about I hide now and you find me?”
You shook your head, tears forming in the corner of your eyes. He panicked. A crying girl was super hard to deal with; they wailed and then they stamped their feet and everything was just noisy after that. He didn’t want to be the one that All Might scolded when you cried. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. I’ll just…sit right here.”
You sniffled and wiped your eyes with a muddy sleeve, nodding. You had leaves and twigs in your hair, and your dress was splattered brown. Kirishima felt positively clean in comparison. He swung his legs in the air and tried for conversation. “So…what’s your name? I’m Kirishima.”
You just kept staring at the ruined buttons of your frock, miserable. He blinked, confused. “How are we gonna play together if you don’t tell me your name?”
Your face scrunched up. He retreated rapidly, flailing his hands. You fisted your hands, took a deep breath and pointed to your throat. Kirishima tilted his head. “What?”
You pointed again, insistent, and shook your head. He sat there, baffled, until light dawned. “You can’t speak?”
You nodded firmly. His chest turned uncomfortably tight. Kirishima reached out and patted your hand. “It’s okay, that just means I’ll have to search harder when we play hide-and-seek.”
There was a moment of silence before you gave him a shy smile and nodded again. Kirishima grinned back and for a second, it felt nice to have a new friend. He glanced down at the ground and swallowed. It was so far away now. “Do you…know how to get down?”
You looked down, looked up again and shook your head. Great. Now he’d have to figure it out. He crept along the branch and took a breath. “Here, take my hand.”
You stared at the offered palm and looked at him again. He tried to make his voice soothing, like his father had done with the horses. “I promise I’ll get us both down. Just trust me.”
You pursed a rosebud mouth in thought for a while and finally clasped his fingers. He grinned in relief. “Here goes.”
And then he pulled you over the edge.
The archery competition was an absolute disaster, and you loved every moment of it. Somewhere along the way the contestants had gone from simply shooting arrows at targets to shooting flaming arrows at each other, and then to an all-out theatrical display of skill. Now one arrow exploded into a shower of sparks, followed by another, and another, until the evening sky was filled with fireworks. Someone else was manipulating the water in the fountains into dancing with the music. A celestial wizard had taken to using her summons to prank unsuspecting guests by moving their targets further and further away. It was all delightfully ridiculous.
“This is not how I saw this going,” said a confused Kaminari.
You watched with no little amusement as Bakugou exploded his target as a warning for someone who tried to get too close. His attendant in a butler uniform with puppyish eyes clutched at his green hair. “I don’t think anyone could have predicted the current outcome. Don’t you agree, Mina?”
She smirked. “Don’t look now, princess, but the ambassador has decided to join in.”
Everyone watched in silence as Yamada bounded up and began commentating on the spectacle like it was a jousting tournament. Predictably your uncle just seemed cheerfully oblivious to the whole thing, though you saw him subtly redirect a random fireball when it got too close to one of the maids. You could only imagine what Aizawa was thinking right now.
Kirishima rubbed his neck, perplexed. “I’m not entirely sure what to do right now.”
You regarded him from the corner of your eye. He seemed subdued, and vaguely distant the whole day. It disturbed you to no end that he refused to confide in you. You tried to ignore the prickle of unease that had followed you around for a month. Kiri would never abandon you. Right?
“Princess.” Mina’s voice was pitched low so only you could hear. “Are you still planning to tell him your feelings?”
Your bit your lip. “Yes, but I’m terrified. What if…he doesn’t talk to me afterwards?” Mina gave you a sympathetic look and touched your shoulder.
Loving Kirishima came as easily to you as breathing. You had been doing it for so long, years now. Your old cowardice had kept you from actually vocalizing it, though. Instead, you tried to convey it in other ways. You found excuses to see him, touch him. You kept dodging marriage proposals with flimsy excuses. You deliberately left doors ajar. But since he seemed oblivious to it all, you had finally screwed up your courage and decided a grand gesture was in order. The closing ball required you to dance with the suitor you most favoured.
“I’ll tell him after the dance,” you whispered. “That he’s only one I want. Ever.”
Mina nodded. “I’m sure it will work out, princess. Be strong!”
Only a long-instilled fear of your etiquette teacher kept you from burying your face in your hands. You could feel your cheeks heating up. “I really hope so. The only reason I even agreed to this nonsense was because I didn’t want to make my uncle unhappy.”
You sneaked another glance at Kiri. He was watching the chaos in befuddlement, dashing as ever in his uniform. That uniform had been the bane of your life ever since he got back from the academy. He didn’t believe in destroying shirts, so he didn’t wear one. Instead, the black jacket was open all the way to his waist, taunting you with sculpted expanses of chest and defined collarbones. His trousers were tucked into sturdy leather boots, the same rich brown as the belt that lay along his hips. Sometimes you wondered if it wasn’t him that should be receiving suitors in that get up. You looked up from your heated daydreams when the hubbub suddenly stopped.
The king dropped his hand when he got everyone’s attention. “Welcome to Fiore, honoured guests. I am glad to see so many of you trying for the princess’ hand. However, we must respect that it is ultimately her choice, and I will, of course, support her to the end. That said, as magnificent as this display has been, I believe you have not been given an adequate chance to fully showcase your aptitude. Hence, a test.”
You tilted your head in confusion. This wasn’t in any of the plans. Kirishima came to stand by your side, shoulders tense.
Your uncle continued. “What lady would not have her heart moved by gallantry? To that end, suitors, a challenge. Save the princess, and earn her heart.”
Save the princess? From what? You were right there. Kirishima was right there. “Uncle, what is going on-“
“Alley-oop!”
That cry was all the warning you got before the pirates kidnapped you and your friends.