Chapter Text
Izuku wakes up with a terrible sense of dread.
He opens his eyes, sits up in his bed and stretches. He stands up. He wakes his mother.
"Mum, something's going to happen today."
Inko mumbles in her sleep.
"Mum, wake up, something's going to happen today."
"I hope it's something good," she says, sitting up.
"I'm not sure," he half-grins. "But that's a nice thing to hope for."
They go about their morning as usual. After breakfast and a quick sweep of the house, Inko grabs the garden tools and Izuku grabs a ladder. He climbs up on the roof to fix the drain while his mother tends to their few crops and watches him from below.
It's before noon when the sky darkens.
Izuku looks up.
Inko shrieks.
A dragon circles past them and lands in the clearing behind the house. Izuku shuffles to the edge of the roof and Inko takes a breath to calm herself from the heart attack the sudden visitor gave her.
"Deku!" Katsuki yells as he walks to the edge of the garden. The dragon's massive frame brackets the house as it walks to follow him. "Where the fuck are you?"
"Up here, Kacchan," Izuku says, one leg dangling over the edge and the other bent close to him. "You're being rude."
"Don't step on my plants," Inko says.
Katsuki looks down and takes a step back.
"Thank you," Inko smiles. "And good morning, it's good to see you again."
Bakugou huffs. "Whatever. Deku get down here, this shit is important for once."
"I think I rather like it up here," Izuku laughs. He stretches his arm to the side. "And I haven't seen you in a long time! How're you doing, buddy?"
The dragon huffs and leans its snoot into Izuku's hand. It gives a slow blink that Izuku returns.
"I'm good too! Kacchan hasn't been treating you bad, has he?"
The dragon reels back, gives a screech to the sky.
"Don't fucking laugh with him!" Katsuki says, punching the dragon in the knee. It doesn't look like the dragon realizes it. In fact it just takes flight with another hearty guffaw. "Forget it, just get the fuck down here, Deku!"
"Don't yell," Inko reprimands. "It was a really peaceful morning before you came along. It's such a shame to ruin it, Katsuki."
Katsuki frowns. "Sorry, auntie. This is actually serious business. It's about the royal family."
Izuku scrambles down the ladder. "What's going on?"
"I can't tell you, I just said it's about the royal family. You can't just speak these things left and right." He leans sideways to look around Izuku. "No offence, auntie."
"None taken. What do I have to do with the palace?" She waves her hand. "Go about your business."
"I need you to get Uraraka here," Katsuki says. "And then I have to take her to the palace."
Izuku puts a hand on his chest. "Ochako? But why?"
"I can't tell you," Katsuki growls. "Will you fucking help or do I have to go looking for her?"
"No no, if you say it's serious then I trust you, Kacchan." Izuku reaches into his shirt and pulls out his pendant. He brings it to his mouth. "Ochako?" he mutters to it. "Can you find me?"
Katsuki crosses his arms. "That's dumb as hell."
Izuku flips him off with his free hand. Katsuki flips back.
Ochako flies over the treeline a few minutes later. "Deku! Good morning! You called?" She lands, tucks her staff into her side. "Good morning, Inko!"
"Good morning, Ochako," Inko smiles back. "Your hat is lovely - did you dye it?"
"Yes! Doesn't it look great?" Ochako trots around the garden before she realizes they're one extra. "Oh. It's you."
Katsuki snarls. "Uraraka."
"Bakugou."
He growls. "We need to get to the palace."
Uraraka blinks. "The... palace, as in the real actual palace?"
"And here I thought you weren't as dumb as fucking Deku here. Don't prove me wrong now."
"Let's not do this," Izuku says, tucking his pendant back into his shirt. "Not today. Kacchan, what do you need us for?"
"I need neither of you," Katsuki grumbles. He brings a hand up and takes hold of the red fang in his ear. "But we're going to the palace so saddle the fuck up."
The dragon lands behind Katsuki. He climbs up to the base of its neck.
"Uh, no thank you, I'm not riding on that," Ochako says. "I have my magic." She pats her staff.
"Your magic is slow as all fuck and we're not getting any younger. Get the fuck on here before I drag you myself."
"Don't be like that," Izuku calls. "How long do you need us for?"
"The week, possibly." Katsuki looks at Inko. "I'm borrowing him, okay?"
"Can you promise me you'll bring him back?" Inko says.
"What, do you think I'm dragging him into battle? This is peaceful affairs, I assure you of that."
Inko nods. "Then I won't be in your way."
"Let me get my bag!" Izuku says, running into the house already.
Ochako approaches the dragon and its rider with a frown.
Katsuki plants an elbow on his knee, leans over the side of the dragon's massive neck to grin at Ochako. "What's the matter, sweet cheeks? Scared to go for a ride?"
"Katsuki Bakugou!" Inko calls.
Katsuki grumbles, but drops his pose and crosses his arms. "Fine, whatever."
Ochako looks into the dragon's eye. She brings a hand to its cheek. "Hey, Red."
The dragon huffs.
"You won't let me fall from the sky, right?"
It spins its head like a dog might shake off water. Katsuki jostles with the movement, but he's far enough from the head that he doesn't lose his balance.
"Not even if Bakugou pushes me?"
The dragon lifts its head to laugh so it won't blow smoke on Inko's garden.
Ochako grabs the sash across its withers and climbs up between its shoulders behind Katsuki.
"I'm ready!" Izuku says, running out with his bag slung over a shoulder and a sword at his hip. He pauses to hug and kiss Inko goodbye. "I'll see you when I get back, okay?"
"I'll have a warm meal waiting for you," she says.
"No no, don't go through the trouble! We don't know just how long Kacchan needs us for--"
"Like hell do I need you!"
"--so don't trouble yourself about it, okay?"
Inko gives him another kiss on the forehead. "Okay. Good luck, be safe. Come back in one piece."
Izuku grins. "I will."
Ochako reaches down and helps Izuku up behind her on Red's spine.
Katsuki pats the back of Red's neck. "We're good, buddy. Take us there."
Red spreads its massive wings and takes off.
The house grows smaller as they gain altitude. Ochako visibly stiffens, pales a little and stubbornly doesn't look down. Izuku sneaks glances at the forest below, or the house behind them, or the palace's towers up ahead. He's not too nauseous and he's very glad that his co-travelers and the planes of Red's wings take up most of his field of vision. He knows from experience those wide wings are more than strong enough to catch him if he happens to lean just a little too far.
Katsuki has no such qualms.
From where he sits, all that blocks the view is Red's long if large neck. Katsuki's legs hang on either side of it, his thighs getting moved every time Red bats its wings.
Izuku half-ducks and puts up his hand to cover his face from the whipping wind where he isn't completely hidden behind Ochako. "Now that there's no prying ears around for sure, Kacchan, can you tell us what's going on?"
Katsuki turns around in his spot, seemingly unconcerned with the prospect of losing his balance. Or that of getting vertigo from flying backwards. "First of all, let me make it fucking clear that neither of you is needed. You're just middlemen, got it? Especially you, Deku, you're pretty much dead weight. If Uraraka trusted me half an ounce in the air, you wouldn't even be here."
Ochako huffs. "As if! You come up on my staff where the only thing keeping you from falling to your death is me and we'll see how well you trust me."
Katsuki gives her a look. "I don't even know where to start on that sentence."
"Keep it in your damn pants."
Katsuki rolls his eyes. "The King and the Crown Prince got very injured early today, and aren't expected to recover by natural means. The other Princes all but sent a royal order for healing magic, but you know how rare that is." He looks at Ochako. "And you know someone who's more than well-versed in it."
Ochako nods. "The Recovery witch."
Katsuki nods back. "Can you summon her from the castle?"
"Is there anything that'd block magic there?"
Katsuki scratches his head. "There are protection rings here and there, but you don't need to call her smack dab in the middle of the infirmary, just outside the door is fine."
"So they sent for the Recovery witch," Izuku says. "And you... volunteered? When you've never even met her?"
"My old hag roped me into it. She's away for the month and I have to do all her dirty business so she won't lose her position. Shittiest timing ever, couldn't they get hurt some other time?"
Ochako goes to tilt her head, realises it worsens her nausea and fixes her posture. "If you really don't need us, then why didn't you just go to Recovery yourself? It couldn't have been hard to ask for her around her town, and with a dragon as fast as yours, it'd take you only a week or so to fetch her, right?"
Katsuki crosses his arms, looks far to the east, where the Recovery witch's town is. "I don't think they have a week."
Izuku makes a choked sound.
Katsuki groans. "It's faster to summon her! And she's old, there's no way she can ride on a dragon. Look, we're already on the way back to the castle and it's not even noon. Trust me, I know what the fuck I'm doing."
Izuku pats his chest, where his pendant is. "You can summon her, right, Ochako?"
Ochako fiddles with her single glove. "Yeah. It's not-- oh, Deku, no, it's not like what you do to call for me. It's not even what Bakugou does to call Red!"
Katsuki grumbles. "Watch it."
Red laughs under them.
"It's tough to explain the specifics, but summoning between witches isn't like that," Ochako says. "For one thing, it doesn't require me to have something that is fundamentally hers. Don't worry, okay?"
Izuku frowns. "But how can you call a specific person without carrying a part of them with you?"
Ochako tries to turn to look at him. Red jostles a shoulder to counterbalance her. "A witch's mark is her magic. As long as I know what kind of magic I'm calling for, there will be an answer."
"It'd fucking better," Katsuki growls, turning back around to face forward again. "Otherwise this is a fucking waste of time that not only annoyed the shit out of me, but also possibly cost two royals' lives."
They're silent for the rest of the flight. The towers in the distance get closer and closer until the palace below them is visible.
It's maybe twenty more minutes to the castle when Red looks down and starts losing altitude.
Katsuki leans sideways to look over his knee. "Oh no, don't you fucking dare."
Red whimpers.
"Dude, no."
Red spins its head and lands.
Katsuki growls.
There's a person in a tree, at about the same level they are on Red's back.
"Get on," Katsuki says. "I'm counting to ten and we're leaving, whether you come or not is irrelevant. One."
The person gasps and scurries up Red's back, behind Izuku. Red takes flight again.
"Wow, that was insane. Didn't expect to fly today. Anyway, I'm Mina, nice to meet you guys."
Izuku slouches, embarrassed to have a stranger at his back. "Izuku."
"I'm the Gravity witch," Ochako says. "Sorry I can't turn to shake your hand, I'm always nauseous when I'm flying by someone else's means."
Mina laughs. "Don't worry about it! Shaking hands is meant to testify that you're unarmed, and we're all carrying here." She has to shout to be heard against the wind. "What's going on, Katsuki?"
"King and Crown Prince got injured," he yells back. He points at Ochako. "She can summon a healer."
"Little Prince is hurt?" Mina frowns. "How did he manage?"
"Little?" Izuku yelps. "Doesn't the oldest get the crown?"
"Not this time," Mina says. She furrows her brows. "Don't you know? The King chose his youngest son to be his heir."
"I didn't know..."
"Don't feel bad, Deku!" Ochako tries. "I didn't know either!"
"For fuck's sake," Katsuki growls. "Who cares what order he was born in, he's hurt and you can call a healer. End of story."
"How did he get hurt?" Mina says. "I mean uh, how did they get hurt?"
"Official record says bandit attack while hunting," Katsuki huffs. "If you can keep your mouths shut, take my word and know that they hurt each other."
Mina makes a frustrated yell that she directs to the sky rather than poor Izuku's ear.
"I know," Katsuki growls. "I think they've been at each other's throats for a couple of days, their sparring has been shitty as hell to watch. The bandits picked the wrong day to attack."
"Wait, so the attack did happen?" Ochako says.
"Would be pretty fucking hard to explain the injuries to the whole hunting entourage otherwise, yeah? Maybe they did manage a hit or two, I don't know, but how stupid do you think they'd be to go after the Fire King with fire magic? This is insider shit, I'm telling you."
"So the King and the Prince burned each other during a bandit attack while they were out hunting with an entourage," Izuku mutters. "And it's bad enough that you think they don't have a week."
Katsuki growls, and for once, doesn't answer immediately. "This is just a guess, but I think they used the attack as an excuse to fire at each other. And because they're royal and petty, they meant it. So they did get hurt from an attack that should've been a piece of cake for either of them, and the bandits got the chance to actually hurt them." He looks over his shoulder. "I only caught a glimpse of them, anyway. Sure they had burns, but they were bleeding, too."
A chill runs down Izuku's spine.
"Are they conscious?" Mina asks.
"Were you not listening? I only saw them for a moment. I don't know."
"Then who sent the order for the healer?"
"The other Princes. Actually scratch that, they were panicking left and right, they damn near gave themselves heart attacks. The Princess sent for me and when I got there, the eldest Prince sent me off as soon as he could get the words out."
Mina picks a spot on Red's wing to look at. "And the Queen?"
"Same as always," Katsuki huffs. "Stop getting your hopes up."
It's not long before Red lands them on the royal side of the inner walls. The palace court is more than large enough to fit its impressive wingspan. So large in fact, that there's another dragon there.
As they climb off of Red, Izuku can't help but look to the beast with sparkles in his eyes.
This one glints silver, and somehow manages to be larger than Red. The sash over its neck is black with intricate white markings on the red trim. It has the same markings around its eyes and Izuku could swear they're are tattoos. Can scales be tattooed?
He doesn't get the chance to investigate before the two dragons knock horns and take off with matching trills.
"Yo, Awase!" Katsuki calls.
A man who had been standing near the silver dragon turns. "Huh?"
"Can you make sure Mina doesn't grab Red and take off before I come back?"
Mina puts a hand to her chest. "Katsuki, don't you trust me? Your words wound me!"
"My sword will wound you if I come back out here and don't find Red," Katsuki glares. He jabs a finger at her. "Go be a bother elsewhere."
Mina brushes his cheek. "I wouldn't steal Red."
"You would. And you have. Multiple times."
She laughs. "Okay tough guy, I'll be around, then. Go do your business."
Katsuki glares after her as she walks away.
Awase fiddles his hands. "Do you still need me for anything or...?"
Katsuki turns and heads into the palace. "Fuck off."
For lack of a better direction and still shell shocked that Katsuki would let someone be as soft as a gentle caress with him, Izuku and Ochako follow him through the gates.
"They're with me," he says every time their presence is questioned.
It works until they're stopped in front of a fancy door and the guards ask specifics.
"This witch," Katsuki points, "is acquainted with the Recovery witch that I've been sent for. She can summon her."
"And what about this guy?" the guard asks, gives Izuku a once-over.
"I need him here," Ochako says. "For grounding."
"For what now?"
"It's a magic technique that helps with summoning an entire person." She crosses her arms. "You don't need to understand it, just accept it."
The guards exchange a look. "Fine." They open the door.
The room they go into is maybe as big as Izuku's kitchen. The only furniture are the empty seats at each side. They make the room look more like a hall leading from one door to the other, than a room of its own, and that's probably what it is.
"Okay," Katsuki says. "That door leads to the infirmary where the two are, and it's protected like I told you, so you need to do your summoning from here. Good?"
Ochako looks around. "Yeah, good."
The door to the infirmary opens and a pale head pops out. "I knew I heard your voice!" The woman slips out and closes the door behind her.
Katsuki nods low, which is as close to a bow as he'll ever get.
"You were so fast," the woman continues. "It's barely sunset, you know?"
"I thought we were pressed for time," he says. His attempts to school his usual growl into something more sociable would be funny if they weren't terrifying.
"We are, and we thank you," the woman says. "And who have you brought with you?"
"This is the Gravity witch, and this is a friend," Katsuki says, gesturing at each of them in turn. "Guys, this is Princess Fuyumi."
They scamper to bow.
The Princess offers a smile. "What about the Recovery witch?"
"I'll only be a moment," Ochako says. She looks at the Princess' circlet, belatedly notes that the gem on it is white, not the royal red. "To summon her, I mean."
The Princess' smile changes, and she covers it with a hand. "Can I watch?"
"B-By all means," Ochako says.
The Princess takes one of the empty seats. Katsuki picks another seat, on the other side of the room.
Izuku takes a step to Katsuki, then looks back to Ochako. "Wait, do you need me for, uh, what did you call it?"
"Grounding," Ochako offers. "And it's fine, I can see you."
Izuku nods, and sits on Katsuki's side of the room, but far enough that he's out of slapping range.
Ochako taps her staff on the floor. It stands on its own when she lets go.
The Princess gasps.
Ochako takes her one glove off. It makes quick friends with the ceiling. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and calls.
From an outside perspective, it looks odd. The staff wraps sideways as if pulled to the side, but remains standing. The gem on it darkens, then lights up brighter than it was, and it's only a few seconds before there's one more person in the room.
There's no big flash or fancy smoke or other things like to describe summonings with. The Recovery witch simply materializes out of thin air without fanfare.
Ochako brings her hands together and catches her staff before it falls.
Her glove lands on the floor. Izuku picks it up when he stands.
"Okay, who's hurt this time?" Recovery asks.
"Allow me," the Princess says, standing. "My father and brother are just through this door."
Recovery gives a long-suffering sigh. "Lead the way, your Highness."
With the two women behind the door, Izuku finally lets himself freak out. "Holy shit holy shit holy shit I just met the Princess. The Princess!"
Katsuki rolls his eyes. "Yeah whatever, everyone knows the Princess. Wait 'till you see the King. Or the Queen! Man, if you meet the Queen before I do I'm gonna be so pissed." He turns to leave.
"Wait, you've never met the Queen?" Ochako says. "I thought you knew the royal family."
"No one's seen the Queen in years," Katsuki growls. "I'm fucking leaving."
"Shouldn't we wait for them to come out?"
"I only had to bring the Recovery witch here, and here she is." He flips them both off. "Bye."
Izuku and Ochako look at each other awkwardly while the voices behind the door become plentier.
It's quite a few minutes before Recovery and the Princess walk out again.
"Gravity, dear," Recovery says. "Could you help me back? I'm afraid that took quite a bit out of me."
"Oh- oh sure!" Ochako says. "Of course, here--" she takes the Recovery witch's hands.
Izuku blinks, and Recovery is gone.
"I thank you," the Princess says. "My father and brother would like to thank you as well. Would you care to step in?"
"A-are you sure? I barely did anything..."
"They'd like to thank you both for bringing the Recovery witch when she was most needed." The Princess blinks. "Where is Bakugou?"
"He um, he left," Izuku mumbles. "He said he did his job, so he wasn't needed anymore."
The Princess shakes her head. "Stubborn. No matter, please come in, they'd really like to thank you in person."
"Um." Ochako glances to Izuku before she steps in the infirmary with him in tow. "Pardon the intrusion," she mutters under her breath, as if she walked into someone's home and not in a royal space of healing.
Not that it shows; the King in on his feet and the Crown Prince is seated upright on one of the many beds in the room. Both of them are wearing fluffy capes around their shoulders that cover them entirely. A number of nurses are giving them space.
"This is the Gravity witch, and this is her friend," the Princess says.
"My thanks to you both," the King nods. He then turns and leaves through another door without so much as excusing himself.
The Prince stands and nods as well. "Please accept my deepest of thanks. Without your contribution I wouldn't be standing right now." He looks to his sister. "Did Bakugou leave?"
"I'm afraid so."
The Prince shakes his head. He looks back to Ochako and Izuku. "Would you care to join me for dinner? It's the least I could offer."
"We wouldn't want to intrude," Izuku says, miraculously without a single stammer.
"Nonsense. You helped save my life. I invite you to dinner, then, and if you see Bakugou, please invite him along too. Tell him he has a plus however, he'll know what it means."
The Princess puts her hands together. "How lovely! Would you mind if I also joined you for dinner, brother?"
"Quite the opposite." He starts for the door they'd come in from, not the one the King left through. "Do you two have anywhere to be right now?"
"Not really," Ochako says. "Bakugou brought us, but he didn't specify where we could go, or anything..."
The Prince rolls his eyes. "Typical. I'm sorry that you have to deal with him." He goes through the door.
The conversation doesn't feel over, so Izuku and Ochako follow him. The Princess doesn't.
"Of course, I can't say that he's pleasant company, but his time with us has been bearable," the Prince continues after he makes sure they're still with him. "How do you two know him?"
"I only know him through Izuku," Ochako says. "We're not on the best of terms, but I can tolerate him at best and stand my ground against him at worst."
The Prince makes a noise that could pass for a laugh on someone as stoic as him. "That's impressive. Not many people can do that. I myself usually find myself just shy of the 'tolerate' side of that scale. And what about you? Izuku, was it?"
"Y-Yes, Izuku Midoriya," he says, with a mental kick to himself for stuttering. "I've known Kacchan as long as I can remember. My mother and his have been friends since long before either of us was born."
The Prince looks over his shoulder. "Kacchan?"
Izuku wondrously doesn't choke on his own spit. "Um, like I said, I've practically known him from the womb."
They hadn't realized, with the Prince holding conversation, but when the gates open to the court, they finally notice that they've been taken outside.
The first thing that greets them is Katsuki and Mina in the middle of a yelling match.
"There you are!" the Prince calls. His voice carries loud, even in open space, and the screaming stops. "I can't believe you just left like that, Bakugou. And made me walk all the way here when you know I'm injured."
"No one fucking asked you to get in my face," Katsuki shouts.
Mina punches him in the shoulder. "Hey, knock it off! Don't cuss at the Prince! Eijirou, tell him!"
Eijirou shrugs. "I mean... we haven't been kicked out for it yet, I doubt they'll kick us out now."
The Prince has walked close enough that they don't have to yell to be heard anymore. "Ah yes, because I do love being cussed at so much. It makes me feel special."
Eijirou steps between Katsuki and Mina, probably to keep them apart. "Anyway, it's good to see you're back on your feet."
The Prince nods. "And it's good to talk to you again. It's been a few days. You... do have actual clothes, right?"
Eijirou looks down like he wasn't aware he was wearing what looks to be an honest-to-God stola. "I mean, technically, yeah. It's a bit of a bother to wear them though."
"Well, I'd hope you can be bothered to go through the trouble, if only for the evening. I must invite you all to dinner."
Eijirou blushes and starts waving his hands. To his left, Mina laughs.
"No, I mean yes, I can, but you really don't have to, and um, I'm sure it's trouble..."
"Are you otherwise preoccupied?" the Prince asks, tilting his head. "I can think of no better way than a dinner to thank you quite literally for my life."
Katsuki crosses his arms and scoffs. "And why the fuck should I bother with your shitty thanks dinner?"
"Because Ashido, at least, seems excited to attend."
"Oh yeah," Mina says. "Guys you won't get me out of this invitation if you have to drag me kicking and screaming."
"You didn't even fucking do anything," Katsuki growls at her.
"You have a plus however," the Prince says. "Feel free to bring your, ah, companions, if you so wish."
Katsuki glares daggers. Eijirou beams.
Mina jumps to the Prince and hugs his arm. "Thank you so much! We'll be there, pinky promise!"
The Prince doesn't seem fazed. "A pinky promise from Pinky herself? I can't wait to see you there, then."
"Um," Izuku goes. "What- what's a plus however?"
Mina lets the Prince go so she can turn to Izuku and grin. "It's an extended invitation that lets you bring however many people you want. Prince Shouto's way of getting us all together. I'm pretty sure he's trying to marry us."
"Me?" the Prince says, tone completely flat. "I'd never dream of it. Why, how could you think such a thing?"
Katsuki rolls his eyes. "Maybe it's the fact that you've fucking said, multiple times, that there's really no law that's explicitly against it."
"Or that one time," Eijirou laughs, "like, in case we didn't catch on, that you went and got rings planned for us."
Ochako blinks. "Who's marrying whom?"
"No one is marrying," Katsuki growls.
"They're all marrying each other," Prince Shouto says.
"We're fucking not!"
"Re-think that sentence," Mina says. "Really, just take a moment and think about what you just made me hear with my own two ears."
"Fuck you," Katsuki snarls.
"Yeah that's the point," Mina elbows him. "I saw our boys at the market earlier, we should go find them before they pick another fight."
"You have so little faith in them," Eijirou says. "They don't pick nearly as many fights without Katsuki around."
"I can't imagine," Prince Shouto says, but Katsuki's already turned to leave. "I'll see you all at dinner," he calls after the three of them.
Izuku looks back and forth between the Prince and the direction to the market. He turns to Ochako. "Should we go after them, or...?"
"Um," Ochako says, eloquently. "Actually I had a question, your Highness."
"Go on."
"There was a silver dragon here, before."
Prince Shouto looks up and off to the west, where the last of sunlight is still clinging to the sky. "It's over there."
Ochako looks. In the distance, maybe as far as the castle's outer walls, two shapes circle each other in the sky. And indeed one of them reflects light a little too bright to be anything but the silver dragon from earlier.
"Its name is Real Steel," Prince Shouto says. "The other one - have you met the other one?"
"Isn't it Red Riot?" Izuku squints towards the shapes.
"No, Kirishima just left on foot, didn't he? Here, let me call those dragons for you."
Ochako and Izuku follow the Prince, again, but this time it's only to the side of the court, near the walls.
"Awase?"
Awase does a hilarious double-take before he and whoever was playing cards with him both stand at attention. "Prince Shouto! What are you doing out here so late, unescorted?"
Prince Shouto just smiles. "Can you call those two here?" he says, pointing to the dancing dragons.
Awase frowns and brings a hand up to the coin hanging on his headband. "Um, can I ask what for?"
"The Gravity witch would like to meet them."
Awase and his friend both look at Ochako with wide eyes.
"You're the Gravity witch?" the friend says.
"I am," Ochako says. "I don't think I caught your name."
"I'm Kuroiro Shihai," he says. "I'm studying magic too."
Ochako blinks. "Really?"
"Yeah. I can't believe I'm meeting the Gravity witch."
Ochako grins at him. "Hey, here's a tip from an insider, yeah? Between witches, we call each other by the title alone. Once you study enough, you can call me Gravity, how does that sound?"
Kuroiro huffs a laugh. "Sure, okay."
"What do you study?"
Before he can answer, however, two dragons land near them. One of them is Steel. The other is green and its scales are oddly pronounced, jutting out where Steel's are smooth and shiny.
Izuku blinks. He looks back to Awase. That coin on his headband... isn't a coin, is it? It's not a circle, its surface is too smooth to bear the carvings of a coin and it's thin enough that it could be bent by hand if Izuku wasn't sure it'd be every bit as tough as the rest of the scales on Steel.
When he turns back around, the green dragon is gone, a young man with braided hair standing in its place.
Steel nudges its snout into Awase's hand.
"Hey, come on," Awase says. "There's someone who wants to meet you!"
Steel blinks. It easily folds on itself until it takes the shape of a man. He fumbles with what was a sash on a dragon but is too big to be anything but a blanket on a man, manages to wrestle it into a decent-looking stola quick enough that he only flashes them a little bit.
Out of curiosity, Izuku looks to Awase's headband. The silver scale is still there. Awase takes some cord out of his pockets and hands a piece to each of the odd men in front of him.
"Well," Awase says. "Um, this is Tetsutetsu, and this is Rin. Guys, this is the Gravity witch."
Tetsutetsu ties up the cord around his waist to hold his clothing together before he speaks. "No way, another witch? Wait, you're an actual, proficient witch?"
"I am," Ochako says.
"She summoned an entire person just earlier today," Prince Shouto says.
"That's not even in the gravity department of magic," Izuku says.
Tetsutetsu grins, and his teeth are all sharp and wide. "Neat. Whatcha need, then?"
Ochako sets some of her weight to her staff. "I had a silly question."
"Lay it on me!"
"You, uh. The marks around your eyes."
Tetsutetsu pauses. "The what-- oh!" He gives a very slow, very pointed blink. "These are my lashes."
"Holy shit," Izuku says before he can stop himself. "And Real Steel?"
"I don't know how those got there, to be honest," Tetsutetsu shrugs. "One day I woke up and there they were."
"Did... Did you wake up, and there they were?" Izuku asks, almost scared to know.
Tetsutetsu steps closer. "Hey. Hey, come take a look, I promise these chompers don't bite." He puts a hand on Izuku's shoulder and closes his eyes.
On his eyelids is a miniature version of the markings at the ends of his clothes, and therefore is a direct reflection of the ones around Real Steel's eyes.
"Holy shit," Izuku repeats, watches them glint to what little light there is left before Tetsutetsu opens his eyes and hides them behind his lashes again.
"That's really pretty," Ochako says. "You don't know how they got there or what they mean?"
"Nah," Tetsutetsu shrugs. "His Highness here told me they mean stuff like strength and vigor, right?"
Prince Shouto nods. "Strength, vigor, bravery, longevity and health."
Ochako turns to him. "You could tell all that?"
"I can use some magic, myself," Prince Shouto confirms. Someone shouts before he can continue.
"Your Highness!" a man from the palace shouts again, running to them with alarming speed. "Your Highness, I was looking all over for you! Let me escort you back."
"Of course," Prince Shouto says. He waves to the four who stay there, and motions for Izuku and Ochako to follow him and the man. "Iida, this is the Gravity witch and her friend. They brought the Recovery witch to us this evening."
"We are forever grateful," Iida says.
"And you two, this is my knight. Easily the best man inside the palace."
"Nonsense," Iida says, waving his hand. "How can I be the best man, when you hold that title, your Highness?"
Prince Shouto looks over his shoulder at the two following. "You said witches call each other by title, correct?"
"Yes," Ochako says. "As an acknowledgement of equality."
Prince Shouto gives an actual smile. "Could I do that, then? I practice magic, but I don't hold a title."
Ochako thinks. "Has this never come up with any of the other witches who pass through the palace?"
"None of them ever stay long."
Izuku looks between the two of them, belatedly realizes that Ochako hasn't said her name once since setting foot in the palace.
Iida holds the gates open for them. "The dinner you arranged is just about ready," he says to Prince Shouto. "Who all did you invite?"
"Bakugou and his, and these two. And my sister. And you, if you have the time."
Iida nods. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
Prince Shouto nods back. "I understand."
"You can call me Gravity," Ochako speaks up, "If you allow me to call you by your last name."
"Unacceptable," Iida frowns. "That is disrespectful and absolutely--"
"Then you can," Prince Shouto says. "In fact, since you seem in a mood for deals, let me offer you a better one: tell me your name, and you can call me by my first name."
"I couldn't do that, Todoroki," Ochako says, testing the surname. She blinks, licks the back of her teeth twice. "Huh."
Todoroki grins. "What does it taste like?"
"Like ash," Ochako frowns. "But cold."
"Sounds appropriate." Todoroki places his thumb to the middle of his forehead with a glint in his eyes. Now that he's pointing it out, it's hard to ignore how his hair splits so evenly. "That's pretty much what my magic is all about."
"Fire and ice," Ochako nods. "That would indeed be hard to form into a title."
Todoroki nods. "And what about you?" he asks Izuku. "What will you call me?"
Izuku blinks. "Can I call you anything other than what I must?"
Todoroki sighs. "I can't describe to you how tiring it is to hear you fakely speak to a fake person. You're a real person named Izuku and I'm a real person named Shouto, but you insist on being some civilian talking to a Prince as if that position is more important than the fact that we're speaking face to face."
Izuku glances to Iida, looking for guidance, but Iida is just staring at Todoroki.
"Then, then if I'd be allowed to call you by your last name as well," Izuku says at length.
"I'll trade mine for yours," Todoroki offers.
"It's Midoriya."
"Midoriya it is, then. Now let's go eat, shall we? And let's hope Bakugou didn't bail again."
Iida opens another door for them. This one leads to a large room with a round table and all other details become forgotten when Eijirou stands up to greet them.
"You guys made it!" he says, running up to them. "Iida man, you're eating with us?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Bummer. Anyway guys let me introduce you, I realized I didn't, earlier." He pulls Izuku and Ochako to the table by the wrist. "This is Ashido Mina, sorry I didn't introduce you before, I forgot, and that's Sero Hanta and that's the Charge witch. And you know Katsuki."
"The Charge witch?" Ochako repeats. "Really?"
The Charge witch gives a shrug. "That hard to believe?"
"I'm the Gravity witch," Ochako says, with a flutter of her hand that can't be anything but a quick incantation. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
The Charge witch visibly perks up, swirls his hand in return. "Pleasure to meet you, too!"
"Oh, and this is Midoriya Izuku," she says, hooking her elbow around Izuku's. "My friend."
"Enough of that, grab a seat," Eijirou urges, walking around the table to sit where he'd been before. He jingles as he goes. Apart from the actual, normal clothes he took the trouble to wear, there's a scatter of jewelry on him.
"I'll be departing," Iida says once they're all seated. "I'll be around. Call me if you need me."
"I will," Todoroki nods. "Thank you."
Izuku feels weirdly underdressed.
The two witches can wear and do what they want and Eijirou is dressed all prettily and the Prince is outshining everyone with the circlet and the expensive textiles, but Izuku compares himself to the other three and still feels out of place, old bag over his shoulder and sword heavy at his hip. Mina and Hanta aren't visibly armed but Izuku knows magic a little too intimately to trust that kind of pink complexion, and anyway horns are dangerous no matter how they're curved.
Katsuki has his chest covered, even. Not by a shirt - goodness no - but his cape wrapped around him like a palla.
Oh well. It's the effort that counts. It's funny to know that even Katsuki of all people won't share a dinner with the Prince with his tits out.
The Princess comes in, then, and barely has time to sit next to Todoroki before a large man starts placing food on the table.
He comes and goes a few times, and a thinner man brings some food out as well, but in the end it's only the larger man that takes a bow and accepts their thanks.
"This is a lot of food," Ochako says.
"It's a royal dinner," Hanta shrugs. "What were you expecting?"
"Will we even be able to finish all this?"
Eijirou laughs. "I'll eat what you can't."
Ochako hugs her arms around her plate. "Over my dead body. This is my food, back off."
Todoroki watches the exchange with a quirk of his brow. "I know this is... kind of too much, but Kirishima here hasn't been a man for a couple of days. His human body must be starving."
Eijirou looks torn between embarrassment and agreement, settles for a blushing nod. "I've... had a few chances to look like this recently, but I haven't used any of them to eat, no."
"Not food, at least," Charge says.
Mina slaps him up the head.
"Do tell," the Princess says between bites. She has a glint in her eyes that reminds Izuku of the look Inko gave him whenever he mentioned his crush on Ochako.
"Um," Eijirou manages. He stuffs his face to avoid further questioning.
Todoroki takes a sip of his wine, clears his throat, and glares right at Charge. "No please, do tell, what was Kirishima eating that wasn't food, and why on earth did you seem it wise to bring it up now?"
Mina shoves a large piece of meat into Charge's mouth. "I'm terribly sorry for him," she says. Then she turns to hiss into Charge's ear. "Buddy if you keep being an inappropriate ass I'm gonna personally kick you out of the room."
Charge struggles to swallow the meat before he speaks. "You'd miss my company."
"But not your jokes," Hanta says. "Just drop it."
Todoroki sighs. "You disappoint me again. Your nonsense is the most entertaining thing to happen in these walls."
The Princess nudges his side. "Oh let them go. You know the topic wasn't appropriate for the table."
"It's only food," Todoroki frowns. "It's not gonna be offended that Kirishima was eating dick over the weekend."
Eijirou and Izuku simultaneously choke on their food.
Ochako and Charge break into laughter.
"Oh my God!" Ochako wheezes. "Todoroki, please!"
"What's that I hear, a last name?" the Princess grins. "You're impossible, Shouto."
Todoroki shrugs. "She didn't accept my first, what could I do?"
"Do you do this with everyone?" Izuku says, face still on fire. "Just offer your name up?"
Todoroki turns to him before he answers. "Only if I like them. And you guys are all my age, it's awkward to hear you talk like I'm more of a title than a person."
The Princess piles another serving on her plate. "I'm a little confused on that part, to be honest. Not about you, Shouto - I get where you're coming from - but about a witch's title."
"We've worked for our titles," Charge says. "To not acknowledge them would be to dismiss years if not decades of study."
"I was born into mine," Todoroki continues. "To acknowledge it more than my name is to acknowledge the throne before my personhood."
"So, if you managed to get yourself a witch title," Ochako hums, "would you preferred to be called that instead of any royal title?"
"It depends on who is addressing me," Todoroki says. He pauses to wash his bite down. "If possible, I'd have all of you here call me by first name. Children or elders will always call me Prince, that's unavoidable I guess. People I meet because I have to, officials, royals, ambassadors and such, well. If they called be anything but a royal title, I'd get angry. If I were a witch, I'd like other witches to acknowledge me." He looks up. "Being called by my last name is pretty rare for me. I don't really have peers I'm not related to."
Ochako smiles. "Are you calling me your peer?"
"I'd like that, yes."
Ochako's fork goes flying.
"Oc-- um," Izuku says. "Hey uh, your fork..."
Ochako blinks, brings her hands together and catches it when it falls.
"Nice," Charge says. "How does it work?"
"I nullify its gravitational pull," Ochako says. "So, without being tethered to the Earth, it goes whatever direction I push it to. What about you? Charge sounds pretty vague."
"I uh- hold on, where does the pull go, if not the object it was meant for?"
"On me," Ochako grins. "Not as weight, but as the feeling of falling."
Charge cocks his head. "Do you get vertigo every time you practice?"
"It used to be worse. Now tell me, I'm dying to know what your magic is about."
"Electrical current," Charge grins, puffs his chest out. "Lightning. I can charge it up and discharge it out at will."
"Nice!" Ochako and Izuku say at the same time.
"How do you charge it?" Izuku says.
"The human body makes some electricity of its own - well it makes a lot of electricity. I can keep mine from slipping out of my skin and store it in me, in a way. Sometimes I charge on static."
Eijirou is the only one left eating by now, true to his word, gulping everything like a starving man. Or maybe he doesn't want to get roped into conversation after seeing how the last one went.
"Ooh, Mina," Charge nudges her, "tell them about yours."
"It's not much," Mina says, scratching behind her neck. "I can pull acid out of my skin."
"Is that why your skin is so..." Ochako tries not to drop her eyes to Mina's cleavage, fails spectacularly. "So pink?"
"Yeah!" Mina bounces in her seat. "I don't know about the eyes, though. It's not like I cry acid."
"What about the horns?" Izuku asks.
"Oh those are from Pinky," Mina says, and retracts them into the mess of her hair. She pops them back out. "I dunno why, it's more comfortable to leave them than it is to hide them."
"Don't look at me," Eijirou says now that there's no more food. "If I leave mine out it feels like I haven't completed my turn into human, it's a strain. I can't half-form like you do."
Mina laughs and pats his back. "It's okay, honey. Not everyone is as great as me."
"What about you, Midoriya?" Todoroki says. "Can you do any magic?"
"Ah, no no, I can't."
"Really," the Princess smiles. "Even though you're friends with the Gravity witch?"
"And Bakugou?" Todoroki adds.
Katsuki groans. "If the shitty nerd had an ounce of magic in him, he'd have gotten around to practicing it, don't worry. I can fucking assure you that he doesn't."
"Um, yes," Izuku says. "I really don't."
The large man walks back in the room to gather up their plates. He returns a moment later with a platter of sweet things.
"Oh," the Princess goes. "Oh!"
"Oh my god," Todoroki goes. "Satou, these look delightful."
"Thank you," the man says.
Todoroki looks at him. "Why don't you sit with us?"
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly-- and I've left my boss back in the kitchen, I can't--"
"Sit with the Prince, damn it!" the disembodied voice of the other cook calls.
Satou shoots a glare to the door. Betrayed by the very man who mentors him. Unbelievable. "Okay..."
"Here, man!" Eijirou offers with a grin, patting the empty chair between himself and Ochako. "Been a bit since I last saw you!"
"It has," Satou says, taking the seat. He pulls the neck of his apron over his head but leaves it tied at his waist. "How are you?"
Eijirou shows his elbow. "What does this look like."
Satou pauses mid-chew to inspect it. "Like a really bad scrape. No, like you got your skin ground. Did you get your skin ground?"
"Close!" Eijirou swallows before he smiles. "Red had a bad landing on its front knee."
"No way, how high?"
"I dunno, man. I was higher than the castle's towers are, at least."
Satou whistles. "That's pretty high."
"And these are pretty delicious!" Eijirou offers, holding out one of the sweet things before popping it into his mouth.
"Are you joking," Mina groans. "I'd kill for these things, Satou."
"No kidding," Ochako says, hand politely over her full mouth. "These are to die for."
Satou flushes up an adorable shade of red. "I'm glad! That's really good to hear."
"Are you surprised, though," Charge teases. "I mean come on. You know what happened last time I tried one of your sweets."
Satou covers his face.
"I'd kick you," Mina says, "but this time you're actually in the right."
"Oh my God," Satou whimpers.
"Ooh what's this I hear," Todoroki goes. "Do share."
"I will pay you to not," Katsuki growls. Though, with the sweetness sticking to his throat, he doesn't sound threatening at all.
"I think I can pay more, Bakugou," Todoroki says.
"I can pay in kind. Better than you can," Katsuki says.
"He's got you there," Hanta says, reaching over for another sweet thing. "Can't beat that."
Todoroki cocks his head. "I mean, I could..."
Hanta chokes on his bite. "Shit no wait I didn't mean--"
"Don't you dare," Katsuki growls, still not threatening.
"I'm so lost," Izuku says.
"We're talking about blowjobs," Charge clarifies.
Katsuki stands up and climbs out the window.
"Okay that's fair," Charge says. "Should we go after him?"
"Oh leave him, he won't die by being alone for a while," Mina says.
"Oh that reminds me," the Princess says. She swallows her bite and turns to Izuku and Ochako. "Where are you two spending the night?"
"Uh," Izuku goes. "Um, I didn't really... think about that."
"You're kidding," Eijirou says. "Didn't Katsuki-- of course not, what am I saying. Damn. Okay well, me and him brought you here, so we gotta find you housing." He scratches his jaw. "Or, at least, I do."
"We can't--" Mina starts, visibly forces herself to stop, then starts again. "You can't house them yourself, you know that, right?"
Eijirou huffs.
"I can probably talk someone down at the market into hosting them for tonight," Hanta says. "But I dunno about after that. How long are you guys staying?"
"The week," Ochako says. "Maybe. More or less."
"We can house them," Todoroki says. "Right, sister?"
The Princess smiles. "It shouldn't be trouble. They did provide you with a healer."
"We couldn't possibly," Izuku stammers.
Todoroki waves a dismissive hand. "Nope, we've decided, you're now royal guests. We'll host you, if you'll let us."
"Nice," Satou says. "It'll be fun having you two around, you seem like good people. You can ring me up anytime the sun is up, yeah?"
Ochako tucks her hair behind her ear. "Oh-- well. If it's really alright..."
"It is," Todoroki says. "And I'm afraid I'm gonna have to end dinner here, there's a dragon rider running around somewhere in the gardens and I have to send some people after him." He stands and gives a pointed look across the table.
"Oh!" Hanta goes. "Oh, yeah, we should go."
"Come ooon," Charge whines.
"He's our guy," Hanta says. "Move your ass, we have to go get him before he burns anything down."
"He wouldn't," Satou tries. "... Would he?"
"Aw, buddy," Eijirou laughs, patting Satou's shoulder.
"Come with me," Todoroki says as everyone stands up.
The Princess walks alongside him, ahead of Izuku and Ochako, as they make their way through the palace.
"Do you think father will care?" the Princess says.
"I really doubt it," Todoroki says. "I don't even think he'd remember their faces."
The Princess looks over her shoulder. "Maybe the Gravity witch, at least."
"I'm pretty sure he didn't even look at either of them," Todoroki says, not looking at them.
"It's fine," Ochako tries. "I mean really, he's the King, there's no way he could be bothered to remember..."
"Yeah," the Princess says. Her smile turns sad as she faces forward again. "He couldn't be bothered."
"Iida," Todoroki says, and there Iida is, seemingly appearing out of thin air, "we're hosting these two for the week or so."
Iida nods. "I'll take care of it." He takes running, then, and returns in just a few seconds.
"Where?" is all Todoroki has to ask, not how the fuck did you manage to come and go in the blink of an eye.
"East," Iida says. "They're preparing rooms side-by-side."
"Then east we go," Todoroki says. He shoots a glance over his shoulder. "You don't have to walk back there, you know."
Ochako goes to Iida's other side. Izuku contemplates for a moment, but decides to walk by Ochako's far side.
"The east side of the palace is pretty far from any exits," Todoroki says, "so if you ever want to take a walk or something, you're probably going to have to ask a guard or someone to walk you out. Otherwise you might get lost. But other than that it's my favorite side. There are many baths and you can wake with the sunrise."
"I like the south side more," the Princess says. "It gets the most sunlight over the day. The windowsills and the balconies all have wonderful flowers. Besides, it's right by the front door and the main kitchens. It only takes a couple of minutes to get to either of those things."
They climb up a wide set of stairs. Todoroki nudges Iida.
Iida sighs. "West looks good with the sunset. The view over the city is great."
"Come on," Todoroki says. "That's all you have to say?"
"It doesn't matter," Iida says. "They're all parts of the same palace."
"Um," Midoriya goes. "What about the north side?"
"It's where all of us are housed," Iida says. "Everyone who works here, I mean. It's not fancy and it doesn't get much sunlight, but it's..." He looks sideways at his liege. "It's companionable."
Ochako puts a hand on his rerebrace. "Is it a good place to sleep?"
Iida looks at her, looks at both of them for the first time since they met him. "It is."
Ochako pulls her hand back. "Who enchanted your armor?"
Iida smiles. "My brother. He used to work here as well."
"I should be getting to my own quarters," the Princess says, a little hurriedly. "What about you, brother?"
"Yes, I should, too. I have to speak to father and Natsuo first. Iida?"
"Of course," Iida says. "Lead the way."
"Uh," Ochako tries, but there's some guard walking them to their temporary rooms before she can protest.
The rooms are large, luscious, and indeed the windows face out to the east. As promised, they share a wall, and Izuku walks over to Ochako's room as soon as he's sure no one else is going to come in and prepare 'one last thing' in the room for him.
"It's so bouncy!" Ochako giggles from the bed. "Come on here!"
Izuku bounces with her for a few minutes, but then they both get sweaty with it, and strip down for the night.
"I can't believe we just met, spoke to, and had dinner with members of the royal family," Izuku says once they're both furrowed under the covers.
"I know, right?" Ochako breathes. "They're so pretty, too."
"Ochako!"
"What? I saw you looking. You can't fool me."
Izuku covers his face. "Oh god."
"Admit it," Ochako grins, poking him on the nose. "You're totally crushing!"
"Am not."
"Yeah, right, like you all those times you denied having a crush on me?"
Izuku sputters. "That was different!"
"Oh really? How so?"
"You don't just tell your friend that you're crushing on them, Ochako! Especially not to their face!"
"See, this is why you've never dated anyone."
"Shut up."
"What? I'm just saying."
"Well, stop saying."
"I'll stop when you admit your big fat crush."
Izuku groans. "Okay fine. I admit, the Prince is very pretty. Are you happy now, Ochako?"
Ochako grins. "Very. Also, maybe don't say my name in here."
"Oh, right, I wanted to ask you. What am I supposed to call you?"
"Try not to," Ochako says. "Uh, maybe Ochi, or something."
Izuku furrows his brow, sticks his tongue out. "Ochi?"
"You heard me."
"Ugh, fine, Ochi it is. You know how that works better than I do."
Ochako makes herself more comfortable in the bed. "Nah, you know the basics pretty well. You simply can't put them to practice."
"Gee, thanks, Ochi."
"Oh shut up. You know what I mean. You've studied magic quite a lot, you know."
Izuku sighs. "If you say so, it must be so."
"You don't have to take my word for it. Look, we can ask Charge tomorrow, okay?"
Izuku hums.
Soon they're both asleep.