Chapter Text
The tall castle gates open for the young prince, and he stands before a great field of multicolored tulips. A smooth white marble path cuts through the field right at the middle, one that glows with the last rays of the sun. As the young man walks the path, lanterns floated into the air, their rose gold glow changing the reds of his hair to gold.
The castle itself seems to be floating, the pinks and purples of the dusk sky reflected on its crystal walls. Towers of marble were lit with the same lanterns, emblazoned with the royal crest, and guards dressed in white silk patrolled the walls.
He enters the castle, and finds everything made of marble and glass, in the same gentle, warm hues of the sunset. The prince walks through beautiful hallways, each uniquely designed with the various floral patterns, until he reached a large courtyard in the middle of the castle. At this point, the sun had already set, so the lights of the courtyard glowed with wonder. Servants in the same silky costumes are walking about, preparing for the feast ahead. A number of royalty are already gathered around the gazebos, milling about, the chatter of excitement barely hidden amongst the young princes.
When the prince enters the courtyard, the air seems to turn cold, freezing every person in conversation with others.
“Let us welcome His Highness, the son of King Todoroki Enji and crown prince of Endeavor—Prince Todoroki Shouto!”
The son of King Todoroki Enji the son of King Todoroki Enji the son of Endeavor—
Momo was getting nervous.
Todoroki was nowhere to be found—it had been hours since they’d agreed to meet at the Royal’s Tent in the village. Todoroki has always been more open with her than with others, but his quiet, stoic personality had never fully gone away. There were times when he’d wander off on his own because he was too buried in his own thoughts. Momo never knew the full story behind Todoroki’s personality—there had to be a reason, after all, but she knew enough to know that Todoroki and his father did not get along, and Todoroki was constantly living with fear.
But right now, Todoroki had no good reason to wander off on his own. Not when they were in a foreign kingdom, and Todoroki was recognizable as the son of a most despised but powerful dictator and king.
She walks around, trying to keep her head low, because she knows how distinguishable royals were, even disguised, when among common folk. Even among the upper class, Momo stands out because of her naturally noble-like personality and her supposed “intelligence.” After all, her mother had told her never to be afraid to speak out her mind and act like a proper lady of nobility.
Like a proper lady of nobility would shriek when she walked straight into another person.
“Woah, there,” says the voice. The person grabs Momo’s hands immediately and steadies her. Momo feels dizzy. The person has a nice, husky voice.
Momo steps back and finds herself looking at a lithe figure somewhat smaller in her dressed in a hood, just like her. The stranger pushes back their hood and Momo had to stifle a gasp. The stranger is a woman with sharp but beautiful features—triangular eyes with long lashes, and short, roughly-cut hair with uneven bangs. She is dressed in a leather vest, a seemingly torn and worn-out shirt, pants, and boots. A peasant, her mother’s voice echoes in her head. You must keep interactions with them to a minimum. Stay curt but not kind.
“Uh…” The girl eyes her, and Momo unconsciously follows her gaze. She realizes she's wearing a long maroon gown and coat with the crest of Endeavor on it (not her choice), and the girl is looking at her skeptically.
“A noble, huh,” the girl says. “Cool. Have fun at Princess Uraraka’s ball.”
Cool?
The girl smiles—no, smirks then curtsies, and begins to walk away. Momo just stares after her, watching the bob of her hair and the crunch of her leather boots on the leaf-strewn ground.
It was probably too late when she realizes she never said thank you or even asked for the pretty girl's name.
“Hey, watch it, Shitty Hair.”
Eijirou spins around and comes face to face with a blonde, spiky haired guard with the biggest scowl he had ever seen.
“Excuse me?”
“I said watch it! You deaf? Hah?”
Eijirou blinks. “Was I…doing something wrong?”
The guard stares at him with fiery red eyes. “You were going too near the fucking edge. Don’t be stupid.”
Eijirou leans against the railing. Lanterns float all around the tulip field below, like stars in a dulled rainbow-colored sky.
“I can take care of myself, don’t worry,” he says with a wink. Several expressions flit across the guard’s face—shock, rage, and possibly embarrassment in between, but Eijirou wasn’t sure. He mostly looked like he wanted to kill.
“Get off the fucking rooftop then,” the guard says. “Shitty Hair.”
“I have a name, sir,” Eijirou grumbles. “It’s Kirishima Eijirou. I would say nice to meet you but I’m afraid you wouldn’t reciprocate.” He walks away from the railing, preparing himself to return to the courtyard—the ball would be starting soon, anyways—until he hears an “Oi!” from behind him.
“Kirishima!” The guard yells. “I’m going to beat your ass, hah?! Cause Bakugou Katsuki’s not some weak shit!”
“Bakugou,” Eijirou says with a smile. “You’re…joining the contest too?”
“To be the number one,” Bakugou growls. “And beat every single fucking one of you!”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Eijirou replies.
He really means it.
“Izuku,” she whispers, her face pressed against his chest, “Izuku.”
“Hey, Ochako,” Midoriya says in a soothing tone, running his hand through her soft brown hair. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
“I’m scared, Izuku,” she croaks, her tears beginning to wet Midoriya's shirt. “I don’t want…him…” She points a shaky finger towards the glass window, towards the courtyard where a certain imposing figure was standing. The cheer had seemed to dissipate immediately, and whatever excitement felt by the people had been replaced by dread.
What other feeling did the kingdom of Endeavor bring?
“Ochako, it’s alright,” Midoriya soothes. “We can’t be sure he’ll win yet,”
“He’s the son of Endeavor,” Ochako cries. “Those evil bastards—they’ll always find a way to win, to get their way—I can’t even think of what they could do to me to get what they want—oh, Izuku!”
“I won’t let them,” Midoriya says. “They can’t hurt you. I’ll never allow it.”
Ochako sniffles. She raises her head, seeking comfort in the emerald green eyes of her best friend. “Izuku…”
“What is it?”
“I don’t want to marry anyone else,” she sobs. “I—you’re the o-only one…”
Midoriya pulls her closer. At that moment, all Ochako felt was love and care for her best friend, and she knew he would protect her at all costs. It was simple, and familial—they’d known each other for so long. But with the situation now, there was only one thing he could do. It was to win the contest to marry Ochako—not for love, but for her security.
Because nobody wanted to marry a monster.