Work Text:
Kirishima always found ballroom parties to be excruciatingly boring. The servants would spend hours getting ready for the hundreds of guests that would waltz through the room while the seven-year-old was forced to take extra classes to touch upon his manners. And all for a silly party.
His father, a large man with a stoic face and a short temper, left no room for jokes or foolishness and made the gathering even more insufferable than it already was. A single mistake and his father would administer a quick, sharp slap to his son's round face.
"Eijiro," he would say, staring at the young boy, "If I so much as see you do something as foolish as that at the real ball you'll get much more than a small rap." Then the boy would scamper off like a frightened bunny and wallow in self-pity until the fateful night. It was a harsh, unforgiving cycle of pain and fake smiles.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between! Welcome to the Northern Kingdom! We gather here today to celebrate the alliance we have formed with the Southern Nation." A woman adorned in enough precious jewels to rival a diamond mine stood up from her throne and waved, getting a few murmurs from the crowd.
Kirishima sighed as his father continued, talking about how wonderful he was and how the decision he had made was the best in kingdom history. He looked at the crowd from his position at the side of his father with a bored look on his face.
"...And so, let us rejoice!" His father boomed, giving a (mysteriously fake sounding) laugh. The guests cheered heartily and started to dance, twirling around in rhythmic motions to the music the band played.
"Father, I request to go mingle with the partygoers."
"Granted."
The boy slunk from his chair, walking around and avoiding the large dresses swinging haphazardly across the floor.
He ran from the great hall, narrowly missing the watchful eyes of his father who was surveying the crowd for someone to bother. If he could get just a bit further then maybe he could wait the party out, steal a meal from an unsuspecting kitchen maid, relax in the royal garden until it was time to bid his people farewell.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice another frail figure come at him. They collided like two asteroids in a solar system, both falling back and rubbing their sore heads.
"Watch where you're going, idiot! My crown won't fit on my head if I've got a million lumps on it!" A brash voice yelled. Kirishima quickly looked up, staring at the boy who had dared to talk to him in such a vulgar way. A small boy with piercing red eyes and blonde hair that sat in spiky peaks atop his head decorated with an intricate crown glared back at him.
"Are you a prince?" Kirishima said dumbly, looking at the boys with questioning eyes. That seemed to make the boy all the more angry, his arms coming up to his chest.
"What are you, blind and dumb? I'm the prince of the Southern Nation! This whole ball is for me, fool! I bet you're from a stupid nation with a stupid mother and father, or better yet, a servant!" The boy stood up putting his hands to his hips as if he were a mother lecturing her child.
"That isn't true at all! I'm Ejiro Kirishima, prince of the Northern Kingdom! My father is the one who arranged this party and you can't be mean to me in my own palace!" Kirishima got to his feet and frowned, eyebrows knitting together.
The blonde processed the information given to him. He glanced at the impressive paintings decorating the walls before offering his hand to shake.
"I guess we can be friends since you aren't such a dud after all. I'm Katsuki Bakugou." He said. They shook firmly, both having been taught that a firm handshake makes the deal. Kirishima didn't know how to feel. He had never had a friend at a party before. What were you supposed to do?
"Do you want to see something cool?" He proposed, shuffling side to side.
"I guess. This stupid party is boring anyway." He said nonchalantly. Kirishima gently grabbed Katsuki's hand, leading him down a long winding path.
"Where are you taking me?" Katsuki asked, eyeing Kirishima, "You aren't planning on killing me, right?" Kirishima spun around, alarmed at his new friend's words.
"What?! Of course I'm not going to murder you! Why on God's green Earth would I do that?" He yelled. Katsuki shrugged calmly.
"I dunno. My mother just tells me to watch out for people who want to assassinate me. It's not like it hasn't happened before." He said, impatiently tapping his foot on the ground, "So, tell me what you're trying to show me."
"It's a surprise! I don't want to ruin it for you." Kirishima giggled, running forward down the path. Bakugo, annoyed that he was being kept out of the loop, stomped his foot and followed Eijiro. They met up at the end of the passage.
"You idiot! What's wro--" He stopped when he saw the sight in front of him. Thousands of plants in all colors shimmered under the pale moonlight. The ceiling, made of crystal clear glass, illustrated the rich night sky, the moon barely peeking out from behind murky clouds. The plants swirled and twisted around each other, brilliant shades of blues and indigos making themselves known. Greens shone like jades, glimmering creating the illusion of jewels. A myriad of scents floated around the room, jumbling together and assaulting Katsuki's nose with the sweet aroma of a summer field.
"Wow." He stood astounded, marveling at the sights splayed before him.
"See? I told you that it was cool." Kirishima was beaming, watching as Katsuki took a tentative step inside. The redhead led his friend through the maze of plants, finally stopping at a small bench in the very middle of the room.
His father had said that a Kirishima man should not concern himself with small things like flowers and insects, but Kirishima always found time to sneak a peek at how his beloved flowers were doing. They sat for a while, holding hands and admiring the sounds and sights around them. As kings in training, they rarely got breaks, much less for silly things like sitting around and looking at flora.
Soon, they heard a warning trumpet, alerting them that the party was coming to an end.
"Thank you for sitting with me, Katsuki. I liked having someone with me. Usually, I'm all alone in my bedroom during parties like these." Kirishima confessed, getting up to walk back to the dining hall.
While they walked back, Katsuki told him about his life down south, of everlasting summers and playing in the mud. He talked about a green-haired kitchen servant who wouldn't leave him alone no matter how hard he tried. When they reached the doors of the hall, they stopped to say goodbye.
"It was fun looking at your plants. I might ask my mom for a garden like that." Katsuki grumbled, not liking the fact that he was showing emotions to someone. Kirishima opened his arms and hugged Katsuki, surprising the taller boy.
"What are you doing?" Katsuki asked, freezing in the embrace. Kirishima didn't let go, instead opting for hugging tighter.
"When you like somebody, you hug them, like this." He guided Katsuki's hands around his waist until they were positioned in an awkward hold.
"Well in the Southern Nation we don't do that. We do this." He placed his hand gently on top of Kirishima's head and piloted the boy's hand so that it sat on top of his. They heard shouts of both their names from inside and braced themselves for the intensity of what was behind the doors.
They opened them and walk to their respected thrones, watching as people exited in throngs, some stumbling drunkenly through the doors and others having to be carried out by friends, laughing like madmen. After all the guests had successfully left the palace, the Queen of the Southern Nation and her son were the only two left.
"It was a pleasure to attend your party. Your extensive lengths to make peace between our Nations will not go unseen in the future." She said, bowing eloquently and leading her son off of the platform they were sitting on.
On their way out, Katsuki subtly gave a small wave when his mother's eyes were averted. Kirishima smiled inwardly to himself. Maybe parties weren't so boring after all.