Chapter Text
The trees passed by quickly outside the window, light just barely shining through the thing branches in the early morning. The light showed through onto soft and delicate features, a pale face pressed firmly against the window and threatening to fall asleep again on the cool glass. Silver locks reflected the light as hazel eyes fell shut once more. The soft voices of two others in the carriage made him want to fall back asleep, the voices both soft and lulling enough to provide enough comfort to him on the anxious journey.
It was a three days journey to Seijoh’s outer border with breaks included and it left the group waking up early each morning and going to proper sleep very late into the evening. Suga knew they were drawing in close to the neighboring kingdom, but all he could think about was sleep. He was tired and he didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to go and meet his future husband, he wanted to be free from the marriage he was forced into.
Suga felt that he should be more than capable of offering his own opinion in this arranged marriage. Despite most kingdoms and it being normal to hold betrothals didn’t mean Suga tolerated them anymore. He wanted to be able to marry the one he loved, not someone he was being forced to. And definitely not someone as snobby as the prince of Seijoh. He always seemed too arrogant for Suga’s taste whenever he heard about him from others. It didn’t sound like the kind of person Suga would want to marry, and yet here he was getting ready to be practically sold off to the prince with no word against it. He was told to just sit down and look pretty, to obey his soon to be husband and do their kingdom a favor.
Karasuno was a small kingdom that was just barely starting to grow from the effects of a war with Nekoma. Nekoma was strong and took Karasuno down quickly and effectively, like the baby crows they were, the smaller kingdom was just barely growing up from the ashes that was left behind. It was a hard time for the small kingdom and growing up from this large blow in their history, some sacrifices needed to be made to ensure their safety. Suga just happened to be the one chosen as that sacrifice.
It was regrettable though, the silverette had debated leaving and running away numerous times, but as the day they left for Seijoh came nearer he quickly abandoned that idea. He had a duty to owe his kingdom to save them from the ruins they were in then. He didn’t want to just abandon his kingdom, or his duty. Especially when the hands of the betrothal would most likely be left to his younger brother Yamaguchi as he too had more feminine appearances and could appeal to the princes of rivaling kingdoms. Suga couldn’t leave the young prince with a toll like that above his head.
As much as the prince didn’t want to marry the snobbish Seijoh and soon to be king, he was willing to do it for the sake of his kingdom and for the sake of his younger brother. He would suck it up and suffer through a long marriage with little hope of actually finding someone he loved. He needed to do what was best for the kingdom, regardless of his absolute dislike of passing underneath the border into Seijoh and getting closer and closer to his soon to be beloved.
It truly was going to be a long day and Suga wasn’t going to get anymore sleep. He sat up with a tired yawn and looked away from the window as buildings began to be seen more clearly. He didn’t want to look at the new kingdom, he wasn’t ready to see what he was being forced to see soon everyday. He just wasn’t ready for marriage at all, and not to someone he would be just meeting.
The silverette had just begun to calm down from celebrating his 19th birthday, he was still so young and unprepared for the actual thought of marriage. He didn’t want to marry young unless he knew it was someone he loved, but now he was forced to do the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. It was a lot for him to take in and manage, hands shaking and coming to terms with soon meeting his fiance for the first time. Suga hated that this was how betrothals went, he would have preferred to at least have a few sit down talks with Seijoh’s prince before being forced into the marriage talk.
It was the knowing sense of anxiety running deep through the pits of his stomach and giving the Karsuno’s eldest prince a shiver down his spine. They were coming so close to his new home, it was unsettling. Buildings became more closely spread together and the dirt road quickly turned to cobbled roads that the horses hooves clacked against with each step. The sun only showed through the windows of the neat little carriage whenever there was a big enough break between buildings.
Suga had risked taking a small glance out the window and sucked in a breath, there were people lining either side of the shabby little road trying to get a look at their prince’s new suitor, but Suga quickly hid behind the curtain again to avoid it. There were so many people around and they were all there because of his arrival. It was unnerving to say the least, it made Suga’s heart race and his palms sweat as he tried to keep his nerves down. So many people were there under the hope that this meeting would go well and that they could get a look at the beauty of Karasuno.
For the hope of getting a look at the grey dove that was amongst all of Karsuno’s crows. With pale skin and more feminine features, Suga really was a beauty. His silver hair framed his face and made the green flecks in deep brown eyes stand out in contrast to the soft pale hue of his lips. Every time he smiled his cheeks dimpled ever so slightly, the small beauty mark under his eye moving with every little movement of his face. It all flowed so perfectly that in some instances he could easily turn a straight man gay. It wouldn’t take all that much with his delicate, feminine features. His hands were small, soft to the touch. His arms were thin, but they still held muscle to them. He was built, but so tiny in stature compared to most around him and he just accepted that he was small.
The way he moved could even resemble a more feminine presence. Growing up around his mother more, Suga took after her movement traits from watching her for so long. The way he would wave, smile, tilt his head, grab things, and even bow was all more slow and elegant. Despite easily bowing like any other young prince or commanding officer, it still had the grace of elegance to it that men just didn’t have regularly. It was a practice most strived for, but most men suited the more dominating effects. They were more muscled and toned and overall gave off a scarier presence. Suga was different though, he was the exact opposite. He wasn’t threatening and he wasn’t scary. He was just there, sitting with a pretty face, listening, and obeying.
None of that would end though, Suga was certain that his fiance would much prefer him to continue being feminine and to sit quietly and obey. The silverette wouldn’t enjoy sitting down and doing absolutely nothing, but in order to protect and keep his kingdom safe then it was what he must do. It wasn’t like he was going to get a say in what he wanted to do, he was just stuck with whatever choices were made for him. It couldn’t be all that bad, but it still made his heart race.
As the carriage pulled to a stop, Suga risked looking out of the curtains again and let out a relieved breath when the crowds of people were gone and it seemed that they were in the courtyard. At least that’s where it looked like they were, he wasn’t really sure. This was all a new place to him and trying to figure it out without having someone there to tell him and to reassure him was a bit of a new task. It wasn’t like he wasn’t smart, he was extremely smart, but some things just baffled him and left him confused and lost.
Lost in his thoughts, he blinked as the door opened and he could catch sight of the tanned skin of Daichi, Suga’s personal knight. Well, personal until the wedding and then Daichi will return to Karasuno to help with the rebuilding of their armies. He watched as both his father and his royal adviser got out before Suga stepped out himself, covering his eye from the bright light that quickly covered them.
He tried to adjust quickly, glancing over the faces around him and relaxing. He wasn’t alone yet, he was soon to be alone with no one he knew, but that wasn’t yet. Suga was taking a deep breath when he saw the soft smile from Daichi, quickly remembering that he wasn’t alone and that for the time being he would be safe. He didn’t need to hold any fear, and yet he was still anxious for the meeting to come. He was now in the home territory of both his enemy and fiance. It was stressful, but a calm voice brought him out of his worried thoughts. A voice that he in no way recognized.
“Welcome, Karasuno! I trust that your journey was a safe one,” this voice was jolly, very upbeat and excited.
Suga had turned around to face the voice and with a gentle smile, leaned down to bow just as everyone else was. There was no mistaking it, this man was the king and the one that all of Suga’s respect needed to go to first. To his right there were two slightly shorter boys both similar in appearance to the king and Suga could only guess that one of them was his fiance.
He didn’t know what to do, following the lead of others around him and standing back to his full height as his own father burst out into merry laughter. “Ichigo, how nice to see you again. I trust you’re taking care.”
It was usual for kings to act in comfort around each other, yet both were still tense. With this last war Karasuno was desperate for a peace treaty with someone to hopefully try and fix the mess that was already happening. Though Seijoh and Karasuno go way back, the peace treaty really was a surprise to no one. They were bound to have a betrothal and unite both kingdoms together eventually. It really had just been a matter of when it would happen.
Seijoh’s king stepped down the rest of the steps and walked to Hideo, smiling and grasping his hand. “Well of course, have to see that prince of yours. No one marries my son until they’re approved by me. Now, which one of these fine young men are-” Ichigo’s voice caught in his throat as he laid his eyes on Suga who quickly gave another bow at the king's attention being placed on him.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, your majesty.” Suga’s voice was laced with a honey sweet tone, and yet the rest of his body language to show you otherwise. He was not as soft and innocent as he was anxious and nervous on the inside, his voice wanting to waver, but he refused to let it as he spoke. He was the prince of Karasuno and he would be strong, a simple marriage wasn’t going to break his spirits.
“Oh aren’t you a pretty little thing, hm? You’ll make such a good husband for Tooru.” Ichigo laughed quietly and glanced at one of the two boys that were now behind him, more shy and not wanting to step forward and speak up. When he finally turned back around, he smiled again and took Suga’s hand. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? You’re going to fit in just fine. What’s ours is yours now.”
“T- thank you, sir, but there really is no need-”
“Oh pish posh, just call me Ichigo. You’re going to be family soon, you might as well try and fit in, Koushi.”
Suga wanted to respond before another voice piped in and his thoughts were promptly shushed. Suga glanced at Daichi who was trying to hold in a laugh and rolled his eyes, almost offended that his closest friend was laughing at his predicament. He didn’t want to be laughed at, but he couldn’t say anything about it without worry of upsetting someone.
“Shouldn’t we let them inside? They’ve been travelling for a few days now, they must be tired. We have rooms set up and each of them can get their rest and relax before dinner.” The smallest of the three that had left the tidy castle spoke up. Suga’s eyes trailed over his face and he found him to be kind of cute in an innocent sort of way. He seemed very polite, a little too polite to be the one he was marrying from all of the rumors he had heard over time.
“Ahh, yes, good idea, Nagisa. Thank you, why don’t you lead Hideo and his adviser to their chambers?” Seijoh’s jolly king was enjoying his time as he watched his son lead the two off before turning to Oikawa, a smile dropping with a look of distaste. “And you may lead Suga and his guard to their chamber for the evening.”
That was when Suga found out why he dropped the smile, the look that crossed the remaining brunette's face was one of dissatisfaction. He didn’t want to go and take him anywhere, and yet he was now being forced too. It was a pointed look that Ichigo had given him that made a forced smile cross his lips and he nodded, “Of course, right this way you two.”
Suga looked at Daichi and took a deep breath, trying to keep up a smile despite his nerves. He really had no idea how this was going anymore with Oikawa’s quick dislike of him already. He was hoping it was just from being forced into a marriage as well and not because Suga had already gone and done something wrong.