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In the corridors of the castle, usually calm at such a late hour, being lit by a few lights, tiny footsteps are heard, and they seem to be discreet as if they were fleeing from something, and their gaze turns around them: Two children are running into the royal corridor
“Be careful you can fall Katsumi,” the voice of younger exclaims with a hint of concern
“Don’t worry as long as mom doesn’t notice us!” The eldest responds confidently and tries her hand at creating and lighting up with the flame
“But we’re supposed to be asleep; what will you do if he finds us?” Haru's voice was small, and his tone showed how much he worried about his sister. His freckles on his cheeks, his blond curly hair, and his unique eyes being a mix of emerald green and crimsons red, something that surprised his parents, he was sensitive and caring like his mother
“Who cares, I want to show you something," the girl exclaims with her blond hair, freckles on her cheeks similar to his brother, and her red crimsons’ eyes, confidence, and like her father
The hallway seemed endless as the two children headed for a room, despite their gaze getting lost among the multiple hanging paintings. One, in particular, caught the youngest's attention.
He stops, and Katsumi looks at him, surprised. "Why did you stop? We're not that far away."
The crimson-red eyes land on those of his brother, who raises his head before whispering, "Look, Katsumi, it's them"
The young girl sighs and raises the flame, which serves as her lamp, to mourn before directing it towards the wall. Her eyes widened, looking at the huge painting in front of her, which adorned the wall. We could see a rather simplistic background filled with vegetation and different flowers, and she recognized the place: it was their garden, or at least a part of their garden, the most lively one. Two figures mainly stood out and caught the eye; the smaller one was a young man with green, curly, messy hair, freckles on his cheeks similar to a constellation, and emerald green eyes reflecting his emotion. The other features of his face stood out. We could distinguish a warm smile accompanied by a small blush on his cheeks; his eyes twinkled as he looked with admiration and loved the man next to him. Indeed, the man next to him was probably older than him by one or two years. He was particularly distinguished by his tall size, blond hair, and piercing crimson-red eyes; his soft gaze leaned toward the greenette next to him. As Izuku’s scarred hands joined the blond, he seemed to sketch a small smile. The look on their face didn't lie. It was loving and kind of caring.
At the bottom of the painting, it read, "The king Bakugo Katsuki and his mate Izuku Midoriya during their wedding - 17XX"
Haru's little fingers delicately brushed the paint while he was on his sister's shoulders. He looked at every feature and every possible perspective of his parents, Izuku's gaze, and Katsuki’s, and how their emotions were transmitted through this simple gesture. His eyes rest on the blond, observing each fine and characteristic feature of his face, registering these expressions of a face forgotten over time.
"Haru dumbass, you're too loud. I'm going to fall," Katsumi exclaims, bringing him down from his shoulder and frowning
The little boy said nothing; being the oldest and six years old, he had never really known his father or only by the stories told by his dad. Katsumi was the eldest; being eight years old, she had almost no memories of him, especially since the incident.
------
It was years ago when all was well, and the kingdom celebrated the union between Alpha Katsuki and omega izuku; the two had known each other since childhood and had grown up together.
However, the blond immediately refuses when Mitsuki and Masaru propose to their son to marry the duchess of a neighboring kingdom Camie. It took him no less than three years to present izuku to the court, explaining to his parents that he had courted and even mated him and that even if he was the son of a simple peasant, he was still a human with feelings. The Bakugou accepted by loving the devotion and admiration that izuku had for their son; a few months later, the prince made his proposal, and that day, izuku did not let him finish his sentence. He had jumped at him immediately in the arms, saying yes.
Years later, everyone knew them for their kindness and benevolence, and the palace atmosphere had become more lively, especially when soft chirps and baby cries were heard in the hallways. Katsumi bakugo-midoriya's birth was an event for the kingdom, for katsuki had not ceased to cherish her. When izuku announced the arrival of a second, all the staff was present to observe how much the blond was overprotective and supportive of his husband.
Unfortunately, the war was getting closer, and one day, a statement appeared asking for help from the bakugo kings. He was ready to do anything to save his kingdom, but he didn't want to leave his family alone during this time; Izuku told him, had reassured him by telling him that he could leave with peace of mind, that he would take care of Katsumi and Haru during his absence and that they would all be waiting for him. That day, the king had promised his family to return as soon as possible to find them, exchanging the last kiss with his husband and on the forehead of his pups, still unaware of where their father was going. Izuku watched him leave with tears in his eyes as he held them into his arm, exchanging one last hopeful smile.
Things got complicated, and the losses were immense, including that of the alpha king bakugo. Indeed after having lived through hell on the battlefield and returning home, they were suddenly attacked by members remaining, and being defenseless and exhausted, everyone lost their lives.
That evening, the atmosphere in the palace had become chilling, and no one dared to speak when one of the messages broke the news; the look of hope on Izuku’s face had turned into something of a variety of emotions, going from surprise to realization to end with tears.
"I'm sorry but...no one came back alive from the attack, not even the king and his soldiers; I'm sorry for your loss"
Izuku had cried so hard that night, hearing the news that none of the palace employees had been able to reassure him, they had all tried, but mourning was something difficult for everyone
"You promised me kacchan, you fucking promised me" were the words the greenette kept repeating in bed that night with a reliable voice and eyes red from tears.
At this time, Haru and Katsumi were still in his arms, unable to know that their father would never return and could only see their dam destroyed before them.
-----
Since that day, Izuku has tried to move forward despite the pain, become a better person, and do his best for Haru and Katsumi, to give them the best and to preserve the memory of the blond. He reminded his children how happy katsuki made him, what brought him and the best dad he was to them
“It’s our…”
“Yes, it’s him,” exclaims Katsumi
The children look at the painting with admiration; they were still young when katsuki left to fight against the enemy, promising to return with promises he had not kept
Suddenly, footsteps startle the two children, and they turn to face the familiar figure of Izuku, his emerald green eyes staring at them as he frowns in surprise; before he speaks, Haru takes the speech
"Mommy, it's not what you thought!" He was hesitant
"You two, explain to me why you're out of bed at such a late hour," Izuku said with a serious and worried look.
“Well. I wanted to show him something, a secret room I found in the palace,” confides Katsumi as if she was embarrassed to be discovered
Izuku nods and ruffles their hair while holding the lamp in his other hand “You scared me; promise me never to do that again”
They both nod while Izuku's gaze falls on the board above him, and his gaze changes
“Oh,” he says and jumps when he feels small hands land on him and grabs him; Haru was still innocent and curious about his surroundings, while Katsumi, the two-year-old eldest of more than he, had the same personality as katsuki, their brother-sister relationship was very similar to the one the blond and Izuku had when he was young
“Mommy…” his little voice was hesitant while he looked into izuku’s eyes “It’s our daddy on the painting?”
Katsumi sketches a nod to indicate that she agrees with her brother, and The features of izuku turn into something more sad, nostalgic
“Yes, it’s kacchan” his voice was small as if pronouncing each word carefully
“Then..why does no one in the castle tell us about him?” Exclaims the voice of Katsumi, who does not let go of the painting before landing on Izuku
Izuku sighed and gestures for her to come and get closer to her “Well, everyone is scared to tell his story because it’s painful to them, and they're afraid to relive this pain,” he smiled, ruffling his children's hair “I'm not scared, it's painful to live every day without him but it's different, he was a hero until his last moment, your father was someone amazing and incredibly stubborn but endearing, I'm not scared to keep his memory alive and pass on our stories…because it's something I will cherish forever”
The two children's eyes lit up, seeing how Izuku spoke about the blond, the soft tone in his voice, the choice of his words, and the way he sketches a small smile.
“Do you still love him?” suddenly asks Katsumi
Izuku's face suddenly changes to something softer; he suddenly pulls the little blondes closer to him to hug them; quickly, Haru accepts it and embraces him back while Katsumi looks hesitant, afraid of taking up too much space
"Come here, sweetie, there will always be a place for you," smiles Izuku seeing the concern on the girl's face before she starts running towards him to hug him as tight as possible
Izuku's scarred hands reassure the contact by murmuring, "I love him every single day, and I will always; without him, you wouldn't be there; he was an incredible person, my mate and the father of my pups; I'm sure where he is, he is very proud of you and of what you have become”
Izuku pulls back to try the few tears that begin to roll down his cheeks before looking at his pups with a tender smile, “he will always be with us, with you, and he's probably smirking right now to imagine what his children look like him more though the years. He loved you both, since the day I told him I was pregnant, your birth and your first years, he loved you until the end”
Haru's small voice echoes in the silence as if he seemed hesitant, and Katsumi secretly extends her hand to him to give him courage; the green eyes of the small meet those crimson red of his sister, who smiles at him as if she says to him “you can do it”
Haru nods silently and looks at Izuku. “Do you...do you miss him?” Like he was scared, scared of hurting his feelings and making his mom cry, the one who lost him, and yet, to his surprise, izuku's face sketches a smile
“Yes, sweetie, I miss him a lot, but you’re here, and I will cherish and protect you” he’s looking at his wedding ring “You know today is a special day”
The eyes of the little ones looked at him curiously. “Really, which one ?”
Izuku places the lamp on the floor and poses Haru and Katsumi on their legs, facing the painting
“Today it's kacchan's birthday”
Izuku smiles silently while Katsumi and Haru hold him close
“Happy birthday, Daddy” exclaims Haru’s small voice
Katsumi says with a soft gaze, holding her dam close. “Happy birthday, blondie”
Izuku sketches a small laugh at the nickname, and his eyes land on the paintings and the blond's crimson-red eyes. “Happy birthday kacchan; we miss you”