Chapter Text
“Princess?” Todoroki knocked again. “Princess?”
A muffled voice answered from inside the wardrobe, absurdly composed for the humor of the situation. If the UA Kingdom could see their princess now, he smirked.
“Todoroki, I think we established quite firmly several months ago that you are to call me Momo , given our long years of friendship.”
“Long years of service , Momo. There’s a clear difference between the two. I’m your bodyguard, not your playmate.”
A small harrumph was audible from behind the wardrobe’s beautiful, gold-embossed doors.
He sighed. “You know I didn’t mean it like that…look, would you just come out of the wardrobe? You know your mother’s going to make you go to that ball whether you like it or not.”
Silence. Great, she was ignoring him. The princess was usually mature and kind, but for some reason the news of this ball had set her on edge, prompting her to take refuge in her wardrobe and behave in this petulant manner toward him.
He knocked again. “Momo? The maids felt bad and brought up a cup of premium imported earl grey with a first edition copy of Richard Feynman’s best research theses on physics…” he sat down on the bed and pretended to leaf through the imaginary pages. “I’m going to tear the pages accidentally–”
The princess, Momo Yaoyorozu the First, flung open the doors and rushed across the vastness of the palace that was her bedroom to her infernal bodyguard. Todoroki really could be trying at times.
“Don’t you dare–”
Her face fell as she saw him; he was without the research papers and the tea. A rare scowl crossed her face. He’d simply been trying to lure her out. “You lied.”
Todoroki smiled, a small dimple forming in the corner of his cheek, just barely noticeable. He was getting quite good at smiling. A flush spread across her face. Maybe he was getting a little too good.
“I did it for you.” He hopped off the edge of her bed and took her arm gently, as he’d always done, steering her in the direction of the door. “Come, your mother wants you for the ball.”
She turned to him, finding herself rather close to his chest as he released her arm. She could smell the lavender cologne she’d given him last year for his birthday.
“Todoroki…” Momo hesitated, onyx black eyes fixed on the lapels of his guard jacket. “...you know I usually love balls.”
He smiled softly. “I remember that very well.” Last year for the annual UA Gala she’d sabotaged the Planner of Ceremonies in favor of her own ideas. It was so cute, the way Momo had flown about his room–suddenly the new Secret Yaoyorozu Party Planning Headquarters–making plans and calling vendors. Impressively, she’d kept it up for about a week before she’d been caught and the Planner of Ceremonies reinstated.
Momo chuckled at the memory and her shoulders relaxed a little. “You’re probably wondering why I’m so reluctant for this one.”
“Not really, it’s your decision…” he deadpanned. Her pink lips pouted cutely and he sighed. Why couldn’t Momo just talk to her mother? Women were better at these kinds of things. But he couldn’t deny that face . “...why don’t you tell me anyway?”
“Well–”
At that moment a knock was heard at the door. A soft, feminine voice called, “Hey Momo, it’s Fuyu. I’m coming in.”
Todoroki straightened up and took a few steps behind the princess as was customary for those of lower rank. He had to remember his place. He was her guard, not…whatever they were. Plus, his sister Fuyumi was a huge gossip, and Todoroki doubted it would be good if all the maids in the palace knew about their romantic relationship–not that there was any to speak of.
“Momo, I’ve come to bring you to your mother–oh, hi Shoto! Didn’t see you there! I forget sometimes that you’re her bodyguard, hehe.”
Todoroki rolled his eyes. “Sure you did.” He turned to Momo and bowed deeply, “Whatever you’re bothered by, I’m sure you’ll work it out…”
“... princess .” he added, straightening himself and tapping a knuckle lightly against her forehead. It was a simple action, but it was enough to set her ears on fire. Realizing where she was, Momo composed herself, and turned to her lady-in-waiting, Fuyumi.
“Do I have to go?” She resented the slight whine in her tone, but whined nonetheless. She was a princess, after all.
Fuyu smiled and took her hand, “I’m afraid you do.”
She was led down to the family sitting room, an oasis of comfort and warmth hidden from the harsh golden splendor of the palace behind a secret door in the servants’ staircase. The walls were covered with shelves overflowing with books and maps and charts she and her father loved; on the coffee table by the roaring hearth was her mother’s needlework basket, out of which her mother worked pleasantly on the couch now. Normally, this would be a welcoming sight. Yet Momo felt her stomach clench with anxiety. She knew what this ball was about, what it would mean for her future. What it would mean for her and Todoroki.
“Mother.” She greeted the queen with a smile and it was returned.
“Have a seat, child.”
She obeyed hesitantly, taking one beside her with some reluctance. The Queen never really relaxed, keeping up the regal posture and knees to the side even out of sight of the public. Momo had always felt pressure in her mother’s atmosphere; the pressure to emulate her every mannerism even though Momo was not her mother.
“I expect you know I’ve summoned you to discuss the ball.”
“Yes, mother.”
“You will be going to this ball.”
“Yes, mother.”
“I’ve picked out the perfect dress for you.”
“Thank you, mother.”
The Queen sighed. “And…you know you are to pick a suitor before the end of the ball…to marry.”
Momo was silent.
“You know it’s for the best. Your father is coming up in years. It won’t be long before the UA Kingdom will need a king to rule in his place. Naturally, I’ve lined up some very honorable young men for you to meet.”
“Mother, I understand, I do. It’s just…”
“You want someone else.”
Momo looked up, surprised, at the Queen. “You, you know–?”
“Of course, dear. I remember, you were five years old and you fell in love with a plump little prince at one of our balls. You talked about him constantly for weeks and weeks after. I’m sorry, but I checked and he’s already married to the Queen of France.”
So her mother didn’t know. In some ways she was relieved. The Queen wasn’t to be trifled with when life deviated from the royal standard, as far as she could tell from the rumors gathered from dungeon guards. “Oh,” she tried to cover up her indifference, “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, I was too, but there’ll be plenty of other suitors twice as attractive as him.” But none like Todoroki –why was she even allowing herself to think of him like this? He was her bodyguard , as he liked to mention so often, and maybe she didn’t really feel attracted to him after all. Maybe she was just trying to escape responsibility like any other teenager. If that was the case, she would marry a suitor, and face her responsibilities like a grown woman.
“I completely agree, mother. You will see me there. Do let me know if you need any help planning the ball.”
Her mother smiled. “That’s my daughter. Fuyumi!” Fuyu emerged from behind the door.
“Is Your Highness’s summon at a close?”
“Yes. Please escort the Princess for a turn about the grounds.” She turned to Momo. “You need the fresh air, dear. Your cheeks must be a rosy red for your suitors!”
Fuyu led Momo back to her room to change into her out-of-doors clothes.
“I’ll summon Shoto. You can’t be without your guard .” Fuyu lifted her eyebrows for emphasis and Momo laughed.
“You know full well we aren’t like that!”
“Oh no?”
She waved her hairbrush at her teasingly. “Begone, commoner.” Fuyu giggled and disappeared down the hall.
Momo sat and stared at her reflection in the mirror, brushing her hair absentmindedly. It was a simple psychological complex, to be sure. She was only feeling these things for Todoroki because the subject of her future had suddenly come up and her mind went to the only man she’d ever known intimately beside her father. Surely, if she’d grown up common and had lots of boyfriends or any male siblings, she would have seen Todoroki as just her bodyguard and friend of several years.
And yet…she couldn’t ignore the ache in her heart when she imagined anyone else helping her with the clasp on a necklace, or soothing her tears when her father inevitably passed away.
Momo swiped the brush once more through her hair and decided to leave it down for the afternoon. She slipped into a burgundy sundress and slid a creamy white cardigan over her bare shoulders. At the last moment, Momo pinned a small golden brooch to her dress; the regal seal of the Royal UA Guard. She’d received it from Todoroki for her official coming-out-into-society ceremony. The commoner’s seal was embroidered on his day to day jacket. He’d given the brooch to her with a smile and told her it was for the many good years he’d spent guarding her, and she’d thanked him profusely and taken it.
That had been the first time she’d fallen for him.