Chapter Text
As soon as Hitoshi’s eyes locked with those piercing red ones, he knew he fucked up. He was completely screwed, to say the least.
This was his first big mission. The first real thing Shouta was letting him in on. Of course, he’d done plenty of heists by now, but this was public. This was real. And here he was, already getting caught. Shouta was going to lock him away—assuming he did manage to get out of the castle.
He just needed to be casual. Maybe, if he could make it out to the balcony, he could use his capture weapon to swing down. Now he had a plan. It was fine.
Unfortunately, the universe seemed ultimately set on screwing him over tonight. The one night he needed. This was going to prove things to Shouta.
Hitoshi leaned against the balcony railing, looking out over it. His previous plan was out the window. He could feel those eyes on him again.
“Won’t you come out, prince Katsuki?” He tilted his head just enough, to meet the gaze of the boy lingering. A brief look of shock crossed his features, but it was wiped as quick as it came. If Hitoshi didn’t spend all his time studying people, he would’ve missed it.
The blonde approached, almost hesitantly, but there was still a confidence to him. “You know who I am?”
He could lie his way out of this. He wasn’t going to let Shouta down. This mission was too important.
“Well, of course.” He had done extensive research on the royal family. He probably knew more about them than they knew about themselves. “You were the most handsome man at the party, and I was very lonely.” He swallowed, stringing together the rest of his shitty story in his head. “…So, I thought, tonight I will have an adventure. I will make the acquaintance of the mysterious Katsuki Bakugou.”
“How do you know what I look like?”
Hitoshi smiled. “It wasn’t difficult to find out.”
Katsuki didn’t seem to buy it. “How did you know I wouldn’t report you for taking my jewels?” Hitoshi tensed. Okay, so he was definitely caught. He fished the necklace—a gold chain with a red ruby pendant—out of his pocket, holding it to Katsuki.
“I took that chance.” He shrugged. The prince took the necklace, before pocketing it himself. He didn’t seem like he was buying Hitoshi’s story, but he also wasn’t calling the guards. “…Are you going to call someone?”
“I should take care of you myself,” He muttered, but Hitoshi wasn’t very worried. He was sure he could take some prince. He glanced at Hitoshi, as if his eyes were dissecting him. “No, I’m not going to call someone. If something went wrong, I don’t know that my mom would let me do anything again. And I guess you gave them back.”
Hitoshi resisted the urge to let out a breath of relief. He might actually pull this off—well, besides the fact he had lost what he’d come in to steal. It wasn’t a big deal; Shouta had the big parts of the mission.
“So,” He started. He didn’t exactly have the best conversation skills, but he figured he should look for something considering he was playing the part of someone desperate enough to steal for the prince’s attention. “What does a prince do?”
Katsuki scoffed. “Wouldn’t you like to know, eyebags?”
“I mean, I asked.”
The blonde rolled his eyes, as if Hitoshi had asked some offensive question.
“The point of finally having a celebration with people other than royals is that I don’t have to talk about stupid royal shit.” Now Katsuki leaned against the railing, also looking over the castle garden.
“…Okay. So, what do you do for fun?”
“I don’t have time for that shit.”
Hitoshi blinked at him. What did this man want from him?
“Are you excited to be crowned?” To be fair, it was ‘royal shit’, but he was running out of conversation. He didn’t know what things princes liked to talk about.
Katsuki barked out a laugh. “I’m going to be the best king this fuckin’ kingdom has ever seen.” Hitoshi didn’t point out that wasn’t an answer to his question. “I’m going to show up every king and queen who came before me.”
Now, Hitoshi looked him over. It was weird, he thought, for a moment. How they could be.. so similar, but so different. How they could share the same goals, while Hitoshi knew they had nothing in common. So similar yet, not at all. “I’m sure you will,” He agreed.
That was the right thing to say, apparently, because a small grin tugged at Katsuki’s lips.
Hitoshi isn’t exactly sure how long he stood on the balcony, probably talking more than he had in years. It was hard to string together lies immediately, but Hitoshi was starting to think he was a really good liar. After a little while, a green haired boy that Hitoshi didn’t recognize stepped out. His face was covered in freckles, and he was dressed in a brown suit. He seemed to know the prince well.
“Kacchan! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. The queen requests you to meet back up with her,”
Katsuki didn’t fight off a groan when he heard the boy’s voice. His shoulder tensed, and that not-so subtle irritation very obviously creeped back onto his features. “Fuck off, Deku. I don’t care what that hag wants. Isn’t this my party?”
The boy with green hair—Deku?—frowned. “Your mom isn’t going to be happy if I come back without you. She’s not gonna be happy if I tell her you’re out here with…” He looked to Hitoshi, looking him up and down. Probably trying to pinpoint if he knew who he was. “…Someone random, either.” Katsuki groaned again, dropping his head, before removing himself from the railing.
“Fine. What-the-fuck-ever. Maybe I’ll see you around, eyebags.”
Ideally not, he thought. “Maybe.” Hitoshi nearly didn’t have time to think before a chain was flying at him. When he caught it, he was surprised to see the necklace he’d taken off the other boy earlier. He wasn’t sure why Katsuki would be interested in giving that back to him.
The two boys left, with Deku immediately starting into a rant about why Katsuki couldn’t be outside with a stranger. Hitoshi thought he should probably do more research on the castle staff if Shouta ever lets him come back.
Right, Shouta. They should regroup.
⭑⭑
“You talked to the prince?” Shouta pinched the bridge of his nose, and Hitoshi rubbed at the back of his neck.
“It was the best move—“
“Hitoshi. He has your face now. He could still turn you in.”
“He’s not going to. He would’ve already if he was going to. Plus, I didn’t take anything. I gave it back, and I lied my way out. Like you said to do.
Shouta drug a hand over his face, and Hitoshi looked to the ground. He’d screwed this up. There was no way Shouta would bring him on such a big mission again. Deep down, he knew Shouta was just worried about him. The last thing he wanted to see was Hitoshi locked away for life. But, Hitoshi knew he could do this. He could live up to Shouta’s legacy.
“Shou,” Hizashi started, his hand finding his shoulder. He gave a soft squeeze. “It was his first public mission, and he didn’t technically get caught. He didn’t mess anything up, either, did he? You all got out. He was really just there for back-up and extras this time, yeah?”
“I told you he wasn’t ready.” Hitoshi hated it when they talked like he wasn’t right there, but he didn’t say anything.
“Do you remember your first? You almost got into a fight with that Todoroki prince. Is he king now?”
Shouta let out a sigh, brushing Hizashi’s hand away. He knew he had a point—he always did. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Hitoshi. “Toshi,” He started, and Hitoshi immediately looked up. “You’re positive he wouldn’t want to turn you in?”
Hitoshi nodded. “Completely. He didn’t suspect a thing. I’m sure.” Shouta studied him a minute, before giving a singular nod.
“Okay. I trust you. You should get some rest,” Hitoshi nodded again, lifting himself from his chair at the kitchen table. “I don’t want you to be over tired for the next mission.” Shouta said oh-so-casually, and the younger boy’s gaze immediately snapped back to him. He fought off the smile that twitched at his lips. He hadn’t ruined it.
“Okay.” He said simply, as if that wasn’t the best news he’d gotten all week, before he added a quiet, “Thank you.” He went off to his room—room was generous, but it did have a mattress. Shouta was right, he needed to be at his best to be an asset to this mission. He needed to show Shouta it was worth it to keep him on. He sat down on the mattress, pulling the necklace from his pocket. The ruby matched the prince’s eyes, he thought. Must’ve been why he was given it. He turned it over in his hand, examining it. It wasn’t anything truly special. Probably wasn’t even a necessary steal.
But, as he felt over the jewel, he had some weird urge to keep it. He wasn’t sure why. He didn’t keep things; it was practically against everything he and Shouta stood for.
Kinda. Technically he didn’t steal it..
He looked at that stupid necklace for a few moments longer than necessary, before pocketing it again. Being distracted by a necklace was the last thing he needed right now.
Shouta would see Hitoshi wasn’t something he needed to worry over.