Archive of Our Own

It all started with a glance, as naive as the first cries of a newborn, that changed the rest of their narratives. These delicate pages, untouched by this golden ink, became the theater of many realizations and sweet promises that took on different weights over the years, to their current tale and unexplored chapters of their lives. 

This world wasn’t supposed to keep them tied but these moments of weakness became their biggest strength and a way to reinforce this indelible bond, which took the final title of unbreakable vows on the altar. The pleasant discoveries of a youth were highlighted by the routine of excitement when their eyes met in the room with a smile on the corner of their lips, invisible to others but the center of attention for their beloved partner and childhood friend.

The delicate wind called him “the sun” but his real name was Katsuki Bakugou, heir to the throne and only son of Mitsuki and Masaru. He was the product of a strong reputation, which he inherited from his ancestors’ success, despite marking history with a breathtaking face that was able to seduce the coldest hearts in the town. The shade of gold in his hair was similar to the prettiest treasure in the lands, coveted by many men with selfish intentions, such as his breathtaking crimson eyes. There was something mysteriously captivating about the presence of this recognizable shadow in the room, stealing the immediate attention and creating unfounded rumors about his private life. 

Many questioned the existence of a secret partner by his side to warm his night, while others agreed to describe the unreachable prince as someone interested in one-night stands. The worst ones were the vicious souls who spread gossip about his burning love, able to kill the purest hearts and curse an innocent if the seductive man put his interests in someone other than his throne. Katsuki never confirmed or denied the truth behind these stupid lies, knowing it represented a waste of time when he already had too many vultures in his surroundings. 

He wasn’t alone and his loyal acolyte, who took a major place in their narrative, was described as “the moon”. His real name had already been the source of worry for many reasons, some darker than others: His loved ones, including his beloved partner, called him Izuku Midoriya despite the numerous nicknames that accompanied him during his life. Most of the people knew him as “nerd”, “freckles” or even “love” even if the last one was reserved for the untouchable king and his loving glances. 

Izuku Midoriya was a complex mystery to solve behind his inaccessible nature. Born as the only heir of the Midoriya family, his entire life was destined to be wrapped in treasures and endless gold by his side until a series of unfortunate circumstances brought him hope in the least expected. Every interested eye who accidentally found the man in a crowd described him as an ethereal beauty with his green messy curls, his stunning emerald eyes that reflected a genuine heart, and the distinctive freckles on his cheeks. 

However, it wasn’t the official beginning of this story that faced many twists that challenged the strength of their bond….

———

It happened during a summer day when the sunlight reflected his brightest shade of Clover Line that passed through the windows of this castle, haunted by the ghost of its past and the whispers of the wind to his attentive ears. The last leaves fell on the floor swiping their presence between the footsteps of the moving figures and the semblance of echoes about the unexpected guests that joined their coveted castle. Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugou weren’t the kind of people to easily let something catch their attention unless these people had something to bring to their kingdom, a good intention often seen as a way to manipulate others for the sake of their own well-being….

The innocent palm firmly held the small issues on his injured skin, hoping no one saw his vulnerable state after a second of inattention that cost him more than a few groans of pain. The prince was also known for his stubborn behavior but represented a source of hope for the future of these lands, an important title for the young boy who only cared about his training lessons with his teacher Aizawa. Born as an alpha, he was destined for great things and would conquer many territories: He was often described as the “little miracle” by the people who knew him since his first cries in this strange world, despite not understanding what made him so special compared to the others!  This coveted life at the castle was envied by many strangers for the pretty illusion it sold to their naive souls, unaware of the cruel loneliness it brought to a curious boy like Katsuki, who tried to distract his mind with the slightest form of distraction in his surroundings. 

He already complained about the lack of activity in this place he was supposed to call home, considerate as a huge jail for his tiny shadow in this world of giants. Everyone kept talking about his coronation day when the prince was not taller than three apples, forced to admit how everyone in this familiar environment considered him as a title rather than a human being. His parents and a few maids were the exceptions to the rules but their company couldn’t compare to that of a friend of his age, an unconscious wish that would become a lost memory soon. 

The background noises of distant voices resonated in the long corridors, bringing him back to his reality where he was currently hiding in the corner of the closest wall with the hope that his blood wouldn’t betray his presence and worry his parents. After all, they mentioned how this meeting was more than important for the sake of their lands, and nothing should distract the royal couple from their impressive guest! Sure, the state of their son remained their biggest priority but Katsuki already considered himself stupid enough to let this injury mark his skin in the first place when he should’ve been careful. He simply wanted to occupy his lonely afternoon with the sword often used by Aizawa, considered too dangerous for a child of his age when the warnings should’ve been enough to prevent this unfortunate accident. 

A frown appeared on the blond’s face when he held the tissue closer to his fresh injury with the unpleasant sign of blood on his clothes, quickly followed by a low mumble about how his stupidity between two breaths. Lost in his thoughts, the prince barely noticed the presence of another extra who walked in the same path as him until his shoulders accidentally bumped into this stranger, which brought a groan out of the alpha’s lips. Katsuki lifted his head, ready to justify his presence here until his crimson eyes found the intrigued emerald ones and the slight blush on his porcelain skin, almost like this new guest was embarrassed about this situation. 

In front of him was standing the most mysterious child the prince had ever seen with a first glance that left hundreds of questions at the tip of his lips. The most evident details caught by the interested crimson eyes were the specific shades of green that colored the face of this intriguing painting that became a source of many interrogations. The emerald shade in his shining eyes was different from the forest one in his messy curls as his observing glances accidentally found the traces of freckles drawn on his flushed cheeks, similar to dots residing on a delicate piece of paper. 

The green-haired boy’s light scent stole the blond’s attention and was suddenly as considerate as the breeze that had previously crossed the lost curls on his forehead. Katsuki was familiar with the difference between the social classes, especially in royalty when one's second gender defined someone’s life but there was something captivating about the expression of embarrassment that crossed the lips of the stranger, ready to apologize for something he had made by accident. The blond hadn’t said anything to introduce the conversation but it was clear that the change of expression on the omega’s face reflected the sparkles in his eyes, a meaningful detail that warmed the prince’s chest for unknown reasons. The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds, ignoring the silence of this castle that used to represent a weight on their shoulders. The small fingers on the omega’s hands unconsciously reached for the fabric of his elegant clothes, chosen by his parents for the special day, remembering how he ended up here in the first place. 

Izuku Midoriya was an amazed soul, loved by his family and his subjects, despite the terrible ending he suffered after his first cries in this corrupted world. His title of heir of the lands didn’t match his second gender of omega, something he obviously didn’t choose on purpose but which represented a certain bother in his dream of freedom. After all, he was doomed and forced to marry someone for the sake of his lands instead of following his own dream, even if he was too young to realize the consequences it would have on the rest of his narrative. 

For the moment, he was just an adorable child, not taller than three apples with distinctive physical features that made everyone smile when he crossed their path. His shy behavior melted the coldest hearts and he loved when his mother gave him the best of hugs after a nightmare. He naturally agreed to follow his parents for this “amusing” afternoon until he skipped the adult conversation and accidentally lost himself in this huge maze. He passed his time by sneaking into the kitchen to steal some bread after the chef’s authorization and discovered the secrets of this unknown place that strangely looked like his. These similarities ended up playing a trick on his innocent mindset as he lost himself and tried to find his way back, holding back his tears until he met the name that would take different titles over the years….

The first details noticed by the prince were the stunning shade of gold in the spikes of this stranger and the mesmerizing crimson eyes that locked into his. It reminded him of the prettiest jewels he had in the room of his castle, except these ones were more breathtaking with their own beauty than the vulgar ruby. The echoes of his heartbeat against his sensitive ears became the only sound that filled the previous silence of this room, his cheeks flushed redder when he realized how the blond, slightly taller than him, kept looking at him with an intrigued expression on his face. However, another thought crossed the prince’s mind, taking the form of a lighter truth that’ll take all the sense in the next few years, even if it was only seen as a delicate whisper to his heart for the moment. There was something captivating about the stranger standing under his eyes with a glance able to sell the prettiest promises and let the undiscovered lines be read by the kindness of a soul like his.

“Sorry I…I should’ve been more careful,” mumbled the shorter boy with his flushed cheeks, wondering why his heart started to beat faster when the hesitant crimson eyes turned into a lighter expression. His relief was interrupted by the discreet movement of tissue on the blond’s skin, revealing the sight of blood that immediately brought worry to the emerald eyes. “Wait, you’re hurt-”

“It’s fine,” explained the blond with rolled eyes. He had no choice but to act as if this injury wasn’t something to be concerned about when the prince himself groaned in pain at the slightest touch of the tissue on his skin. Katsuki couldn’t let Freckles see him in a vulnerable state when he was supposed to be the future king of these lands! “It’s not a big deal, really-”

“You’re bleeding,” pointed out the shorter boy. The previous sparkles in his intriguing eyes faded away, replaced by the genuine concern on his face that stood too close to red cheeks, embarrassed by the current situation and the strange thoughts that crossed his mind at the moment. “We need to clean the injury before it gets worse, your parents can-”

“Don’t !” Accidentally shouted the taller alpha, realizing his mistake when he faced an uncomfortable silence in the room. Katsuki wished he could put his hand behind his head as a sign of his embarrassment bur he refused to let someone else see the state of his injury! “I can do it on my own, it’s not that important and I just…I don’t want to get caught.”

Izuku stayed silent and moved his head to the side with loose curls that met the breeze of the wind, caressing their forehead in a moment of vulnerability. It was interesting to see the expression that drawn themselves on the blond’s face, similar to mysterious lines able to captivate an innocent soul like his. The freckled boy didn’t try to force the interaction between them, he understood how some people needed their space but the prince refused to let someone suffer in silence! His emerald eyes brightened when he got a new idea in mind, able to appease the afraid alpha. Katsuki's eyebrow raised when he saw the green-haired boy getting closer to him until a few centimeters separated them, with an understanding glance on his face when he presented his pinky finger in the small space between them. The blond wasn’t a baby anymore, he could handle this situation on his own despite the-

“We can make the pinky promise to keep it as our special secret,” explained Izuku with a smile that brought butterflies to the blond’s stomach. Katsuki didn’t know what kind of spell Freckles put on him but he needed to find out before getting sick of it! “My mom always taught me a few things every time I hurt my knees, I can help you without worrying about your parents.”

Katsuki was hesitant about this choice that looked pretty obvious at first sight: Technically, if he stayed in his obstinate attitude, he would lose more blood and be more tired than he already was. This situation needed to be avoided at all costs on both sides and he agreed to put his guard down to lock his crimson eyes with the emerald ones. Izuku didn’t expect a positive answer from his new friend but he was agreeably surprised to see how Katsuki held his pinky finger with his own. If the prince tried to cover his blush, the omega’s face brightened at the symbolic gesture of trust they established with their previous interactions, as he interlaced their pinky fingers. 

A sudden sparkle caught their attention when the mystery in their glances looked like fragile lines, ready to be discovered with the beauty of this moment that forged an indelible souvenir in the future narratives of these two souls, reunited by fate in fortunate happenstance. The quiet prince simply followed the shorter figure as he indicated the special spot for the medicine, which represented a big source of relief at the moment. Katsuki should feel ashamed for showing an ounce of vulnerability to someone else outside his loved ones but he welcomed this intriguing sentiment that took the form of affection in this new bond, promising the best of tales.  

Izuku’s mumbles filled the previous silence and he took his time to have a clear view of the injury that caused such a big fear in the stubborn blond, until he understood the severity of the injury at the sight of an injury that would definitely leave a scar on this fragile skin. His small fingers tried to be cautious in each of his movements, apologizing when he accidentally found the sensitive spot on the alpha’s arm, before asking about the origin of such pain. 

Before realizing it, the blond explained everything and even mentioned the secret he hadn’t told anyone until now under the amazed glance of the nerd, who let him talk. It was the first time the protected blond, due to his important title, met someone of his age but his apprehension was suddenly replaced by the enjoyment of each other’s company as the two boys started to get along as if they had known each other since their birth. Izuku and Katsuki learned about the similarities of their world, the importance of their royal titles, and the numerous things that distracted them from this future pressure, including their common point for the All Might legend, that lullabied their youth. 

It was a sentiment beyond words with an instant chemistry, together they started to laugh at crazy stories that happened in their respective kingdoms, exchanged their biggest dream and realized how easy it was to make new friends. Katsuki connected the dots and understood how Izuku didn’t lose himself in this endless maze by accident, he was the son of the famous guest awaited by his parents! He opened his heart without any struggles and talked about his ideal future under the awed eyes of the freckled boy, with his soft scent that became an unconscious source of comfort. 

“And it’s done,” exclaimed the shorter boy with a delighted smile, proud of the bandage he used to cover the nasty injury. Izuku knew his mother would be so proud of him when she learned about this until he remembered how it was supposed to be their secret! A light blush colored his cheeks when he realized how he spent the last minutes with someone who understood him with the same interest in a bright future they could build together. “You’re safe now and- Wait, I almost forgot the most important part.”

The crimson eyes stole a quick glimpse at his covered injury, impressed to see how the omega had saved him from an unpleasant conversation with his parents. Deku saved his life, the least the prince could do was to return the favor after this kind gesture in this new friendship that’ll create a bond stronger than death. However, the blond didn’t expect to receive a sudden kiss on the cheeks with the warmth of the small lips against his porcelain skin, forcing him to take a look at the shorter omega, who didn’t hide his scarlet cheeks despite the small smile that crossed the tip of his lips. 

“My mom said it’s a magic trick to make people smile,” mumbled the shorter boy with lost fingers on his clothes, hoping this wasn’t too much. After all, he saw Inko always cover him with magical kisses during each of his injuries and he believed it was a part of the healing process, but the prince’s reaction told him how this special treatment was reserved for family instead of strangers! If only Izuku had known about that before putting himself in an unpleasant situation, he would’ve avoided this moment of inattention instead of letting his flushed cheeks betray his embarrassment!

“But you… You don’t know me,” Katsuki added in a low tone. 

Don’t get him wrong, he was touched by the gesture and didn’t know why his heart missed a beat when the omega’s lips were on his flushed cheeks, probably due to another spell the nerd put on him. The prince already saw a few people in the castle sharing affectionate gestures in complete discretion while holding hands, his parents explained how these were couples who showed their love for each other so…does this mean that Freckled and he were together now?  It wouldn’t make any sense they had just met and they were too young for that, they were only four years old! Katsuki’s flushed cheeks got redder and caught the omega’s attention, who moved closer and decided to break the previous silence that made him sad for unknown reasons.

“I know a lot about you, including your name so you’re not a stranger anymore. Technically you’re my first friend, we share the same dream and I.. I like you.” The green-haired prince didn’t know why he was blushing after the last words, it was just a way to show his affection but why does his heart beat so fast at the idea of seeing the crimson eyes reject him once again?

 If Katsuki’s eyes widened at the previous confession, he didn’t have the time to offer a proper reply before hearing sudden voices in the corridor with an unknown voice that interrupted their conversation. The blond was about to speak until he saw the embarrassed emerald eyes, almost as if he immediately recognized the stranger who called his name from afar as the voice started to get closer to their secret spot. The alpha easily connected the dots when the woman’s voice called his real name, instead of the nickname used in the past conversation, and explained that it was time to leave. 

“You don’t have to answer it’s fine,” mumbled the smaller boy with a soft tone, looking behind him as the footsteps were dangerously closer to them. “I need to go before we get caught but do you think we can meet again, Kacchan ?”

Kacchan. 

Katsuki Bakugou didn’t really care about the many names used to describe him but this one was somehow, lighter and more delicate than the casual ones that crossed his ears so many times in the past. There was something delicate about the pronunciation of this sweet nickname, almost like the omega’s voice was afraid to break the value of his real name, which was too complicated to say at the moment, and chose a more comfortable option. The prince didn’t try to correct him, not when his emerald eyes were brighter than the stars in a midnight sky, secretly wishing he had more time to continue this conversation….

He caught the shorter prince by surprise with his pinky finger as an amused grin appeared on his lips. Izuku’s face brightened at the gesture and he returned the pinky promise, hiding the tears of happiness when he understood that there would be a next time with his new friend! The green-haired boy apologized once again for the sudden departure, promising to keep his secret safe before fading away in another corridor, leaving the intrigued alpha with an unexplainable warmth in his chest.

Little did he know how this fortunate injury would become the very first scar that left a trace on his skin, with the fond memories of a meeting that already changed the rest of their lives….

——-

The rumors spread pretty quickly after their accidental meeting, marked by the impatience of the golden-haired prince and his wish to spend more time with his new friend. The royal couple easily noticed the change in their son’s face when they mentioned the naive idea to visit the Midoriya’ kingdom: After all, they tried to keep their political meetings away from their family so Katsuki’s sudden interest was unexpected and intrigued them to know the reason behind his adorable crimson eyes.  The blond-haired prince, always annoyed by his royal duties, suddenly shone and asked if he could come with them to meet their neighborhood lands, pretending to play dumb in front of them.

This act of innocence turned in his favor when the naivety of his caring parents led him to feel more than excited at the thought of seeing Freckles again, considering the last two weeks as the longest of their lives. Little did he know that Katsuki wasn’t the only one who changed after that, Izuku was also impatient to see his new friend again, to the point of jumping into his arms when their parents were occupied with adult conversations. Katsuki usually disliked affection in any form but made an exception for his best friend, who always looked at him with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

They had to pretend earlier in front of their parents, who probably questioned the strange bond between two strangers that had just met but the innocence of youth gave them many excuses to hide their little secret. That day, the two boys explored the incredible maze of Izuku’s castle and held each other’s hands in the darkest corridors, believing that the warmth of the other would chase the shadowed monsters away. Their conversations turned into a soft laugh and numerous talks about the amazing things they could do together, sealing pinky promises under the beautiful spot in the garden that became their favorite spot. 

Izuku told him the stories of his favorite flowers and Katsuki told him the memories associated with them in his own castle, under the mutual amazement in each other’s glances in these moments of vulnerability, more valuable than any treasures on their lands. They might be doomed to opposite fates, but nothing could erase the beauty of their bond, the sweet promises made into timeless pinky promises and stolen kisses on the cheeks, used as a way to thank the blond for this unexpected friendship. Their titles didn’t matter when the only thing they cared about was the presence of their best friend as a human being instead of a simple heir to thousands of hectares: No more pressure about the ending of strangers they haven’t met yet and no more fear of being too small in this giant world. 

The interested glimpse of the maids caught their moving shadows with muffled chuckles and bright color on their cheeks as a warm expression crossed the corner of their lips. After all, this place used to be haunted by the ghosts of its heavy past, and the slight amount of joy with sweet interactions like these succeeds in changing the narrative. The eldest maids smiled at the cute scene and the youngest even helped the two princes to sneak out of the hidden garden with the promise to keep their secret safe under the amazed children, touched by the gesture. 

It was refreshing to see some light in these cold corridors when the lives of thousands of innocents were on the line. Being a part of royalty hasn’t been an easy task, most of the time seen as a chore rather than something agreeable to do, despite the weight of the consequence it could have on strangers. After all, the boys' side had something to win: Mitsuki and Masaru were glad to assist in the creation of a strong friendship between Katsuki and the son of their allies and every time the two boys smiled when their best friend was in the room. This political agreement between the two powerful families offered a clear advantage on both sides: The royal couples had the chance to make this exchange fair and their sons found company in this new routine. 

This sweet habit continued during weeks that quickly transformed into years in the blink of an eye. Indeed, in their predefined role as future ruler of their respective lands, rare were the moments of peace, and the best of them were influenced by the impatience of their next meeting and the adventures they hadn’t discovered yet. The lonely Katsuki found an unexpected side of a title he considered as heavy as the future crown on his head and the shy Izuku Midoriya finally found the one able to complete his soul in the most breathtaking way.

 They shared hundreds of new souvenirs together but their favorite remained the ones about a vulnerable conversation shared during spring, when they were not older than 6 years old. That day, the green-haired prince talked about the recent nightmares that brought him heavy tears to his freckled cheeks in the early morning with a description of their content that genuinely broke Katsuki’s heart. 

He had already seen his best friend in a sensitive state but nothing more heartbreaking than the current tears the omega tried to hide during his speech, able to scare the bravest soldiers on the battlefield. In his dreams, the poor Izuku was forced to see his family and his best friend condemned to death, beheaded in front of everyone with no other way than to cry and beg the bad guys not to kill the people he loved the most. 

The description was so vivid that it brought tears to the corner of the blond’s eyes and his body moved on its own to offer a sudden hug to the trembling omega, who rested his head on his neck and held him as close as possible. They stayed in this reassuring embrace for a few minutes that weren’t enough to erase the pain of their shattered heart, motivated by different reasons. When Izuku wanted to save everyone and erase the terrible frames of his mind, Katsuki felt guilty for not being strong enough to protect his best friend and the only person who mattered to him. 

If Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugou were the fruits of many expectations from their subjects and families, Deku and Kacchan remained the fragile souls behind this constant pressure with some thoughts they couldn’t release, even to their own reflection in the mirror. There used to be a time, as blurry as its memories were, when their names themselves worked on their own to assure a source of pride but everything changed when their paths met: Suddenly, they weren’t a vulgar shadow to forget anymore, but a strong bond to cherish for the rest of their lives. 

“My old man always says there are some dreams we can’t find, even with the best of intentions. He had a lot of them when my mom was having me and sometimes it keeps him awake at night, even at his dinosaur age. I also have bad dreams where the mean guys always try to steal something important from me and you’re always their target, which makes me really mad and scared,” the taller alpha said with a low tone, one he often used when he was about to cry. 

Izuku immediately recognized the signs and moved closer to wipe the salty tears that threatened to fall on the alpha's skin, a sight that scared the omega more than the injury of his nightmares! If the blond didn’t say anything, he simply welcomed the blush on his cheeks when he felt the comforting fingers on his skin, afraid to break him into a million pieces with seconds of inattention, able to give them indelible scars in their bleeding hearts. The least Katsuki could do was to cheer his best friend up and make promises to always stand by his side and protect him from the bad guys, especially after all the kind gestures made by the omega in this bond, which represented more than any praises given by forgotten shadows of their past!

“I really want to protect you too because you’re my best friend in this stupid world…You know, my old man told me a great way to chase the nasty spirits away,” he added with a nod that brought a light smile on the green-haired prince’s face as he brought their pinky fingers closer. “He explained how bad people can’t reach you if you hold your favorite object really close to your heart and think about the person you love the most!”

Every adult knew that saying such things wouldn’t be logical for a developed brain but there was this ounce of magic, the kind of sparkle that kept an inner child alive after the obstacles faced during the tough journey of adulthood. After all, if Masaru shared this advice, it means that weakness didn’t condemn him to a premeditated failure when it came to the choice of the heart and the person by his side during these moments. 

Katsuki knew he could count on his parents and was conscious about the distance that separated his best friend and him, which explained why he brought a special gift for the occasion, meant to bring a smile back to the omega’s face and erase these nasty tears from his pretty eyes. He took one of his shirts he’d kept hidden in one of his hands and gave it to the stunned emerald eyes, taking a quick glimpse at the unexpected gift and noticing the consoling scent that immediately erased his previous worries. 

“This is my favorite piece of clothing, my parents offered it to me when I was 2 years old but I was too young to remember apparently…I thought it would be a great gift idea! You can hold it close to you and think I’m here when you have a bad dream, I’ll even scent it as often as you want if this means keeping you safe,” affirmed the blond with a grin, proud of this affectionate gesture. It was a miracle if he even showed an ounce of weakness in public but Izuku had always been the exception to the rules and the most important person in the prince’s life. 

“This means…I’ll keep a piece of Kacchan by my side when you’re away from me ?” Izuku asked with a low tone, afraid to get caught by the delicate breeze that teased the lost curls on his forehead. His heart missed a beat when he took the warm tissue in his small hands and held it closer to his nose, immediately catching the recognizable scent of his best friend that brought a light smile to his face. The freckled boy swore to always keep this treasure in his arms, even if it means fighting the bad guy who wants to take his Kacchan away!

“Exactly and with my scent it’ll even scare the monster because I’m too strong for them,” the taller alpha admitted with his arms crossed on his chest. A smirk appeared on his lips with a relieved expression in his eyes when he noticed how the shorter omega brought the scented shirt straight to his chest, containing his tears of happiness at the meaningful gift. 

However, he didn’t expect to see the light suddenly return to the omega’s face when Izuku apologized and walked to his room to return with a handkerchief he firmly held close to his heart with flushed cheeks. At first sight, the delicate fabric was embroidered with the finest materials, marked by the same shade of green that colored the messy curls, with the symbol of the Midoriya’s reign on the side. It looked old enough to show the numerous times when it had been used, wondering why his best friend brought this piece back with him….

“This is my favorite blankie,” explained the shorter omega with a relieved smile, holding the scented shirt in his hand and his precious handkerchief in the other. Izuku knew this gesture was symbolic and he was ready to face the consequences of this action, knowing that he would rather lose something very important to him than leave his best friend alone in the dark during a nightmare. “I…I know it’s very important to me but I wanted to return the gesture if this means protecting you too. It was my best friend until you became mine and Kacchan means a lot to me,  can you promise me you’ll keep it safe? I held it very close to my heart every night and you can always ask me to scent it for you if you want-”

“But it’s yours…Are you sure you want to give it to me ?” Kastuki asked in a hesitant tone. He knew the omega would like his gift but he had never imagined, even in his crazy scenario, that Izuku would return the gesture and give him the precious blankie. He mentioned it so many times in their past conversations! According to Izuku, this handkerchief had magical power able to heal a broken heart and reassure people when they’re away from their loved ones, it would make sense for him to offer it to his best friend but something felt wrong. “Who’s gonna be by your side if it’s gone ?”

“Your shirt!” The green-haired prince replied with a genuine smile, holding the black cloth closer to him. The answer sounded more than obvious for the shorter omega when his face regained the lost colors that warmed the blond’s heart, still sensitive to the slightest change of expression on the prince’s face. “You gave me a part of you and I’m returning the gesture because you’re my best friend in every universe and I don’t want to lose you. We can protect each other from afar and think about the other during bad nights, it’ll be our biggest treasure!”

“Sure, I already got mine,” mumbled the blond with a hidden smile, holding the scented handkerchief closer to his chest. He didn’t understand why his heart missed a beat when he imagined his childhood friend holding this precious blankie and covering it with tender wishes, but the prince was glad to have a bond as strong as theirs, technically Izuku was his white knight now!

His fingers touched the delicate fabric at the palm of his hand and held it tighter, wondering what was happening to him the moment his eyes locked with the delighted emerald ones. Over the months, he was familiar with the repetitive impression of deja-vu that appeared in his routine, wondering what kind of magical spell the nerd put on him to make each of his worries disappear on the spot. He refused to mention this spell to any of the maids and his parents, afraid to see them laughing at him for being weak even if the answer was far from his expectations and the rest of their adventures. 

Since that day, the two princes became inseparable from their precious gifts, the same ones they preciously held to their chests with a comforting scent, almost like they were sharing endless sleepovers despite the distance separating their two kingdoms…

——-

Their tender story was suddenly influenced by the bittersweet teenage years with many changes, including the realization of the heart. 

It took the appearance of naive thoughts such as slight and discreet glances when the other was around until it became a healing melody that crossed the prince’s ears as the best lullaby he had ever heard. The two children who talked about their future with timeless promises became complex shadows with distinct conflicts inside their chests, guided by hidden truths. The sweet omega with his appeasing scent and his shining emerald eyes grew up to be the prettiest guy in the surroundings with the same charm that stole the alpha’s heart when they were not taller than three apples. 

The ethereal beauty that escaped from this untouchable painting had never been so radiant for the mesmerized blond, who had the luck to see the fondest details on the omega’s face and hear the sweet sound of his chuckles after a terrible joke. The nerd stayed the same despite the years that gave him more stories to share with his inspiring soul and the shadow that warmed his childhood days contributed to the creation of indelible memories in his heart…

The green-haired prince wasn’t the only one who physically changed as he observed the effect it had on the others and the interested glances in the crowd. Katsuki Bakugou was meant to steal the attention but the stunning expression on his face and his mysterious side were intriguing enough to make strangers, ready to stake the fate of their lands on an arranged marriage with the Bakugou heir. His golden spikes became recognizable in the crowd, and many strangers tried to catch his attention but the blond only had eyes for one person, the same idiot who welcomed him in their secret spot with delighted smiles and a scarlet color on his cheeks. 

Don’t get him wrong, the alpha was conscious about how his role as a leader started to take on an important part in his new habits as he slowly started to be introduced to his future role of king. The annoying chores he’d seen from afar as a brat became an overwhelming reality, rare were the moments of rest and when they happened, they were spent with his best friend, who understood him more than anyone else in this castle. Spending most of his time with the sweet and attentive omega opened his eyes to the reality of their worlds: Katsuki was already trained as a future ruler and Izuku was doomed to behave like a good queen for his future partner.

It was unfair to hear how this inspiring omega, who talked about the brightest projects and good intentions for his subjects, was now reduced to attending useless lessons when he could’ve done so much better than what fate imposed on him. Together, the two teenagers talked about the rest of their lives and the unexplored obstacles they hadn’t met yet with the appeasing landscapes drawing themselves in the background of their conversations. They weren’t children anymore but souls forced to fit into a role that didn’t satisfy them where the only occasion to be their true selves was during their recurrent hangouts in this splendid garden. 

This special spot took different titles over the years: Often seen as a playground, a source of light talk and moments of vulnerability until it became a place of truth about the blond’s feelings. It started very innocently at first such as lost fingers trying to reach for the scarred ones but failed to feel an ounce of this warmth that appeased his nightmares with the precious handkerchief that never left his side. The hints became more obvious to his observant eyes and the fast heartbeat in his chest with certain thoughts that never crossed his mind until now…

There was something beautiful about the calm of this shade of yellow and orange in this sunset, taking place behind them as the green curls distinguished themselves from the previous details. 

Katsuki was conscious of the strong attachment he had toward the strong bond he formed with his childhood friend and underestimated the subtle change that would take place over the years, as their friendship started to turn into more affectionate gestures that left him either breathless or with a blush on his porcelain skin. A single glance was all it took to catch the beautiful eyes looking into his, as if he were the most beloved gift he had ever received in the palm of his hands until Katsuki Bakugou fell in love with Izuku Midoriya. 

Technically, he fell for him a long time ago and only understood the nature of his feelings at this exact moment, when the world froze in their surrounding to frame the beauty of this moment. The stubborn blond had always been reserved when it came to romance and never planned to be the target of gentle thoughts when he was surrounded by the warmth of the omega, ready to bring the world down for a glimpse of his smirk. Izuku had always been an important person in his life, if not the only one who truly mattered in this unique narrative. It was rational to have a certain form of affection for him but nothing like the genuine joy that occupied his chest every time he was alone with the omega and had his entire attention. 

Suddenly, all the unanswered questions in the blond’s chest found their answers at the source of the one who created it, with his delighted smiles and fond laugh, able to steal the heart of the coldest soldier on the battlefield. Katsuki was terrified to put this friendship on the line and ruin the numerous memories they’ve shared together since their first meeting, he refused to let this precious ship drown before it even got the chance to start sinking with the next page of their complex tales. 

The golden-haired man truly believed that he would be scared of love when he had to face the fragility of this sentiment, marked by weakness and a strong shell he refused to break in front of strangers but everything was sweeter than he expected: With Izuku, he never felt afraid to be judged for his real self and each of his mistakes was forgotten with encouraging words. Many people would’ve pulled him down or taken advantage of his vulnerabilities but Izuku stayed and transformed them into a strength, hidden under invisible layers that blocked the prince from using his full potential. 

Izuku Midoriya was the first to help him with a scar similar to a prose on an untouched page and the only one who gave him the most valuable treasures to ease his nightmares and fill the darkness of his bedroom. Katsuki believed that falling in love would be a complicated step but he was wrong, falling for the sweet omega was easier than breathing and his heart was already his since they were brats. It doesn’t mean he was ready to risk it all for the enjoyment of the challenge, he was self-aware that a single mistake might bring all those years down with no turning back! Izuku’s bond and the memories created together were more important than a stupid confession he could always say later…little did he know how wrong he was.

The green-haired omega noticed the failed attempts to hold his hand and the recurrent blush that colored the blond’s cheeks in their daily interactions. At first, he assumed that his childhood friend was just shy about gestures they used to do in their youth, until he observed the weight of the crimson eyes on his shadow when he entered the room with an unreadable expression on the alpha's face. 

During a few seconds, as precious as the whisper of the wing against his ears, the omega had the impression of understanding the meaning behind these soft glances as the lines of his favorite book, used to this cute sight that brought a slight smile to his lips. The prince covered by endless praise for things he hadn’t done yet, was acting like a shy teenager once he was alone with his thoughts, and this reassuring painting melted Izuku’s heart, who unconsciously started to fall for his childhood friend. 

For the moment, it was simple ideas that chased the nightmares away while he held the scented shirt of the blond closer to his chest, accompanied by captivating smiles and promises to stand by each other’s side until the very end. Unfortunately, fate had another plan in mind and stepped into their tender fairytale to challenge the strength of their bond that’ll either fall apart or revive after this tough encounter with death that none saw coming….

——-

Izuku had a few memories darker than the others but nothing more shattering than the announcement of Katsuki’s sudden disappearance. The news acted like thousands of stabs in the chest with the weight of each of the fragile breath that escaped his open lips, which hadn’t released a single word yet.

The endless corridors were blurred by the echoes of footsteps and the whispers of the maids, who stole a quick glance at the scene with the indelible scar it would leave on this shattered heart. Technically, there was no confirmation of a potential death that would bring his entire world down but the one who talked about it never hid the safe conditions of the stubborn alpha, who got stuck in an unpleasant situation with his life on the line.  He didn’t even know how it was possible in the first place, the blond’s castle had been more than secured and some people with vicious intentions succeeded in sneaking out and using Katsuki as a target-

This was unbelievable, probably another kind of sick joke that didn’t make the omega laugh, when Izuku had the closest bond with the unfortunate prince, a relationship well known to the observant eyes of this castle. The shocked omega had no other choice but to stand there with sad glances locked into his, observing a semblance of reaction from him when the only answers they got from the tormented omega were a pale face and wide eyes. The trembling lips opened and closed a few times, unable to release a single word as he held his fist and tried to ignore the voices behind his back, wondering if he was alright.

Katsuki Bakugou, the great and untouchable prince of Mustafu’s lands became the victim of someone with vicious intentions. He’s been kidnapped fordays,  who knows what kind of trick and torture this asshole could’ve done to his best friend just to get the answer that they wanted! With the obstinate personality of the blond, there was a chance that Katsuki wouldn’t reveal any secrets about his personal life or his kingdom, which was suddenly seen as a curse for Izuku’s shattered heart. For the first time in his life, the shorter prince wanted to brave the forbidden and convince the blond to say everything this asshole needed to know if this meant returning back to him alive instead of staying on the blur. 

The longer he stayed in this silence, the more Izuku started to feel the anxiety filling his chest. His trembling hand lost itself on his pants, holding the fabric tighter and he contained the tears that threatened to fall down his porcelain cheeks, already ruined by the ghost of his past. He was conscious of how every eye on him was patiently waiting for a sign of response, almost like Izuku’s pain were a source of distraction. An innocent’s life was on the line but not anyone’s; Izuku’s best friend, confidant, and the one who unconsciously completed him with a bond supposedly stronger than death. 

At this moment, all his past beliefs were questioned when his fingernails found the skin of his legs through the tiny hole he had caused by his tight grip. His clenched hands were nothing compared to the fast heartbeat that played an uncomfortable melody in his sensitive ears, which remained way better than the heavy silence of this room. His teary emerald eyes found the heartbroken ones of Mitsuki and Masaru, asking for answers he already knew until he left without a single word. His footsteps resonated in the castle and his shadows disappeared as the blurry whispers became the least of his worries: Izuku had so many questions to ask, in his despair, he decided to go straight to the source by asking the complete truth to his parents. 

Two days ago, Inko and Hisashi happily mentioned their next political agreement with the Bakugou, acting innocent when a real tragedy happened in the neighboring lands. The green-haired omega found it inconceivable to pretend it was something not worth mentioning when they knew, better than everyone, how close their son was to the kidnapped prince. Mitsuki and Masaru failed to give him the real answer to his question, forcing him to find them in his future jail. 

The omega slammed the door with a bitter scent that proved his madness and obvious suffering, catching the attention of everyone including his parents when he finally arrived back at home. Hisashi immediately raised his voice to remind his son, of the good manners they’ve taught him before being shut down by his son’s angry glare, under the sad expression that appeared on his mother’s face. Izuku refused to jump to the wrong conclusion and hated how his guts begged him to run away and stay in denial, but his desire for the truth was stronger than his omega, desperate to feel the reassuring scent of the one he loved more than anyone else in this world. 

“I’m not here to talk about the weather, I’m here for answers and you’re going to give them to me right now,” his voice exclaimed in a loud tone, able to scare anyone who hadn’t seen this side of his personality. In all honesty; it was the first time Izuku authorized himself to push his shell down and show his real self to the public, even if this meant being seen as the darkest man of the lands, able to send a curse with a single glare. “I’ve heard about Kacchan’s kidnapping, it’s on everyone’s lips so tell me what really happened  since you always knew the latest information about our political allies.” 

If the questions seemed naive on the outside, their response might reveal a reality darker than any of their expectations. Izuku offered a blind trust to his parents who had offered him the world since his first cries, sure things hadn’t been perfect with his father but he believed that his mother was the only one who truly cared about him and his well-being. When he was younger, they made a promise to be honest, even if it was hard to hear, a symbol of their unconditional trust that ended up being destroyed by this unfortunate accident. 

The emerald eyes stayed focused on the slightest change of expression that appeared on his parents’ faces, reading between the lines. Hisashi Midoriya was a man with values and easily pushed his family aside for the sake of his lands: He knew a few things about his son but the king’s shocked expression reflected genuine surprise when he found an unexpected side of his heir. The frown on his eyebrows was replaced by rolled eyes that had the tendency to make the omega angrier than he already was, almost like the king was annoyed by this behavior when Izuku’s reaction was more than justified.

The lack of comprehension in the king’s face was the complete opposite of the teary eyes of the queen, aware of the lies she had kept hidden for too long. Inko Midoriya was a caring mother who always prioritised her son’s well-being before her own, she stayed a caring maternal figure ready to do anything to keep her son safe, even if this meant hiding a few secrets from him. The older woman wasn’t proud of her actions, sure she was loved by her subjects and helpful in the political aspect of this routine that had installed itself over the years, but there was nothing more heartbreaking than the betrayed glare on Izuku’s face. This boy was the newborn she calmed with kisses on his forehead and yet, it was the same pup that looked at her as if she threw his entire world apart….

“I won’t repeat myself again, what happened to Katsuki Bakugou and why did you keep it hidden for so long-”

“Your friend was kidnapped by some guards who showed him the castle and knocked him down when no one was looking,” said Hisashi with a sigh. He didn’t like the impatience and menacing tone of his son, if his stubborn heir wanted to know the truth, he would get it once and for all. “No one knows where he is, not even his parents and there’s no way to identify the location of the person who wanted to harm him, no matter what their intention was. He could be either dead or alive we’re all stuck here in this mess that’s none of our business but we’ll all forget about this in a few days. Are you glad you got your answers now? Is that what you wanted to hear, son-”

“And when did you plan to tell me the truth ?” Izuku turned the situation to his advantage when he looked at his mother. His heart broke into millions of pieces at the previous revelation, confirming a reality he wanted to avoid at all costs, but he refused to show more of his weaknesses in front of these traitors. 

An odd silence filled the room when each of their breath echoed louder than the heavy heartbeat inside their chest and the hidden sighs escaping the queen’s lips. The seconds became endless minutes with the cold glare that hadn’t left his parents, who didn’t say anything about his clear question. Shit, the furious prince hated how the royal couple, usually very talkative about many topics, was as silent as the ghost haunting these freezing corridors.

 Izuku clenched his fist tighter, ignoring the pain of his own nail on his palm that led to another injury on his hand when it was the least of his problems. His request was simple and yet, none of them had the courage to speak out loud and apologize for their selfish actions until reality acted like a slap in the face. His emerald eyes widened at the sudden realization when he stepped back and held his breath, releasing the previous grip with a bitter laugh. He ignored the trace of blood that accidentally found his forehead when he moved his lost curls, lifting his head to understand how he had been played all along….

“I see,” he mumbled in an exhausted tone when tears started to fall down his cheeks. Izuku was so tired of this conversation and wanted to be alone before doing an action he’d regret. “You weren’t going to tell me because you’re cowards. Your plan was to let me be naive and believe your stupid lies but how long are they gonna last? One day I’ll figure this out one way or another and the consequences will be devastating, more than they already are. I don’t even see why I’m wasting my time with traitors like you, Kacchan is already out of my reach and no one wants to move a single finger to help him…I’m done.”

Izuku was often perceived as the kind omega who never raised his voice or showed the darkest side of his personality and this reputation gave him many advantages, despite forcing him to keep his emotions hidden from the public eye. The green-haired prince was a patient man but this time they went too far, the least they could’ve done was to be honest even if the truth hurt but instead, they stayed quiet as quiet as graves in the cemetery. 

This time the shorter omega had enough and barely looked behind him when his mom called his name with shy apologies, walking straight to his room with tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks. The wooden door slammed louder in this heavy silence that wrapped the prince’s fragile body into a cruel realization of his new reality: From now on, he was doomed to see this fairytale twist into bleeding ink that marked the end of a story he considered as timeless as the promises made in their youth.

It was unthinkable to picture a world where the two inseparable shadows were torn apart by fate but this cursed ending had to reach the wrong universe, tearing apart a broken heart that already longed for an ounce of reassurance about someone who was a ghost of his past. He had so many things to say and such a short amount of time to write them down on the pages that were supposed to be forever theirs. They had so many souvenirs to create together and yet, this dream had been crushed and burned by the mocking wind that caressed the lost curls on his forehead, stealing the ashes of the narratives they hadn’t explored yet in this lifetime. 

The delicate vows sealed by their pinky promises now resonated as discreet memories of a past life when hope and naivety had their place in the prince’s chest, now filled with an unbearable pain and the sensation of dying between each of his breaths. His shaking fingers grabbed the luxurious fabric of the bedsheet and released the pain he’d been hiding since the shocking announcement as heavy tears broke the freckles on his cheeks, merging with the hidden sobs and erasing the fragile melody of a laugh he considered forgotten. 

He didn’t even think it was possible to be separated from someone who represented an important part of your life but fate had to remind him how human existence was as fragile as the last breath of an elder. Izuku understood the value of a life on distinct layers with his subjects but this time it was different: Sure, he was sad to learn of the presence of another grave in the cemetery for a stranger he’d never met but everything was amplified when it concerned the person who completed half of his soul. 

His mind made the mistake of remembering the last conversation they had together, the details on the alpha’s face with the twilight in the background, and the delicate echoes of their conversation. If Izuku knew it was the last time he would see the most important person in his life, he would’ve hugged Katsuki with enough strength to tell him how much their relationship meant to his solitary life and would’ve admired the details on his face a little longer to paint them in his dreams. 

If he had one more chance to say his temporary goodbye, he would’ve grabbed it and confessed all the fears hidden in his chest, the unshared nightmares about the blond’s loss that became his unfortunate reality, and the tears he’d kept hidden in the middle of the night with selfish wishes. Katsuki disappeared in the blink of an eye without a final goodbye and the worst part was the lack of an answer that could be seen as a sign of hope or a curse if the wait was too long. The tormented prince had enough patience to wait an entire lifetime to see his best friend again but how long he is gonna last with his shattered heart? How many nights will he have to sacrifice to wait for a miracle that might be out of his reach? Will he ever find peace with the idea of letting the ghost of his past haunt each chapter of his condemned narrative?

Being doomed as an omega with expectations from the rest of the world was a thing but paying the price of a crime he hadn’t committed and seeing the only person who erased his tears with a smirk disappearing without a trace, was a fate worse than death. Lost in his thoughts, the desperate prince tried to find a rational explanation for this event that could’ve been avoided if they had saved Katsuki instead of waiting for a miracle to happen! Mitsuki and Masaru said they sent their strongest knights to search in the closest lands but the lack of response implied a reality that the devastated omega refused to admit.  

There must be a way to save his best friend from a terrible death that none of them wanted but it was impossible, especially when he was in the middle of a breakdown and needed to have a clear mind when it comes too important decisions The suffocating emotions started to shatter his soul into an intense despair, a sensation he never thought possible that’ll unfortunatly guide the next chapter of his life, marked by the salty tears. 

The freckled man might curse and throw venom at his parents and the people who caused this in the first place, but it won’t change the fact that Katsuki Bakugou was out of his reach. The guy who promised him the world with his signature grin and subtle touch on his messy curls, disappeared without a trace, and no one had any idea about where he could be.  His desperate reasoning led him back to the weight of the past promises and the lost conversations in this mocking wind, replaying scenes from a book that had been his favorite since the first comma.

This stubborn child, used to loneliness became the person who occupied each of the prince’s thoughts, who gave him the best of laughs and brought the warmest memories during the darkest nights. This strong bond forged over the years portrayed a sweet future where their craziest projects would’ve been possible, only to see everything burn into ashes and reduce naive dreams to stolen promises, marked by the muffled sobs. Katsuki was the one who understood him like an open book, the author of tender smiles and scarlet color on his flushed cheeks and everything was gone, as if it never existed in the first place.

Giving up seemed like the best solution in a moment of weakness until he understood the emergency of the situation: He was ready to o do his best to save his childhood friend, even if this meant going against his parents’ choices and breaking the expectations on his second gender. Izuku was so angry at the adults for taking this lightly when he was desperate to look for answers and solutions he couldn’t have at the moment, his heart wasn’t ready to mourn a death that hadn’t been confirmed yet. His fingers left the wet pillow and accidentally found the fabric that brought him a smile back to his face, he slid it away to feel the shirt in the palm of his trembling hands with a series of tender chuckles replaying in his mind. 

The entire time, he considered this gift as a part of the guy he loved the most, and today, this precious object represented the last souvenirs he had from the one who got away. The stars couldn’t bring him back someone who’s probably suffering in terrible pain from afar, neither does his desperate wish, mumbled between his sobs. The familiar scent crossed the omega’s nose and brought more tears to his exhausted body when he held the shirt tighter against his chest with muffled sobs despite the terrifying reality awaiting him outside this bedroom. 

He underestimated how many tears he could shed for a single memory that constantly replayed inside his mind: He’d never felt so heartbroken and grabbed this symbolic treasure with the last semblance of his missing friend with the hope of waking up from this terrible nightmare that lasted too long for his liking. Exhausted by the intense emotions that occupied his desperate soul, Izuku lost himself in a moment of vulnerability and closed his eyes, falling asleep to the calming scent of the blond, who was probably fighting for his life somewhere else in this world. 

He didn’t hide the gut-wrenching cries that resonated in his room when he realized, a few days later, that the last reminder of Katsuki’s presence was gone, left with nothing else but an artifact of a past that defined the best of the story but the worst of the ending. 

———

Katsuki Bakugou had a secret he wasn’t proud of.

His entire life, the future king of Mustafu’s lands swore to be honest with his subjects and his loved ones, including his best friend Izuku Midoriya. The simple idea of hiding something outside his romantic sentiment for his childhood friend was unthinkable to his devoted heart until fate pushed him into a no-return point that questioned his past beliefs. The convincing speech about his preference for the honest truth rather than stupid lies brought a bittersweet taste to his lips when he took a glimpse at these inevitable consequences.

Don’t get him wrong, the initial situation had been a genuine source of worry when he woke up in an unknown place with some asshole, impatient to get the reward for kidnapping the precious heir of the lands. He might be a strong teenager with an obstinate mindset, but it didn’t change the fact that he was still scared for his life when the sharp blade of the knife left a visible injury on his skin. The only thoughts that occupied his mind during the minutes he considered his last were the fond memories of the promises he hadn’t kept to his childhood friend, probably worried about him. He remembered the precious chances he wasted in his naivety, the delayed plans that got stolen from him, and regrets about the confession he should’ve said earlier….

It only took three hours to locate the hidden spot of the random guy who captured the prince before sending him straight to jail with a public execution in complete discretion from the crowd. Mitsuki and Masaru immediately checked on his recent injury even if one question stayed at the tip of the blond’s lips: Does Izuku know that he is back home and safe from danger? At first, he thought everyone was aware of his return until he realized how he lost control of his own narrative and had no other choices than be the puppet of a scheme that turned against him. 

His first attempt to introduce this topic of conversation with the royal couple was a complete failure and a source of disappointment for the alpha, who observed how his parents chose distance until the first consequences of this unexpected kidnapping started to appear in the neighborhood lands. Suddenly, it was on everyone’s lips with hundreds of questions, showing concern for the poor couple, followed by some prayers to the stars for Katsuki’s safety. The blond saw the genuine care of his kingdom as a touching future for his reign, even if it wouldn’t erase the rising guilt growing inside his chest…

This temporary secret took an irreversible turn when Katsuki realized how he would rather be kidnapped and in unjustified pain than see the distressed expressions on his subjects’ faces when this topic was mentioned in their lost conversations. It felt wrong to be there as a shadow of this golden jail, where his existence was kept as a confidence for a temporary secret. The only people aware of his return were the maids and the extras who’ve seen his face in the silenced corridors but it wasn’t enough: The rest of the world could be aware of his return, but it wouldn’t erase the fact that Izuku Midoriya was the only one left aside for this important news. 

 He naturally asked to see his best friend to inform him about his safety but the royal couple explained how it would be a wiser strategy if everyone considered him missing. Katsuki went against their reasoning and explained the irrational logic of their shitty argument when people’s feelings were involved in this selfish game but the older couple shut him down with a calm tone to justify their questionable choice, which made it worse than it already was. According to them, this “unfortunate”  situation would bring them many advantages against their enemies, including the unexpected return of the missing prince on the battlefield to take each of their rivals down. 

The inseparable family was suddenly caught in a heated conflict with many shouts from both sides, explaining their point of view about the manipulative narrative offered to their subjects instead of using the truth to appease genuine worries. If Mitsuki stayed on her stubborn idea, Katsuki insisted on finding a way to let the Midoriyas know this secret but Masaru's compromise didn’t make things better. The brown-haired man never hid his preference for the most rational solution, no matter the complexity of the situation but his final decision forced a venomous curse to escape the prince’s lips as he left the room with a middle finger.

Katsuki’s world fell apart when he understood how he had already lost this fight before it even started: He was blind to think he had the ability to resonate with his father and this shitty situation, influenced by the sake of the expansion of their lands messed with their rational thinking. Sure, it’ll surprise their enemy but they would’ve found another way to have more victories instead of lying straight to people’s faces and breaking their trust. The worst part was how every exchangewith the outside world was controlled by guards, it was impossible for him to ask the help of the maids, ready to help him, and even send a letter to his best friend in complete discretion! 

Some kind souls even tried to offer their help when they saw the obvious discomfort on the prince’s face in his lonely days, but the ones who tried paid the price of their kind intention: After all, there was nothing wrong with the numerous interactions exchanged between the two boys and some naive souls felt the need to intervene, at least to make the blond happier with his best friend for a few seconds. Unfortunately, each of their attempts were summaries by an unpremeditated failure when the guards caught them in the act and condemned them to live outside the castle, paying for their good intention.

The blond wanted to curse fate for forcing him to stay in this prison that erased him from his own narrative. He had so many things to achieve and souvenirs to forge with the guy he loved, he had no other choice but to obey his parents until he got enough power to go against their decision but it would take a long time and it was a notion that truly scared him. Katsuki already gave his band trust to fate and got mocked by the breeze on his forehead, sharing the echoes of peaceful afternoons with the omega he missed more than anyone in this stupid castle. His redundant days weren’t motivated by the excitement of seeing his best friend anymore, he was forced to hide with the help of the maids during a visit to not to get caught despite the roof over his head and the food served on his plate every night. 

This wasn’t freedom as his parents claimed out loud, this was a perpetual curse with habits that appeared as the months passed by without any news of the omega who haunted each of his nights. The wish made to the stars stayed the same: If he could go back in time, he would escape the knights who saved him that day and immediately rush into his best friend’s arms to stay in the only place he could call home.

——-

The blurry voices in the background barely mattered to Izuku, too focused on the landscape drawing itself under his eyes to pay attention to the topic of conversation in the moving carriage. He didn’t even want to be there in the first place but his parents forced him to leave his chamber and get some air, almost like they weren’t the ones who caused this justified distance between them. 

How was he supposed to pretend and forgive them after the cruel act of betrayal they’ve done to the person who deserved to know the truth? Their trust was definitely broken and replaced with cold glances shared by the green-haired omega and his father, who hadn’t spoken to him since this sudden crisis that caused some whispers in this castle, usually calmer than a cemetery. Inko tried to apologize again and again but Izuku always rejected her, unable to show any tears despite the genuine words said by the person who loved him more than her own life.

 He might be hurt by their actions, but it doesn’t mean he has to forgive them and move on after these indelible scars that made his heart bleed. The shy prince was now hesitant to show up at public events unless someone gave him the obligation to do so, until he became a shell of himself. His teary eyes and evident bags concerned the maids and the people working in the castle but he never said a single word, not because he ignored them on purpose, he just couldn’t use his strength to show his vulnerability in public again. 

The adorable prince, who stole everyone’s heart on the spot, became a ghost who cried every night for a name out of his reach with a scent that had dissipated a long time ago. If he could, he would stop the carriage and leave as soon as possible but this decision was already out of his reach, forcing him to wear his stupid facade the moment he arrived in front of Mitsuki and Masaru Bakgou in their elegant clothes. He made a fake smile, forced by the politeness of his gesture, and understood how the royal couples didn’t have any regrets about the lies they’d said to a naive heart like his.

 Izuku felt sick just by the look of the uncomfortable environment that used to be filled with chuckles, understanding how he never cared about this castle as a whole but gave importance to the shadow who made it unique with his distinctive features. The memories replayed inside his mind, portraying the beauty of an innocence that was stolen from him until he was on the verge of tears and left the meeting room. 

He sensed the curious eyes that followed his shadows and ignored their presence, walking in the familiar setting that offered a sadder painting of a place he considered his second home. Izuku stopped at a specific spot, the same one where all his journey with his best friend began: He could see the trace of blood on the luxurious clothes and the sweet conversation they’d shared, highlighted by their pinky promise. If the prince didn’t say a word, he simply hoped for a miracle before reaching the garden that used to be their favorite spot in this giant maze. 

Without Katsuki, everything felt too big and scary despite the impression of feeling the trace of a hidden ghost that never kept his eyes away from him. A small smile crossed the tip of the omega’s lips at the naive statement before erasing this moment of weakness with a glance in the void: Little did he know how he wasn’t alone and had never been when the blond observed his heartbroken glance and noticed the multiples expression that crossed his best friend’s lips. There was something gut-wrenching at the sight of hidden tears that threatened to fall down his porcelain skin but never did, it wasn’t the reunion the alpha expected and yet, he had no other choice but to see the consequences of his lies on the vulnerable omega. 

Izuku lost the colors that brightened his face, and the shade of his flushed cheeks became a forgotten memory as the visits continued, highlighted by the evident distance from the omega and the rest of the crowd. The shorter prince never spoke his truth out loud or showed any sign of anger toward fate, his red eyes, marked by the dry tears, were the proof of the silenced battle he had when he was away from this place that reminded him of good memories. His green hair became messier as time passed by, his hands got new scars that caused genuine worries to the crimson eyes and Izuku Midoriya never said a single word as his state started to slowly deteriorate during each of his visits to this cursed castle. 

The first signs that alarmed the blond were the pale expression on his face that accompanied his visit here and the trembling fingers that held the fabric of his clothes tighter. His fragile nails held into the closest form of reassurance when the nostalgia became too overwhelming, containing the tears that hadn’t fallen once since his first return to this castle. It’s been months and no one seems to notice the slightest details on the omega’s state, from the change in his scent that betrayed his suffering to the words that never had the courage to escape his open lips. 

Katsuki knew every side of his best friend, including the most vulnerable one, and yet, this darker painting under his eye was a sign of pure distress. Living with the weight of his secret wasn’t easy for the prince but it was nothing compared to the devastated omega, who let himself die as if it were the only option left. The worst part of this curse was to watch the guy he loved mourning the last amount of hope that stayed inside his heart, unaware that the name he’d looked for was standing a few meters away from him and always containing his own tears at the heartbreaking scene. 

If only he could brave his parents’ orders to cheer his best friend with something, at least a word or a sign that’ll bring color back to his face, he would take the risk without a second thought. Izuku’s state was more important than any of the threats made by their rivals! The more he stayed distant from a show that portrayed his biggest nightmares, the more he felt guilty for bringing this secret to his grave until his glance caught an unpicked sight that froze his body on the spot. That day, the sun showed its brightest ray of sunshine and the birds sang the omega’s despair through the light whispers on the alpha’s ears, condemned to be a spectator of a future that was supposed to be theirs. He became unfortunately familiar with this setting that shattered his heart into a million pieces, thinking about what he should do to not get caught by the observing guards in the surroundings but even with the best of intentions, he couldn’t find the right answer to his questions.  

The crimson eyes became unfortunately familiar with the pale color that became a habit on this face, which used to shine brighter than any midnight sky, such as the obvious sadness that colored the emerald eyes, marked by the hidden tears, already out of his reach. The worst part, which acted like a slap in the face was the realization that he almost forgot the sound of Izuku’s voice outside his dream of golden memories, too far from the reassuring future they’ve dreamed about. The strong back rested against the cold wall with a lost glance that read the numerous expressions crossing the omega’s face, as rare as they were in moments of inattention. 

The invisible walls that separated them felt too heavy on their shoulders but not unbreakable when the first tears finally fell down the porcelain skin, after endless months of overwhelming silence. It should be seen as a victory when it had been considered as nothing more than a curse for their broken hearts, forced to watch their missing half with different perspectives on a narrative that should be theirs. The only sound that broke this unbearable silence was the muffled sobs with the weight of the tears, released for the first time after 4 months of repetitive suffering, hidden from the rest of the world. 

At this moment, the blond’s heart crumbled like the cold walls of his castle when he realized how, these precious seconds acted as thousands of sharp blades in his bleeding heart, longing for a single smile on this face that was now forgotten. His body moved on its own to escape from a secret spot he had learned to distinguish over the months, trying to not to get caught until he successfully stood a few meters away from his childhood friend, unaware of his presence. 

The cautious fingers reached the tree that caught his attention with a delicate blow that ruffled his lost curls, until a few flowers fell on the ground. A proud grin drew itself on his lips when he noticed the curiosity that temporarily appeared on the grey painting on the omega’s face, as Izuku walked closer to grab one of them on the ground. The previous tears were forgotten and replaced by the multiple thoughts that crossed his mind: His first reaction was to ruffle the delicate petals with a gentle touch, afraid to break or tear them apart with a few seconds of inattention as the first shade of red colored his porcelain skin, followed by a light smile when he admired how this garden kept the beauty of their cherished past. The warm memories repeated themselves in his mind like a sweet fairytale between two children, spending their days together and talking about endless things, including their liking for the same flowers…the same ones that rested in the scarred palm of this cold castle. 

Izuku lifted his head to see the cherry blossom over his head, a detail he’d never noticed before. He welcomed this unexpected joy rising inside his chest, a sentiment he thought forgotten a long time ago until it reappeared as the delicate petals that met the skin of his fingers. His first thoughts were about the blond unaware that the guy his heart longed for was standing a few meters away from him with the proudest grin on his face. 

From all the paintings the prince had seen in the silent meeting, this one was his favorite: There was something absently radiant and breathtaking about the presence of a slight smile at the corner of the nerd’s lips, as invisible as it might be to the rest of the world. With this proof of this meaningful gesture, Katsuki understood how the real Izuku was still alive behind these layers of unshared cries that convinced the tormented alpha to do his best if he wanted to save his unreachable lover….

If the stubborn prince couldn’t go against the order of his parents, he would always find a way to make his best friend happy, no matter the title he had in their current narrative.

——-

The air was suddenly lighter on the alpha’s skin, similar to the delicacy of the genuine smile that crossed his childhood friend’s face, almost like this precious scene was the prettiest treasure he had received since he had entered his golden jail. 

The entire time, he thought he was the one condemned to eternal pain but his fate was nothing compared to the genuine struggle of his childhood friend, who taught him that giving up had never been an option. The value of their strong bond needed to survive through these tough obstacles, meant to separate them but Katsuki Bakugou was stronger than an early encounter with death. The recent scars he had accumulated on his skin since his last fight on the battlefield proved his courage to stand against this enemy no one saw coming: time. 

If the prince can’t be seen as a human being in his own castle, he’ll find another trick to be a part of the omega’s narrative, especially when Izuku needs more support than him in this shitty situation. Don’t get him wrong, Katsuki acknowledged his pain and the invisible consequences it has on his mental health but he also found the cure when he stood by Izuku’s side, as a ghost or a stolen petal in the wind. 

That’s when Katsuki decided to act and take control of the situation, at least when it comes to love: His parents might take his youth away but they’ll never stop a longing heart from finding his missing half. He decided to create elaborated plan for Izuku’s next visit, dropping a few hints of his presence from time to time with obvious fails until a subtle one caught the attention of the green-haired prince, who stayed as beautiful as Katsuki remembered since their last interaction. 

He acted cautiously in each of his touches, keeping an eye on the guards able to ruin his plans and Izuku’s amazed glance: Katsuki wasn’t blind and noticed how the current expression on the omega’s face wasn’t as radiant as the delightful smiles that used to color his pretty face in the past, which motivates the devoted alpha to do his absolute best to bring back the wonderful soul who stole his heart in the most memorable way.

The sobs stopped a long time ago, replaced by distant memories that replayed inside the Prince’s mind when his fingers touched the petals. The new scars on the omega’s skin were visible under this new angle that offered a clear vision of the inner fights his best friend had to face outside these moments of rest. Katsuki used the precious seconds of distraction to his advantage when he moved a few leaves on the ground, observing how some of them flew in the air and accidentally met the nose of the shorter prince. 

Izuku released a slight gasp of surprise when he welcomed the falling leaves in his palm with the delicacy and care of his touch. After all, they were as fragile as the heartbeat of a melody he heard before his sleep, the same one that accompanied his unique journey. His face softened at the familiar shade, recalling the touching memories that occupied his mind and the tender words said by the blond that changed his perspective of the world in his surroundings. 

“Nature sucks and it’s full of annoying insects. Sometimes I want to kick them out of my garden but my old hag always say that they're probably like me. Bullshit, small bugs like them can't have a liking for annoying people like us! I don’t necessarily like the long walk in the forest but I always found it interesting to see the different paintings and a few things I like about it,” added the golden-haired boy with a lost sigh. 

His ears noticed the moving shadow beside him, ready to ask him what was so bothersome about the unsolved mysteries of this beautiful landscape, as the wise prince read behind the line of these touching glances. 

“I mean, look at these flowers that haven’t completely grown and still show their brightest colors or the leaves that fell in your hand…you know, every time I see one they remind me of you! It’s not difficult to see this specific shade of green, the trees and lost forest might try but they’ll never be like your messy curls, that’s probably why I like them…”

Izuku never forgot the warmth that filled his chest once the comforting words escaped the blond’s lips, despite Katsuki’s failed attempts to hide his flushed cheeks. Back in the day, they were too young to understand the meaning of these words compared to their current selves, moved by the naivety of a confession made by the heart in a moment of vulnerability. Katsuki remembered him through delicate details, which seemed meaningless to the others but were important to him and this gesture meant more than any promises shared between them until now in this healing journey that had just begun.

Tears threatened to fall down the omega’s cheeks at the fond memory, losing his fingers in the souvenirs brought back to him by nature as he held them closer with a smile. This time, it lasted longer than the last one and the few seconds added to this heartwarming scene were enough to bring a grin back to the blond’s face, proud to see how he never failed to make the most important person of his life happy, even for a few seconds. How could he forget how gorgeous the nerd was with the distinct freckles highlighted by the blush on his skin and the light sparkles in his eyes, able to steal anyone’s heart on the spot?

This was only the beginning but it was better than the discomfort of the last few months. This control might be temporary and belonged to these moments of silence but it was better than the weight of the regrets, knowing how he got to spend these precious hours with his favorite nerd and unconsciously contributed to his happiness, despite their distance and these invisible walls between them.

——-

The third time Katsuki tried to interact with Izuku, an unexpected event caught him off guard.

 It was unbelievable at first, a phenomenon out of the blond’s reach and beyond his expectation but the euphoria of the moment reminded him how this was as real as the breath that escaped his open lips. Even in his wildest dreams, he didn’t consider the possibility of hearing the sound of this enchanting voice, caresses singing in his ears with the prettiest melody he truly missed, stealing his heart once again….

This place had many titles over the years that created the best and loneliest memories for a condemned soul like Izuku’s. The recognizable details on this landscape reminded him of the old days, when life was as naive as a child’s wishes made to the stars, the delicacy of stolen chuckles, and the warmth of pinky promises with the brightest smiles. Returning here after the gut-wrenching announcement of Katsuki’s kidnapping had been a real challenge and a certain form of acceptance that the distinctive name that occupied his lonely night wasn’t completely gone.

The mystery about the alpha’s state remained a source of constant worry for the lost prince, who secretly found a coping mechanism in unsent letters, destined for his childhood friend, and in his cautious training in the castle. His hope to see his best friend alive and returning by his side never faded away, taking the form of gentle promises whispered by the breeze and the trace of new injuries on his skin, until they became indelible scars in the blank pages of his narrative.

In his wildest dream, Izuku pictured the stunning spikes and crimson eyes by his side, holding him as close as possible with the sound of a real heartbeat and cautious fingers cupping his cheeks, asking how he got these new injuries with a magical kiss on his cheeks. His desperate imagination guided him to more comforting thoughts as time passed by, especially when he felt a comforting presence wrapped around him, and his hidden tears when he lost himself in this secret garden. These moments of peace, as temporary as they were, opened his eyes to the nature of the sentiment he’d kept hidden and his care for a shadow that owned a title that was able to bring a blush back to his porcelain skin. 

Katsuki Bakugou was meant to be an inspiring ruler for his native kingdom, when Kacchan was the amazing best friend Izuku had always asked for. The existence itself of this strong bond between them was truly a miracle and the best thing that ever happened to the solitary prince, who found peace by the side of this shadow that took an important role in their golden vows. The world would love the ruler but no one will adore the person behind the mask more than Izuku himself, who learned to see every facet of this name that’ll leave a trace in the books. Kacchan was the shadow who stood by his side and never gave up on him, he held his shaking arms closer during moments of vulnerability and even offered him a part of his soul when the omega felt alone. These kinds of meaningful actions weren’t a simple sign of affection between friends but a reflection of a deep and unbreakable trust between their souls, connected by an invisible string. 

The green-haired prince never understood the sincere meaning of this title that warmed his chest at his great age, despite having seen the worst of fate. The blond was a mysterious book to read with lines to quote when darkness threatened their peace, it became his favorite hobby when the solitude of this royal life was painted a sad routine until reality acted like a slap in the face. No one was immortal and his best friend was one of the unfortunate souls who got taken against his will with real scars on his loved ones, especially Izuku’s heart. The first months of his disappearance were the worst, to the point of being inseparable from the shirt that comforted him each of his nights until this reality became tolerable, not because of his acceptance but because of the fact that he couldn’t save the blond with his current knowledge. 

The secret training to handle a sword and defend himself wasn’t enough to bring a ghost back from the potential dead until a subtle realization crossed the prince’s mind. It was delicate, too breakable at the touch of his cursed fingers and yet this small thought persisted and occupied an important part of his reasoning. At this point, this idea appeared in each of his reflections and couldn’t be ignored, not after the numerous signs sent by fate with the petals of the cherry blossom trees and the leaves on his porcelain skin. 

Izuku truly wished he had said these words earlier, even if this meant ruining their friendship.

 The sensation of regret was unpleasant but not as terrifying as the sadness that resonated in his longing heart, unable to know if he would ever heal one day. The attachment he got for the stubborn prince was beyond words and not even the strongest form of love in this world could replace this source of pride. Katsuki Bakugou was meant to haunt the omega’s narrative until his last breath, even if the freckled prince wished he had said out loud how he cared about the blond as more than just a friend….

He never expected his first love to happen with a ghost of his past, haunting each of his thoughts, almost like Kacchan was still alive by his side. Love and romance have always been two notions that caught his attention when he was younger, amazed by the idea of spending the rest of your life in the presence of someone who’ll follow you until your last breath. His younger self easily pictured delicate chuckles stolen by the wind with the only name that warmed his cheeks with an unreachable title of lover.

If only he could brave time and save the guy he loved from perpetual suffering, he would do it at the price of his own life. Together, they could’ve shared so many stories with the rest of the world, no matter their hidden meaning, secret rendezvous under the midnight sky, and the curiosity to feel the ghost of their lover’s lips against them. These moments belonged to another story, shared by a different version of themselves in another universe that wasn’t theirs, and no one would be able to give the same butterflies that Katsuki gave with a single glance. The stolen memories and bonding vows wouldn’t stop the determined prince from bringing his missing half back, swearing to never love another person than the one who taught him how to love when it was too late…

Something was different in this calm afternoon with the delicate ray of sunshine that met the exposed skin of the prince and brightened the colors in his surroundings. The pain that originally filled his chest with sorrow dissipated in his last visits, replaced by an unexplainable sensation of comfort with subtle murmurs that brushed his ears. Izuku started to believe in the existence of a force that erased his sadness with a magical spell, highlighted by the reminder of a past that forged the person he was now and his romantic feelings toward a ghost. 

He was agreeably surprised when he realized how many days had passed since his last breakdown, recalling his emotional state when someone mentioned Katsuki’s kidnapping in a naive conversation that led him to believe in a miracle, meant to happen every time he walked back into this meaningful spot. His fingers put the lost petals and leaves on the floor and lifted his head, admiring the view and wondering what Katsuki would think if he were still here. Knowing him, the blond would’ve probably made a stupid comment about the future of these lands, which held thousands of obstacles and mysteries in the pages of these undiscovered chapters of their lives.

That’s when he heard it, the recognizable melody that made his heart miss a beat and brought a stunned expression to his face. The details were subtle enough to caress his ears, now entirely focused on the familiar lyrics and the song he’d heard a hundred times since he was not taller than three apples. Izuku didn’t know he remembered the lyrics to this song that used to be their favorite, with this soft melody that stayed stuck in their mind, and the tender habit of completing each other’s sentences. 

His lips unconsciously sang the final part of the verse, bringing back old souvenirs of the days when they created their own song to reassure each other when things were too hard to handle, an affectionate gesture knowing how the blond felt about singing in public, even if he never complained about this relaxing habit. A smile crossed the omega’s lips, one beyond the recent ones that colored his face and only happened when he was visiting this part of the haunted castle as he released a light chuckle. Izuku Midoriya didn’t believe in spirits but he was forced to admit that whatever force occupied this side of the castle, saw his distress and developed a strong attachment toward him….

“You sound just like him,” pointed out the freckled prince with a fond tone. The words naturally escaped from his lips, unaware that the discreet alpha was as stunned as him about this discovery. “I bet my misery brought some attention, it wouldn’t be surprising, after all, I’ve lost the most important person in my life. People always mourn their loved ones once it’s too late but I’m mourning the loss of a secret confession that should’ve been ours. I miss him every single day, I hope I’ll be able to tell how much I loved him in the next lifetime.”

Katsuki’s eyes widened, stunned by the previous truths that acted like hundreds of stabs in his chest. He established a certain control of the situation with his invisible presence and the small actions that meant a lot to their bond until he lost his own game with pleasant surprise he’d never seen coming. As unbelievable as it was, Izuku Midoriya proved to him how this soul he already knew by heart, could still surprise him in the most mesmerizing way: It started with the small hints of smiles on his face until the appearance of the delicate sound of his voice and an unexpected confession.

The curse became a sudden blessing when the shorter prince used the melodious sound of his voice to confess things that only appeared in Katsuki’s wildest dreams, accepting that he wouldn’t hear such words in this lifetime but fate proved him wrong. It was the same obstacles that distanced him from his childhood friend and the one who brought him back to him at the least expected time. The golden-haired man had so many questions at the tip of his lips and answers to offer to his best friend if the emerald accidentally looked at the perfect angle, conscious that a single glance would be enough to let him know the reciprocity of such feelings.

It took him a few seconds before regaining his calm and ignoring the fast heartbeat inside his chest, glad to know that no one was here to see the scarlet color on his cheeks. Katsuki was conscious that vulnerability wasn’t meant to be seen as a sign of weakness, it was a lesson his childhood friend taught him a long time ago and yet, he wished he had enough courage to brave the forbidden until the green-haired prince continued with his silenced monologue, unaware that he had already captivated the entire attention of the blond.

“I’m a fool for realizing this statement once he’s out of my reach but I didn’t know,” Izuku said with a strange tone that reflected the evident sadness that covered his voice and the cautiousness concerning the choice of his words. “I didn’t know that the only memory I’ll have of him would be a part of his soul with thousands of unsaid vows. If I had seen the signs earlier maybe things would’ve been different…Maybe I would’ve saved him instead of condemning him to a fate worse than death.”

Lost in his vulnerable thoughts, the freckled prince barely realized how the previous words reflected the echoes of this terrible reality and the invisible walls between their longing hearts: Izuku felt guilty for hiding information that could’ve changed the rest of their narrative while Katsuki accepted how death would hurt less than seeing his childhood friend confess, unaware of these reciprocated feelings. The blond never imagined that someone as breathtaking as Izuku Midoriya would ever fall for an idiot like him, ready to fill the next pages with tender vows, but he was unfortunately stuck in this golden jail he created against his will and missed this unique chance to speak his truths despite his good intentions. 

It was the first time the nerd was talking about his feelings and they sounded as bittersweet as the alpha imagined it: The poor omega put the blame on himself for something no one could’ve imagined, this situation wasn’t his fault and had never been! His genuine intention to save the alpha was heartwarming enough to keep an ounce of hope in this redundant routine. The only people to blame in this situation were their parents for their selfish decisions, forcing their sons to be the heroes of each other’s stories without ever interacting with the one who stole their hearts a long time ago. 

It happened in a few seconds of inattention, a sudden idea that sounded reasonable with the euphoria of the moment and before realizing it, Katsuki’s body moved on its own. He underestimated the strength that spread through every muscle of his body as he left his secret spot, realizing how a few centimeters separated him from the reunion he’d been waiting for. Katsuki didn’t even know where he got this sudden desire to break his parents’ rules when he had been the perfect pawn in this chess game but something in his chest warned him to grab this chance that might be his last. 

The fast heartbeat inside his chest resonated in his ears as a familiar melody, nothing compared to the gentle voice that brightened his day earlier as he moved closer with a light breath. He held his fist closer to the fabric of his clothes, his eyes focused on the moving shadow of the green-haired prince until a voice suddenly broke the previous silence. He suddenly felt disappointed when the two guards approached his childhood friend, asking him about what he was doing here before informing how his parents were about to leave. 

Izuku thanked them with a nod and sighed, stealing a last glance at this secret spot with a warm smile on his face as he left the room, walking a few centimeters away from the blond. The euphoria of the previous beliefs faded away in a few seconds, replaced by the heavy silence of this place and the forgotten heartbeat in the alpha’s chest, realizing how he was truly the worst of idiots. The guy he loved returned his feelings to the supposed ghost of this place and everything fell apart with the precious seconds that could’ve replaced this guilt with an overwhelming joy instead of this suffocating sadness that wrapped his shadow. 

Katsuki barely noticed his reaction until the salty tears caught his attention, forcing him to wipe them away with a desolate expression on his face. He couldn’t believe how his name, which already gave him access to a luxury envied by many people, wasn’t enough to give him the confidence he needed to catch the moving shadow in the endless corridors. Izuku’s voice slowly disappeared in this cold building until it was gone, leaving the prince, who rested his back against the closest wall and rested his head on his knees.

How was he supposed to guide an entire kingdom one day when he couldn’t move and be the hero of someone’s narrative…

——-

Izuku’s last visit brought a lighter atmosphere to the garden, haunted by the invisible tears that signified an unconscious defeat for the broken heart of cautious eyes that never stopped looking at his childhood friend, who seemed to enjoy the invisible spirit that became his new confidant. 

The visits continued in a lighter tone as Izuku started to use his voice to fill the silence of this calm scenery, opening his heart to a ghost that wasn’t one despite the weight of the past mistakes on his shoulders. Katsuki knew this wasn’t over and there’ll be a bunch of other occasions to erase his previous failure but his anxiety about messing things up a second time blocked him from giving it another try, even when he really wanted to. 

He accepted his fate and his role as a lost spirit that listened to the omega’s monologue, talking about his latest changes and progress made in his castle with a tone brighter than the forgotten tears that once ruined his porcelain skin. The shade of his green curls merged with this stunning landscape, highlighted by the sweet chuckles that escaped the omega’s lips when he shared old stories with the ghost, who smiled at the beauty of the previous interaction. 

After all, Katsuki might’ve failed his desperate attempts to reach his best friend but he still won this battle when he had the chance to brighten his childhood friend’s days with a reminder of their past: It was nothing, just a simple gesture and hints of his presence but it was enough to make the nerd relieved when he regained the subtle shade on his pretty face. Katsuki had many victories but this one was his favourite, despite the nightmare that woke him up in the middle of the night. He stopped counting the number of times his heart bled due to the terrifying frames that occupied his sweet dreams, which transformed into the worst of tales with repetitive scenery, able to break the heart of the strongest man on the battlefield. No matter how hard he tried to avoid them, his biggest fears always used his weakness as a strong weapon to picture the scenery of Izuku’s shadow falling on someone else, or dying in the most atrocious conditions.

The detailed images of his fragile body, drowning in his own blood and the light smiles that used to be his, now shared with another extra, took a different form every night when these blurred faces appeared in this overwhelming darkness. It happened once and yet, it occupied each of his nights for the rest of his life: Katsuki will never forgive himself for wasting his chance to brave the forbidden and his tormented mind grabbed every occasion to remind him of his past mistakes, something he never wanted to have in the first place. Making failures as the future ruler of his native lands was something natural but it was a different story when it came to love and the chapters that got stolen from them. 

The unpleasant atmosphere in this luxurious chamber couldn’t erase the echoes of the lost chuckles and blurred conversations that appeased the familiar melody in the alpha’s chest. He unfortunately became used to the sensation of sweat falling down his forehead and the heavy gasp, followed by shaking fingers that grabbed the closest form of reassurance within his reach. The fast heartbeat guided each of his thoughts as a bittersweet experience, holding his breath until his thumbs grabbed the treasure they were looking for when he unconsciously grabbed the handkerchief, that had lost the omega’s scent over the last few years. 

It’s not like the desperate alpha had the chance to beg his childhood friend to scent it again, not when the great Katsuki Bakugou was supposed to be missing for a while with a world in constant motion. He was just a shadow in the millions of stories created over the years, he wasn’t as important as the first cry of a newborn and the last breath of an elder even if his despair made him think it was the case. For the moment, his childhood friend was here to stand by his side but how long will it take to forget about the blond and move on to another priority in his life? 

Don’t get him wrong, Katsuki wished the best for the courageous omega, but he knew that being erased from the narrative was worse than sharing his last breath in bloody scenery. They’ve always been an essential part of each other’s lives since they were not taller than apples and the promises made from the heart were more sincere, as if they officially belonged to part of their souls. Tears fell down his cheeks when his mind started to be overwhelmed by the negative thoughts  He couldn’t escape his own pain even if he tried to, always surrounded by the sentiments that he wasn’t enough and became the nemesis of his own story, with the promise to bring unforgettable changes in this redundant routine. His fingers held the handkerchief tighter, noticing the shade of green that stayed intact through the tears when the tissue found the shaking palm. 

Katsuki Bakugou refused to be the one condemning Izuku to perpetual sadness, but he would rather die than see the devoted omega find love with someone else who wasn’t him. The darkness of his selfishness was probably hidden behind enough layers to come back alive at the worst timing, leaving the blond relieved to be alone with his flaws. Izuku would’ve probably run away if he saw his selfishness on these fragile shoulders, even if the isolated alpha wished to have the comforting warmth of the name that escaped his lips as the lyrics of his favorite song.

Katsuki’s fighting skills had always been impressive, according to the shining emerald eyes that loved their special training, kept as another one of their secret but he underestimated how powerful the shape blade in his rival’s chest could be, as he watched the lifeless body of the older man fall to the ground. The discreet soldier was as surprised as the others to see the recognizable face of a missing name, well alive in front of him with this signature smirk. In his limited knowledge, Katsuki was stunned to admit the impact of his sudden revival, kept quiet by the lost souls in the cemetery and the threatened soldiers, who never said a word about his existence. 

Don’t get him wrong, the blond wasn’t proud of his action but he made sure to get rid of the extras who could’ve possibly separated him from the love of his life. It was the same shadows ready to go beyond limits to have the rewards they wanted, no matter if the price to pay was the life of an innocent, who never asked for such a terrible ending. Little did he know how this semblance of routine became a cruel scenery for his broken heart, using his anger through the sharp blade that met the chest of the extras who threatened to kill his loved ones. The madness he had handled all these years with the inability to catch the lost time with his missing half reflected in his death glare, to the point of creating rumors about a certain ghost that hides on the battlefield to disappear into the darkness without a word.

The man from the legend was the opposite of the man behind the mask, condemned to watch his missing half without using the words that burned his open lips. The new scars on the calloused hands merged with the shade of the walls, as his fond crimson eyes saw the fragile breeze that moved the lost curls on the omega’s face, who became prettier than ever. 

However, the strong alpha wasn’t the only one who changed in the following years, Izuku Midoriya also had his own story to share.

A few years had passed since the announcement of the blond’s disappearance and the younger teenager who cried in this loss became the hero of a unique narrative. He counted every single thing that separated him from Katsuki’s birthday, usually reserved for distant wishes and the realization that another year had passed without the company of the guy who represented his beginning and the most heartwarming chapters of his life. The lost monologue with the ghost of this secret garden, highlighted by the beauty of the stolen memories, guided his shattered heart into a cautious healing process until he understood how he didn’t have to mourn a loss that never happened. He truly missed his best friend, more than anything and anyone on this earth, but he knew Katsuki would’ve told him to be the best version of himself no matter the outcome of the situation.

Spending his days with an invisible spirit that reminded him of his missing friend and unreachable lover acted as a reminder of how memories were eternal if forged into paper. That’s why he kept writing when things were wrong, when he felt overwhelmed by the pressure of this royal title, and retold the golden stories of their youth, hoping that someone would find them and remember how Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugou were the best of friends and doomed lovers in this lifetime. 

Once he made peace with this part of his unshared conflicts, the freckled prince decided to get the lead in his life. It started with the awkward atmosphere in his castle with his parents, who understood the consequences of their actions that had stolen precious years of their lives: their son’s trust. His relationship with his parents wasn’t perfect but at least they shared a semblance of conversation instead of heavy silence…

Izuku decided to keep his promise and started to get more involved in the sparring sessions, learning the meticulous details about some specific weapons and their uses with certain skills that amazed even the best of teachers. Hisashi and Inko were kept too busy with their political affairs to believe the lies from their son, pretending to have lessons to be the best of company for his future partner.

The wise prince used his trick to fool his surroundings and find a semblance of peace, despite the secret project that occupied each of his thoughts. His life took an irreversible turn when he was a naive teenager, longing for the hope to save the alpha he loved, which gave him the idea to fight for justice and he naturally trained until his body had enough scars to prepare him for tough fights. He was kept aside from the wars due to his second gender, some stupid rules made by their ancestors to avoid ruining the “purity” of the future omega for the sake of the perfect suitors on the throne. 

Izuku found this tradition ridiculous and grabbed the opportunity to escape from his parents’ reach during a precious visit to the neighborhood lands. His strategy was simple: checking if these strangers had any news of the missing Prince Katsuki Bakugou and go the battlefield to save the guy he loved once he collected enough information.

The first attempts were genuine failures with no signs of hope until some rumors caught his attention. According to the whispers, a certain man had been seen fighting for his life on a different side of the lands, someone who looked like the missing prince from afar. It was all Izuku needed to hold onto hope and grab his sword to fight the enemies on his way to save his childhood friend, unaware that Katsuki was dead worried about his state in his castle. 

The blond truly admired the sacrifices the nerd was ready to make and the endless devotion to save a broken soul like his, but Izuku chased after the wrong person. The naive omega explained how far he was ready to go to bring the alpha he loved back to him, only to return with more injuries to his porcelain skin and sighs of annoyance. He naturally confessed how the person he searched for had been dead a long time ago and the name written on the grave was not Katsuki’s, which should have been a relief until a certain thought brought him back to a familiar pain. 

Everyone, including his new friends convinced him to accept that Katsuki Bakugou would never return, but the obstinate omega ignored their comments. Sure it’s been years and the blond was either buried six feet underground or hiding somewhere else with another identity! The first option was unimaginable for the devoted omega who waited for his mate’s return but the second one wasn’t reassuring either. If the idea of leaving his native town for the sake of his life sounded reasonable, it didn’t erase the possibility that Katsuki left his past behind and eventually found love with someone who wasn’t Izuku Midoriya. 

The freckled man chased this thought away from his tormented mind, and decided to stay focused on the fact that Katsuki’s birthday was coming soon. In another life, he would’ve spent the day with the blond instead of his parents and some ransoms who tried to get his hand in marriage for the sake of their own lands. Izuku wasn’t naive and read into their pretty lies, he had no shame in rejecting their offer, knowing how his heart was a secret garden that only Katsuki Bakugou had the keys to.

He would rather die alone with no heir by his side than live a life full of regrets and forced discussions that would’ve brought him more pain than relief. His timeless devotion to the missing alpha that was supposed to be his mate stayed intact, if not stronger over the years, even if this choice was criticized by many nobles. In his misery, as unpleasant as it was, the prince got the “chance” to see his father annoyed by the situation and his mother, sad despite her understanding glance, giving him a certain illusion of freedom.

Izuku Midoriya had three words to confess to the only name that made his heart beat faster than the recognizable melody in his ears, and he swore to devote them to his missing soulmate….even if he needed to wait decades to hear the voice of the blond again.

——

Today was a special day for the Mustafu’s kingdom, a celebration for some and a day of remembrance for others. The entire kingdom had biased opinions about this situation with some beliefs stronger and more convincing than the stolen gossip in the wind, acknowledging a past that barely left hope for the most determined souls. 

7 years ago, Katsuki Bakugou was kidnapped at the age of 14 years old in an unfortunate attack and never showed signs of life, his 21th birthday was supposed to honor his age to access the throne and take the lead if he wanted to. It was an old tradition imposed by their ancestors, knowing how this wise age would be determined as the perfect solution to rule and bring more praise to the lands, already condemned by the ghost in the cemetery. 

Under different circumstances, Katsuki would’ve been stressed about the weight on his shoulders of a new title and responsibilities he’d learnt to deal with his entire life, but his narrative got cursed by the powerful shadows of his parents, who kept him hidden like an oath. With hindsight, the blond understood how the rational decision made by the royal was seen as a way to manipulate a youth that was supposed to be his: All the symbolic interactions he had with the sweet omega over the years became a secret with a certain guilt that occupied his sleepless nights and the bright future he dreamed about was blurred by selfish intention. 

The golden-haired man was angry and disappointed by the heavy consequences it had on his life, the lessons he was supposed to learn, and the mistakes he needed to commit if he wanted to be a better person. The silence of his bedroom used to be considered a source of comfort in his despair, without mentioning the tight grip he had on the precious handkerchief, hoping that Izuku would forgive him if he learned the truth one of these days.  

His goal had never been to break his childhood friend’s trust, he was even proud to know that Izuku still believed in his return after all these years but he knew the consequences of this reveal would be devastating to their bond. Until now, he considered time as his biggest rival before realizing how he was his own, mostly due to the actions he should’ve done earlier instead of breaking one of the treasures he cherished the most…

Katsuki was speechless when he heard the plan displayed by the praise of his parents, as if this simple action wouldn’t have important consequences on their subjects’ lives. A week ago, Mitsuki and Masaru decided to make a public announcement to organize a ball in honor of their missing son, celebrating the age of his supposed coronation. The blond stayed silent, wondering what kind of tricks the old couple had in mind, knowing how they would never do something as symbolic as this for unknown reasons.

 It didn’t take long before hearing their “wise” idea to prepare an unforgettable surprise for their guests, and enemies, invited for the occasion, was only a facade to put their son at the center of attention. According to their shitty beliefs, this event needed to be remarkable to leave a trace on the spirits who assisted in the unexpected reveal of their missing son, with some shitty lies about how he had been saved one year ago. Katsuki held back his mocking laugh at the situation, this lie might be believable for the strangers who heard about their name through the whispers of the neighborhood, but it sounded completely ridiculous for the ones who knew the real story. 

A simple glance at the maids and extras working in the castle was enough to read the same expression on their faces, preparing themselves for the worst. In all honesty, the golden-haired man was ready to be the ruler of his native lands and didn’t see any inconvenience with the knowledge he had learnt from his past experience in the wars but something felt wrong. The crown on his head and the wasted blood on his hand won’t erase the fact that his parents were determinated to make this big announcement without hearing a single complaint from their son, considerate as the target of their shitty schemes. 

Katsuki tried, he did his best to find a better way to deliver this news but he wasn’t strong enough and had never been against his parents. Instead of arguing about a decision already made a long time ago, he decided to go against their original idea by planning something that’ll either play in his favor or cause the downfall of a premeditated ending. The stubborn alpha that wasted so many tears in the last seven years will have no other choice but to accept the sharp blade inside his heart, conscious of the meaning of this action, even if he was ready to brave the forbidden f when Izuku’s heart was on the line…

The announcement of this masked ball attracted the attention of the most interested soul, intrigued to participate in this elegant event able to open many doors, usually closed for people of their rank most of the time. Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugou were often seen as innocents who faced the worst of fate with the loss of their son, already dead to the rest of the world but it didn’t convince Izuku, who sighed when he heard the news. If they were sincere people who cared about their subjects’ well-being or at least people who truly cared about the missing prince, they would’ve been honest that day instead of lying starlight into his eyes. 

Izuku never forgave them for this betrayal and decided to be a part of this celebration, not for the sake of his parents who’ve already looked for a future mate for their son, or the good reputation of the Bakugou, but for the genuine gesture of never missing a single birthday when it comes to his childhood friend. He refused to pretend that this day was another one belonging to the hundred that occupied an entire year: This might be the most important one in his biased heart, hoping that Katsuki was safe somewhere else in this world. 

This sudden confidence gave him an idea that would play perfectly into his plan if he wanted to be the “good puppet” of his parents and hide his intentions behind this fake smile, which worked in their favor in the past. His close relationship with the missing prince had always been known as a public statement, he never hid this truth and explained his genuine care about this name that never left his longing heart. The most difficult part had already been done a long time ago, Izuku needed to simply show himself in his best light with his naive voice to fit people’s expectations as he looked at the fresh invitation on the wooden table. 

If he needed to look presentable for this event and “find a suitable alpha for his lands”, he would do it with his own touch of authenticity that wouldn’t leave anyone indifferent. Inko and Hisashi were confused to see their son invested in this event and believed in his change of mind as their moving carriage approached the recognizable building from afar, with unknown faces and their polite smiles. The wind teased the lost curls on his forehead when he watched the open door with a blinding scenery, coming straight from the fairytale he used to read as bedtime stories. 

The chandelier above his head was centered with thousands of diamonds, able to break at the slightest earth shake, and more expensive than any of the clothes worn by the guests in this huge room. The shade of flame scarlet that honored the dusty walls of this building was now replaced by delicate curtains to cover the different exits that led to the few balconies, if any of the requested guests wanted to get some air. The subtle melody caressed the green-haired man’s ears, forcing him to steal a quick glimpse at the orchestra performing in the background, playing the most refined songs that belonged to a luxurious class, instead of the casual lyrics sung in their town. 

His emerald eyes noticed the divided stairs that stood in front of him, portraying a clear balcony between the two strains with marble. A light smile crossed the corner of his lips when he saw two children running in the huge straits they considered the magical place before seeing them fade away in the blink of an eye, conscious of the exhausted expression on his father’s face and the disappointed one on Inko’s. 

Izuku Midoriya had always been the center of attention since his birth, that’s why he decided to steal the spotlight with a choice that caught everyone off guard. It was truly unfortunate that the selected outfit made by the royal couple ended up being replaced with something more provocative, already chosen by the omega behind their back. It was too late to get the old one back so the “naive” prince had to go with this backup plan that brought a light grin to his lips when he noticed the impact of his chosen clothes on the observant glances, highlighted by blushes at the clear exposure of his skin, usually hidden from the public. 

For the occasion, the freckled man decided to brave the limits given by the rules he’d already heard thousands of times and surprised everyone with a dress that made them speechless. Seeing an omega in feminine clothes wasn’t unusual but the specific style of this one was as elegant as the chandelier above their head, marked by elegant suspenders full of shining pearls on the transparent tulle and long sleeves on the shoulders. The sweetheart neckline was drawn with enough space to welcome the transparent corset and the visible scars from his past fights with a long skirt that reflected the shade of dark green on this captivating dress.

The offended guests in the crowd sent him a death glare when their husbands spent too much time looking at the details on this outfit and others even whispered how gorgeous he was. Izuku Midoriya was conscious of his natural charm and was amused to see that his parents tried to stop him from going to this event with this choice, but the omega wanted to take well-deserved revenge. There was something entertaining about the atmosphere of the huge room, the way some of his freckles were exposed to the most intrigued eyes, such as the injuries that made him more humane than any of the asshole talking behind his back. 

He was here to be the center of attention and bring an ounce of shame to his parents’ reputation, even if it didn’t stop some courageous vultures who reached out to them with the goal of marrying their son and daughters to the attractive omega. Izuku rejected the multiple offers and apologized with a fake smile, stealing some wine in a cup as he welcomed the famous names that crossed his ears, knowing how their flirting attempts were guided by selfish wishes. 

The freckled man was almost relieved to see how his plan worked in his favor as the hours passed by exchanging numerous conversations with forgotten names. Izuku sighed, taking a glance at the transparent glass in the palm of his hand that helped him to change his mind when his lost thoughts were overwhelmed by an unpleasant sadness. He couldn’t hide the fact that he truly wished that Katsuki were here, maybe they could’ve spent their night joking about how they wanted to run away from this place to escape to their secret spot. The blond would’ve complimented the choice of his clothes that would’ve made him blush but these were only unreachable dreams waiting for him in the next nights…

Izuku almost jumped when he felt a sudden hand on his shoulders, catching him by surprise, asking him if he was alright. The shorter man nodded with a low apology, preparing himself for another useless conversation before receiving an unexpected letter in the palm of his hand. His intrigued eyes looked at the black one of the stranger, telling him how she was told to give this to a certain Izuku Midoriya with no information about the original owner. The green-haired man thanked her in a low voice, suspicious about what it might contain until his eyes landed on the few words written on this piece of paper, telling him to go to the balcony and keep this secret. 

The prince was hesitant, unaware of the author's intention of the author behind these words, and decided to see for himself the reason behind this mysterious motive. After all, it might be another arranged wedding beyond the unstoppable ones he already received, or something concerning a secret of his interest in Katsuki’s case, well aware that everyone knew about his strong devotion to his childhood friend. Izuku wanted to think it was someone with information about the missing prince, something important enough to be shared in complete discretion, and left the charming melody of the ballroom.

The subtlety of this landscape resonated with the stolen confessions made by forbidden lovers, and the unshared narratives from invisible ghosts over the decades. This area was forbidden to him and his best friend when they were younger and it was the first time he had the chance to admire the midnight sky with shining stars in this endless ocean of possibilities and chapters that haven’t been written yet. His fingers cautiously ruffled the flowers on the balcony, guided by the subtle melody of the water of the fountain, standing a few meters away from his lost soul, amazed by this heartwarming painting. 

The sudden noise of a moving object, carried by the wind to reach his sensitive ears, brought him back to reality. He almost forgot the initial reason for this unexpected meeting, unaware of the outcome of this conversation but the risk was worth the try if this meant getting news from his missing half. Izuku held his breath, ready to defend himself if someone tried to lay a finger on him but his instincts warned him to put his guard down when the stranger’s identity was hidden by the obvious darkness of this corner. 

“I’ve received your letter,” he pointed out with a serious tone, stepping back with an unreadable expression on his face. The best he could do was to stay on his guard and not show the hope that filled his emerald eyes, nor his weakness, conscious of how some people might use this against him. “You seem mysterious for someone who wanted to see me, you could’ve talked to me at the ball earlier but you decided to make it private…This must be important.”

Another silence filled the conversation that felt like a monologue as the previous footsteps stopped for a few seconds, almost like this stranger was impacted by the choice of his words.

“I don’t know what information you have about Kacchan but I don’t like to waste my time,” he added with a menacing tone. 

Izuku disliked the idea of being played by people who used his patience and his vulnerabilities to their advantage: If he sounded cold at the moment, it was mostly due to his desire to go home and the fact that he got tricked into this stupid trap. He was nice enough to give a second chance to this stranger in the shadows, who hadn’t said a single word since the beginning of this conversation, despite the slow footsteps that probably moved a few centimeters in this obscurity. 

“Fine, I guess you missed your chance to-” 

“You’re as beautiful as the day I lost you, freckles,” the voice confessed in a low tone, enough to reveal the vulnerability in the choice of his words. There was something lighter in the sudden atmosphere that transformed all the previous doubts into thoughts that guided the fast heartbeat in their chest. 

Izuku’s body froze at the voice he could recognize anywhere, even in his desperate dreams. It was inconceivable to even think about a lifetime where fate brought the blond back to him and yet, the stranger’s voice had the exact same tone as his childhood friend, including the ounce of weakness in the chosen words. The freckled man knew his best friend like an open book and immediately noticed the resemblance between the recognizable voice of this unknown face and the one that never left his mind, conscious of his desire to hold onto the closest form of reassurance when it comes to this missing chapter of his life.

Suddenly, the only song that occupied his sensitive ears was the fast heartbeat in his chest and the shock that spread inside his body, forcing him to stay frozen on the balcony, in a setting that looked way too organized for a “fortunate meeting”. His body started to tremble and the lost fingers found the fabric of his dress to hold it tighter without keeping his eyes away from the shadow that revealed itself in the light of the day. At first, the stunned prince believed he was in a dream too good to be true until his eyes noticed the shade of skin with injuries that looked strangely similar to those owned by the blond, whether it was the form of the scars on this porcelain skin or their forms, if not their specific locations that seemed to share the same stories as Katsuki’s. 

These details might be a coincidence that found too many similarities with his lost tale as the stranger revealed his elegant clothes, almost like he belonged to this party despite not recognizing him earlier. It didn’t make any sense, Izuku would’ve known if someone with the same scars as his missing lover would be there tonight. He talked with a lot of faces and none of them had a single detail that belonged to the blond’s narrative, not even the spikes that appeared in the vision field with a shade of gold and a face able to steal anyone’s heart on the spot. 

The green haired man’s heart missed a beat when his blurry glance locked into the crimson eyes, way too familiar to the ghost of his missing half that suddenly returned from the dead in this tender, if not desperate, hallucination. The man standing in front of him was the same as the portrait of his childhood friend and what he would look like if he were still by his side. There was something breathtaking about the old injuries on this skin and the new ones that hadn’t revealed their origin of the fond expression that appeared on the ghost’s face, and the hidden tears that resided at the corners of his eyes. 

This illusion seemed as moved as the shorter prince, almost like Katsuki was real and ready to apologize for the lost time with a speech able to heal bleeding wounds. Little did he know he’d never been this close to the truth, unaware that the frozen ghost in front of him contained the thousands of confessions he wished he’d said earlier. Katsuki was aware of the risk he was taking by revealing himself before the official announcement to the crowd but he wanted to make sure Izuku had his own time to handle the news and the explanations about this unexpected return. 

He was truly grateful to the maids who helped him to deliver the letter, even if the only thing that occupied his attention was the ethereal beauty of the scene portrayed before his eyes. He knew Izuku Midoriya was gorgeous but he found himself speechless at the stunning painting of his messy curls that matched the shade of his chosen cloth for the celebration, without mentioning the charm of these freckles he truly missed. 

The blond took the time to be mesmerized by the ethereal expressions on his childhood friend’s face, highlighted by the light blush on his cheeks and the indescribable sentiment that warmed his chest. Shit, Izuku was so gorgeous that he could literally rush into his arms and shut him down with the kiss that belonged to these warm lips, but he knew that the freckled man needed more time to digest the news.

The freckled man’s lips moved in complete shock with thousands of questions at the tip of his lips despite their trembling movements and the silence that wrapped their two figures in this beautiful scenery, coming straight from a fairytale. The overwhelming emotions led to unconscious tears that fell down his cheeks, unaware of their existence until they found his upper lip, as it was the least of his worries. In his despair, the freckled man started to think that he definitely lost his mind due to the symbolism of this event, considered as a mourning day until fate heard his wasted tears taking the form of selfish vows.

 Izuku thought he had been saved from a doomed ending with lines already written with the sadness of a longing heart but he was wrong. Maybe he was forced to wait for the warmth and return of the only man who taught him how to love when it was too late, he knew this devotion would lead him to make sacrifices the rest of the world would criticize but he didn’t care. His body moved on its own, close enough to take baby steps until his fingers accidentally touched the fabric of the blond’s costume before stepping back with wide eyes. 

He held his breath and summoned his courage to let his shaking palm meet the alpha’s chest, to feel a fast heartbeat as the prettiest answer to his desperate requests. His vision became blurred by the tears when his fingers moved to feel the movements of the elegant fabric against his trembling skin, holding onto the only source of reassurance with his open lips that hadn’t spoken his truths yet. Izuku Midoriya welcomed many tears in his life, some led to the creation of timeless memories, and others to an overwhelming sadness but the current ones that met his mouth were stronger than any of his desperate wishes. 

This hallucination merged into this tender reality when the taller man started to move closer to him. Katsuki was aware of the shock it must be for someone like him and stayed patient like he did the past years, observing the beautiful emotions that appeared on this breathtaking view that was Izuku’s face, the form of his tears that shattered his porcelain skin, and the stars in his emerald eyes, similar to the ones in this midnight sky. He knew some gestures could speak louder than words and saw the excited moment the omega understood how this illusion became real, with a bunch of processes that slowly rewrote the narrative they hadn’t finished yet. 

“Kacchan you’re….how-”  He prepared this reunion for so long with so many confessions and stolen kisses and yet, nothing compared to the sweet scenery of the most beautiful man looking at him as if he was his everything. 

The lines of his face softened when he welcomed the cautious fingers against him, with a touch similar to the vulnerability of a fortunate happenstance that wasn’t one, but it was the least of their worries. The two men were too occupied to look into each other’s eyes to read the hidden vows behind this captivating glance that reminded them how finally found peace by the side of the only one who made them feel at home. 

The last seven years faded away as a blurry memory when the subtle fingers found the blond’s back to hold tighter to this source of warmth as their bodies moved on their own to continue to hold onto a hug meant to appease their bleeding wounds. Izuku knew he would cry like a baby but he never expected to feel the shaking hands of his childhood friend returning the previous embrace with a tighter grip, afraid to let each other go. The simple scent of their missing half and the heart-warming memories replayed inside their minds, holding the other as if their lives were on the line with nails locked into the fabric of each other’s clothes, and their muffled sobs, finally released after those years of endless suffering. 

The freckled man closed his eyes and rested his head on the blond’s neck when the golden-haired man broke down after an accidental curl found his chin. If Izuku dreamed about this moment for years, it was nothing compared to the condemned alpha, forced to keep his distance with an invisible wall that caused enough damage to their friendship. Katsuki welcomed the sound of muffled sobs, merging with the resonance of the lost apologies and promises of a new beginning, that suddenly seemed accessible in the palm of their cursed hands.

“I’m sorry,” Katsuki whispered in a low tone that brought more tears to the emerald eyes. 

The words unconsciously left the alpha’s lips as he made sure to mesmerize this warmth, now considered a new beginning. Suddenly Izuku and Katsuki weren’t the respected names with certain expectations but the two children who would rather spend their time laughing about stupid jokes than care about the rest of the world. Their biggest fears disappeared in the blink of an eye, realizing how much they missed this comfort until their hug was followed by a tighter grip on each other’s clothes and the weakness of their healing souls.

 “I’m so sorry Izuku.”

Izuku didn’t know why the blond apologized for something he couldn’t control and chose to reassure him with a stronger embrace instead of words that would fade away from their conversation. He was so happy to see the man he loved again, especially when the alpha wasn’t a teenager anymore and shared the same beauty as his younger self. It would be a crime to admit that Katsuki wasn’t charming, the idea of hearing another person complimenting him brought a strange sentiment of jealousy he hadn’t felt in years, quickly erased by the comfort of the strong arms wrapped around his body. No matter what happened in the last 7 years and the people who crossed their lives, the only thing that mattered was the presence of their missing half! 

“It’s okay,” Izuku said in a muffled voice before welcoming the delicate fingers against his porcelain skin. The shorter omega melted at the cautious touch of the protective alpha and his recognizable scent, leaning into the touch when the calloused hand gently cupped his freckled cheeks. “I missed you, you have no idea how living without you felt like a perpetual torture but I never gave up. I know you’ll always find home by my side…”

Who was Katsuki to contradict such truths? His heart and inner alpha begged him to do something and fix the problem he caused against his will with inevitable consequences. The blond needed to be honest but wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer before their moving reunion turned into a real nightmare with irreversible damage to their bond. 

“I missed you too,” he replied with a loving tone, moving a lost curl behind the omega’s ear. The few centimeters separating their lips represented a limit too brave, not until he explained everything about his childhood, and let him choose to either stay or leave this narrative. “Look at you, you’re so beautiful and this shade looks really good on you. Shit, I have so much to explain…”

Izuku blushed at the genuine compliment, offering a light smile to the blond before returning the gesture by standing on his tiptoes to reach his height. The only thing that mattered at the moment was the gentle melody of the orchestra that crossed their ears with the subtle wind on their exposed skin. This moment was beyond words and better than any of their expectations that occupied their minds in the last years, no matter the time that separated their last conversation from their tender reunion.

"What are you doing here ?” Izuku’s voice asked in a concerned tone, losing his glance in the presence of new scars on the blond’s skin. His heart missed a beat when he accidentally reached one of them with his fingers, afraid of opening past wounds that haven’t completely healed since their creation. 

“It’s a long story,“ mumbled the taller alpha in a low tone. However, it was enough to send enough signs to the cautious omega, reading behind the lines of this sensitive shadow that guided every rule of his heart. Katsuki was hiding something from him and no matter the weight of this secret that seemed to represent a genuine worry, Izuku knew he would be there and stand by his side until his final breath. 

“I have all the time in the world,” replied the green-haired man with a smile, rubbing his thumbs on the delicate skin. He couldn’t believe how his childhood friend was standing in his arms as the prettiest present he could ever request for a meaningful celebration like this one, it was a second chance they promised to cherish until death do them part.

“I’m not sure you’ll like this story…” Katsuki pointed out with a sigh. He wasn’t stupid and heard the mocking whisper of the wind about the inevitable storm that was approaching in this tender painting, too ethereal to last for an entire lifetime.

“I’m just glad you’re alive and back with us… withme,” affirmed the green-haired prince with an understanding glance on his relieved face. Under different circumstances, Katsuki would’ve been on the verge of tears but he knew the moment spent as a vulnerable ghost of this haunted castle belonged to their narratives, as unique and chaotic as they might be. They wouldn’t change a single thing, even if this meant facing the same obstacles that led to this exact moment when their worlds became one with the truth of their hearts.

“I never left you,” was all the broken prince could say as a form of answer to the affectionate words. Katsuki was responsible for the lost years and the missed opportunities to create an earlier confession, he was ready to accept the title of villain, aware that his feelings for his missing half wouldn’t fade away.

“I know,” Izuku whispered with a fond smile, cupping the blond’s cheeks. The freckled man couldn’t help but rest his forehead against the comforting one with the appeasing scent that brought him back to the warmth of their brightest days. He knew he condemned himself to a life full of melancholy but his passion for this burning love kept him alive the entire time, which led to this reunion that left indelible marks on their skin, similar to ink on blank pages. 

He didn’t know how the previous confession had a different meaning for his childhood friend, who never left his side and lived with the weight of his regrets until they became too hard to handle. It didn’t change the fact that Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya were meant to be with each other in every lifetime, especially with the ethereal devotion for their missing half and the sacrifices made to reach this hope that became an important part of the chapters they haven’t completed yet. The delicate fingers found the breakable face of his lover, meant to steal his heart in every universe, including this one where fate tried to tear them apart. It would be a lie to say that Izuku wasn’t relieved to see how their bond survived through the darkest obstacles, even if he was far from knowing the entire story.

“What’s wrong? A pretty face like yours shouldn't wear such a sad painting,”  Izuku whispered with a worried tone, appreciating how the taller man leaned into his touch without any hesitation. The best of victories on the battlefield could never compare to the genuine joy that filled their chest under this sky that hasn’t finished interfering in their narratives.

Katsuki Bakugou might lie to the coldest soldier in a war but not to his childhood friend, who immediately noticed the change in his voice and glances, as invisible as these details might be for the rest of the world. The blond knew he would never forgive himself if he hid the truth any longer, even if this meant losing the one he loved, meant to be his first and last partner in this universe.

“I’m sorry, I know it would be hard but I don’t want you to hate me. If only I had been more courageous and spoken earlier, we wouldn’t be there. My biggest regret is to miserably failed our promises and failed to go back to you when I had the chance to-”

“It’s okay I’m here, I won’t let you go….not anymore.” There was something reassuring about the gentleness of these words, almost like they’d always been as delicate as the leaves finding the ground of this peaceful night. Izuku became the spectator of many cruel scenes but the tears that threatened to fall down the blond’s face were his biggest nightmare, knowing how the two of them deserved a break after everything they’d been through. “It’s not your fault, none of us could’ve prevented this accident.”

The shorter man felt a tighter grip on his back, hoping that his attempts to reassure the blond didn’t bring back old memories that needed to be forgotten. It wasn’t the first mistake he’d made, and it won’t be the last either but it was the beauty of life and the lessons taught forged in their narrative. 

“It’s the main reason that led me there for this special night, it’s not about the kidnapping but the lies that followed this part of the story,” explained the taller man with a sigh. Releasing these words out loud felt strange, accepting the final decision that’ll result from a moment of vulnerability, well deserved for their wasted tears that ruined the pages of these uncommon tales.

“Kacchan… What do you mean ?” he changed tone in the omega’s voice and his scent confirmed the prince’s doubts.

 After all, Katsuki had been the actor in this specific chapter of their lives and even he couldn’t digest the weight of his past demons that kept him awake at night. The nerd was far from being stupid, it was a breathtaking detail that charmed the blond, especially when the freckled man wore this delighted smile in the corner of his lips and had the prettiest stars in his eyes. The heavy silence in their conversation told him how it was now or never and Katsuki was ready to bleed his own hand if necessary.

“Izuku, I haven't been completely honest with you,” his crimson eyes found the concerned emerald ones as his fingers lost themselves on the fabric of his clothes, an unconscious gesture he took from his childhood friend. “I’ve handled this secret for so long, unable to say the truth when I had the chance to and regretted every second of it. This isn’t a complete lie, only a part of the story, transformed to fit in people’s expectations: I’ve been kidnapped at the age of fourteen by some asshole but I was also saved the same day, not years.”

“I don’t get it,” said Izuku with a lost tone, almost like he was trying to solve a mystery with clues he hadn’t discovered yet. “They all  believed you were either dead or had disappeared to save your life somewhere else, how is this possible and why was it kept as a secret instead of being seen as a celebration ?”

“That’s what I also thought for a while, that they’d take the time to make a public announcement of my return but I was wrong,” explained the golden-haired man with a sigh. “Days passed by and the kingdom prayed for my safety, unaware that I had become a ghost of my own castle against my will. I wasn’t dead but this loneliness made me feel like it was the case, the only moment of peace I could find stood in the temporary meeting of a lost soul, containing his sadness to make sure the wind didn’t steal the tears on the corner of his eyes.”

Izuku stayed quiet and listened to the answers his heart had been looking for, despite their form that caught him off guard. The few whispers about Prince Midoriya being missing for too long barely catch his attention, his emerald eyes stay focused on the vulnerable crimson ones and the discreet change in the alpha’s scent.

“I asked questions that never received any answers, often covered with false care about selfish people. I was unable to get back in control of my own narrative so I just let things happen until my heart broke at the silent sobs of this shadow that contained his pain for too long. It was heartbreaking to see every interaction from afar as a vulgar pawn in this chess game but I transformed these moments of vulnerability into delighted smiles until the pale expression of a familiar face regained unforgettable colors. You should’ve seen my reaction when I heard a love confession that should’ve been returned instead of being stolen by the mocking wind…”

The freckled man’s eyes widened at the mention of a confession that echoed in a specific memory in his mind. He didn’t know his hands were shaking until his body unconsciously stepped back to regain some air when he relocked his gaze on the devastated crimson ones, which seemed to share thousands of apologies at the same time. The familiarity of this story was disturbing for his side of the story, which he considered a universal truth, conscious about how he had been the actor of these said details pointed by the blond, despite this new angle of a narrative that influenced his conflicted past.

 “People always mourn their loved ones once it’s too late but I’m mourning the loss of a secret confession that should’ve been ours. I miss him every single day, I hope I’ll be able to tell how much I loved him in the next lifetime. I didn’t know that the only memory I’ll have of him would be a part of his soul with thousands of unsaid vows. If I had seen the signs earlier maybe things would’ve been different…Maybe I would’ve saved him instead of condemning him to a fate worse than death.”

It acted like a slap in the face when the choice of the prince’s speech was anything but a coincidence! Izuku Midoriya remembered the confessions he shared with the intrigued wind and reassuring spirit, unaware that the supposed spirit had been the one he had been chasing the entire time. These revelations were probably more shocking than the surprise of his return earlier, this time it surrounded the entirety of his memories, moments of weakness, and years of coping mechanisms. 

He was glad he hadn’t lost his mind with this ghost that turned out to be real but it changed everything: Izuku talked about every single detail of his life in the past seven years, things he hadn’t written in his unsent letters gathering dust on his desk, and how much he missed his best friend. It wasn’t a question of silly secrets meant to be forgotten, the blond assisted in every step of his growth and yet, reassured him in every tear and moment of doubt.

“It was you….” The shorter prince didn’t realize he was trembling until his fingers found the closest spot on the balcony as he lifted his head and searched in the crimson eyes for a semblance of lies, only to find a genuine truth with evident guilt behind his glance. 

“The entire time,” was the only form of proper answer the blond could offer, giving his childhood friend some time to digest the news. 

Izuku didn’t need to jump to the wrong conclusion to understand that the meaning behind these chosen words wasn’t a coincidence, especially when it concerned Katsuki Bakugou and this tender detail on his face that betrayed his genuine pain. The freckled man was touched by the devotion in this gesture that lasted seven years but he had the right to ask questions about the intention behind a gesture that sounded genuine and was kept secret at the same time!

“Why…why didn’t you try to talk to me earlier ?” He asked with a low tone, conscious that the following answer would give him all the elements he needed to understand the reasons to keep something so deeply hidden for so long.

Don’t get him wrong, the shorter prince wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed about what he said to the ghost that transformed his tears into meaningful memories, guided by nostalgia but something in his chest wanted him to reflect on a somber reason behind this reasoning. The freckled man knew his best friend like an open book and the expression crossing the alpha’s face confirmed his previous doubts, leaving him unsure about the outcome of this conversation that started with the best of apologies and timeless vows of protection. 

“Because I had no other choice,” Katsuki responded with a sigh, moving closer to the moving curls, teased by the mocking wind on this balcony. He admitted the stupidity of this argument and the logic behind its existence f if the roles had to be reversed, that’s why the blond chose honesty over basic explanations, as painful as it was to put these years of loneliness into words. 

“I was only fourteen and tried to convince my parents to deliver the news to you and your family, at least to let the most important person in my life know that he didn’t need to suffer lies but they refused. Before realizing it, everything was controlled in this jail and my only source of freedom was your visit, I didn’t want to scare you at first but the day you cried, I realized how I need to act as soon as possible: It was the first rule I’ve broken without my parents around and it was my favorite because it brought me closer to you for a few hours, despite the invisible wall separating our worlds.”

Katsuki was as blind as Izuku in this part of the plan, he had no idea if Mitsuki and Masaru even tried to consider their son’s desperate request into account or simply forgot about it when the strong omega could’ve been warned a long time ago. His parents had many flaws but being liars on purpose was something he’d never forgive, based on the earlier reaction of the nerd and his lost glances, full of questions. 

“I wanted to reach out to you and got played by their tricks, condemning me to be a lost name on everyone’s lips and a mysterious weapon that benefits them on the battlefield. I hated every seconds of it, the simple idea of lying to you was intolerable but as I said I had no other choice: If someone knew about my existence, they would’ve targeted my loved one and I would rather pay the price of this shitty plan with my life than let one of these asshole touch one of your hairs. I made a promise to protect you and I’ll keep it until my last breath, even if this means being a shadow in your life.”

“Your parents…What is their involvement in this situation ?” Izuku asked with a serious tone. 

He wasn’t angry at Katsuki for telling him what happened behind his back, he deserved this moment of truth but this didn’t mean he was comfortable with what he had previously heard. If the blond had been the victim of this behavior, something he wouldn’t lie about, this would mean that the royal couple didn’t seem to have any remorse about this single choice, which changed everything in their tale. 

“They controlled everything,” explained the blond. “They were the ones who decided to keep this hidden for the sake of their lands, the authors of the tender vows that were supposed to be ours, and the masterminds behind this scheme. Every person who tried to get out of their order paid the price of their desire for freedom and I was forced to welcome death in my arms with nothing but an old hand chief by my side. They’re the ones who started this and I should’ve stopped them sooner if I knew the price I had to pay…I’m sorry Izuku.”

This was a lot to handle for a fragile heart like Izuku’s. He knew the royal couple was messed up but he would never have imagined that their desire for the glory of their lands would break their morals concerning their son. There was a big difference between the disagreement on one idea and forcing an innocent to live with such guilt all these years. No wonder why the alpha, usually determined, was apologizing like he was terrified of losing his childhood friend’s trust: Katsuki was fully aware of the consequences of such actions and none of them could run away this time.

“You said you tried to reach me…what exactly happened ?” Izuku didn’t ask for details of a story he already knew but for confirmation that the man he loved wasn’t an accomplice to the monsters who ruled these lands.

“When you said you loved me, I knew I had to do something before it was too late,” the blond added with a sigh. He expected Izuku to be mad at him after his previous speech and only found an unreadable expression on his face, almost like he was boiling from the sudden revelations. “My body moved on its own and then I stopped a few meters away from you to have a look. That day, you were so beautiful and it made me anxious, I wanted to return your words and be forgiven for my lies but I underestimated the weight of time. The moment I walked to talk to you, two guards approached and this chance was stolen from me…”

“You never tried anything after that ?” The tone in the omega’s voice strangely matched the upset scent that crossed the prince’s nose as an upcoming warning. 

“I thought of it, so many times but was too afraid to mess up again as the time passed by. I can’t imagine how betrayed you must feel about this situation and a dream that was supposed to be ours but I’ll respect your final decision, even if this means saying our final goodbye.” 

Katsuki couldn’t step back from the outcome of this fire that consumed his soul for too long. He truly loved his childhood friend and was ready to wait decades for his love if this meant letting him find peace in this life, as cursed as their narrative might be. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel at ease with the idea of letting another person steal Izuku’s heart but his happiness had always been his priority, even when he was a part of his past. 

A heavy silence filled the space between them as the distinguished shadows moved in the background with more interrogation at the tip of their lips. Time was running out and the royal couple was about to announce his “revival” soon but the only thing that mattered was the change of expression that appeared on the omega’s face. The freckled omega's initial instincts were to grab the blond and run away from this lifeless place but he understood the complexity of the situation, especially after the weight of the previous truths. Izuku was grateful to have an honest partner by his side but he couldn’t ignore the damage it left on his poor heart, unable to make a proper decision after everything he heard! He just reunited with his missing lover but their bond was, once again, challenged by an invisible obstacle that transformed their moment into a bittersweet impression of deja-vu. 

“I…I need time to think about this,” explained the shorter prince in a low tone. His fingers held the fabric of his dress in a close grip as his eyes noticed the moving figures from afar, walking dangerously close to their direction. 

Izuku knew how these words sounded like a rejection and easily read behind the alpha’s glance that Katsuki wasn’t doubting him for this natural reaction, despite the distance it would put between them. The two men knew how this moment was too precious to last any longer but the relief on their faces was enough to see how the intimate conversation exchanged on this balcony brought sparkles back into their eyes. After all, seeing their childhood friend alive was all they ever wanted and dreamed of since this unfortunate accident that had separated them, acknowledged the fact that they’ll never waste this second chance, even if they need to work through this new revival.

The hesitant footsteps caught their attention, forcing them to leave each other's glances and stare at the recognizable voices of the royal couple. The blond held his breath and was shocked to feel the warmth of the scarred fingers against his with a warm smile on his lips, despite the unreadable expression on his face. Izuku’s hands welcomed the calloused ones in a comforting handhold that lasted a few minutes, enough to show his gratitude and the ethereal love that hasn’t left this gentle painting. 

“I’m not giving up on you,” the omega affirmed with a soft whisper, trying to not to get caught by the moving figures, getting dangerously closer to their secret spot. “I’ll be back to you when I have a final word about this crazy situation but you know…I’m really glad you’re back, Kacchan.”

The mention of the nickname brought a light grin to the corner of the blond’s lips when the freckled man’s hands slipped away from his and faded into the huge crowd in the ballroom. Katsuki expected some madness and tears of betrayal and was stunned to read the prettiest lines behind this tender glance, stealing his heart for the umpteenth time until the familiar voices of his parents brought him back to his reality.

“Thanks god you’re here, we’ve been looking for you,” announced Mitsuki with a sigh, whipping the sweat away from her forehead. “Your father and I are about to make the great announcement, what were you doing here anyway ?”

“I needed some air,” the prince replied in a low tone, his eyes never leaving the ghost of the cautious fingers that intertwined with his. Izuku’s promises lived as subtle whispers in his ears as he followed the royal couple and made the promise to wait for the omega’s answers, no matter how long it would take to have the nerd by his side.

The entire room released a shocked gasp when they saw the familiar figure of the missing prince at the top of the stairs but the caring alpha only had eyes for the green curls in the crowd, who couldn’t help but smile back at him with a light blush and loving glance. If Katsuki needed to win Izuku’s heart all over again, he wouldn’t mind continuing this quest if this meant spending the rest of his life with his missing half…

——-

The revelation of Katsuki’s return took everyone off guard, including the neighborhood and his own lands, wondering what had happened in the last seven years that transformed this naive teenager into a beautiful man, standing right before their eyes. 

The least Katsuki could say was that his parents were right about the effect of the public news and the weight it would have on the gossip: After all,  he became the center of attention with a few marriage proposals that suddenly popped out of nowhere on their desk. The rest of the world seemed to remember the existence of the blond, almost like they hadn’t forgotten him when he stayed a blurred name in the conversation, but he had a bigger priority in mind.

A week had passed since the last conversation he exchanged with his childhood friend, and the last few days had been the longest of his life. He counted every sunset that separated him from the next reunion with his omega, who let him know how he wasn’t against the idea of continuing their unique tale, which was a miracle compared to the rejection scenario he had pictured in the past years. The empty side of his bed felt as lonely as usual, with the same handkerchief that accompanied him in his darkest period, representing this only source of hope when the negative thoughts convinced him about the worst-case scenarios. 

The blurry hallucination of rejection wasn’t the same as the one who stood by his side on this balcony and the ghost of his scarred fingers on his broken palm never left his porcelain skin, longing for their next touch, as subtle as it would be. Izuku hasn’t reached out to him or contacted him yet but Katsuki was patient: he spent the last few years waiting for the perfect chance to fix his past mistake and listened to the instincts that guided him to a second chance. It’s not like he had time to rest with his new royal duties, often highlighted by visits to unknown lands and faces presenting their daughter for an eligible marriage under the political agreements.

If the blond never explained his reasons for rejecting the numerous marriages that met his desk, he slowly got used to a new lifestyle that was the complete opposite of his old one: Sure he didn’t have to go to the battlefield against his will with the authority of his parents but he barely had time to take some rest, always surrounded by the organization of his coronation. The decision wasn’t made public yet and the tradition explained how the future king would be the one to reveal his final choice when he felt the need to, giving him time to rest his mind when his mind wasn’t thinking about his childhood friend.

Izuku Midoriya always thought he had control of his life until fate proved to him how wrong he was with a series of events that made him question his supposed beliefs. One day he considered the royal couple as liars and the next day he discovered how Mitsuki and Masaru had been manipulators of a wrong version of the story all along. He wasn’t even sure if he should trust the next coincidence that would cross his path with these shocking revelations that hadn’t left his mind since this fateful night. 

It would be a lie to say that the green-haired man wasn’t thinking about the blond: there wasn’t a single day that the name of Katsuki Bakugou didn't cross his lips and his vulnerable thoughts, especially after their heartwarming reunion. He recalled the details in the crimson eyes, the meaning behind the choice of his words and the weakness exposed in his low tone, something his younger self wouldn’t have done unless the concerned information was true The freckled prince didn’t doubt the veracity of the things shared by the blond, there was no reason to lie about such a thing when the tears that threatened his porcelain skin proved his guilt during his monologue. 

Izuku needed time to resonate with his mind without jumping to the wrong conclusion and making a mistake he’d regret later. His surroundings had been composed by traitors who put their own interests before those of others, almost as if the consequences of their lies were nonexistent despite being real with the obvious changes. The freckled man grew distant from his parents as proof of the boundaries they’d officially broken with him but he was angrier at Mitsuki and Masaru for using their power and becoming the narrator of a story that had never belonged to them. 

The common decision to save the fate of their lands with political agreements was a victory that played in their favor and caused jealousy and envy in their surroundings. Suddenly, the truth behind the secret fights kept hidden from the words felt like a stab in the chest, imagining how the blond had been the target and the one forced to dance with death when he should’ve been living his stolen youth. Izuku had a chance to grow up when his childhood friend couldn’t, but this supposed treasure was also reinforced by the overwhelming sadness and nostalgia. 

There wasn’t any winner in this unfortunate circumstance that took a darker meaning over the years, the kidnapping might’ve been solved in a few hours but the damages were irreversible, similar to scars on their fragile skin. With hindsight, this story was crazy: After all, Izuku spent his teenage years mourning the disappearance of his lover, Inko and Hisahi lied straight to his face when Mitsuki and Masaru had no remorse about their manipulative tricks, while Katsuki got stuck in his own lies. 

The golden-haired man had always been a source of mystery and an enchanting book to read with fond details that only he could understand. Izuku couldn’t deny the immense joy he felt when he wrapped his shaking body against the reassuring scent that came from the cherished gift, but he also felt lost about the feelings he was supposed to have about the implications of the blond in this situation. Katsuki made it clear that he wasn’t the one at the head of this shitty trick, he was a puppet of selfish wishes and dreams stolen from him when he never had the occasion to speak his truth. 

However, he was also the one hiding in the shadows the entire time, the invisible spirit that listened to the omega’s worries and the mysterious force that brought smiles back to his face. Katsuki could’ve acted earlier and gone against his parents’ rules, knowing his stubborn personality and they would’ve avoided this distance between them but this reflection led to another path, more heartbreaking than the others. Sure the great Katsuki Bakugou was the kind of alpha who didn’t let anyone impose any rules on him unless it had a certain emotional weight on his reasoning: the prince would never do something so selfish on his own and the regrets must’ve been really overwhelming if he ended up putting his obstinate personality down for the sake of his loved ones’ lives. 

His childhood friend lied to him but he shared apologies about his behavior, something neither Mitsuki, Masaru, nor Hisashi did with him until now. Inko tried her best to make herself forgiven as a mother who wanted to protect her son but understood how it was too late when Katsuki never had the chance to say his truths out loud in seven endless years. He became a part of this scheme against his will, dictated by orders that weren’t the ones coming from his heart or logical reasoning: he could’ve died on the battlefield and the rumors about his death would’ve been a tragic reality, one that immediately gave chills to the green-haired prince. 

Imagining a world without his missing half was unthinkable for the devoted omega. 

Don’t get him wrong, Izuku acknowledged the mistakes made by his childhood friend but he also understood how things could’ve taken a terrible turn: In another life, the blond could’ve gotten bored with him and pretended he never existed! Instead, Katsuki accepted this title of inaccessible spirits and continued to stand by his side, he tried to make it work at all costs. Izuku’s happiness had always been his priority and these symbolic gestures were proof of his sincere love, which grew stronger over the years. 

Izuku Midoriya was a name for his subject, a title for the history book meant to be forgotten over the years. His existence itself was doomed to be erased at one point and confused with someone else, he never had his place to mark the decade and be the center of someone’s narrative as a lover or friend until Katsuki entered his life. The blond made him feel seen, listened to, and loved when another person would’ve judged him for his mumbles and flushed cheeks. The impressive alpha proved how history might forget about him but his heart would never, even after the invisible walls that brought them together

The rest of the world might choose someone else, but Katsuki Bakugou chose Izuku Midoriya and  Katsuki was a man of his word, even in the darkest pages of their unique narratives. It was natural for the freckled man to forgive a mistake that hadn’t been made on purpose, guiding him to a decision that appeased his previous worries and made him realize how he was meant to fall for this stubborn but affectionate alpha in every lifetime. He would choose the blond over anyone and victories on the battlefield, an evident truth that warmed his heart when he finally stood in the same garden of his past with background footsteps that brought a light smile to his face. 

Today the light sunshine caressed the exposed skin of the green-haired man with the subtle murmurs of the breeze against his ears, under the pretty scenery that stole their hearts years ago. The view with the moving shadows from afar was relaxing, reminding him how the world kept moving with new projects to celebrate and the wonderful return of the one they considered dead for a while. Izuku’s face softened when he turned around and met the familiar crimson eyes, revealing this delicate weakness that immediately melted the omega’s heart, wishing to erase this doubt and see his signature smirk back on this stunning face.

 Katsuki didn’t need to say a word to understand how the shorter man read him like an open book, another one of their easy tricks that avoided useless conversations. The green-haired prince walked closer to see the few centimeters that separated their two bodies, with a light scent between them. It was obvious how they both missed each other and their relief was immediate when the delicate fingers moved a lost curl behind his ear, with his glance locked on the endearing crimson ones.

“Hi Kacchan,” he said with a soft tone, touched to see how his childhood friend was as relieved as him by this sweet reunion. “My apologies for the unexpected letter, I hope I didn’t steal you from one of your wonderful reunions. After all, your lands might be glad to know their new ruler is back on track…”

“You actually saved me from an annoying meeting with some asshole so I let my parents take care of this case. Technically, they understand each other and work on the same team,” the blond said with an amused grin on his lips. He couldn’t help but reveal the slight smile that temporarily drew itself on Izuku’s face, representing the prettiest angle of this breathtaking painting. “I’m glad you reached out to me, freckles.”

“I couldn’t leave you behind, not after all the sacrifices we’ve made in this crazy situation,” the shorter prince said with a reassuring tone. Izuku didn’t even know why he felt shy all of a sudden, maybe it was the excitement of seeing him again and the things he had to say, as vulnerable as they might be for the future of their relationship. “How’s your new life? Did you miss being a ghost ?”

“Only if this means catching the lost time with you, my royal duties are the least of my worries for the moment,” the blond pointed out with a grin, ruffling the messy curls with his calloused hands. The emerald eyes followed the evident scars near his reach, hoping he’d get to learn each of their story as soon as possible. “I’m glad you took the time to see me, you know there’s nothing rushed about this. I already told you I can wait an entire lifetime if necessary…”

“That’s why you’re the best,“ Izuku said with an affectionate smile. His fingers accidentally met the calloused ones and he noticed the sparkles between them, a detail that brought a slight blush to the alpha’s cheeks. “I should’ve come sooner but the last days opened my eyes about our surroundings and the names we should trust or not.. You said your truths I think it’s time to say mine…”

Izuku contained the light chuckles that wanted to escape his lips when he noticed the change of expression in the crimson eyes, afraid to hear heartbreaking words that had never been meant for him. The freckled prince couldn’t pretend anymore, not when the last days that separated them reminded him how much he loved his childhood friend: no matter the title Katsuki and he would have at the end of this conversation, it would be worth the try. 

“We should go for a walk,” whispered the calm omega with an affectionate smile. His fingers slipped through the calloused hand and met his wrist, scenting him with this appeasing scent before intertwining their fingers together. “This place is beautiful, I always consider this a secret spot where your vulnerability becomes your biggest strength. I’ve never taken the time to properly thank the spirit that brought me back to life,”

“I realized how there was no winner at the end of this story and it doesn’t have to have one. Yeah everyone lied to me but at the end of the day, only you kept your promise to stand by my side from afar, you were the one to make me smile when I needed a shoulder to cry on, even as a ghost. You could’ve left me behind but you never did, even now when you’re looking at me with these eyes that made me realize how much I care about you and the rest of our narrative. A lot of time has passed but it doesn’t mean we’re doomed to failure….After all, we wouldn’t be there if we were stuck in the past, right?”

Izuku had a point but something about this statement wasn’t right. It’s not like the blond expected to see his childhood friend ready to curse his name, the nerd had always been a calm person unless the situation played with his nerves and limits, as flexible as they might be. In his expectations, Katsuki believed in a reality where the suffering he had handled over the years was meant to be his new everyday, used to a negativity that had already taken so many treasures away from him, including the creation of new memories.

“You have the right to be mad,” he pointed out with a sigh. 

His crimson eyes found the emerald ones that didn’t seem to judge him for this moment of weakness, on the opposite, they looked understanding enough to comfort all his untold struggles. Izuku connected the dots and secretly knew why the blond wanted to be punished so badly for breaking his trust: It didn’t change the fact that Katsuki Bakugou was a human who made mistakes, he shouldn’t be punished for something he was forced to do…

“I am,” responded the green-haired man with a nod. “Against the ones who put their selfish thoughts before logical reasoning. I’m mad at my parents for their actions, your parents for lying to everyone the entire time but not you because I know you needed to survive and none of this was your choice since the beginning. You said it yourself, you tried to get free from their chain and you were younger, these are enough to know the real responsible for these years of emotional distress.” 

Izuku had always been too kind for this unfair world and yet, he found a way to find humanity in his surroundings when most of the rational extras would’ve given up on him years ago. The freckled man shared the same version of the story from a different angle, one where Katsuki wasn’t the monster but another victim, understood by his missing half.

“Do you forgive me, Izuku ?” It felt refreshing to imagine a world where his childhood friend gave him a second chance but the alpha’s insecurities would be hard to beat and luckily for him, he got a supportive partner by his side. 

“I already did, Kacchan,” he said with a tender tone, cupping the blond’s cheeks. “Seeing you alive is the only thing that mattered to me, not the useless fights that belonged to our past or the promises we haven’t kept. It’s not a surprise if loving you is easier than breathing. Nothing assures us that this future will be safe for both of us but I believe in us…. I’ll choose you over any pretty lie in an arranged marriage and victories on the battlefield. As stupid as it seems, your love is all I ever wanted…”

“Good thing I’ve been yours since the beginning,” affirmed the blond with a grin. 

Izuku’s face softened when he saw the charming expression in the alpha’s eyes, the mesmerizing details on this breathtaking piece that became half of his soul. The most prestigious names might stand on their feet to have an ounce of the omega’s attention, but the freckled man will only have eyes for his childhood friend, despite his imperfections. It’s not like Izuku was an angel, he made mistakes and was far from being perfect but together they could heal and forgive their stolen past to start a new chapter of their lives.

The delicate fingers touched the porcelain skin as if it were a cautious treasure, able to break at the slightest hint of inattention. This corrupted world had many facets and a fascination for unreachable jewels, unaware that the most precious ones stand under their eyes, a lesson the freckled man had to learn the hard way. It was unbelievable to even hear such words leave the blond’s lips but these softly caressed his ears as the confirmation his heart always needed. Izuku will need more time to accept how real they are after the numerous illusions that charmed his sensitive heart in the past, he also knew how some actions spoke louder than words, a wonderful gift after their wasted tears. 

“Can you say it again please ?” Whispered the golden-haired man with a light tone. He didn’t want to let the wind steal this moment when it belonged to them as he unconsciously leaned into the caring touch to rest his forehead against the other's. 

There was something agreeable in this interaction that came from his wildest dreams, realizing how devoted he was to this idiot who brightened his darkest days despite the tough obstacles on their path. Izuku’s face brightened when his fingers moved behind the prince’s neck and wrapped them in a subtle touch with the addictive scent that brought a smile back to his face. 

“Say what,” Izuku asked, conscious that the light breath that escaped his open lips caressed the ones of the taller man. 

This sensation of returning home after fighting in the dark for too long was beyond words, an incredible experience that reminded them how living was worth the try if this meant being welcomed by this ethereal love. Strangers might share their affection but this’ll never be as strong and captivating as the one taught by his childhood friend, who won his heart a long time ago.

“The things you’ve said that day when I was out of your reach…” Katsuki knew how the simple mention of this beloved memory between them was enough to give confidence back to the nerd’s face. In all honesty, none of them thought they would ever mention this event again and yet, fate surprised them with gentle vows, taking the form of the fondest smiles.

 Izuku was only a teenager when he confessed his love to a ghost, and his desperate wishes were rewarded by this stunning view with his lover standing in front of him, prettier than ever. Katsuki was a prisoner of a golden cage that erased the control of his own narrative but revenge had tasted so sweet when the recognizable curls were displayed with the prettiest shade of emerald in the omega’s eyes. Together they’ve made so many promises in the beauty of their youth, indelible souvenirs inked in their skin like indelible scars until their wasted tears lead to this exact moment when the rest of their story resides in the palm of their fragile hands.

The observant breeze gently pushed the lost curls behind his ears as the cautious fingers moved behind the blond’s neck. The intimacy of this touch appeased the alpha’s concern about a rejection that was the result of his anxiety, especially when Izuku looked at him as if he were the prettiest man he had ever seen. The careful thumbs slid in the porcelain skin, exposed to the most vicious spirits, changing the weight of the previous weapons that ever crossed this delicate neck. Suddenly, the fear of not being enough vanished in the blink of an eye when the intrigued eyes looked into his with the gentleness of a gesture that belonged to timeless lovers instead of forgotten ones. 

The background noises of the outside town and distant conversations of the castle were the least of their worries when Izuku smiled at the beauty of this moment, the details he wanted to forge into his skin as a permanent process of his favorite fairytale. He was conscious of the huge amount of love he was ready to share with the ghost of his unreachable mate, but he underestimated the power of the rising one that filled his chest when his glance mesmerized every expression on the alpha’s canvas. 

”I love you.” 

The words naturally escaped his lips as if they always wanted to be heard by this only name that deserved his attention. Izuku didn’t contain his chuckle when he saw the alpha’s cheeks flushed with a scarlet color. He’ll never get tired of this endearing sight as beautiful as it might be for his devoted heart, ready to sacrifice the rest of the world to see the pretty grin of his favourite idiot. 

“I love you Katsuki Bakugou no matter if you’re meant to be a lost spirit, the best of friends, and the greatest lover. Your existence can take as many titles and symbols as you wish, I know they’ll always represent my everything, even in the darkest days of our lives.”

Izuku’s words sounded so genuine and as delicate as the stolen laugh that became a gentle lullaby to his eyes until his body moved on its own and closed the distance between them. If the freckled man simply smiled and leaned into the intimate gesture to return it with subtle fingers in the golden spikes, the blond connected the dots when the echoes of the omega’s breath met his cherry lips. The previous reasoning to approach the rest of this conversation disappeared the moment the warm lips found the omega’s ones, sealing the first kiss that caught them by surprise. 

Making a love confession was a thing but using physical gestures to reflect the intensity of their bond was another, a symbolism more captivating than any of their previous victories on the battlefield, and a sentiment beyond words. Falling in love with his closest friend represented a huge risk but Katsuki and Izuku always had a liking for danger: the path was hard and full of wasted tears but the outcome was worth the wait if this meant drowning in this ocean of joy that erased the last ounce of sadness in their chest. 

They already held hands but sharing the same dance with their desperate lips was a pleasant discovery for their intrigued soul, satisfied by this revelation despite their need to break the last boundary of their friendship. The hesitation in their whispers proved how this experience was a first for both of them, such as the scarlet color that highlighted their cheeks under this angle of a painting they’d already adored and were ready to cherish until their last breath. 

Izuku’s mouth opened to fill the previous silence, only to be shut down a second time by the familiar lips against his, ready to share the same dance with more intensity than their previous try. The green-haired man melted at the realization and followed the lead of his childhood friend, guiding him to secret spots his curious soul hadn’t discovered yet. The fragile fingers wrapped the shorter man closer and moved his thumbs to the prince’s waist, an intimate gesture seen as a great response to the scarred fingers, lost in his golden spikes with a string grip. 

The surroundings were suddenly blurred by the echoes of their own heartbeat and the light breath that left their rosy lips when they regained consciousness. The recognizable shadows might’ve blushed at this endearing scene, but it was the least of the couple’s worries when their glances hadn’t left each other with a sensation of timeless vows, sealed by their previous interaction. The messy curls rested against the alpha’s chest with a delighted smile on his face and flushed cheeks, amazed by the ghost of their kisses when the blond brought him closer, with a protective palm behind his back. 

“I’m not the kind of guy to use my words but you’re the exception to every rule. I love you too and I hope that none of these fuckers will try to steal you away from me because your hand is mine,” the taller man said with a grin. Izuku couldn’t help but chuckle at the stupid comment that brought him butterflies in his stomach, grateful to feel an intense sensation of love in this lifetime instead of eternal solitude. “Your ring’s size is probably too large for a paper one but I’m making the promise to give you a real one, as long as it’ll take to find the perfect jewel that’ll match the charm of your eyes.”

“Wait…You remember ?” Izuku’s voice almost betrayed his genuine surprise at the previous words that brought him back to a naive youth with memories more precious than the others. 

He never forgot the amazed expression on their faces, the sweet laugh that escaped their lips, and the numerous topics of conversation that filled the silence of this gorgeous spot in this endless maze. Together, they mentioned their future projects and the dreams they want to achieve as a duo, including some more personal than others that left interesting marks on their blank pages. Izuku will always remember the moment the breeze caressed the lost curls on his forehead under the observant crimson eyes of the blond who cautiously pushed them behind the other’s ears, despite his flushed cheeks and words that seemed pretty innocent back in the day.  

They were not taller than five years ago and already talked about timeless promises with marriage as if it were something made in the blink of an eye. He couldn’t blame their innocence when their pinky promises and the creation of a paper ring were made in the euphoria of the moment, highlighted by the prettiest prose in their narratives. The sacred fingers still felt the ghost of the paper on his tiny hands and he presented the gift to his parents the same night, who explained how they’d be there for this amazing event. 

The years proved how some promises were made to be broken and others reinforced with glances stronger than any lies, covered behind pretty words and false apologies. Today, Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugou weren’t the same children who used to believe in peace for their kingdoms, they learned their lessons in harsh ways and still found a way to have some light in their tale, ruined by bloody ink and forgotten regrets. 

The imaginary rings on their fingers might be missing from their present but the ghosts of this unconditional love stayed as strong as the day of their creation, until this unreachable dream started to take an important place in their new reality. Izuku contained the slight tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks at the realization, moved to see this devotion that hadn’t destroyed the invisible bond between their longing hearts, healed with the meaningful truths exchanged in moments of despair. 

“How could I forget, nerd,” the blond pointed out with a knowing grin that brought another blush to the omega’s cheeks. 

Katsuki Bakugou wasn’t the kind of man to betray his own promises and knew one day he would bring this fake ring into something as mesmerizing as the strength of their love. His calloused hands didn’t feel like a bother anymore when his fingers subtly interlaced with the fragile ones, which leaned into the touch with these breathtaking expressions on the other’s face. 

“What are we supposed to do now ?”Asked the freckled man with a strong grip on the subtle handhold. This happiness was the best thing that ever happened to them but the two men were also aware of the complexity of their case and their duties as legitimate rulers of different kingdoms. Running away to live their perfect fairytale ending couldn’t be possible when they had the fate of hundreds of subjects with this role that was automatically given at their birth. 

“Survive like we always did and treat this love as the prettiest petals in a sakura,” said the golden-haired man with a reassuring tone. He brought their interlocked fingers to his lips and dropped a gentle kiss to their skin, that’ve already been cursed by the blurry scars of their inner demons. In all honesty, Kastuki wasn’t even sure if everything would be alright or more complicated than it already was, only the future had the answers to their desperate questions, meant to be discovered at the right time: for the moment, their biggest priority was the comfort of their new beginning and their royal duties until they found a good compromise… 

“I’m really glad you’re back, Kacchan,” the freckled man whispered with a fond tone. 

The untouched fingers that hadn’t met any inch of the blond’s skin solved this problem when his thumbs cupped the alpha’s cheeks. The gesture was affectionate to stay hidden in this moment of complicity where two inseparable children learned to grow and became the strongest version of themselves and were covered by the adoration of their partner. The monsters under the bed took different forms, some more traumatizing than the others but the remainder of their missing half kept them alive when giving up sounded like the best of options.

“I’m glad you’ve waited for me, nerd,” added the taller man with an affectionate cup on the freckled cheeks, holding the shorter man with his comforting scent closer to him. Katsuki welcomed the tears that unconsciously fell onto his cheeks, with the hope that fate won’t try to challenge their bond again.

“Until death do us part,” the shorter prince confessed with a stronger grip against this source of warmth. His night didn’t have to be cold anymore, this time he had the beauty of their souvenirs to chase his insecurities away and the reminder that his future mate was waiting for him, no matter the distance and the time it would take to bring the final comma to their unique tale. 

Some interested glances watched the scene from afar as a slight smile colored their faces, touched to see how this lie ended up becoming the rise of a timeless romance. If the royal couple were looking for their son everywhere in the castle, none of the maids dared to break the fond embrace between the two men and the radiant expressions on their faces, looking happier than ever.

——

Izuku and Katsuki agreed to start a secret relationship as the only treasure that t the outside world couldn’t break or tear apart. 

They talked about the future of their lands and the sacrifices it’ll involve if they ever make the mistake of announcing their fresh relationship to the rest of the world, conscious of how far these extras were ready to go to torment them. Their mutual decision to keep it private was also a way to have control of their discreet reunion, a hidden handhold under the table when no one was looking and the sensation of living those moments, stolen from them in the past seven years. 

Their royal title merged with the crown on their head during a public event and their real selves, brightened each other’s worlds and acted like teenagers experiencing their first love. The discreet kiss exchanged in this garden became a casual habit as the months passed by, using every argument to spend their time in the other’s land to spend as much time as possible with their partner, and eventually skipping the luxurious ball to laugh on the balcony.  It was the first time that Izuku and Katsuki had control of a story that finally became theirs, admiring the ability to guess every line behind a single glance, and their blush that showed the deepest shade of red after a stolen kiss on their lips. 

One of their favorite habit was the scenting of different items when the other was forced to be miles away from his mate, an inconvenience in this routine that didn’t make them more inseparable than they already were. The old blankie and shirt found the sweet scent of their original owners, such as the new letters that stood on the freckled man’s desk and the tender smile at the content. It took a few days for Izuku to handle his courage to read all the letters that were destined for his childhood friends, holding the calloused hands as he re-read his own words and birthday wishes sent to the stars. 

Katsuki found this gesture more than inspiring and decided to reward his boyfriend with a special night that sealed the last boundary between them. For the occasion, he decided to prepare the perfect date for the nerd who mentioned this topic more than once as a joke, only to see his dream become a reality with the mesmerizing scenery that brought tears to the emerald eyes, moved by the gesture. If their dinner had happened in the best conditions, the couple was far from being over when their shadows slid into their bedroom. 

It started with soft kisses, whispers, and compliments about the kind gesture until the scarred fingers left the calloused ones to rest on the strong waist. The omega’s back found the fabric of the bedsheet, his messy curls exposed on the white pillows while his hands never left the taller alpha in front of him, who took the time to kiss him where no one else had been before. Sharing delighted kisses was one thing but making love with their missing half was another an experience beyond words and any expectations that crossed their naive mind. The name that escaped the freckled man’s lips became the prettiest melody to the protective alpha, who assured that everything was fine between each compliment to the scars inked on this porcelain skin and the subtle begs for more. 

This discovery of new pleasure outside their lonely hearts and ruts was intense, from the moment their lips left to give hickeys to the other’s body to the fateful bond sealed when their bodies finally made one. Izuku, lost in the euphoria of the moment, unconditionally prayed to the stars to make this connection last forever until this addictive fire and burning lips consumed his entire soul. The fragile nail left the bedsheet to grab the alpha’s back tighter, welcoming the exchange of their heated breath as their bodies made a dance that only they knew, highlighted between tears of pleasure and love confessions, under their most symbolic form. 

The moment of doubt was erased when the sweaty fingers cupped the blond’s cheeks and stole a passionate kiss against his lips, which he considered his new home. Katsuki wanted to make things right for this memorable moment and recognized the gratitude in the teary emerald eyes, looking at him with the same glance that stole his heart years ago. That night was the first time the stubborn prince, who usually doesn’t show his weakness in pubic, said his first  “I love you” with a vulnerability that only Izuku knew. 

The freckled man was touched by the devotion in this intimacy and naturally left a small mark beside the alpha’s hickey and scent gland. His jealousy controlled his thoughts and convinced him to show the rest of the world how his future mate already belonged to someone else, another person able to treat and care for him better than any of these strangers, not worth mentioning. Katsuki returned the gesture with a grin until they fooled with their own patience and bonded their souls in a moment written in the most memorable pages of their tale.

The same night, the couple, freshly mated, snuck into each other’s warmth and fell asleep in this bubble that erased their biggest fear of running out of time. The next morning, Katsuki was awed by the hoy that filled his chest after he realized how much he loved his mate, especially when the gorgeous face of his childhood friend stayed on his chest with light mumbles and messy curls. They needed to keep their fresh bond hidden through a scheme in order not to rush things if their parents found out about their intimate night, which explained why they continued their sweet romance without raising any doubts about their mating bite.

They eventually came up with a wise plan to erase the vicious spirits who had harmed them in the past. Sure, it was their parents and the ones who helped them to survive in this cruel world but they were also the same people who hadn’t had a single thought about the consequences their selflessness might have on their legacy. It wasn’t revenge motivated by a desire for a bigger kingdom, as most of the rumors spread by the wind said, but a personal desire to let them know how actions had bitter consequences, as invisible as they might be to the public's eyes. 

Izuku and Katsuki agreed to play it innocent and continue their royal duties as the proper rulers of their native lands, enough to make the blond’s sudden interest in his coronation believable for Mitsuki and Masaru. The queen and her husband were more than relieved and had never shown so much care for their son in this preparation that occupied most of their time: Everything needed to be perfect, after all their son was about to be the ruler of Mustafu’s lands!

Days became weeks and before realizing it, the endless meeting reached an end when the coronation room started to be filled with loud conversations from their guests. For the occasion, their neighborhood lands and political friends were invited to this unique celebration that represented a huge source of pride, if not a way to show their humanity to the subjects that started to doubt their honesty. 

The ray of this distinct sunshine colored the golden spikes of the future king, being the center of attention with his elegant clothes and reputed names by his side, including the priest who presented the numerous victories of his ancestors to the silent crowd. The blond stayed silent, listening to what the old man had to say about the appearance of his kingdom before lifting his head and catching the knowing emerald eyes in the crowd. 

The crimson eyes never left the radiant emerald ones as the priest called his complete name with a question that would define the rest of their lives. The taller prince stood up and offered his answer on a silver plate, accepting the weight of the golden crown on his head as he was now officially considered their new king. The room applauded and congratulated him, including his parents, on the maturity he gained and the lessons he learned from his past fights, which made the alpha laugh. 

The first order of the new ruler was awaited by the entirety of his subjects, knowing that this was the beginning of a series of wise decisions. That day, the stunning king stood on his throne with intrigued eyes focused on each of his movements, trying to read behind the lines of something they’ll never have access to: his heart. Izuku was invited for the occasion and pretended to be stressed about the important news he already knew in advance, ready to face the future changes and the consequence sit’ll have on their kingdom: After all,  this freedom was well deserved after everything they’ve been through, especially if this meant building a safe future for their legacy. 

"I'm conscious of the weight of a crown like this one on a head like mine and the sacrifices made by our ancestors to bring peace to these lands and bless all of our subjects with eternal vows of protection. My role is to guide each of you and my first decision is symbolic for the future of our beloved kingdom, that's why I'm here to bring you the answer to all your questions," he announced with a focused glance, looking at the crowd. "It's an honor to be here to announce the first order of my reign: You've been lied to for too long and some hearts have been broken, if not your entire trust. I should present my apologies for this return that caught everyone off guard but I'm not the one who started this mess. I, Katsuki Bakugou king of Mustafu, order Mitsuki Bakugou, Masaru Bakugou, Hisahi Midoriya, and Inko Midoriya to leave their native lands."

The crowd gasped at the shocking words that would definitely be the center of conversation for the next few days. Historically, only a few names succeeded in marking the last decades with an ethical moral question raised by their peers, and rare were the ones who tried to continue this practice until another name reversed the narrative. This abrupt decision didn't make any sense in their narrative, heavily influenced by the popular belief instead of a heartbreaking truth that deserved to be known. 

Izuku stayed silent with a satisfied grin, hearing the offered gasp of his father and the sobs of his mother, who understood the reason behind this choice. The reaction was immediate on Mitsuki and Masaru’s side, as they tried to reassure their son and understand the motive behind this sudden change of mind! Katsuki contained his disbelief when he saw his parents acting like the victims when this situation could’ve been handled in a more reasonable way without all these wasted years that’ll never return to them.

"This is not a definitive expulsion, only a way to let all those years of suffering be rewarded by deserved freedom. I'm not kicking you out of these lands until you become bones in a cemetery, I'm just giving you a chance to think about your actions and return once you're a better person and present proper apologies to your own blood, Izuku Midoriya, and your subjects.”

“And where should we go ?” Hisashi shouted with an angry tone, his hands clenched against his clothes. The madness in the king’s face proved how he needed a clear redemption if he wanted to be a part of his son’s life again compared to Inko, who simply accepted her fate a long time ago. “You’re sending us into a death trap with our enemies and our political agreement will be broken. Don’t you have any shame to condemn innocents with your selfishness?”

“I should return the question,” Katsuki replied with a menacing tone. His calloused hands held the luxurious fabric of his cape, an invisible hint that he had reached his limits and someone was playing with his nerves, but Izuku knew he would reassure his mate once this hell was over. “Don’t you have any shame to lie straight to your own bloodline about a secret that should’ve been shared a long time ago? Aren’t you embarrassed to pretend to your subjects when you didn’t have the audacity to say the announcement of my disappearance to your own son, who asked for answers you’ve never given?”

“This isn’t right!” Mitsuki added with a disappointed look on her face. She didn’t recognise the newborn she held in her arms and loved with her entire heart! Sure, she did make a few mistakes but she never thought that her own heir would betray her like that, offering a sensation of déjà vu on her burning lips. 

“Nothing is fair in this cruel world, lying to your own children for your own selfishness is the worst sin you’ve ever committed. Our lands can rule themselves with my knowledge and Izuku’s experience, this isn’t a goodbye unless you want it to be one…let’s see if time can heal broken wounds.”

Katsuki wasn’t mad at his parents, not like his younger self used to be, he simply understood how disappointment was an emotion stronger than the curses he had never shared out loud. After all, he was the one able to revive or cause the downfall of his native lands with an authority that couldn’t be rejected, a truth understood by his own parents, who became strangers over the years. The crowd had the opportunity to see two behaviors in their display: Mitsuki and Hisashi tried to keep their reputation intact when Inko and Masaru didn’t say a word, accepting the weight of their own guilt. 

According to the innocent perspective of the crowd, Izuku Midoriya needed to hide any form of favoritism and showed a lack of emotion when the knights took the two couples away from the awaited celebration, which merged with the unpleasant atmosphere of the room. Some of them held their breath and contained their tears and others were empathetic toward the omega’s feelings as the ceremony came to an official end. The blond knew he would get enemies with this important weapon he pushed away but he would rather be with people he trusted than face another betrayal. 

The ghosts of the previous whispers left the new king alone with his thoughts while hesitant glances made themselves discreet. Katsuki couldn’t believe how he finally did it, he got the revenge his younger self wanted to have in the past even if a part of him was sad to see his own parents leaving this place that was supposed to be their home. He wasn’t inhuman and sometimes felt guilty about this reasoning, wondering if he and Izuku didn’t act without thinking until they remembered the scars left on their narratives. There’ll always be a way to change the past, but this option was out of their reach in this lifetime and the rest of their tale belonged to their fragile shoulders from now on.

Lost in his thoughts, the taller man sighed and sat on the closest stairs with an unreadable expression on his face. His strong fingers suddenly felt lighter than the breeze crossing his skin when he put his crown on the side and heard the moving footsteps that stopped beside his fragile body, able to break in a few seconds of inattention. A warmth brought him back to reality when his lover’s fingers slowly caressed his back with a comforting scent that appeased his worries. Izuku didn’t need to make his presence known when the messy curls naturally rested on the blond’s shoulders, tickling his chin before interlacing their fingers together after this necessary sacrifice. 

None of them needed to talk to understand the mutual relief and sadness that filled their chest, conscious about the impact it would have on their lives with a wish for freedom and its emotional cost. Life had never been easy on them and the future won’t be as peaceful as their supportive mate but they needed to fight for their rights and happiness, even if it means being the villains of some stories.

“It was the right thing to do," explained the omega in a low tone. His fingers continued their slow dance with the calloused one, melting at the heat of these fragile palms that never seemed so strong under this angle. Izuku never tried to put himself on a pedestal, he saw his childhood friend and his mate as human beings with some decisions more difficult than others and this detail mattered more than false praise made by forgotten names. “This wasn’t easy but you did great Kacchan, I’m proud of you.”

Katsuki didn’t say anything and held the omega’s hands tighter, resting his head against the only source of comfort, glad to see how he’d never been alone, no matter the multiple forms he took in this endearing tale.

——

As they expected, the gossip spread pretty fast until it became a deformed lie, believed or not by the smartest minds.

 It started as something simple with a description of what happened during the ceremony, the exact words said by their new king as the wind blew a few misinterpretations with the intrigued mouths, leading to another version of a story that tried to bring peace in this new reign. Luckily a majority of their subjects had moral consciousness but some fell for the vicious tricks and considered the blond as a manipulator who wanted the throne for himself. In reality, Katsuki didn’t even care if he shared this power with another person, he wanted to bring personal revenge against the ones who caused him pain, and nothing malicious or witchcraft as others said. 

In order to change their minds and occupy their gossiping lips with another topic of conversation, the king decided to make a sudden announcement that showed how he was far from the monster described in the nasty rumors. With his lover’s help and a lot of organization, Katsuki decided to make a public statement about the expansion of his lands: this wasn’t from a sudden victory that came out of nowhere but from the agreement to merge Izuku’s kingdom with his. A rational decision for most of their subjects who accepted the news and a secret way to let the world see more of their dynamic as rulers, burned after their beloved title of lovers.

In order to make things right, the freckled man gave a part of his power to people he trusted, understandable friends who wished for Izuku’s happiness. He was still the name that signed every agreement and stood on the throne but decided to make a slight sacrifice if this meant staying with the man he loved and keeping everyone safe at the same time. 

It wasn’t easy at first but the couple figured things out, adapting themselves to new habits as Izuku Midoriya became a new occupant of this castle, that once lost its color. The whispers that hesitated to be a part of the discussion slowly distinguished themselves from the recognizable voices of the two rulers, who mentioned the topic was meant to be kept as subtle murmurs. Izuku and Katsuki didn’t even try to deny the growing rumors about their close proximity, often highlighted by genuine care when the other rushed into the room of his injured partner after a complex fight that almost took his life. 

Strangely the wedding proposal stopped after the well-known announcement of their merging kingdoms, despite the few extras who gave it a try with a huge chance of failure. The letters were either ignored with dust on their private desk or read with rolled eyes as a challenge to see which one said the biggest lies. There was something relaxing about their fond routine, almost like they’d lived together their entire lives with a new beginning that brightened their days and brought a smile to their face. Their nightmares disappeared the moment comforting arms wrapped around their shaking bodies in the middle of the night, leaving the scented shirt and blankie on the side to replace the souvenirs of their past with their new reality, full of captivating promises. 

Years passed by and the royal couple didn’t even try to hide their mating bite on their neck, often exposed to the most intrigued eyes and the subtle gossip about their secret romance. Izuku laughed at the naivety of some of the maids who blushed at this sign of intimacy the couple shared in their bed and Katsuki simply grinned, using the slightest occasion to hold his mate closer. The near-death experiences and misunderstanding almost tore them apart but the inseparable couple survived to the point of enjoying a future that never looked so accessible in the palm of their hands.

New people entered their lives, shadows that stayed by curiosity and became friends with the names that once cursed loyalty in their loved ones. Most of them were close friends Izuku already knew before or idiots who decided to be a part of this group that slowly got bigger over time. The shadows were suddenly surrounded by strangers who gained their trust, even if the couple’s favorite moments were the ones where they were alone in their bed, cuddling like there was no tomorrow. 

Their relationship developed into a distinct form of romance that reinforced their bond. The isolated cries were followed by the gentle kiss on their forehead and their pinky promises became lovely dances under the sheets. Katsuki and Izuku didn’t know they were able to fall harder for their lover and yet, they realized how easy it was to give their heart to the same soul who held them closer at night with whispers about how gorgeous they looked, even in the dirtiest clothes. 

All this amount of love gave some idea to the devoted alpha who didn’t hesitate before putting his knees on the ground with a gorgeous ring that had nothing to envy the paper one they’ve made in their youth. With the help of their friends, the blond organized an unforgettable surprise for his mate who couldn’t contain his tears at the ethereal scene before his eyes. Izuku knew his heart and soul would always belong to the same idiot who saved him at his lowest and hearing this sweet confession with the stunning emerald ring, similar to his eyes, was unbelievable. 

He didn’t even realize he whispered lightly “yes, I do” until he felt the strong body of his childhood friend against his.  The shaking hands couldn’t accept the precious ring that found his fragile fingers and he chuckled when the blond struggled to put it on before welcoming the affectionate kiss on his cheeks and shutting the blond down with a passionate kiss. In another world, the two men would’ve loved to see their family for this special moment but knew the final choice belonged to them: After all, their doors were always open for a second chance if it was possible….

Izuku and Katsuki got married in a small church with their group of friends on a summer day. 

The tradition wanted them to make a public celebration but the couple always preferred the intimacy of their small bubble with nothing but their unconditional care wrapping their excited souls. The priest was informed about their wishes to keep it hidden from the world and agreed to their unique request, unusual for people of such a social rank. The two men had been marked by many memorable days in their lives but this one was probably their favorite: They’ll never forget when the face of their lover stood in front of them with the gorgeous teary eyes and timeless vows, sealed with a kiss that became one beyond the thousands they’ve already shared before and after their tender union. 

Their honeymoon was highlighted by the late morning in their bed, the subtle laughs on the balcony, and the praise that took the form of a melody under the sheets. The married couple knew they were inseparable but the celebration of this union with a ring and a mark on their neck was all they ever wanted! They eventually made a public announcement with a traditional ceremony, seen as a way to unify their souls with the gods a second time with a surprise they hadn’t seen coming. 

In this huge crowd of guests with unknown faces resided three people, hidden in the corner, almost as if they had hidden their presence on purpose. It happened in a few seconds that caught the royal couple by surprise and brought tears to their eyes when they recognized the familiar faces of their parents, present for the event, except for Hisashi who refused to show up. Izuku and Katsuki asked with a glance if they hadn’t hallucinated this but the genuine surprise on their faces showed their sincerity. Unfortunately, their parents left before the end of the ceremony with a gift and a note, explaining how they supported this union and wishing them the best.

Mitsuki, Masaru and Inko didn’t show up after that, probably too shy to make a move despite their good intentions to be there for the most important day of their son’s life. The anger shared by the king and the new queen of Mustafu’s lands was forgotten as they continued their reign with the best of care for their subjects and their love life, kept as a treasure worth thousands of victories on the battlefield.

——-

Years later, 

Many things had changed since their marriage and their agreeable reign, which definitely brought some surprises to their expected plans.  

It all started when their merged lands made a political decision that caught the interest of the neighboring kingdom, ready to invest in this wise expansion that remains a source of debate to this day. They accepted the role of villains they had in some stories, Izuku and Katsuki weren’t perfect and never tried to hide this side of their humanity, honoring the deceased souls in the cemetery who paid for their wrongs and doing their best to protect their beloved subjects. 

Being the king was a title that took great importance, one that the blond underestimated when he felt overwhelmed by some duties and comforted in the protective arms of his husband. After all, Katsuki and Izuku were considered the new royal couple and the best targets for the most malicious threats! It was a risk they weren’t ready to take and they stayed protective of each other with pinky promises sealed after another near-death experience, switching between their titles of rulers and lovers at night. 

Much to their surprise, the adaptation to their new rulers was pretty smooth without any form of revolution, which was considered possible in the worst of cases. It seemed like their reputation preceded them the moment the charming Queen stood on this powerful throne, captivating the attention with his kindness and his strategy that proved how Izuku deserved to be here. His patience and understanding were the keys to catching the heart of his new subjects, such as Katsuki with his beauty and determination that promised a peaceful reign. 

The two men were more than happy to see how loved they were despite the mistakes that would eventually happen, it was a part of their humanity, and they couldn’t wear this perfect image all the time. Some nights were harder than others with traumatizing frames from their previous fights, ghosts of the innocents they failed to save, and nightmares that none could escape. The light fabric of the satin bed, being ruined by their tears, was the least of their problems when they rested their head against their lover’s chest, with a slow caress behind their shaking body and tender promises to their ears. 

They weren’t the same teenagers who once begged for a second chance, their indelible bond proved that nothing could tear them apart, even in the darkest circumstances. Many envied their mutual courage and devotion to go against death itself to save their missing half, when it was a gesture that had been easier than breathing since their first meeting, which started in this place that saw many facets of their relationship.  

The light breeze crossed the delicate curls that lost their way into the porcelain skin, transporting the whispers of a kingdom, already active on this bright summer day. Izuku and Katsuki had known many summers together but their favorite remained the last ones that changed the rest of their lives and proved how trusted fate could also be the source of unexpected miracles. The discrete footsteps stopped in this welcoming chamber when a discreet noise caught the omega’s attention and brought a tender smile to his face. The green-haired man tried not to be bothered by the heartwarming show that happened before his eyes, knowing how this ending was worth every obstacle they met in their unique tale, which became their favorite… 

The ray of sunshine brightened the messy curls and all his worries disappeared when his loving emerald eyes found the crimson ones, widening at the appeasing scent. The small sparkles in this adorable face melted the queen’s heart, wishing to frame this moment in a timeless painting to remember the beauty of this journey and how far they’ve come. In all honesty, the couple never thought they would use this room this early but the elegant crib with this wood that wrapped this subtle material became the center of their attention when a new owner filled the echoes of this room with newborn cries. 

“Looks like you’ve been awake for a while, how was your night, sweetheart ?” The green-haired man asked with a loving tone, moving closer to have a clear view of his excited pup, who immediately babbled when he recognised the familiar voice. 

Izuku’s face softened when he noticed the old blanket and the black shirt on the side of the crib, which caught the pup’s attention when his fragile fingers wrapped around the scented pieces. He never thought he would have to see his lover sacrifice the most important treasure of his life but Katsuki knew their son’s happiness was his main priority now, a kind gesture that convinced the understanding omega to do the same as a form of unconditional love for their precious legacy. 

The shade of blond that coloured the pup’s hair was similar to the golden one of his father, who seemed to have the strongest genes when their beloved Itsuki came to this world with the prettiest eyes the couple had ever seen. Izuku couldn’t complain about such things when his heart got stolen by the teary newborn in his arms and his freckles on the side of his porcelain skin, which showed up a few months after his birth. He still remembers the feeling of holding their newborn in his shaking arms, his teary vision didn’t make things easier but the kind words he whispered to their son stayed as intact as timeless vows written in blank pages of their lives.

Izuku and Katsuki always wanted to have a family on their own, a desire that got stronger as the years passed by between their reign and their lovely conversations in their chambers with interlaced fingers. Izuku appreciated the patience of his husband about this topic and his encouragement to continue his reign as the adored queen of their lands, agreeing to have a child on their own when fate decided it was the right time for these new priorities. 

However, the freckled man easily noticed the signs that something was off with his state when he started to be more sick and exhausted than usual. He would forever be grateful to have a supportive husband like his childhood friend, who easily woke up in the middle of the night or left an important meeting to check on his mate. Their first thoughts led to the possibility of a curse sent by their rivals to weaken the most important person in the king’s life, and the announcement of their confirmed pregnancy was seen as a shock. 

The conversation that followed this important revelation was highlighted by the questions that would find their answers in the following months and the delighted tears that fell down their cheeks. The idea of conceiving a child born of their true love felt like an unreachable dream, one that became their new reality when the protective alpha stood by his husband’s side during his moment of doubt, including the insecurity of not being a good parent. Katsuki comforted his mate with a slow caress on his back, stolen kisses on the green curls, and praise that brought a warm smile back to Izuku’s face when he realized his luck in being with someone as attentive as his childhood friend for the rest of his life. 

Together, they talked about future names to give to their legacy, the education they’ll teach them, and the unconditional love they could give to a small head that already occupied the center of their worlds. Their first child wasn’t born yet and was the source of the brightest smiles about the creation of new memories, more valuable than any victories that ensured the peace of their respective lands. Izuku and Katsuki had introduced many titles and names since this naive afternoon in the castle, but this one was their favorite, marked by a memorable moment when the queen watched the blond talk nonsense to their kicking pup. 

This role also represented a source of distress with the experiences of their past and the scars left by their own bloodline. It’s not like they didn’t have enough knowledge about how to be a perfect parent, they’ll definitely make mistakes and apologize about it but they’ll never be selfish enough to betray the savior of their lonely days. Izuku reassured his husband about the amazing father he’ll be, such as Katsuki who covered his mate with compliments about how he’ll be considerate as the most protective dam this world had ever seen. Their past used to define an important part of their history that forged the people they are now, but it didn’t mean they had to replicate the same behavior when the couple wished for a better life….

They eventually made a public announcement when some glances caught the change in the queen’s scent and the omega’s belly started to not fit their picky outfits. Everyone cheered for this representation of hope to the royal couple’s surprise, who carefully kept their eyes on their political agreements and their mates to ensure no one would ever use their family as targets of vicious plans. The months passed by and the small belly became a visible one, covered by delicate kisses and soft kicks that pleased the royal couple, happier than ever to see how their son was in a good state despite the sleepless night he gave to his poor dam!

Itsuki was born on a summer day, right before the rise of the sunlight that burns all the crops of the farmers.

 He wasn’t naive and prepared his body in the last week with his husband, who checked on him at the slightest occasion until their stubborn child decided to show up at the worst possible time! The last thing the omega remembered was the walk in the garden with his maids, who told him about the new remedy that had arrived in town and saved many people from premature death until the contractions became more repetitive with unbearable pain. The doctor was immediately called and ordered to rush straight to the castle as soon as possible while the sweaty queen stood in this satin bed, asking for a name that was already on its way. 

Katsuki Bakugou was a patient man and knew his priorities as a king, but he didn’t hesitate to stop the meeting with his extra guests the moment he learned the news. He didn’t even look back or say goodbye when the fast heartbeat of his chest, followed by his fear of not being fast enough to reach his suffering mate in time, occupied his mind. He considered himself lucky to be there instead of in the middle of a battlefield and opened the wooden door to see the green curls spread on the white pillow and relieved emerald eyes with his evident tears. 

His body moved on its own to rush the shorter man, who succeeded in making a light smile when his fingers held the calloused ones tighter after a soft kiss on his forehead. Izuku knew he couldn’t do this alone, not when this story started with these golden spikes and led to the exact moment when the imposing king was suddenly a teenager, afraid to mess things up. It was one of the rarest times he didn’t have control of the situation and the echoes of his past gave him indelible scars. He wanted to make things right as he held the shaking fingers and accompanied his husband with praise the entire time, trying to distract from the tears that threatened to fall down Izuku’s cheeks.

Izuku was scared for his life and his child’s. It wasn’t a secret he tried to hide and he expressed his worries between two breaths, looking at his supportive mate, who didn’t give up on him, even in the lowest moments, and did his best to honor the promise made on the altar. His body listened to his husband’s advice about his breathing exercises between the contractions, harder between each push.

 In all sincerity, the last push made him feel like he wouldn’t make it out of here alive, his entire body was sweating, his scent revealed his distress and his shaking fingers almost broke the calloused ones, that held him like his life was on the line. It was the first time Katsuki saw the strongest fire of his childhood friend so fragile, almost like he could break with a second of inattention, and decided to hold his sweaty hands closer with a kiss on his messy curls. He whispered a few words that only crossed the freckled man’s ears, bringing a light chuckle back to the silence of the room to ignore the overwhelming fear that invaded his chest.

The worst of scenarios crossed his mind and shattered his heart into millions of pieces, his hands were held in a strong palm with tears that unconsciously fell down his cheeks, released after the previous pain he’d endured. The teary emerald eyes looked at the lost crimson ones, showing how vulnerable the blond was when he let his mate understand how terrified he was of the potential outcome of this story that started with the best of tales. Their fingers held each other as tight as possible to transcribe their mutual apprehension, holding their breath in the next seconds that were the longest of their lives until they heard it…

It was the prettiest melodythey’d ever heard, taking the form of high cries in this silent room and the echoes of their fast heartbeats in their chest. The rest of the world suddenly blurred when the cautious hands held the tiny newborn that resided in the closest source of warmth, with the tiny fingers moving in the air and the first expressions that crossed their son’s face. Their previous worries disappeared when the slow fingers guided the crying newborn into the queen’s chest, making sure the omega was skin to skin with the cutest child he had ever seen. 

The ounce of blond hair and the shining crimson eyes that locked into his succeed to stole his heart on the spot, mesmerizing every frame of this first meeting with the most important person of his life. It was the same shade of red that once stole the omega’s heart with the cutest freckles on the chubby cheeks of his child, which somehow looked prettier than any of his assumptions. There was something breathtaking about the fragility of this newborn in his trembling arms and how delicate his life was, at this moment Izuku knew he would be ready to sacrifice his nights if this meant meeting his beloved son, already loved by the rest of the world. 

A simple hi was enough to catch the attention of the crying newborn, who stopped at the familiarity of this voice he’d already heard in the womb, which had never been this close to his fragile ears. Izuku’s face softened when he saw how their son recognized him and gave a kiss on the tiny forehead, whispering how much he loved him before feeling the warm fingers ruffling his curls. His teary eyes found the crimson ones, which didn’t hide the tears that fell down his cheeks after the previous interaction that reminded him of the strength of their love that led to the birth of their beloved Itsuki. 

That day the royal couple stayed in this chamber to keep an eye on their sleeping son on the omega’s chest with the most breathtaking scene within their reach. Their royal duties were pushed aside to celebrate the birth of their legacy, who got all the unconditional love from his parents, even when the cautious alpha made sure to let his husband and son get some rest after the previous hours of pain. 

——

A light smile crossed Izuku’s face when he listened to his son’s babbling, speaking a language that only he and his family seemed to know. 

He moved closer to gently take the amazed pup in his arms, sliding a cautious hand behind his head and holding him straight to his chest without keeping his eyes away from the prince, the one who stole their heart the moment their eyes met for the first time. Itsuki moved his head to the slide and found the endearing emerald ones, questioning the unreachable thoughts behind this glance that stayed blurry for his small eyes, already impatient to see the rest of the world by himself. 

“You have a lot to say, should we give a surprise visit to Daddy? You know, he’s working hard and he needs someone to cheer him up after the annoying old people who occupy his day,” Izuku said with an amused tone, stealing a quick kiss on the pup’s nose. The affectionate gesture brought a light chuckle from the small boy, who unconsciously sneaked into his dam’s chest with the prettiest view for a devoted heart like Izuku’s, able to read behind the lines of these sparkling and impatient glances. “Why are you the cutest? It’s unfair, everyone wants to steal you away from us since your birth…You know that Kacchan and I will always be there for you, right ?”

Izuku had a lot to learn as a parent, especially as a mother. Some days, he pictures Inko taking care of him the same way as a sudden wave of nostalgia crosses his chest, hoping she’s doing better somewhere else in this world. His concerns were quickly erased by the innocent touch of the tiny fingers on his skin, trying to meet the freckles on his chest under Itsuki’s intrigued babble, probably wondering if these were real or not. He brought his son closer to him and gave another kiss to his forehead, whispering how much he loved him, relieved to see how his title of parent was more important than his role as ruler. 

Itsuki needed the help of his parents to survive in this world and this statement was more significant than any praise from forgotten names that crossed their paths. Katsuki immediately became a protective father since his birth and Izuku never left the small prince from his arms, afraid to let fate take this beloved treasure away from their reach. There’s no doubt Itsuki was adored by his lands, full of heavy past and betrayal, but no one could love him as much as the two men, who adored him in every universe. 

“I take your words as a yes, sweetheart,” he said in a soft tone. Itsuki was too young to understand the meaning of his words and easily agreed to his idea when he showed his genuine excitement at the idea of seeing his father. Izuku couldn’t help but smile at the fond scene, grateful to know that his childhood friend was the one who gave him the most important blessing of their lives: their son. 

Together they had a small walk in the long corridor of this castle that used to be an endless maze before becoming his second home. The pup’s fingers met the fabric of the omega’s dress with the comfortable scent as his adorable voice filled the silence of the room and caught some smiles on the maids, who watched the scene from afar. Izuku talked about the big guy on the huge painting, the things they’ve done, and the colors of the flowers that always caught their son’s attention. None of them planned to see the cherry blossom accidentally fall on their son’s face and give such a brilliant glance to their son’s face: One day, the couple promised to tell him the story of this place and these flowers when he’ll be older, for the moment Itsuki needed to stay as cute as he was since his birth.

The freckled man also shared stories about the protective ghosts who helped him in his moments of weakness with a song that became familiar to the pup’s ears, often used as a lullaby. The different landscapes unfold before Itsuki’s amazed eyes, looking around with probably thousands of questions on his lips continuing the conversation he had stopped earlier. Izuku couldn’t help but nod and respond to him as if he understood what his son was saying, while the pup reacted to his answers until they reached the wooden door. 

The queen took a quick glance at the guards on the side, checking if this room was already occupied before hearing the voice of his husband and some people he haven’t met yet. He decided not to bother the blond and waited a few more minutes until the previous meeting was over, opening the huge door to reveal the voice of the king in his mumble, which immediately caught Itsuki’s attention. Izuku’s face softened as he held their pup closer to him and moved through the room, observing the exhausted figure of his mate on the throne that felt empty without his loved ones. One day the couple knew their son and future legacy would take the lead and couldn’t wait to see the amazing things as spectators of a story that wouldn’t be theirs anymore….

If the green-haired man wanted to be discreet, he miserably failed his mission when the impatient voice of their son betrayed their presence in the huge room and caught the blond’s attention. His furrowed eyebrow and annoyed glance turned into a softer and more vulnerable expression when the crimson eyes noticed the presence of his mate and Itsuki, apparently happier than ever to see him. The king with his royal duties faded away the moment he left his throne and walked closer to his family with a reassuring scent when his lips stole a quick kiss on Itsuki’s cheeks and his fingers gently cupped the omega’s face, like the old days. 

“I thought this little monster was asleep,” he pointed out with a tender tone, losing his thumbs behind his husband’s ears. Izuku’s face softened at the intimate touch and he leaned into it, holding their pup closer to their mixed scents, highlighted by the few centimeters between them. Over the years, Katsuki proved how he was meant to be a devoted husband and yet, it was nothing compared to his father role, full of genuine care and pride for every progress made by their son. 

“He was but he decided to wake up earlier with a lot of things to say so we had a small walk and wanted to make you a surprise,” Izuku said with a sweet tone. He couldn’t be prouder to have someone like Katsuki Bakugou as his lifetime partner and the father of his future children in this universe. Falling for this impressive soul was easier than breathing and the royal couple didn’t mind expending their love, only when Itsuki would be old enough to ask for a sibling… “He’s very happy to see you and he’s not the only one, Kacchan.”

“Did I say how gorgeous you look today ?” The king whispered with a loving tone that brought a warm smile to his husband’s face. It’s not like anyone had missed the elegance of this satin dress with the exposure of his freckles, seen as a reflection of the stunning one he had worn that fateful night. Katsuki didn’t mind complimenting his mate if this meant seeing the pretty blush on his cheeks and the caring glance that said it all about the impact of such praise…

“You’ve already covered me with these sweet words this morning but I don’t mind hearing them again,” Izuku murmured with a seductive tone. The resonance of the tender words whispered in these messy bedsheets and the early morning crossed his mind and brought a fond smile back to his face. How could he forget the delicacy of the sunrise highlighting their naked figures after their passionate night and their interlaced hands, with nothing but genuine love in each of their kisses. “You’re pretty good-looking too, be careful someone's gonna steal you away from me, darling.”

“As if I would have my eyes on someone other than you and the brat,” he added with a grin that brought a light chuckle to the omega’s lips. The crimson eyes looked at the smaller ones with his shining glance and his encouraging words that didn’t make any sense despite the pouty expression on Itsuki’s face. “Don’t be jealous, you’re still my favorite, especially when you've got your dam’d freckles. Many people would kill to see them you know-”

The alpha’s face turned into a warm smile when he heard the response from their pup, apparently determined to continue this conversation with his father, under the amused queen. Katsuki welcomed the small boy in his left arm and wrapped the right one around his husband’s waist, stealing a quick kiss in the sweet curls. In all honesty, his younger self would be afraid to show such a scene to the rest of the world, but his current self knew that his family’s happiness and safety were his main priorities! 

Izuku fought back with another kiss on his mate’s lips before holding his hands and walking back to their refined wooden throne with their beloved pup, who closed his eyes when he rested against his father’s chest. It seemed like Itsuki’s conversation was now replaced by a peaceful expression on his face, wrapped in the protective scents of his parents, who had eyes for each other in this moment of gratitude. The lines of the numerous scars on their bodies couldn’t compare to the sparkling emerald eyes, transcribing a mesmerizing painting that reflected the authenticity of their tale. They weren’t teenagers anymore but learned to grow out of their fear to be the best versions of themselves: Sure, they weren’t proud of the sacrifices made for the sake of their freedom with remorse that haunts some of their night but the couple of lovers will do it again if this means holding their son and cherishing this love as the biggest treasure at the palm of their hands.

Their fate took a pleasant turn when their path accidentally met on a random afternoon with the creation of a bond stronger than death that led to the birth of the result of their true love. Their shadows took distinctive names over the years but their favourite remained the one that led to their happy ending with these symbolic thrones, their relaxed son by their side, and the warm lips of the man who once stole the queen’s heart.

Itsuki Bakugou Midoriya was a sign of hope for many people and the biggest treasure the two men received from fate, something more valuable than desperate wishes made to the stars. The prophecy had been changed the moment the bloody inko turned into good again, with the beauty of a stolen youth and timeless vows, meant to last forever this time….

-end-