Todoroki was in a bad mood.

He's been in a bad mood ever since he'd woken up alone for the first time in several weeks. The large bed seemed to swallow his lone frame. The scratchy sheets were too cold without his bedmate. The pillows freshly washed and lacking his comforting scent.

Oh, dear. Love really was as disgusting as his father claimed.

Yaoyorozu was no help. She grinned and teased him all throughout their morning briefing. She was in particularly high spirits lately. Which, of course, had nothing to do with Uraraka's arrival today, and Jiro along with her. Simply a coincidence.

His mood got much worse at breakfast.

As it turned out, family dining was another key tradition in Yuuei. And as foreign guests in the country, it was only proper they observe such a tradition while visiting. Which came together to mean he was forced to dine across from his father. What made it worse was that it was obviously his father's own doing. He was sure Deku would have warned him of this if it was really that important families dine together. Which meant his father was willing to take advantage of their surroundings to force him into a situation he knew his son would hate.

He watched Todoroki eat, a smug smile on his face as he made no attempt at conversation and took every opportunity to stretch the meal out and force Todoroki to stay in his presence. Todoroki left them sitting in haughty silence. Refusing to break eye contact but also refusing to partake in any more interaction with his father than strictly necessary. He was being petty, he knew, but so was his father for forcing him into this!

Ugh, it was too early in the morning for his blood to be boiling over a simple meal like this. Well, at least Deku hadn't been lying about the food. It truly was divine, even by his royal pallet.

When he finally did manage to escape from him, his mood did not improve. He managed to make it all the way to the west entrance of Yuuei's palace when an egg landed squarely on his head.

He stopped coldly, gazing up at the balcony above him. He saw nothing, the assailant hidden by the angle and shadows. But he heard well enough the prattle of little feet and soft, barely contained giggles.

A child? Well, that made an annoying amount of sense. After all, no amount of diplomacy or arranged marriages would wash away centuries of hostilities between Yuuei and Endeavor. And the marriage was only known to a handful of people. He was an enemy within these walls. And, more importantly, he couldn't very well go picking fights with Yuuein children.

But now there was egg in his hair and dripping onto his face and shoulders with every minute. He had to find a place to wash and possibly change clothes. But where? He couldn't return to his lodgings. His father would call for the child's head. But he couldn't be seen like this by Yuueins either. It would be a disgrace!

No sooner than he'd thought it, than did a Yuuein woman appear around the corner.

"Kota!" She yelled at the top of her lungs "Where'd you get off to? You little brat!" Her red eyes fell squarely on Todoroki and she fell silent. Oh, Todoroki was so screwed.

"You're that… That half-and-half boy." She said, her voice lacking the ferocity of a moment ago and instead sounding taken aback by his presence. Her eyes racked over him a moment, taking in his face, his body, his hair most of all. He wondered if it looked as gross as it felt.

Then her mouth snapped into a hard frown "You look absolutely ridiculous!" She informed him, shrugging off her purple cardigan and throwing it over his head before he could react "Meet me in the stables. I'll clear a path." She whispered as she passed "Kota! When I get my hands on you, you are a dead little boy! Do you understand!?"

Todoroki didn't know who this woman was, and knew this could be a trap, but he didn't see any better option at the moment. He tied her cardigan around his head, trying to disguise as much as his face as possible, and followed her from a safe distance. True to her word, the woman did clear a path for him. Shouting at whatever servants were unfortunate enough to cross her path. It seemed this woman had quite the reputation. Those that didn't disperse from her simply shook their heads in pity for poor Kota and whatever he'd done to envoke her wrath. Nobody even noticed the most eye-catching prince in the five kingdoms hiding under her cardigan. Perhaps being ignored had it's perks as well.

The early riders were already gone for the morning. So the stables were blissfully empty save for a few stable hands who were easily scared away by the sight of the red-eyed woman on the war path. She presented him with a bucket of drinking water.

"Clean yourself." She ordered

"T-that's for horses." Todoroki's protests sounded weak, even to himself

"You Endeavorans are more pampered than I thought if you think you're in a position to be picky!" She roared at him "If you've got a better idea I'm all ears! But know there's no way in hell I'm letting you see Deku looking like that!"

"…Deku?" Todoroki said, caught off guard but not allowing it to show

The woman snorted "Don't be coy! I know he came in with your party yesterday. You're here looking for him, right?"

"Ah, well, yes. But…" Todoroki stammered as he caved and began washing his hair in the horse water. (There was probably horse backwash in it, too) "I thought he went by Izuku in Yuuei."

"For the most part, yes. But I'm a family friend you see. My brat was the one who gave him that nickname. Over the years it's just become habit." She regarded him closely for a moment, her red eyes boring into him with an uncomfortable intensity. Todoroki focused on toweling dry his hair.

"He must really like you if you're calling him that."

Todoroki stilled. Then he straightened himself up to his full height, fixing his icey, two toned eyes with her intense red.

"Who are you, exactly?"

"Bakugo Mitsuki, at the service of His Royal Highness." She replied, not exactly saying she was at Deku's service rather than his, but it was obvious enough. This kindness she did him was not for his benefit, but Deku's.

"I was very lucky to happen upon you, wasn't I?"

She snorted again "Extremely. This palace is crawling with people who love Deku. The servants love him becuase he is humble and quick to lend a hand. The nobility love him becuase he's intelligent and well-spoken. Even the common people in the city love him becuase he stands against injustice and mistreatment of others. We want to see him happy. And you, Prince of Endeavor, represent a threat to that."

"A threat?"

"He's in love with you." She says simply "Or, at least, that's what the rumors say. And that makes you a massive target in the eyes of our people. If your lineage and status wasn't enough to earn you a loogie in your food, hurting him would be a one-way ticket to starvation. We are very protective of our Prince, as it turns out. Unfortunately, he has a reputation for… shall we say… letting his affection for others… blind him to their faults? So don't think his love alone will be enough to save you." She walked off, waving for him to follow "Come on, you're presentable for now. If I know Inko, she hasn't let him out the front door yet."

"You love him as well?"

"As if he were my own son."

"Then why help me?"

She gave a small shrug and another carefully sizing state with those intimidating red eyes "Because my son was the one who hurt him last time. For better or worse, I'm inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Riot and Yuuei had been allies for generations. But, even so, with a considerable stretch of Endeavoran territory between them, visits between the two countries were rare. The last one had been about six years ago now, when All Might made the trek across Riot's impregnable deserts. Before that, Kirishima had accompanied his father to visit Yuuei when he had been barely nine.

He remembers how it felt back then, looking up at All Might Castle. It was like something out of a fairy tale. He'd spent days exploring every nook and cranny and getting very lost in their hedge maze. He is happy to see it has not changed.

They were indeed arriving three days later than planned. But there was still time to spare before the coronation, so no real damage done. Bakugo had spent the rest of their trip nagging and ranting about the importance of punctuality and various other ways they were sure to insult his homeland. The Riotans grumbled and complained about it, but Kirishima had no doubt they would've been even later without him.

Whatever the case, it was clear the castle staff had not been expecting them. The stables were sorely understaffed and it took some time before their horses could be properly stored. It didn't help that the few stableboys on duty seemed more interested in Bakugo than in anything else. Not that they actually talked to him. Just stared and whispered amongst themselves until Bakugo got sick of it and barked at them to go find All Might already!

"Looks like we got here early for nothing." A Riotan nobleman commented to no one in particular

"You're not early!" Bakugo snapped at him, brows drawn in anger

"Hey! Easy!" Kirishima intervened, placing a hand on Bakugo's shoulder "We're here. We haven't missed the coronation. The rest dosen't really matter, does it?"

Bakugo stood down, he and the nobleman still glaring daggers at each other. Though, the tension in the air didn't really break until All Might appeared, just as tall and majestic as Kirishima remembered him to be.

"I am here!" He declared "I apologize for not being here to greet you immediately! But I'm afraid-"

The Riotans practically swarmed around him, drowning out whatever he was going to say with well wishes and greetings. Soon enough the massive man was nearly swallowed by the crowd of eager visitors.

Kirishima, who was expecting something like this, was the only one to notice Bakugo trying to sneak away under all the chaos.

"Aw, Katsuki, you're not leaving already are you?" He asked, as he grabbed his shoulder, keeping him from escaping further "I was hoping you'd give me a tour."

"That's not my fucking job." Bakugo replied without looking back at him

"Well, sure, but I'd bet good money no one knows this place better than you do." Kirishima said, grinning

One… Two… Three… Four…

"Young Bakugo?" All Might's voice cut through the clutter of other voices

Damnit! He was about to cave! Wait, was that All Might? Oh, Shit! All Might's coming this way!

Bakugo still didn't turn around the face them. His hands were buried deep in his Riotan riding pants, his face was pointed downwards at his boots, and his shoulders were high with tension. He looked like a little kid about to get a scolding. It sent a shiver down Kirishima's spine it so unlike him. All Might, however, didn't seem to notice anything unusual about his former ward as he crossed around him so they were facing. Bakugo still looked down rather than up at those intimidating blue eyes. Intimidating. That was never a word Kirishima would've used to describe All Might before. But there weren't many things that could make Bakugo Katsuki bow his head like this. It kinda put the jolly old man in a new light.

He watched, a bit nervous, as the huge man reached out, patted Bakugo on the shoulder, and simply said "It is good to see you again, my boy."

Bakugo did not relax. "Yeah. Whatever. Likewise, I guess." He mumbled without looking up

All Might's eyes flickered over to Kirishima, then back to Bakugo "I see you're busy at the moment. But, do me a favor and pay me a visit later tonight. I'd love to hear all about your travels."

"Sure. Fine. Whatever." Bakugo grit out.

With one last pat to his shoulder, All Might took his leave. A sizable gaggle of Riotans at his heels, until only Kirishima, Bakugo, and Ashido remained.

"Bakugo…" Kirishima tried gently. He reached out to touch him, but hesitated, thinking better of it

After a moment, Bakugo shook his head, finally relaxing "I thought… Well, never mind what I thought."

"He seemed happy to see you." Ashido pointed out

Bakugo laughed hollowly "Why? Because he smiled? He always smiles, it acts as a mask like that. Oh no, I'm definitely in trouble."

"Why would you-" Bakugo silenced him with a look

"You're an idiot, Shitty Hair." He told him. But then he grabbed his hand and pulled his towards the castle door "Come on, I'll give you that stupid tour."

Ashido made to follow them, but Kirishima sent her a nod towards the stable boys. She got his meaning, and sent him a thumbs up in response.

Bakugo, regrettably, let go of his hand as soon as they were inside.

There was a golden sun on the Midoriya's door. Todoroki figured it made sense, as the crest of Yuuei, suns were engraved all over the place on the castle. But he still had to suppress a smile seeing it fittingly on Deku's front door. Mitsuki, bearing a plate of lemon squares she'd made a detour to collect, was careful to avoid touching the sun when she knocked.

Deku awnsered almost immediately, Todoroki managing to catch a quick glance at the cluttered scene of his childhood home behind him, his face lighting up when he saw them "Aunt Mitsuki!" He cried

Mitsuki shoved the lemon bars into Todoroki's unsuspecting arms and pulled him into an embrace. She kissed his forehead, a sign of familial love in Yuuei, and Todoroki again found himself adverting his eyes to such a sweet scene.

"I was going to come and find you." He said as they parted, casually reaching for a lemon bar. But before he could grab one, Mitsuki snatched the tray back from Todoroki and held it high above her head, out of reach.

"Ah!" She cried "These are for good sons who help their mother pack! You think I didn't notice? That place is a pig-stye!"

Deku, who was tall enough to take a bar from her even with her holding them above her head, absolutely deflated "I tried. You know what she's like. Every book and plate and sock has so many memories behind it and she can't bear to put any of it away."

Whack! Deku clutched the back of his head where Mitsuki had struck him. Todoroki felt his side burn and his right side freeze. Barely restraining himself from freezing the woman over.

They're looking for an excuse

She hit him

He called her aunt. You need her on your side

She hit him!

"Idiot!" Mitsuki roared "You've been gone over a year with hardly a word! Now you're back and suddenly the most powerful man in the country! Do you have any idea how much she worries? Of course she's feeling sentimental!"

Deku kept his eyes on the floor, his cheeks turning pink "I… I guess you would know."

Mitsuki snorted "As if it could be anyone else."

Deku straightened, and Todoroki noted with horror the blank expression and dead look in his eyes "Is there… a-any word from Kacchan?"

Mitsuki looked at his carefully for a moment, frowning, sizing him up the same way she had done to Todoroki a moment ago. Then she sighed "I got a letter from him some four months ago but nothing since. He's such a shitty son."

"He'll be furious." Deku said in a hollow voice, eyes unseeing

"You were the only real candidate since Katsuki left on his temper-tantrum. He must have known this was coming." Mitsuki countered. That was when something clicked for Todoroki. Small bits of information, some he'd known for a while, and some he'd just learned today came together to form an impossible but undeniable picture. He felt his blood, boiling just a moment ago, run cold.

When Deku didn't seem comforted by her words, Mitsuki simply pushed past him into the apartment. Todoroki was alone with Deku for the first time all day, and he couldn't even enjoy it. Deku looked at him, properly acknowledging him for the first time since he'd opened the door, but his eyes still lacked the brilliant light he'd seen in them yesterday. It'd been snuffed out by the mere mention of that man. The same one he'd told him about many months ago with such a soft smile it'd made Todoroki's frozen heart thaw and ache.

"Your childhood friend..." He said, his throat unexpectedly dry "Is Bakugo Katsuki?"

"If there's something you'd like to say to me I'd rather you just get off your chest than keep making that face at me all day." Todoroki coldly informed his manservant, making the timid man jump

"Ah! Um… it's about your night terrors." Oh, here we go "There's this Yuuein tea that-"

"If it was that easy to get rid of them, don't you think I'd have found it by now?" Todoroki snapped at him, making the man shrink in on himself in response

"Yes. You're right. Sorry for brining it up." He said, hanging his head as he busied himself with making Todoroki's bed.

"I understand you think you're being kind." Todoroki said after a moment "But I've lived with these terrors for years now. They are just another part of my life that I must bear. Do me a favor and spare me your pity in the future."

"Pity?" The word came immediately, clearly spoken without thinking, and with such a tone of anger it made Todoroki look up from his papers to his manservant. The manservant who wore an expression of absolute cold rage. They held gazes for a moment before Deku shook his head and broke their stare, busying himself with the bedding once more.

"What is it with you people?" He wondered aloud, tucking his sheets rather aggressively "Why does everything have to be some insult to you? Some conspiracy to make you look weak? Some…" he trailed off, his frustration swirling about him like smog

"…You people?" Todoroki ventured cautiously, his curiosity piqued. Yesterday, he wouldn't have thought Deku capable of such a look.

Deku froze in his tucking, like a child caught in a lie. "Forgive me, Your Highness." He said with a voice far more controlled than before. He looked down to his fiddling hands rather than at the intimidating Prince before him "I'm afraid I let my emotions get the better of me for a moment. It's just… you reminded me of someone I used to know."

"Well, now I'm intrigued." Todoroki admitted, setting his papers down "Who was this person that you hated so?"

The color drained sharply from Deku's pretty face "Hate him?" He echoed, as if not believing what his ears told him "I thought the world of Kacchan!"

"You looked like you wanted to strangle me." Todoroki countered cooly "Anyone who brings up that much emotion-"

"I could never do anything right." Deku cut him off "Somehow, someway, I did something wrong and would insult him. And when Kacchan felt insulted he got angry. And when he got angry…" he looked away from him and blinked furiously for a moment. Oh.

"This was another Lord you served?" Todoroki asked, mostly just to cut the silence in the room "You refer to him very informally."

Deku shook his head "We grew up in the same village. We were friends."

"…That dosen't sound like a very nice friendship." Todoroki said

Deku laughed hollowly. His fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Forgive me, but I'd rather not talk about him anymore. The whole matter is… a bit much for me."

"… Alright." Todorki agreed

But they did speak of him again. Little by little, sometimes months apart, but slowly Deku told him all about his old friend. He recounted fond childhood memories of the two of them skipping rocks and daring each other to eat off things as he lounged comfortably on Todoroki's couch. He prattled on about how physically impressive Kacchan was as Todoroki did his best to ignore the words coming out of his mouth in favor of staring at the shapely, soft lips themselves. He went into detail about Kacchan's humiliating cruelty as Todoroki held him close in bed.

"You know the worst part?" He whispered against his chest one night "I miss him."

Todoroki paced frantically around Deku's childhood bedroom. Deku sat on his bed, sorting through old books and trinkets and sorting them away into boxes. Watching him with annoyed eyes.

It made sense, he supposed, that Deku would have friends in high places. He'd managed to steal the hearts of Uraraka Ochako and Iida Tenya in a matter of hours and he'd had a lifetime with the Yuueins. But. . . But. . . Bakugo Katsuki? The ferocious young general who'd clawed his way to the top of the Riotan military in only two years? Who was so unhinged and easily offended he was known for shouting death treats at state dinners and attacking whomever he felt like? One of the most famously unpleasant men in the five kingdoms?

That had grown up alongside Deku? His Deku?

And yet... he was also the Kacchan Deku had told him of. The bully that'd made him eat dirt and stuck his head in the toilets and spat on him to wake him? Yet who Deku still inexplicably thought so highly of it'd made Todoroki jealous even before he knew the reason? He could understand well how the people of Yuuei would be weary of him. He understood well.

"You're making too big a deal out of this." Deku chided

"You're making too light of this!" He countered

"Oh, heavens above, not you too!" Deku exasperated, flopping backwards into the pillows and throwing his arm over his eyes dramatically "I thought you of all people would trust me to handle this on my own."

Todoroki opened his mouth to respond, but found the words clogged his throat. He did trust Deku, of course. But- No. No buts.

But

"Deku, I saw that look in your eye when he came up. You're frightened of him, aren't you?"

Deku didn't say anything.

"Are you worried about offending Kirishima?" Todoroki suggested

"Not particularly. Though I'd rather avoid it, obviously."

"Then what is going on here?"

Deku sighed, exasperated "I don't think you'd understand. I can't imagine you got many wedgies growing up, prince."

"Deku." Todoroki sat down next to him, and pried the arm away from his face so he could look him in the eyes "Please." Deku sighed again but sat up to begin the tale.

"Kacchan and I grew up in the same village. Our mother's were close so we spent almost all our time together. He was… awesome." There it was again, that soft smile that had haunted Todoroki so "A child prodigy at everything he tried his hand at. Combat, horseback riding, archery, he helped teach me how to read! I admired him… and he knew that."

"And yes, he did awful things to me. I'll not deny that. He hit me, hurt me, made cry at times. But, even so, I couldn't help it. He always seemed to shine with confidence and ambition and talent. Being around him… it felt like… well, like being in front of All Might!"

"I always thought… I thought he'd be the one to wear the crown." Deku said, his voice so soft and bitter it made Todoroki's breath catch "We both did."

"He's always been a sore loser. And a sore winner, come to think of it. Being overlooked… for me of all people… he'll definitely make a scene. Try to humiliate me. Make me a fool. And I can't say he won't succeed."

Deku's hands were shaking in his lap, he curled them into fists but it didn't stop it. He looked into Todoroki's eyes with a fierce determination, the likes of which he usually only saw when they were discussing his father "Listen to me, Shoto. Whatever happens at my coronation, whatever he tries, let it happen."

"But-"

"If you want to protect me, protect me from your father. Protect me from Mineta. Protect me from boring conversations about trade agreements and treaties. But let him come. He will be my first true test as a royal. As a future All Might. I must face him."

You're protecting him. Todoroki thought Even now. Why?

"Did…" he tried to ask the question he'd wondered for months, ever since Deku had first mentioned his old friend with such fondness. It had scared him too much then, and he found it still scared him. Still, he persisted "Did you love him?"

Deku smiled at him. A bemused, playful smile that suited him like a second skin "He was a brother to me. Of course I love him."

"Well?" Kirishima asked once Bakugo had left for his meeting with All Might and they were safely inside his new bedchamber

"It's just like we thought." Ashido told him "He was in the running to become All Might's successor. But he was never very popular with either the nobility or the common people and he decided to leave after it was obvious he wasn't going to get it."

Kirishima groaned and buried his face in his hands. Well, that was absolutely no help.

"…There's more." Ashido added, hesitantly

"Of course there is." Kirishima sighed

"The next All Might is supposed to be kept a secret until the coronation. But everyone agrees who the most likely choice is. A man from All Might's home village named Midoriya Izuku. And it seems Bakugo was prone to bullying him in their youth. Everyone has different accounts of mean things they saw him do to him. But… it's not likely he'd be inclined to support your union."

No support from Yuuei. No support from Riot. No cooperation from Bakugo. Great. At this rate he'd be a bachelor for life.

Ashido placed a hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry, Ei."