I have no excuse for my absence, it's been so long but I had some rough writer's block and was super busy with school and etc. I have every intention to pick up my writing and I'm definitely going to finish this story! Thanks to everyone for being patient and here we go again!
This story has heavy when the day met the night vibes if anyone remembers that awful thing I wrote back in my early days. But the good thing is that no one reading this probably knows that so I can reuse my favorite tropes :)
"Two weeks from today, all of the noble families and their eligible daughters will meet for lunch with you and your father, in preparation for the birthday gala-"
"Do I have to do anything for that?" The prince asked, interrupting the advisor. She flinched and he frowned.
"W-Well, I suppose, um, you'll have to be there, Your Highness. Other than that, I, uh- I don't think so." The woman said, hugging her papers to her chest.
Shouto nodded, glancing at the floor, then his eyes slid to the spot where his cloak was hidden underneath his bed. "Is there anything else?" He crossed his arms over his chest, returning his attention back to her.
"No. Just a reminder that dinner tonight will be pushed later, His Majesty is in a meeting until seven-thirty." Shouto could stand that change to his schedule.
"Right. Thank you." She nodded and bowed deeply. The adviser moved to leave his bedroom, before she paused at the edge of his bed. When he looked up, she was looking at the vase on his nightstand. "Is there something else?"
The woman jumped, looking at him with startled, wide eyes. "Oh, no, Your Highness, forgive me. I was just admiring the flowers here. Where did you find them?"
Shouto glanced over at the vase. Inside were the two flowers Izuku had given him. They were only just starting to wilt, even though they had been sitting in the vase for quite a while now. He wondered if it was part of the magic keeping them alive.
"The gardens." He finally answered, distantly. The advisor looked nervous, but nodded.
"They're lovely."
"Thank you." He murmured after she left.
The prince steadied himself eventually, tearing his vision from the flowers and sitting beside his bed. He changed his shoes and pulled the cloak out, bundling it in his arms.
He stepped out on his balcony, sharp rails and a silent city beyond it. Shouto took a deep breath, his hair tossed in his face by the cool breeze. He tucked a red piece behind his ear.
After another moment, he gripped the railing, the metallic chill burning into his hands. The prince glanced over the edge. He saw the edge of a patrol; their dark, solid armor was stiff in the cold. Shouto glanced in the other direction and no one was there.
He used his little time wisely, not hesitating before he shifted his cloak to his left arm and climbed onto the railing. He used the wall to steady himself, and pressed his right hand to the wall. The runes glowed underneath his long sleeves and ice grew down the wall until it reached the ground. He climbed down, fingertips pink as he gripped the ice. Shouto landed with a grunt on the frosty grass. It cracked beneath his boots.
The good thing about winter was that he never had to melt his ice, as it blended in with the wall and the cold. The frosty air curled around him, welcoming him back into the world.
Shouto ducked behind the bushes as another patrol stepped forward. He unfolded his cloak, throwing it over his shoulders and tying it around his neck. He pulled up his hood as they walked past him. As soon as they turned the corner, he abandoned his cover.
The prince had already vanished into the crowd before the next patrol turned the corner.
The prince ignored his nerves as he walked down the street. He hadn't been back to the flower shop again since that other time. He had been ignoring his promise.
He wondered if the green-haired man had already forgotten about him, or simply didn't want to see him again anyway. He paused right outside the dark wood door, his fingernails digging into his palms. Finally, the prince swallowed his sigh and stepped forward.
The bell announced his arrival cheerily and the door closed behind him softly. "Be right with you!" Izuku's voice called from somewhere. It was warm and just as green as it had been the last time he visited. The frostbite creeping up his right hand dampened.
Shouto sighed softly, alone for the time being. He glanced back out the window, seeing no bystanders. The prince hesitated longer than he liked to admit, finally grabbing the edge of his hood and tugging it off.
"I didn't know if you were going to come back."
Shouto jumped, whirling around toward the sound of the other man. Izuku was watching him, clearly surprised, but Shouto couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing. His eyes summoned static under Shouto's skin.
The prince blushed and looked away.
"I was busy." Shouto lied. He had had plenty of opportunities to escape the castle, but each time he had hesitated.
Scared. He was always scared.
A beat of silence passed between them. The prince played with the edge of his cloak, glancing at floor. He heard the drifting conversations of people outside the shop, lost in their own lives. He felt himself sinking.
Finally, he spoke, "Is this a bad time?"
At the same time, Izuku said, "Do you want to go somewhere with me?"
Shouto blinked in surprise as Izuku's face turned pink. "Where?" He asked.
Izuku smiled a little awkwardly, shrugging. "I've got a few errands to run around town. It's nothing special, but if you wanted to come with me..."
"Sure." He answered against his better judgment.
Izuku instantly brightened and something inside him warmed. "Great! I'll be back in a minute, wait here!" He nearly tripped as he rushed into the back of the store, disappearing behind a corner.
The prince smiled softly at his retreating back. His hands unclenched the fabric of cloak, he glanced back to the plant covered store.
Magic hummed between the leaves, drifting through the air. It was a pleasant feeling, slipping through his fingers. Shouto wasn't sure if people without ruins could feel it the same way he could. It washed over him like a gentle tide, reminding him of a pale, faintly familiar woman and glowing hands.
He stepped closer to a overflowing pot, touching one of the vines with his hand. The prince summoned a small strand of frost. It curled up the leaf slowly, spindling. A piece of red hair fell in his eyes as he tilted his head, feeling his own magic twist in the air among Izuku's.
He wondered if the other man would notice.
There were creaking footfalls and Shouto pulled his hand away, turning to face Izuku as he returned. He was dressed in a heavier coat, emerald like his eyes, and surprisingly bright red snow boots. He wore a smile, strolling up to Shouto.
"Ready?" Shouto nodded. "Great, come on!" Izuku grabbed his hand and led him out of the apothecary. He paused at the door and locked it behind them, unaware of how Shouto practically glowed with his touch.
"My mother ran an apothecary in our hometown. She didn't have magic or anything, but she loved gardening, so I learned all of that from her. The runes help, but a lot of it is her advice." Izuku explained, sighing a cloudy breath.
Shouto stuck to his side, frost biting at the hand not intertwined with Izuku's. It was only so they didn't get separated, he knew. He was still glad the chill hid his burning face.
"So it's a family business?" He asked.
Izuku shrugged. "I guess. She closed it years ago, but I remember always sitting in there with her when I was little. I don't run one because of her though. Well, I guess that's not true, it's not all because of her."
The taller man paused, peeking in the fogged window of a store and waving at someone before he continued along the street with Shouto. The prince curiously glanced in the window, but he didn't recognize anyone.
"I like to help people. I've found that it's the best way for me to do that here." He answered finally, glancing at Shouto with a small smile.
"Is plant magic all you can do?"
"No."
"What else?" Shouto pestered.
It was rare someone could use different areas of magic, unless they had added runes over the years. The prince tugged the left sleeve on his shirt down further.
Izuku shrugged again. "It's a variety. I'm still learning, every day."
"Hm." Shouto had never heard of someone still learning how to use their own runes. Izuku was a walking mystery it seemed. He peeked at the other man and was caught. He gave the prince a little smile and Shouto immediately looked at the ground instead.
"Ah, this way." Izuku said suddenly, squeezing Shouto's hand and pulling him down a less travelled road. "There's a bakery, run by my friend, and I wanted to pick up some stuff."
Shouto looked up at the buildings, eyes flickering across windows and awnings. "Do you know here well?"
"Here? No. I've just met a few good tour guides." Izuku laughed.
"You do seem like you make friends easily." Shouto muttered to himself, but Izuku heard him anyway and laughed more.
"I like to help people." He said again, shrugging.
"Not an answer."
"You didn't ask a question."
Shouto rolled his eyes and Izuku chuckled. "I think you're too closed up." He retorted, tugging on Shouto's hood.
"I already told you why I like the hood." The prince answered.
"And I already said it was unnecessary." Izuku reminded. He paused in front of a small building. The walls were made of dark maroon bricks, crumbling after years of weather. In the glass windows there were baskets and tables of various baked goods. A cake sat on a pedestal directly in front of Shouto, catching his eye the most. "This is it."
Izuku led the way inside. As they stood in line, Shouto was overwhelmed by the sweet smells floating in the air. He heard the chatter of the women behind the counter and the other customers, but he was distracted by the picture perfect food in every direction. He was tugged along by Izuku, the taller man quiet as they waited.
"Izuku!" Someone cheered, jolting Shouto from where he was staring at a tray of pastries. He looked back at the front counter where they were suddenly the first and only people in line. The women, Izuku's friend he assumed, was just as bright as he was. It made sense why they were friends.
She was leaning over the counter, grinning in their direction. Her hair was chopped short and a warm brown, her eyes hazel colored. She was shorter, dressed in a long sleeve dress and a desert stained apron. "What're you doing here?" She asked, giving Shouto a short glance but otherwise ignoring him.
"I wanted more cinnamon bread." Izuku admitted, almost sheepishly. "It was really good I already ate the entire loaf. Oh, and I brought this for Tsuyu!" He dug in his messenger bag, pulling out a small vial of a green mush. He set it on the counter and peeked over the edge.
"I heard my name." A new woman croaked. Her voice was strange, Shouto noticed quickly. It didn't sound human at the very least.
Shouto glanced up as the newcomer walked through the door behind the counter. She had long dark hair, thick and pinned back. Her eyes were large and had a yellowish tint, while her dark pupils were rectangular. Her skin was a strange shade somewhere between brown and green, spotted with large, dark patterns.
She came up beside the brunette and gave Izuku a thin smile. Shouto couldn't help but stare. Definitely not human.
"Who's your friend, 'Zuku?" She asked, pressing a finger to her chin as her head turned and she met his stare. Shouto felt his blush deepen, glad for the hood hiding it.
"Oh, right, this is Shouto. Shouto, that's Ochako and Tsuyu. They own the bakery." He explained pointing at each of them in turn.
Ochako raised her eyebrows in suspicion and Shouto prayed she didn't recognize his name, or at least wouldn't say anything aloud. Tsuyu didn't give away any emotion, but nodded and hummed a greeting.
She picked up the vial Izuku brought her large hands. "Is this for me?"
"Yeah, I tried messing with the formula a bit. It might help your transformations be a little easier, and make your human half a little more..." Izuku trailed off, nervous.
"Discrete?" Tsuyu hummed, an amused smile on her face. "Thank you. How much?"
The florist waved his hands, brushing the question aside. "Nothing, it's my treat."
"You won't let us pay you for anything ever!" Ochako whined, propping up her head on the counter and looking back at Tsuyu. "He's too nice."
"At least let us help you in some way-" Tsuyu began.
Izuku cut her off. "I don't need or want anything in return! If I can help you in any way, that's the only payment I need."
Shouto watched them exchange a few more times before Ochako disappeared into the back and returned with brown bag filled with baked goods, shoving it into Izuku's arms and refused payment in the same way he did.
"Tell me if it helps any Tsu, I'll make sure to make your next batch like that, too!" The shorter woman nodded, smiling as they filed out of the bakery.
Ochako wished them goodbye as well, her earlier suspicion seemed to have faded. Shouto was confused what he had done to change her mind, but he didn't mention it as they embarked out into the cold once more.
"They seemed nice." The prince said finally, a good street out of earshot.
"They are." Izuku grinned. "Ochako was my first customer when I moved in. She wanted flowers for the displays, and now she orders new ones once a week."
Shouto nodded, watching two boys run past them while he debated what to say next. Izuku beat him to the punch. "You want to ask about Tsuyu."
"You don't have to tell me."
"I trust you. If you wouldn't tell about my ruins, then you wouldn't tell about her." Izuku answered. "Here, come on, there's a park just down this street."
In silence, the taller man led him. Shouto was still reeling from his first sentence. He trusted him? What had Shouto ever done to deserve this sunny man's trust?
The prince sighed a frosty breath, following Izuku to a secluded bench. A bare tree stood behind it, stiff branches stretching into the sky. Izuku set aside his bag and sat next to Shouto.
"She's a shifter. Frog to be specific. She and Ochako are both from Uravity, but they moved here when the purges began." Shouto raised his eyebrows, then realized Izuku couldn't see his face still.
"What purges?" Shouto asked, although he could assume the details.
Izuku made a sour face. "Of non-humans. Shifters, halflings, anyone who wasn't one hundred percent human." The man paused, glanced down at his hands. "Even people with runes were killed sometimes. Though Tsuyu is half and half, she didn't count because, as you saw, she still has frog characteristics in human form. She would've been killed if they stayed."
"And Ochako?"
"Oh, she's human, she would have been fine."
"Then why did she leave?"
Izuku glanced at him before he answered. "She and Tsuyu are together. She loved her enough to leave, I suppose. I know Ochako's family still lives in Uravity, run a bakery there too, they still talk sometimes, but for the most part they left everything behind."
"I see." Shouto murmured.
A group of children ran past them, toward the bustling streets. They screamed at each other, throwing something back and forth. Shouto watched them distantly, allowing himself to fall silent.
The prince wouldn't say he loved very many people. He cared about his sister and brothers, but love was a strong word. They all had such isolated childhoods. He didn't know the details of their lives, what they liked and didn't. When he really thought about it, he didn't know if that was really love or not.
Once upon a time he must have loved his mother, when she was still around. He still cared about her, but love didn't do much for her now. It hadn't stopped her death.
To love someone enough to leave his entire life behind...
Shouto wondered if he would ever love anyone to do that. He glanced at Izuku.
"What?" Izuku hummed, noticing him.
"Nothing..." He said, deflecting. "It's just strange that so many people come here. I thought everyone hated Endeavor." Shouto finally said. He knew he certainly hated it.
The florist reached over and tugged down Shouto's hood.
A gust of cold air hit his face and he gave him an indecent squeak. "Why did you do that?!" The prince hissed, reaching for his hood and glancing around nervously for watchful eyes.
"No one else is here." Izuku shrugged. "You don't need it."
Shouto found no eyes, the children had ran off and they were left alone. He could vaguely hear the sound of strangers' conversations, but that wasn't anywhere near them. Defeated, he dropped his hands and gave Izuku an irritated frown.
It didn't faze the other man, he smiled and kept talking. "As for Endeavor, I knew it was...strict. The king is kind of an asshole from what I hear." Shouto snorted. "But it was better than what I-" Izuku hesitated. "It was better than where I was coming from."
"Where is that, exactly?" Shouto pressed.
Izuku gave him another smile. "You wouldn't know it."
"I am quite familiar with surrounding areas, actually." The prince answered with a small, smug smile. Teasing. This was teasing, light-hearted and simple, without the severity and anger he was used to. Shouto was surprised he even knew how to do it.
Izuku shook his head. "It doesn't matter." When Shouto looked unconvinced still, he added. "Really, Shou. It doesn't matter anymore." There was almost a melancholy tone to his voice that made the prince pause. Along with that dreadful nickname that actually made him smile.
"If you say so then." He shrugged finally, defeated. "Did you have any other errands to run?"
"Yeah, a few. Ready to keep going?"
"Always." Shouto slipped his hood back on, not missing Izuku's little frown. The florist tugged him to his feet and they continued on the snow covered, cobblestone path.
For the good portion of the afternoon, Izuku led him though crowds of people and small stores. There was a market place where they paused at nearly every stand and barely bought a thing, to the sellers' dismay. Izuku pointed out each thing Shouto didn't recognize, leaning against his side and answering each question.
There were so many aspects of his own kingdom he didn't even know. While the prince tried his best to spend time with common people he knew his father didn't care about, following Izuku made him realize how much he still missed. All these people had their own lives, pasts that came from miles away, or just down the street. It made him feel small.
Izuku waved at friends and strangers, pausing a few times to say a quick word. The prince lingered loyally at his side throughout the day.
Watching him, Shouto felt like he was the traveler and Izuku was the prince. He seemed like knew this kingdom like the back of his hand. He knew each shop owner, the boy delivering papers and the other one delivering milk from the nearest farm. No one would have guessed Izuku hadn't lived here his entire life.
Although, Shouto easily saw that was just how he was. He liked to make friends, talk to everyone simply because he wanted to know more about them. He truly wanted to help everyone. It was refreshing.
Eventually, they walked the path back to the apothecary. "Thanks for coming with me, I know you probably could have spent your day doing a lot of other, more exciting things than just my weekly errands." Izuku gave him a warm smile that went straight to Shouto's heart.
"I wouldn't have picked anything else." He found himself saying. The truth, he realized. Izuku gave him a little huff of laughter like he didn't believe him.
They stopping in front of the plant covered window. The sign creaked above their heads with the winter breeze. "Do you live far from here? I can walk you home if you let me put my stuff do-"
"No, thanks. It's not far, I'll be fine." Shouto answered quickly. He didn't have a good plan if Izuku insisted anyway.
The florist raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"
The prince nodded. "Yes."
"Right, well then..."
"I'll see you again, soon?" Shouto asked. He glanced up at the other man.
"I'd like that." Izuku smiled, pink dusting his freckles.
Shouto swallowed and nodded slowly in agreement, inspecting the gold specks in his bright eyes. He urged to reach up and touch him somehow, but his hand remained clinched at his side. Izuku seemed torn about something similar.
The streetlight suddenly switched on, casting an artificial, golden glow on them. The two men jumped, Shouto stumbled back a few steps. "Right, well, goodbye then." He said quickly. He glanced at the street, frustrated with himself. He turned to leave when a hand gently grabbed and squeezed his.
Shouto stifled the frost on his skin. "See you soon." Izuku grinned, his pink a blooming red now.
The prince nodded, tugging his hand out of his and finally leaving. He released a cloudy breath as he walked. Shouto realized he was smiling.
He fought to keep it from his face until he fell into bed that night.
I'm thinking about writing a villain au and a christmas one-shot, along with continuing my current series, but I'm gonna try and make this story my main priority! I have high hopes, so please if you enjoyed follow, favorite, and comment! Hopefully the next update won't be six months from now. Thanks for reading!