Uraraka's POV
The clock struck midnight, and the whole palace is asleep. Except for me. I asked a friend in the Royal Army trainees to meet me. She has a lot of experience with boys, and even trained me to be a knight, though it's not allowed for ladies of the court. Too bad, it's much better than being a future princess. There is one thing me and Momo san agree on though. It's that the rule of, "Ladies of the court shall let others protect her at all times," is ridiculous. Momo san also took these "training classes", along with other Royal Army trainee girls like my friend Tsu chan. Sometimes the boys even joined us, though most of them didn't know. That would tell on us and we could get into so much trouble. Who knew Momo san could be such a rebel?
"Hey, what's up?" I hear a voice ask. From inside my black cloak, I throw a punch. It may be a witches cloak, but all ladies have their edge, especially future princesses. This was mine. "Whoa, relax. It's just me, Ochako chan." says my friend Mina, catching my punch. "Oh Mina chan, you scared me." I say, putting down my hand. "Sorry Ochako, but it's really late. What did you want o talk about?" I blush, fidgeting with my cloak. "Ooooh, is it a guy?" Mina purrs. "No!" I say. I guess Mina didn't her about the betrothal. "I'm betrothed to Bakugo." I say quietly. "Ahah! So it is a guy!" "I don't want to marry Bakugo. I don't want to be a princess." I say revealing one of my deepest secrets.
Mina thinks for a second, finger on her lip. "As a Royal Army trainee I don't understand the stress of royalty, but I can help you." I nod. "Being betrothed is confusing, but I believe if you just hang around each other enough you could become better friends." Mina smiles. "And maybe even more~" "Stop it!" I whine, forgetting my current situation even for a second. "As for sleeping together?" I ask. "That... is a problem. No way I'm letting Bakugo take your first time." "Mina please..." I say. "Okay, okay. But seriously, I bet you and Bakugo. He'll protect you from..." Mina trails off. She's the only one I trusted with the secret of Father's abuse.
"Mina," I hug her, eyes tearing up. "Thank you, this was exactly what I needed." (The whole reason I wrote this.) "Well I do have experience with boys." Mina replies with a smirk, referring to her boyfriend, Kirishima. I roll my eyes. "If you need to talk, I'm here to listen." she says. That's exactly what Bakugo said in his letter. I think. Stop it, that's disgusting. I think. "See you at the Entrance Exam." The ladies of the court are forced to just watch. It's painful. "Yup!" Mina replies, happily walking away. With that I leave in good mood. It didn't last long. It never does.
I walk back up to my room quietly. As I change to go to bed, I hear a knock on my door. "Come in." I say, slipping into my nightgown. "Ochako, why are you not with your husband?" Father says softly at first. But I know better than anyone it's all an act. And that's when my good mood vanished. Oh no! "W...well, we're not married yet so I thought..." I start. He strikes me on the back of the head with his hand. Blood comes streaming down my face and pools onto the floor. "I don't care, you will sleep with him once you are married." He strikes me again. "Is that clear?" That's when Kowareta comes out to speak for me. I wouldn't be able to, or want to. But Kowareta and I both know that would only cause more torment. "Yes, Father." she says. "Good." Then he leaves.
He didn't even... want me to do it tonight. I think as I lose consciousness. Kowareta is bloody on the floor, while I'm crying in the corner. It's almost funny. At the same time I'm both. The broken girl, and the caged bird.
Bakugo's POV (meanwhile)
I walk down to the Royal Army trainee barracks. No one dares question me, I could kill them without even looking. I'm not kidding, I'm really good with a sword. Especially fatal blows. Like, say cutting of your head, or stabbing you in the heart. Just a few great, gory examples. As long as I avoid the old man, I'll be fine. The servants don't even make eye contact with me, and everyone else is asleep. But I won't run into him. He's sleeping like the drunk he is. He had five to many beers after the court meeting. He's always drinking with Lord Uraraka. It's really bad, and they even start to offer it to the children of the court. The addiction is probably why both of their wives left them. ...Well, Uraraka's mother left him. Mine just died.
The only other who would be more than an ant at my feet is... "Bakugo shounen." says a gruff voice. "What are you doing out at this hour?" Crap, not Aizawa! My teacher and leader of the Royal Army trainee's. He's so annoying, always correcting my stance, and pointing out my anger to the rest of the trainees. Even my only friend, Kirishima can't help but laugh at my "rages." Uraraka giggled too. Her laughter made me blush. "Late-night training." I grunt in response. "You should learn some respect for your teacher, I decide if you pass the Entrance Exam or not." I'll pass without your approval thank you very much. "Whatever." I say, walking away. Uraraka is more important right now. Wow, I never thought I'd say anything was more important then be a knight but whatever.
I don't knock, I walk right in. If he's not ready it's his fault, I told him when I'd be coming. "Bakugo, what's up?" says a hard-headed knight in-training. "I have something to ask you." I say plainly. C'mon Bakugo, it's not that big of a deal. says a voice in my head. Yes it is! I argue. Look who's talking to himself again. "Ask away." "So... you have a girlfriend, right?" I say scratching the back of my neck. Kirishima grins. He's been looking foward to teasing me like I do with him and Mina. "Who's the unlucky girl?" If I wasn't so embarrassed I would've punched him in the face. That's not what happened though. "N..no one..." I stutter. "Can I guess?" he asks. Kirishima knows it'll be worse for me if he guessed, so I'd better fess up now. "Just an arranged marriage... with Uraraka."
Kirishima frowns. "Poor thing..." he sighs. "Like hell!" I scream, smacking him on the head. I hit him until I get all my anger out. "You done raging?" I bang my head against the wall several times. "Yeah, sorry." I say. "Heh whatever. Now onto what to do about Uraraka. First, don't you like her?" he asks. "Maybe.." I say. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." he smirks. "Second, did you ask her about it?" I shake my head. "Not technically, but she old me she didn't want it." I don't mention the crying, or the passing out in my arms. Kirishima might wake up the rest of the barracks with his laughter. He nods. "And what do you want?" This wasn't a hard question, but I didn't want to answer it. "I want to learn to make her happy." I stare at my feet, waiting for the laughter. It never comes. "Oh Bakugo, that's deep." he grins, goofily. "But I think you should ask her what she really wants." I nod, heading to the door to leave. "Your welcome." Kirishima sighs. I growl. He really get's on my nerves. "Thanks." I say slamming the door shut.
What could I do for her? I think, making my way up to Uraraka's room. Just to see if she's okay... I pull out a slip of paper. I wrote a poem a while ago, an embarrassing hobby of mine since childhood. The other kids would always make fun of me, so I would do it in secret. I bet I could write a little something for Uraraka, something only she would understand... That's it! That's what I'll do. I knock on her door nervously. I hate the anxiety she gives me, but I don't hate her. I guess you could say... I like her? I'm not sure.
"Uraraka, it's me, Bakugo. You okay?" I get no answer. I hear no sign that she's asleep either. Should I... open the door? Technically, we're betrothed so I'm not breaking any rules. "I'm sorry about this." I mutter in advance. You never know what's going to be behind that door. I open the door. The room is dark and empty. "Uraraka?" I say, turning in the light. "B..bakugo..." she says. I see her lying on the floor, blood splattered across her face and arm. "What happened?!" I exclaim, rushing to her side. "It was Fa..." she starts, blood dripping down her mouth. Uraraka loses consciousness. "I gotta get her to the Infirmary." I mutter. I pick her up, and carry her all the way there. "I found her bloodied in her room." I say to Recovery Girl, the head nurse. "And why were you in her room, eh?" she says. "Is a prince not allowed to see his future bride?" I reply. "Not at this hour." she murmurs quietly, careful as if not to set me off. I could care less right now, since Uraraka is hurt. Anyway, it's the truth... Sort of.
When Uraraka wakes up, I'm the first to see her. I stayed up all night so I wouldn't miss it. "Tell me what happened, and don't try to lie. Trust me I'll know." Most people wouldn't pressure her right away, but I'm not one of those people. Uraraka sighs. "Even if I'm severely injured, and can't remember?" she pouts. I shake my head. "It... it was Father..." I clench my fists. "What do you mean by 'Father'?!" I say angrily. She starts to cry. "He... he hits me. He broke me. Part of me can't smile, or laugh..."
I get up. "Where are you going?" she sniffles. "Isn't it obvious? I just want to talk... Just talk." "I don't believe you." Uraraka says. "Fine. What I meant was, he will die at my feet!" "No!" says Uraraka. "Please, don't tell anyone, I beg you." Did you ask her about it? echoes Kirishima in my head. I love her, but she is strong enough to handle it if she believes in herself. I think. "If he ever does it again..." I say. "You tell me." Uraraka nods. "On my house and my prison, I swear to you." The most unbreakable oath in the kingdom. House meaning royal family, prison meaning responsibility. "On my house and my prison, I swear to you." I respond. Now it cannot be broken.
"Thank you!" she cries, hugging me to her chest. I blush, her chest up against mine. When she lets go I've collected myself. I give her a shy smile. "I'll see you at the Entrance Exam okay?" Uraraka returns the smile, something she hasn't done in a long time. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Neither would I. I think. As I walk away only one thought swirls through my mind. So this is what she mean by "...slap me if I don't."