Chapter VIII: Separation

Izuku sat on the edge of the large window of Bakugo's bedroom. The sun was barely beginning to rise over the large mountains, casting a warm glow into the room. Bakugo lay sleeping in his bed behind Izuku. Izuku hadn't been able to sleep much the night before.

The last two weeks went by faster than he thought that they would. He had become accustomed to the daily routines of the village. It already felt like he had lived here for years. He also was beginning to greatly enjoy staying with Bakugo.

He looked over at the sleeping king. His heart quickened as he watched him sleep and his hand slowly rose to his chest. He often imagined what it would be like to wake up in Bakugo's bed, and all the circumstances that could lead to that occurring.

'That's ridiculous though.' He thought, 'He's the king, and I'm just a wizard, an apprentice at that! Plus… he probably has a dozen concubines who know him, what he likes and what he doesn't.' He brought his knee to his chest and rested his chin on it, 'I would have no chance competing with that'

As he watched the sun rise, his mind began to wander. A few nights ago, he had a dream that Bakugo had pinned him down and attempted to kiss him. However, when he awoke; it was only darkness that surrounded him.

'It would probably be nice to kiss him though…' He thought as his cheeks warmed up. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Bakugo wake up and begin to approach him.

"Morning." Bakugo said, and Izuku jumped, nearly falling out the window. Bakugo quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back in. Izuku stumbled against him, his head resting on Bakugo's chest.

"Damn it Deku! You can't be this clumsy in the morning. What if I hadn't caught you?" Bakugo shouted, holding Izuku's shoulders so he could meet his gaze.

Izuku tried to respond, but nothing came out. His brain was trying to sort everything out. His heart was racing from almost falling, but looking into Bakugo's bright eyes after all the thoughts he had made his throat feel dry.

"Well? Are you going to stand there like an idiot or are you going to say something?" Bakugo demanded, leaning closer and resting his hands on the window sill. Izuku's hands resting being him as his lower back pressed against the wall of the window. He looked away, no longer able to meet Bakugo's gaze and maintain his sanity. Bakugo grabbed his chin and turned his head roughly, holding it in place and glaring at him.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you" he growled. Izuku swallowed slightly, attempting to find some eminent of his voice.

"T-t-thank you" Izuku whispered, his voice slightly rough from his dry throat, "I-I-I'm sorry for being clumsy"

Bakugo held his gaze for what felt like hours, though it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. There was something hypnotizing about the king's stare. Izuku could feel the anger and frustration coming from him, but there was something else; something he couldn't identify.

Bakugo's eyes glanced at Izuku's lips. Izuku's breath hitched in his throat.

'What is he thinking?' Izuku wondered. He wanted to do something, anything to let him know it was okay. However, his brain was so scrambled that he could barely focus.

Bakugo backed up, releasing Izuku's chin as his face steeled back into a mask of annoyance, though his eyes still held the unidentifiable emotion.

"Come on." Bakugo ordered, "Let's go make breakfast."

Izuku wasn't sure what to think. Part of him wanted a hole to open in the floor and swallow him up. However, another part of him wanted to demand that he know what Bakugo was thinking. He wanted to push him against a wall and steal the kiss he so desired, just to see the king react. As Bakugo began to turn away, he reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"W-wait!" He said. Bakugo turned to him.

"Well, what is it?" Bakugo said through gritted teeth.

Izuku let go of his hand and looked down, "I-it's nothing…"

Bakugo furrowed his brow in confusion, and turned away. "I'll meet you down there" he said, turning and leaving through the trap door. Once he touched the floor, it took all the self-control he possessed not to slam his fist through the wall.

'What the hell was I thinking?!' He thought. For a split second as he was holding Izuku in place, his mind wanted desperately to connect Izuku's lips with his own, and when Izuku reached for him; he was tempted to tackle him to the bed. Izuku had changed back into his clothes from Ignis, and he wanted to tear them from his body. Destroy them so he would have to remain in the clothes he gave him.

'My clothes… showing he was mine…' He thought as he began hastily cutting the ingredients for their breakfast. Everyone in the village had grown accustom to always seeing the two them together, and though he knew a few members of the village were growing fond of the young wizard; he knew he could make it clear to them that he was taken.

'Except… he isn't…' He thought, pouring the cut vegetables and the rice into the pot before setting it over the cooking fire, 'Because I won't seal the fucking deal'

Izuku came down the ladder and sat down by the small table, unable to look at Bakugo.

'Am I misreading something?' Izuku thought. His heart was still racing and his mind was spinning. His eyes wandered to Bakugo as he cooked their meal. The muscles of his back rolling with each stir of the pot.

"What are you not telling me, Kacchan?" He whispered. Bakugo perked up and looked at him.

"Oi, what did you say Deku?" Bakugo inquired as he filled two bowls for them and brought it over to Izuku. Handing it to him, Izuku nodded in thanks and glared down into the bowl.

"Nothing important…" he said, refusing to meet Bakugo's gaze.

Bakugo glared at him while he sat down and began to eat. Within a few minutes the silence began to eat at them, the tension from that morning pressing on them. It felt like it would crush them if they let it.

"So you're heading back today?" Bakugo questioned, trying to remain casual.

"Yes, I have to return to my studies and speak with All Might." Izuku replied, attempting to mimic Bakugo's demeanor.

"When would you like to leave?"

"High noon or mid afternoon at the latest."

Bakugo nodded before finishing up his food

"Thanks to you, I may need to find Recovery Girl an assistant." Bakugo spoke after a few moments, leaning back on his arms, "You have been a great aid to her"

Izuku perked up slightly, his eyes softening and his shoulders slouching in embarrassment, "I-I'm happy to help."

Bakugo slowly got up and walked past Izuku, messing up Izuku's hair as he passed before leaning against the wall next to one of the large tapestries, "I may have to come and visit you once in a while."

Izuku turned and looked at him, "T-that would be nice, I-I could show you Ignis."

Bakugo smiled a soft, playful smile, "Plus it would piss off Endeavor, and more importantly that half-and-half prince."

Izuku's brow furrowed in confusion. Based on their last interaction with Prince Todoroki, the prince was intrigued with his present in the village, but nothing more than that.

'So why does he sound almost…possessive?' Izuku thought, turning around to fully face the king, "I-I can't see why they would necessarily care?"

Bakugo shrugged, "Endeavor doesn't like me that much, and I doubt he would like a dragon that close to his kingdom. As for Half-and-Half, I knew you were oblivious but I didn't think you were completely blind."

Izuku was taken aback, "W-what do you mean?"

Bakugo looked away, a light blush coating his cheeks. He saw how the prince had given Izuku the once over. It irritated him to no end. It also didn't help that he already thought Izuku was undoubtedly attractive in his old clothes. Furthermore, the prince would probably be quite pleased if he could swoop in and take something that he knew Bakugo wanted.

'Wait does he mean-' Izuku thought, the blood rose quickly to his face and he looked to the floor. There was no way that Prince Todoroki would like him in that way. It was unfathomable, yet Bakugo spoke of it like it was as clear as the morning sun.

A slight smile cracked on Bakugo's face, watching the embarrassment take over the young wizard.

"Took you long enough to figure it out." Bakugo jested.

Izuku's eyes slowly turned to Bakugo, "I doubt that's the case" he said, his voice quiet as he played with the fingers of his gloves.

A sudden laugh erupted from Bakugo's throat, "What is it that hard to imagine someone being attracted to you?"

"Yes." Izuku said without a second thought. Bakugo's eyebrows raised and he almost physically stepped back.

'Does he seriously think that poorly of himself?' Bakugo thought, his heart lurched slightly in his chest.

'Damn it Deku! Do you even know how much I want to-' He shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. Izuku eyes slowly fell on his, his eyebrow raising slightly. Bakugo peaked out one of the windows, noticing the sun getting higher in the sky.

"Come on, we need to go collect supplies for our journey" Bakugo declared, walking towards the door. Izuku nodded and slowly stood, walking behind him. Bakugo stopped at the door, his hand colliding with the doorframe, making the deer skin flap move from the force as sparks flew from his hand.

Izuku froze in place, wondering what could have angered Bakugo now. Bakugo looked over his shoulder, the flames dancing in his eyes once more.

"Be more confident in yourself." Bakugo ordered, "You may be useless at times, a bit clumsy and an intractable nerd,-" Izuku glared at him, wondering to himself what sort of pep talk this was supposed to be, "-but you have a caring heart. You bring out the kindness in others and that makes them want to be around you. You also aren't too bad to look at either. That alone should show you why others are attracted to you."

Izuku was taken aback, his fingers pinched his wrist slightly to prove he was awake. Which, indeed he was. He swallowed slightly and nodded.

"T-that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." He said, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yeah, well don't get all mushy about it" Bakugo yelled, trying to hide his own embarrassment with rage, "Now come on you useless nerd!"

Bakugo stormed out of the hut towards the trading post in the center of town where they would collect their supplies. Izuku paused for a moment at the door, his hand raising over his heart. He wanted to make sure it hadn't stopped.

'Did- Did he just complement me?' He thought, 'Is that really how he thinks of me?'

He stood for a moment trying to catch his bearings. His eyes wandered around the village surrounding him. Now he didn't want to leave. He wanted more time with Bakugo. He wanted more moments like that, like this morning, like the day with the dragons, all of it. He wanted to know the king and to understand him on a deeper level. And, as it was becoming more and more evident with each passing day, he wanted him. He wanted each morning to awake with him in his bed, and each night to be filled fiery kisses and soft caresses.

"Deku! Come on I said!" Bakugo yelled from about twenty feet in front of him. The command lurched him out of his thoughts.

"R-Right! Coming!" He called, running after Bakugo

'Is this what it feels like to fall for someone/' He thought.

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