Midoriya sighed to himself as he stood outside the prince's bedroom door, an entirely fresh new tray of breakfast resting in his hands. After cleaning up the mess, he had rushed back down to the kitchens with the broken tray in hand. Tsuyu had shared a glance with Chef as Midoriya had laughed and told her that he had been clumsy and dropped the tray on his way to the prince's room, he knew the both of them didn't quite believe him, but they weren't about to challenge his claim either.

Chef quickly prepared the prince's breakfast again as Tsuyu set about remaking the tea, the two of them quickly giving Midoriya a new tray and imploring him to rush toward the prince's room as he would undoubtedly be more than upset about the lateness of his meal.

Swallowing down the trepidation that had built in his throat, he opened the door to see that the prince was already sitting at the small table in his room. The balcony windows had been thrown open, letting a warm breeze into the room, his bare back was facing Midoriya. The golden ribbon of his mask was already fastened onto his head as he turned his face to gaze at Midoriya, so that his turquoise colored eye was the only one he was gazing at.

"You're late."

Inclining his head slightly, Midoriya apologized. "I'm sorry for my lateness. I had to get your breakfast prepared again as I tripped this morning on my way here."

Todoroki studied Midoriya's face, his eyes flickering over his servant's features. "Is that what truly happened this morning?"

"Yes."

The prince continued to stare at him, for a moment he was sure the prince would call him out on the blatant lie but he said nothing, simply motioned with his hand for Midoriya to bring him his meal. Setting the tray down upon the table, he picked out the outfit the prince would wear for the day and laid it down upon the bed as Todoroki hurriedly ate. He glanced at him from the corners of his eyes; Todoroki looked far more calmer than he had last night. If he had anything to say to Midoriya about the events of last night he made no mention of it.

Finishing his breakfast, Midoriya dressed him and was fastening the laces on his leather boots when there was a knock on the door. Yaoyorozu let herself in, giving a quick nod to Midoriya before escorting the two of them down to the courtyard where the guards were already lined up. Midoriya noticed that in the front row—right next to the guard Todoroki had embarrassed previously—was the commander he had run into what seemed like an eternity ago.

The man fixed his eyes upon Midoriya's face, a gaze Midoriya was all too quick in avoiding, choosing instead to focus his own gaze on a pair of blooming fire lilies that had been planted along the courtyard. The flowers letting off a heady fragrance that reminded one of a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon, the red-orange petals bowed their heads underneath the sun. As he tore his gaze away from the flowers, he was startled to see Todoroki had fixed his eyes upon him.

He wondered how long the teen had been staring at him for. Todoroki turned to the knights, ordering them to pair up with one another so that they could spar as he, Yaoyorozu and Midoriya went over to a large parasol that another servant was holding above his own head. There was a chair and a small table underneath the parasol that was laden with a pitcher of water, a cup and a plate stacked high with fresh fruit and cheeses.

Sitting down in the chair, Midoriya and Yaoyorozu took their places beside Todoroki's side. Midoriya remained silent as Yaoyorozu leaned in toward Todoroki's ear, she smiled at something he said and let out a laugh that was soft and breathy. His eyes swept over the courtyard, studying the soldiers' stances and forms as his fingers twitched and itched for the weight of a sword between them.

It made him antsy, the feeling of watching these soldiers train for weeks whereas he spent any free time he could in the castle's library studying up on the fighting style of Enten that was vastly different from his home country. He was especially focused on the commander, Midoriya noticed that the man's left hand was a little too close to the pommel of his sword, when he swung, he left his chest slightly open, leaving him with too many openings in which an enemy could thrust a sword into his chest. His eyes narrowing, Midoriya frowned as the commander took a big step forward in order to slash at his sparring partner, using the momentum and weight of his own body rather than pivoting to the side and following the swing of his sword.

Cupping his chin with his hand, he began to mutter to himself. "If he changed his grip, it would give him better control over the momentum of his sword. What if he—no it would be better if he just did that instead, then he'd—"

"Stop!"

The abrupt order stirred Midoriya from his observations and caused the guards to still mid-spar.

"Tell me," Midoriya swiveled his gaze toward the prince's face to see that he was staring at him, "What do you think?"

"Your highness?"

Todoroki motioned towards the guards. "Tell me what you think of them."

Midoriya's gaze flickered toward Yaoyorozu, the knight displayed as much surprise on her face as his. Cheeks flushing a dusty pink, he bowed his head toward the prince, a placating smiled stretching across his face. "I'm sorry your highness, but I'm merely a servant—"

"—If you were merely a servant," Todoroki cut him off, "then you wouldn't have been observing my guards so closely nor would you have been spending so many nights in the library studying this country's sword style." Raising a single brow, he gazed at Midoriya with a look that told the green-haired teen his chess piece had just been knocked over and Todoroki had taken the crown.

Swallowing thickly, the smile on Midoriya's face faltered slightly. He shouldn't have even suspected that the prince would have someone tailing him, after all he was a foreign addition to the prince's household.

"Now, I asked you for your opinion."

Letting his gaze flicker from the guards to the prince's face, he silently weighed his choices. He could be truthful with the prince about the guards lacking forms, but he feared that would display to the prince the fact that he had any knowledge of fighting which he supposed was already suspected by the prince's knowledge of the books he had been reading.

"They don't effectively use their hilts to block." Midoriya kept his gaze level with the prince's eyes, his hands clasped behind his back, "They're more focused on attacking their enemies with brutal strength rather than being worried their enemies could overpower them and easily cut them down themselves."

Todoroki hummed to himself. "And would their enemies be able to?"

Letting his gaze once more sweep over the guards, he gave his answer, "Yes, they'd be able to."

"Is that so?" The prince muttered to himself before sharing a glance with Yaoyorozu. "Momo, fetch him a sword."

Midoriya shivered, a chill feeling creeping up his spine as Todoroki fixed his gaze upon him. "You're going to fight—" The prince lifted a single index finger and pointed it in the guard's direction, following the line of direction, Midoriya's eyes widened at the sight of a pair of bright green eyes belonging to the commander glaring at him. "—him."

As Yaoyorozu came over to him, a longsword gripped in her right hand, his eyes flickered back to the prince's face. Although it was as smooth and impassive as marble, the small tug at the corners of his lips gave him the hint of a smile.

Midoriya swallowed.

He'd been set up.

Breathing slowly, Midoriya attempted to calm his nerves as he let the weight of the longsword comfortably rest in his hand. Loosening his grip and then tightening it, he slightly tipped the sword in his hand to get a better feeling for it. Staring at the ground, Midoriya did anything he could to avoid the commander's gaze. The man's armor gleamed underneath the afternoon sun; combined with the golden locks that tumbled down his back gave him a regal, leonine appearance.

Though this lion was one that was ready to press its fangs into its prey's neck, feeling the muscle and sinews crunch beneath its teeth as blood splattered into its maw. He knew he was that very prey.

A sharp shout forced Midoriya to lift his head, the commander raced toward him, his longword held aloft the edge of his body. Gasping, he quickly lifted his blade and slightly rotated it so that the left side of the quillion pointed upward, catching the commander's blade in between the cross of his blade and the edge of his hilt. Keeping his grip firm on the hilt of his sword, Midoriya twisted his upper torso, knocking the commander's sword aside. He let his grip slacken as he spun on his heels and held the sword behind him, the clang of steel against steel pounded in his ears. He gasped, staggering to the side, the urge to grip his side compelling as he ground his teeth. The skin beneath his clothes throbbed from where the end of the commander's pommel had connected with his side.

Roaring, the commander swung his blade over his head. Barrel-rolling to the side to avoid the impact of the blade, Midoriya missed the steel-covered boot tip that arched toward his face; the crunch of cartilage cut through the air, a warm stream of blood dripped down to his lips and chin. Staring incredulously at the commander, his tongue darted out between his lips to swipe at his bottom lip, the taste of coppery blood on the tip of his tongue.

He was fighting dirty. An incensed look burned in his eyes, cheers rising up from behind him as the other guards goaded him on, clapping their hands together as a drunken sense of near victory washed over them all.

"Commander, teach him a lesson!"

"Show him how we Entenian's never lose a fight!"

His gaze flickering back to the prince, Midoriya frowned at him, wondering why the prince had chosen him—a servant nonetheless to fight against a commander of the guards. It slightly infuriated him, to not know what game the prince was playing at and to be enshrouded in the dark. Sinking his teeth into his bottom lip, he also found himself slightly intrigued by the prince. Turning his attention back to the commander, he rushed forward, their swords clashing against each other as they danced back and forth. Taking a swing at the commander's neck, the man took a stumbling step back.

Green eyes speckled with brown widened, a dangerous grin spread across the commander's face. "For a servant, I'll give you a little bit of praise for not meeting your end so quickly to my blade. But that won't last long."

Their blades met again; the sound of steel ringing against steel burning in the air. As the commander attempted to block a blow from Midoriya's blade, leaving his side exposed, Midoriya lashed out, kicking at his ribs with the bottom of his shoe. The kick sent the commander flying to the ground, his back colliding with the whitewashed stones of the courtyard. He rolled onto his stomach, pushing himself up onto a knee, he pointed the tip of his blade at Midoriya, who knocked aside the tip of his sword with his own. Hopping to his feet, the commander beat back Midoriya with his sword.

Seeing an opening, Midoriya turned, keeping his sword pressed against his back as he blocked the oncoming blow that sent a shiver through his bones. Reaching out with his free arm, he elbowed the golden-haired man in the back of his head, sending him again tumbling to the ground. Keeping his grip tight on his sword, the commander broke his fall by placing his hand flat against the stones. Shooting upright, he caught Midoriya's blow with his sword and he quickly took his left hand off the hilt of his sword to place on the flat part of his blade, blocking the next subsequent blow from the servant.

Using the momentum of the block, the commander swung with the pommel of his blade, knocking Midoriya to the ground. Midoriya gasped as the tip of the commander's blade thrusted downward to the soft flesh of his neck, reacting quickly, he slid his left hand up the flat part of his blade, blocking the tip of the commander's sword and pushing it aside so that the sound of metal scraping against stone pierced the air. Drawing back his right leg, he lashed out, his right foot connecting with man's pristine face. He could hear the crunch of cartilage underneath his boot and knew the man's nose was as broken as his.

"An eye for an eye." He called out through gritted teeth. He hopped up their blades meeting again and again, the cry of the crowd louder now as the guards cheered on their commander. Dropping down to one knee, the crowd fell silent as Midoriya's blade slashed across the commander's stomach, a scratched line stretched across the armor covering his torso. The chirp of birds was the only sound in the hushed courtyard.

Staring down at his scratched armor, his eyes wide with shock. The smile that was stretching across Midoriya's face fell as the commander raised his eyes; there was fury in them, but not the fury he had seen earlier, this fury was one of a predator that just had been swiped at by a prey and instead of being delighted at the game was instead infuriated.

"You little—" the commander flew forward, his blade coming down as Midoriya raised his to block it. He turned his torso slightly, pushing Midoriya down to the ground with the weight of his own body. "—insignificant—" Midoriya raised his sword, attempting to block whatever blow was coming his way, the golden-haired knight kicked the sword out of his hands, bending down he gripped Midoriya's neck with his left hand, his right arm raised and the tip of his sword pointing at Midoriya's eye. "—worm!"

Kicking his leg up, Midoriya kicked the commander off of him. The man rolled over Midoriya, his grip loosening on his sword and pulling away from his grasp. The both of them jumped to their feet, now barehanded. That didn't seem to stop the commander, who rushed toward Midoriya, throwing a punch in his direction that sailed past the green-haired teen's cheek, the teen reached behind the man's head and slammed his hand against the side of his skull. Stumbling back a few feet, Midoriya walked toward him as the commander attempted to throw another punch that he dodged. He wrapped his arms around the commander's own and threw him down to the ground. Keeping a firm grip on the green-haired teen's arm, the commander threw up his legs, trapping Midoriya's neck in between his ankles and threw the teen down onto the ground.

Vaulting upright, Midoriya's eyes zeroed in on his sword and he attempted to run toward it, but spun on his heels at the sound of the commander's heavy step. He let out an annoyed grunt as the commander shoved his hand underneath his chin, forcing his head backward. Midoriya grabbed at his arms, elbowing him in his broken nose during the process causing the golden-haired man to stumble away from him. Spinning away from the commander, he rushed toward his sword and snatched it up, turning on his heels to point the blade at the commander's chest, who circled him warily. His eyes flickered from the tip of the blade to Midoriya's face as they circled each other. Midoriya's eyes flickered down to the cobblestone next to his feet where the commander's longsword lay. Bending down, he snatched the longsword up in his free hand and pointed the blade downward as he righted himself. Staring at the commander's broken, bloody and swollen nose, he slightly nodded as he tossed the blade back to the man who caught the hilt of the sword and quickly rushed at Midoriya who gave him a swift cut to his cheek.

Wiping the blood away from his face with a gloved hand, he glared at Midoriya, the two of them now keenly aware of the hushed silence that pervaded the courtyard in place of the cheers and applause from mere moments before. Some of the other servants and maids had flocked to the courtyard no doubt from the sounds or whispers that were currently twisting through the halls about the crown prince's servant sparring with a commander of the knights. Windows above the courtyard had been thrown open, maids leaning out with intoxicated smiles spurred by the match and the shared delight of a mere servant putting a commander in his place and besting him.

Slightly panting for breath, Midoriya watched sweat pour down the commander's face, lightly staining the collar of his tunic beneath the armor he wore. Letting out a guttural roar, the commander gripped his sword tightly, putting all of his strength into a powerful swing that Midoriya ducked underneath. His left hand sliding down to grip his blade, using the pommel, he pounded it against the man's side before arching the butt of his sword upward into the commander's already broken nose. The blow sent the man to the ground; panting, the commander gripped his blade and from his position attempted to swing it at Midoriya, moving quickly the green-haired teen brought his own blade down on top of the commander's and weaved the blade so that the upper part of the blade was hooked underneath the commander's sword. Lifting a foot, he lashed out at the commander's chest, pushing him away as he tossed the man's blade aside.

Panting heavily, the golden-haired man attempted to push himself up, but glared at the sword now pointed at his throat.

Sweat shined against the surface of Midoriya's skin mingling with the blood that smeared his face and was already beginning to dry and harden against his skin; a victorious smile curled across his face. "I believe I've won." Pointing his sword away from the commander's neck, he offered him a hand, a friendly gesture in order to pull him up but the man knocked the hand away from his face.

Slow, methodical claps caused the two of them to look over in the prince's direction. "Well done to the both of you," Todoroki began, "but it seems that today's victory goes to my servant." Turning his attention to Midoriya, he addressed him. "Return your sword to Momo and go see Recovery Girl for your injuries."

Nodding his head, Midoriya ran up to Yaoyorozu, turning the hilt of his sword outward to her extended hand. She shot him a quick smile, before grasping the weapon and watching him run off to go get his injuries tended to.

Barely lifting his gaze to stare at the guards, Todoroki calmly informed them that they were all dismissed. The guards began to filter out of the courtyard, the servants in the castle closing the windows as they all went back to their respective duties. The only ones left in the courtyard where Todoroki, Yaoyorozu and the commander. Todoroki exchanged a glance with the female knight, she nodded and leaned in close to him, her lips mere inches away from his ear.

"Don't kill him," she whispered, her breath lightly stirring the strands of his hair.

"I can't promise you that," his reply caused a grim smile to stretch across her face. He watched her as she left to return the sword she had lent Midoriya back to its proper place.

"You did a great job, Commander," Todoroki spoke aloud as he approached the man who was busily wiping at the blood smeared around across his mouth with the edge of his tunic.

"Thank you, your highness, but your praise—"

Todoroki reached out, placing his right hand down on the man's shoulder, he bent down, his lips just a few inches away from the man's ear. "But next time you should be a little bit more careful than to ever think about threatening my knight, my servant or any member of my household—" the commander's eyes widened, his gaze flickered to his shoulder where the prince's hand rested, ice creeped down from the prince's fingers and was slowly covering the shoulder of his armor. "—and if the thought ever again crosses your mind, do be careful, Commander, or else—" Todoroki turned his head, his eyes narrowed and the corner of his lip slightly turned down into a scowl. "—you'll wish that I did more to you today than pit you in a simple match against a servant."

Patting the man's shoulder, Todoroki pulled his hand away, leaving behind a column of ice that trailed down from the commander's shoulder to his wrist. "Don't beat yourself up too harshly Commander. After all, who knew an insignificant worm was a better fighter than a trained knight?"
_

A/N: Sorry for the weirdly looking horizontal line, for some reason the actual button to put one in seemed to not being showing up in Doc Manager for some reason? But we finally got to the fight scene and even after personally reading this 100 times over, Todoroki's final line gives me chills about the potentiality of his badassness.