Izuku groaned as morning sunlight peeked through the window blinds - a new addition he assumed. The rustling of sheets and quiet movements gradually pulled him from his peaceful slumber. Opening his eyes, he saw Ochaco getting out of bed, with Eri still sleeping soundly beside him.
"Going somewhere?" he groggily asked.
"Just getting ready to start the day, My Love. How are you feeling?"
Izuku watched as she stretched, her movements graceful even in the early morning hours. She padded over to the dresser, running her fingers through her sleep-tousled hair to work out the tangles.
"I'm pretty much fine by the time we returned last night. We're going to Camelot?"
Ochaco pulled out her clothes for the day, laying them neatly on the dresser top. "Tomorrow, My Heart. Things must be set in motion. The King and Queen of Camelot do not appear at its doorstep like beggars."
"I was planning to just blow the doors down, and dare the remaining to make an issue," he sat up and got out of bed.
"So you would huff, and puff, and blow the doors down?" Ochaco asked, buttoning up her shirt.
"The big bad wolf has arrived," he smirked.
"You would find the gates of Camelot built of neither straw nor kindling. Merlin was nothing if not an exceptional architect...both of Castles and futures."
"So what's the plan? Sneak in, take out any key resistance, then threaten the rest to submission?"
"Hopefully that will not be necessary. I reached out to our Gurkha attaché. We will be meeting up with the Gurkha battalion outside Camelot."
"Crap. I completely forgot about them," he winced. "You mentioned that they might do something stupid, right?"
"I mentioned that they might do something foolish. But moreso rash than stupid, perhaps. Without their gear, they would be no match for Yarkow's mercenaries, but that would not necessarily stop them from trying. I will not have the lives of 400 good men on my conscience," she informed him.
"Okay, that gives us manpower. Once we get the doors open..." he started but was interrupted by Ochaco.
She turned to him. "This is not a video game, My Love. We do not need to kill every single individual opposed to us to find victory. Since your...display...at Mitburgh I have received a rather panicked stream of missives from the remaining High Nobility pleading loyalty, innocence, ignorance, or mercy...all depending on what they think I might know or suspect."
Izuku stood and walked over to join her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. "Loyalty? Really?" he questioned, resting his chin on her head.
"Some...were no doubt loyal. To the Throne, and the Pendragons, if not personally to me. The pride of the rebellion was at Mitburgh; you broke their back there. What remains can be cowed into submission or crushed in isolation."
"And the Cult?"
"Is likely still embedded within our Court. We shall have to deal with that. But for now, get dressed. We have a visitor at downstairs."
"Who?"
"Sergeant Kulbir, one of the Gurkhas."
"The guy that brought news of your kidnapping, right?"
"Correct. He makes a good attaché. I've trained knife fighting with him as a child and I trust him. Not to mention that the alternative was letting him hijack a boat to rejoin the battalion."
"Lots of responsibilities on your shoulders to think about."
"One of us must be, My Love. You have a great many strengths, but your attention to detail can be lacking."
"Like forgetting that we had a battalion of mercenaries rattling around somewhere?"
She turned around, cupping his face with her hands. "That sort of thing, yes. It is a good thing I am here to keep you safe, is it not?"
"Yes."
"And it is a good thing that you are here to keep me safe."
"Always," his lips met hers. They stayed that way for a good few minutes before breaking off, wordlessly looking at each other's eyes and conveying their love.
"We really had to go, My Love. We should not keep our people waiting."
"Right."
They went downstairs, seeing Kulbir standing at attention.
"At ease," Ochaco told the sergeant.
"Your Highness. Sir. I wanted to thank you for saving Her Majesty. I apologize for doubting you."
"Don't worry about it. We'll both do whatever it takes to keep her safe. No matter the cost."
"Yes, sir!"
"What's the plan, Ochaco?"
"We will be returning home tomorrow, Sergeant," she told Kulbir. "Sir Henry is organizing it for us currently."
"Sir Henry?"
"The Chamberlain."
Izuku wasn't familiar with the word, but it sounded like..."Like a butler or something?"
This earned a suppressed laughter from Ochaco. "He would be rather upset at hearing you call him that, dearest. Seethingly polite. Sir Henry is the official in charge of the daily running of the Castle. It is quite a prestigious position."
"So a manager of butlers. Is he friendly?"
Ochaco frowned. "No. But he is loyal to the Throne and to what he perceives as the dignity of his post. He can be trusted to do his job, as Lord Yarkow could have trusted him to do the same had he became King."
"Sounds like a barrel of fun," Izuku commented.
"Yes, I will admit, Sir Henry is a bit insufferable. But he is competent. To run the Court, you need the kind of person who sees vital importance in the shine of the silverware and immaculate condition of the linen. Think of him as a maître d' of an extremely expensive restaurant, who reluctantly agrees that customers are both necessary evil and always right."
"I can already tell that he's gonna be a headache, but for now...sergeant. What's the plan with the Gurkhas?"
Kulbir smiled, "The Battalion is at Her Majesty's command. We can be ready in 30 minutes."
"What's the situation like in Camelot?"
"Troubled, Sir. As you may know, one of the Fae Gods intervened on Her Majesty's behalf, wiping out Lord Yarkow and the vast bulk of the rebels."
''Fae Gods'?' he turned to Ochaco, confused.
"Rumors and speculations abound. Most agree that Mitburgh incident was likely the work of a God...the current consensus seems either Lugh or Cú Chulainn. Either can be prone to...excess."
"I don't know if I should be happy or insulted by that."
"I doubt anyone expects the return of the Once and Future King. And even if they did, Arthur was no Evoker...what you did to Mitburgh would have been far beyond his ability."
Kulbir's posture stiffened upon hearing the exchange, feeling like he heard something absurd. Not the bad kind, surely.
"When do you intend to tell them?" Izuku asked Ochaco.
"I thought the impact might be best if we waited until they were all gathered in the Great Hall with you and the doors were barred. It is time my fractious nobles realise their little games are over."
"Sounds fun. Sergeant, what kind of opposition should we be expecting?"
"Castrum Prime has been reduced to skeleton guard; once Her Majesty gives orders we can take it easily."
"I thought you guys were disarmed?"
Ochaco smirked, "You do not disarm a Gurkha. You merely convince him to give you some of his weapons."
"Her Majesty is correct. We have recovered some of our supply caches; all that is lacking is our heavy weaponry. They will be missed if we must tangle with Brotherhood mercenary heavies, but better to die than be a coward," he proudly replied.
"We'll deal with them," Izuku told him. "Better to let the other guy die for his country."
"As Izuku says, Sergeant. I will bring sufficient firepower to deal with most entities. What we require from the Battalion will be holding ground if things become hostile. Hopefully, it will not be necessary."
"So. In terms of actual details, what's the plan, Ochaco?"
The three spent the rest of the morning and afternoon, sitting in a pub planning an invasion to Elsewhere and the liberation of Camelot. Kulbir brought a map where and told them exact details. The start was Izuku asking about the terrain and the buildings around them, and once that was done, he was able to contribute more to the two. Should his plans have holes, Ochaco was there to patch it up, not dismissing it entirely.
'Not something I expected to do a few months ago, but here we are,' he mentally noted. "That's probably enough."
"Yes, dear. Sergeant Kulbir, thank you for the update. I will let you brief the Brigade leadership, and we shall see you tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Sir."
"See you later, Kulbir," Izuku bade the sergeant farewell.
Once the man is out of the building, Ochaco chuckled. "Poor Sergeant Kulbir. He is quite unsure how to address you. Are you a consort? A lord? A boyfriend?"
"So he calls me 'Sir'?"
She shrugged. "Why not? It is safe enough, especially for a soldier. He doesn't need to account for social graces, merely show respect."
Izuku nodded in understanding. 'Though it would be nice if I also don't have to bother with those. Even Nana...speaking of," he turned to Ochaco. "One thing you need to know, Love. Nana crossed the threshold yesterday. She was glowing like a torch."
"So. Your Destiny is bringing us all along. Your Chosen. Nana. Me. By the time this year is over, we shall be terrifying."
"So what do we do now?"
"We do have a friend arriving, do we not?"
Izuku looked at her for a moment before realizing the date. "Oh, shit. Melissa."
"Right. I am sure Eri would be delighted to see her friend." She looked at Eri, who was standing on a chair and helping Inko wipe the table. "Eri. Would you like to come with us? We are meeting Melissa today."
Eri immediately perked up at this, "Ms. Robot! I'm going," she nodded eagerly.
"Okay, sweetie. Come on. Let us go meet Melissa."
"You're going somewhere, hun?" Inko asked.
"Yeah, we're meeting a friend."
"I see. I'm glad you made a lot of friends, Izuku. Take care, now."
"Thanks, Mom. We're off."
Ochaco and Izuku held each of Eri's hands as they made their way outside and queued for a taxi. While it is possible to get to the airport instantly with Izuku's speed, his daughter's body would not take kindly to the g-forces it would exert so they opted for a more Normie means of transportation.
"It would be great to have a Fae horse to get around, do you not think so?" Ochaco asked him, moving forward to the queue.
"I guess? Any difference from the regular horse?"
"Around thrice as big and could likely keep up with you? At least unless you tapped into your Mantle. I have a Fae horse, Adamas, that you should meet," she answered.
Izuku chuckled. "That might freak out other people."
"They are known for their temperament, true. But Adamas should behave well unless it found something as a threat...or a meal."
"Meal being...?"
"Regular horses?" she chuckled.
They conversed until they eventually got to the taxi and headed for the airport. The girl's flight was delayed repeatedly. Izuku didn't know if it had anything to do with the recent events or not. Izuku would likely not accommodate her properly, with how much he worried for Ochaco, as shown when he messed up with Momo. He also thought that it would be perfect to have her visit Camelot and talk with people there who knew more about the intricacies of magic than he does.
Izuku noticed the lack of traffic going there, strangely enough, but chalked it with either being lucky or just plain Sorcery doing its thing.
Eventually, they arrived just in time to see the familiar blonde girl in a white shirt and blue overalls, her long blonde hair flowing behind her. She didn't have to look around to see the Evoker.
"Eri-chan! Ochaco! Izuku!" she hollered, waving at them as she jogged towards them.
"Hi, Melissa!" Eri greeted the blonde.
"Hello! How have you been?"
"Good. Ms. Robot is here!"
Melissa giggled, "Of course I am."
"Hey, Melissa. It's good to see you again," Izuku smiled at her.
"I'm glad to see you're both well," she clasped her hand. "I'm excited to know more about your world."
"No worries. If you want, we can go today," Izuku offered. "Tomorrow might be a little...too late then."
"Oh? What's going to happen?"
"We might be gone for a while in Elsewhere for a while," Izuku explained.
"That is...too bad," she sadly smiled. "I would've liked to get to know more about magic and stuff. But we have to do what we have to."
"Actually, My Love," Ochaco spoke up. "It would not be a problem if you bring her to Camelot, if you would not mind bringing her back here at night."
"Might be the best way to go about it," he agreed. "Melissa, what do you say? It'll be an adventure."
"Really? That would be great! Should we bring Mei?"
"That should be fine. Right, Ochaco?"
"Certainly."
"I'm sure she would be delighted," Melissa commented, thinking about how the pink-haired inventor would react to an entire world full of magical wonders.
"But for now, let's go back. Or it'll be dark soon," Izuku told them. "Would you need help with your luggage?"
"Oh, I don't want to impose!" she hastily declined, not wanting to put more burden on him.
"You're not. You're our friend," he countered. "Come on. It's not rude to accept help. Besides, what's a few luggage anyway?"
"Right. You are quite strong, after all," she bashfully accepted.
"Here, let me." He effortlessly lifted her luggage.
"Thanks. Lead the way," she bowed her head a little.
"How was the trip?" Ochaco asked, curious.
"Pretty good, actually. I got to sit beside the window and see the view. I even took some pictures," Melissa smiled.
They continued talking, even as they rode the taxi. Eri asked about various robots she promised, but couldn't see. Melissa answered that she shipped them separately to UA and they should arrive tomorrow, at the latest.
"So, Melissa," Ochaco started. "If you do not mind me asking, what do you think of Izuku?"
The question caught Izuku and Melissa off-guard.
"W-what do you mean? Rather, why ask this so suddenly?"
"I just think that Izuku is the most wonderful person I have met. He is strong, brave, handsome, and protective. For me, he is my heart, hope, and love. So I just wanted to know, what do you think of him? I am not trying to test or evaluate you or anything, I assure you. I simply would like to hear your thoughts," she gave a soft smile.
"Ochaco, you don't have to-"
"Shhh. Do not spoil the moment, My Love."
"Uhm, well, what do I think of him..." her eyes gazed below, thinking about the question. "I...admire him. He is everything I think of when I think of the concept of 'Hero.' He wasn't intimidating or arrogant, despite his overwhelming power. I want to get to know him, if possible. Furthermore, everyone on I-Island that night owed their lives to him. I'm not sure if this is what you're expecting me to say, but this is my answer."
Ochaco nodded upon hearing her answer. "To be honest, I was just wondering if you liked him or not, romantically. After all, he is very attractive."
"I think you're a little biased there, Love."
Ochaco looked at Izuku incredulously. "False modesty does not suit you, Izuku. You have at least ten girls in school you are involved with, including your Chosen."
"I guess."
"So, Melissa, do you? Find him attractive, I mean? Do not worry. As you have heard, he is involved with a few girls already. I would not be mad either way."
"Attractive? I-" she looked at Izuku, then felt her face heat up and her heart skip a beat. "I guess? I would be lying to call him unattractive."
"I see. I would accept that for now."
Most of the ride was awkward, to say the least. Ochaco would sometimes bring up Izuku's good qualities to talk him up. But eventually, they started to build rapport and whisper to each other about Izuku.
'Mina is such a bad influence on Ochaco,' he thought as he decided to ignore them.
Eventually, they arrived at UA. Izuku and Melissa went to the Development Studios while Ochaco and Eri went separately, 'mother-daughter bonding,' she told him. But he felt it was more because she wanted him to be alone with Melissa. Izuku knew why, but he still felt it was weird how she was actively trying to get him to be with Melissa.
'Then again, it was the same with Momo, I guess,' he noted. 'And that we're likely moving to Camelot soon meant that I would hardly meet up with her if nothing started soon.'
"I'm...sorry. I made things awkward, didn't I?" Melissa asked as they climbed a flight of stairs.
"No. She can be surprisingly forward sometimes," he chuckled. "Rather, I should be the one apologizing."
Melissa shook her head, "You've nothing to apologize for. But I want to understand...do you know why she seemed okay with you being with other girls? For me, it was strange, to be honest. No offense, of course."
"None taken. Just that, she thinks that the more girls are in love with me, the more likely they'll help save my life, when needed."
"It wasn't like I don't get it. But it was unique, I think. Do you think the same? About her or other girls?"
"Hell no," he instantly denied. "I know it makes me sound like a hypocrite, but I'm not sharing them, if that's what you meant."
Melissa let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. To be honest, I would've been weirded out if you talked like that about m...I-I mean, I'm glad to see you being protective of your girls. Yup," she turned around and quickened her pace. But she wasn't looking in front of her, which caused her to trip.
Izuku immediately caught her by the hips, his touch sending an unexpected electric current running through her body. Her face burned. "Don't worry. I'm not giving any of you up," he said with a soft tone.
Melissa felt her heart race. "Y-yeah."
Izuku let her stand, then they both continued their way to Mei's workshop. "But for now, let's get Mei," he put his hand to the knob for the Development Studios, only for an explosion to blow it open as pink smoke came out of the room.
Mei was launched straight to Izuku, who caught her. "OHHH! Big Guy! Do you need a new baby?! Wait...did you get more buff?" she wondered aloud as she took the opportunity to feel up Izuku's muscles.
"Probably, Mei. But stop feeling me up, will you?"
Not bothering to slow down, Mei continued, "C'mon, I missed feeling these. How about we take your new 'measurements'?"
"Hello, Mei," Mellissa greeted the inventor.
"Oh, hey! Melissa!"
"What did you make, Mei?"
"Oh, this?" she waved the metal cylinder. "This is my newest creation. I was testing it before you came. I call it the M165000. It's a 20mm, multi-use, anti-personnel, anti-material railgun. It just needs some adjustments."
"You probably should think up of a less...unfortunate name," Melissa suggested.
"Right?" Power Loader, who was standing up from the blast, agreed from inside the room. "This girl's got quit a bad naming sense."
"I don't get it," Izuku looked around, confused. Melissa whispered to him and he looked at Mei. "Yeah, go change that name."
"Aww" she pouted.
"Seriously, you should. But that's not why I came here today. Why don't you come with us to 'that' place?"
Power Loader was stunned, "Wait, Midoriya. Are you letting this girl..."
"Don't worry, Sensei. I'll make sure nothing happens to her."
"Oh! OH! Finally?! Really? No, don't answer that! You don't get to change your mind. I'll get my measuring equipment!" Mei sprinted to the side of the room, grabbing her tech along the way to the point of her dragging a large backpack to them. "I...I'm ready!"
Izuku sighed, grabbing the large backpack the size of a refrigerator and a half, and strapping it on his left shoulder. "I'll help you. Don't worry. Sensei, we're off."
"Take care!" Power Loader waved.
They made it back to The Crowley, but not before Izuku made a detour to the 3-A dorms where he found Nejire. She gave a curious look at Melissa and Mei before returning her attention to him. He explained he'd be away for a few days, earning a tight hug and extracting a promise to tell her all about it when he returned.
They made their way back to The Crowley, as Melissa and Mei followed closely behind him. Along the way, the two inventors started asking questions about this and that. Melissa's earlier shyness completely melted upon having the chance to talk about inventions while Mei wasn't shy about attempting to feel his muscles here and there. But Izuku mostly let her get away with it, as it had been a long time since he visited her.
As they arrived at the pub, they immediately went to the basement. They both let out a sound of awe as they saw the shimmering stone Portal. Mei immediately asked for the bag where she brought out several of her 'babies,' ranging from something that looked like a metal detector, a thermal gun, and a high-powered microscope before settling in and pulling a laptop out of the bag and started typing furiously.
Her excited expression cycled between a frown and fascination. "The readings were all over the place. So this is what you're talking about, huh?"
"It's a Portal. Elsewhere is just across it. Also, better leave any electronics you don't want to brick here. Also, whatever happens, do not wander off. If you need to do a test or something, tell me and we can stop. There are genuinely dangerous things here. Understood?" Izuku asked with a stern voice, something neither of them heard from him before. Even Mei took it seriously.
"Understood," they both answered.
He smiled, "Good." He walked through the Portal; they were surprised as it looked like it absorbed him instead of going through it. They couldn't even see him from the other side.
"Well. No point standing around!" Mei said before she ran towards the Portal, and Melissa followed her.
They stepped out on the other side, seeing the forest, though not the usual. The forest had a different ambiance to it. It was beautiful beyond picturesque. And the ever-changing landscape only added to its mystery.
Mei brought out several of her inventions, finding out that almost half of them stopped functioning altogether, if not irreversibly broken. "That's expected, I suppose," she grumbled.
"Wow," Melissa looked around. She was fascinated by the view, and was slightly regretful not knowing something so pretty existed all her life.
Izuku chuckled. "Yeah, 'Wow.' First time I saw this, it was something else," he half-excitedly mentioned.
"Ohh~!" Mei excitedly looked around. She poked at the tree, only to see part of it disappear before it wrapped itself around her finger. She pulled it away, and it easily let her go.
Melissa was sitting around a strange rock formation and was taking notes on its characteristics.
What followed afterward was hours of them exploring the area and bringing up theories of how it worked. Izuku couldn't contribute much, as the concepts they were talking about were simply too advanced, even for him. It, frankly, flew right over his head. He wouldn't know how to join the discussion once words like Anti-De Sitter Space started getting thrown around. He was smart, but his expertise lied somewhere else.
He simply acted as their bodyguard, flaring up his Spark just enough to deter most critters of Elsewhere. And those tough or dumb enough to try got their existence deleted by X before the inventor duo noticed anything.
Eventually, it was time to return. "Girls, we should head back. It's now nighttime on the other side."
"Why couldn't we just stay here for longer?" Mei questioned. She learned so much about an entirely new dimension this evening.
"Well, I have somewhere to be tomorrow," he told her.
"Oh, right," Melissa remembered. "Do you know what time?"
"Probably early morning, before sunrise."
"Wait, you're going somewhere?"
"Yeah, we're going to Camelot. That does remind me. Would you like to come as well? Melissa's already invited."
"I'll go! I'LL GO! I'LL GO MAKE BABIES IN THAT MAGICAL-SOUNDING PLACE! WHICH TYPE WOULD YOU LIKE?!"
"Calm down, woman," he chuckled. "Just be at The Crowley early morning tomorrow. That should be enough."
"You bet I'll be there!"
"Okay. We should head back. I'm sure Melissa would also have things she'd have to take care of."
"Right. Haha," she let out a shy giggle.
Eventually, they went back to The Crowley, both satisfied with what they learned and both were excited for tomorrow. Izuku, knowing the time, walked them back to their dorms, which was conveniently the same as they were classmates.
"I'll see you two tomorrow," he said his goodbye to the duo before making a quick detour to the Todoroki's, where he explained to Fuyumi the same thing he did to Nejire. She smiled sadly upon hearing this, but was comforted that it would not be for too long, only a few days. At least this time.
Fuyumi gave him a tight hug, as if trying to charge up her battery, and he hugged her back, knowing the reason. He stayed a little while longer before sharing their first kiss to each other as he said goodbye.
He then ran home, not wanting to waste time, and went to The Crowley and going straight to his bedroom, where he found Ochaco and Eri already asleep, snuggling each other on the bed.
He carefully joined them, wrapping his arms around them.
'I hope things go smoothly tomorrow,' he thought.
The following morning, as night turned to day, Izuku found himself momentarily stunned when Ochaco emerged wearing a light dress with a floral pattern in it.
"All ready, My Love?"
"I love that dress," he grinned.
Ochaco blushed. "Thank you. It is old, I fear. The ladies-in-waiting would no doubt be horrified that I wear such a simple thing for my return."
"I've seen it before, I think."
"Indeed. I wore it during my recommendations exam in UA. It was sadly the only semi-formal dress I could find in the townhouse in our mad dash. It will have to do."
"You look stunning in it."
"Thank you, dearest. Are you ready?"
"Let me get dressed, first. I won't try to match your style," he said as he grabbed his armor.
"I do not think anyone expected you to, My Heart. You make a rather martial sight."
"How's the Little Snowball?"
"I'm here, Papa," Eri tugged Izuku's finger. He looked at her and saw her wearing a green dress and her hair styled in a twintail.
"You're so cute, Eri," he commented, petting her head.
"Mama helped."
"Did she now? What do you think, Love?"
"She is absolutely adorable, is she not?"
"Definitely. And now, we're ready," Izuku put on the last piece of armor with him.
The three of them went downstairs, where they were greeted by Inko. "Morning, you three. You're up early. Eri-chan's too cute! And Ochaco, you simply look divine."
"Thank you, granny," Eri tried to bow, but was stopped by Ochaco. She quietly demonstrated a curtsy to her daughter, which she coped.
"How cute!" Inko exclaimed. "So, are you three going to a party?"
"Morning, Mom. We have cleared some of Ochaco's family issues. We're heading there with some friends to put things in order."
"Dressed like that? Shouldn't you put on a suit, Izuku? Match your wife and daughter?"
"It's...complicated. But trust me, this is the right outfit for dealing with her family business. If things go well, this will be considered formal wear. Otherwise...well, then it becomes more acceptable to wear it."
"Well...if you say so. Would you be back for dinner?"
"Probably not. Quite a laundry list to be done," he chuckled.
"Okay. Then have fun, and stay safe, honey."
"I will."
The doors opened for The Crowley as Melissa and Mei entered the building. Their clothes were disheveled like they ran in a marathon and Melissa, in particular, was panting.
"Glad you two made it."
"We're not late, were we?" Melissa asked, adjusting her clothes and eyeglasses.
"I had to drag Mei here because she wanted to bring most of her inventions with us," she chuckled. "It isn't like I didn't get it, but I'm pretty sure those would be useless there."
"We couldn't have known," Mei pouted. "We could've used my babies."
"'Babies'?" Eri tilted her head.
"Don't listen too much to her, Eri," Izuku advised her. "But for now, let's all head down to the basement. This won't be a long walk, but we're going much farther than yesterday. Are you two okay with it?"
"Don't worry. I may not look like it, but I'm pretty physically active," Melissa assured. "Mei's just a little out of shape. We'll be fine," she continued.
"I'm not! I'm just fit enough to create my babies!"
"Which is about as active as a couch potato," Izuku pointed out. "Nevermind. I'll carry you if you need. Let's just go."
They made their way to the basement, as Izuku and the others stood just outside the Portal, waiting for Kulbir.
"It feels strange wearing this to Elsewhere," Ochaco commented, looking over herself. "I would have been more comfortable with my armour."
"I would have been happy with you in your armor as well," Izuku told her. "It's not too late to go up and change."
"No, dearest. Let me be the velvet glove to your steel fist; someone needs to soften the impact of the Knights of the Lake. This dress is to help us look more like a celebration and less like an invasion."
"An army of twelve."
"Two assault Fists, one led by a Power, the other by a God. A set of Chosen composed of a Sorceress, a Seer, and a Werewolf. And if that was not enough, six more heroes-in-training. Not to forget the battalion of Gurkha mercenaries."
"And you."
"And me, yes. So I will pretend to be harmless, lest they shut the doors and hide in the basement. Opening the gates without their cooperation would be a messy enterprise."
"But entirely doable."
"If one does not worry about living in the castle afterwards, perhaps. I would rather Camelot does not go the way of Mitburgh. Let us restrain our violent impulses; at least until we can unleash them on guilty conspirators rather than innocent stone walls."
"As you say," Izuku agreed. He heard footsteps. "There's Kulbir."
"Your Highness. Sir. The battalion stands ready to deploy."
"Excellent. Let's meet the rest of our team," Izuku said, gesturing to the Portal. "Before we go, here is Eri, our daughter. And then there was Melissa and Mei. Two of the greatest inventors in our generation."
"Well, that is...quite a team, Sir."
"I'm just a tag-along," Melissa bashfully admitted.
"Not true. I think you're amazing," Izuku complimented her as they went through the Portal.
"Haha. Thank you," she giggled, feeling her face heat up as she followed him.
Eri was mesmerized by the beautiful scene around her, speechless.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Ochaco asked her, walking alongside the girl.
"Yeah," she quietly answered.
"Where are we going, Sir?"
"The Lake. It's usually our staging area," Izuku answered, noticing Kulbir warily looking around the area, his stance lowered as he gripped his kukri. "Is everything okay?"
"We are on the Paths, Sir. I feel rather naked without most of my weapons. Sadly, there are no deployed caches near Mustafu. My kukri will suffice."
"Don't worry. Ochaco will keep you safe," Izuku smiled at him.
"Thank you, Sir," he sarcastically said. "Being protected by my principal would just be perfect. The squad wouldn't stop giggling about it for months. Sir."
Izuku restrained his laugh as they neared the Gate. "Here we are. Open up, Gate."
"Yes, Promised One," it answered, startling the girl and the inventors.
"Thanks, Gate," he said as he entered the Glade.
"'Promised One,' Sir?"
"Absolutely no idea, Kulbir. Welcome to my Glade," he spread his arms, not just to welcome Kulbir, but the three others as well. "Seems the rest are here already. Momo, you met briefly."
"Yes," Momo bowed before turning to Izuku. "Welcome back, Danna-sama." Beside her was Kitsune, who Izuku noticed had three silver tails now instead of the usual two silvers and one red tail.
"The Fox demon is Hakone no Kitsune, her bodyguard. Don't disturb her, she bites," Izuku joked but Kulbir took it seriously, subtly taking a step back to gain distance.
"Yes, Sir."
"The raven-haired girl is the other Evoker, Nana. The redhead's a Chosen Werewolf, Itsuka."
"I feel safer already, Sir," he nervously muttered.
"Not necessarily a sign of good judgment, Sergeant. The pink-skinned girl is Mina, a Chosen Sorceress."
"Good morning, Daddy. This is going to be so much fun."
"If you say so, Mina. We have Yui as our Battle Healer. We have Himiko, our resident vampire. The rest of the girls were non-magic, but have useful Quirks. Kyouka has an Earphone Jack Quirk, Kinoko can grow mushrooms in your lungs, Toru's a great spy, and Ibara...well, she's Ibara."
"As My Lord deemed to designate me," Ibara demurely said.
"That doesn't make sense. Oh well," Izuku told her, not bothering to decode the religious girl's strange words. "Let's go."
And such, they walked out of the Gate, into Elsewhere. Itsuka led the formation, with her familiarity with the Paths and her senses, no threat would get a jump on them. Followed by Izuku and Ochaco, ready to engage at the moment's notice. Then Momo, Mina, and Kitsune. Yui, Kyouka, Toru, Kinoko, and Ibara along with the two inventors were at the center, ready for Izuku to cast Barrier if needed. Followed by Nana. Himiko was traveling detached from the rest, scouting for any potential ambushes.
Each passing step got them closer to Camelot, and a potential conflict.
"What should we be ready for?" Izuku asked Ochaco.
"Anything? Though I suspect today's violence will be rather one-sided, if it comes to that."
"Unless the Cult tries something."
"Indeed. But they have already lost a Seer, and Sarah will need time to recover after her resurrection. They may not have another asset ready; certainly not one they are willing to throw against us."
Izuku looked ahead. A part of him wanted no conflict today. But that would be naïve, as they had to at least intimidate the rest of the traitors to surrender. On the other hand, he wanted them to openly start a conflict. It would be easier to clean things up that way.
"How far is it now?" Izuku asked.
"Not far, dearest. In fact, there; you can see it up ahead," she pointed up ahead. Over there was a magical city straight out of a medieval fantasy book. The hilltop castle was more akin to a fairy tale's than the historical ones, with stone towers and walls tall enough that he was sure it was Enchanted, otherwise it would collapse on itself. The triangular roofs were reminiscent of the European Middle Ages, but much more colorful than expected - painted with primary colors that were accentuated by the yellow afternoon hue.
Melissa and Mei exchanged excited glances at the architectural impossibility before them. Most of the other girls looked at the sight and found themselves breathless, the air itself seeming to hum with ancient power.
Izuku's attention was directed elsewhere, however. "A river? In Elsewhere?"
"Elsewhere is a great and complex place, dearest," Ochaco explained. "Running water resists the pull of magic somewhat, and the rushing waters on each side of Camelot is likely part of Merlin's defenses."
"Cunning bastard."
"Always. Ahead of us lie the Northern Gate. To the West, you can see the Prime Portal, the main gateway between your world and ours in this part of Elsewhere, and Castrum Prime guarding it. It is the home of the Gurkha battalion; one I am fairly certain they were eager to regain control from."
"So, there were Glades just outside Camelot?"
"Not Glades, no...settlements. Camelot acts as a lodestone on reality in this part of Elsewhere, and its army provides some protection. But the settlements that huddle up against it for protection occasionally take the brunt of attacks meant for the city itself," she sadly explained.
"What's the tower, off to the side?" Izuku nodded to its direction, a tower that dwarfed all others.
"Merlin's Tower? You can see it from most places in the city; it does dominate the skyline," she excitedly remarked.
"What's in it?"
"No one knows. Its doors will not open and have defied the best efforts of generations of Court Enchanters for the past 1600 years."
"And on the other side?"
"The Keep. Our new home. Yours and mine."
"Looks like we're wandering into a real fantasy movie."
She giggled. "It will not be quite as forbidding on the inside as on the outside, My Love. The living quarters have changed somewhat since the days of Arthur."
"Good. I was worried about the indoor plumbing."
"And just next to the pub is our pub, King's Dragon!" Mina added.
"'Our' pub, Chosen?"
"I mean, the pub I was working at when I was here last time, Daddy. It's like really nice. And just across the moat from the Keep. Like, super convenient."
"If you say so."
Yet as they approached, an unmistakable silence greeted them. The grand marketplace plaza, which should have been alive with traders' calls and children's laughter, lay empty. All windows were shut and not a single person or animal in sight. The only sound was the sound of the rushing river.
As the Knights of the Lake passed through Prime Gate, squads of Gurkhas fell in around them as they walked.
"Done taking over Castrum Prime?" Izuku asked Kulbir.
"Yes, Sir. The Defenders surrendered it without much of a fight. We cracked the Armoury; most of the squads are armed for 'tiger."
"The expression is armed for bear, Kulbir. Not tiger," he corrected the sergeant.
"With respect, Sir. You need better weapons for a Weretiger," he replied, not bothered at being corrected by someone younger than him. "Werebears are pussies compared to them. With apologies for the language, Sir."
"Single men in barracks don't grow into saints, Kulbir. I don't mind the swearing, but Ochaco might, at least around the Nobles. Worth keeping in mind."
"Yes, Sir."
Izuku still looked around, searching at the rooftops for signs of ambush. His cards ready to unleash catastrophic power, if need be. "This is too peaceful, Ochaco."
"I know you were hoping to break the gates and storm the ramparts, dearest. But this is an orderly transfer of power. And to ensure it stays orderly, we brought enough force to destroy them if they get out of line."
"Yes, but where is everyone?"
"Huddling at home, in case this turns violent. A civil war is an ugly thing; yesterday's friend is today's enemy, and tomorrow's blood-feud. Safer to take no side in it until it is over for certain."
While remaining vigilant, Izuku opted to know more about his kingdom. He noticed the road to be well-maintained, even moreso than before. "What's the street called?"
"The Steps. They rise from Port Arthur to the southeast, running all the way to the final bridge into the keep."
He looked around, the buildings around him were noticeably more ornate, with statues, fountains, and murals adorning them. "Nice place."
"An expensive place, My Love. Most of the nobility have their homes here, as do the well-off merchant class. Bankers, solicitors, tradesmen...proximity to the Keep is seen as a sign of prosperity," she explained as they passed through the bridge, entering the Castle proper.
They were greeted by a man with visible age, wearing a steel skull cap. His face showed weathered features and a long grey beard that flows down his chest. He wore a rust-colored cloak, adorned with intricate knotwork patterns. Beneath was a dark blue robe over a white shirt. In his hands were a silver tiara. "Welcome home, Your Majesty. I have brought your tiara."
Ochaco took the tiara before wearing it on her head
Ochaco took the tiara before wearing it on her head. She turned to Izuku and the others. "This is Lord Anton. My magic tutor, and the Court Enchanter. Lord Anton, may I introduce you to my husband, Izuku?"
"Good to meet you, Anton. I've heard much about you."
"Have you, now? Well...meeting you in the flesh, much becomes clearer. The rumour mill believes Cú Chulainn or Lugh destroyed Mitburgh. They are mistaken, are they not?"
"Interesting guess. What makes you say that?"
"Ochaco told me about you. Less than everything, evidently, but enough that I can begin to piece together things. Your Spark. The thread that binds the two of you together. Arcus. And now, finally, an angry God unleashing Hell in her service. Are you the Winter King?"
"Not bad," Izuku praised him.
"Yes, bad. It means the Outsiders are returning. But good, in that you are at least someone she loves and cares for; Merlin's schemes were not always that merciful. And good, in that you have come into your true power. We'll need that, badly."
"You don't seem terribly worried about the Outsiders returning," Izuku raised his brows.
"We've always known they would return. The Mantle was designed as a bridge, linking two Champions across the Ages of a single War. Each year that passed was a flip of the coin to see if this would be the year they returned...and I have flipped the coin a very large number of times."
"How old are you?"
"Rude. Extremely rude, young man. Older than most you have encountered, I suspect."
"You'd be surprised." Izuku could think up of at least six individuals whom he'd bet were more ancient.
"Oh? But of course...Nemuri. Ochaco does mention you were staying with the Lady Sorceress."
"She does look rather...well preserved...compared to you."
"She is rather vainer, too. The harder you fight the influences of time, the more expensive it gets. Far cheaper to let myself age gracefully than trying to fight every external effect."
"So you're older than her?"
"I don't offhand know any humans who are. There are probably some; the very old rarely advertise it. Rude, as I said."
"Sorry."
"But no, I am old as Mages count time. And I know Nemuri was old before I was born...in all likelihood old when my predecessor was born. I can remember a world before Columbus, but not a world before the Normans. That's as precise as I am willing to be."
Izuku decided to let the matter go and so he asked, "What's the state of the Court?"
"Like a chicken coop after someone threw a fireball into it. Half of the Court is incinerated; the rest are running around squealing at the top of their lungs. I was released from my room with protestations of innocence and apologies this morning."
"They mentioned you were arrested, yeah," he gestured for them to continue forward into the castle.
"Confined to my rooms, rather. Fools. I must look like such a doddering old idiot that nobody questioned the wisdom of locking me up in the room right next to my laboratory. As if a locked door was going to stop me," he scoffed, his tone suggested more disappointment than anger.
"Yeah, I've seen what Ochaco could do."
"It is a failure of education. Most nobles know the easy things: combat enchantments to make themselves look good, the use of Gems, a few cantrips and tricks. But very few bother with the hard things. The basics. Calculations. Constructs. Building from first principles."
"Ochaco's quite capable. I saw her create a Construct with just a knife and a stone wall."
"Your wife is exceptional; I am sure this is no surprise to you. Left to her own devices, she would have become a Master Enchanter, easily as good as her father. With you, and Arcus, in the mix...Gods alone knows what she will become."
"I don't," the God shrugged.
"Well, some other God, perhaps," Anton, for the first time, chuckled. "One with less power, and more sense."
The door of the castle opened, only Eri was fascinated with the scale of the room, as the hallways were adorned by intricate arts with styles from all over the world. The ceiling, barely visible to them, was painted with a mural depicting a great battle of good vs. evil. The sounds of buzzing, the first signs of life other than them, were heard from the Great Hall.
But the very instant Ochaco's presence was noticed, the sound of hundreds of people all petered out like a knob of the volume mixer turning them down. All eyes were on them—some wide with confusion, others narrowed in fear—as Izuku and the others stepped forward.
"These guys were terrified of us," Izuku whispered, amused.
"Be nice, dearest. They have seen their lives overturned twice in a fortnight and the return of a vengeful Queen they barely know."
"You don't seem vengeful."
"The rebellion is broken. Now is not the time for vengeance, but a time of healing," she said, sitting on the Throne. "And letting them understand the new order they will be existing under."
The Gurkhas spread out to cover the crowd as the Knights of the Lake settled near her. Eri and the inventors right next to Izuku, protecting them.
Ochaco's voice rang out, clear and commanding. "The coup is over. The traitors are dead. And We have Returned."
Silence hung in the room like a held breath. The clatter of the great doors closing echoed sharply, and the Gurkhas moved into position. Fear rippled through the gathered crowd—furtive glances, wringing hands, the faintest gasp from someone in the back.
Ochaco's gaze swept across the room, meeting each noble's eyes with quiet intensity. "Relax, dear citizens. We do not intend there to be further bloodshed. But this little adventure taught Us some things. About the value of loyalty, and the cost of trust. So while today is a day for celebration, know that We chose to step away from the abyss. Test Us again...and you will not find Us so forgiving."
Izuku felt Itsuka pulling from him, Nana bouncing on the balls of her feet, Kitsune's tails were swishing. Only Mina seemed happy and calm."
"Lord Yarkow made a number of miscalculations. He misunderstood who We are. Who Our allies are. And the nature of the evil he himself was allied to. The Cult is moving; in putting down the rebellion, we encountered and killed two Lords of the Cult."
The room was filled with furious whispering: disbelief, fear, and anger echoing through the halls.
"As of today, his name is no more. Clan Yarkow has been dissolved, any survivors exiled, their holding forfeited to the Crown. He shall henceforth be known as the Traitor. Their names struck from the rolls; to refer to them is treason."
The Evoker heard the muted crying in the corner. Potentially some client or distant relative of what was once Clan Yarkow, seeing their hopes and dreams collapse.
Ochaco stood up, her eyes glowed as she channeled more magic than her flesh could hold. "Ladies. Gentlemen. We did not want it to come to this. Our hope was that we could have a peaceful transition from Our Father's reign to mine. It saddens me that so many of my Nobles should be led astray. For Camelot will need its strength in the coming months, more than ever. Izuku, join me."
Izuku felt the eyes focusing on him, heard the whispering, and sensed their fear as he crossed the floor, taking up position at Ochaco's side. On impulse, he brushed the Mantle, feeling its energy suffused him, as the Camelot shook from its very foundations. He sensed the Spark wielders in the audience cower. 'If we can't be both loved and feared...'
"The Sword That Was Lost Has Been Found," Ochaco continued. "The Mantle of The Once and Future King has been assumed. This is my Husband...King Izuku the First. The One Foretold. The Winter King."
For a stunned moment, one could have heard a forest pixie landing on a leaf. Then the room erupted. Ochaco simply watched in serenity, waiting for things to quiet down.
"The Outsiders are coming, Ladies and Gentlemen. And Camelot will gird itself for war. We have let our Alliances lapse: they must be made whole. Our Knights have grown few, the Round Table empty: it will be renewed. Our Nobility has grown fat, and fractious...you will learn to step up, or you will be forced to step aside."
Her speech echoed through the room. Izuku could see faces clenched in anger. Or in fear. But in many, he saw longing. For a chance at greatness, at stepping into the shoes of Lancelot or Bedivere, Galahad or Kay.
Ochaco sat down once more, her magic stopped flowing. "My Husband's actions at Mitburgh have left a great many Noble seats empty," she started, and it didn't take a single moment before most of the room put two and two together. "They will be filled by the strong. The brave. The loyal. New Noble families will be founded in the war to come that will last for generations. Starting today. Nana Shimura, please approach the Throne."
Nana looked at Izuku in confusion and curiosity. He shook his head minutely, conveying he had no idea what Ochaco was planning.
"Ah'm here, Princess. Ah mean, Yer Highness," she approached, uncharacteristically tense.
"Nana Shimura. You have walked through fire in Our service. Battled Necromancers and Liches. You are my Husband's right hand, and Our Sword," she paused, letting Izuku and Nana connect the dots. "For services in the past, and in the future, We hereby proclaim you Duchess Shimura of Lancaster Glade. May you help the citizens there re-capture their honour."
Izuku looked at Nana and smiled stiffly, "Congratulations, Your Grace," he teased.
"Oh bugger me sideways. Ah ain't some poncy fecking noble. Ah cannae accept..."
"You both can and will, Nana," Izuku's smile disappeared. "Someone has to ride the herd of Lord Jer...the Traitor's old domains, and I wouldn't entrust any of the old guards to do it. You're it."
"You are hereby granted the title of First Knight. Arise, Dame Nana, First Knight of the Round Table."
"Welcome to the Round Table, Dame Nana. I believe that makes you Lancelot. No lusting after Ochaco, remember," Izuku joked.
"Ye cannae be serious, Ochaco. Ah ain't a noble material; ah'll end up setting half of them on fire."
"Yeah, that happens. Welcome to the club, Nana."
"Dame Nana, one final thing. A Knight of the Round Table, and a Peer of the Realm, must be dressed appropriately," she gestured with her hands and a maid brought out a familiar set armor. "This armour has served Our family well, going back to King Arthur himself. I...We...wish you to have it. May it protect you in the days and years to come."
"Nice threads."
"Next, Itsuka Kendo. Please approach the throne," she called out.
Izuku briefly whispered, "That's your cue to exit the stage, Nana."
"Feck ye, Izuku. Ah'll get ye back for this," she whispered furiously.
"Promises, promises. See you later, Nana."
Itsuka looked even more confused than Nana was as she approached the throne.
"Itsuka Kendo. Chosen Werewolf Hunter. My beloved Husband's shadow and shield, fierce protector, and loving friend. If We could, We would have given you a noble title to go with your noble heart. But a Chosen's only bond is to their God."
"Too bad," Izuku added.
"But We can appoint you to the Round Table to sit at my Husband's left hand. Arise Dame Itsuka, the Shield Knight. May you forever live up to your bond."
"Welcome, Itsuka."
"I...It's a joke, right? Master? I can't be some Knight; I'm a grunt."
"Don't worry, Itsuka. I'll still make you work for your salary. Where's Mina and Momo?" He looked around, only to not find them. Not even Eri was there. He was about to get worried until he felt a faint trace of mischief from Mina's link to him, suggesting they were safe.
"If you seriously thought you could spring a surprise on a Seer and a Sorceress, you are deluded, dearest. They saw their opportunity and escaped while Shimura was making a fuss."
"Would've thought Mina, at least, would've jumped at the opportunity to be Duchess."
"Once upon a time, perhaps. She has changed, as they all have. Now, I believe it is the turn for our Battle Healer."
"Sounds like a good idea."
"Yui Kodai. Please approach the Throne."
"Welcome, Yui."
Her stoic expression gave way to a smile with a hint of nervousness. "With all due respect, I am not a knight," she pre-empted. "I'm barely a hero, let alone a surgeon."
"Yui Kodai. You walked through Dragon Fire with me. Stood with me when I thought I had lost everything. Stayed by my Husband's side to make sure We still have him with compassion and friendship as your sole motivation. We hereby appoint you as Royal Physician and invite you to the Round Table. Arise, Dame Yui."
Yui felt like the world spun around her, but managed to stay standing. "I...I don't think I'm up for the position, Your Highness. I barely started my studies with anatomy, let alone be qualified for such a high position. I can't, in my own conscience, put the lives of people at risk."
"You are underestimating your abilities, Yui. And you will find Lord Anton to be a most able teacher. He likely knows as much about the healing arts as any other human alive. We really do insist. We have been without a Royal Physician for too long, and it is time Lord Anton picked up an assistant."
"She's insisting, Yui. And think of an opportunity to train under one of the oldest mortal Enchanters alive. I doubt UA would refuse you back after we've saved the world." Izuku felt his mind tugging, forcing his eyes to notice her slight hesitation. "We need you here, Yui. I need you. I know this."
"Know? Like...Sorcery?"
"Maybe. All I know is you're not going anywhere. The Knights of the Lake must stay together. Night is coming, and we are the light in the darkness," Izuku told her, noticing the barest spark in her eyes. "Arise, Dame Yui. Royal Physician of the Round Table."
"I-" her voice cracked for a moment before taking a moment to calm down. "It will be my honor," she kneeled.
"I'm sure you'll be."
"The next shall be for a similar position. Please proceed, Kyouka Jiro, Kinoko Komori, Toru Hagakure, and Ibara Shiozaki."
The four girls nodded, knowing that the couple would insist on having them. They heard Izuku's words to Yui so they knew he would not be satisfied unless they were near him.
"Kyouka, Kinoko, Toru, Ibara. We have seen you grow as a hero, and I have seen your bravery firsthand. Unlike the rest, you had no innate magic to bind you to our world nor our affairs, yet none of you hesitated at the chance to help my Husband. To help Us when We needed it. We know none of you wanted to be part of nobility. But you should still be rewarded for your continued assistance. From now on, We grant you the title of Ambassadors of The Winter King. Your Words carried the weight of my Husband's in this realm or outside. Your authority is only superseded by the Chosen, Us, or Izuku's."
The four nodded as they dazed back to their previous positions.
"And that just leaves Himi?"
"She and I will have...an arrangement after this. But for now, we should finish this soon," Ochaco whispered before turning back to the Nobles. "And that concludes this ceremony, citizens. You may depart in peace. Remember your Oaths. Remember your loyalty. And remember Our Oath." Ochaco, once again, stood up and Izuku reminded Camelot of how close they were from annihilation. "We pledge to reward Loyalty with Trust. Service with Honour. Treason with Death. Know that I believe that oath with all my heart. And that if you do not believe in your Oaths to Us, you would do well to not let the sun rise on you in Camelot ever again. This is your only warning."
"Kulbir, have your men see them out. We can deal with the individual petitions tomorrow."
"Yes, Sir," he saluted to Izuku. "Clear the room, give Their Majesties some space."
"Thanks, Kulbir."
The shuffling of the crowd sounded like a flock of birds taking flight. The door to the keep swung shut and the silence settled over the hall, broken only by the sound of the torches flickering. Even the girls bid their goodbye for the long day, as they opted to explore the capital city.
Ochaco sighed before smiling at Izuku. "Well. That was efficient. If only I had thought of use Nepali mercenaries to clear the Great Hall after an audience, it would have greatly reduced the personal petitions I so dreaded."
"I'm sorry, Ochaco. You just looked tired."
"No, My Heart. It was the right thing to do. I tried my Father's brand of politics and made a complete mess of it. The two of us shall ride our own way, and if that means occasionally stepping on my Noble's toes, it is something they should have considered before letting...the Traitor...abduct me."
"Fuck them," Izuku cursed as he scoffed at the Great Hall doors.
Ochaco giggled. "I would much rather you fucked me, dearest. I tolerate your meandering ways, but copulating with my entire until they submit does seem to be excessive, even for you."
"Sounds like a plan. Err, having sex with you, I mean. Not the rest of the Court."
"Come. Let me show you our bedroom."
"Our bedroom. I like it," he smirked. No longer was it a dorm room nor the lent room from Midnight, but theirs completely.
Ochaco grabbed Izuku's hand as she led them to the bedroom. "Here we are," she presented the room.
The room exudes elegance and refinement, bathed in warm, soft light streaming through tall windows draped with sheer curtains. The walls are painted in a peachy pastel tone, adorned with subtle molding that enhances the room's classical charm. A chandelier with delicate crystal accents hangs from the ceiling, casting a soft glow that complements the natural light.
At the center, a grand canopy bed becomes the focal point, its frame gilded with golden accents. The bed is adorned with sheer white curtains that drape gracefully, creating an ethereal and luxurious effect. The bedding features intricate floral patterns in muted gold and cream tones, enhancing the sophisticated ambiance.
"So this is where the magic happens? It looks amazing."
"No magic has happened here. Yet. I fear I barely spent time here to even take care of my own. Most of the time was dealing with an endless stream of petitions and complaints."
"I'll help."
"Considering the authors of the majority of those missives were at Mitburgh, I will say you have already helped. If I ever needed another nest of rats set on fire, I shall call you, My Love."
"And now?"
"And now, I shall refresh myself. Why not wait for me in bed?"
"Sounds like a plan. See you soon, Ochaco."
Thanks for reading this chapter!
Another slightly long one. And the next one I'm planning an exclusively lemon chapter between these two. Just a chapter of them love-making.
As always, if you have questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out!