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Chapter Text

The sound of his footsteps conducted his curious soul to the destination feared by all. Despite all the rumors surrounding this place, the prince needed to take the risk of facing this man who scared so many people: Time worsened his reputation, turning this invisible shadow into a monster despite his tragic fate. 

His hands pushed a few leaves on his passage, spoiling his vision before facing a stunning contrast. If the path was scary, the reality was completely different: The uneasy atmosphere was swept away by a few rays of sunlight on the trees' movements, while a house seemed isolated in the distance. At first sight, this appeared to be inhabited for years by a shadow who frightened an entire country, but yet Katsuki Bakugo was determined.  

The moment his feet reached the protected area, a strange sensation invaded his chest until his irises caught the moving shadow. The multiple rumors concerning the “monster” living here differ from each other in their narrative: some emphasized his intelligence, while others advocated coldness in each of his gestures. The taller figure made a slow movement, assuring a backup in case something went wrong in his discoveries, but he underestimated the strength of his rival. Before realizing it, the sharp blade was meeting his exposed skin, sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere in this upcoming conversation. 

“What are you doing here? I thought everyone knew how reaching my forest would curse them and their descendants for the next decades.” The rude tone of his voice informed how he wasn’t as welcoming as the prince expected, revealing the darkest side of his personality despite the numerous rumors concerning his name. Katsuki didn’t make a move, trying to show how he wasn’t here as an enemy but as an ally.  

“I’m not afraid of facing death. I know how you ended up here…forced to face loneliness because your dad was consumed by selfishness, letting a poor woman and her child away from any side of socialization.”

This answer could be seen as a potential declaration of war to the stranger putting a weapon against his naked and vulnerable skin, but both men were conscious of this hard truth. Indeed, it didn’t last long until the first rumors started to spread in the closest village until this story became popular in the entire kingdom. The opinions were divided concerning the use of this tragedy as a tale: Some people were ready to transform it as a warning to scare their children, while others stood by themselves, explaining how they refused to finish like this poor and unfortunate soul. 

However, Katsuki Bakugo didn’t belong in the same category and carefully listened to the morbid details shared by the gossip in the streets during his childhood: The legends described a tempered man with a personal goal too big for his reach, deciding to make sacrifices by destroying the only people who genuinely cared about him, his family. He never expressed himself about their names or simple existence once his figure reached a new landscape before destroying this treasure with stupid decisions. A selfish man with too much power in his hands led to an endless fire consuming his soul. Today, the lands that were once ruled by the Midoriya were a fragment of the past, with the ghost of the innocent soul sacrificed for those selfish wishes. 

As expected, the mention of this event triggered the man beside him to put the weapon way too close to the blond’s neck. The tension in their close distance was suffocating, and both figures knew that if the prince had the audacity to continue this story, he would share his last breath on the spot in the blink of an eye.

“I’m not wasting my time with anyone spreading the same old story. I could recognize your face everywhere, aren't you afraid to taste my blade on your porcelain skin, Katsuki Bakugo ?”

It wasn’t a surprise if the prince’s name was familiar: Indeed, he was the heir of this kingdom that’ll become his during his coronation. The golden-haired man was born with gold at the palm of his hands, differing about the worst lifestyle this stranger was experiencing. The royal couple raised him with strict rules: Katsuki had never been the teenager he wanted to be like the shadows in the streets, but he found comfort in his repetitive habits. Mitsuki and Masaru’s influence had probably impacted the person he was now…but this led him to be confident enough to face the supposed monster living in those woods. 

“I’m glad we skipped the presentation because I’m here to make a deal with you,” the taller man announced with a grin, taking a quick glimpse around him to see if there was a way to escape and stay alive to continue this conversation properly. 

A few seconds of inattention gave him a chance to slide into the tight space separating their two figures, regaining his breath once he understood he was safe. Don’t get him wrong, the blond has already been into the worst battle-idled in history and faced the darkest side of humanity against his will. This previous threat wouldn’t scare him, but a simple glance at the shorter figure led him to guess how this coldness was the result of a coping mechanism. It was evident how the man living here was able to survive in those terrible conditions, but Izuku didn’t fight back when he saw how his target left him. He decided to take the easier decision by putting his back against a tree waited for an answer. 

“You have something that would interest me, Izuku Midoriya.”

It wasn’t the first time someone dared to ask for a deal, knowing the consequences of their decision: Many men in the past tried to have his favors, but their eyes would sell the worst promises, forcing the freckled man to reject each of their requests. Living alone since his childhood without anybody by his side had been hard, but his final straw was when nobody was minding the witch’s business instead of his own.  

“If your pretty eyes can charm people and bring them into your bed, make good use of your mouth by explaining the reason for your presence here. I’m not playing with any of your bullshit, and you’re wasting my time.” Izuku Midoriya could recognize this kind of personality anywhere, and he learned from his lessons and past mistakes: the less he talked with this annoying man, the better it would be for their sake. 

It appeared like the taller man understood the meaning behind the choice of his words, wondering if such a strong personality could hide something deeper behind this illusion he tried to use as a fake shield. If Izuku Midoriya was a mystery, Katsuki Bakugo would love to solve each of his pieces, pushing the other to his final straw.

“The legend around your name caught my interest because you see…we have familiar goals.”

“You don't know anything about me, so be careful with the tempting lies leaving your cursed lips, my prince,” the freckled man added with a cold tone, imposing its own rules in this conversation that would lead to a certain outcome and be beneficial for one of them. 

Katsuki decided to search for any hints concerning the physical aspect of the man who threatened his life a few minutes ago. From here, he was unable to distinguish special traits but sensed the impatience in the tone of the other’s voice. It was clear Izuku wouldn’t be easily biased by the blond’s natural charm that saved him from many situations in the past, but the time was running out, and their limits would be easily tested. 

“I would love to stop the endless conflicts in my lands, which seems unbelievable on paper, but your magic could solve my problem. A slight hint of the strongest potion able to kill someone in a few minutes and a spell erasing everyone’s memory…it’s all I ask.”

It was ridiculous to ask such a simple request when this supposed prince could find similar services around. After all, there were many people more talented than him outside this haunted forest, but this sudden man decided to offer his trust in him. Izuku man made a bitter laugh, hating how this imposing figure was trying to bring him down by treating his service as the lowest one possible. It was playing with fire and his nerves, but the freckled man had to control himself before saying something he’d regret later…

“Your eyes are betraying you because you already seem to know what I want in exchange. I heard a few whispers about your reputation, and you wouldn’t come here for no reason, am I right ?” Izuku pointed out with a mocking tone, letting the other know how he would win this argument easily after the numerous conversations he shared with similar souls like the prince. 

“I'm not stupid, and yet, we both know how this agreement might be beneficial for both of us: You can save my lands by helping me, and I could bring you what you always wanted….freedom.”

Until now, none of the corrupted spirits crossing the entrance of his forest considered the witch’s needs. The causal speech repeating itself thousands of times would be the endless repetitive promises sold by their pretty lies where Izuku was the one doing the job with nothing in return! It never crossed the green-haired man’s mind that another person considered him as a human being instead of an interference between selflessness and power, but he remained on his guard in case something was off with this proposition that appeared to be too good to be true.

 “How…How can you do such a thing? Aren’t you aware of the impossibility of leaving this jail for more than three days and the consequences it may have on me and my body ?” Izuku thought it was something obvious to anyone knowing his story, but apparently, some parts seemed to be skipped in the process. The most annoying part of this situation was how he was doomed to make friends with the voices in the darkest side of the forest, openly judging his misery with their high-pitched tone and mocking laugh. 

“Time evolves, and I think lonely people like you deserve to explore the world by themselves, don’t you think? You’re missing so many things, that’s why I’ll give you a choice….but this would be my first and last proposition, Izuku Midoriya.”

Izuku knew he should think twice before offering his final decision. After all, he heard about the prince’s reputation due to old rumors passed by the wind and caressing his ears, but he never thought he would see him under his eyes. The sunlight brushed his skin as the taller man revealed himself, exposing each of his secrets residing behind those irises that owned so many untold confessions. Indeed, It was clear that Katsuki Bakugo was a good-looking man with a bratty attitude: His crimson eyes reminded him of the previous jewels Inko used to wear as a memory of her past life before leaving this world. The first thing that caught the freckled ma’s attention was the shade of gold coloring his spiky hair, being accorded to the scars exposed on his right arm, being the result of unfair conflicts. 

However, the witch needed to stay on its guard after the previous betrayal he experienced. Izuku was aware of how his habits of longing for someone or something would cause him enough doubts, but it was the first time a proposition was actually interesting. Don’t get him wrong, the freckled man didn’t expect anything special at the end of this journey, but maybe giving his trust to a man like Katsuki would change his mind, even temporarily. If the prince was betraying his promises, the shorter man would make sure to have his blood on his hands without a second thought.

“Deal, but if someone knows about this, you’re dead.” His voice resonated in the familiar woods that waited for this hint of revival, observing his shadow, leaving his hidden spot to reveal himself. It was unfair to keep the secret of his appearance any longer, especially after the blond did to show him he was treating him as an equal.

 At first sight, the blond found himself impressed by the smaller man’s unique physical traits: his messy green curls were accorded to the shade of emerald coloring his irises, reminding him of precious treasures that could be found in his castle. The previous shadow led the blond to think the witch was the same height as him, but he surprised himself, realizing how the shorter man was standing a few meters away from him with crossed arms against his chest. His crimson eyes quickly found the freckles on his cheeks before scarred hands entered his vision field, wondering if they weren’t so different after all….

“I still have a word to say in this contract,” Izuku added with a grin on his face, enjoying how this conversion might be an advantage for him and the last hint of hope residing inside his chest. His emerald eyes caught the focused attention appearing on the prince’s face, revealing how he was the center of his attention for the moment. “We might mind each other’s business, but my only request to make this deal work is to stay by my side until we get what we want. I was betrayed once, I need to have my eyes on you, Katsuki Bakugo.”

“You have no idea how I’m glad you finally admitted to show yourself, we’ll make a great team together,” Katsuki affirmed with a smirk on his lips, reading the relaxed expression crossing the freckled man’s face after his words. 

After all, it was reasonable for Izuku to doubt the honesty of his words after experiencing an agreement that ended up with the wrong term, but the future king of those lands would never break his own promises. He was a man of words and would make this work even if this meant wasting sweat and tears to see their mutual goal accomplished. The scarred hands met the fresh air ruffling the palm of his hand, waiting for an answer while Katsuki simply nodded, coinciding with their first interaction as something symbol for the new chapters of their lives.

At first sight, this conversation seemed to be the deal of the decades: In the end, they would both win something, even if this journey would cost them much blood and sacrifices.

——-

“How did you even find my place ?” Izuku asked with a curious glance, taking a quick glimpse at the taller figure standing in his living room.

Even if this was a simple agreement without any promise behind their words shared earlier, the two strangers needed to establish some basic exchange. It wasn’t the first time the green-haired man had done this kind of meeting, but the beginning reminded me the same: To get to know each other better and where they would start, the two men needed to know the outcome of their mutual trust. Without much hesitation, the prince decided to follow the witch inside to have a more private space, standing away from the gossip spreading around the darkest side of the forest. 

 If Izuku’s gazes were darker than a midnight sky, his house was different. There were bright colors that attracted attention to roller skating without necessarily burning your retina. Some furniture seemed worn over time and had some flaws, indicating that a job done by hand had passed there. It was neither luxurious nor bad but comfortable enough to remove any cliché and craziness around its legend. 

“It didn’t take long to do research about the most hated area of the lands. Listen, I know you don’t want to trust me, and you have the right to feel that way, but I want to have peace once and for all, and you’re the only one being able to help my case.” The prince explained, putting his hands against his forehead and feeling the annoyed jade eyes on his. Both men were aware that their interaction and deal weren’t over, especially if someone found out how Katsuki Bakugo contacted the cruel witch. 

“Why would the great Katsuki Bakugo be so desperate to reach a cursed soul like mine? Don’t you have more powerful people able to help you in your castle ?” After all, this question seemed logical from someone who’s stayed inside his jail for too long. The blond was powerful enough due to the gold in his hands, so why should he ask such an important request of a nobody like Izuku? The freckled man wasn’t naive, he knew the stranger had something else in mind, it was just a question of time before finding out what his red iris was hiding.

“I don’t trust them enough to keep such an important secret.” The words unconsciously left his mouth, realizing how those confessions established an awkward silence. It was clear the green-haired man wasn’t expecting this kind of answer, but it caught him off guard. Maybe the future king had his own reasons, but something changed in his gaze, almost like he was trying to convince the other to trust him.

“Then why did you decide to put your trust in me? I’m not different from them unless you petty me for the rumors around my name. After all, if the great Izuku Midoriya betrayed someone and suddenly died…you could turn it into an accident with your sweet lies.”

“As touched as I am to see how you figure out my strength, I do think you’re the most powerful help in the country.” The golden-haired man pointed out, watching the emerald irises turn into curiosity.

 Izuku was right: there were a bunch of people able to solve the case, but they wouldn’t be trustworthy enough…especially when his parents had an eye on each of his actions. If Mistuki and Masaru wanted to take their old secrets to their graves, their son wanted the opposite, and for that, he needed to have help from a certain someone.  

“You have a lot of qualities you don’t recognize yourself. Behind your stupid freckles, you seemed smart enough to figure out how this deal might be a new beginning for both of us: In the end, we can turn our despair into an act of courage and change the narrative, including his barrier bullshit.”

Back in the days when the Midoriya’s name was on everyone's lips, another legend started to appear around the two poor souls being banned from their own lands. The magical obstacle surrounding their new home was created with the help of the strongest witch in the country with limited restrictions: once Izuku or his mom left this place, they only had 3 days of freedom, which left them only 72 hours to return in their hell against their wills. Once the countdown was done and none was here, their state would deteriorate step by step until the prisoners gave their last breath. Indeed, it surprised the green-haired man, knowing how the research must’ve been deep: this information was something private and unreachable, but the witch had to admit it…the blond caught his attention. 

“I heard many people portraying the crown prince as an asshole, but you seemed to be way too curious about things that shouldn’t concern you. Aren’t you afraid one day you’ll discover something you’ll regret ?”  Izuku asked, making sure the stranger was conscious about the public reaction awaiting him if something went wrong.

Katsuki Bakugo used to be the center of attention, and still…it was different with this Izuku Midoriya. The freckled man appeared to have something different from the usual extras he met, almost like his curious eyes were trying to reveal an unspoken truth. 

“That day, I would face the consequences of my actions, but this is the only way to make my selfishness work. Don’t pretend you’re not interested, I can feel how your eyes were begging my help to escape from this shitty forest. Tell me…Did you try at least to break the 3-day rule ?”

The atmosphere in the room became silent after asking such a personal question, having the impression of erasing all the efforts the two men put into their conversation. What surprised him the most was the way the jade iris turned colder, forcing the taller man to look away. It was evident that everyone owned their little secrets, but Katsuki realized how he might’ve been too far with this sensitive topic.

“Yes, and I learned from my lesson.” He explained with a distant tone. If this genuine hint of humanity that crossed the witch’s eyes for a few seconds caught his attention, he refused to keep walking in this dangerous game, choosing the silence treatment. Something in his guts warned him about having another occasion to develop more about this vulnerable part of Izuku’s past, leading him to make one of his worst moves.

“Did you know how your beauty could lead a man to go to the war ?” He declared as if it was a universal truth, aware of how the witch might be used to those kinds of compliments. There were no lies in expressing out loud how the freckled man was beautiful with his innocent face: There’s no doubt he would be convoluted by many people if he was showing up in public, being probably a better but tragic option to stay away from the most corrupted souls.

“Did you know my blade could shut your stupid mouth and pierce your chest faster than you think? It’s a secret I didn’t think I would share this soon, but I’ll use it if necessary.” Using the defensive tone would be easier than answering their flirty games. An actual answer would be way more violent, but Izuku needed to keep his reputation clean, especially when those woods have ears. 

“I don’t think you’ll need to use it with me because I'm pretty good at defending myself.”  If it was an ego competition, the blond would’ve probably won easily, even with a strong open like the shorter man. One glance was enough to recognize how they could agree about one common thing: This dynamic between them wouldn’t be the one they expected, but maybe both figures could own some interesting reactions.

“Is that so? Then why didn’t you fight back when you had the occasion to show me your supposed skills ?” Katsuki sword, he felt a hint of tease in the other’s tone, almost like he was aware to prove a verity still unknown to his rival. Until now, the blond had met many annoying people in his path, but he didn’t expect to include the witch so early on the list!

“If you’re so curious, maybe you should see it by yourself, Izuku…” The echo of his voice filled the empty house, letting his crimson eyes meet the emerald ones. It was evident that both men didn’t want to lose this fight, and still…they knew they needed each other alive in this mission, despite how much the other was annoying, 

“I can’t wait to see it, but would you stop promising seducing lies and jump to the main topic ?” The scarred hands slipped the paper on the wooden table, putting it within the reach of the man holding it in front of him. Izuku made it clear he was not there to play any longer in his game, and the tuning in physical form had to be necessary. 

At first glance, the contract was older, but the writing was elegant enough to show that Izuku would have belonged to the royal family if fate had not been harsh against him. Katsuki’s eyes began to analyze the writing style, noticing that his O’s tended to look like A’s if not paid attention. However, with a slight movement, his eyes sensed the impatient aura of the one supposed to solve all his problems. 

“We’ll do it with my rules, Katsuki Bakugo,” the freckled man explained with a grin appearing in the corner of his lips, realizing how this deal seemed to be pretty interesting… “By signing this contract, you’ll agree to accept all the conditions and can’t return on your choice, even if you have regrets at some part of the journey.”

“Am I supposed to be afraid of a stupid paper? Give me this pen, and we’ll cut this shit out. The faster we do this, the faster we can let go of each other, freckles.” The blond replied with an unimpressed sigh, facing the seriousness in the emerald eyes. It was a well-known fact that making a deal with someone who belonged to the supernatural status would cost him more than the actual concession they made, but Katsuki didn’t mind. He had nothing to lose, and no one was waiting for him at home, at least the whispers in the corridor would spread his name in the afterlife. 

“You don’t realize how you’re selling a part of your soul by writing your name and signing down ?” Izuku affirmed with an annoyed tone. He would never understand why members of high status, such as the royal family, treat that kind of thing as simple toys until they face the result of their actions and complain about being tricked. The green-haired man might be hated by the entire land, but at least he had some values and let his clients know the kind of mess they’d find themselves in. “Unless no one in your surroundings warned you because their beloved prince is supposed to be too pure to be hurt by the cruelty of this world.”

“Oi, I’m not in porcelain, and I’m not gonna break,” the blond objected, grabbing the pen and filling the blank space of the contact. His fingers seal the pen before pressing the table to sign with his full name and signature. For a moment, Katsuki felt an immediate effect as the man in front of him smiled. It was easy to guess how the two men were now bonded by the existence of this contract, and the rule was simple: if one of the two broke the agreement, both would succumb to a slow and painful death. 

“From now on, there’s no turning back, and I hope we’ll solve this case soon, Izuku Midoriya.” It was too late to have regrets, and yet, this slight sensation of new adventures and excitement occupied the blond’s chest. He didn’t remember the last time he experienced such emotions and actually enjoyment at something in his redundant life, hoping this would end well for both of them. 

“I hope so,” Izuku smiled, his hands shaking the prince’s. “Surprise me, kacchan,”

——

Months later, 

Katsuki Bakugo used to find some stupid excuses concerning his slight escape in town during his supposed training, making everyone exhausted about him acting like a teenager. The pressure on his shoulder was too strong, and still, each glance exchanged with the familiar figure in the corridor reminded him about how the expectations surrounding his presence became higher now he was getting closer to the age of coronation. His parents themselves didn’t even try to search after their son’s disappearance, being way too occupied to deal with the potential war reaching their beloved lands, already occupied by the wasted blood of many innocents for decades. 

 However, each of his techniques became perfect as his shadows faded away in the blink of an eye, convincing himself about how he was about to start the most interesting chapter of his life. After all, he discovered a second time the joy of being excited and planning a meaningful project, even if his dynamic with the freckled man needed a lot of work to reach a potential affection between their stubborn souls. His figure crossed the same landscape he could recognize everywhere, appearing like a fever dream to his inner child who always wanted to escape, but the older Katsuki knew better. What was hiding behind this forest was nothing except ethereal…

“Already there? I didn’t know you were so impatient,” a teasing tone suddenly caught his attention. Today, the freckled man was wearing something more comfortable based on his white blouse, simplistic at first, before discovering finishes from fine lines separating the fresh air from the outside of the contact of his skin. In this assemblage came a dark brown belt, thin enough to stand out from the green color of his pentagon, recall the nuances in his locks of hair.  Despite the simplicity of this style, it was effective enough to attract the attention of anyone in the vicinity, including the eyes of the crown prince.

“I should say the same, it seems like you were waiting for me.” There were thousands of games the prince liked to play, but seeing who’s gonna admit his defeat first was the most interesting one. Those constant teases were nothing but attempts to test the other’s ego…but it looked like the two men already had many common points with their mutual desire to play with fire.

“What can I say? I don’t have a lot of visitors, and we still have a lot of things to do before jumping into the action, don’t you think ?” The simple tone in his voice was revealing enough about his current conditions: The hint of novelty faded away years ago after paying the price for their naive existence, but Katsuki couldn’t blame him for searching for more enjoyment in his redundant lifestyle. Being alone in this endless forest was probably playing with anyone’s nerves easily…but this kind of surprise might spice up his boring days.

“Then you should be more gentle with the choice of your words if you want good publicity, especially when this part of the woods sounds scary, without offense,” declared the blond with a smirk, catching the annoying glare of the green-haired man.

To be fair, he wasn’t even sure why he was standing here in the first place, probably raising doubt in his kingdom, but he wanted to change his mind. Lately, his parents has been on his shoulders, annoying him with duties that he should do against his will. Katsuki Bakugo wasn’t afraid of expressing his thoughts to people, wondering how some extras still supported him despite his harsh personality. Izuku couldn’t help but notice how the taller figure seemed to easily fit in their new dynamic, where someone else would’ve run away, but he had no choice. 

After all, the witch owned his heart…Literally. 

“His majesty has a tendency to play with dangerous situations,” the freckled man pointed out with a smirk, slowly entering the other’s game. He had nothing to lose, knowing the blond was forced to listen to him and his order, no matter if they were crazy or sending him into a life-or-death situation. “Should I be afraid of making a deal with the devil?”

“Being called that way should be considerate as an insult, but who am I to refuse such a compliment when the only thing I want is to stop this shit once and for all ?” The golden-haired man admitted, forced to admit this evident statement. Both men knew their relationship was nothing more than just a deal between two opposites, unable to break this promise knowing how the prince’s life was on the line. In another context, this could be seen as something romantic, but their personal ambition and goals dictated something different. 

“Spending time with someone like you must be lovely,” replied the green-haired man with a grin. He never thought he would argue with an annoying figure like Katsuki Bakugo, but he wasn’t afraid to impose his rule, not when he was the one who made this agreement possible. “I almost feel bad for them.” 

“You’re already projecting yourself in a false illusion, darling,” pointed the golden-haired man, l following the shorter figure in his garden. He couldn’t help but worry about the secret this place owned, wondering how an interesting soul like Izuku’s made it unique. 

“Don’t call me like that,” the freckled man objected with an annoyed gaze. “Keep that name for your one-night stand or whatever you’re doing with your life. I don’t want to know what happened behind the walls of your precious castle, make sure to keep me out of this shit.”

“Sure, if you want, freckles,” Katsuki replied with a teasing tone. His eyes landed on the landscape near his reach, being captivated by those alluring sounds echoing from the background. His shadow left the porch of the house, where the conversation was supposed to continue, but a sudden light owed his entire attention.

The blond couldn’t help but move his head closer to the darkness, losing himself when something called his name, almost like this invisible shadow was trying to seduce him. He would casually be the kind of person to reject this offer, but there was something charming in the tone of this voice, playing with his curiosity. The sound of his footspeed echoed in the empty forest, unconsciously digging his own grave and ignoring the background noises coming from the person behind him. It was too late to step back, his crimson eyes caught the sign of a hand residing in the endless path surrounding him.

/”Come to me pretty boy,”/

For a moment, his body was guided by an unknown strength, similar to the mermaids seducing their next targets. It happened in a few seconds, but sudden arms stopped the prince from reaching the hidden part of the forest, the one taking many more lives than it saved. The light returned in the blond’s eyes, slowly regained his consciousness, and realized his mistake that nearly caused his death. His face turned around, meeting the emerald eyes in his path, while the scarred hands were still resting on his arms.

“Rule number one: don’t go near this part of the forest unless you want to die in the most horrible way. It would be cruel to lose someone as annoying as you.” Izuku pointed out with a sigh, taking a step back and glancing coldly at the magic that seemed to mock him from afar. “This part of the wood is cursed by the darkest souls, creating alluring illusions of something attractive to their victim before breaking their souls into millions of pieces.”

“And you didn’t have the audacity to warn me about this ?” The crimson eyes met the virion one, revealing how a smirk appeared on his face, amused by the joke. There was nothing funny with the previous comment, but the shorter man seemed to understand something the prince didn’t. 

“I never knew you would be this curious about something that didn’t belong to you,” objected the freckled man, crossing his arms against his chest. His back was resting on the tree, noticing how the golden-haired man’s face turned into annoyance, bringing a sentiment of victory through this small victory. “One of these days, you’ll open the Pandora box and regret it. Be careful, your majesty.”

“For the moment, I’m still alive, but I have to admit how you saved my life. Maybe I should give you something back even if your face makes me understand how this offer already bothered you.” For once, the blond was trying to be nice, but he was rejected by the shitty personality of the witch haunting those forbidden woods! It was the least he could do to thank the green-haired man, even if they could barely stand each other, but his mind would’ve been lighter…knowing how he hated leaving a service without being paid back. 

“Congrats, you can read the expression on my face, do you need a reward or someone to welcome your night, your majesty? Plus, I don’t need anything from you, your presence already annoys me, the faster we do this, the better I’ll be for us, acting like we never met each other,” admitted the freckled man, convinced about how to own belief..

Without realizing it, the two men unconsciously sealed their fates with a simple promise and marked their names in the history books. 

———

Dealing with the crowned prince was more intolerable than he expected. Don’t get him wrong, despite being alone his entire life since his mother left, the freckled man enjoyed the company of others from time to time. However, there was something unique about this man standing in his house and casually touching everything, playing with the witch’s nerves. 

Did Katsuki really have the confidence to think he owned this place? A single selfish act from the greenette and the beloved prince of their nation is gone, reduced to dust under Izuku’s palm. He wasn’t the kind of person to take someone’s life without regrets, but he needed to set some boundaries with the golden-haired man before hearing another tragedy in the kingdom.

“You’re acting like a child,” the freckled man pointed out, crossing his arms against his chest and noticing how the future king frowned at his comment. “You should’ve told me you came here for a babysitter, I would’ve rejected your offer and didn’t have wasted my precious time with you.”

“As painful as it seems, we both need each other to reach our goal,” objected the golden-haired man with a smirk, observing the emerald eyes roll at his stupid answers. “Freedom is something convoluted by many souls, most of them being naive due to their lack of knowledge surrounding this topic. Consider yourself lucky to have someone who knows the secrets of this world because it’s the only way to reach the liberty you’re desperately looking for, freckles.”

There was no way someone like the prince was able to easily read into his eyes like an open book! It’s been months since the two strangers sealed their fate in this life-changing deal, and time surprisingly flies by the casual sunsets, informing the beginning of another repetitive morning. 

“Who says I’m looking for such a thing? You shouldn’t be so confident about a truth you never owned, my prince,” he decreed. The green-haired man refused to let a stubborn soul like Katsuki win this battle, not when Izuku was unconsciously planning to win the final fight between them. He wasn’t the kind to give up so easily, and no matter the efforts the two men needed to put into place to make this work, they needed to hold on a little longer.

“Lying to yourself will only bring you pain in the long term, darling,” the blond answered with a flirting tone. “Your eyes flicker when this topic is mentioned in conversation, and your face betrayed you more than once, letting me read how you envied the ones with the abilities to control their own lives.”

This time, Katsuki left his chair with a slow walk toward the shorter figure. Under this angle, their high differences became obvious to the ghost in this room, who had already gotten used to the blond’s presence. However, something was intriguing with the prince’s presence, almost like he was bringing a hint of life to this place rotten in the dust.  

“Don’t call me that,” threatened the greenette with a cold glance. “I’m not and will never be another toy to play with. My feelings are worth fighting, and your name isn’t made to compete with mine. You’ve already crossed a dangerous line by approaching me; don’t make things worse.”

If there was something he hated more than being despised, it was to be considered as an object to please selfish pleasure from nobles’s fantasies. Many strangers crossed his isolated spot, seduced by his beauty, and promised him the world, only to run away at the slightest occasion to protect themselves. It was evident how being attached to Izuku Midoriya was a crime, but Katsuki wasn’t afraid of playing with fire…that’s why he came here in the first place: to get his revenge.

“It was never my intention to lead the innocent witch of these woods into an argument, but you shouldn’t be afraid to show your darker side to the people ready to open their hearts for you,” the blond corrected with a teasing smile, taking a quick glimpse at the transparent bocal. It was strange to see his heart being contained and protected in such a thing, but it was the least Izuku could do to keep his promise.

“Flattering people with your charms might work in your sweet palace but not on my lands,” Izuku added with a sigh, putting his back against the chair and glancing into the crimson eyes. Nothing differentiates him from the other nobles who crossed his paths in the past, even if this determination strangely fits with his turbines…which only implies how things can be worse for the witch who agreed to offer his help. 

Katsuki had to admit his first defeat, observing a glimpse of a smile drawing itself on the other’s face. Coming here was his secret place, being considered a guilty pleasure like a child running into a treehouse in the nearest woods to escape real life. The blond had never been the kind of person to run away at the slightest problem, deciding to face them and pay the consequences if necessary. His parents were more than careful with the curses escaping from his lips, able to ruin entire lives if curious ears had the ability to face the stubbornness of the future king. 

This small house in the lost wood represented this childhood freedom he never had but only reached in his dreams. A comforting place where Katsuki would feel himself and put away his royalty duties with the fear of not being enough for his parents. Hiding behind loud shouts and decisions coming out of nowhere was his way of protecting himself from his own weakness, fearing his own vulnerabilities. Dealing with an annoying nerd wasn’t included in his plan, but the witch’s presence was enough to occupy his days and get to know his story better, even if Izuku stayed discreet about some part of his life.

Their afternoon was often described as their two shadows standing in the house, letting their voices fill the casual silence. However, as much as Izuku hated to admit it, he liked the idea of having someone by his side to make conversation. Being alone in those walls for the past years after his mom’s death became overwhelming for his vulnerable shoulders. He recalled crying with the hope of meeting comforting arms, hugging him, telling him how he’d be okay…but the only way to find his mom was in his imagination.

Dreaming had always been Izuku’s safe place. 

When this barrier appeared and changed the turn of their lives, their desire for freedom found itself reduced to its lowest. Facing the same painting near their house was amusing the first days, but the weeks turned into years, and Iuzku got tired of the “What-ifs.” He apprehended each visitor with the fear of being used or, even worse… tortured, but the tiny glimpse of novelty faded away, being replaced by the old habits, killing him from the inside.

Maybe Katsuki’s unexpected visit was meant to change his fate. 

From the moment their eyes met, the two men sensed in their guts how they were able to bring something important to each other. It was an impression stronger than any words confessed until now, but a truth they decided to keep for themselves. Seeing the golden spiky hair in his living room became a casual routine for their weekly meeting: a moment where the two of them would share their updates about the situation and the new information able to interpret the success of their plan. 

Katsuki Bakugo learned how the lonely witch spent most of his days with his thoughts and his personal entries being transcribed into ink and sealed away from anyone’s eyes. 

Izuku insisted on keeping his diaries hidden from the world, explaining how it was none of his business. Those precious narratives forged into this piece of paper told the story of a young man who found a way to survive in his misery, facing many obstacles, including an important loss in his life. Despite the constant teasing, Katsuki couldn’t help but admire how a part of him was intrigued by the mystery residing behind those mesmerizing emerald eyes. There were more than simple jokes about loneliness, but a real human letting himself be consumed by the emptiness in his chest each day, looking for a savior. 

Izuku Midoriya always despite the royalty family and nobles. 

They always tend to pretend to have control over their lands and money, and many people warm their beds to cover their cheating affairs. It was a well-known fact that the same souls who claimed to be the happiest were drawn to their own lies, knowing how they tried to complete this emptiness in their hearts. Maybe the witch had a common point with his rival, but he still enjoyed hearing about the royal life from Katsuki’s perspective. It was evident how this inspirational figure wasn’t going to easily be guided by others, determined to create his own rules and defend his values. Indeed, this world wasn’t conceived for one common truth but for thousands of different perspectives about the same situation. 

The golden-haired man explained how he was hated by his rivals for winning lands by his natural smartness instead of using magic. He even confided how each day became similar to each other, with the same landscapes drawing themselves over the past 20 years. His name was meant to be remembered, but at what price? Is this impression of not searching for a goal and slowly killing himself the reason why so many nobles were dead from the inside? Did those lifeless souls used to be inspiring and full of passion for the slight detail life could offer them? It was too late to answer this question, but Katsuki refused to be one of them.

Making such a deal with Izuku would be considered a betrayal, but it was the last thing to do to regain the colors of his skin. He was tired of being used as a simple trophy, seeing the same landscape every day and repeating the history. Maybe the determined prince and lonely witch had more common points than they expected….

—--

“Already missing me? It’s been 4 days since your last visit,” the shorter man declared, recognizing the familiar shadow approaching his house. If he destroyed the idea of showing his vulnerabilities to others, he was grateful to see how the future king didn’t break this deal like the other clients used to do. 

The crimson eyes glanced around, making sure no one was watching him from afar. His previous meetings with the freckled man were often considered a "political agreement to a place where you shouldn't look, extras".  Everyone understood how they shouldn’t interfere with the prince’s business, even if his parents were asking themselves a few questions. However, all his thoughts were erased when emerald eyes met his, immediately recognizing the smaller shadow who got his back against the wall, waiting for him with a smile.

It would be a lie to consider Izuku as an ordinary man: The nerd owned more knowledge than anyone in the Mustafy kingdom, being able to use it to his advantage....which was something he would never do according to his values. Katsuki was sure, in another life, it would’ve been love at first sight between them if their rivalry and tension in this economy didn’t exist. With time, the prince learned to mesmerize the shade of red, coloring his cheeks, highlighting his freckles, and observing the light returning in his irises when he was passionate about a topic. 

The freckled man was ready to forget their previous tension just to listen to the numerous adventures Katsuki shared with his mentor, All Might. This name became a legend after the famous victory opposing the Mustafu’s kingdom with the Bellveti’s. This war that lasted for decades with millions of innocent lives sacrificed took an unexpected turn when a soldier stood on the battlefield and saved their nations. 

Izuku remembers spending most of his time training with his mom for the most basic spells, transforming them into life-changing potions. His biggest pride was how, when he was 10, he succeeded in reviving a dead frog near his lake! That day, his mother gave him the biggest hug he ever received, explaining how she was so proud of him. Unfortunately, this dream faded away when he was expelled from his natal lands and forced to face his inner demon with the wind, spreading his wasted tears. 

“Nice to see you too, freckles,” the blond answered with a smirk, being welcomed by rolling eyes. He caught the emerald irises losing themselves to the revealed skin, exposing his recent scars…which was a detail he had never noticed before. “If I didn’t know you, I would say you’re happy to see me, am I right ?”

“One of these days, you’ll drawn into your own delusional, my prince,” he replied with amusement. “We both know how lonely days are driving me crazy. I should probably ask why you decided to give me a surprise visit when you returned from the battlefield.”

Katsuki's face softened as he decided to sit on the porch with a sigh. He observed the witch’s figure sitting beside him, almost like he was waiting for an answer. There was something domestic and comforting with the idea of confessing all your verity to someone who didn’t know anything about the outside of those woods. 

The sudden announcement crossed more ears than expected, spreading the news to the most curious people, unable to keep their tongues to themselves. The main rule of this important attack was to stay silent to hit the most people and trigger their rival, but things took an unexpected turn when the Duke of Manchester expected their visits. For the first time, the golden-haired man and his army were standing against a wall, and many innocents lost their lives in this unfair fight… offering a bitter victory on Katsuki’s lips. 

The blood wasted on those dirty fields, rushed by their used feet and lifeless bodies, was about to haunt him in the next years. Katsuki justified the bags under his eyes with a lack of sleep due to his royal duty and this pressure on his shoulders, but it was a complete lie. The main reason for their existence was the sensation of being eaten by the regrets of breaking his own promises. Each night, he pictured the numerous losses, including some friends and people who gave him faith in this complex situation until the very end. 

Don’t get him wrong, being a member of the royal family means being used to those horrifying crimes committed by the most heartless souls. He was sure that many families cursed his name, taking a loved one's life away, but this world was unfair. Each side will have a specific narrative to the same story, where you can either be the savior or villain of this timeless tale.

“Let’s say I wouldn’t mind taking a break in these kinds of moments, but selfishness is the only way to survive in a tough conflict like war,” the golden-haired explained, staring at his wrist and used palm. The bitter sensation inside his chest reminded him how his army faced so many fights without having the impression of really learning more about themselves. The entire time, he was the monster in someone’s story and the hero in others…without knowing how to define himself after the atrocities he committed on purpose.

Izuku noticed how something was different in the tone of his voice…almost like the blond was about to have a breakdown. For a moment, he put his flirting tone aside and decided to listen carefully to the other’s speech, facing the vulnerability inside the crimson eyes that used to tease him in the past months. 

“They were aware of our visit, planned each of their attack to reach the most target and weakness in our army,” he confessed, feeling the need to explain his emotions to someone instead of considering them as a burden on his shoulders. Katsuki was a simple man tired of pretending and needed to share his worries with someone he considered close…even if this person was the witch who considered him a simple client. “They looked me straight in the eyes and told me every hard truth I needed to face to play with my nerves. I ended up winning this battle…but at what cost? The only thing I feel is resentment in each of my bones and venom splitting out of my mouth.”

Izuku surprised himself by being touched by this sudden confession. He was the first one to know how their relationship had never been on good terms, but there was something heartwarming with the way the blond was holding back his tears. Katsuki was used to keeping all this pain on himself the entire time, adapting to this coping mechanism and ending up breaking its shield in the most unexpected moment. Indeed, he naturally decided to reach the lost house in the world instead of the castle he claimed as his house since birth.

This realization awoke a weird feeling inside Izuku’s chest, almost like he was supposed to understand a certain truth from this meaningful gesture. After all, it’s been years, and he has never been used to face another human’s vulnerability, except his mother's. His past clients were always full of hate and darkness, but Katsuki Bakugo was the first one with a hint of decency in his soul. 

The freckled man wondered if he should take this chance and expose his thoughtful side to someone who’ll forget about him later. Despite the dreadful rumors, the witch was a human with a heart, easily touched by the slight hint of humanity. The prince was simply begging for help, and Izuku refused to play the heartless monster. 

He took a slight breath and decided to let his hands meet the shaking shoulders in a gentle movement. It was the first time the two men agreed to stay vulnerable around each other, especially when their supposed rival became their biggest confidence in this lonely environment.  From afar, the voices coming from the darkest side of the forest faded away when the taller man took his head away from his knees and authorized himself to meet the worried emerald eyes.

At this moment, a slight smile appeared on Izuku’s lips, an expression the blond had never seen before. His heart missed a beat at this view, wondering if he wasn’t simply dreaming, but the wind reminded him how it was his reality. For a moment, the greenette lost himself in the genuine worries hiding in the emerald irises, wondering why such a sight awoke such feelings inside his chest. He had never felt that way for anyone before, but the heat of Izuku’s palm against his shoulder offered him enough reassurance, wondering if it was another trick of the witch. 

“Kacchan,” he pronounced his nickname, almost as if it was too delicate to be taken away by the wind. This interaction was something unexpected between the two opposites: They previously swore to hate each other until they regained their consciousness and agreed to show their sentiments. “I’ve never been in your place with this overwhelming pressure on your shoulder, but I know how you’re trying your best. I might not be the most reliable figure when it comes to reassurance, but I can recognize when someone is fighting until the end…you should put your shield down, not when you’re with me. You can authorize yourself to be human.”

Katsuki stayed silent. He wish he could have something to fight back, to show how the freckled man was wrong about his nature the entire time…but he was unable to defend his case. He refused to welcome the unshed tears that he accepted from past fights haunting his dream. However, he noticed how the light that caught his attention in the past month offered him another kind of warm, an odd sensation he never felt before. 

“My mom taught me how war often transformed the most naive men into the cruelest people. The ones meant to find peace in darkness don’t have any regrets about taking someone’s life, even if it was for their need. The most curious soul with a hint of humanity is meant to feel disgusted by their own actions because they’ve been guided by the wrong rule. Having blood on their hands doesn’t make you a bad person, just a soldier trying to survive between his inner demons and the way everyone portrayed him.”

“And how are you supposed to see the real me when you’re only here for business, and our path might leave in an uncertain time ?” Katsuki asked, taking enough strength to form words, questioning why the answers mattered so much to him when he shouldn’t care and return home.

Izuku’s face softened. The scarred hands slowly moved from the shoulder to the exposed arms and wrist, where the recent scars were standing under his eyes. This sight was hard to see at first, for some reason, he couldn’t name, but he decided to change their meaning that seemed to bother the blond. The green-haired man wasn’t using any kind of magic or charm, simply his heart to transform weakness into strength…

“I had my expectation concerning the kind of mask you were using to cover your true self, but I ended up facing something mesmerizing. Every day, I’m admiring a new side of your personality through your visits and putting aside my lonely thoughts by lightening my days. I’ve never been present for anyone in my life except my mom before she passed away, but this doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be listened to. Despite your inner conflict, you remain a soldier trying to fight for his values: Don't keep all this pain on your shoulder, not when you can share it with a shoulder to cry on. I’m facing a human forced to go against his will on the battlefield to defend his lands to make someone proud and be someone's hero.” 

His fingers delicately reached the recent scars, hearing a groan of pain escaping from the blond’s lips. Izuku’s face twitched, imagining the other being hurt and mixing his own blood with his rivals until he glanced at the teary irises. The freckled man didn’t realize how close they were when a sudden fire awoken in their chest, pushing aside the inner voice in their heart, begging them to feel each other’s heat.

“I’m observing a survivor who tried to heal his inner demons…and the only promise I can assure you is how it’ll be fine, even if it’s a question of time before finding the right person by your side. I’m sure someone else is waiting for you in this world,” the freckled man added with a gentle tone, realizing how those words escaped from his lips. He surprised himself, wondering what was this mysterious curse the prince shared with his naive soul.

Katsuki lost himself in the euphoria of the moment, mesmerizing each detail on the other’s face as if was an unforgettable painting: The shining emerald eyes revealed the most breathtaking colors, with a shade of red coloring the freckled skin while the wind ruffled their forehead, moving the lost curls, ignoring the background noises surrounding them. The callous fingers moved to put the lost curls behind the freckled man’s ears, catching the whispers in the forest that crossed their ears with a blurry distance.

/The curse must be broken by someone’s presence, able to bring life into a soul in need./

The two figures slowly regained conscience about what happened. A sudden heat covered their cheeks, forcing them to step back and take their distance for a few seconds. Izuku’s heartbeat mixed with the background noises, wondering why he was being this vulnerable around this stranger he used to despise. Being a witch itself implies knowing many spells and their composition, but it was the first time the greenette was unable to name the change inside his soul. 

“We should go inside and heal your scars before they got infected,” murmured the shorter man with a sigh, putting his thoughts aside and standing up. Katsuki moved his head, observing the other standing under his eyes with a genuine smile on his face. His eyes caught the scarred hands reaching him, meeting the air and waiting for an answer. Their previous interaction reflected so many questions inside their mind, but they’ll have time to figure out this mystery later.

Callous palms met the heat of the shaking hands, fingers intertwining themselves for a few seconds, exchanging an understanding glance. Izuku opened the wooden door,  taking a quick glimpse at the heart standing in the bocal from afar…moving faster than it used to do in the past.

“Tch,” he replied with a sigh before making a slight smirk and entering the house. “If I knew, I would’ve gone to the infirmary, but you already left unforgettable marks on me… You’re taking the lead from now on, freckles.”

—--

The silence in the house resonated in their ears, similar to a lost heartbeat, filled with the background noises of the outside words. 

The two shadows were standing on the couch, observing each other with a quick glance and processing the previous interaction. It felt confusing to imagine how the word stopped to let them share a unique moment, stronger than any confessions they said until now. Katsuki recalled the beauty of those stunning emerald eyes losing themselves in his, causing a comforting sensation of warmth while his fingers reached the bruised skin. It was a strange sensation to face a new emotion he never discovered until now!

Izuku Midoriya surprised himself with the heartwarming speech, sensing odd emotion in his chest. If the witch was supposed to keep his distance from the crowd prince, they ended up doing the opposite and slowly started a dangerous game.

From his numerous visits, the blond started to recognize each aspect of the room, even when the shorter man was standing next to him with his first aid kit. The crimson eyes glanced at the delicate fingers that opened the box, where old stuff was exposed to his view, indicating how it had been already used for past encounters. Many questions crossed the prince’s mind, wondering if the freckled man healed himself in the past and for which occasion. 

Katsuki’s lips twitched when he felt the sudden pain, bringing him back to reality. He closed his eyes, and Izuku’s voice followed the silence for the first time since they entered the house. The ghosts observed each of their interaction with unsolved questions but admired how the two strangers weren’t afraid to break the distance between them.

“This shit hurt,” he complained, opening his eyes and meeting messy green curls.  

“This wouldn’t be painful if you were able to hold yourself for a second, even a child can do this task better than you !” The scarred hands hesitated before ruffling the sensitive zone of the injuries, doing his best to avoid more pain to the soldier. 

The previous speech about the guilt concerning the war resonated in his mind, enjoying how this stubborn prince had a sensitive soul from the beginning. The crimson eyes noticed the hesitant movements but made a reassuring nod to continue this attempt. Somehow, the golden-haired man was grateful for the patience and devotion Izuku was given to him the entire time, especially with the uncomfortable silence.

“Try to send a child on the battlefield, and you’ll notice how fucked up he’ll return,” explained the prince with an exhausted tone, still admiring how the fingers delicately caressed the heated skin. 

None dared to speak and welcomed each touch. The blond’s outfit met the shaking hands, only to wind up the fabric and be stunned by the view.

Izuku’s eyes widened, noticing how the previous scars were nothing compared to the older ones standing in the soldier’s skin. At first sight, they looked deep enough to reveal the pain the blond had been through. Imagining this scene brought a strange feeling of dolefulness to the freckled man’s chest, questioning the stories behind their existence.

Before meeting Izuku, Katsuki had been to many places and lands and returned home with unforgettable memories of What was about to become his biggest flaws. However, the freckled man was a curious soul and wanted to know more about each of their stories, including the innocent lives they represented. Those marks are forever forged into the prince’s skin, forcing him to accept the reality of wearing the result of his failure until the very end. 

“I didn’t know you’ve had so many of them…” the freckled man mumbled, being breathless by the view.

 His fingers unconsciously caressed the used scars, admiring their forms and healing. Until now, the two men never expressed themselves about the marks owed by their bodies despite their obvious appearance. This intimacy gave them the impression of sharing a mutual interest in the most private parts of their lives…something they kept blurry to protect themselves the entire time.

“Some are more unforgettable than the others, such as this one,” he explained with a soft tone, a green about the idea of falling for the tender touch on his skin. His fingers touched the fabric of his shirt, starting to take it off before being stopped by the freckled man covering his blush.

“Kacchan- What are you doing ?” He asked between his breath, definitely not expecting to see the naked chest of the prince. Many people would’ve killed for such a view and moment with an important name like his…but it was too much for Izuku’s heart!

“Taking my shirt off to give a proper answer to your question, what do you think I’m doing, pervert ?” The blond objected with a teasing tone, making a slight chuckle when he caught the freckled cheeks being redder.

“Is this really necessary ?” He asked, regaining his breath and calming himself. 

What was this idiot thinking by being so selfish? He should’ve warned Izuku instead of playing with his emotions and panic! The shorter man was about to fight back, annoyed by the meaning implied by the use of this nickname, but stopped when callous hands grabbed his. Their eyes met in a few seconds, Katsuki realizing how his callous palms were bigger than Izuku’s, and he was ready to hold longer into this comforting gesture. The green-haired man held his breath, wondering when he’d have a moment of peace with himself while being naturally guided through the prince’s chest. The two men ignored the chills growing through their bodies at each other’s touch before stopping at one specific scar residing near the soldier’s heart.

Izuku was hesitant…..Should he ask first or let the other share this story and take his time, hopefully, the problem was solved when the blond smiled at the view. It felt right to hold those smaller hands into his and have this mutual and temporary warmth…Maybe both of them already went too far in their attraction to danger.

“Years ago, I was traumatized enough to face the darkest side of humanity, but this specific fight showed me the worst of my expectations.” Pointed out the blond with a sigh, remembering the devastating events and facing the concerned emerald irises. “My face and reputation were well known to the public, and I succeeded in putting the final hit everyone expected of me. The rival was standing a few centimeters away from me, holding his swords and cursing my name, and then I watched over him and noticed a shaking shadow. This teenager was barely 15, shaking in front of all these lifeless bodies, and when our eyes met…I understood.”

Izuku’s face turned pale. He completely forgot about his hands residing against the blond’s chest, too focused on the story. Indeed, the blond shared many stories about his victories, but the freckled man was the first one to know about its real meaning.

“I understood how he was just the reflection of my past self, forced to face the atrocity of the war at a young age against his will. I read the fear of being killed, being the last one to suffer by my sword’s hit. His eyes were begging me to keep him alive, and I never wanted to offer him such a tragic ending.” Katsuki explained with a smile. ”I let him go, ordering him to escape and find his own freedom. I might’ve been used to this kind of lifestyle, but I needed to be the last.”

“What…What happened after that ?” Izuku asked, his fingers unconsciously grabbing the blond’s arms and holding them closer to him. This story was probably the most interesting tale he had ever heard, being used to the gossip escaping from the haunted souls residing in this intoxicating jail. 

“I threw the final hit and took my rival’s life. Unfortunately, before realizing it, this fucker brought me the same intensity of pain, giving me a near-death experience. A few days later, I learned how I was saved by the same guy who should've let me die here: This teenager insisted on getting help, offering more humanity than any of the soldiers I’ve met until now.”

“And did you see or have any news of him after the accident ?” This time, it was Katsuki’s turn to notice how close the two men were. From afar, their figures look like two lovers searching for comfort in each other’s arms…

“I did my best to thank him, but he decided to stay discreet and never showed up again,” concluded the golden-haired man with a sigh. “My naivety led me to hope this brat was brave enough to create his own journey and stay away from these shitty political conflicts. This scar might’ve cost me a near-death experience, but I’m proud to transform it as a strength: I saved someone’s life despite the wasted blood on my hand.”

“Kacchan,” the shorter man murmured in a stunned expression. He had so many questions to share with the soldier, but he didn’t know where to start, so he chose a sincere compliment. “It’s amazing. I might’ve misunderstood your abilities to adapt to every situation, even the worst ones. You shouldn’t consider your scars as a flaw when it’s the result of your courage. I mean…It makes a cool story to tell to the other, right ?”

“I guess you’re right,” the blond acknowledged with a soft tone, already missing the warmth against his skin. 

It was a dangerous game, but the two men weren’t ready to let this mystery escape so easily. The crimson eyes caught the shorter man making a slight smile, hiding the scarlet color on his cheeks before assuring the blond was right. It would take a few days,  if it wasn’t weeks, to fully heal from those injuries, but knowing Katsukin… he’ll be fine.

The prince rested his back against the couch, observing the environment surrounding him. He was able to recognize each color on the wall and their shade, mixed with this sweet and welcoming atmosphere that was coming from this house at first sight. The nerd seemed to take care of his safe space despite seeing those walls as a haunting trap of his cruel fate. The kitchen was decorated with a few plants on the side, showing their brightest colors and expressing how the nerd was keeping them alive. This was probably the only activity someone like him, stuck in those woods, was doing, leading him to consider the fact that  Izuku was definitely the kind of guy to have a conversation with his plants.

If he insisted on taking his distance and having a professional relationship with the most threatening person in the kingdom, the prince slowly put this rule aside and learned more about this mysterious stranger. After all, he had heard his entire life how naive souls needed to avoid Izuku Midoriya, being afraid of falling for one of his curses and being under his control until their last breath. Many names were used to describe the greenette, mostly meant to describe the shorter man as an egoistic and selfish person, thinking about the pain he can bring to his clients and ignoring their feelings.

Some parents even lied on purpose to put Izuku as the bad guy, scaring their children by explaining how the witch could reach them in the middle of the night if they were acting badly.  Katsuki always found this way to educate children fucked up, mostly based on rumors about a name and the “what ifs”. That’s why the prince decided to be the one to solve this mystery and see if the rumors were true…but he ended up being attached to this vulnerable and lonely soul.

Maybe it was a good thing if the nerd wasn’t aware of how the outside described him. 

Katsuki promised to keep this secret to this grave and do whatever it took to assure his safety, even if this might cost his reputation and status. His imagination leads him to project a younger Izuku, full of life with his mom, with his exciting voice filling the silence and wondering when they’ll be free. Katsuki didn’t know anything about Inko Midoriya, but he kept seeing this woman as a caring spirit who did her best to raise her child despite the harshness of this spell.

The blond had many questions about this hidden aspect of Izuku’s life. The nerd easily skipped this topic in conversation, leading the other to stay with his unsolved questions. However, his eyes caught a painting on the table, representing a small child, not higher than three apples, being in a woman’s arms. The landscape behind their figures was nothing compared to the happiness escaping from the expression on their faces, revealing how Inko Midoriya might’ve been a loving woman. 

His fingers ruffled the wooden frame, essentially sculpted by hand, given the finishes that were imperfect. However, what attracted the most attention was the date inscribed that removes the paper, still fragile by time. At first sight, it seems like this write-in was used by delicate fingers mowed with past tears…especially when it was dated from a long time ago. Many ideas crossed the blond’s mind, wondering if he shouldn’t jump to conclusions and directly ask the nerd himself, but he shouldn’t put aside the chance of being rejected or switching topics.

“You’re a tough guy behind this shield, able to steal hearts but make sure not to play with death the next time or-” Izuku’s figure stopped in the middle of the living room, facing an unexpected situation. He couldn’t believe how the prince was currently touching one of his precious memories and the last thing he got from his mother before the disaster. He held his breath and met the crimson eyes, who shared many interrogations. “Oh…You found it, I didn’t know you were the kind of man to search into personal stuff.”

Katsuki wasn’t naive, he knew the freckled man enough to see how the nerd was using sarcasm to cover his panic. After all, the prince reached his boundaries, something the witch should’ve kept hidden instead of exposing it to everyone's view. If Izuku was so protective over this hidden part of life, it might be for a good reason, but he had no choice but to break his shield and reveal a part of his humanity. After all, it would be considered fair, knowing how the prince previously exposed his weakness…

“The woman on the painting,” the taller man pointed out, letting the tip of his finger ruffle the used tissue to not ruin its beauty. “She truly looks like a loving person, and you’ve gained from her beauty.”

None dared to ask the question Izuku expected, asking about the woman’s identity when the answer was obvious. The greenette have been told many times about how he was the copy carbon of his mother, but he decided to ignore the compliment that escaped from the blond’s lips. It was another problem to solve later, for the moment, he needed to bring the answers necessary to avoid a misunderstanding between them. 

“She was and did her best to give me this unconditional love, even when this world was unfair to us,” Izuku declared with a genuine smile, remembering they welcomed this lost painter to their small farm for the night. This story always warmed his heart, picturing the scene when this stranger thanked them for being so welcoming with their generosity and offered this gift as a present. “She would’ve loved some company in this lonely place, especially after she left everything behind with the hope of leaving this place.”

“Are you sure she would’ve appreciated a tumultuous person like me? Because many people aren’t afraid to say their truth,” objected the prince with the many whispers about his reputation and name, the same one he heard since his childhood. He had never been accepted in this royalty life, full of people thinking about their selfish egos and claiming lies between each event. 

Izuku stayed silent, and Katsuki regretted asking such a stupid question. 

Obviously, Inko would’ve hated his presence here, especially when he was one of the royalty members who could be there to mock their different lifestyles. If the two figures decided to let the background noises cover the sound of their calm breathing, the freckled man decided to change this misunderstanding. Don’t get him wrong, he could never read into his mom’s mind, but he was the only one able to potentially guess what could’ve been her reaction if she was still here. 

“Don’t say that, I’m sure you two would’ve had many conversations about how this world is fucked up for vulnerable souls like us,” decreed the shorter man, grabbing the painting in his hand and caressing the old colors that started to fade with the years. Maybe this was a hidden message sent by fate, explaining how Izuku’s presence in this forest was similar to stunning colors on a painting…meant to fade away with time and take dust. “Her priorities was to put my happiness first, and having friends or people to talk to in my loneliness was one of them.”

Katsuki was supposed to be the heartless prince but ended up being vulnerable around Izuku’s presence, almost like the nerd’s shadow was bringing him the missing piece he needed in his quest for freedom. 

“How was she ?” He asked, taking a glance at the curious emerald eyes.”I mean…I would love to know more about your childhood that seemed so different from mine.”

Izuku wasn’t naive and could read a hint of nostalgia into the other’s eyes. It had never been easy for the freckled man to share about his private life, being afraid of seeing people using his weakness against him. However, something was reassuring about the blond’s presence in his life, almost like they would’ve been friends in another universe if the tale had happened differently. 

“I don’t remember a lot of things from my childhood, but I recalled the moment when my family and I grew up on this small farm we bought near the city. It was a few meters away from the tourists, leaving us alone with our space, full of love and affection,” Izuku explained with a nostalgic smile, putting his back against the couch and feeling crimson eyes listening to each of his words. “I used to wake up to the sweet scent of my mom making me breakfast, kissing my forehead, and wishing me good luck for school. Being away from the noble and rich civilians didn’t offer me the knowledge I desired, but this building, small enough to contain five children, was all I ever wanted.”

He never planned to share such meaningful frames of his past, but seeing this stubborn prince was more therapeutic than he expected, almost like their narrative deserved to be spread by someone else in the next decades.

“We had books about the bases of life, including grammar and learning how to read….even if rare were the ones able to understand these words on paper and their meaning. I’ve always been interested in the world surrounding me, staring at the stars when everyone was asleep and asking them to share their biggest secrets. They never answered me, but I had no doubts about finding my own freedom one of these days, being excited to be an adult and create my own journey.” 

Silence filled the room, and the gaze on the witch’s face turned into a sadder expression, hinting at the next topic of their conversation. 

“Unfortunately, life showed us how the only ones we should trust are ourselves,” the freckled man pointed out, holding back the hint of anger residing in the choice of his words. “My beloved father escaped from our reach in the early morning with a letter explaining how he needed to put his past aside. My mother was devastated; she kept crying, and I can’t imagine how painful it must’ve been to raise a young child alone. Still, she made me the pinky promise to follow me anywhere I go, even if we’re far from each other.”

“That’s….Touching,” commented the blond, realizing how he didn’t know anything about Izuku’s past. Seeing the nerd opening himself about this important part of his life reflected another hint about how they transformed complete strangers into close friends. “I bet she’s still watching you from here.”

Izuku’s eyes met the crimson one, reading with genuine sympathy. A warm emotion filled his chest, reading the meaning behind those chosen words that echoed as lyrics of an unforgettable song. The tyrant prince everyone described as selfish turned out to be someone understanding enough to respect people’s boundaries,  hidden behind this shield of stubbornness.  

“I’m still trying to stay in touch with her, wondering if things would be different if my father didn’t sell us for power and money,” the shorter man answered with a sigh. “That day, the guards reached our house and expelled us from our comfort and secret garden. My mother held me closer and tried to reassure me of my naive questions, but she was afraid. Against our will, we were forced to leave everything behind with the bitter taste of broken promises.”

“...Turned out he was the one betraying you both for his own need,” finished the blond, repeating the same words he heard from many whispers in the street.

 During his childhood, he remembers facing maids telling him not to make the Midoriya witch angry, or he’ll haunt you until your dying day, just like he did with his own father. The truth was how Hisahi Midoriya changed his name and became another man, married multiple times before beheading his own wives and being a cold parenting figure of his own legacy. Still, it was detailed that Katsuki shouldn’t share with the vulnerable man by his side, afraid to break him even more with those heartbreaking revelations.

“That kinda sucks if you want my opinion,” the blond declared with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He heard a chuckle escaping from Izuku’s lips, catching his entire attention. There was something soft with this melody, almost like he was made to fall asleep in this lullaby. “Not toward you because you were the victims of his tricks, but because this man stayed an asshole until the end. The story should be about how your mother and you were the strongest people and not the people to fear.”

Izuku understood the meaning behind the chosen words. He wasn’t naive and aware of how he was the most loved person outside those woods. Still, it was touching to know another person would be able to share your story and be able to make his own opinion instead of believing the rumors. 

“At least I wouldn’t die alone with my truth…because I know it’s in good hands, am I right ?” the witch naively asked with a smile, moving closer to the taller man and expecting an answer. Talking about his childhood turned out to be more therapeutic than he expected, and he enjoyed the other’s presence in his loneliness.

“You can count on me,” assured the golden-haired man, glad he was someone the nerd could trust with such an important secret. 

The two figures started to lose themselves with their laugh while the green-haired man explained how he discovered his power in the most unexpected way. He described how his mother helped him train, being proud of him in each step when his father often stayed silent about his son having such a dangerous power. It must be why putting his family and his past aside was so easy when this man already had a good reason for getting rid of them. 

Katsuki surprised himself by listening for hours to the anecdotes concerning the happy childhood of the witch by his side. That day, he discovered how the reserved man was, in reality, someone devoted to his past that forced him to take drastic changes in his behavior due to his past betrayal. He appreciated and learned each smile coloring the freckled man’s face, noticing the slight blush on his cheeks.

“-No way! And how did she react when she found your bedroom in a mess ?” Katsuki asked with an interested tone, genuinely searching for answers in the emerald eyes.

“She simply laughed and congratulated me for discovering new things about my power, even if we took hours to put everything to its place,” chuckled the shorter man, putting his head against the other’s shoulder in an unconscious movement. 

This gesture surprised both of them, who immediately stepped back and said nothing, realizing what had just happened. Still, their gazes met in a few seconds, getting chills at the breathtaking sight: Emerald iris lost themselves into the crimson ones, reading into each other’s line and facing this familiar heat of waves in their bodies. 

“It’s been a while since I haven't laughed with someone,” explained Izuku with a sad tone, realizing how he was actually enjoying this moment. After Inko’s death, he never thought he would be able to find small moments of happiness and joy, especially when he was eaten by regrets. His father betrayed his entire family for his egoistic needs, which accelerated the process of blaming Izuku for Inko’s death and being sent away to this place. “I always feared the moment when I’ll go crazy and lose my mind, but you showed up and taught me how having faith in humanity wasn’t as bad as I expected….”

Katsuki was speechless: Not only did the nerd express his affection toward a grumpy man like him, but he also confirmed the fact that his existence was actually useful to Izuku’s healing. Don’t get him wrong, he had those doubts earlier, but hearing them leaving the other’s lips was…more heartwarming than he expected.

“I guess I’m being tolerable and enjoy your company, knowing how you’re showing more humanity than the extras I’m meeting in my own castle,” he added with a teasing tone, wondering if it was time to ask the questions that were too scared to leave his mouth. “Tell me, you never told me how your mother died, may I ask what happened ?”

Izuku’s face turned sadder to his words. He didn’t have any problems telling his past but was more sensitive about this specific period. Katsuki felt bad for being such an intruder in this previous peace they established in this living room.

“It’s complicated,” the shorter man mumbled, taking a quick Look at the painting on the table. “When we moved here, she tried to stay optimistic about our fates. I grew up in her lies of finding freedom one of these days, even when she was getting sadder about this silly dream as the years went by. One day…she decided to make me happy like she always did, but her shadow never returned home.”

“Oh…” Alright, maybe the blond made a mistake by asking such a sensitive question to a broken soul who’ll never heal from this misfortune. None could blame Izuku for holding on to the past and the idea of meeting his mother one day, even if it was through the stars. “I’m sorry about that.”

Izuku made a fake smile, hiding the pain in his chest. He decided to take a glimpse at the clock on his wall and notice how they both spent the entire afternoon together. It was the first time for the two strangers who used to stay in a couple of hours before leaving each other…it felt nice to be close to someone else.

“It’s getting late, and you should return home before the whole kingdom starts to spread a rumor about you, the future king, having a mistress,” pointed out the shorter man with a sad tone, not hiding the fact that he was afraid of being alone in this house again. 

He underestimated the blond’s company until now, wishing to stay longer with this new friendship he created with a simple deal. Yet, the crowd prince silently nodded and left the couch, mesmerizing the picture a last time. His guts were telling him that there was something more important behind this blurry answer, and he was about to find out by himself. 

“We both know it’s just a question of time before seeing each other again,” the blond declared, standing on the doorstep with a grin. “If I didn’t know you well, I would say you’re starting to get attached to me.”

“In your dream, my prince,” the other teased with rolling eyes, pushing the taller figure away. He was already tired of the other’s bullshit, even if there was a part of truth in his words. “Now, you should go before I use my tricks and force your ass to leave my property.” 

Katsuki simply answered with a middle finger, making Izuku chuckle, and started to watch his shadow leaving the garden. The two men exchanged a last glance, smiling at each other before realizing how they could maybe get used to it. This sensation of novelty inside their chest wasn’t as bad as they expected….