ROYALE

how do you respond under pressure? do you believe morality should interfere with research? have you knowingly kept a secret that caused harm to another person?

it was odd. but the compensation package alone made you forget all about it. housing included, student debt erased after five years of employment, full benefits, and research funding most scientists will kill for. it sounded too good to be true. then came the paperwork, stacks of it to rival textbooks.

NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT -- CLASSIFIED GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

you paused your reading. not because NDAs were uncommon, but because of the wording of it all; fines, legal action, termination, jail time. it was bolded in black.

in the event of sensitive information being leaked, compromised, reproduced, or distributed by authorized personnel, whether intentional or accidental, the signee shall be held personally accountable under federal security enforcement measures.

you reread it a few more times. just what were you getting yourself into?

punitive measures remain at the discretion of governing authorities.

there weren't any listed examples of what they meant, and you weren't in the business of finding out. you signed it anyway. uncaring for the red flags. the job was too good to be true, you couldn't pass this up.

now that choice was coming back to bite you in the ass. you were standing outside the fencing tall enough that you couldnt see over if you had the combined height of three people. armed guards sat in watch towers. you were in the middle of nowhere; even google maps couldn't help you with directions. you gulped and dug for your keycard in your bag. they sent it last week in the mail. you eventually found it, pressing it against the scanner. the machine beeped, before blaring alarms run all around you.

ACCESS DENIED

you jumped in surprise, quickly checking over the card. everything looked fine, so what was the problem?

somewhere overhead, a camera adjusted, tracking every movement. it quickly retracked, and you hear boots running to surround you. "hands where i can see them!"

you breath caught, turning to see dozens of armed men pointing their guns at you. the bookbag slipped from your shoulder, hitting the concrete below, your hands flying up instantly. your heart rang in your ears. "oh my god-- wait--"

another voice barked, "do not move."

you were going to die. you knew this job was too good to be true. why didnt you listen to your gut? "i-im supposed to be here--"

they didnt put down their weapons, and judging by the tension in their body, they were ready to shoot at any given second. that was until a rough voice cut through the crowd. "hold it." a man stepped from behind the armed line. his black hair was tied back, eyes carrying dark circles. he wasnt holding a weapon. he looked at your terrified expression, at your scattered belongings. "youre the new scientist, right?" reflief hit you.

"yes! yes-- my key card di--"

he lifted a hand, stopping you. without looking at the others, he said, "shes in the clear. go back to your posts."

within seconds, the area cleared. like nothing happened. leaving only your belongings scattered on the ground, you scambled to shove them back in your bag. he looked down at you, his hands in his pockets. "first day?"

you adjusted the hold of your bag, standing up to face him. "is it obvious?"

"yeah." he used his own key card to gain access, the metal doors slowly opening. "come, we'll get that clearance card fixed so this doesn't happen again."

you stared at the opening beyond him, at the concrete hallways stretching underground and the guard stationed every few metres. you hurried after him, and despite everything, you weren't willing to walk away. you had uprooted your whole life, packed anything important into boxes that are currently sitting in government housing you haven't seen yet. metal doors shut behind you with a heavy clang. the place looked like a high-security prison or hospital from the outside. you followed the black-haired man, taking in your surroundings. he led you through a tunnel to another checkpoint. just how secure was this place? gates opened once the man scanned his card, revealing the interior of the building. white sterile walls stretched on, you would occasionally pass a map of the facility. there were limited windows, and the ones that did exist were reinforced with iron bars and bulletproof glass. security cameras mounted to the ceilings, each one tracking your movement. you held onto your bag tighter, in an attempt to soothe your nerves. "i dont think i told you my name. im Y/N--"

he nods, looking over his shoulder briefly. "im aizawa. i guess i forgot to introduce myself. not that it really matters... people like you never stick around for long."

you frowned at that. you wanted to ask him what he meant, but he seemed like the type of guy who says few words. silence settled again; the sound of footsteps and the faint hum of machinery somewhere in the building were the only noise made. a weight sat on your chest. every hallway looked nearly identical, all the doors required a scanner, and staff passed by in white coats carrying tablets or files. no one smiled or spared you a glance for longer than a second before moving on. your eyes drifted to the reinforced doors, "what kind of place is this..? you questioned.

he arched a brow, as if to say 'you dont know?'

"its a research facility." ok, well, you knew that. you resisted the urge to roll your eyes. you wanted to ask more, about what kind, why all the security-- as if sensing your curiosity, he continued, "you will get a full briefing." in other words, shut up. you pressed your lips together and looked ahead. your mind began to wander once more, attempting to remember what exactly this place was for. you knew that they did all kinds of research, the details of which are a mystery. you opened your mouth again, but something else caught your attention. a set of reinforced doors opened, and about a dozen armed guards emerged, pushing a restrained man on a trolley of sorts. his arms were bound to his sides, and he wore a collar with leather straps keeping him up. red angry eyes met yours, peaking out under blueish grey hair. his skin looked uncomfortably dry and pale, like he hadnt seen the sun in years, and his body twitched at the sight of you. seeing you so horrified amused him, to which he coughed out a dry laugh, only to be hit in the head by the guard carrying a baton next to him, "quiet!" he shouted. the restrained man grinned wider despite the hit, blood appearing near the corner of his mouth, his eyes locked on you.

it made you jump, and you quickly caught up with aizawa, unease crawling under your skin. the man had disappeared down the corridor, but the image of him lingered in your mind. "who was that?" you ask quietly.

aizawa didnt slow his pace or look at you. "subject zero-zero-one." the way he said it made your stomach curn. where they not given names? you glanced at the hall theyd gone.

"does he have a real name?"

aizawa stayed slient long enough you thought he wouldnt answer. "tomura shagaraki." aizawa didn't elaborate further.

he kept walking, hands shoved into his pockets, while you struggled to process everything you'd seen in the last twenty minutes. The facility only seemed to grow larger the farther inside you went. countless checkpoints, more guards, and entire sections blocked off behind reinforced doors. no one looked relaxed; they all looked tired. eventually aizawa stopped in front of another security door tucked in a quieter hallway. unlike others, this hallway had decor like potted plants, and less eerie hospital vibes. it had wooden floors, and an open area where cubicles lay out, researchers too focused to notice your stare. it reminded you of a normal office department rather than the underground nightmare you'd walked through.

aizawa scanned his card against the reader. "this floor is mostly research staff and administration," he explained, stepping aside to let you through first. "you won't have access to the lower sectors without authorization. at least at first." what was on the lower sectors? the private office was lined with bookshelves on the sides. the desk itself was organized, large monitors displaying graphs and medical scans analyzing the genetic code. to anyone else, it would look like normal, boring biology. but nothing about those scans was normal-- you snapped out of your thoughts by a young woman standing in the centre, long black hair tied up in a bun, wearing a pristine lab coat, and holding a tablet in her arms. she was around your age, though she looked wise beyond her years. her expression was polite. "welcome, ive been expecting you."

"its nice to finally meet you, dr. yaoyorozu." you read off her name tag.

aizawa leaned against the doorway beside you, already looking bored with the entire interaction. "her clearance card failed at the gate."

the woman winced immediately. "oh."

"yeah."

"was anyone hurt?"

anyone hurt? you were almost shot on sight!

aizawa shrugged, "just her dignity." you opened your mouth in disbelief while the young woman sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "i told them to stop giving out false key cards."

excuse me... what? they had intentionally sent you something they knew wouldnt work? why the hell would they do that? did they want to kill you?!

her attention shifted to you, holding out a hand. "momo yaoyorozu. lead scientist." you shook it, her grip was firm.

"it's nice to finally meet you," she continued. "your previous work was impressive." the compliment surprised you. before you could thank her, aizawa pushed himself away from the doorway.

"anyway," he muttered, turning to leave. "she's alive, so my job here is done."

momo looked at her watch. "you're leaving?"

"its lunch."

"you just got back."

"and now i'm leaving again."

aizawa glanced at you briefly before reaching into his pocket and tossing something plastic onto momo's desk, your clearance card. "get hatsume to fix the profile issue before security actually shoots her next time. you know how tigger happy they can get." he ignored your dumbfounded expression, and without another word, he left. your eyes followed him then you slowly turned back to momo. "so... um, why did they give me a flauty key card."

she sighed. "its a new stupid protocol. think of it as a test to see if you will back out." she walked behind her desk and gestured for you to sit. "sit," she said, picking up your clearance card. "we have a lot to discuss before i let you anywhere near the subjects."

you sat in the chair across from her desk, setting your bag down by your feet. she slid your clearance card into her pocket before reaching for a tablet. "before we begin, there are a few things you need to understand about this facility." her fingers moved quickly across the screen. "first, your work here is confidential beyond standard government classification. you are not permitted to discuss subjects, procedures, or internal operations with anyone outside authorized personnel."

you nodded slowly.

momo glanced up briefly. "second, the individuals housed here are dangerous. some more than others." she tapped the screen once before turning the tablet toward you. "every subject has a file. psychological evaluations, incident reports, medical history, and observed behaviour patterns. you'll familiarize yourself with all of them before direct interaction begins." the screen displayed a photograph of a man with black hair and heavy burn scars stretched across pale skin. silver piercings lined his jaw and under his eyes. even through a picture, something was unsettling about his expression, blue eyes staring straight into the camera like he was already bored with whoever stood behind it.

momo swiped through the file. "for example, this is touya todoroki. though he prefers dabi." her tone remained clinical. "he is a level four threat classification. high lethality, extensive casualty history, and repeated aggression toward staff." you studied the photo.

"he doesnt look that much older then us." you commented.

she agreed. "most subjects arent."

she continued scrolling through information before swiping to the next file. This time, a blond man filled the screen, restrained by a heavy muzzle covering the lower half of his face. red eyes glared furiously toward the camera; he looked ready to kill someone. "katsuki bakugo," momo explained. "level five. the highest threat classification currently recognized within the facility."

your brows lifted. "even more dangerous than dabi?"

"in terms of raw destructive capability? no." she zoomed further into the report. "but Bakugo is unstable. he has assaulted staff repeatedly and shows no interest in cooperation. i have a theory he acts like this based on his mutation or ability, explosion." her eyes narrowed. "he is one of the least controllable individuals here."

you swallowed. the image alone was enough to make your blood pressure increase, and the more you read into his case, the more disturbed you were.

momo continued to speak once you were done reviewing the report. "there have been previous cases where subjects were deemed too dangerous to remain ali--" she stopped mid-sentence, and the screen refreshed. in red bold letters, it read ELIMINATED. the office fell silent. momo seemed genuinely surprised at this news. "oh.." she looked away in frustration. "it seems they made the decision regardless of my input." she took a deep breath in and out.

"whoa, whoa-- hold up a sec-- do you mean they killed him?" you leaned forward on your chair, shock covering your face.

momo hesitated, "bakugo massacred an entire city district during his capture incident," she said carefully. "he has personally killed over twelve staff members since arriving here. two of those deaths occurred within the last month. why else do you think the job was available?" she held eye contact. "It's unfortunate, but there are some cases where containment failure presents greater risk than termination."

you fell back in your chair, taking in this new information. momos own expression softened. "when i first started here, i struggled too." your eyes flicked to her. up until now, she'd sounded so professional talking about the subjects that you almost forgot she was human too. "i questioned the ethics constantly. i felt..." she paused, searching for the word, "dirty." she was being honest. "but then you see what these people are capable of." Her eyes returned to yours. "entire neighbourhoods destroyed, countless people killed. they cant be let back into society." She gestured lightly toward the tablet. "most of them are criminals, Y/N. very dangerous ones." her tone was serious, "we are still trying to understand why these abnormalities happened. why some people lived normal lives, and then... this." she taps the screen on bakugos file. "the reason you were hired is that you discovered eighty percent of the population carries the genetic markers associated with manifestation." you remembered how excited you'd been after publishing it. theories about dormant genetic coding hidden within ordinary people, waiting for the correct trigger. you read reports of natural disasters that were anything but natural. like when an entire neighbourhood turned to dust in seconds, and all that remained was a child. you'd spent months convinced your research could revolutionize modern medicine and stop wars. "we do what we do here to keep the people out there safe."

"...do they know?" you asked.

momo frowned, tilting her head. "know what?"

"that most people could end up like them."

the room went still. "the public knows abnormalities exist," she answered after a moment. "but widespread disclosure regarding genetic potential would cause panic."

"so they dont know." you corrected her. she didnt deny it. eighty percent of the world unknowingly carried the possibility of becoming what this facility locked underground. who knew your theory would bring so much danger? you couldnt even be mad, because she was right. news like this would cause widespread panic. "how do powere even manifest?"

momo sighed. "we dont fully understand yet. we were hoping you could solve that. trauma seems to be the most common trigger. intense emotional distress, fear, physical danger…" she paused briefly. "sometimes it happens spontaneously."

you read over the flies. tomuras powers manifested as a child, which was the report you read as a kid. he was the cause of an entire neighbourhood being wiped off the map. dabi, his powers appeared when he was playing in the forest, burning it down along with himself, and shoto-- a young man who killed his abusive father. you bit your lip. most of these were unintentional or were in self-defence. people whose lives were split apart in a singular moment they couldn't take back.

"you're empathizing with them."

"i mean--"

"you need to be careful with that here." she wasnt harsh; rather, her warning was out of pure concern. "the subjects are manipulative. some intentionally, others without realizing it. many of them are desperate for human connection after years of containment." she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "if you start seeing them only as victims, you become a liability. to yourself and everyone around you."

suddenly an alarm blared across the facility. you jumped out of your chair while momo barely reacted, only glancing upward briefly as red lights flashed outside the office windows. a voice echoed through the intercom. "level three containment breach in sector C. security response required immediately."

momo sighed. "izuku again," she muttered, "at this point i think someone is letting him out."

you stared at her in shock. "what?"

momo stood up from her chair, "please follow me" she grabbed her tablet and made her way to the door.

"what do you mean again?!" you followed after her immediately. "how does someone just break out repeatedly in a place like this? are we safe?" she sighs, "he is harmless-- mostly and as for the repeated break outs.. i suspect someone is intentionally doing it." she narrows her eyes and shakes her head. she swings open her office door. "the guards will handle the breach. in the meantime, i'll show you to your new coworkers." you followed beside her, trying not to stare too hard at the flashing red lights reflecting across the walls. momo led you through another hallway branching away from the chaos. this section of the facility looked far less severe than the lower levels. glass office windows instead of reinforced steel. bulletin boards pinned with schedules and reports. momo stopped outside a pair of double doors marked:

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

she scanned her keycard before pushing the doors open. the atmosphere changed; it was calming. the smell of coffee drifted in the air. several people looked up at her. the first person was a tall, blue-haired man wearing glasses and on his neck a lanyard with a ID card labelled ETHICS DEPARTMENT. his posture was straight as he greeted you both. "dr. yaoyorozu," he greeted formally before his eyes landed on you. "ah. this must be the new scientist."

momo nodded once. "Y/N, this is tenya iida. he leads the ethics department."

there was an ethics department? wasnt that entirely ironic considering what this place was? yknow.. the whole human experimentation aspect.

tenya stepped forward and shook your hand with alarming intensity. "it is a pleasure to meet you! i apologize for the current disorder within the facility. containment breaches, unfortunately, create unnecessary panic among new employees."

a pink-haired woman snorted, sitting at a desk surrounded by scraps of metal, wires, and what looked suspiciously like a dismantled remote. goggles sat pushed into messy hair while grease stained her shirt. "containment breaches are the best part of the day," she announced proudly. "wayyyyy more interesting than paperwork."

momo sighed. "Y/N, this is mei hatsume. head engineer."

mei rushed toward you before you could react. her eyes lit up while looking you over. "ooooh, you're the genetics girl!" she grabbed your hands suddenly. "do you know how annoying your research made my job? do you have any idea how many suppression prototypes i've had to redesign because of your stupid eighty percent theory?"

you stared at her. "...uh, sorry?"

"apology accepted!"

another voice spoke up softly from nearby. "please don't mind her." a brunette woman with short hair approached, offering you an apologetic smile. compared to everyone else in the room, she looked normal.

"this is ochaco uraraka," momo explained. "she's currently interning under the psychiatric department."

ochaco waved awkwardly. "i mostly handle counselling sessions for some of the lower-risk patients."

"lower-risk?" you tilt your head.

she nodded. "kirishima, midoriya, shinso… todoroki -- the younger one that is-- if he's cooperative." she used her fingers to list off the young men. "most sessions are supervised, though. especially with shinso."

you frowned slightly. "why especially him?"

ochaco opened her mouth to answer when an older woman walked in, carrying a medical tray. she went to the garbage can and threw out any used needles.

momo spoke again, "Y/N, this is chiyo shuzenji. she is in charge of the medical centre."

hearing her name, the old lady turned around, "oh! i didn't see you there, dearie"

you gave her a small awkward smile. "nice to meet you."

chiyo hummed warmly before walking closer. "poor thing looks terrified already." her eyes went to Momo knowingly. "did you show her the patients yet?"

momo shook her head, "no. i was going to give a tour of the facility; it's a lot of information to take in. she will meet them later this week."

chiyo nodded in agreement.

a blonde man drinking coffee spoke next; he looked like a sketchy salesman. "keigo takami," he introduced himself. "public relations."

"public relations?" you repeated.

mei snorted. "he means cover-ups." tenya scolded her. "what? that's literally his job." she shrugged, continuing to work on that remote device.

kegio sighed dramatically. "i manage media narratives regarding abnormal incidents," he corrected. "leaks, witness accounts, disappearances, unexplained disasters…" his eyes flicked to you. "the public is easier to control than you'd think." you didnt know what to say to that, so you kept quiet. that would explain so much-- why the news reports always talked about natural disasters over strange anomalies. even when you were doing your research, you couldnt look online because of the propaganda and false narratives.

a woman standing beside kegio introduced herself, "nemuri kayama. the head of psychiatric evaluation department." she glanced up from the paperwork and gave you a small smile. "i handle psychological assessments." she paused briefly. "mostly determining whether patients are stable enough to interact with staff safely." you gave a small nod.

"now that you have met most of the staff, i'll show you were the reserch labs are." she paused, digging in her pocket, "mei, when you have the time, can you fix her key card?" she placed it on the desk, and mei gave a lazy thumbs-up without even looking away from the device she was taking apart.

momo turned to leave, you quickly trailed after her, giving a awkward wave goodbye before stepping out in the hallway.

"think she will last long?" nemuri leaned back in her chair and asked when she was sure you were out of earshot. there was a brief silence, mei being the first to break it: "not a chance; she seems too nice."

ochaco crossed her arms, "you said the same thing about me and ive been here for six months now."

kegio took a sip of his coffee, shrugging at her response. he looked toward the door one last time before setting down his mug. "the question isn't whether she'll survive here."

ochaco tilted her head. "then what is it?"

the road to the neighboring kingdom had once felt exciting.

you remembered leaning out the carriage window that morning, watching golden fields pass while your escort laughed leading the horses. pony had been fussing over your dress for wrinkles every ten minutes, and your knight has promised there was nothing to fear on the western roads. this was known for being mutual ground between the two kingdoms-- meaning that it was used for trade and safe passage regularly.

but not for today as your knight laid dead a few feet away from you. blood soaked into the dirt beneath him.

your body trembled as goblins circled the carriage like starving wolves. their crooked and jagged mouths salivating, filthy claws gigging through overturned chests and scattered fabrics. the clouds covered the morning sun, the wind picking up. but you couldnt focus on that, you needed to get you and pony to safety. but with what? neither of you had weapons, let alone knew how to defeat a large gang of goblins.

one of them held your jeweled necklace triumphantly overhead while another tore apart your luggage.

pony stood in front of you with shaky hooves, hoping that the threat of her sharp horns will keep them at bay. "stay behind me, your highness," she whispered. you couldnt answer, your throat had gone dry with terror.

the largest goblin lumbered forward, taller than the others and covered in scraps of mismatched fabric. his yellow eyes dragged over you slowly, lingering in a way that made your stomach twist in knots.

he grinned, his sharp rotting teeth lustrous. he said something guttural in his own language, and the others burst into uncontrollable laughter. even without understanding the words, you knew exactly what he meant.

pony gasped when the goblin seized her by the arm and threw her aside hard enough that her head smacked against the carriage wheel. "pony!" you cried out in worry. the goblin reached for you and suddenly cried out. hot blood sprayed near your shoes. you stumbled backwards on the dirt road, and his severed hand landed in front of you. holding back a scream, you cover your mouth in surprise.

the goblin howled, clutching his now stump of a hand. a figure stood to the left of him. a young man with freckles that dusted his cheeks beneath messy green curls, and a sword gleamed crimson in the sunlight peeking through the clouds. he wore armour meant for travel rather than ceremony, scratched steel with no noble crest emblazoned across it. he wasnt a royal knight, not one that you recognized, anyway. maybe a brave adventurer?

the goblin leader snarled and lunged. the stranger moved swiftly, his blade shining in the sunlight. the goblins head stuck the ground with a heavy thud.

silence followed.

the remaining goblins stared at the corpse of their leader. one finally shrieked and charged recklessly forward. the swordsman pivoted, and with another clean strike, another body fell. the rest of the goblins fled into the woods in a frenzy, abandoning stolen bags and trinkets in their desperation to escape.

you sat frozen. pony sluggishly rose from the ground, eyes wide with disbelief. she was holding her head, but it didnt look like she was bleeding. a healer will attend to her when you get back.

the young man exhaled shakily, finally sliding his sword back in the sheath. he turned toward you, dropped to one knee. "are you alright, your majesty?" his voice was gentler than you expected for such a strong warrior.

you stared at his offered hand for a moment before carefully placing your hand in his. his palm was warm and rough with calluses. he helped you to your feet with surprising care. you realized a second too late that you hadnt let go of his hand. flustered, you quickly withdrew and bowed your head politely. "thank you for saving us."

"youre welcome, your majesty." he smiled. "im just glad i was nearby."

you look toward your fallen knight. pony was kneeling beside the body, checking desperately for any sign of life. after some time, she slowly shook her head. your heart dropped to your stomach.

you need to return home. the stranger noticed your expression and glanced at the body as well. "im sorry for your loss," he said quietly. then, after a seconds hesitation, "i could escort you back to your kingdom, if youd allow it."

you blinked. usually you wouldnt trust strangers, especially being a royal, but he saved your life. "you would do that?"

"it would be an honor," he bowed his head again, earnest enough to make your heart ache. you agreed with a nod. "very well. we are not far into our journey. if we leave now, we should reach the capital before nightfall."

he straightened his posture. "then ill make sure you arrive safely."

pony had already begun gathering scattered supplies with trembling hands. without another word, the young man moved to help her collect the bags.

"wait," you called after him. he turned to face you. "whats your name, brave knight?" a blush spread instantly across his face, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, "im afraid im no knight yet, you majesty." he laughed nervously. "you can call me izuku."

"izuku..." you repeated thoughtfully. the name suited him well, you smiled faintly. "thank you, knight izuku."

his entire face turned bright pink. "i-im not an official knight, your majesty!" he stammered, waving his hands frantically. "i dont deserve such a noble title!"

"if that is your wish."

izuku groaned quietly in embarrassment before turning away to help pony again. you watched him silently. he carefully rolled your fallen knights body into cloth before securing it tightly with rope so it wouldnt shift during travel. not once did he complain, nor did he boast about saving you. most men would have already demanded gold or a favour from a princess. but izuku only focused on helping. he lifted the body onto the supply cart, wind catching in his messy curls.

the rain clouds gathered overhead, turning the skies a dark blue as the carriage rolled steadily along the road toward the capital. inside, pony slept soundly beside you. the healing potion you gave her knocked her out. curled awkwardly against the cushioned seat with a blanket draped over her shoulders. you smile faintly, after everything that had happened today, she deserved the rest. pony had served you for years now, long before you were old enough to understand royal etiquette or political expectations. somewhere along the way, she had become more than a maid. she was your closest friend. most nobles exhausted you-- every conversation felt rehearsed, all that mattered was how others saw you. she never cared for rumors or policy; she never treated you like you were glass. she didnt follow rules blindly, she was the voice of reason. she scolded you when you skipped meals, laughed when you tripped over your gowns, snuck pastries into your room after banquets you hated attending. with her, you didnt have to pretend to be perfect.

your gaze drifted toward the small rear window of the carriage. your former knights' covered body rested securely on the supply cart behind you. with your throat going dry, you forced yourself to look away.

he had been old, yes. his hair had long since turned grey, and his joints ached during colder months, but he had protected you since your childhood. he used to carry you on his shoulders through the palace gardens when you were too tired to walk. you still remember clinging to his armour as a little girl-- begging to teach you how to swing a sword. now... he was gone. you blinked the tears away. now is not the time. you sucked in a breath, as grief sat heavy inside you.

at the front of the carriage, izuku guided the horses carefully down the road. occasionally you caught glimpses of him through the small open near the drivers seat. even after hours of travel, he remained alert.

you wondered where he came from. a swordman skilled enough to cut down goblins effortlessly should have already belonged to some noble house or royal order. yet his armor carried no crest.

your eyelids grew heavier. the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stone become background noise, until sleep pulled you under.

gentle knocking stirred you awake. "your highness?" your eyes fluttered open. the carriage door cracked open slightly, revealing izukus face illuminated by warm torchlight. "we've arrived." for a moment, you were disoriented. you recognized the towering palace gates behind him, you made it home. you nodded sleepily before turning toward pony.

"pony," you murmured, "wake up"

she groaned quietly, rubbing at her eyes before sitting upright. her messy blond hair struck in every direction. "oh... we're here?"

"it appears so."

izuku opened the carriage door fully before stepping aside and offering his hand once again. you accepted it carefully as he helped you down the steps from the carriage. the palace courtyard buzzed with activity despite the late hour. servants rushed forward immediately upon seeing the damaged carriage and blood.

gasps spread quickly through the crowd. several attendants carefully approached the covered body of your knight, expressions solemn. at least he would be honored properly. he deserved that much.

izuku stepped back respectfully as palace servants took over unloading the cart, clearly preparing to leave once his duty is done. it may be selfish but you didnt want him to leave. "izuku," you called.

he straightened, "yes, your majesty?"

you clasped your hands together nervously. "i would like you to meet the king and queen" his eyes widened, "and..." you hesitated, "if its alright with you... i was wondering of youd consider becoming my personal knight."

for a terrifying second, you thought you had overstepped. then izuku face turned bright red. "i--i--" he nearly bowed too quickly and had to catch himself. "of course, your majesty!" be blurted. "i would be honored!" the sincerity in his voice made warmth bloom unexpectedly in your chest. pony smirked knowingly beside you.

a palace servant approached carefully. "your highness, the king and queen have alread been informed of your return." you nodded before glancing back at izuku.

"come with me," you waved him over. he looked startled all over again. izuku followed behind you as the massive palace doors slowly opened before him. dim lighting spilled across polished marble floors while servants moved through the grand halls carrying linens, flowers and dishes. towering pillars stretched toward painted ceilings depicting ancient kings and victorious wars, and enormous stained-glass windows saturating the palace in colours of gold and crimson. you glanced at izuku over your shoulder. he looked overwhelmed to say the least.

he didnt stare in greed the way other people, peasant or noble, often did when entering royal spaces, but with genuine awe. his eyes flickered from one detail to another, one painting to the next.

"the paintings show our families history, how we conquered, defended our land, and overcame famine and disease. we keep it up as a reminder to never repeat such mistakes," you explain, and you hear him hum in acknowledgement.

pony walked beside you and thats when you remembered her injuries, "we will visit the healer before anything else. my parents can wait." pony had insisted she was fine after the goblin attack but the misstep in her walk troubled you. you turned to izuku as you began guiding him through the palace corridors. "our royal healer lives in the eastern tower," you explained. "she travels frequently helping villages and training young mages to not think of their power as a curse but a gift, but this is her main residence."

izuku nodded attentively. "a healer powerful enough to serve royalty must have incredible skill."

"that she is," you respond honestly, "she has trained under the finest of magic scholars in the country." when entering the eastern wing it feels less formal, more nature-ry with plants hanging around, flowers decorating the windows. you stopped before a wooden door and knocked, returning to stand between izuku and pony, waiting.

a moment later, the door swung open. "oh!" a cheerful voice greeted, "princess its good to see you!" ochaco stood in the doorway wearing her robes with rolled up sleeves, her brown hair tied back messily while glowing charms dangled from her wrists. the scent of herbs and brewed tea drifted out from behind her.

"good afternoon, ochaco," you greeted politely, "i know it is late, but we were attacked by goblins on the way to the neighbouring kingdom."

her expression drops and she gasps, "oh no-- come in please," she stepped aside quickly. all traces of casual conversation disappearing as her healer instincts took over. you entered first, pony followed after, and lastly izuku.

the interior of the mage's residence felt completely different from the cold elegance of the rest of the palace. shelves crowded with potion bottles lined the walls beside stacks of old spell books and bundles of drying herbs hanging from the ceiling beams. crystals shined in the setting sunlight in the corners of the room, casting warm amber light across the wooden floors. ochaco closed the door behind you, quickly turning to address pony. "are either of you seriously injured?"

"well, my ankle hurts, but thats about it." pony answered.

"the potions helped," you added, "but i wanted you to examine her personally."

ochaco relaxed. "of course, pony, you can take a seat over there." pony obediently moved toward the examination bed near the window. ochaco finally looked at the green-haired knight properly and froze, eyes widened dramatically. "deku?"

you looked at him in confusion. beside you, izuku visibly startled as colour flooded his cheeks. "o-oh," he laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "its uh... a childhood nickname."

a bright smile came on ochacos face, "no way," she giggled, "its been a while."

you looked between them curiously. "you two know each other?" izuku shifted awkwardly beneath your gaze while the mage looked far too amused.

"we met in our late teens, we became friends after she saved me from a avalanche" izuku explained.

"i would say we were a little more than friends." silence filled the room. you and pony looked at eachother. something bitter twisted in your chest.

jealousy.

you almost let it show on your face, why did that bother you? you just met the young man. meanwhile, izuku looked absolutely mortified. "it wasnt serious!" he blurted out, hands waving frantically. "w-we were young and it only lasted a little while and--" his rambling was cut off by ochaco.

"you ramble exactly the same way you used to."

his face was pink. you had to look away before either of them noticed the tension in your body. for some reason, hearing another woman speak about izuku with such familiarity unsettled you.

ochaco finally composed herself to turn back to pony. "alright," she said, "im going to cast a revealing spell to make sure nothing serious was missed." pony nodded. ochaco raised one hand. pink light shimmered instantly between her fingertips before delicate strands of magic wrapped around ponys body, illuminating faint bruising beneath her skin while glowing symbols flickered softly through the air.

beside you, Izuku watched the spell with open fascination. without thinking, you glanced toward him. only to realize he was already looking at you. the moment your eyes met, he immediately looked away again, flustered. your heartbeat skipped strangely and judging by the small knowing smile spreading across ochacos face-- the healer noticed far more than either of you realized.

the pink light surrounding pony slowly faded as ochaco lowered her hand. "she'll be sore for a few days," the healer said gently, glancing over the glowing markings one final time, "but nothing appears permanently damaged. the healing potions worked perfectly."

relief loosened the tension in your chest almost instantly. "thank goodness," you murmured. your shoulders relaxed, dropping whith a sigh. pony let out a dramatic sigh from the examination bed. "see? i told you i was fine."

"you nearly cracked your skull open on the carriage wheel," you reminded her flatly.

"and yet," pony replied smugly, "still alive."

ochaco snorted softly at that while moving across the room toward one of the many overflowing shelves lining the walls. dozens of potion bottles shimmered beneath the candlelight in every color imaginable, their glass surfaces reflecting warm golden hues across the wooden floorboards. after scanning them briefly, ochaco selected several small pink vials carefully sealed with wax before placing them into a leather satchel.

"these are stronger healing potions," she explained while handing the bag toward pony. "take one before sleeping tonight and another tomorrow morning."

pony accepted them gratefully. "thank you, lady uraraka." she hoped off the bed, hooves clicking on the floor.

ochaco smiled warmly, pointing a finger toward her in warning. "and absolutely no heavy work for the next few days."

pony immediately glanced toward you and you crossed your arms. "actually," you said before she could protest, "make that a week."

"a week?!" pony protested. "your highness--"

"that is not a suggestion." she stared at you in disbelief.

"you nearly died yesterday," you continued firmly, your voice softening only slightly. "you are injured, exhausted, and still in shock whether you realize it or not. you will rest." pony groaned dramatically, dropping backward onto the bed like you had sentenced her to execution.

"you sound exactly like an overprotective mother."

"and you sound incapable of taking care of yourself." you retorted. ochaco burst into laughter at that while beside you, izuku quickly turned his face away, clearly trying and failing-- not to smile.

for a second, standing there within the warmth of ochacos little home, everything felt normal again. the soft glow of magic, ponys complaints, ochacos laughter-- it created a strange sense of peace that nearly made you forget the blood on the road from this morning. nearly made you forget the body of your fallen knight wrapped carefully in cloth.

but reality settled heavily back onto your shoulders soon enough. you still had responsibilities waiting for you.

including the conversation you had been thinking about ever since izuku saved your life. your gaze slowly drifted toward him. he noticed instantly-- the second your attention landed on him, his posture straightened automatically, shoulders pulling back while his expression became more formal again.

"my parents will be waiting," you said gently.

you suddenly realized that despite fighting goblins without hesitation, despite charging into danger to protect complete strangers, izuku looked significantly more terrified by the idea of speaking to royalty. ochaco seemed to notice too because her teasing expression softened slightly. "you'll be alright, deku," she reassured him.

the nickname made something twist faintly inside your chest again. izuku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, letting out a nervous laugh. "easy for you to say."

there was such familiar warmth between them that it stirred an uncomfortable feeling inside you before you could stop it. you ignored it for your own sake.

"come," you said quietly, turning toward the door. "there is no reason to be afraid."

izukus green eyes flickered toward you for the briefest moment and hearing your voice seemed to calm him slightly.

"yes, your highness."

the walk toward the throne room felt entirely different from the walk through the palace earlier. before, everything had been quiet enough that you could pretend the world had not shifted beneath your feet overnight. servants carrying folded linens slowed their pace just enough to stare before quickly bowing their heads when you looked their way. nearby nobles paused mid-conversation behind decorated fans and jeweled goblets, pretending to be discret while obviously watching you pass. whispers drifted through the halls in hushed waves that seemed to follow behind you no matter how far you walked.

the princess returned early. the royal knight is dead. there was an attack and who exactly was beside you?

izuku did not belong in their minds. not among polished marble floors and embroidered royal banners and generations of noble bloodlines carved into statues lining the halls. he walked through the palace in worn armor scratched from real battle while everyone else looked pristine, carefully sculpted into perfection by etiquette and status.

you glanced toward him briefly as the two of you continued down the corridor. he looked composed at first glance, but after spending even this little time around him, you were beginning to notice the smaller things. like the tension sitting in his shoulders or the way his posture stiffened every time a servant stared too long. how his hand occasionally hovered near the hilt of his sword before he caught himself and let it fall away again.

part of you wanted to reassure him somehow. to tell him not to pay attention to the whispers through the hallways behind your backs. another part of you knew it would only worsen things if you appeared too soft toward him in public. you knew first hand how quick rumors spread, how quick people will hold pitchforks to your throat before asking for the truth. the thought lingered quietly in the back of your mind as the palace halls stretched onward around you, moonlight pouring through towering windows in and across the floor. a reminder of how fast the day was coming to an end. izuku stayed close enough that you could hear the sound of his armor shifting with each step.

"they stare too much," you murmured quietly.

izuku snapped out of his thoughts. "i understand why.”

you turned toward him slightly. "do you?"

he hesitated before answering. "i'm not exactly what people expected to see walking beside a princess." the honesty in his voice made your heart ache. you looked away, "we are almost there, the thorn room is just up ahead."

the massive doors leading into the throne room towered overhead, gold detailing gleaming beneath the moonlight pouring through the nearby windows. two guards stood motionless on either side, their spears striking sharply against the marble floor the moment you approached. "her royal highness, princess y/n," one announced loudly. you heard izuku gulp.

the enormous doors slowly began to open. towering marble pillars stretched to ceilings high above while enormous stained-glass windows bathed the chamber in crimson and gold light. rows of advisors lined either side of the hall, noble families gathered nearby in clusters that fell silent when they noticed you entering or rather-- who entered beside you.

you could practically hear the questions forming already. thats him? the common-born swordsman? the one who returned with the princess.

izuku remained composed beside you despite it all, though you noticed the subtle way his jaw tightened before he finally stepped forward and lowered himself smoothly onto one knee before the throne. "your majesties." his voice echoed through the chamber.

your parents upon their thrones. your father looked like a typical king from the weight of his crown, sharp-eyed and unreadable as he studied the young knight kneeling below him. beside him sat your mother, graceful in silver silk, relief flickered across her expression the moment she saw you unharmed.

you stepped forward, "father. mother." you bowed. you could hear the faint clinking of jewelry somewhere behind you and the whisper of someone leaning toward another noble to murmur quietly beneath their breath.

your father finally leaned slightly forward against the arm of his throne, studying the young man kneeling below him with sharp eyes. "raise your head, son."

green eyes slowly lifted toward the throne. anyone would have been nervous standing before a king. let alone one who was known for winning wars, and ruling one of the strongest kingdoms in the country-- one that can rival the todoroki empire. "i was told you fought off the goblins who attacked my daughter's carriage."

izuku nodded once. "yes, your majesty."

a quiet murmur spread throughout the room, but your father ignored it entirely "tell me exactly what happened."

the request caught both you and izuku off guard, izuku hesitated, likely unsure how much detail was appropriate before royalty, but eventually he answered honestly. "i was traveling nearby when i heard screaming from the road," he explained quietly. "by the time i reached the carriage, the goblins had already killed the princess's knight."

your breath hitched, sir aldric. even now it didnt feel real.

izuku continued, "the goblin leader was about to grab her when i intervened."

your father leaned forward, his hand on his chin in thought. "you charged an armed goblin group by yourself?"

izuku looked faintly confused by the question itself "…someone had to."

your father leaned back slightly in his throne. "and after the attack?"

izuku glanced briefly toward you before answering. "i escorted the princess and her maid safely back to the capital." he paused then added quietly: "i also made certain her knights body was returned properly." respect for the dead mattered deeply within the kingdom. leaving behind a fallen knight, even during danger, would have been understandable. but izuku had not abandoned him. a man he didnt know, and yet he made sure to bring him home.

your mother spoke, "that was very honorable of you,"

"he protected the princess until the end," he replied quietly. "he deserved to come home."

"what is your family name?" your father asked, the sharpness that usually lingered beneath the kings words had faded. perhaps it was hearing how izuku carried sir aldric home instead of leaving him behind on the roadside. perhaps it was the simple honesty in every answer he gave. or perhaps it was simply the relief of seeing his daughter standing alive before him after nearly losing her entirely.

"midoriya, your majesty," izuku answered carefully.

his voice echoed softly through the enormous chamber before disappearing into the heavy silence hanging overhead. your father gave a small nod. "and your house?"

the question settled heavily throughout the throne room. you saw it happen instantly around the room. nobles leaned forward in suspense and advisors exchanged subtle glances. even some of the knights standing guard along the pillars seemed suddenly more attentive now that the conversation had reached the part they cared about most.

you could tell by the way his shoulders stiffened ever so slightly before he lowered his eyes toward the marble floor. "i do not belong to one."

you heard the whispers begin immediately.

"no house?"

"a common-born swordsman?"

"unbelievable."

"the princess wishes for him to become her knight?"

the moment they learned he lacked noble blood, everything he had done suddenly mattered less. as though courage only held value when carried inside the 'correct' family name.

you glanced toward izuku. he remained before the throne, but now that you were watching carefully, you noticed the small signs betraying him. his fingers curled slightly tighter behind his back. how his gaze stayed lowered not out of disrespect, but because he had seen this exact reaction his entire life. people discredited him based on something that is out of his control. its hard not to be ashamed of his social standing when everyone he met told him so.

"and yet," your father said calmly, his voice carrying easily throughout the room, "despite possessing no title, no lands, and no obligation to this crown… you still risked your life for my daughter." the whispers died instantly. "many noble-born men would not have done the same."

"so," he began, "what is it you wish as a reward for saving my daughters life?"

gold? land? title? power? perhaps even your hand in marriage. your face heated at the thought. if that is what he asked for... you had a feeling you wouldnt refuse. most men standing within this room would have already prepared a list in their minds before the king even finished speaking.

your father rested one arm against the side of his throne. "you may ask for almost anything."

his brows furrowed slightly as though he genuinely had not considered wanting something in return at all. he stayed silent, his gaze lowered thoughtfully toward the polished floor beneath him while onlookers watched with growing curiosity. you wondered if he realized they were all waiting to see who he truly was. whether his kindness had been genuine or whether this had all simply been a case of good luck for a common-born swordsman to climb the ranks.

izuku lifted his head slightly. "there is only one thing i would ask for, your majesty."

your father nodded once for him to continue. izuku hesitated briefly and his eyes flickered to you. "i would like permission," he said carefully, "to serve as your daughters personal knight."

out of all the things he asked for, he asked for a job? he would have asked for enough gold to never work a day in his life.

"the princess deserves someone strong enough to protect her," he continued "sir aldric gave his life doing so. if your majesty would allow it… i would like to take his place."

your fathers attention shifted to you. "and is this proposal agreeable to you, my daughter?"

your personal knight would remain closer to you than almost anyone else within the palace. they would escort you through court, travel beside you, protect you, remain near you during both public appearances and private dangers alike.

you thought back to the road; to blood staining the dirt beneath the fallen carriage, to goblins circling closer while your maid trembled beside you and then izuku saving you-- standing between you and death without hesitation. "yes, father," you answered "i saw his skills firsthand."

"then so be it," the king declared. "you have my blessing to become the princess's knight."

izuku lowered himself into a deeper bow, one hand pressed firmly over his chest.

"your majesty," he stated, voice unsteady with emotion despite his obvious effort to remain composed, "i swear upon my life that i will serve the princess faithfully." his posture remained composed.

your father raised his hand, "rise, sir izuku midoryia." you smiled at the title and watched as he stood. you wondered if he ever imagined this, if such a high honour even crossed his mind. you wanted to know more about him, his dreams, past, everything you possibly could. movement returned to the throne room as nobles began rising from their places. conversations resumed, quiet murmurs spreading through the chamber. no one dared to speak ill of the princess's new personal knight-- unless they wanted to lose their standing.

the next morning was peaceful, having woken up to the sound of birds chirping. the castle had returned to its usual rhythm. sunlight spilled through the window, while servants and cooks moved through the palace, preparing breakfast and doing other various tasks. despite this, a heavy weight lingered in your chest because not everyone had returned home yesterday. grief made it hard to pull yourself out of bed that morning; regardless, you have duties.

you had personally gone to meet sir aldric's family early that morning. your father had offered to send advisors in your place; let the royal messengers handle the matter with care and formally. but that felt wrong. sir aldric had served you since you were a child, and as much as he was your knight-- you also knew you had stolen his time from his family. you remembered his wife trying to convince him to retire, but he refused because he saw how sad you were at the mention of never seeing him again. you had been selfish, and that had led to his death.

his wife stood across from you, eyes red and trembling hands, holding her husbands wedding band. beside her stood her son, he looked as old of you. it was hard to imagine sir aldric as more than just a knight. he had been a husband, a father. someone who had people waiting for him at home. you swallowed, your throat dry, "i am truly sorry for your loss." your words faltered. you straightened your posture as memories flashed in your mind.

you could see it all in his wifes eyes. the anger, pain, the grief that she couldnt direct at you. you could tell she wanted to scream, ask why your life had been worth more than his. why had she spent years asking him to retire, but denied to protect your feelings. everytime the conversation came up, you looked heartbroken enough to change his mind.

you remembered sitting in the gardens years ago while sir aldric stood nearby with his arms crossed, pretending to keep watch while his wife sat beside him. you had overheard her asking him when he planned to come home for good.

"youve given enough years already."

"just a little longer."

"aldric..."

and later, after she had gone home, you had asked him quietly if he was truly leaving. you still remembered his expression then. you had looked down at your hands and tried pretending you werent upset, but even as a child, you had never been good at hiding your feelings. "who will protect me?" you had asked.

sir aldric had laughed. "you'll be grown by then."

"i don't care." you remembered grabbing onto his arm. "you can't leave."

at the time, you were young. you hadnt thought of what you were asking of him. you only knew that the thought of him disappearing frightened you. now looking back, you were asking him to abandon his family, for you, a girl who had the privilege of having everything. the room was silent, besides the servants cleaning up in the background, shoving your previous knights belongings in chests scattered around.

his wifes hands curled in fists, but she mustered a small smile, with a deep bow, she said, "thank you for coming personally, princess." she gritted her teeth as she stood.

she reached forward after a moment and took the few belongings laid out for her-- a portrait, several letters, his clothes. her son quietly picked up the rest. he hadnt seen his father much growing up, which in turn left them barely having a connection. still, his mother cared for the man; so he would show up for her. she turned you once more before she fled "may the gods watch over you, princess."

you stood there long after the door had closed behind them. you dismissed the servants in the room, leaving you alone. you didnt kindness from her. not after seeing the grief in her eyes. you couldn't stop wondering whether things would be different if you had simply let him go. would he still be alive? spend the rest of his days with his family in peace? tears stung in your eyes, threatening to fall.

a knock sounded at the door, and you cleared your throat, "come in." the door opened, izuku stepped inside, pausing near the doorway. "princess?" he had changed into fresh clothes. they werent his official knight attire yet, temporary until the palace had provided custom armour.

you smiled faintly, masking your true emotions, "good morning, my knight, how did you sleep?" a light pink dusted his cheeks.

"good morning, i slept well. better than i ever have before," his eyes shifted around the room. "is this...?" he trails off and you nod.

gesturing around the room, "this will be your new personal chambers. it is relatively close to mine in case of emergencies." you stare at the opened chests, trying not to linger on them for too long. "the servants will continue clearing out the room. they work pretty fast, i expect them to be done by noon." the window caught your attention, looking out onto the courtyard to see servants and nobles alike carrying out their duties. it was a harsh reminder that the world doesnt pause after someone dies. "sir aldrics funeral will be hosted today, the final send-off." you bite your tongue, attempting to stop the tears. "i wont be speaking at his funeral. i will leave that duty to his wife and the king." your voice faltered "i dont trust myself not to break down." it was embarrassing to admit. your father had lost many of his comrades when he went to war-- long before you were ever born. he was fourteen when he was first crowned king, led a war that brought peace to all of his people, and yet he stood strong throughout it. he spoke at all of their funerals; he didnt back out because that would show weakness. you werent like him; you were weak.

silence followed after your confession. you hadnt noticed izuku move closer to you, his brows pulled together in concern. "its okay to cry." his words were gentle. "theres no one here but me."

that was when the dam broke. your eyes blurred with tears, and your shoulders shook as you let out ugly sobs. humiliation burned hot beneath your skin because princesses did not cry in front of others. you had spent years learning how not to. years learning how to smile through uncomfortable dinners and royal galas. you covered your mouth in an attempt to silence yourself when strong arms held you. you cried on his shoulder, not caring for how wrong this was. how unformal and the fact that if anyone came in, you would have more problems to deal with. your fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, tears soaking his clothes, but he couldnt care less. for a reason he doesnt understand, the minute his eyes landed on you, he felt this pull. his heart yearned for yours, even when you two barely know each other.

"its all my fault…" the words came out ruined by tears. "if i had let him retire--" another sob "if i wasnt selflish..." you held onto him tighter. "he would still be alive." admitting aloud hurt worse than private thoughts.

"from what ive heard…" izuku swallowed softly. "sir aldric stayed because he wanted to."

you shook your head against him "because of me."

"because he cared for you, and i know he wouldnt want you blaming yourself." you sniffled at his words, the tears slowly coming to an end. you look at him, "thank you.."

your mind was catching up. you were crying in your knights arms. the knight you had known for barely two days. heat rushed to your face. you pulled away from him, even as your heart ached to be near his, "im sorry," you muttered quickly, wiping beneath your eyes. "that was inappropriate." his shirt was wet with your tears.

"dont worry about it" your head lifted. "youre grieving, and what kind of knight would i be to let you be in pain?" he said simply. he scratched the back of his head, "when i was a kid i used to cry. like-- a lot. but my mom always reassured me it was nothing to be ashamed of." he takes your hand in his, "crying doesnt equal weakness, princess." he planted a soft kiss on the back of your hand.

your heart pounds in your chest, "izuku..."

he remembered what he was doing, quickly pulling away, embarrassment flooding through him. he laughed nervously, "well look at that! we should probably get ready for this afternoon." his face was beet red, eyes darting everywhere but you.

that afternoon, the sky was overcast. it didnt look like rain, fortunately, just grey enough that the sun was hidden behind thick clouds. rows of chairs sat before the temple while white flowers lined the marble path leading toward the memorial altar. knights stood along the edges in polished armour, their expressions solemn beneath lowered heads. sir aldrics sword rested atop the cloth-covered coffin beside his portrait. you sat near the front with your parents while nobles and their families filled the rows behind you. izuku stood closest to the wall, wearing the symbol of the kingdoms royal crest.

the funeral began. the priests spoke first, welcoming anyone who wanted to speak. stories from family members and old comrades made people cry, while others smiled fondly. one knight laughed softly while recounting how sir aldric once broke his own wrist refusing to admit an injury. another spoke about how he never forgot birthdays despite pretending not to care. his wife and your father both spoke, and once more you were consumed with guilt for not standing up there like others.

izukus expression was solemn while listening to the speeches. one hand rested loosely near the sword at his side out of habit. perhaps it was from earlier from his reassurance, but you made it through the entire day.

a week passed like nothing. the palace settled into its usual rhythm. izuku had adapted fast. he learned the names of courtiers, the timing of formal greetings, when to speak and when to stay silent. he memorized the routes through the palace, which led him to you. the gardens, which he realized had become his new favourite place. soft sunlight filtering through trees, flowers of all kinds decorated the area, and a huge water fountain was in the middle of it all.

you were sitting in the grass with eri, surrounded by wild flowers. the young governors daughter had quickly decided she liked you, and unlike most court interactions, there was nothing rehearsed about her. at first, she was shy and only spoke to a select few, plus her adoptive father. flowers were scattered across your lap, stems gathered in uneven piles as you braided them together. eri was working beside you with intense focus, tongue poking slightly out in concentration as she tried to copy your pattern. "mine looks better," she declared confidently, holding up a crooked crown that was barely holding together.

you laughed "yours looks like its on life suuport." eri gasped dramatically and started fixing it again. you gave her pointers and showed her how to do it properly. her second attempt was a lot better.

not far from you, izuku stood at the edge of the garden path. he had arrived from training with the other knights. his fighting style was different from that of a royal guard, which in a way granted him with an advantage. the royal knights were taught through discipline, while he learned by way of real combat. nothing that could be rehearsed instead gained with experience. he noticed that most of the knights fought the same, which made it easy to counter. still, he was in no place to correct their flaws just yet-- he needed to earn their trust, or he might come off as obnoxious. now he lingered in the shadows of the hedges.

eri noticed him first, "deku!" her smile widened and he stepped into the sunlight. she scrambled to her feet, running to hug the young knight. he kneeled to hug the girl, a smile that matched her own. eri threw her arms around his neck and he laughed, lifting her from the ground. he spun her once making her giggle.

you watched them while questions filled you. how did they know each other? eri wasnt the type to cling to strangers. from what you knew, she spent most of her time with governer aizawa and a few others. you debating asking, but decided against it. lost in ypur own thoughts, you dont notice them walking toward you. eri was practically bouncing with joy, holding izukus hand. "i didnt know you were friends with the princess, eri," izuku plopped down beside you.

"she is teaching me how to make flower crowns, see, look!" she shoves the flower crown in his face, and he took it in his hands.

"wow! this is beautiful, eri!" he anazlyed the crown, "do you mind if i put it on?"

eri beamed, "of course!"

he placed the flower crown on his head.

"you look handsome, izuku." your mouth spoke before your brain could comprehend what was being said, covering your hand to stop the giggles. a pink hue spread on his face at the compliment. he bowed his head "thank you, princess!"

the conversation carried on from there, filled with laughs and you found yourself mesmerized by this new side of izuku. he was carefree; he didnt care for punctuation or his title as a knight. time passed like nothing, the clouds overhead covering the sun as it began its slow descent. you looked behind you to see a servant approaching, and you knew it was time for eri to go home. hearing this news, she was disappointed. her shoulders slumped as he looked between you and izuku as if asking 'do i have to go?' you reminded her she could come visit whenever she wanted. that made her pout transform to a smile, "promise?" she asked, holding out her pinky. you stuck out your own, linking them, "i promise."

she looked over to izuku, and pulled you both in for a hug. you let out a gasp in surprise, but relaxed and wrapped an arm around her, izuku following suit. she pulled away, smoothing down her skirt to pretend she wasnt sad about leaving. the servant held her hand and she looked over her shoulder, giving a small wave as she turned the corner.

you let out a sigh, tilting your head back to stare at the clouds. izuku stood up, brushing grass and petals off his clothes. when you looked back at him, he was already holding out a hand to you, "my princess," he said and paused, "i mean-- princess, would you like help up?" his cheeks had a tint of pink when he corrected himself.

your heart fluttered as you held his hand. he pulled you up, your face close to his. your eyes flick down to his lips, then to his eyes. you stopped yourself from leaning forward, instead backing away while your heart raced. you cleared your throat "its getting late" you state, mentally bullying yourself for almost acting indecent with your knight. "could you walk me back to my chambers?" you request, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.

"of course, princess." izuku gave a bow, following beside you back to your room. the hallway back seemed to stretch on forever. neither of you said a word; the silence was awkward to say the least. there had been so much noise with eri, both you and izuku had been so carefree talking. all that remained were the footsteps against polished stone. you found yourself taking little glances at him. at some point, he took his flower crown off. eventually you did make it to your room, opening your door and pausing to turn to izuku. "thank you for walking me back."

"of course, its my duty as your knight to make sure you're safe." he replied with that kind smile of his. your hand remained on the door, your stomach fluttering with butterflies. the past week has been replaying in your mind: him saving your life, holding you when you cried, and spending time in the garden. your hand tightened in a fist against the door. "i really hope i dont regret this.."

izuku tilts his head "princess? what do yo--"

you stepped forward before your courage could disappear. your hand lifted to cup his cheek and press your lips to his. izuku froze; his body went still with shock. his mind went blank, and his body moved on its own when he grabbed your hips, pulling you closer. your hands curl in his hair, desperate for more. you pulled away, and you saw his lips wanted to follow you. your hands landed on his chest while you avoided eye contact. "sorry-- i... i shouldnt have done that-- i.." you tried to come up with an excuse for your romantic feelings. there was none. you had fallen for the young knight, stupidly so. you knew the man for about a week, yet you have grown closer as if you knew each other for months.

his hands didnt remove themselves from your hips. "sorry?" he repeated, genuine confusion pulled his brows together. "why are you apologizing?"

the question caught you off guard. why were you? people fell in love all the time, so why cant you? your lips parted to speak, but nothing came out.

"..was it something you didnt mean?" he asked with hesitation.

"no, no! of course not." you stammered. you look down at his chest, unable to meet his eyes. "i know its not right for me to... feel this way, but--" he tilted your chin to look up at him, one of his hands cradling your face. "i.. i think ive fallen in love, izuku." your heart pounded in your chest. what if you ruined everything before it had the chance to become something more? what if your confession scared him off? you wouldnt blame him if it did.

୨ৎ a relationship with him will be toxic and emotionally exhausting. its like a roller coaster of emotions. that being said, he would experience love just as intense as his hatred. he wouldnt let you abandon him.

— he would act mocking, sassy or straight up insulting some days, while others he needs you like he needs air to breathe.

୨ৎ if things get too vulnerable, he starts smirking, acting like none of it matters to him.

୨ৎ as much as he doesnt want to act like his father, in terms of emotional neglect, he doesnt fully give himself to you. as mentioned before, he cant forget about his pain, his suffering- unfortunately that means you cant change him. he is a broken man, consumed by years of hatred and resentment built up. he will always but his goal first, even if it hurts you.

୨ৎ he would be protective. he would stalk you home, especially when you first start dating, watching from afar to make sure you made it home safely. after a while of being together he would just walk along side you, not bothering to ask.

୨ৎ he would kill for you without asking or if he thinks its necessary. which is almost always

୨ৎ he wouldnt buy things for you, but steal them if he can. for example if you mention you like flowers he will leave a bouquet on your balcony or windowsill.

୨ৎ dry texter to the max. he uses burner phones so you never have his actual number. whenever a random number texts you, its safe to assume its him. he'd absolutely ruin your sleep schedule. random visits at ungodly hours, waking you up by throwing pebbles at your window or climbing onto your balcony uninvited.

your phone buzzed at 2:17 a.m. from yet another unsaved number. your eyes squinted from the bright light.

unknown: u awake

you stared at it for a second before typing back.

you: barely. you: is this even your real number this time?

no response. you rolled your eyes and tossed the phone beside you, already expecting him to disappear again for the rest of the night. then your phone buzzed once more.

unknown: open the window

sure enough, when you pulled the curtain aside, dabi was sitting on the fire escape outside your apartment with his hood up. he lifted one hand lazily when he saw you. "you take forever," he muttered when you opened the window.

"you text like a serial killer," you say as he climbs through.

୨ৎ if you cry in front of him, he gets awkward and irritated.. hes terrible at comfort. he'll wipe your tears away with rough hands and mutter stuff like, "quit lookin at me like that," while staying beside you.

୨ৎ he loves when you challenge him. "make me." type energy absolutely gets under his skin in the best way.

୨ৎ dabi absolutely talks dirty. he likes getting reactions out of you more than anything. “actin all tough before, but look at you now, legs spread for little ol me." "quit actin innocent. i know you better than that." "thats my pretty girl,"

୨ৎ into spanking, especially if you have a lot of curves.

୨ৎ when he is tired its a different story. voice rough from exhaustion, forehead pressed against yours, while he mutters quiet praise. he would let you ride him, a bruising grip on your hips as you move.

— speaking of bruising; its likely he would leave a marks on you, bruises, bite marks, light burns and hickeys. however he wont enjoy if you try to do the same to him. especially in a noticeable area.

୨ৎ depending on how much he trusts you, plus how long you have been together, he will let you help him dye his hair.

୨ৎ hed have a habit of ruining things right when they become too good. quiet nights together, peaceful moments- then a sarcastic comment or a cruel joke, something to break the atmosphere because comfort makes him restless.

୨ৎ if you were to break up, he would be the one to initiate. you arent allowed to leave him, but he can leave you. 

when you woke up, you instinctively reached beside you. only to be met with empty, cold sheets. slowly, you cracked open your eyes and saw your husband no longer there. you sigh and roll on your back, stretching your limbs. the smell of eggs makes you sit up. shoto is making breakfast, you loved his cooking. you leap out of bed and throw on a robe, entering the kitchen to greet the love of your life.

"good morning, my husband" you hum softly, a hint of playfulness in your tone as you approach him from behind when he suddenly sidesteps you. you blink, taken aback, huffing in annoyance, "okay... a bit rude."

he pays you no mind-- instead focused on putting his omelet on his plate, cropping some vegetables as his side. you couldnt help but notice how he only made a serving for himself. before you could ask, he moved again, sitting by himself at the dining table. your smile falters just a little.

awkwardly, you stand in the kitchen before finally snapping out of it. "uh… shoto?" you creep over to sit in front of him. he stared down at his plate with a blank expression. youve seen this before, often when he was stressed or lost in his own mind. granted, now he would usually notice your presence and apologize.

hes just distracted.

"you okay..?" you ask, leaning forward in attempt to hold eye contact. still, no response. he lifts his fork and takes a bite. its like you werent even there to begin with. "shoto this isnt funny--" your hands ball into fists, nails digging into your palms, resting in your lap. you force yourself to take a breath, calming yourself before speaking once more, "did you not sleep well? or is it work?" you paused, your voice wavering. "or is it... me?"

the slience stretches and he releases a quiet sigh. your heart jumps-- finally-- but thats it. just a sigh, nothing more.

he stands up and places his plate in the dishwasher with a clink. your eyes track his movement as he leaves to your shared bedroom, slamming the door behind him. the sound was loud enough that you flinch. he never did that, ever. your hands shake, confusion clouding your mind.

you sit there for a long time. had you done something? you cant remember. the slience is suffocating, its weight pressing down on you. the sound of the door slamming echos in your head, replaying the events of this morning again and again. your hands tremble in your lap, fingers curling and uncurling in anxiousness. your stomach is turning, no matter how much you tried to soothe yourself it didnt work.

what happened?

you try to retrace it-- every word, every action. maybe you said something wrong. maybe you pushed to hard. maybe he is dealing with something you have yet to understand. the thought twists in your stomach, gulit eating at you. but for what? you couldnt recall doing anything to upset him. just yesterday you two were fine, so what changed?

"i didnt mean to upset him," you whisper to no one, your voice small in the empty place. but that didnt make sense either. he didnt look angry, he looked almost... sad.

you push yourself up. right now he need you, it didnt matter if he agreed to it or not. you refuse to let thiis fester.

the hallway floorboards creek underneath your steps, photos of your wedding day hung on the wall. you felt uneasy, your hand resting on the knob. "shoto, can we talk?" you ask serenely, pushing the door open. the room was dim, curtains half drawn to let some light through. he was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees with his head down. he changed into his hero attire, seeming to be lost in thought once more.

relief filled you. he didnt leave.

you step inside, approaching him like a scared animal in hopes he doesnt withdraw completely. "hey.." your voice is soft. "you scared me a little back there."

no response. he doesnt move.

"if i did something, you can tell me," you continue, vulnerable. "i can fix it. i just... i dont understand whats going on." the words hang in the air. you rest a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. shoto stiffens slightly, and jerks his shoulder, throwing your hand off. you retract your hand in surprise, eyes widened.

he suddenly gets up and passes you, his arm nearly brushing yours. it was almost intentional how he avoided you.

you turn quickly, watching him go, "wait-- can we just talk? please?" your voice cracks, desperation slipping through despite your effort to hold it together.

he doesnt stop or look back. he walks out like you never spoke at all. a moment later you hear the front door open, then close.

he left for work, youre left alone.

when he comes home its late. so late that you could see the stars shining against the dark sky. you had been sitting at the dining room table and lost track of time, nothing but the ticking of the grandfather clock and your own thoughts to keep you company. you were about to fall on the brink of insanity if he didnt explain himself. you hear the front door unlock and he steps in. "shoto?" it feels like theres an invisible wall between you that only keeps getting thicker no matter how hard you try to break through it.

he kicks off his shoes and neatly stacks them on the rack. sweat clings to his skin, dampening his hero suit. theres dirt smeared near his jaw, faint scuff marks along his sleeves and judging by the look on his face he is exhausted. "rough day?" you move toward him. he doesnt look at you. "look i get it, your work is hard-- youre risking your life, but please talk to me. did i do something?"

he neglects to comment.

you dont know why he wont touch you. why he wont look at you. shoto continues walking without answering, his silence stretching so painfully through the house that it starts feeling suffocating. "can you at least look at me when im talking to you?" frustration starts slipping through despite your effort to hold it back. "im your wife, not some stranger you can ignore whenever you feel like it!"

"say something!" your voice cracks loudly through the house desperate to no end. “anything! yell at me, tell me youre mad at me, i dont care anymore just stop acting like im not even here--!” your hand slams down hard against the small counter beside you before you even realize what youre doing. the vase sitting there tips instantly and wobbles awfully close to the edge and crashes to the floor. ceramic shatters violently across the kitchen tile, pieces scattering everywhere in jagged white fragments. he had bought that vase for you, when it felt like you wouldnt see him for days on end-- he would fill the vase with your favorite flowers to let you know he was there when your sleep schudules wouldnt align... and now it laid shattered at your feet. "oh my-- no i didnt mean--" the anger leaves you, like you were splashed with ice cold water.

shoto flinches when it breaks. his eyes dart immediately toward the broken vase, his shoulders tensing. you step closer to him. your hand lifts, about to touch him, wanting to apologize properly, wanting to fix the damage you caused-- but you stop when you see his face.

a mixture of fear and confusion.

your breath caught in your throat. he quietly kneels down in front of the shattered pieces without saying a single word. your heart aches painfully as you watch him clean up the mess in complete silence. he just starts picking up the broken ceramic carefully, sweeping the little shards in a dust pan. shoto finishes cleaning the shattered pieces quickly before dumping them into the a plastic bag. exhaustion written all over his face again, though now he looks even more drained than before.

you hear the shower start running from down the hall. you didnt bother to follow him, not when he had that look in his face, you felt shame and guilt. was he afraid of you? you make your way back toward the bedroom, your heart racing.

you sit down carefully on the edge of the bed, your hands clasping tightly together in your lap as your thoughts spiral uncontrollably. you replay the moment over and over. the room feels cold as you lie down to stare at the ceiling. your eyes sting, and you feel numb. your breathing is uneven as you try to swallow down the horrible tightness in your throat, the more you try to keep it in, the worse it builds. your vision blurs, a shaky breath leaving you. a small broken sound escapes your throat before you can stop it, and tears spill hot down your temples into your hair. you quickly press the heel of your hand against your eyes like thatll somehow stop it, but it only makes your breathing feel more like suffocation. "i didnt mean to…" you whisper shakily to the empty room. you curl into yourself on the bed, one arm wrapped tightly around your stomach as quiet tears continue slipping free no matter how hard you try to calm down.

sometime during the night you fell asleep from the emotional exhaustion. your body shut down simply because it couldnt deal with the stress anymore. even then, rest never truly came. your dreams are terrifying to say the least.

an unbearable, suffocating heat wrapping around your body so tight it feels hard to breathe. the flames are trapping you from escape. then comes the thick smoke flooding your lungs until every breath burns painfully in your chest. you hear shoto and scream for him. the walls are crumbling down around you. flames climb the walls around you, consuming everything in crackling orange and red. smoke chokes the air, barely seeing more than a few feet ahead of you. the ceiling groans somewhere above, pieces of debris crashing down around you as fire alarms scream endlessly in the distance. your lungs seize as you stumble forward blindly through the smoke, coughing harshly into your sleeve. the heat is unbearable against your skin and you see it peeling away. "hello?!" your voice comes out broken between coughs. "shoto—!" another loud crash shakes the building violently beneath your feet.

you can barley see, you dont know where to go. everything is so loud, so much pain. you stumble disoriented and terrified, trying desperately to find an exit through the smoke. then you see it, an window just upahead. but it seemed fate was cruel, as a deafening crack echos above you. you look up just in time to see the ceiling collasping. a beam crashes down, crushing you beneath it. you hit the ground hard, a scream tearing from your throat as the heavy beam crushes down across your legs and lower torso. the impact knocks the air from your lungs. you cant breathe or think. the pain is unbearable and your hands tremble as you try to push the beam off you. its no use, its too heavy. you panic, and tears fall from your ash-covered face. "no-- no no no please--" the fire grows closer. every breathe is painful, even coughing hurts. you can feel yourself burning, the smell of your own flesh making you want to vomit. you feel dizzy. the metal of your wedding band was melting your skin off.

you are scared. not of death, but of being alone. you wish shoto were here, he would know what to say to make you feel better. "shoto!" your voice cracks violently as tears spill down your face. "shoto, please!"

you thought he didnt hear you, that you would die alone.

"Y/N!"

through the thick smoke, you see him, running through the flames, panic written all over his face in a way youve never seen before. his eyes are wide with fear as he pushes through the collapsing building to you, ice spreading wildly from beneath his feet in desperate attempts to stop the fire around him. "shoto..." you feel yourself slipping.

he drops to his knees beside you immediately, hands grabbing desperately at the beam trapping you. his face looks frantic "hold on," he says, voice shaking despite himself. "Ive got you. im here." the building groans violently overhead. your vision blurs and you reach toward him when you suddenly wake up.

your shaking, hands clutch tightly at the blankets beneath you as your pulse pounds uncontrollably in your ears. it wasnt real, just a dream. you stay sitting upright in bed, one trembling hand pressed tightly against your chest while the other grips the blankets to wrinkle them beneath your fingers. you squeeze your eyes shut tightly, trying to steady your breathing.

you swallow hard and finally force yourself to lie back down on the mattress, though sleep never truly comes after that. instead, you spend the rest of the night drifting in and out of restless thoughts while the darkness slowly fades into morning light. by the time sunlight filters weakly through the curtains, exhaustion sits heavily behind your eyes. you stare blankly upward at the ceiling, numb and hollow from the nightmare lingering in your chest. your hand reaches across the mattress beside you.

cold. he must have slept on the couch.

you sit up, rubbing tiredly at your face before dragging yourself out of bed. the house is silent except for faint movement downstairs. the memories from last night come rushing back all at once-- the shouting, the vase shattering against the floor, the look on his face afterward. you feel sick just thinking about it. shame curls painfully in your stomach as you step into the hallway. you dont even know how to face him after that. you make your way to the kitchen and stop when you see him and the vase. it was the same one you broke yesterday; he had glued it back together. shoto stands near the counter with his back turned to you, already dressed. a black button-up shirt stretches neatly across his frame, sleeves rolled carefully to his forearms.

beside him was a bouquet of flowers.

you simply stare at them while something uneasy twists deep inside your chest. you doubt those flowers are for you, and you knew shoto didnt care for them, so who were they for? another woman? shoto reaches toward them, fingers brushing against the wrapping paper with gentleness, and suddenly, your dream flashes through your mind again.

him running toward you, terrified but not for himself, for you. desperate to save you. your heart couldnt take it, because the man from your dream and the man standing in your kitchen felt like two different people. "youre going out again...?" you question.

he doesnt answer, doesnt even react to your question. you stare at his back helplessly, frustration and grief twisting inside your chest it hurts to breathe. "shoto, please," your voice cracks "I dont understand what happened to us. please.... i miss my husband."

he pauses at the doorway before sighing and leaving.

you dont understand any of this. you dont understand why your husband barely speaks to you now. why he looks exhausted every time he comes home. why he flinch when the vase shattered? why does he stare at pictures of you with this awful sadness in his eyes before turning away again, as if looking at you hurts him, yet he cant look you in the eyes in person?

you cant take it anymore, you need answers even if they break your heart. your eyes drift toward the front door, and before you can second-guess yourself, your feet begin moving. you refuse to sit here. you cant stay trapped inside this silent house while your husband disappears somewhere on the weekend, carrying flowers meant for someone else. you cant keep pretending not knowing hurts less than the truth. whatever that may be. you hurry toward the front door as fast as you can. you barely notice the cold beneath your bare feet. by the time you reach outside, shotos car is already halfway down the street, disappearing farther away with every second. "shoto-- wait!!" you know he wont hear you, you need to be faster. cold morning air bites against your skin as you hurry down the sidewalk after the distant car, your breathing growing uneven, embarrassingly fast. you rarely leave the house anymore. the realization flickers through your mind as you move through the neighbourhood, passing strangers who barely glance your way.

the neighbour walking her dog doesnt react to you as you pass her, but her dog does, pulling on his leash. you pay it no mind, rushing after shoto.

you cant remember the last time you left the house, the thought unsettles you, but not enough to stop. you keep moving, your chest burning, while shotos car disappears farther through the city streets ahead of you. the further you go, the stranger everything starts to feel around you. a bicyclist nearly passes straight through where you were before swerving suddenly at the last second with a confused look, muttering under his breath as he rides away. eventually the city begins thinning around you, buildings giving way to quieter streets lined with old trees swaying softly in the wind. shotos car finally slows ahead in the distance before turning through large iron gates.

you pant, a cemetery? this place is making you dizzy, you hold your head as it starts to hurt. focus! you need shoto. confusion rushes through you as you stare toward the gates ahead, your breathing shallow now for entirely different reasons. why would he come here? why dress so nicely? why the flowers? your pulse pounds rapidly in your ears.

you watch him for a moment through the iron gates, and suddenly the exhaustion written into every movement becomes impossible to ignore. his shoulders look heavy and you realise hes carrying something unbearable. maybe youve been selfish this entire time, so caught up in your own hurt that you never noticed how badly he was struggling. "no…" you whisper shakily to yourself, though the words sound uncertain even to you. "no, that still doesnt explain…" doesnt explain the distance or any of his behaviour.

the gravel crunches softly beneath your feet while cold wind brushes against your skin. rows and rows of gravestones stretch endlessly around you, quiet and still beneath the grey morning sky. your breath catches immediately at the sight of him standing there completely motionless before a grave. he simply stares downward then his shoulders begin to shake.

"…shoto?" your voice comes out weak.

he doesnt react. his head lowered, fingers tightening hard enough around the bouquet to crumple the wrapping paper beneath his grip. his breathing turns uneven, and the most heartbreaking sobs escape him. rain begins to fall lightly overhead, but he doesnt notice. your eyes slowly drift downward toward the grave in front of him, and the world stops.

here lies Y/N Todoroki, beloved wife and daughter.

shoto cant breathe. even after all this time, seeing her name carved into stone still feels unreal to him, his mind outright rejects the mere thought, no matter how many weekends he forces himself to come here. she is gone, buried beneath the earth, while hes still standing here, continuing to live without her. it feels wrong in a way he can explain. everyone told him it would get better eventually, that time would make carrying it easier, but they were wrong. time hasnt healed anything. it has only forced him to survive longer without her. every single day since her death has felt like waking up with something missing inside him, something vital ripped out so suddenly his body still hasnt adjusted to the emptiness left behind. like a part of his soul was torn away by the cruelness of fate.

hes exhausted in a way sleep could never fix. he lowers himself slowly onto his knees in front of the gravestone. his trembling hand slowly reaches forward until his fingertips brush against the cold marble beneath her name. the stone feels cold beneath his touch. "i brought flowers again," he says quietly, his voice rough and uneven from crying more often than speaking these days. "the ones you liked." the sentence nearly falls apart halfway through because the memories hit him all at once. he remembers the way her face used to light up whenever he brought flowers home unexpectedly. remembers how carefully she'd arrange them. remembers the teasing smile she'd give him whenever he acted embarrassed about demonstrating his love.

the house doesnt feel like home anymore. it hasnt since the day she died. every room feels wrong without her, empty in a way that feels unbearable. her smell is there, the memories of her laughter-- but never her. sometimes he still catches himself pausing outside rooms expecting to hear her voice before reality crushes him all over again. "youd hate seeing me like this," he laughs weakly through the tears, though the sound is hollow and broken enough to barely resemble laughter at all. "youd tell me to get up. tell me im being dramatic." his voice cracks badly on the last word because he can practically hear her saying it. "i shouldve protected you." the words leave him. "if i had just gotten there faster… protected you like i promised in our vows."

it was date night. one of the few nights where your boyfriend was free from his hero work. you were getting ready in your shared bedroom-- sitting in front of the vanity to finish your makeup. you smooth down your dress, standing up.

shoto was sitting on the bed behind you, looking down at his phone. you saw his reflection in the mirror, its likely that he was still working-- even if it is only sending emails. you turn to him, pointing an accusing finger at him "sho! stop working!"

he quickly shuts off his phone, "sorry my love, midoriya was asking me a few questions."

you strike a pose, hand on your hip, "forget that, tell me i ate with this look."

he pauses, a look of confusion of his face. "….youve eaten"

you shake your head, "no, no, no— say that i ate"

his brows knit together, his eyes looking to the side to comprehend the words you were saying. he looks back at you, "you… consumed the outfit."

you resist the urge to face palm, he could be so blunt sometimes "no, babe say 'you ate' with confidence."

"you ate.." his words are stiff.

you hug him, pressing your chest in his face. his large hands fall on your waist, his muffled voice not understandable. you pull away planting a kiss on his cheek, his face having the faintest tint of pink. you stand in between his spread legs, cupping his face in your hands.

he looks up at you, he covering your hands with his and tilts his head to the side. "im still confused," he admits, "if you already ate, are you sure you want to go out for dinner? i can find somewhere else if youre full."

you laugh at him, unable to stop for a few seconds. you calm down, coughing to make yourself focus. "sho, youre hilarious," you pull him up, "you didnt tell me you were a comedian."

"i dont understand whats funny," he replied, his face more puzzled than before.

you smile, "okay, new lesson. when i say i 'ate,' it means i look good."

he ponders for a moment, "... so you did not eat."

"not literally."

"and you still want to go out for dinner?"

"yep!"

"then why not just say that?"

you shrug, "maybe the brainrot is getting to me."

you saw his face show a look of horror and quicky corrected yourself, "again, not literally."

" …you ate," he repeats, more certain this time. your face brightens and you kiss him, "see youre getting it!"

the drive was long. the road is familar, leading to the one place you dreaded-- the todoroki household. every minute you got closer felt like you were nearing your own execution.

your looking at emi, your hand rubbing absent circles over her chair seat. although you were staring directly at her, your mind was thinking of a different story.

emi kicks and you snap back to reality. you smile softly, and she babbles to herself, grabbing her feet and attempting to take her socks off. you manage to distract her with her rattle, her small hands reaching for it. you cant believe you agreed to this. the thought of seeing enji todorokis angry glare sent shivers down your spine. anxiety washed over you and you turned back to the front seat, your hands folded neatly in your lap. your voice was quiet when you finally spoke. "sho... are you sure hes changed?"

you keep your eyes on your hands, fiddling with your thumbs.

shotos hand slides over to hold your own. "yes." he states calmly. he always knew how to ease your worries-- maybe it was the certainty in his tone or how he kept his word. "i believe he has. after the fight with touya... hes been trying to atone." his voice catches slightly on his brothers name, and for a moment his grip on your hand tightens-- not enough to ever hurt, but enough to see the tension and grief he is holding back. hes quiet for longer than usual, his eyes locked on the road ahead, and you realize hes convincing himself as much as hes reassuring you. when he finally tears his eyes off the road to glance at you there is something in his expression; doubt.

the word hangs in the air. atone.

you bite your bottom lip. you heard the news reports, how the turth being exposed nearly sent your husband into a mental breakdown. people accusing him of being just like his father. many disapproved of his father and their hatred for him was derected at his children. some criticzed them for not speaking up-- as if they werent victims. as if speaking up about years of mental and phyiscal abuse is an easy story to tell. you recall when some ignorant reporter called a birthmark emi had on her arm a bruise, tried to frame your beloved husband in the media. they shut up real quick when they were faced with a defamation lawsuit.

shoto faced his cruelty firsthand, and if he said he changed, then all you can do is listen. your hand squeezes around his own.

you stare at the wedding ring he had given you-- the bond of love and trust-- and you trust your husband.

you turn back to emi, who was now chewing on the rattle, and you pull your phone out to take a photo. you cant help the faint smile that tugs at your mouth.

shotos thumb brushes over your knuckles and you turn back to the front. "the second you want to leave, we will," he reassures you. he pauses, then adds, "you dont need to prove anything to him. you are more then what my old man thinks of quirks." his eyes flick to you briefly, "youre my family. thats all that matters."

you nod, your mind drifting away to the first time you visited the todoroki household.

you remember how hard you tried to make a good impression. you had stood in the mirror for longer than you liked to admit; changing outfits, your hair, overthinking everything down to how to how youd introduce yourself. it mattered, because this was important to shoto, and meeting his family is like stepping into a part of his life he rarely talked about. you knew that his relationship with his father was stained, and the gaps in his stories filled out the rest. everyone knew the number one hero was not a people person and you could only imagine a man like that being a father.

the house itself was huge, and you stared in amazement. your family was no where near this rich. you felt a hand on your back and snapped out of your thoughts.

youd been trembling-- barely noticable, but he noticed. his hand had slipped from your back to your hand, fingers threading through yours. he leaned closer, whispering, "breathe. everythings going to be fine."

when you both stepped inside and caught enjis cold stare across the room, shoto had positioned himself slightly in front of you, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. his sister welcomed you both, "its so nice to finally meet you," she professed, leading you to the dining room. "shotos told us so much about you."

the table was already set-- pristine white plates, polished sliverware, everything arranged with careful precision. you saw a man with white hair take a seat next to fuyumi. he gave a small wave, and you returned it with a nervous smile.

that must be natsuo.

you take a seat beside shoto, your hands folded in your lap to keep them from shaking.

"i cant believe shoto has been dating someone for months and we are only now hearing about you!" fuyumi teased with a grin, her eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity.

you laughed nervously, heat rising to your cheeks. "that was partly my fault, i told shoto to keep our relationship private for a few months."

"ahh, so just like natuso!"

the man in question gasped, his face flushed, "whoa-- dont go exposing me now!"

shoto looked up from his plate, his expression neutral, "its not exposing you if we all knew."

"huh? you knew?" natsuos eyes went wide with shock.

"yes. fuyumi told me a while ago."

"fuyumi!"

you couldnt help but laugh. maybe this wont be so bad and you got all worked up for nothing.

the dinner continued, and you found yourself relaxing into the rhythm of conversation. when you took your first bite, the flavors melted on your tongue. "this is delicious! what recipe did you use?" you question her.

fuyumi swallowed her food before answering, her face bright with joy. "i got it from the internet, i can give it to you before you leave if you like."

"please do, this is amazing." you grinned.

"do you cook too?" her face lit up right away.

"heh, yeah." you admitted, a bit shy, "i plan to open up my own restaurant after culinary school." that caught her attention fast, "what kind?" she beamed with excitement.

and just like that, the two of you were talking. about recipes, about dishes you loved, about what kind of resturant youd run. it felt easy, talking to someone youve barley knew for an hour.

until--

"so you have no interest in hero work?"

you looked up.

enjis eyes were trained on you. he had been quiet you almost forgot he was even here. his expression was unreadable, his arms crossed over his chest-- everything about his posture was unwelcoming.

you look at shoto and he holds your hand under the table. "o--oh... um" you started, suddenly aware of how small you sounded. "i dont have a quirk."

"i see." two words. thats all he gave you. two words, and somehow they weighed more than all the ones he didnt say

the conversation contined after that, but the air felt different. you kept getting in your own head, his dismissal. as if he already decided your worth based off the absence of a quirk.

the dinner came to an end and you were putting on your shoes while shoto grabbed your jacket from the closet. fuyumi and natsuo were both bidding you goodbye, friendly compared to enjis next words.

"youre choosing poorly."

you froze. he was talking to shoto-- no doubt about it.

"youre young," he went on, like he was explaining something painfully simple. "you dont understand the long-term consequences."

your grip tightened on the strap of your purse. you saw shotos jaw clench.

"a partner without a quirk limits your future. your offspring would have a chance at being quirkless." he said it like a disease. like you were some defect in society

natuso tsked. "cant you just be happy for him?" he snapped with a glare. fuyumi looked panicked, like she wanted to keep the peace, but it was far too late for that.

shoto lead you out the door, turning back to glare at his ignorant father, "im not like you." his voice was firm, unwavering.

enjis expression hardened.

"i dont care about a strong heir. theres more to her than what she can do for me."

enji took a step forward, "shoto--"

the door slammed shut before he could say anything else.

the door opens before you can knock. youd braced yourself for that awkward pause, the kind where you stand in the cold waiting, second-guessing your choice to come here today. but fuyumi stands there, framed in the doorway, her expression still soft from when you last met. you can tell a sense of ease washes over her when she sees you both. theres a flicker of surprise at the sight of the baby in shoto's arms.

"shoto, y/n," she speaks first, her voice carrying a quiet kind of relief before her attention shifts more to you. "hi... its really good to see you again."

its nice seeing her, even if this place makes your heart feel heavy.

"hi," you answer, softer than you intended.

her eyes drift back to the infant in shotos arms, and whatever restraint shed had disappears momentarily. her whole expression changes. "oh-- can i?" she asks, already moving closer, holding herself back from overstepping.

shoto doesnt hesitate. he carefully hands emi toward her, and fuyumi takes her like shes made of glass, cooing softly and gently rocking her. "shes beautiful," she murmurs. emi reaches up to try and tug on her hair, blinking with curious eyes.

"whats her name?"

"emi," you reply.

"emi..." she repeats, testing the sound of it. "thats perfect." she quickly regains her bearings. "oh-- come in, come in." she steps out of the way, her free hand gesturing you both inside.

you step over the threshold, and the familiar weight of the house settles over you. the sight of emi reaching for her with tiny, trusting hands makes it easier to breathe.

you slip in beside shoto, bending down to take your shoes off near the entrance, and the first thing you notice is how different the house feels. it hasnt changed in appearance, rather in atmosphere. your eyes drift without meaning to, thats when you notice her.

she stands further back, near the hallway leading to the kitchen, hands loosely folded in front of her. she looked a bit out of place, like she was decicing if she should act as a ghost or apporch you head on. shoto follows your gaze, "mother?"

your attention snaps back to his mother.

rei.

she steps forward slowly, her eyes moving between you and shoto before settling on emi in fuyumis arms.

"…may i?" she asks, her voice gentle. fuyumi looks at you for permission. you hesitate for a second then nod.

rei takes emi with both hands, you can tell shes worried about doing something wrong. but the second emi settles against her, something in her posture relaxes just a little. her shoulders drop, her expression is in awe. "shes so small, she murmurs, almost to herself. "its nice to finally meet you," she says after a moment, looking up at you. "shoto has told me about you."

you blink. "…he has?" you glace at shoto and he looks almost embarrssed, the faintest hint of color rising to his cheeks.

theres a small smile on reis lips. "he wrote me letters back when he attented UA."

you dont really know what to say to that, so you just nod. you look around, "where is natsuo? "

fuyumi cringes at the mention of her brother, "he.. left. i visit him from time to time but he wants to start a new family with his fiancee. "

just when she finished speaking, you hear it: the sound of a cane hitting the floor.

when you look, hes standing there. the man that made you dread coming here. that has thousands of news reports about how awful he is. whos initial dismissal of you opens a scar that hasnt healed yet.

enji.

he looks… different. older, of course, but its more than that. theres something worn down about him, defeated almost. a shell of the aggressive man he was before. the cane is obvious, held in one hand, his stance just slightly off because of it.

his eyes go to shoto first then to you and they rest there.

"…you came." his voice isnt sharp. if anything, he sounds unsure.

you dont answer right away. your fingers curl slightly at your sides, grounding yourself, reminding yourself youre not that same girl standing by the door anymore.

shoto shifts just a little closer to you.

enji exhales slowly, like hes steadying himself. "i…" he starts, then stops, his jaw tightening for a second before he tries again. "thank you for coming." its not what you expected. not even close.

you glance at shoto for a second, then back at enji. "we're not staying long," you say.

he nods right away. "thats… fair." his gaze shifts to emi in reis arms, and his face changes to a soft expression, a stark contrast to how you last remember him. he doesnt move any closer. he just stares, his eyes arent cold like all those years ago. he doesnt say anything about what she is, or what she could be. rei adjusts emi slightly, glancing at enji before looking back at you.

"dinner is ready," she says gently, turning to the dining room table.