#ayc chapter 1

You shook your head as you picked through various authors and topics until you had a respectable stack in your arms, balancing them precariously. You stretched on your toes for one final book, fingers barely pressing against the spine as you held your breath.

“You do know you can’t read all those at once, right?”

You startled at the sudden voice from behind you, falling back to your feet as all the books, save for the first one, tumbled from your hands and onto the floor with a crash. You whirled around to see Prince Bakugou chuckling to himself at your misfortune, hands crossed over his bare chest as he leaned back against the shelves.

You huffed, heart hammering in your chest as you placed a palm over it, a weak attempt to calm yourself. You glared as he grinned back at you, the scar that ran over the left side of his mouth stretching tight at the action.

“Gods, Bakugou, you nearly scared me half to death,” you snapped, eying the blonde suspiciously as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, crossing them at the ankle. “What are you even doing here?” you snapped, smoothing down your tunic in an attempt to hide how much he’d managed to ruffle you in such a short amount of time.

He avoided your question, gesturing instead to the pile of books that now lay scattered on the floor around you. “I think I asked you a question first. I know that you’re a bookworm, but come on, even you can’t find all that stuff that interesting,” he snickered.

You huffed, rolling your eyes as you crouched down to begin picking up. “Some of us care and want to do what’s best for this kingdom, not just whatever we want,” you muttered, reaching for a book bound in blue leather. “Spoiled brat,” you added under your breath.

A heavy boot landed on the cover and you glanced up sharply to see the blonde leering down at you, eyes lit with a challenge as he grinned down at you, more predatory than friendly.

A shiver ran over you as he spoke, his large frame and the bulky fur collar of his cape blocking out the sunlight and casting you in shadows. “Spoiled brat, huh?” he echoed quietly, foot pressing more firmly on the book as you tried to tug it out from under his weight.

You stood quickly, mouth already opening to tell him to leave you be and let you clean up when he stepped forward, expression unreadable as he moved effortlessly around the mess at your feet.

You scrambled back as he invaded your space and loomed over you, bumping against the shelves as your hand shot out to stabilize yourself, fingers curling into the leather strap that ran across the blonde’s chest, knuckles brushing over his damp skin.

He was close enough now that you could make out the smudge of dirt along his jaw, and the dark ring of red around his iris. His skin was still shiny with sweat, and it took you half a second to realize he must have just come back from training with Kirishima. You swallowed thickly at the sight of muscles rippling along his chest and arm as he lifted it, fingers wrapping around a shelf’s edge high above your head as he closed you in.

He grinned again, canines flashing. Quickly, you let go of his baldric, opting to clutch the thick book still held to your chest instead, hoping to try and create a barrier between the two of you as his gaze roamed over you.

His shoulders visibly relaxed as he stared down at you, tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip before he spoke, his voice low and entirely too intimate for your liking.

“Y’know.. My parents keep telling me that eventually I’ll have to settle down and start producing heirs. As my future advisor, and someone who ‘cares for the good of the kingdom’,” he mocked, head dipping lower to keep your wide gaze. “I think it’s only fair that you help me practice, for the good of the kingdom.”

Your eyes widened in shock, a heat creeping along your neck and face at what he was suggesting, mouth opening and closing as you scrambled for a quick retort. He leaned forward, his mouth getting dangerously close, and panic tripped in your chest.

Without thinking, you reacted, lifting the heavy book in your grasp and swinging.

You didn’t mean to hit him, only hoping that he’d dodge the swipe, give you some room, but there was a harsh smack as the leather made contact with his cheek and he stumbled sideways.

A gasp wrenched free from your chest, the book dropping from your grasp with a clatter as your hands covered your mouth in horror, already babbling out apologies as he straightened, rubbing his cheek.

You couldn’t see his face from the angle you stood at, but you could see all your hard work and parent’s legacy crumble before your very eyes, sure that you’d doomed your father’s legacy with one accidental strike.

Tears began to bubble at your lash line, blurring your vision as he turned to face you. You’re quick to cover your face, horrified to let him see you like this, given that you struck him, not the other way around.

You couldn’t help the way you startled when a hand circled around your wrist and tugged it down easily, palm calloused from years of wielding a sword.

A moment later, he was pressing the book back into your hand, quiet as you stared up at him in surprise, lip still wobbling. He remained silent as he cupped your cheek softly, swiping away a tear rolling down your skin, and you were surprised to see that his ruby eyes were gentle, a sharp contrast to the glint he usually donned when looking at you.

“Shouldn’t tease you so much, ‘m sorry,” he murmured. Your mouth fell open in surprise at his apology, especially since you could already see the skin on his cheek darkening where you hit him.

Before you could speak, he was gone again. You were left alone in the quiet library once more, staring after the blonde and wondering what the hell just happened.