His Other Half (KiriBaku)

Chapter 3

September 20, XX84
-the Bakugo Palace-

        Today was exciting.

        Of course, Prince Katsuki was pissed and irritated beyond belief, but at least he wasn't bored.

        King Enji Todoroki had arrived that morning, and the Bakugo heir had been just to deal with the fallout if the attack on his own. Both of his parents had to excuse themselves upon seeing the usually pristine, stuck-up King in burnt robes and sore feet. Queen Mitsuki had lost herself laughing the moment she exited the room with her husband, who was doing his absolute best to tell her to shut up before the palace caught fire.

        In an absolute mockery of diplomacy, Katsuki used his hand to cover his wide smirk, his elbow perched on the arm of his throne throughout the King's belligerent rant. He had been set up, an assassin had attacked him, the Bakugo's were out to get him, they'd pay for this; but wait, it was a bandit, filthy and feral, money-hungry and out for blood, like that bird-cloak guy a few continents over; or it was a monster, a ferocious beast, and he'd nearly been eaten before he fended it off, but it was sure to eat one of the townspeople next if it wasn't hunted down and shot. He seemed to be particularly stuck on that last idea, as he kept circling back to it and making it more and more wild for the past two hours.

        This entire notion was ridiculous, and Katsuki was sure he wasn't the only one to think this. Prince Todoroki looked like he had begun to count the tiles on the floor. Deku had his eyes shut, muttering under his breathe. Iida was doing his best to remain stoic, but a vein was beginning to throb on his temple. Denki and Hanta, thankfully behind Enji 'guarding the doors', were both stifling their laughter with their hands.

        "Prince Bakugo, be serious about this matter!" King Enji roared suddenly, and the prince's smile dropped. "I want the thing dead! I want its head on a wall!"

        "I'm being deadly serious, Endeavor. I'm not sending armed forces into the vast reaches of my country over a rumor," the prince bit back. "Dian is an isolated city. It's not far, but the mountains separate them from the rest of the nation. We've let them live as they wish with minimal interference. Every kingdom has its rebels, and ours live in Dian. Thankfully, they're a peaceful bunch, but a competitor from their town is participating in the Cour de Cour, and if I send a platoon to that tiny trading village, they might begin riots in my capital on the fear that we are imposing military force against a passive town."

        "Then execute the traitors, burn the town, and bring me my trophy!"

        Katsuki blinked, biting his tongue against the 'do it yourself' complaint that he would most certainly regret. He growled, glancing breifly at Deku before turning back to the vengeful king. "I will send two people, on a scouting mission, to determine the severity of this threat, under the guise that they are an information relay team bringing letters to the soldiers already stationed in Dian. If they happen to encounter this 'beast' they will attempt to subdue it. Happy?"

        "No--"

        "Four people, and two Dian soldiers."

        "Better. My son will be among the four who leave."

        "Fine," the prince pretended to concede. Shoto had been among the original four he had in mind anyways.

        "Yay..." Shoto agreed dismally.

        King Enji whirled on his heel with a satisfied huff, marching for the large door at the end of the throne room.

        "I want to speak with your steward," Katsuki stopped him.