the missing prince

Preparing for winter

It was getting colder as the days became shorter, izuku watched tenko stock up on supplies.

Tenko walked over to the entrance with his cloak on, he was on his way to check up on the traps, but before could leave izuku stopped him.

"Can I go with you" any chance he got izuku would go with tenko. Most times it felt as if he was locked up in the worn down cottage, even though he was aloud outside. It took very little convincing with tenko already walking over to the trap door to notify the stranger.

"We are leaving but we'll be back before sunset" with that they both left.

-

It had been some time, Dabi lay on the cold dirt floor. He stared at the cracks in between the floor boards that light would pour through. This was how dabi could tell the time, it was almost noon.

It was peacefully quiet, that was until the entrance opened letting a pair of feet into the cottage. The steps were unfamiliar nothing like the kids nor the older one. Convinced that they were being robbed dabi ran up the steps and pushed open the trap door. It was a tall but slender man, he wore an old cloak two sizes too big making him look almost like a ghost, and it didn't help that his eyes were sunken and his strong cheekbones had no meat under. It seamed that he was more surprised than dabi.

"Who are you" they both asked at the same time.

-

As peaceful as the walk was tenko and izuku made their way home, they only had two rabbits this time. Izuku was skipping up to the front door, opening it up for the both of them.

The scene they walked in on wasn't expected, the stranger pinned to the floor with yagi on top of him, his blade in hand. This had both izuku and tenko running to get the older man of the younger guy.

"Why are you helping this creep, I found him in the cottage, you're not safe" yagi grunted as tenko forced the blade out of the mans hand.

"Just let go and I'll explain!" Tenko yelled still pushing the man off the strangers body.

It took longer than expected to get the man off of the stranger, but alas he was removed and his weapons were out of reach now.

"Tenko what is going on!" It was a stern tone, similar to how a father would speak to a son.

"It's a really long story, so sit down" tenko said.

After he explained the situation the old man stayed silent, he had put his hand up to his chin for thinking.

"Yeah. . . Ok I understand, you did what you had to do, but that doesn't mean I agree with this" with that he looked directly into the strangers eyes as he continued. "I have my eye on you, so watch yourself"

After everyone calmed down tenko set to the kitchen to prepare supper. "Yagi" tenko called from the other room.

"Yes" the man responded.

"Could we have supper outback today, before it gets too cold"

"Yes we can" Yagi called back. It had felt like ages since the last time they had eaten out near the fire pit, the fear of being found terrorized their thoughts, but they always felt more safe with yagi around.

-

It felt like old times, before yagi would leave for weeks at a time. Yagi ensured them that him being gone was for the best, well it was only best for businesses. They never got to see him much.

Yagi grabbed the ladle and poured a heafty amount of stew. He let out a deep laugh as he continued his conversation with izuku about something magic related. Tenko sighed looking down at the chain buckled around his ankle, his eyes followed the chain that ended on the strangers ankle.

"So stranger where are you from?"

Dabi looked up from his bowl, looking into tenko eyes.
"Why does it matter?"

"We'll you'll most likely be staying here for a long time so you might as well get comfortable with us" there was a pause before tenko pressed the question again.

"I'm originally from the south kingdom but I was traveling to the north kingdom because of the war"

". . . Wow that must be hard to have lived through that" dabi nodded in agreement.

"Yeah it was, and when those pirates tricked me it made it even more difficult to travel"

"So how did you end up escaping those pirates?" Tenko asked.

"I paid these pirates twenty gold coins to take me north, then next thing I know Im tied up under deck, at first I thought I was a goner but then I remembered my pocket knife and cut the ropes. I go up the steps and it turns out it was the middle of the night, everyone was sleeping. I was surprised but I ended up stealing one of their smaller boats and leaving." Amazed by the story tenko gave him an applause.

"It's funny you were able to escape pirates but you still can't escape this dump." Tenko said with a small giggle.

"Well I have a few plans" he said while grabbing the ladle to pour more stew. "But I'm just waiting for the right time" dabi finished speaking before loudly slurpping his soup while making direct eye contact with tenko.

"Oh well we'll see if you even can" Tenko said. There was another pause before tenko asked another question.

"So how can you see the cottage?" tenko deadpanned. Dabi gave a confused face.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There's a spell on the cottage, so the ones who don't possess magic won't be able to see it" Dabi stayed silent. Tenko scooted closer towards Dabi before speaking.

"So Dabi" tenko said looking Dabi deep in his eyes. "How did you see this cottage?"

"Why are you two so close to each other?" Izuku asked the two teens, completely disregarding what yagi had said to him.

"There was a bug on his shoulder" tenko quickly said. Shooing the imaginary bug away before scooting as far as the chain would let him. There was an awkward silence where everyone looked at one another, that was until tenko spoke up.

"I'm full, let's put this fire out and go back inside." Jumping up and started to storm of but when he began to move his feet he realized he had forgotten about the chain. The silence felt more thick, everyone's eyes were on tenko and it felt humiliating.

"Get up idiot" dabi sprang up and they both began to walk.

Izuku and yagi watched the two teens walk away, they sat quiet until they knew the others wouldn't hear.

"I will bet you ten gold coins they get together before winter ends." Yagi said before eating more stew.

"I would say late spring, you know how stubborn tenko is." Izuku said. They both shook hands on the deal and put out the fire for the night.

/:;()$
Don't worry y'all I have more shit comin in future chapters.