My Name Is NOT Deku [Bakudeku Fantasy AU]

| 9 | Proceeding Preparations

⚠️ I just found out you can't see the chapter covers if you don't load it twice! So please do, just swipe up one more time and load it again, normally it will show after the second time! I put a lot of effort in them so I felt really sad, after finding out, most of y'all haven't even seen them yet... so please do for a better reading experience! ⚠️

Servants were running everywhere and busy due to the preparations of the ball. Izuku almost couldn't pass through the halls with all the people running past. There was an orchestra that would provide the music at night for the people who wished to dance. There were cooks already preparing the food and claiming the ingredients for the official diner tonight. There were servants on high ladders hanging ornaments and garlands around the whole throne room where the ball would find place.

All this was for one thing, as they claimed. Namely Deku's return. The moment Shotou had told Izuku, the greenette had almost fallen over on his face. Cause that meant every noble of the Kingdom would be watching him closely every second of the whole night.

Izuku had begged the real prince to cancel the event, because Shotou deep down had to know too that this was just creating an unnecessary obstacle. Another way to let people find out about the replacement.

Shotou had declined calmly and left. The greenette hadn't known if Shotou was doing what was asked of him and had no say in the matter, because of the king or someone else. Or that he actually smiling softly while walking away thinking about Izuku suffering another test.

It didn't matter which one of the two it was, Izuku would have to be very careful tonight. Just thinking about it made a shiver go over his spine. Being just a villager, the mere sight of a noble made his hands tremble. So tonight was going to be hell.

His footsteps were heavy while walking to the place Shotou had screamed to meet. Another servant almost bumped into him while running past him.

After shotou had started to leave he had turned around just one more time and smiled softly, just to say "Meet me before lunch in my room"

Izuku's heart had stopped by that sentence. Why could he possibly want to meet? And of all places, why his room? Izuku had never been allowed there... Shotou was one of the people who knew of Izuku's real origin, so why would he invite a villager, who was born in the gutter, into his royal room?

The more he thought about it the more he realized how slow he was walking. Was he unconsciously trying not to go? Walking just slow enough so that he could say he had forgotten and just meet at lunch. His head was one messy place filled with questions. Only making tonight even more terrifying.

When suddenly he realized he had reached the prince's room. When another five servants had passed him, he still hadn't knocked on the door. He didn't dare enter. Then suddenly he choked on his breath when the door opened wide to show the prince himself, looking just as caught off guard as the greenette.

"Why aren't you coming in?" Shotou asked with clear anger showing in his voice. "I was about to look for you" he stated and took a step closer to Izuku, who had been caught red-handed and felt like he wanted to die. Shotou's eyes were fixated on the greenette in front of him who was looking at his feet with a deep red face, clearly freaking out.

After Shotou had confirmed Izuku had nothing serious to hide, he stepped aside and waited for the smaller man to enter his room and Izuku obediently listened to his command.

There was no reason for him not to listen. Cause the fact Shotou knew about the real him made his head foggy and him submit. Even though he didn't really want to.

When he had entered the room, it almost looked exactly like his, but Shotou had way more golden jewels and expensive things inside his room. Almost like the king had had a favourite son and it definitely hadn't been Deku.

While Izuku's brain was still processing all that and him being caught, his ears were suddenly pulled to a soft ballad that had just started playing. He turned around to see the taller prince, who proceeded to come just a little too close again.

When there noses almost touched, Izuku wanted to face the ground again, but was unable to when a finger pushed his chin back up. "I'm guessing you've never danced formally to music like this before" Shotou said daringly, almost like he was pointing out the obvious but wanted to roast the thinner greenette in the proces.

"Hmm No-no" Izuku stuttered out not really being able to trust his voice. His eyes flicker to the ground and back up at the prince's beautiful face. "I-I've never really-" he started but couldn't finish.

"Then I guess I should teach you" Shotou spoke, now way more serious and making Izuku flinch. Before the other could protest or ask explanation the taller prince had already wrapped his arms around Izuku's waist. His fingers moved along the greenette's smaller body and tried to focus on the music's rhythm.

Izuku tried to follow his movements and not focus on the prince's touch. The places he touched felt hot and tingled after letting go. How could he focus when the other was touching him everywhere?

"Keep your back straight" Shotou corrected and pulled the greenette in that position with his hands. While trying not to realize how small the man actually was. In clothes Izuku could hide it, but his body was nothing like Deku's. "He is way more-" Shotou felt hot under his skin and let go immediately when realizing what he was thinking about.

"See, you can do it" Shotou stated trying not to sound as distraught as he actually felt. He grabbed Izuku's thin arm and pulled him to the door.

Things were hard enough as they were. Shotou couldn't get distracted. He couldn't make another mistake. His father wouldn't let him. The cold prince knew that if he made another, it would be his last. Not just last mistake, but last thing he would ever do.

"Bu-but wha-what about tonight?" Izuku tried to regain the taller prince's attention. "I-I'm not going to be able-" Izuku paused when Shotou let go of his arm after shoving him in the hallway. Izuku had no idea what had changed the prince's behavior, so stood there lost watching the weird expression on the other person's face.

"Don't worry" Shotou assured the greenette, who was fidgeting with his fingers. "I heard Prince Bakugou never follows anyone" he was already closing the door when his last words reached the greenette. "He always leads" He said through the tiny space the door had left and closed the heavy door harshly.

"So I should just follow?" Izuku tried getting an answer of the prince. When another seven servants had passed Izuku with food and candles, he stated Shotou probably wouldn't answer anymore, so left the door, while trying to let go of the paining stress he had, by only even thinking about tonight.

¯

"You called me your Highness?" a servant said and bowed formally in front of the prince's throne. The prince didn't even look at the man, he just stared out of the window, thinking over his words.

"I want you to do something for me" the prince spoke as he put a hand through his spiky blond hair. "Get me information on Enji Todoroki"

"Of course your Highness" the servant spoke obediently even though he knew this was a dangerous task. A task asked to many other servants. Servants, who even if they had found something to tell the prince in person, hadn't had the chance to do so. Since not one of them had ever returned to the palace.

It had become obvious Enji wanted to keep his past under wraps and had many people protecting that with him by killing the ones who'd find out anything.

Even though the Queen had told Katsuki to stop trying to get information, saying it was pointless, he hadn't stopped since he was 14. Cause it didn't matter how many people died. He knew something was up with the other kingdom, keeping Deku close had only been the beginning of his plans.

The replacement only made it more obvious something was up and this new greenette was a perfect opportunity to get the information he so longed for. So maybe now with new pawns to play, he would finally get answers. Cause no matter what it might take.

He wanted to know everything and anything there is about that family