Noble and Pride [Katsuki Bakugo x Shoto Todoroki]

Chapter 36 : Yamari

Shoto had no other things to do than to force himself to look at the sleeping dragon by his side. He couldn't commit suicide, this was the only thing Katsuki allowed him to do. Images of the horrifying dragon in his constant nightmare that burnt the palace, that gave him the unsightly scar, how the dragon looked to be controlled by rage and agony. The fear crept within him once again and he quickly looked away.

You don't want to be a helpless, pathetic and weak ruler don't you? Why don't you do something about it? Why do you keep running away from your fear instead of facing it like a great warrior, you wanted to be?

Turning his gaze, his eyes fell on Katsuki's features once again. Even in his dragon form Katsuki still looked charming. Such a majestic creature. He shouldn't have been afraid. A hand of his hesitantly reached Katsuki to stroke the hard scaled skin but he paused midway. Thinking of whether this corrupted, sinful hand that controlled his magic to slaughter innocents was even worth touching Katsuki. Shoto simply couldn't think of any other solution. Families lost their loved ones because of him. Now those who lived poorly would through even further hardship, they lost the ones they could rant to, they lost the ones who would give them warm embrace whenever they're in a trouble. They lost their reason to smile every day.

And it was all because he was too weak. Too weak to not able to control his own body.

"What am I supposed to do, Katsuki? I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to breathe," he cried. This overwhelming guilt and sadness were eating him alive. He does know the more he feels so, the more this demon grew in strength. Shoto wouldn't want that. He wanted anything but that. His fists were clenched so tightly, trembling, nails digging into the skin of his own palm until it bled. Frustration, agony, rage, everything was mixing, and rather than stay doing nothing like this, he knew he had to take responsibility.

He knew exactly that.

Nonetheless, part of him wanted to stay in this warmth of Katsuki. Wanted to bask into this scent and put at ease his pained heart.

Katsuki leaned his head closer until it touched Shoto's offered small hand. The prince was taken aback by the dragon's doing. Shoto broke even more. Katsuki was willing to be by his side even after everything. Even though he knew and told Katsuki how much he didn't deserve it. He wailed as loud as he could, spilling every bit of emotions bottled, dwelled in his heart. To some people's eyes, he seemed like a little child who cried because of pain, and it was definitely Shoto.

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"Stay here. Don't show yourself,"

The omega ordered the dragon, which made Katsuki scowled and huffed in disagreement. Shoto pressed his hand on top of Katsuki's snout in an attempt to stop the dragon from following him. "Don't show that you're with me. I'm...a monster to those people's eyes. You saved everyone. You can't be seen with me,"

Katsuki seemed to not budge even at the slightest, pushed against the hand to show he didn't give a damn. Shoto frowned and shook his head, the hand went to gently caress Katsuki's face. "We...have to earn their trust. They will treat me based on their emotion. I can't have you stop them. They're allowed to do so after what have I done. I won't try to take my own life. I promise," Shoto begged, now pressed his forehead against Katsuki.

He wished for the dragon to believe in him, to trust Shoto that the prince would do anything to fix this. He probably couldn't. He was willing to take any given punishment. If Katsuki had to face this, he wouldn't be able to watch either so he wanted Katsuki to be away. To not try anything that could harm the villagers neither made the villagers doubt Katsuki. Katsuki was never this fond of anyone. He didn't deny the fact of wondering how would his desired mate be, but after knowing the one he treasured had to through this much, it pained him. Katsuki broke the promise that he wouldn't allow Shoto to hurt anyone.

That was because he was weak too.

Katsuki was determined to surpass his limit. To become way stronger than he is now to make sure Shoto feels at ease, secure, and solace by his side. He wanted Shoto to not worry about anything anymore. He wanted Shoto to have the rest, to feel the happiness he truly have the right for.

The dragon moved away from the touch after several minutes, gave the last glance on Shoto before he spread his wings and flew away. Shoto watched the dragon leave and turned to the direction he was heading to. Taking a deep inhale, he walked forward.

As soon as he exited the forest, his eyes had eye contact with some of the villagers. They halted their steps. From faces of relief from pain and sadness, they turned to anger. Infuriated and devastated to the very reason of their loss. Some were afraid, immediately ran to seek shelter in their already wrecked house.

Shoto swallowed the bitter lump in his throat, his whole self felt so heavy as if he was carrying the heaviest burden in his whole life. His lips moved to utter a word but it was interrupted. A rock was suddenly thrown it hit Shoto in his face, forming a scratch and bruise.

"Fuck off, you evil demon! Don't you try to take a step towards us!!" A man exclaimed, teeth gritted in exasperation. "I lost my wife because of you! She was pregnant, and she died because of you!!" the yell continued. The other villagers who were afraid began to be consumed with enragement as well. Picking up the rocks from the dirt and started to toss them to the prince. Shoto didn't even try to shield his face neither to step away and run. He took everything.

This pain was nothing compared to their loss. Shoto could see them well since he through the same thing. The glistening of despair and torment in their eyes. Everything they loved was lost in an instant. There was nothing way sorrowful but that.

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"Shouchan, we searched all over for you-" Izuku was walking with wooden crutches. His mood brightened upon knowing Shoto was there but they turned to shock after he saw the state Shoto was in.

Shoto was bleeding from head to toe, filled with scratches and bruises. His eyes seemed to be lifeless. He was normally expressionless, but they were never lifeless. Izuku frowned, gloomed at the sight. "Shouchan..."

"I'm...fine. I'm sorry, for what I have done to you. You've been nothing but nice to me. Everyone too. But I ended up hurting all of you," Shoto spoke and Izuku quickly shook his head. "That doesn't matter! We all know you never intended to hurt anyone, we all know how much this affected you too. Please don't feel bad, we have never blamed you-"

"As long as I'm here, there's no guarantee I wouldn't be possessed again. Even now. I'll take responsibility for everything. Please. The more you worry about me, the more I feel worthless," Shoto professed. "I can kill you. Kill the one you love too. I don't deserve your concern," the prince headed away. Izuku wanted to chase after him but he paused, figuring he should leave the prince by himself. Even though it felt heavy for him to do so.

"Shoto! You-"

Inasa gasped as he saw Shoto. "I'll help you, stay there-"

"It's alright. I'll treat them myself. I don't want them to be infected and bother anyone further," Shoto mumbled and Inasa looked downhearted. He loved Shoto more than anything. As much as it pained Katsuki to see Shoto like this, the same goes for Inasa. His feeling towards Shoto was as sincere as Katsuki's. "If that's...what you want,"

"There must be a punishment for me," Shoto breathed out. Blood trailed down his chin and dripped to the floor. It was a miracle enough he had the will to walk around in such a state where every inch of his body would hurt.

"Shoto..." Inasa gloomed. "There is. The higher up knights of Yamari will come for you tomorrow," he couldn't tell he begged them to lessen the punishment for Shoto. Shoto must be upset knowing that. This was truly unfair. Shoto didn't even do anything wrong, but why did he have to face all of this?

Inasa knew nothing about how bad the demon possession could be. It was never this violent before. Enji locked Shoto in an underground dungeon whenever it happened and throw a servant inside as the sacrifice. It was just that, nothing more horrendous.

However, he faced what the demon could actually be last night. How much of a calamity it could cause. He now realize how wicked, rotten hearted Enji was to put Shoto in this situation.

There's no hesitancy now. He wanted to kill Enji as badly as Katsuki.