Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

VI

He later found out that when he hadn't been seen before midday, and that people were still worried about him locking himself away, Bakugou of all people had come looking for him. He met Midoriya who was also heading down the hallway, and when the door was still locked he broke the lock a second time. Apparently they found him limp in bed, pale and unresponsive despite their best efforts, so Midoriya raced to find Ochako whilst Bakugou stayed with him. 

He was out until early in the evening, and thanks to the potion he was given he was able to eat something small. Midoriya brought him the same stew from the night before, rambling on about how long Bakugou spent cooking to make it even better than the previous; and before Shoto could ask any questions, Kirishima and Mina rushed in wanting to see how he was. They apologised for the sudden introduction at the bathhouse, and that Denki was an idiot who didn't know how to hold his tongue. It was a little difficult for him to speak, each vibration sent a rush of pain up the back of his throat and to his head, so he nodded and focused on the stew. 

The next morning someone was knocking at his door, not letting up until he opened it to show that he was alright. It was Sero, and the man gave him an apple to eat as they went to the stables to see Shoto's horse. He knew by the way Sero talked about the animals that Kita had been well looked after, but he felt relief when he ran a hand through his mane and the familiar bump of his muzzle against his chest. He spotted a giant barrel of strawberries in the corner of the stables and fed Kita a few, glad that even if his days had been troubling Kita's had been peaceful. He didn't know how Kita felt watching him fall into the water, but he was glad they were both alright.

"He's a wonderful horse. So well-behaved." Sero spoke as he brushed the mane of the chestnut mare in the stall next to them. "He stomped around for hours when Bakugou first brought you back, trying to pull you from his grip, but I managed to calm him down. It seems the more strawberries I give him the more he likes me." The man laughed, wide and bright like he hadn't a care in the world.

"I'd dare to think you're trying to steal him from me." He didn't know if his attempt at a joke would be understood with his blank expression and calm tone, but his worries were put at ease at greater laughter.

"How did you get him? Was he from your father or something?" asked Sero.

"My mother, actually." Shoto replied, taking a moment to rest his forehead against Kita's before speaking, the horse neighing softly trying to comfort him. "She would walk past the stables when strolling the garden, and when the new foals were born she saw Kita and immediately asked if I would be allowed to have him. She chose perfectly."

"Some people just have an eye for that sort of thing, you know?" Sero went over to the barrel of strawberries, grabbing some of his own before joining Shoto on the other side of Kita. "He's incredibly loyal." 

It was quiet for a moment after that, Shoto giving Kita attention whilst the horse munched on the strawberries. They were such a bright red, and bigger than the strawberries in Endeavour, it seemed Kita was truly living in luxury.

"Why are you here?" Shoto asked, finally breaking the peaceful silence, only disturbed by the crunch of hay or the breeze rattling the wooden windows as it passed by. "You're one of the Tribe representatives, right? Surely you have duties to attend to in the castle?"

"Honestly, Tribe representative is just the fancy way of calling us Bakugou's friends. Of course he'd try to rip our heads off if we called ourselves that, but since we're the only ones from our Tribes who know how to get under that tough skin of his we're trusted to talk to him when things need fixing."

"The politicians and advisors on my father's court are all terribly old. Of course they have vast knowledge, but they don't seem to truly understand the needs of the people. Here, everyone seems to be so involved with each other, in Endeavour the people are divided right from birth." Like him, being locked away in that castle because he was a masterpiece that others weren't worthy of gazing upon.