Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

XL

Shoto had the rest of the day off. After their talk Bakugou told him that he looked like shit and needed to go the fuck to sleep. His words were rude, his tone harsh, but ever so slowly Shoto was learning to see the care laced within them. The king walked him to his room, no conversation between them; he thought it would have been impossible anyways seeing as his mind was all over the place. Bakugou told him someone would call him for dinner that evening, and soon enough Shoto was back in his bed, falling asleep almost instantly despite the turmoil of his mind...

Three slow and careful knocks pulled him from his, thankfully, undisturbed slumber. No dreams, nightmares, nor visions came to visit him, only a safe and peaceful nothing. He felt rested as he awoke, and asked whoever was outside his door to wait as he washed and dressed. There was a slight dark shadow under his eyes, his infrequent and disturbed sleeping patterns finally catching up with him, but he hoped he looked well enough that he would not raise concerns during their meal. He knew there would be questions about his whereabouts for the day, but he selfishly wished Bakugou would help divert their attention. Throwing something at someone usually works quite well. Or does the trick, as Sero sometimes says. 

When he opened the door he was greeted by Mina who hugged him tightly before linking arms as they made their way to the dining hall. She spoke about training, how her group was coming along well and some of the new potions she'd made that she wanted to try. She also noted that all of the paint from his nails had washed off besides a dash or two, and she asked if he would spend the evening painting with her. He felt guilty at abandoning her and the others in training that day, and alongside the idea of having a relaxing evening, he agreed. 

"You seem a little tired." She noted, pausing their steps just before they reached the doors to the dining hall. "Are you doing okay, Shoto? You can talk to me, you know." Her voice was gentle, and her smile warm, but right now he did not want to talk about the day's events. Luckily his stomach signalled his hunger, and Mina only laughed before pulling them both into the hall.

"Shotobro!" Kirishima greeted, flashing him a bright grin as he dropped a plate piled high with food in front of him. "Good to see you, man!" 

"You've been missing all day, where'd ya go?" Sero asked from beside him. 

"Yeah man, coulda left a note or something." Denki added, Mina smacking him on the shoulder.

"I apologise. I had... important business to attend to."

The group hummed and leaned closer, eyes wide as they wanted to hear what this secretive business was.

"It was for me, dipshits! Now back off and eat already!"

"No fair Bakubabe!" Mina faked a pout. "I thought we were friends."

Bakugou laughed, reaching over to grab the basket of bread rolls, dropping one on her plate as he brought it closer. The action didn't go unnoticed by Shoto, who found it somewhat endearing the way the man showed affection to those he cared about. He wasn't always the best when it came to words, but his heart showed truly through his actions. Like earlier that day, when-

"Are you doing alright?" Midoriya asked quietly from across the table. "You look a little tired."

"I'm quite alright, thank you. It seems I was in the library a little later than anticipated."

"I know the feeling." Midoriya grinned. "Just yesterday I found the most interesting book about..."

Shoto let Midoriya carry the conversation through dinner, asking questions when needed but otherwise content in listening to the man talk about some ancient farming technique he had found in an agricultural book in the library. It was the type of conversation he would most likely have when having become king, how to best provide for his people, but right now he was not in the best state of mind to give his full attention.