Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LVI

"Goddess above, did you have to kick my ass so badly in training today?" Shinsou asked, he and Tokoyami joining Shoto by the fire in the library, an assortment of books scattered around them as they wound down from that day's training. Shoto had spent the afternoon after group training with the two princes, wanting to know their individual fighting styles and in what types of combat they excelled. 

Shinsou was very skilled with a sword, spears too, and his sharp eyes seemed to hit his target perfectly every time. He was very nimble, almost like a cat, and gave Shoto a challenge when it came to their hand to hand combat. However, his stamina was shorter than Shoto's, and so he had been able to flip the prince over his shoulder, apologising at the bruise that would most likely form by tomorrow morning. 

Tokoyami could wield a sword well, although his skills were much more impressive in long-range combat. His power was that he was able to control the shadows, the darkness and anything it touched. Tokoyami explained to him that his power was almost like its own entity, an extension of himself, and that was why he was able to control it so well. He revelled in the dark, he stated, and his power worked well for bringing the element of surprise. In the library he drew upon the shadows, casting silhouettes of children playing to looming figures of battling monsters. It was incredibly impressive to Shoto, where as he knew his father would have scoffed at such a power. 

The library was peaceful, Shoto discovering during the few days the princes had been here that they were also on the more quiet side, preferring to exist with each other in comfortable silence without feeling the need to fill it with menial conversation. Shoto enjoyed spending time with his other friends, of course, but it was a nice change to not have to listen to someone talk continuously for three hours at a time. Shoto had a small assortment of foods brought to the library for them to snack on, suggesting some of the most interesting books he had read to his two companions. 

"At least I didn't freeze your body in a glacier of ice." Shoto replied to Shinsou's complaints, ignoring the way Tokoyami slowly looked up from his book to stare at him. 

"You did that?" he asked quietly.

"Almost," Shoto confessed, "but it wasn't intentional. I was having a bad day."

"Remind me to never get on your bad side." Shinsou spoke, that familiar lazy grin on his lips. "But, on this rather taboo topic, I do have a curiosity I've been wanting to satisfy."

"Do tell." Tokoyami encouraged. 

"It's about the dear old king." The purple-haired man began, his smirk growing slightly bigger. "Prince Shoto, does the king happen to hold affection towards you?"

"Ah, I have also been quite curious about this." Tokoyami added. "The man is a rather unique character I cannot help but want to decipher."

"Well..." Shoto began, unsure of what to say, how to word his thoughts and feelings and how to describe the complex relationship between Katsuki and himself. "He no longer holds any animosity towards me, I believe. We did not get along well when I first arrived here."

"I see. And how has his behaviour towards you changed exactly?" asked Tokoyami. "Has he displayed any behaviours that could be considered courting?"

Shoto's red cheeks were most definitely due to his close proximity to the fireplace.

"We often spar together, or read in his study. We take evening walks and eat together sometimes, though these are all things I do with many people here."

"But none of his nicknames seem as affectionate as Princess." Shinsou teased. "Wouldn't you agree, dear friend?" 

"Oh, do stop your teasing." Tokoyami replied. "Shoto, we shall not pry into any business you condemn from us. However, I believe if there is such a relationship between you and the king, then it will be important after the war is over."