Ever After (BakuDeku)

Chapter Seven

Izuku slowly turned around, already recognizing the familiar voice. He prayed the prince wouldn't recognize him, knowing that if he did, the whole plan would be ruined. 

Katsuki remained on his horse, his entourage close behind, carrying staffs flaunting the nations flag at the top. 

"Your highness," the coachman sputtered, his eyes as round as saucers, "forgive me, sire. I meant no disrespect, it's just uh, I'm following orders here. It's my job to take these criminals and thieves to the coast."

Izuku examined the prince's face, finding no hint of recognition related to his identity. 

Deciding to continue to press his luck, he turned his attention to the prince, talking to him instead of the coachman, "a servant is not a thief, your highness, and those who are cannot help themselves."

The prince looked mildly intrigued by this, amusement in his voice as he said, "really?"

"Well, then, by all means, enlighten us."

Izuku took a deep breath, allowing the arguments that he'd spoken in his head countless times over the years, to take form as words, "if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them?"

He could feel the looks of passing bystanders as he spoke, their gazes seeming somewhat approving of his words. 

Looking at the prince, Izuku saw disbelief written in his features, "well, there you have it. Release her," the prince pointed at Asui as he said this.

"But sire-" the coachman attempted but the prince cut him off sharply.

"I said release her."

The man glared at Izuku before quickly nodding, mumbling a simple "yes sire," and pulling Asui out of the cart.

Izuku made his way over to her, taking Asui's hands in his. 

She was shaking and the look she gave Izuku was a mix of awe and gratitude, "I thought I was looking at your mother."

Izuku just smiled, "meet me at the bridge."

Then, in a voice a little louder and more regal, he announced, "prepare the horses. We will leave at once."

Asui nodded and stumbled away in the direction of the bridge.

Izuku turned back to the prince, giving a small bow, "thank you, Your Highness."

Izuku began to walk away, eager to get out of the situation as quickly as possible, knowing even one slip up and he could be thrown in jail and Asui would go right back into the cage. 

Katsuki however, had no intentions of letting the cute green haired man run away without a proper conversation. He wasn't sure why exactly, but the man intrigued him. There was something strangely familiar about him.

Katsuki hurried to catch up with the greenette, "have we met?"

Izuku turned his head to look at the prince for a moment before quickly turning his attention back to his escape, "I do not believe so, Your Highness."

The words were rushed, panic growing inside Izuku.

Katsuki sped up his pace, soon walking next to the other man, "I could have sworn I knew every courtier in the area."

"Well, I am visiting a cousin," Izuku lied, refusing to make eye contact with the prince.

"Who?" Katsuki pressed.

"My cousin."

"Yes, you said that. Which one?"

Izuku decided his best approach was to be vague, because the less he said, the less chance he had of making a mistake, "The only one I have, sire."

"Are you coy on purpose, or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?"

"No," Izuku answered, a smile beginning to grow, "and yes."

Izuku, for some reason, was starting to enjoy this conversation, despite his rather dry responses. 

Katsuki was growing slightly annoyed though his desperation was also growing, "well then, tell me your cousins name, so that I might call upon her to learn who you are."

When Izuku remained silent, Katsuki stopped walking, allowing the other to walk a bit further before he said, "for anyone who can quote Thomas More is well worth the effort."

Izuku's eyes widened and he froze, quickly turning around, grinning, "the prince has read Utopia?"

Katsuki shrugged, recalling the time a couple years back when one of his tutors read him the book, "I found it sentimental and dull," he admitted, "I confess, the dangers of the everyday rustics bores me." 

Izuku frowned, "I gather you do not talk to many peasants."

He said this less as a question and more like a statement, not at all surprised. 

The prince scoffed, "Certainly not, no, naturally."

Izuku pushed passed the prince, the enjoyment he had felt talking to him vanishing. He had no desire to stand here and talk to someone who couldn't possibly understand what it was like to be a commoner. 

"Excuse me sire, but there is nothing natural about it," Izuku once more found himself rambling, words he had always wanted to say flowing out of his mouth, "a country's character is defined by its 'everyday rustics,' as you call them. They are what hold the country together, the legs you stand on, and that position demands respect, not-"

"Am I to understand that you find me arrogant?" The prince asked, suddenly appearing by his side again. 

Izuku took a deep breath, looking at the prince, "well you gave one woman back her life, but did you even glance at the others?"

T.B.C 

Woohoo, look at me, writing longer chapters...

I really am trying to slightly tweak some of the things being said, especially considering the film is set MANY years ago so some of the language is almost like Shakespeare...

Anyways, once again, please lmk if you see any grammar mistakes or spelling errors. I did catch a few as I was writing but I AM only human so mistakes are bound to happen.

~A