Ever After (BakuDeku)

Chapter Nineteen

Izuku lie on his stomach, flinching as Akari carefully cleaned his wounds.

There were red, bloody slash marks all across Izuku's back from where Aku's whip had hit him repeatedly. Akumu participated in Izuku's torture as well, dislocating Izuku's shoulder, as well as breaking two of his ribs and bruising a few more. 

Akari had had to pop Izuku's shoulder back into place herself, given Izuku wasn't able to get to a hospital. Treating someone of his status was against the law and he doubted he'd find any professional doctor or nurse to treat him if it meant they'd risk being imprisoned. Plus, Aku wouldn't allow Izuku to leave anyways. 

"I'm sorry about this," Akari mumbled, referring to the injuries as she began to wrap them.

Izuku shook his head, ignoring the pain that shot through his body just with that small movement, "it's not your fault. I shouldn't have attacked Akumu."

Akari frowned, "She shouldn't have said that about your mother, or taken the dress that rightfully belongs to you."

Izuku stayed silent and Akari's frown deepened, "you do know that you're allowed to be upset about the way they treat you, right?"

"What good would being upset do me?" Izuku countered, "I'll belong to them for the rest of my life."

Akari huffed, taking her hands off Izuku to cross her arms and shoot him a glare, "you don't belong to anyone, you are your own person, got it."

"Tell that to the royal family," Izuku mumbled, burying his face in the cushion. 

Akari hummed, "speaking of the royal family," she began, a smirk growing on her face, causing Izuku to sit up quickly, flinching as his body protested, "do you have something you need to tell me?"

"About what?" Izuku asked, faking a confused look, though based off Akari's expression, he had a feeling she knew more than he realized. 

"About the prince, you idiot," Akari grinned.

Izuku raised an eyebrow, "what exactly do you want to know about Katsuki?"

Akari's mouth fell open, right as Izuku realized his mistake, "I knew there was something going on, but I didn't think you'd be on first name basis with the prince," she squealed, pulling him into a hug. 

Izuku groaned, tensing in an attempt not to cry, scream, or pass out from the pain that was shooting through his body at the embrace.

Akari gasped, quickly pulling away, holding him at arms length as she inspected his injuries, "i-i'm so sorry, Zuku," she stammered, eyes round, her face paling, "I wasn't thinking, i'm sorry."

"It's fine," Izuku assured, his body relaxing.

"Good," Akari smiled, before her face once more turned mischievous, "so about the prince."

~

"You really must let my doctor look at that," the queen urged Akumu, "to think you saved that baby from a runaway horse."

The Queen, Aku, and Akumu sat around a circular table in the middle of the royal gardens. A Carlisle style gazebo over head, shading them from the bright sunlight. 

"Oh, it was just instinct, Majesty," Akumu lied, deciding that since she now had a black eye because of Izuku's gutsy display, she might as well use it to her advantage. 

The Queen smiled, her eyes softening, "I'm so sorry my son can't join us, but he seems to have disappeared again," she admitted, rolling her eyes.

"Again?" Aku asked, subtly prying. 

"Yes," Mitsuki sighed, "he was gone all day yesterday and didn't return until dawn."

Aku felt his eye twitch, pieces slowly clicking in his head. He cleared his throat, willing his features to mask his suspicions, "well, must be marvelous to have that kind of stamina."

"Perhaps you could help solve a mystery for me," the Queen suggested, oblivious to what she'd just allowed Aku to discover, "do you know the Count Deku? Apparently, he's staying with a cousin, but nobody seems to know who."

Aku hummed, nodding, "Yes, he's staying with us as a matter of fact. Isn't that right, darling?"

Akumu gave her father a blank look, clearly not picking up on the signs, nevertheless, she nodded as well, "yes, of course. Our cousin."

T.B.C

I've been thinking, and ik it's a bit late for me to be changing around the plot, but what if I made it so Izuku actually disguised himself as a girl and gave the prince his mothers name? I mean it'd fit more with the actual movie... Does that sound like a good idea? I honestly don't know, I'd have to change a LOT...

Maybe i'll do it after I've completed the book, when I have time? 

~A