"Katsuki, it's been a while."
"Shoto." Katsuki acknowledged. He didn't know why the ruler of the neighbouring kingdom was here at Deku's manor, but asking would lead to conversation, which he wanted to avoid as much as possible.
"Where have you been?"
"Around."
"Around?"
"Around."
"Okay."
God, this was so awkward. Where was Deku? He needed somebody to distract the two toned prince at the other end of the long ass dining table.
"Sorry I'm late!" Right on cue, Izuku stumbled into the dining room, still filling out paperwork from his office.
"Took ya long enough." Katsuki grumbled.
"So, Katsuki, when are you going back home?" The freckled Earl sat at the head of the table.
"Seriously? THAT'S what you start with?" Katsuki was already wanting to leave.
"Well, we want to know. Shoto can't just keep running your kingdom like this. He has his own, you know."
"Shoto's been running things?"
"Of course. Our kingdoms have been long time allies so it was only natural." Shoto stated.
"That's dumb. What's in it for you?"
Shoto sighed.
"If you aren't planning on reclaiming your throne, why did you come here?" Izuku asked.
"For information."
"Katsuki, you're not coping very well. Everybody's worried about you."
"What do I have to cope over? I'm doing fine."
Izuku and Shoto exchanged a look.
"Kacchan...earlier..." Katsuki had never seen Izuku so hesitant before, "why did you say that you wanted Eijirou to come to the baths with you?"
"Because I did."
"You do...know he's...you know..."
"I know he's a dude, obviously. Do you think I give a shit? No. He's my best friend."
"Kacchan..." Midoriya sighed softly. "You're looking for the person who abused him, right?"
"Yeah." The blond nodded. What was with this ice cold feeling all of a sudden? What were these two keeping from him?
"The man who lived in the tower on the edge of town owed a large debt to a lot of people. To pay it off, he captured a dragon. He sold its teeth and entered him in underground fight clubs for money."
"That sounds like what was done to Ei. Where's the guy now?"
"The slums. He ended up taking up more debt through gambling and lost everything. He sold the tower to that bounty hunter for a cheap price in order to get a months worth of bread."
"If you don't kill him yourself, he'll probably just starve to death." Shoto shrugged. "You could just save yourself the trouble and let him die off naturally. God knows death is a release to people like him."
"I want to be there when the life leaves his eyes." Katsuki said, voice full of thunder. "He dies by my hand and no other."
"And what are you going to do after? What do you get from all this? It's not going to bring him back." Izuku squeaked. His eyes were on his lap, careful not to lock with the blond's.
"Bring who back?" Katsuki asked.
"Are you really that deep in denial?" Shoto asked. "You were at his funeral, Katsuki. His body was right there."
"Shoto..." Izuku muttered warningly.
"What the hell are you guys talking about?"
"Eijirou..." Izuku answered. "He died a year ago."
