Chapter Text
Twenty years.
It had been twenty long years since Katsuki had held his gentle husband, Izuku, in his arms.
When the time for war with Troy came, both kings had agreed that Izuku would answer the call while Katsuki stayed home with their young daughter. It was dangerous, of course, but Izuku was blessed by the god of war and wisdom, Allthena. It should've been quick. And yet twenty long, lonely years later, his Izuku still wasn't home.
Katsuki awoke to sunlight seeping in through the curtains in his cold, half-full bed. Another day without Izuku. Though he longed to stay under the covers to try and ignore the pain in his heart, he knew that wasn't an option. Dozens of suitors impatiently awaited his presence, as they did everyday for the last three years, and more recently they'd also turned their lustful gazes towards his precious daughter, Princess Eri.
The very thought of those monsters laying a single hand on her silver-haired head made Katsuki’s blood heat like brimstone, but alas, there was no way he could fight them all off alone, because the blonde king had one fatal disadvantage— his lack of hearing. Soon after Izuku had departed, Katsuki went to an urgent battle, returning home wounded and deaf from the blast of a cannon that was too close. He knew his daughter Eri was a mighty warrior, because she'd endured his meticulous training since childhood, but he couldn't bring himself to ask for her assistance in combat knowing it would place her in harm's way. And so, Katsuki stalled.
Years ago, he'd told the hordes of suitors that once he'd woven Izuku's burial shroud, he would choose a new king to rule by his side. Little did they know that every night, Katsuki undid his work underneath the beams of the moon. He despised feeling so helpless— he was a warrior himself, after all! Resorting to deceit like this dealt a massive blow to his ego, but he'd stall forever if he had to in order to protect Eri and stay faithful to Izuku. Oh, his Izuku. Every sunrise, Katsuki secretly hoped that the gods would see his plight and return his hearing and his husband, but each dawn brought neither outcome.
So Katsuki rose, slipping on his cream-colored robes that displayed his shoulders and the golden bands which adorned his wrists, before setting his delicate circlet atop his flaxen hair. A bit of eyeliner and rouge was applied, much to his own chagrin, but it was a necessary evil. He only liked to wear things such as these for his husband, but today he needed to look his most appealing. He was perfectly aware that the suitors were after more than the crown; they were after bragging rights. They were after him, a pretty prize to be conquered and then displayed like fine jewelry on the arm of whomever proved to be the most ruthless. Just the thought of being someone's trophy made Katsuki’s stomach churn, but it was better him than his beloved daughter.
Katsuki gazed into the mirror, desperately trying to gather his strength to face another day of waiting. Yet, there was something on his mind— the storm. Dark, thundering clouds had rolled into the coastline the day before, bringing higher waves than Ithaca had seen in decades. For a kingdom with mostly mild weather, the storm had been a peculiar sight. A prick of hope, poignant and burning, spiked deep in Katsuki’s chest. Could it be? Should he dare to dream?
Could his Deku, his Izuku, be near?
Scarlet eyes stared back at him in the mirror, gleaming brighter than he'd seen them in years. If the restless tide truly was bringing in his husband, then it was time for his final gambit.
The challenge.
He hoped Izuku would wait for him. If this backfired, he hoped Izuku would miss him. He hoped Izuku still remembered him.
Lastly, Katsuki gently set the necklace of emeralds and rubies around his throat, swallowing hard as the cool gems slid against skin calloused from years of wear. Izuku had given him this present on their wedding night, when they were safely tucked away in the bed his love had spent months crafting with the scarred, clunky hands Katsuki adored so much.
He closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment to remember the love of his life amidst his heavy grief.
They'd grown up together, friends since their earliest days. Izuku, the crown prince, and Katsuki, his bodyguard and sworn protector. When they were young boys, Izuku had his first encounter with the god, Allthena, and the once fragile prince had begun his steady ascent to the strong warrior-king revered by all of Ithaca. At first, Katsuki had been frustrated, no longer being the stronger of the pair. In time he'd come to realize that his anger wasn't from a place of envy, but rather because his prince was more reckless than ever before. His desire to protect the once small, freckled boy was fierce, and soon Katsuki took that drive and poured it into becoming the greatest general in Ithaca's army.
Neither of the boys were naive, and by the time they'd reached young adulthood, both understood their feelings to be those of the deepest, most intimate affection. But of course, Izuku was expected to choose a wife to bear him offspring, and this pressure had ultimately led to a nasty spat between the two. Katsuki had departed on a mission to distract himself from his broken heart, while Izuku had arranged a challenge for the maidens competing for his hand. A test of wits, designed to reveal the mind and character of the future queen of Ithaca, since Izuku had been determined to choose the most capable.
It had been a mere two days when Katsuki came to his senses and put aside his petty anger, returning to Ithaca in order to bless Izuku's marriage. But when he'd arrived, he was greeted with an unexpected sight: Izuku, still sitting alone and waiting as maiden after maiden tried and failed to win his game of wits.
And so, Katsuki had marched into the middle of the fray, still wearing his armor, and gazed up into Izuku's eyes as he sat on his throne. They stared down at him, wide-eyed and brilliantly jade, doing their best to disguise the surprise written all over the young prince's chubby, perfect face.
“General Katsuki, you wish to compete for my hand?”
“Yes, my Prince.”
“Very well. I'm sure you know the rules,” Izuku replied evenly, his lip quivering with hope.
Katsuki won the game in five minutes, much to the utter shock of the crowd, but when Izuku all but fell into his arms, the people understood: these were two souls meant to be intertwined. It seemed their act of love caught the attention of the divine as well, because just then, the sky crackled with thunder. Katsuki pulled Izuku close, wrapping him up tightly in his arms, as a being descended from the sky.
A man, wiry in frame with a mischievous glint in his eyes, glided down gracefully, wearing sandals adorned with wings.
“Hermes,” Izuku breathed, an enchanting smile spreading across his flushed face, always open to greeting danger.
“Hahahahahaha! That's me! You see, your muscly general impressed the gods so much that they sent me to bestow upon you a divine… gift!”
Katsuki squinted and tugged Izuku behind him.
“What's the catch?”
“Clever one! I see why he likes you! But fortunately for you, there is no catch. Just a sweet little one from the gods.”
The god approached, agile feet skimming the shore, and carefully placed a tiny bundle in Katsuki’s arms. When he peered down, he was floored to discover a child with stunning red eyes and white hair gazing up at him, the smallest of smiles gracing her face.
“Oh, Kacchan,” Izuku murmured, reaching out and allowing the baby to grasp his finger. “Thank you, Hermes. Tell the gods we can't thank them enough!”
“Why? Why us?”
Hermes chuckled again, swooping this way and that in the air. “Consider yourself lucky. The favor of the gods cannot always be explained, Katsuki Bakugou. Or should I say Katsuki Midoriya?”
Katsuki flushed, turning slightly to Izuku, who nodded in fond approval. When he peered again at the child, he noticed that her skin and hair were faintly… glowing?
“Your little one is favored by the gods, too. Born of love and your combined wit, she will be a blessing to Ithaca. Good luck!” Hermes chirped, and then, just like that, the god with red wings lifted himself into the sky and disappeared as quickly as he came.
When Katsuki's eyes opened again, they were shining with unshed tears. He quickly composed himself, wiping away any trace of doubt or fear. The last King of Ithaca couldn't be perceived as weak, even for a moment. The second the suitors’ sniffed blood in the water, it would be over for him and Eri. The fact was they were far outnumbered, and there was the possibility that even his few remaining guards would be overpowered in an all out battle.
So Katsuki lifted his head up high, squared his shoulders with his signature arrogant posture, and decided that he would take his final stand.
The challenge for his hand would begin today.
Katsuki went about setting up his challenge obstinately, ignoring Kirishima's worried signing. The red-haired man eventually stepped into his line of sight and signed “Are you sure about this, my King?”
“Yes. I can't appease them forever.”
“But surely we can think of something else–”
“No. This is what I've decided, Eijirou. They can't win this challenge, and even if someone did, perhaps it will stall them a few years for Eri's sake.”
Eijirou nodded solemnly, his lips pursed tightly as his face hardened in understanding. Denki held back the curious suitors, assuring them that the King would speak when he was ready. Once he'd arranged everything, Katsuki turned to face the crowd.
“Greetings, subjects of Ithaca. As you know, my husband Izuku is gone. So, whoever can string his old bow and shoot through twelve axes cleanly will win my hand and the throne. Princess Eri's hand is not up for discussion at this time. Are we clear?”
The men shouted their agreement, which Katsuki discerned through the intense vibrations reverberating underneath the floor. Both of his trusted guards wore faces of white as they realized what Katsuki was doing, what he was sacrificing. He was gambling his faithfulness, pride, and body with this ploy, but the king was betting on his natural instinct that his beloved was near.
Izuku, I'm so sorry. Please be close.
The wild winds of the sea were doing their best to undo Eri's carefully woven braid as her boat sailed back towards her home of Ithaca. She leaned over the rail of the ship, allowing her fingers to soak in the sea foam as her eyes scanned the horizon for the shore. Despite her training disguised as a diplomatic mission being only a week long, the princess worried for her father's safety. She knew that Katsuki was a warrior of great renown, but she also knew that his deafness made him vulnerable to attackers. Sure, he'd grown accustomed to his disability over the years, but that didn't mean he would be able to defend himself against all the restless suitors waiting inside the palace walls, and Eri was all too aware of their rising impatience with her father.
She'd tried desperately to convince him to let them fight off the crown-hunters together, but her father refused to even discuss the matter due to her safety. She'd argued him up and down, stating that if something happened to him, then she'd be in real danger, but he still refused to put her through such a gruesome ordeal as kicking the suitors out would entail. So Eri watched helplessly as her father stalled, training each and every day to gather her own strength. She knew she was blessed by the gods like her other father Izuku, and yet— she didn't know if she held even a fraction of his power. She knew she was strong and capable in her own right, but would she ever be able to measure up to the jade warrior who built the mighty Ithaca with his own blood and sweat?
Legends of her father drifted across the ocean, describing his daring battles against mythical creatures, and whether they were fact or fiction was left up to interpretation. Izuku Midoriya, long lost king of Ithaca. Was he still out there? Did he miss her? Did he even still remember her? Did he know she loved him? These questions haunted the young princess as she tossed and turned late into the night, trying to ignore the noisy voices of the many men lodged within their palace.
“Are you all right, my girl?”
Eri would recognize that voice anywhere. Allthena, the god of war and wisdom, stood before her, his golden form shimmering in the evening light. His presence rewound her to a few months ago, to their first encounter.
“Hey Princess~” a low voice called, and Eri shuddered as she felt a firm hand clasp her shoulder. She wheeled around to look at the man who'd dared to touch her, silver hair beginning to fizzle with power.
“What do you want?”
“When's your weak-ass father gonna choose a new king?”
Eri snarled, her eyebrows furrowing with anger. “Don't you dare call my father weak!”
“What kind of man has to rely on his own daughter to defend him? Come on, sweetheart, how about you let us into his bedroom? I'll make a far better father for you than him.”
The princess, however, was the daughter of two men who each had fiery tempers, and thus, she was not the exception. Before she thought better of it, the princess had her fists raised and stance set, willing her blessed power to flow into her veins.
“Oh yeah? Prove it. My father is the best warrior in the land.”
The man sneered at her, and Eri begged her limbs to stop trembling as she realized what a dangerous foe she was up against. He lunged, catching her off guard and connecting a left hook to her jaw. The princess responded by quickly countering with a kick to his ribs, but it didn't have much effect. Another hit that grazed her cheek; Eri dodged as best she could, doing her best to remember every trick Katsuki had taught her. For her pride and his safety, she couldn't afford to lose. But each time she was knocked down and shoved back into the ring by the surrounding spectators, her courage began to waver.
Just then, time seemed to slow. A golden hue coated the room, and when Eri looked at her hands, she realized that they were already bruised and bloody. Her ruby eyes darted back up to her opponent, who was advancing towards her in slow motion.
“What… what is this?”
“An opportunity,” a masculine voice from behind her replied. The princess glanced over her shoulder to see a tall, flickering figure that unmistakably belonged to a god.
“Who are you?”
“Are you going to fight back?”
“Well I'm trying, but I've never been in a real fight before! I can't calm down!”
“Uppercut him, now.”
Eri did as she was told, feeling like she was a small child learning from her father again, and was elated when her blow connected firmly.
“That's it!” the voice called, and with the god's direction, she managed to escape the fight with her pride intact. From that day on, she grew acquainted with Allthena as he helped her harness her power as a demigod. The god had become a close friend of Eri's, especially since the lonely princess didn't have many to begin with. He'd even affectionately nicknamed her “Little Wolf” for her feisty spirit and light hair.
Now the young woman faced her old friend, her stature weary. “Toshinori, the men in my palace are growing angrier by the day. I wonder… if I married one of them, would they leave my father alone?”
“Nonsense! They are after the throne, my child. Trust your training and your courageous heart, Little Wolf.”
“What– what if I can't protect my father?” Eri asked sadly, her form slumping against the rail of the ship. She was a beautiful young woman now, but years of anxiety and having nothing but a legend for her other father had worn her down. If her hair weren't already the finest shade of silver, like moonlight, the girl's hair might very well be turning gray.
“You will. I won't let anything happen to him or you, Little Wolf.”
“Why? Why me?”
“A promise to an old friend.”
Toshinori's face wore a mournful expression as he ruffled Eri's hair, a smile pulling at his thin, stretched lips.
“Thanks, Toshinori.”
“Princess Eri!” The voice of her friend and bodyguard (not crush) Kouta rang out across the deck. “We can see the kingdom!”
When Eri turned to face Toshinori, the god was long gone, the only remainder of his presence a soft golden glimmer in the air. But she knew that if she needed him, the god would be at her side and in her mind in an instant. She hoped that in her hour of need that would be enough.
Why couldn't Izuku just come home?