Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After defeating All for one, Katsuki the barbarian King, Izuku the loyal mage and Prince Shouto set off together to find and destroy all the remaining eggs All for one had buried around UA’s realm.

 

They searched day and night through rocky terrain and high mountains, through snowy fields and knee level waters. They had destroyed the majority of the eggs when he had noticed Shouto lagging behind. Prince Todoroki, also known as Shouto, had asked everyone to call him the first time they met, Katsuki knew Shouto was powerful, insanely powerful wielding two twin swords with the power to summon ice and fire on either sword. But as of recently it looked as though the life was draining out of him. Izuku noticed it too, they had talked about it one night Shouto had actually slept, they had theorised it as overuse of his left side the fire one but it wouldn't explain how much of a toll it was taking on him.

 

They were both worried but Shouto wouldn't tell them anything and insisted he was fine every time they brought it up. It apparently got worse every time they got near an egg Katsuki noted whilst staring the Prince down.

 

Katsuki watched them both, focusing mostly on Shouto though. He wouldn’t eat, barely slept and jumped at the slightest touch. He had his theories but without confirmation there wasn't anything he could do and it was pissing him off. Shouto and Izuku were his friends, though he’d deny it if you asked. They meant a lot to him, so Shouto hiding something hurt. Did he not trust Katsuki? He had had enough.

 

“Oi, half and half what's with you? What the hell are you hiding?” He demanded to know.

 

Shouto startled at the aggression in his voice “What I- Nothing”

 

“Come on you bastard we both know that's not true! You're even freaking Izuku out.”

 

Shouto's heterochromic eyes made their way over to where izuku was crouched down packing up their stuff from their camp. Izuku gave him a pitied look then turned away.

 

“It's nothing so drop it” Shouto tries to sound sharp but his voice falters.

 

“Asshole, you dont eat, dont sleep and you look like death himself has come for you! You can't just say it's nothing.”

 

They stared at each other. Katsuki's glare hardened each second without an answer, his knuckles going white at his sides. Shouto just stares with his usual deadpan stare.

 

“Drop it Katsuki” Shouto raises his voice, which looks like it takes all the remaining energy out of him.

 

Katsuki growls “Fine drop dead see if i care” He regrets it the second it comes out of his mouth but he can't go back on it now. But Shouto barely even reacts and just goes back to staring into space. This just pisses Katsuki off even more. He marches directly over to where Shouto is and grabs him by the collar. But Shouto just accepts it, too tired to fight back.

 

Being this close to Shouto’s face he can really see his deep purple eyebags and hollowed out cheekbones. “Kacchan calm down!” comes Izuku’s meek voice from behind them. Katsuki ignores him, his eyes pinpointed on Shouto’s face. Shouto parts his lips and Katsuki expects him to say something but all that comes out is a ragged sigh. His usual calm and collected composure was starting to crack at the edges.

 

He looked exhausted, like he's carrying the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. Shouto winced in pain as he shook him. Katsuki looked down towards Shouto’s neck and collarbones to see black? His exposed skin was marred black and purple as if someone had used magic on him.

 

“Shouto.. What the hell is that?” Katsuki says concern laced in his voice. Izuku walks over to examine the situation and is mortified when he sees Shouto.

 

“Thats- thats a curse.. My mom used to tell me about these” Izuku stated

 

Katsukis voice was sharp cutting through the cold air “A fucking curse?! And you didn't think to tell us? What kind of moron are you? When did this happen?!”

 

Shouto takes a deep breath "I've had it since I was five..” He admits and Katsukis and Izukus faces go wide.

 

There were stories told to you back when you were a kid, stories about great wizards and healers. Evil men lurking in the shadows trying to get in power, but one of the most commonly told stories was about a cursed prince.

 

A power hungry king who wanted the perfect heir with both ice and fire powers, it took the king four children till he got his masterpiece, though it didn't stop him from torturing the child for most of the heir's life. He put the child through hell and back with the excuse of training and when the queen tried to interfere she faced consequences worse than any thief.

 

In those five years the queen's sanity started to dwindle away until one night a masked man dressed in black came to her with a proposition. In exchange for her freedom her last born child would be cursed to a life of misery and pain if he were to ever use his fire side. With her mind out the window she agreed, and so the child was cursed.

 

The king was furious, demanding answers of where his wife went and what had happened to his son who suddenly was deathly ill. He called all the best specialists in UA’s realm, but none could undo the curse bestowed upon his precious heir. His ice came naturally but his fire was a forbidden element, whispers spread through the kingdom of a “Cursed heir” and “Lunatic wife” this did not stop the king's obsession though. He doubled the training and put the child through agony believing this would rid the curse. The child grew cold and distant as he grew up.

 

Katsuki's jaw tightened as he looked at Shouto, memories of that story flowing through his brain, an angry knot forming in his stomach. Izuku reached out to brush the shirt away from Shouto’s collarbones to reveal the curse spreading further up and down his left side.

 

“Fuck” Katsuki yells as the reality of their situation dawns on him. “Kacchan this is really bad if he uses his fire agai-” “Goddamn it deku i know! It could kill him!” Shouto finally met his eyes “It's fine okay..? I just need to..” He has to catch his breath. “You idiot you can't even talk without needing to take a break and you thought going on a 2 month long mission was a good idea?! You could have died and you still could, so stop putting yourself through this and let us help you” Katsuki says face going bright red. “He’s right Shouto you cant put yourself through this alone okay?” Izuku continued.

 

And when Shouto doesn't respond Katsuki turns back towards Shouto “Talk to us Shouto” he says voice awfully soft. When Shouto looks up they realise whats wrong, black has spread up his neck and is dangerously close to his one turquoise eye. His body is shaking and his knees look like they can't hold him up. He goes slack against Katsuki. Katsuki has to reach out to grab him before he falls.

 

“SHOUTO!” He thinks he hears before everything goes black.

Chapter Text

He was getting worse. He would fall in and out of consciousness every few hours.

 

At first Katsuki tracked his movements every time he woke up, his eyes dimmer than the last and every time he would close them it was taking longer for him to come back.

 

Izuku sat behind Shouto next to Katsuki “My magic isn’t working.. It's like he’s rejecting it.” He whispered the worry clear in his voice.

 

Katsuki didn’t respond, he knew if he did he would start yelling and he knows that wouldn’t be helpful right now so he keeps his eyes glued to Shouto’s resting form like he might disappear if he looks away for too long.

 

Izuku sighs letting his head hit the back of the tree, the magic in his palms slowly sputtering out. “It should be doing something.. Anything.. Even if it doesn't heal it, it should at least be reducing the curse a little. I don't understand..” His head comes down to rest on his knees but his eyes move toward Katsuki’s meeting them dead on.

 

Ruby eyes glare at him “You’re doing the best you can, not your damn fault half n half is fighting it.” He snorts

 

Izuku lifts his head, shocked by the softness of the words that have just come out of the barbarians mouth.

 

Katsuki looks away scowling to himself “Don’t give me that look, I'm just saying the truth.”

 

The healer lets a small smile creep onto his face before letting it fall “I know you’re scared. I am too but we can’t be for Shouto’s sake, we need to figure something out.” He tells the barbarian

 

“Tch i aint scared this bastard can’t die till i kill him” At that Izuku’s smile returns

 

“He’s special to you isn’t he..?” Katsuki freezes clocking his head toward the other boy

 

“I can see it from the way you look at him, you’re not exactly subtle you know?” He sighs

 

“I- Shut up! That’s none of your business!” He stammers out turning a shade of pink in the glimmer of the small lanterns all around them. “You can’t be talking! I’ve seen the way you gawk at pink cheeks!” He yells out

 

“W-wh- I don’t know what you mean, me and Uraraka are strictly professional!” The colour of his face now matching the other boy. “Sure, sure I'll make sure to tell her that next time I see you staring at her” He makes air quotes with his fingers “Professionally”

 

Izuku stutters “Kacchan! Thats- thats not- You can’t just say that!” Hands waving in front of his face

 

Katsuki smirked “Relax nerd im not gonna say anything unless you keep running your mouth”

 

Izuku crossed his arms “Then get your act together and tell him” He mutters

 

“What was that?!” “Nothing!” Izuku quickly shuts up until he starts again.

 

“But in all seriousness caring about someone doesn’t make you weak Katsuki” Izuku doesn’t call Katsuki by his first name unless it's serious.

 

“Don’t- don’t start with that mushy crap right now.” Katsuki looks away subconsciously, tightening his grip on the back of Shouto’s shirt. Izuku hadn’t even realised he had grabbed on too, he ignores it in fear of getting a blast to the face.

 

They both lean back against the tree, Katsuki’s fist still embedded in the back of Shouto’s shirt as they try and relax, the journey they’ve been on starting to take a toll on them too.

 

Izuku’s eyes start to flutter shut for a moment only to be snapped open by a russell in the nearby trees.

 

Both boys stared at each other knowing what they heard.

 

Below them Shouto shifts his fingers twitching as Katsuki’s hand finds his.

 

Katsuki’s eyes widen “Damn it.. Did you see that?!” He hissed, panic lacing his voice.

 

Izuku nods slowly, his eyes fixated on where the sound came from “Something's not right..” He looks back at Shouto to find the black spreading much faster up his face. “The curse is spreading faster. I don't know how much longer he has.. ” Izuku looks to Katsuki

 

“Goddamn it! We need to get him out of here. He can't do anything to protect himself.” Katsuki snarls absentmindedly, bringing the prince closer, practically holding him in his grasp letting Shouto’s head fall into his lap.

 

Izuku immediately draws his magic to his palms pressing down on Shouto’s pale face “I’ll try to stabilize him again just so we can move. There's something off about this area.” He mutters the last part to himself.

 

He focuses his energy trying to ward off at least some of the curse before realising “He’s still fighting my magic, it's not working!” Izuku says starting to panic.

 

Katsuki looks down at the prince and brings a hand to his jaw checking his pulse, his stomach drops “Shit he’s fucking freezing. Izuku he’s way fucking colder than before!”

 

Izuku moves his fingers toward Shouto’s wrist feeling for a small thump “His pulse it’s starting to slow I think it’s detaching..”

 

“Detaching? What the hell does that mean?!” Katsuki questions angrily his eyes still conveying their surroundings
Izuku swallows hard. “It means if we don’t figure out what's going on we’re not going to be able to follow where he goes.”

 

Katsuki breath catches in his throat

 

“Fuck this” His voice breaks “We aren’t losing him” He hauls Shouto up in his arms pressing him close.

 

They started moving, through the trees with every step he could hear the shallow breaths escaping the prince's lips.

 

Izuku was tailing behind making sure they weren’t being followed, his eyes staying locked on the light emerging from the moon creeping in from the trees until he bumped into something.

 

Something being Katsuki.

 

“Kacchan..? Why’d you stop?” Izuku murmurs

 

Katsuki’s eyes stared straight down, he didn't move didn’t speak.

 

Izuku slowly moved around him only to see what he feared.

 

Shouto lying motionless in Katsuki’s arms not breathing, his head lolled back.

 

Katsuki could feel the weight difference from Shouto going limp in his arms.

 

“Shouto..?” Izuku spoke. Seeing the prince have no reaction buried a hole deep down in his stomach. He moved his eyes up “Kacchan..”

 

“Kacchan..” He repeats putting his hand on Katsuki’s shoulder “I don’t know what's happening but you have to let me check him” Katsuki’s eyes glare at him but he doesn’t do anything. “Give him to me” He glares harder, tightening his grip on Shouto.

 

“Or don’t just lay him here let me check on him!” Izuku tries to reason, ignoring his own feelings.

 

Katsuki reluctantly lays him down his hand still gripped on Shouto’s freezing arm watching Izuku like a hawk as he checks him over

 

Izuku soon finishes moving to face Katsuki, his mouth tilted downwards and his eyes threatening tears making eye contact.

 

The realisation slowly dawning on the barbarian, his eyes drift toward the prince, his voice strained as he tries to talk “Shouto?” He asks softly, shaking the prince by his shoulders. “Shouto come on wake up” He shook harder “No come on you can’t leave me!” He screams

 

Izuku tries to stop him “He’s gone Katsuki im sorry..”

 

Katsuki didn’t move, didn’t breathe for a long moment. His chest heaved an emptiness forming in his heart. Shouto’s limp form still resting in his arms as the coldness of the prince's skin started to spread.

 

“No..no, no” He mutters rocking Shouto gently “You can’t leave me like this.. Not like this.”

 

Izuku knelt beside him, tears slowly falling down his cheeks as he places a gentle hand on Katsuki’s shoulder. “Katsuki.. I know-”

 

“Dont!” “Don’t touch me!” Katsuki snaps “Don’t even try to tell me you understand.” His voice was raw “He was right here breathing a second ago!..” “I could feel him.. And now he’s just gone?”

 

Izuku opened his mouth to say something but he couldn’t find the words watching his best friend break down smashing his fist into the dirt as he cradled Shouto closer.

 

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me” He whispers, stillI holding him close.

 

Izuku stayed quiet, letting him have his moment as he whipped away his own tears.

 

After a while he watched as Katsuki’s movements slowed, his hands shook as he held Shouto's face, he looked like he was asleep, not dead.

 

“What do I do.. I can't just leave him here..” Katsuki mutters “Not when I know..” He trails off

 

He moves slightly still holding Shouto carefully places his head down as if he were going to sleep.

 

They stayed there for a while before Izuku got up to build them a makeshift fire.

 

Katsuki just stayed in the same place carefully, threading his fingers through Shouto’s soft hair, refusing to leave him alone.

 

Hours passed by. The fire Izuku built cast shadows across Katsuki’s face showing the raw grief on his face. Refusing to believe the prince had left them still clinging on to hope as his body forces him to sleep.

 

When dawn finally broke, rays of fresh sunlight brushed against Katsuki’s face, for a moment he felt lighter, why did his arms feel so empty?

 

His eyes snap open.

 

The cloak was still there
The indent in the ground was still there
But Shouto’s body-

 

Was gone.

 

Katsuki stared for a second not believing what his eyes were telling him.

 

“No” He whispers “No, no, no”

 

Izuku shot upright beside him “Kacchan..?”

 

Katsuki was panicking, running around their campsite for any sight of the deceased prince.

 

“I-I didn’t move him” His eyes shot towards Izuku “Izuku I didn’t move him so where is he?!?”

 

Izuku scrambled to his feet horror showing on his face “Kacchan wait- maybe an animal or someone found him or-”

 

“Someone took him..” His voice was low and terrifying “Why the hell would someone do that..”

 

Izuku’s face drained of colour at his words “I-I don't know. But he couldn't've vanished..”

 

Katsuki’s breath hitched as he stood in front of the shorter boy “He was dead, He was dead Izuku I know what a dead body feels like.. But where- Who touched him? Who took him?” He was getting angrier with each word he spoke.

 

Izuku didn’t have an answer

 

He watched as Katsuki slouched his shoulders and buried in on himself “I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t even keep his body safe…”

 

The wind howled in the distance as if to mock him, its cold air sending shivers down his spine.

 

Izuku moved his eyes to the tree line before looking back at Katsuki

 

“Kacchan” He whispered soft enough for him to hear “We aren’t alone..”