Bakudeku
Sort of Fantasy AU
Based off a book I am attempting to write
Wanted to play around with some ideas a little bit and am hoping this is a good way to do it...

Looking for feedback :)

Also, no specific time line, just some random scenes between the two characters I had in mind.
Providing as much back story as I can so you guys don't get too lost :)
Just throwing in enough for you to understand without being too wordy

"Ya know, freckles," the taller blond mused as he dropped onto the log beside me rather ungracefully. I so badly wanted to roll my eyes at his drunken smirk and pinch his pinkened cheeks. "Maybe your previous life will emerge if you start prayin'."

"Oh yeah?" I cocked a brow at him, crossing my arms and resting them on my knees. I watched as he sipped from his flask and flicked the long leather tails of his coat off the log. "What does a pirate know about praying, Katsuki?"

Snickering, Katsuki twisted the lid back onto his flask, carding his fingers through his hair. "Enough, freckles."

I rested my chin on my fist, turning to better face him. "What if I am not her?" A blond brow raised at me, but he stayed silent, waiting for elaboration. "You are the one who had pointed out my likeness to the Goddess. Because of that, we are running from the King. We are only assuming I am her reincarnation due to my likeness. So, what if I am not her? What if my previous life has not emerged because I am not her? And how do you even know my likeness to her is so similar?"

Red eyes darkened, sharp features hardening as Katsuki listened to me. In the short time I have known this man, I don't think I have ever seen him so serious. Is it because of what I said? Maybe it is the alcohol. Does he get serious when drunk? I would have to ask Eijirou, as he was Katsuki's travel companion well before we met those few weeks ago in the mountains.

Rough fingers pinched my jaw, causing me to flinch and gasp, but I did not break away. Fire burned in his crimson eyes as he seemed to stare straight into my very soul. It seems as though he wishes to pull the Goddess out of me by his pure willpower alone. His breath fanned over my face, my nose scrunching at the foul smell of alcohol, yet I could not pull away from him.

Despite all my grievances with this man - this pirate - he is very difficult to look away from.

Still, his looks alone will not distract me from getting the answers I am searching for.

"How do you know of my likeness to the Goddess? What if whatever painting you are going off of is inaccurate?"

His lip twitched and he flicked my chin away. Katsuki draped his arms over his knees, hunching forward and glaring into the fire. The chittering of his little companion caught my attention as Vermin clambered up Katsuki's back, batting at his hair with his colorful little wings flapping giddily. The poor little thing was opposite of Katsuki's demeanor at the moment, so he didn't fit in with the rest of the image I had before me. I took little Vermin and placed him in my lap to recieve happy chirps and nuzzles into my palm.

"Tis not a mere painting that I am comparing your likeness," Katsuki finally muttered, unwilling to look at me. There was a strange undertone to his voice I could not just ignore. A certain sadness I hadn't expected from the man beside me.

"Then how can you compare me to the Goddess who was murdered over two hundred years ago?" I scoffed, shaking my head. Not like this man could have ever met her in person.

Katsuki glanced at me from over his shoulder and my hand stilled on Vermin's long back. The eye contact was short as Katsuki then pushed himself to his feet and snapped his fingers. Vermin chirped once more and leapt out of my lap, bouncing after the pirate as he made his way to his tent.

Maybe I drank myself without realizing, maybe it was because he was drunk, or maybe I need to sleep, but there was something so unreadable and dark in Katsuki's eyes that made my chest twinge with hurt for him. I sat on my log, staring at his distanced tent. There is so much to that man I may never know. Every interaction makes me so much more curious. Why he even decided to tag along with us as we hide from the King is beyond me, and I only grow more confused each day.

"Izuku?"

I look up and force a smile as Ochako sits beside me, where Katsuki had just been. "Hey, I thought you were preening Cloud's wings?"

Ochako smiled and hugged her knees, tilting her head. "I was. I was just also eavesdropping on that little conversation you and Katsuki were having."

I couldn't help but finally roll my eyes and turn back to the fire. "He's so strange, Ochako. Must be from all that time alone at sea."

The brunette laughed and gently pushed at my shoulder. "Don't be so mean, cut him a break, Izuku. He is only trying to help you bring out the Goddess." Her voice was soft and sweet as always. So encouraging and I love and hate the fact that she sees the best in everything.

"He's got a strange way of doing it. Telling me to just pray."

"Well, there has never been a reincarnation of a God or Goddess before, Izuku. No one knows how to bring it out." Ochako shifted closer and leaned onto my shoulder. "Maybe praying wouldn't be such a bad idea. It would be helpful if you had the abilities of the Goddess before we have to fight the King."

With a small chuckle, I gently flick her arm. "Yeah, it would. I don't know, I just don't feel it. I just doubt that I am the Goddess. So what if I look just like her? Which- how would anyone but the King know? He's the only one alive that has seen her, seeing as he's the one who killed her."

Ochako hummed, lips pursing.

Sighing, I nudged her carefully. "Right. You're still not entirely sure he killed her."

That got Shinso's attention, as he looked up from the other side of the fire. However, he didn't join in the conversation, so I just smiled and shook my head at him.

"You know," Ochako murmured softly, sitting back upright. Her eyes trailed to Katsuki's tent and she placed her chin in her palm. "There is something familiar about him, though. I can't place my finger on it, but I've felt it since we met."

"You could have met him on your travels," Shinso finally included himself, prodding at the flames to keep them alive just a little longer.

Ochako shook her head. "No, I certainly would have remembered meeting him. I don't know, it's just a strange feeling I have."

I inhaled deeply and pushed myself to my feet. "Well, maybe the secret to unlocking the Goddess is to get plenty of rest, so I am going to try that." Mighty raised her head from her paws, leaping up to follow as I made my way to my tent. She purred, tail swishing and wings fluttering. "If that doesn't work, everyone needs to start pitching in their ideas."

Ochako laughed softly, Shinso shooting me a quick grin.

"Rest well," Eijirou pipped up from his spot in a nearby tree, casually feeding his drake bits of jerky. I only smiled and waved to him before ducking into my tent, Mighty distraught she couldn't fit inside with me.

~

I have never been one for fancy clothes. Ochako ushers me out into the ballroom, a face-splitting grin on her face with Shinso following behind us, snickering into his hand.

"Go, go-" The brunette hissed with a final shove.

Gasping, I stumbled through the curtain, embarrassment stilling me as the Knight beside the curtain stared down at me. I cleared my throat and straightened my spine, cheeks flushing red. "I'm so sorry-"

"Weapons?"

Blinking up at him, taken aback by himself cutting me off so casually, I pat my hips and thighs to be sure. I don't quite know why as Ochako had stripped me of my daggers and arrows and I knew they were not there, I just had the urge to double check. "No, no weapons."

The Knight gestured towards the crowded dance floor. I swallowed hard and stepped down the stairs. I tugged on the ends of my sleeves, red still singing my cheeks. Unlikely anyone saw me stumbling in aside from the Knight, but I still felt the embarrassment eating at me.

I shuffled my way to the crowd and slunk along the walls, hoping to find solace until Ochako or Shinso find me. How dare they send me in alone, what great, wonderful, fantastic friends they are-

"That was quite the tumble, Freckles."

That rough voice had my heart leaping in my chest and a shiver clutching my spine. I turned to face that stupid smirk and gleaming crimson eyes. Katsuki casually leaned onto a nearby pillar, holding a glass of wine. I didn't think the pirate would have ever dared drink anything other than rum or beer.

He did look good, though. Ochako dressed him nicely as well. No more faded, torn leather coat, his hair slicked back, his shirt was even buttoned up to his collarbone. Surprisingly, the glimmering orange suit made him appear as a proper and handsome noble.

Katsuki pushed off the pillar and set the wine on a nearby table. "You need to learn to be more graceful of your feet, Freckles."

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms, puffing up my chest. "And you need to stop calling me that. Besides, I don't need to be graceful to be a God."

"No, you certainly don't."

"Then why tell me to be more graceful?"

Katsuki kept his strides short as he approached me, leering over me with a teasing smirk. "The most graceful being on the dance floor is the most cunning on the battle field, Freckles."

I swallowed hard, finding myself having a difficult time turning away from his deep crimson gaze. His rough hand took my own. "Dance with me, Izuku."

"What if I don't want to dance, pirate?"

"Everyone has to dance in the Duchess' hall. Not even a God holds an exception." Katsuki's playful smirk never left his lips.

I think I have just finally given up fighting this man. He so easily leads me to the dance floor as the violins and the lutes begin to play. His eyes never leave mine, even as he steps back and bows. I find myself completely enraptured and enamored by this mysterious man.

He is just so impossible to figure out, yet the easiest to read. He is teasing and cunning, quick on his feet and shockingly good in a fight, and gives nothing about his past self away. He must be ashamed of the person he used to be. Maybe that is way before Eijirou found him he traveled alone.

"Why do you travel with Eijirou?" I finally find myself questioning, gazes locked, hands hovering just a breath apart between them as we circled each other. "You said you were alone until he found you."

Katsuki huffed a chuckle. "Is it so bad to have a body guard to fight for you?" The tone was meant to be light and teasing, but I could hear the strain he tried to cover.

"Katsuki..."

"He needed help," Katsuki caved quickly, smirk falling completely. "He sought me out. I couldn't fulfill his true wish when he found me, so I instead accompany him until his quest is complete." The topic is clearly very serious with the darkness now on his face and in his voice. He doesn't want to delve too deeply into their background - or maybe his own.

I just nodded as we faced eachother. His hand clasped around mine and his other drew me closer by the waist. Once more, he was smirking and our bodies were pressed together. "You aren't as bad of a dancer as I thought, Freckles."

Once more, my cheeks burned and I fixed my own glare on him as I tightened my grip on his hand. "I will step on your toes."

"Is that a promise?"

~

"There he is!"

"Get him!"

My heart raced so hard, all I could hear was my own blood roaring through my ears as I ran as fast as I could. From the skies and from the ground, I am being chased. The treeline is so far- too far!

I'm out of arrows and there are too many to fend off with just my daggers.

The screeching of mounts from above echoed through the valley in a menacing call of attack, the drakes storming behind me roaring in the thrill of the race.

I just need to get to my group, I need to get to Mighty!

If anytime was a good time for my past life to appear, now would be a great one! Slobbering, smoking drakes hot on my heels, winged mounts ready to dive from the air to dig into me with their talons.

Just how badly does the King want me dead? Why kill the Goddess of Peace a second time?

A shrill, familiar shriek shot through the sky, crashing into a diving bird and pinning them to the ground. A gray blur bounded towards me, wings opening.

"Mighty-" gasping, I grasped onto my saddle, letting her wing toss me up onto her back. I clung to her neck, not bothering to seat myself properly as she leapt into the air, snarling at opposing mounts and their riders. She dove down into the safety of the trees and bolted on the ground. To what, I don't know. As long as wherever we are going is safe-

A wail of a bird rang loud above the trees before it crashed in front of us. Mighty skidded and twisted, but was all too easily smacked aside by powerful wings.

We both tumbled to the ground, my arms curling around my head. Gasping and panicking, I scrambled to my hands and feet, stumbling to get away from the large bird. It stood tall on its two feet, sharp talons and green feathers gleaming in the sunlight.

"Mighty- Mighty, get up-" I pulled on her saddle, breaths shallow and quick. She moved, but too slowly.

The bird approached, its rider grinning with his spear in hand. My heart leapt, throat closing.

"Izuku!"

Flames erupt from behind me, bird shrieking and flailing. An arm hooked around me, pulling me into a firm chest and tucking my head away to hide me from whatever sight they are creating. I clung to the familiar leather coat, pinching my eyes shut as the fires roared and began to engulf the trees.

"Come on, come on-" Katsuki hissed, dragging me and pulling on Mighty. Vermin chirped on his shoulder, reaching down to my hair as if to check on me as well.

Katsuki pulled us away, hissing and cursing as I stumbled and as Mighty cried in pain.

For too long it was like this, my frantic brain running for miles a minute, Katsuki keeping me and Mighty steady as he ushered us to safety. Mounts traveled the air above the trees or circled the growing flames, attempting to contain it.

We finally stumbled upon a cave, far enough away Katsuki felt safe enough to shove us inside.

"What were you thinking!?" He sat me down just to finally snap at me. Though he tried to sound reprimanding, the panic was clear not only in voice, but also in expression. He ripped off his coat and pulled it over my own shoulders. "Why would you go off like that? You know how dangerous it is!"

"Where did the fire come from?" I almost surprised myself with how calm I sounded.

Taken back, Katsuki stared down at me with wide red eyes. "What? Why is that what you are worryin' about?" His voice dropped and faltered as he sat back.

"I didn't see Eijirou and Red, so where did the fire come from?" I pulled his coat tighter around myself, not allowing him to break eye contact. Now that I was settling down and able to make sense of some of the things that just happened, I need to know this. It was just Katsuki that came to my rescue, so how was there so much fire? "Vermin doesn't breathe fire. Even if he did, it wouldn't even be enough to heat food."

The little creature twisted his long body to look back at me, standing on his hind legs.

A scowl fell over Katsuki's face. "I had a torch."

"In the middle of the day?"

"Don't worry about it!" He snapped and leapt to his feet.

His sharp tone, loud and deep made me flinch back. Okay, didn't mean to anger him. "Listen- all that matters right now is getting you back to the group and making sure you and Mighty are fine. We have to reach the palace soon."

I didn't answer. Instead, I only hugged my knees and looked to the cave floor.

I need to rest first. Just try to believe that he really had a torch.

~

Watching the King die in front of me is shocking in and of itself. I keep seeing Shinso's blade dripping with his blood, his decapitated head rolling on the floor, just moments after he commented on my likeness to his love... The Goddess of Peace.

He had lowered his sword. He smiled so softly, I even saw tears in his eyes. All too quickly, before I could ask him why, Shinso separated the man's head from his body, ending his short immortality - which I learned had been granted to him by the Goddess' blood. Shinso has been hovering around me since the King's death, and I feel... strange. He's strange.

There is just something so off about him lately. Well, ever since Katsuki compared my likeness to the Goddess all those weeks ago.

Oh, Katsuki. I haven't seen him in the last few days. Hardly spoke to him since the incident in the forest with the fire. Maybe he's gone back to the seas now that it's over...

But it really can't just be over so quickly. Just because the King is dead? Who's to say there aren't others out there after me due to me being a reincarnation? What if a God is after me? What if... What if Ochako and the Duchess is right? What if it wasn't the King that killed the Goddess?

"Hey, what is taking so long?" Shinso's playful voice started muffled from the other side of the door before he opened it.

I looked back at him and recognized this Shinso. The vibrant, flowing violet elven formal wear, sleeves slitted and sheer, drooping below his arm, bodice tight-fitted and trousers billowing around his legs as he walked, hair slicked back. The bags beneath his eyes were gone and there was a strange relief and joy sparkling in his eyes. He was familiar, yet not. I did not feel comfortable around this Shinso.

His hand held out to me. "They are waiting for their Goddess, Izuku. Their savior from the Tyrant King."

Tyrant didn't sound right as the King's face flashed behind my eyes. Still, I took Shinso's hand and allowed him to lead me.

Maybe it is only because I watched him die. Maybe it is because I watched Shinso behead the King. I must only be making something out of nothing.

We were on the stairs before I knew it, arm looped through Shinso's with his hand a top mine as the trumpets announced my entrance. All eyes on me and I felt displaced. Cheers filled the air, yet didn't reach my ears.

My chest tightened, eyes frantically searching the large ballroom before locking onto crimson eyes.

He's here. He didn't leave. He stayed.

Katsuki's frown deepened and he pushed himself off the far wall. As I descended the marble stairs with Shinso, Katsuki swerved and pushed through the crowd.

He looked quite handsome, even more so than at the Duchess' ball. A more form-fitting black suit, his gun and cutlass at his hip and his hair a mess a top his head. He looked real without the glimmer added to his cheeks, and he looked best that way.

Finally, my foot landed at the last step and Shinso halted with me, Katsuki meeting us with his shoulders back and chin raised.

"I've come for his first dance." Katsuki held up his hand, crimson eyes narrowed as they glared fire at Shinso's own icy stare.

Shinso, though, could not refuse as I took Katsuki's hand. My chest squeezed as I tired to step away, Shinso's grip just too tight and possesive a moment longer before releasing me to dance. As if it was reluctant permission.

Katsuki pulled me forward, hand clutching my hand, his other on the small of my back, guiding me to the opening dance floor. The people smiled at me; elves, human and half-lings alike. I could even spot dwarves and Faeries amongst the crowd. They all looked to me in awe and joy.

The returned Goddess of Peace and Love, the reincarnation killing his past life's murderer even without the abilities of a Goddess. At least, that is the tale Shinso spun for me.

Twisting to face me, pulling me to be chest-to-chest with him, Katsuki lowered his head until his hot breath fanned over my cheek and ear. "What is the face, Freckles?"

With an inhale, I close my eyes and let Katsuki's warmth flood me and calm my hammering heart. My mind's tracks slow down just enough for me to gather intelligible thoughts. I hold onto his voice speaking that horrid nickname and allow it to relax me. "Something is wrong, Katsuki."

As he guided me in a slow waltz, leading my feet with his shockingly graceful steps, he chuckled deep in his chest. I could feel the vibration in my own and looked up to meet his gaze. "I gathered as much." He didn't look or sound so much like a pirate now. Only the tight little braid in front of his right ear, laced with red and green beads gave him away. "Did you hear something? See something?"

"No, that is the issue." I lowered my voice, glancing to the side as another couple swooshed passed us, the lady's dress nearly catching on Katsuki's cutlass. "Shinso is just... strange. I just feel like this whole thing isn't over."

Katsuki hummed, straightening his back. He glanced around over my head, as if searching the crowd. "Is he trying to kill you?"

"I think if Shinso wanted me dead, he had many opportunities."

"That is a fair point."

Still, despite the reassurance and agreeing with me, Katsuki still held my waist tightly. Our bodies pressed so closely, I was forced to follow his movements or I would tumble. My cheeks burned red, gaze unable to look up at meet his. My heart now skipped for an entirely different reason.

"We should find the others," Katsuki finally muttered as the music came to an end and he stepped back, hands sliding away from me.

Cold seeped beneath my clothes, his warmth leaving me too soon. I searched his face, but his expression was guarded, gaze focused elsewhere. "And do what?"

"We need to leave. We need to get you away from Shinso and reveal his true intentions."

~

Ochako lay across Cloud and I could feel her eyes on me as we rode silently. She likely had a million questions she didn't know how to voice. Honestly, I probably wouldn't know how to answer them.

"I see the way you look at him."

Startled, I sat up straight on Mighty's back, brows pinched together. "What are you talking about?"

Ochako sighed and sat up as well, her legs hooked over Cloud's wings. "You're following Katsuki blindly, Izuku. I'm not so sure that's a good thing." She folded her arms, letting Cloud's reins droop from his neck.

"You're following him, too-"

"I am following you, Izuku," she countered sharply, narrowing her eyes. "I don't think we should just entirely trust what Katsuki is selling us. What if he's leading us into a trap? He could be working with Shinso- or even be framing him."

My jaw clenched, teeth gritting as I turned away from her. Katsuki was ahead of us, the only one traveling by foot. He trudged, head low and shoulders up, Vermin looped around his neck with one wing flapping and smacking the back of Katsuki's head.

"I don't believe that. Why would he?"

"To have control over the Goddess? To be able to kill you and take your blood for immortality-"

"He wouldn't kill me!" My fingers curled tight around the pommel of my saddle, Mighty's fur tickling against my knuckles as I glared at Ochako. "Who's to say he even can? My weakness in my past life is a person I loved, which is why so many people are adamant it was the King, so how could he?"

Ochako's expression fell slightly, head tilting forward and the crease between her brows deepening. "Izuku... I am scared you are beginning to..." her voice was soft, sympathetic, and made me shiver.

"To what?" I hated the way my voice broke and fell to a whisper.

"To love him, Izuku. Like I said, I see the way you look at him."

Love Katsuki? No, I couldn't love him. He's a pirate.

I looked back to him and he was tugging on Vermin's wing, chiding the little creature as it whined at him, batting at his face with little black paws. While the interaction was quite cute, I wouldn't say I love him. Not by any means.

I trust Katsuki, that is all.

Then again, I trusted Shinso.

"I don't love him, Ochako. I am just trusting him."

~

The clouds hid the stars this night. However, they were thin enough to allow rays of moonlight through to light the trees in a silvery glow. Sleep seemed to be avoiding me tonight, just as it avoided the person approaching me.

Leather coat tails were flicked back before my company sat on the log beside me, instantly giving him away. Katsuki sat quiet, entwining his own fingers and resting his arms on his knees. His shoulders hunched forward, gaze on the dirt at our feet.

"Why won't she just come out?" My voice stayed beneath a whisper, hugging my legs and staring ahead into the shadowed trees.

A low sigh blew from his nose and he lifted his head. "I don't know."

I'm not sure why, but his answer - or maybe even the defeat in his voice - made tears gather and sting my eyes. I try to blink them away and rub at my cheeks, but I try in vain. Biting into my lip to keep the pitiful sounds at bay, I hide my reddening face behind my hands.

Katsuki licked his lips and inhaled deeply, straightening his posture. "Maybe it just isn't the right time-"

"The right time would have been today!" Katsuki didn't flinch as I snapped at him. He instead met my eyes, closing his mouth with his lips pressed in a thin line. "Everyone almost died today, Katsuki. If my stupid past life would just reveal itself or manifest, or whatever it needs to do would just have happened today, maybe I could have actually just ended all of it!" My head fell into my knees rather painfully as I sobbed, curling myself up tightly and holding my legs once more. "I am just... so tired of running..."

Katsuki was still for a few moments, letting the silence of the night hang over us despite the tension in it. Katsuki rubbed his hands together and licked his lips, tilting his head back to look to the sky. "I am, too..."

The way he said it caught my attention. Yes, we all have been on the run for a while, but this was together. Katsuki was alone before. Was he alone because he was running? My head lifted from my knees to look at him, glowing in the dim moonlight. Still such an unreadable man.

"What were you running from?" I couldn't help but ask. My curiosity just keeps getting the best of me. Besides, this is distracting me from my pity party.

Katsuki chuckled, smirking as his head tilted back down to meet my gaze. "I was running from everything, Freckles."

"And what is 'everything'?"

He shook his head, smirk still curling the corner of his lips as he turned back away from me. "Everything is everything, Freckles. Responsibilities, expectations... grief and love..." His voice softened with his red eyes. My breath caught with a lump in my throat, a new surge of tears in my eyes and I forced myself to look away.

Love, huh? Sort of ironic, seeing as I am the reincarnation of the Goddess of such. Maybe that's why he's sticking around. Wants my help with his love. How would I help with such a predicament, though?

Rough fingers grazed along my cheek, brushing back a lock of stray hair. He gains my attention back easily. I want to hate the way my stomach twists excitedly. I want to hate the way my heart leaps inside my chest as he leans closer. I want to hate the warmth I feel spreading inside me, wrapping me in a blanket of comfort as he guides me closer.

Our noses touch, and he seems to hesitate. His darkened gaze inspects my face slowly, gauging my reaction to our closeness and all I want is to just close this stupid gap he's left between us. I pinch my eyes shut, tilting my head. My hands seek out his leather coat, curling into the fabric to pull him closer. I can feel the smirk against my lips as we finally meet, his thumb swiping beneath my eye.

He is just so warm. He radiates this intense heat, yet it comforts me so I wish he'd never leave my side. I just want to melt into him finally, want him to pull me close and keep me by him always.

Maybe Ochako is right.

Maybe I do love Katsuki.

~

"There is too many!" Eijirou held his shield in front of him, knuckles white in his grip on his battle axe.

I gripped my daggers, bow snapped and arrows long run-out. "Katsuki is up there by himself, Eijirou!"

"He can hold his own!"

"With just his stupid gun!?" I shove passed, startling the redhead back down several steps.

"No- Izuku!"

Ignoring the Barbarian, I pushed through the onslaught of soldiers. They can't kill me. Not yet. Their leader needs me alive, so I have the advantage. Their short swings are easy to parry, shields a good target to kick them back.

A burst a flames engulfed the hallway and I gasped at the billow of hot air rushing passed me. I covered my head, pinching my eyes shut as soldiers previously running in the direction of the flames screamed and wailed inside the heat.

Panting, I lowered my arms and watched as the flames began to die, armor-clad bodies scattered across the floor. Heavy bootsteps had me lifting my head and heart stopping in shock.

I was expecting a drake with smoke and flames leaking from his jowls. I was expecting slitted eyes and sharp claws tearing apart the carpet and splintering the wood.

Instead, leather boots lead to loose trousers, to a loose shirt, to that warm and familiar leather jacket, to sharp facial features and red eyes and messy blond locks with that one beaded braid. Flames curled and licked around his fingers, lapping up his wrists as he looking to the smoldering destruction around him.

"Katsuki..?"

Freezing up, his fists closed instantly and his flames hissed out. His wide eyes met my own, shoulders stiff and jaw tensing.

"Katsuki, what is happening?" I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, eyes burning as I took a step backwards, careful of the step down.

He inhaled sharply and took two quick strides towards me, halting only when I shouted and stumbled back down the stairs, further away. Further from him.

"Izuku... Izuku, listen, I can explain-"

A shrill scream ripped through the air, piercing my skull. Gasping and dropping my blades, I tried to cover my ears, but the cry only sharpened.

The palace began to tremble, windows shaking until they shattered. Gasping for breath, I could only see Katsuki shouting for me and reaching out. A bright light- light unlike anything I've experienced flashed from outside, flooding the palace.

Katsuki grabbed onto me, both of us stumbling until we fell on the stairs. His arms wrapped tightly around me, head being cradled to his chest as he pulled his leather coat up to shield us from the glass. I curled up tight, heaving for breath with tears tracking hot down my face and wetting his shirt. Katsuki coiled tighter around me, hand over mine, but the screams wouldn't leave my ears.

Finally, as the wail died, the light did as well. Panting, Katsuki slowly lowered his coat, but kept me held tightly to himself.

Terrified, unable to move, unable to think properly, I gripped onto him. I held on as if I would die if I did not.

"What... what was that," I barely managed to get out, looking around to see we were not the only ones affected by the scream.

Katsuki's eyes trained on the doors, swallowing hard. "That was her... Goddess of Peace and Love..."

-----

5709 words

Don't want to give too much away, but these are loose rough drafts of some of the scenes in mind between my MC and the love interest. No, I will not be turning this into like, an actual Bakudeku fic, I need to work on the actual story, but I needed to write out some of these scenes to get a better picture of the dynamic I want and to better grasp my characters(that's why they're super OOC. They're more like my characters than they are like Bakugou and Deku).

I had a ton of fun writing these scenes, though! I'd love feedback and additional ideas if you guys have any for me!