Shoto felt selfish. Selfish and greedy and like he had caved into his Alpha's desires far too easily.

Izuku wasn't making things any easier.

How many times have they been intimate now..? Six, maybe seven times? There was the first in Izuku's room, the second in Shoto's bed, the third in Shoto's bed, fourth in the bath minutes after the third, fifth when Izuku had taken charge on Shoto's chaise, bouncing on Shoto's cock like his life depended on it, and the sixth on the Emperor's desk. So just six.

Too many times. Far too many.

Izuku should be escaping. Shoto shouldn't be allowing himself to grow more and more attached to the Omega. Though he wanted to. He craved Izuku. His body itched without the greenette nearby. His Alpha screamed and thrashed, begging to just claim my Omega...

But he refuses to be his father. Izuku still wanted to escape. His eyes still glimmered with excitement as he spoke about the adventures he and his mother planned. He would ramble on about all the places he wished to see.

Izuku spoke so gleefully of a life without a mate... Especially one that would tie him down, keeping him locked in yet another luxurious prison.

Shoto didn't want to lock Izuku away and keep him from the world, no... But Shoto also knew that if Izuku stayed, became his mate, then he wouldn't have the adventures he wanted. Shoto would be bound to the palace, occasionally visiting villages or venturing to other Kingdoms for truce agreements, parties and the like. His duties. Izuku will be restricted to those little things.

He needs to let Izuku go.

"Sho, are you okay?"

Izuku's voice easily pulled the Prince out of his own thoughts. "Oh, yes. Just thinking."

The Omega grinned. "Pretty deep in thought, huh? Anything in particular?" He leaned forward in the saddle, close enough Shoto could begin to count his freckles.

Shoto barely mustered the strength for a little quirk of a smile. "This is our last ride together before this weekend... When you're free again. I was just thinking about how boring the life of a Crowned Prince will be without you."

Izuku's expression softened. "I could try to write you. Tell you of my adventures."

The Prince chuckled and shook his head. "Don't worry yourself about that. I won't want my father seeing one of your letters. Besides, it'll only make me miss you all that much more." He adjusted his reins and looked ahead.

Giggling, Izuku leaned back again, the hood of his cape slipping off his head. His curls bounced back in place after he ran his hand through them. "I'll miss you, too, Sho."

"I'm glad to hear that..."

~

Mina chewed on her lip, toying with her curls anxiously.

"What's going on with you," a ravenette asked, looking up from their inventory paperwork.

The pinkette sighed and pursed her lips, giving them a small break from her teeth. "It's just the whole thing with Bakugou. He's so pent up, so angry and ready to bite someone's head off... When everyone else is pretty sure that Midoriya ran away. Momo, were aren't going to see him here. He's probably three kingdoms away by now. For all we know, he could be sailing across the ocean. He could be tanning on an island!"

Momo huffed and stood. "I know you're ready to go home, but calm down. Look, just a few more days here, then we'll send word that we'll be heading home. There's been no sign of Midoriya or his mother and our trades are all done, so there is no reason to stay any longer." She walked towards the door, adjusting her boots and grabbing her cloak. "I'm going out to eat. Wanna come?"

Mina breathed deeply and nodded. "Yes. Food will help." She stood and dusted off her skirt, grabbing her own cloak. They walked out, streets still busy despite the sun beginning to set in the horizon.

The pinkette looked to the grand palace, wanting to puke at just how gaudy the Emperor liked his things. Such a show off. A prick. Dumb, old bastard-

"Wait."

Momo looked back as Mina halted, looking to the castle gates. "What is it?"

Mina raised her hand and pointed, eyes nearly bulging from her head. "There's no way... It can't be..."

The ravenette followed the direction Mina pointed in and her breath caught the moment she spotted the fluffy green hair. "That... That could be anyone..."

Before either could look away, the greenette turned his head and their reaction was immediate.

"Send a raven to the King, now!"

-----

772 words

Damn, I was really struggling to make this one last longer. I almost stopped at 500 words