Chapter Text
It was two in the morning and, yet again, Shoto couldn't sleep for the life of him. He hadn't slept well in a while, so he was used to it, but it was just frustrating. At first, sleep seemed like a terrible thing since he'd only get a few hours in before a nightmare jolted him awake.
With a small groan, he got up and put on his slippers. There were guards outside his doors, but if he told them to stay quiet, they would. After all, they pitied the boy for his poor life. Being a prince wasn't the easiest, especially with an abusive father and a family that had to succumb to his anger.
He shuffled to his door and opened it, not minding the squeak of the door since his parents' bedroom wasn't anywhere near his. It's not like he'd listen if his father told him to go back to bed anyway. The guards outside looked at him, but he put his finger to his lips, motioning for them to be quiet. The two looked at each other, then nodded, letting the prince leave without a word.
Shoto walked down the hall, trying to savor the lack of noise that was rarely present in the palace. His head was void of thoughts as he made his way to the south wing, the same hall his ancestors used to walk. No matter how quiet his thoughts or the halls were, he could never shake the weight on his shoulders as expectations and rules piled up.
After a lengthy walk, he finally reached the garden. It was a long path of glass with plants everywhere, leading to a decent-sized conservatory. The doors made a square, offset to the hall. They all led to a different part of the garden. Why they needed a garden this big, Shoto didn't know, but if it made his mother happy, then he could understand.
Shoto reached out and gently opened the door to the hall and slipped in. He walked down to the conservatory and went through the door to his right. That was his favorite space in the garden. It was full of greenery that made him think of his siblings.
He shuffled slowly down the rock path, taking in the fresh air and the dark sky. The path led to a small wooden gazebo with a bench, set up to look out at the fountain just in front of it. He settled down on the bench and let a deep breath run through his lungs.
It was comforting: the air, the silence. It felt freeing in its own way. There was no reminder of previous generations, urging him to continue their legacy with rules that matched their expectations, or anything that resembled his father.
A light breeze passed as Shoto's thoughts began to wander. The flowers, in his mind, resembled his eldest brother. He missed Touya—he had run away with the son of one of the maids a few years ago. Shoto remembered how they looked at each other, blue eyes locked on yellow ones.
Keigo was a nice boy, as Shoto recalled. His mother brought him to work with her since she had no one else to take care of him. He spent his time with Touya, despite Endeavor scolding him for hanging out with a kid whose family was so... low in the hierarchy.
When Touya spoke out and rebelled against his father, saying he wasn't going to marry the woman Enji wanted him to, he was locked in his room for weeks. He was only let out for royal gatherings to find him a female suitor. The last the royal palace saw of the young prince was an outburst at one of the gatherings.
One of the princesses from the far North had been trying to get Touya's attention all night, and he just wasn't having it. He shoved her off, scaring her and making a scene. ..Then he fled. It had been years since anyone had seen him. Shoto missed him dearly, but he knew his brother was happy and probably with Keigo since that palace hadn't seen him since a little before Touya left.
Shoto was brought back to the scene in front of him when the conservatory door closed. One of the knights walked forward, metal armor rubbing together. His sword was by his side, looped in a part of his belt.
"Excuse me, your highness, but you're supposed to be in bed. You know how your father gets when you dont listen." He bowed, hand over his chest.
Shoto paused for a moment before turning back to the fountain. "I'm not in any danger. I simply can't sleep."
"Yes, and excuse my persistence, but you could get bitten by something, your highness. It's not safe to be out here at this time. The rules you have were placed by your father to ensure your safety." The guard said as he straightened back up.
The prince looked back over to the man covered in metal and sighed. "I do not get a single moment of quiet in the palace. Don't ruin this for me." Then he turned back to the fountain and the dark night sky. The guard nodded but stayed in his spot.
"Of course, your highness. Though, if I do, may I ask to stay here? I want to make sure you don't get hurt while you stay out here." The guard moved slightly behind but to the side of the bench when Shoto gave a mere nod. "Thank you, sir."
Shoto sat there for a little over an hour, soaking in the only peace he'd get for another twenty-four hours. It was nice to actually be worried about by someone. Kind of, only because they were getting paid to do that. It was the guards' jobs to make sure the royal family stayed safe. He had only been fussed over by his father because he was the heir to the throne.
His father had shown disinterest in Natsuo being the heir since he had the eyes of his mother. Natsuo's were grey, and Enji's were blue. Being the kind of man he was, Enji didn't want the heir to look much different than him. Plus, Natsuo just wasn't the type to rule. He didn't have the right personality for it.
Another sigh left his lips as he stood and began making his way. The sound of metal clanking followed, and Shoto spoke up.
"How did you know I was out here to begin with?" He said as he opened the door to the conservatory and held it open for the guard. The man hesitated and motioned Shoto forward.
"I can get the door, your highness." He took it and let Shoto in first before closing it. They began walking down the glass hallway to the South wing when the man spoke up again. "The door to the conservatory was left open. I wanted to make sure no one was outside before I locked it." The guard said as he opened the door to the hallway, locking it when both he and Shoto left.
To his surprise, the prince waited for him to lock it before walking again. It wasn't often that people talked to him, unless it was an order or task he needed to fulfill. He wasn't one of the popular knights, but he understood. Only personal guards got spoken to a lot, and he was nothing but a guard who roamed the castle for nightly patrol.
The guard found himself walking the prince back to his room in a comfortable silence. He bowed at the door when he went inside, leaving Shoto for the night. Well, morning.
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Shoto found himself going to the garden a lot ever since that night. Most of the time it was because he couldn't sleep, but the guard that visited him each and every time piqued his interest. He couldn't understand why, though. It was just another knight his father had hired, no one special.
They didn't talk at all, so why did Shoto feel the need to go out there just for a man to stand near him to ensure his safety? Deep down, he felt like the guard actually cared for him— not just because he was the prince, but also because he was... well, Shoto. Like maybe someone worried about him as a person, not just the prince.
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Shoto left his room again. It was 2:37, and he felt... excited to go to the garden. He had probably gone 12 times over the last 3 weeks, not doing much, but the guard was there. He walked a little faster, nearing the entrance to the glass hall. The guard was already there and standing in front of it. He had waited for him to get there.
The guard bowed, then opened the door for the prince. "Right this way, your highness." He said as Shoto moved forward and began walking to the conservatory. He followed behind the prince and went ahead to open the other door. Shoto walked down the path and sat in the same spot on the bench under the gazebo.
A silence fell around then, normal and comfortable for the guard, but Shoto didn't like it. He turned to the man in metal and motioned him over. The man moved forward and got on one knee in front of Shoto.
"Is something the matter, your highness?" He had his hand to his chest, and despite the little space between them compared to before, Shoto still couldn't see his face.
"Sit beside me. I don't like you standing behind me." Shoto said flatly, watching as the guard didn't move.
"But, your highness-"
"Stop calling me that," Shoto interrupted. "Sit next to me and call me by my name." The guard visibly hesitated before standing, bowing, and sitting on the opposite end of the small bench. There was only about a person's width in between them.
"I would like to know who it is who waits for me every morning. Remove your helmet." Shoto spoke calmly. The guard, again, paused before listening to the prince.
For the first time in his life, Shoto forgot completely about everything around him.
His heart paused and jumped as his eyes landed on deep red ones. Shoto's eyes roamed his face—sharp jaw, deep blue hair, glasses that complemented his face... He swallowed before composing himself.
"And does this knight have a name I can match the face to?" Shoto had to force his words out.
"Iida Tenya, your hi- Todoroki."
"Shoto. Don't call me by my last name."
"Right- Shoto."