Something Midoriya and Bakugou loved to play between them both was “the princess in distress”, where the prince — who was always played by Bakugou — held the task to rescue the princess — in that case, Midoriya — from a “ferocious beast”.
They always put a lot of effort into the game, since it was their favorite between best friends: they would build a castle with cardboard boxes where Izuku would be “imprisoned”, waiting for his “prince charming” to arrive and rescue him from a plush dragon Katsuki fought with; they got to the point of wearing costumes and cardboard swords to enhance the magic.
One day their mothers caught them both in the middle of the play; when questioned about it, Katsuki turned to Mitsuki and said… “I rescued the princess, now we’ll get married and live happily ever after!”
They both smiled at the little one’s innocence. “That’s great, sweetie!” She laughed. “Do you need help with the wedding?”
Katsuki beamed at the thought. “Yeah!”
For the first time, their mothers joined in the happiest moment of the boys’ lives. Mitsuki offered to “marry” the prince and the princess, pretending to read the vows on her son’s homework book. “By the powers invested to me, I do declare husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!”
“I think that’s a little…” Inko tried to intervene, but she had no time to finish the sentence before Bakugou turned to Izuku and placed a kiss on his freckled cheek. They were both delighted by the adorable scene.
Every time they went to play, Izuku found it unfair for having to play the role of princess. “Let me be the prince this time, Kacchan!” He’d whine.
“No, I’m always the prince.” Katsuki would say plainly.
“Oh, please!” Izuku clasped his hands together in a beg.
“You can’t, I told ya! I’ll always rescue the princess.”
Izuku would simply sigh in defeat but, even at such a young age, he understood what that meant, so he’d give in and they would go on with the game.
Those happy memories are now in the past.
With time, there was unfortunate news, fights, break-offs, disappointments, it got to the point where they didn't even know each other anymore.
With years going by and the boys’ acceptance into UA, they formed their own friendship groups and had several experiences from the sport’s festival to their first internships with pro heroes.
With the return of classes, everyone from class 1-A were present, but Izuku. “Hey, Iida, did you hear from Deku?” Uraraka asked him.
“It’s true that he hasn’t shown up, today…” The tall one analyzed as he scanned the room with his eyes.
“A shame… I’d like to know how his internship went…” The girl said slowly.
“You haven’t been talking to him?” Iida asked, surprised.
She shook her head negatively. “It’s been a few days he doesn’t even check my messages anymore. I’m starting to grow worried…”
“Don’t worry, Uraraka!” Iida chopped the air towards her. “You know him: he must have ended up in the hospital and can’t use his phone, but I’m sure it’s nothing bad! Besides, he always gets away with it.”
“I guess you’re right…” The brunette faked a smile.
“Be quiet.” Aizawa announced as he entered the room. “Sit down, I’ll start the attendance.”
The teacher called their names in alphabetical order until making it to Midoriya who, obviously, didn’t reply. “Does anyone know of Midoriya?” Aizawa asked as he rose his eyes towards the boy’s desk and found it empty.
“Oh, no… It’s been a few days we don’t hear from him.” Uraraka replied.
“That’s rare from Midoriya… he’s not one to miss classes.” Kirishima mentioned.
“If you be quiet, maybe I can resume the attendance.” Aizawa scolded without showing any worry, the class complied.
Something was wrong and Uraraka just knew that, in the end she was right…
Deku missed school on the next day and the day after that, and the other and the other until completing a whole week; he didn’t answer calls nor viewed text messages, having his friends more worried by the moment, it was up to the teachers to step in.
On the last day of classes of the week, Aizawa entered the room surrounded by a dark aura. He turned to his students and faced them severely, making them uneasy. “I want you to keep calm at the news I’m about to tell.” The class seemed worried just from those words. “Midoriya is… missing.”
The teacher sighed at the surprised exclamations of the class; that was not keeping calm.
“But- what happened? Where is he?!” Uraraka spoke up.
“We don’t know.” Aizawa said matter-of-factly. “We called his house due to his absence, that was when his mother gave us the news.”
“Is school doing something about that?” Iida asked worriedly.
Aizawa lowered his head. “There’s not much we can do… From the information we gathered, there are no clues of where he must be at.”
“Hang on, you’re shitting, right?!” Bakugou stood up. “Deku’s gone and the school’s staff will simply cross their arms?!”
His mentor scolded him with his gaze. “We are not keeping our arms crossed, we’re working to search for information on his whereabouts but, until now, we don’t have enough, now sit!”
Bakugou glared at him furiously, complying reluctantly at the end.
“I know a missing student is worrisome but, at the moment, we have to keep calm and not let that interfere with school activities.” Aizawa turned back to the class. “We’ll try to find him, meanwhile, I want you to focus on your lessons and not try anything stupid. You have no permission to partake in the investigations, so don’t do it!”
The blonde one’s breathing went heavy; he felt furious and impotent. It felt like the school’s staff wasn’t paying enough attention to the case and, at the moment, he hated them for that. Despite his teacher’s warning, he knew he would try something stupid.
Classes followed in a gloomy mood. Suddenly, with the possibility of never seeing Midoriya again, class 1-A already felt emptier.
With the ring of the final bell, Bakugou was the first one to stand with a fuss and head straight to the door with firm steps, ignoring his friends. He stopped right at it only at the call of the teacher. “Remember what I said, Bakugou.” He scolded. “You'll get yourself in big trouble if you try to solve that by yourself.”
The boy simply scowled at him and went on with his way, ignoring the warning.
The hot-headed teen walked through the streets enacting a threatening aura that fend off any passerby on his way. If Deku was missing, he knew exactly the first thing he'd have to do.
“Katsuki!” Inko exclaimed, surprised as she opened the front door.
“Auntie, can I come in?” Bakugou was visibly trying to control his tone.
“Of course, dear.” She nodded.
Just as he got in, the mother figure turned to the teenager and showed about a melancholic smile. “I guess we'll have to sit down for this.” She motioned at the couch.
Bakugou nodded and sat beside her, he didn't have time to speak before Inko pronounced again. “I see that… you got the news.”
The boy sighed; Deku's mother was already holding back her tears. It was a fact that they both were no longer that close, so there was only one explanation for his visitation. “What do you know about that?”
Inko tried to calm herself down before opening her mouth. “Hisashi… took him.”
Bakugou was shocked. Of all people who would kidnap Deku, his father was the last one to think of.
“How do you know that…?” He asked slowly.
Inko sniffled before speaking. “He was back when Izuku was out for the internship… he said he wanted to see his little boy again… I tried to back him off, but he was roaming and… I was gonna call the cops but, right when the internship was over, he found Izuku and… We got the footage from the security cameras… I didn't think he'd be able to do that with his own son!”
Bakugou was baffled, that was a lot to take in at once. Inko didn't need to say what Hisashi did for he got that. "Do you know where he took him…?” The boy whispered.
The woman shook her head negatively. “The authorities believe he took him out of the country… They checked the footage of security cameras on the nearest airports, but found nothing yet.”
Bakugou wetted his lips, trying to digest all that information. “Auntie…” He land a hand on her knee affectionately. “I'll bring him back, alright…? I promise it.”
Inko smiled and shook her head. “Don't get yourself in trouble for it, sweetie.”
“That is not an option.” He said determined.
Inko scoffed. She knew how stubborn Katsuki was, so she didn't know how to persuade him. “Thank you, dear.” She touched his face that was getting wet with tears.
Bakugou tried to smile, which only worsened his crying fit. Inko hugged him and there they sat for several minutes, comforting each other before she sent him back home.
The walk back went longer than usual. He felt lost, Deku was probably dealing with abuse in the hands of his father, Inko was helpless without her only son and Bakugou didn't even know where to start searching.
He barely had time to step in, his mother was already scolding him. “Is this a proper time, Katsuki? Inko told me where you've been, you won't do nothing stupid to save Izuku!”
The boy was shocked. “You knew…?”
Mitsuki paused in a brief moment of remorse. “Even though I knew, you shouldn't get yourself in the work of authorities-”
“And you didn't even think of telling me that?!” He exclaimed, cutting her off.
Mitsuki looked regretful and embarrassed at her son's disappointment. “I didn't tell you because I knew how you'd react…”
Bakugou scoffed indignantly, then his expression contorted in anger as he glared at his mother before heading up to his room.
“Katsuki-!” Mitsuki tried to call him, being cut off by the slam of the door to her son's bedroom, but she didn't scold him for it, she simply lowered her gaze and stood frozen in spot.
Bakugou threw his bag on the floor before throwing himself in bed and crying against the pillow. That couldn't be happening, he didn't have the chance to tell Deku what wanted the most, not even say goodbye.
He didn't go down to dinner nor did his parents went to go get him, he just laid there and cried until falling into a turbulent slumber.
.
.
.
A White horse trotted through the grass of a forest carrying a little boy of only 5 years old; despite very young, the knight known as Katsuki rode with dexterity, jumping over tree trunks on the way.
Dressing a shining armor and wielding his blade, Katsuki hopped off the horse in a sudden stop as they made it to his destination. He saw himself face to a castle kept by a fire-breathing beast; upon facing it, the beast turned towards the small knight, growling and smoking through its nose.
“Thou are brave, young warrior.” The giant, human-looking beast laughed mockingly at the knight’s humble stature. “But I won’t let you take the princess.”
Katsuki eyed him determinedly. “If that’s the case, I’ll have to take her from you forcefully!” He said, wielding his sword.
The beast let out a terrible laughter in its monstrous voice before throwing itself in front of the boy and meeting his eyes. “You may try… but won’t make it.”
Katsuki growled at the challenge, jumping high in the air and throwing himself with his blade in hands at the fire-spitting beast.
They waged a long, fierce battle; Katsuki was getting tired of having to dodge the beast’s fire breath, but the blows of his sword also proved themselves effective.
Several minutes later, both of them were already panting; Katsuki almost collapsed from the exhaustion, using his sword as a cane not to fall flat on the ground, supporting himself on one knee.
Looking up, the young warrior noticed that he was only a few blows to win the beast, but he himself was so tired already…
“Thou fought well, young warrior.” The beast scoffed in admiration. “But I still cannot let you take the princess…”
Katsuki prepared to defend himself when the beast got up, using of its last strengths to rise as tall as a huge building, taking its hand behind and reaching for the tower of the castle. No. Katsuki panicked, deciphering the beast’s next moves. No!
The knight, on his last strengths, leaped one last time in the air, screaming in despair as the beast broke open the wall of the tower and grabbed the princess who screamed in fear, Katsuki then had one last glimpse to her beautiful face framed by dark green curls before the beast that held her hostage brought her close to its mouth. NO!!!
“Kacchan...” The princess whimpered, those were her last words before a fire breath engulfed her completely.
Katsuki cried and screamed at the scene; the princess yelled in agony upon having her fragile body incinerated, and that was the last glimpse he had of his princess before losing her.
.
.
.
Bakugou’s eyes shot open with a jolt to the real world; he found himself laying on his back in bed with his eyes watering up. His face contorted in agony; when we’re half awake, thoughts may usually turn into dreams but, from every dream he could have, did it have to be that one?
The hot-headed teen hopped off of bed, running straight up to his computer and starting it. Still in his school uniform, he began the limited research his resources allowed: he looked up Izuku’s name on every site, social media and research tools that were available to him, only to find out that all of the freckled boy’s social accounts have been “mysteriously” deleted; he also found a few articles online talking about his disappearance and his friends, Uraraka, Iida and Todoroki, have started up a page on a social platform, asking for anyone to get in contact if they see him.
Bakugou didn’t hold back, sending a private message to the page asking for more information at what Uraraka replied promptly. Checking the time on his computer clock, Bakugou noticed it was past 11AM on Sunday morning but, looking out the window, it still seemed to be pretty early, certainly due to the cloudy weather that was forming, that’s why he thought he’d have to wait longer for a reply.
Just as he opened the message, he got the same informations he had from the start of the week: Deku no longer viewed messages nor answered to calls, as if he vanished from the map. That didn’t help.
That’s ok. Thanks, anyway.
He hit “send” and was about to log out when he saw the girl send another message right after.
Wait, why are you doing this?
His hands hovered on the keyboard hesitantly at the accusation. He typed in a few messages until making it to something that seemed less hostile.
I promised myself I won’t rest until bringing our sunshine back.
Uraraka took some time before resuming to type.
I know is not my business, but you’re Deku’s childhood friend, right…? Do you have any information I don’t know?
Bakugou hesitated to tell, but he thought that Deku’s best friend deserved to know that at least.
His father kidnapped him.
WHAT?!!
Why?!
We don’t know, that’s what aunt Inko told me.
The brunette let the information sink in before returning to type.
Do you think he could hurt Deku?
Hesitant once again, Bakugou didn’t want to tell the girl that detail and worsen her worries, but there was no turning back now.
I didn’t think he would, but it looks like he attacked Deku with his quirk.
What’s his quirk?
Fire breath.
Another moment of silence from the other end.
Do you think that Deku is fine?
Bakugou gritted his teeth. He knew what she meant by that: she wanted to know if Deku was alive. He couldn’t tell if it was because he didn’t believe Hisashi would have the guts to kill his own son or if it was because he wanted to believe that Deku really was alive, either way, he wouldn’t accept that possibility.
He is.
How do you know?
Aunt Inko told me Hisashi took him out of the country, I don’t believe it would be to get rid of a body.
Uraraka’s silence felt concerning. The blonde one was a bit more relieved to see her typing again.
Hey, Bakugou... I also want to believe in that, and I will not rest until finding him.
It was odd, but her message made a soft smirk cross the boy’s face.
We’ll find him together.
You bet that! And, if you need help with anything, you can hit me up, alright?
On it, I’ll keep you updated.
Thank you.
A knock on the door made the boy jolt in his chair in reflex, he soon heard his mother’s voice. “Katsuki...? May I come in?”
The boy glared at the door, enraged. His mother sounded actually regretful, but he was still disappointed in her for not telling about Deku.
“I’m busy, go away!” He barked back.
He heard Mitsuki sighing on the other side and she opened the door all the same to meet her son’s threatening glare. “Sweetie, I know you’re worried, but you have to let the pro heroes and the police to solve this. You have no authority to get in the middle of it, if you do, it’ll be bad for you!”
“I don’t give a shit about myself!” Bakugou exclaimed. “Until the cops solve that, Deku could be dead, have you thought about that?!”
Mitsuki sighed, Katsuki was starting to get emotional judging by his watery eyes.
In a rare moment, his mother approached and hugged him, squeezing him against her chest. “I’m sorry.” Katsuki’s eyes widened at his mother’s nosy voice. “I didn’t want to keep this secret from you, but I also didn’t want you to do anything crazy… I was trying to protect you, you understand that?”
Bakugou buried his face in his mother’s chest, letting tears flow and giving himself into that rare moment between mother and son. After a few minutes, Mitsuki stepped back and kneeled in front of him.
“Katsuki, dear... I also am worried sick about Izuku, but you have to let the authorities work on this alone, can you promise me that?”
“I can’t...” He replied with a catch on his throat.
“Katsuki-“
“I CAN’T!!!” Bakugou yelled, cutting her off. “Because, if I let something happen to Deku, I’ll never forgive myself for that!”
“You don’t have to forgive yourself, it’s not your fault.” Mitsuki grabbed his arms, staring into him intensely.
The boy shut his eyes and averted his face; she didn’t understand it. When she noticed she wouldn’t be able to persuade her son, Mitsuki sighed and stood slowly. “I guess you deserve a break… Let’s go eat, lunch is ready.”
Katsuki watched his mother turn and leave the room, but not before staring at him from the door for a moment before closing it.
All of that was bullshit and he wouldn’t rest until having Deku back but, on the meantime, he thought it best to listen to his mother and go down to lunch.
- — -
Bakugou barely left his room throughout the day, only to answer to his basic needs. He spent the whole time in front of the computer, looking up information and contacting who would be able to know of anything helpful and the monitor’s light was starting to give him a headache, still, he did not take his eyes off the screen in search for a crumb of hope.
He thought on going out to search for him at some point, but he knew it would be helpless, knowing full well that Deku was no longer in Japan, so he resulted to a deep dive in information that could give him a hint of the other’s whereabouts.
His parents entered the room a few times to check if everything was okay and see their son at least awake and alive, but they were worried about his behavior.
At dinner, Masaru had to hand him in a plate for he forgot to feed, but Katsuki only took a few bites to get rid of his father’s presence in his room, seeing how he wasn’t really hungry.
When going to tell him goodnight, Mitsuki caught him still awake in front of the computer; the scene was heartbreaking: Katsuki had his eyes deeply circled dark, his hair was a mess, his eyes were bloodshot and swollen from crying so much and he was turning pale. That was not a life, he looked like a zombie, but his mother decided not to comment on his looks, she simply warned him he had school the next day and tried to send him to bed, where he dragged himself reluctantly to. After making sure he’d stay put, Mitsuki told him goodnight and closed the door.
Katsuki didn’t want to sleep hence, if he did, he knew he’d have another turbulent night filled with nightmares about Deku, also because he saw that as a waste of time. He needed to find him at all costs, and he wouldn’t do so by sleeping, but he was so tired that his body shut off, giving himself in to a night’s sleep and, as he thought, a turbulent one filled with nightmares.
- — -
A/N: The fic barely started and I’m weeping already 🤧 I had this idea based on a TodoDeku comic strip I found, only didn’t I expect it to make me so emotional 😅