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As he sat on his bed in silence, Izuku stared at the door with closed lips.
He knew his father wouldn’t come to visit, he hadn't seen his face in a number of years.
He actually can’t remember exactly how long it has been since he tried to run away from this cold palace.
A cold palace in an empire that might as well be in a perpetual winter, even with sunlight poking in through the barricaded windows.
Rolling green fields that once took his breath away when he was still a hated boy with an embarrassing stutter.
Now he’s just a silent prince, ignored by everyone except Kurogiri as he’s left locked in his room.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He learned long ago to not even make a single noise.
His father only regarded him with cold red eyes, sending ice through his heart whenever he tried to speak.
Even if he never raised a hand to Izuku like the servants from the old castle, Izuku still felt like he was always getting hit.
Especially with every single mistake he made growing up.
All culminating in his decision to simply run away.
Because why bother staying in a place where no one loves him?
Who would even care?
He shivered, but not because he remembered the words his father spoke when he was caught.
Instead he felt another chill in his room, in his prison, as a portal opened to deliver his next meal.
Kurogiri, the only servant Izuku knew while living here, no longer visited him.
Instead using his magic to deliver Izuku’s food and to then clear away the dishes as soon as Izuku was done.
Even the one who he thought liked him, soon went cold like everything else.
The man he thought would be his friend, could be a source of warmth, distanced himself.
And even said, without any words, that he was with everyone else in the world.
He didn’t love Izuku.
He was only here out of obligation, under the Emperor’s orders.
With bare feet on cold tile, Izuku walked to the small table and picked up the spoon.
He no longer had much of an appetite, but he feared what would happen if he stopped eating.
He remembered how his father declared Izuku as his property, and that he refused to let anything take Izuku from him.
Had Izuku still been a young child, he probably would have mistaken this for love.
But his father was still cold when he made this declaration.
He didn’t actually love Izuku, only saw Izuku as an object to take care of.
An obligation.
The people here only took care of him because they were obligated to, and it almost brought tears to Izuku’s eyes.
But they never fell, instead trapped in his eyes as he forced another bite of soup in his mouth.
Even the soup went cold in this cursed palace.
With a deep breath, Izuku set the spoon aside and walked towards the window.
Staring out into the green fields where the sun shone, his hands peeking out through the bars in the hopes of capturing that sweet warmth.
He opened his mouth before closing it.
His wish went silent and unheard as he pulled his hand away.
What chance was there of someone even bothering to grant his wish?
No one has in the years he’s been stuck here, so why now?
Why would anyone care for the unloved, silent, forgotten prince?
His eyes and throat were the only source of warmth he got as he laid down in his bed.
Ready to go back to the cold embrace of sleep.
But as his eyes started to slip shut, he could feel something foreign slip into his room.
Something warm…
–
When he next opened his eyes, Izuku found a small light hovering above his face.
It flickered like a candle and emitted a warmth he’s never felt before, and he instinctively brought his hands up to gently cup it and hold it close to his chest.
A whisper blew through his room as he gazed down at the small light.
Slowly bringing it up to his ear, he waited with baited breath.
“Hello? Can you hear me?” The light asked.
With wide eyes, Izuku turned and stared at the light to see it taking shape.
Watching as it shifted to the form of a tiny man standing in the palm of his hands, though the man appeared to be made of light and fire.
Slowly nodding, he waited to see if the tiny man would speak again.
“I apologize for disturbing you, but I needed to find a place to regain my strength,” the light man explained, his voice a whisper. “Do you mind if I stay here a while?”
Izuku tilted his head to the side before shaking his head.
At least, he thinks that’s the right thing to tell this man?
“I see, I’ll get out of your hair then,” the man spoke quietly.
Panicked, Izuku shook his head again.
He opened his mouth, ready to tell this man to not leave, before stopping himself when he remembered cold red eyes that narrowed whenever he spoke and stuttered.
The light man looked up at Izuku.
“Can you not speak?” He asked.
Blinking, Izuku shook his head.
He can speak, he just…isn’t sure if he should even try anymore.
The man quietly stared at Izuku, looking him in the eye even if his features were obscured by the small flames.
“I see. My name is Toshinori,” the light man said, probably smiling with the same warmth he emanated. “Do you know how to write? You can tell me your name that way,” he suggested.
With a small nod, Izuku slowly climbed out of his bed and walked to the desk where his parchment and inkwell were stationed.
Left untouched when no one came to see him, because what was the point?
As he grabbed the quill, his hands shook from lack of practice as he started to write his name down.
He frowned with how wobbly his lines look, but they were still legible as he held Toshinori up to read it.
“Izuku?” Toshinori asked, looking up to see a nod of confirmation. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
For a brief moment he felt the warmth again, almost overshadowing the cold that permeated everything.
However, he remembered what he’s learned in his whole life.
Soon Toshinori will leave him, he will change his tune and abandon Izuku when he learns more about him.
When he learns to hate him like everyone else.
His heart froze over once more as he gently set Toshinori down on the table and turned to climb back into bed.
He may have a couple more hours before Kurogiri brings his next meal.
As he closed his eyes and brought the blanket over himself once more, he could feel himself shiver from beneath all the blankets and furs that were supposed to be warm.
But instead they were cold.
–
His eyes opened to the smell of food.
The room was empty though, meaning Toshinori must have taken his leave already.
Or it was just a dream.
Making his way to where the soup sat, Izuku looked down in the bowl and gave a quiet sigh.
As he ate the cold soup, he held a hand to his chest when he felt it ache.
More cracks formed in his heart as he held the spoon in a shaking hand.
His whole body shivered from the cold both outside and inside.
With closed eyes, he wasn’t sure if he could even finish his soup.
But he still forced himself to take one last bite only to freeze as warmth and flavor suddenly filled his mouth.
He opened his eyes and stared down at the soup.
Curious at the new sensation, he took another bite to find it was warm.
So warm and filling that, with renewed vigor, he started to eat more and more of it.
His stomach demanded more as tears started to fall from his eyes.
Why now?
He turned when he felt a warmth and stared at the light man from earlier- Toshinori.
“I noticed you shivering and thought maybe I could try warming your soup for you? If I stepped out of line then I apologize, Izuku.”
He gaped before turning back to the now empty bowl of soup.
His stomach felt warm and satisfied for the first time in a long time.
Slowly standing up, Izuku walked over to where Toshinori floated and held his hands up for him to rest.
He gave a smile, hoping to convey the gratitude he felt as he held Toshinori close to his chest where the warmth permeated through.
The gentle warmth melting the ice that had started to encase Izuku’s heart because for once.
For once, someone did something kind.
For the first time, someone showed some semblance of care for him.
“My boy, you’re crying. Is everything ok?” Toshinori asked.
Izuku nodded.
For once, everything would be fine.
He could tell.
–
As the weeks went by, Toshinori could feel his power steadily returning.
Though there were also a lot of things he noticed about his temporary residence with Young Izuku, and things about the boy himself that concerned him.
He always made sure to hide himself whenever portals would open, though he noticed that no one went through.
Instead they would only bring food and take the dirty dishes away.
In truth, it took him only a few days to realize no one came into this room but it never hurt to be too cautious.
Especially considering who this palace belonged to exactly.
It was a risk laying low in the home of the man who did this to Toshinori in the first place, but he knew All for One would never expect this.
As he sat on the edge of the boy’s bed, he watched in silence as Izuku slept peacefully.
A boy who could not leave this room, a boy who had little to no human interaction.
It was like the boy was left here to be forgotten, or even left here as a piece of decoration to only look at but not touch.
Whichever it was, the only thing Toshinori could see was a cruelty that only All for One could be capable of.
Had he not met this boy, he would have left on this day with enough of his power returned to bring himself home.
But he couldn’t do it.
He refuses to leave without taking Izuku with him.
“One more week, I’m certain we can wait that long,” he whispered softly.
His boy didn’t give any indication of hearing him, instead remaining peacefully asleep.
Blissfully unaware that he would soon be taken out of this gilded cage.
–
Hisashi frowned as he stared at the dish Kurogiri brought back.
He reached a hand out for it, his servant silently handing it over without a lick of hesitation.
As he held a hand over it, he felt something lash out at his hand.
Burning him to the core as he dropped the bowl.
Only one person had that type of magic, and Hisashi could have sworn he eliminated that threat months ago.
And yet, that being’s magical signature was all over the soup bowl.
The very bowl that only goes to a single room in the palace, high up in a tower.
With his hands clenched into fists, Hisashi made his way to the stone steps that would take him up the tower.
His pace quickened when he felt an unbearable heat flash over him, threatening to bring him to his knees.
But he fought on, grabbing the artifact he had made specifically to contain his greatest foe.
The magic slowly being sucked into the amulet as he made his way up the stairs.
Pure righteous fury flashing through Hisashi’s core as he finally opened the door.
Expecting to find his son quietly sitting on his bed.
Waiting patiently for someone to come visit him.
Instead, he came to an empty room that was filled to the brim with magic and warmth that could easily melt any who were not prepared for it.
Were it not for his amulet, then Hisashi wasn’t sure what would happen to him upon coming face to face with this magic.
“Kurogiri, summon the guards,” he ordered quickly, vowing that he will go to the ends of the earth to get what belongs to him back.
And make Toshinori pay for daring to steal Hisashi’s property.
–
As white flakes fell on his face, Izuku gasped before giving a laugh at how cold it was against his face.
Though he couldn’t help the wide smile on his face as he was bundled up in warm clothes, his hands covering his mouth to stifle his laugh when he felt large hands pick him up.
“I thought you hated the cold,” Toshinori said with a large and jovial laugh.
Izuku shook his head and turned to look at the one who freed him from that cold room.
“Y- You ma-ke it- you make it- so much- much better,” he said, seeing the patient look on his caretaker’s face.
Toshinori never rushed Izuku.
Never tried to force him to get his stutter under control.
Instead staying silent and patient, allowing for Izuku to finish whatever he needed to say when he wanted to speak.
Though talking was still hard.
“I’m happy to hear that,” Toshinori said, his smile warm and full of the type of love that Izuku has craved for a long time.
The love of a parent.
“Can- Can I st-stay out a li-little longer?” Izuku asked.
“Of course you can. We can stay out until the sun sets, but afterwards we should go inside where it’s warm. Then in the morning we can go outside again. Outside for as long as you wish even,” Toshinori said.
With tears in his eyes, Izuku reached out to hug his savior.
Not even speaking his gratitude, but he knew Toshinori could understand what Izuku was hoping to convey.
Thank you…for everything.