Chapter Text
Hangovers.
Truly the biggest bitch out of all the bitches in the 7 kingdoms.
Wait, hold on. That title is specifically reserved by Katsuki's raging bitch of a mother. A.K.A. The Reigning Bitch Queen herself.
But hangovers are a very, very close second.
One would think that Katsuki had learned his lesson the first time he experienced one. How his stomach rolled with nausea at bright light. How every smell made his head throb hard enough for vision to blur. How he couldn't remember half of what he did the night prior. Oh, and let’s not forget how he spent the better part of that morning bent over a windowsill, puking his guts out on whatever poor servant that was tending the flower beds below.
Yet, the repercussions were not worth abstaining from fae wine.
THAT is truly a wonderful creation, perfect for making one lose their senses in all of the best ways. It's also half of the reason the elvish race were on such great terms with the Todoroki faerie- A court of vile tricksters, made dangerous due to their Gods blessed gifts of fire and ice.
They threw excellent parties though.
Whatever, back to the matter at hand.
Katsuki rubbed at his temples, attempting not to throw up the entirety of his internal organs as he stumbled into the war room.
And directly into an active meeting.
That he was supposed to be in attendance.
Fucking phenomenal.
The council merely glances at him before turning back to the Queen, each face struck with various stages of grief and horror. She huffs an irritated, bitchy breath at the distraction but continues speaking, dutifully ignoring his disruption.
"As I was saying, they will be a beneficial ally in the threats to the south. Especially after the attack on our travel port."
Ah, so that's the importance of this shitty, early morning meeting.
The League, a nasty bandit group lead by the disgusting Orc leader, Shigaraki Tomura, has been pushing their limits recently. The irreverent pests keep attacking their edges and ripping towns apart, like feral animals desperate to break into a prey den.
In Katsuki's humble opinion, Orcs are the scum of society - Mindless beasts that ravage and ruin all in their path. He's heard way too many horror stories of how they dismantle, maim and rape everything good in their path. Definitely the most hated groups of creatures to exist, rumored to have been cursed by the Gods to forever wander the world with no true home.
A few years after Katsuki's birth, there was a terrible Orc Overlord who brutally killed his brother for the throne. This younger brother was loved by all kingdoms, one of the rare Orc that was kind to all. Once murdered, every kingdom placed a mandatory ban on the race from setting foot within their walls.
Interestingly, after the ban was instated, no one heard from the Orc Overlord again, but whispers claim that the Legendary Hero All Might defeated him in a hard battle.
The topic of All Might is a mysterious one. He's never shown his face to any of the people he saves, dutifully hiding behind a mask of leather and thorns. And every few months a new tale of his triumphs slithers through each village in every kingdom.
Katsuki secretly hordes these stories, loves the idea of an unyielding victor who fights valiantly and defeats all opponents. One who never steps down from facing adversity. A true winner. The Legendary Hero.
And one day, Katsuki is determined to surpassing All Might. To become the one true hero of the world, winning every battle and leaving legends trailing in his wake that spoke praise on his name. Katsuki dreamed of leading the Elvish Kingdom to a new, golden age.
That being said, his first target on his journey to inevitable greatness was Shigaraki Tomura himself.
"Various allied families will be in attendance for tonight, so have enough rooms prepared and a feast ready. I also expect everyone to treat the guests of honor with kindness. Do NOT do anything to warrant my disappointment." She sends a vicious glare in Katsuki's direction, the first time she's directly addressed him in any capacity. "We need this treaty."
"But your majesty, marrying the Prince to-"
"Hah? Back up. Who the fucks getting married?" Katsuki hisses, cutting off the council member.
The Queen's blood red eyes cut towards Katsuki, words unflinching and cold as Todoroki ice, "You. And if you wanted to know more, you should have been on time."
His fingers curl in barely contained rage, magic sparking from his palms.
Him? Married? Has the wretched, old bat finally gone insane?
They must be out of their Godsdammed mind if they think HE could be used as a tool- a bargaining chip for a treaty. He's the fucking future of the Elvish lands, their golden light. Marrying him to some potentially lesser royal will only dampen his rise to power and honestly, is a complete waste of his potential. His anger heights at the insinuation, making his hearing turn spotty as he fights to regain control of his emotions.
"-ko wed and though angered to have missed the ceremony, I'm very pleased to hear of the raising of status. This union will be mutually beneficial in many ways. Besides, from the sounds of it, they need this as much as we do... And I'm not afraid to admit delight in being reunited with my dear friend." The Queen finishes, voice uncharacteristically soft.
Each previously horror filled face relaxes as whispers rock through the room, rushes of excited "-Did she say-" and "After all this time-" and "-believe they survived!".
"Don't jest." General Aizawa breaths from his place over Mitsuki's shoulder, stoic voice raising enough to cause the whispers to die off, awe painting his normally passive tone, "Does that mean-"
The hag's lips twitch in amusement, "Yes, General. Your secret prodigy is finally returning. And from what she wrote, his training paid off. Speaking of, I distinctly remember forbidding those lessons."
The dark elf general snorts, ignoring her fake ire. A twin huff of amusement sounds from Mitsuki's left side as the King Consort smiles.
King Masaru has always been the more docile of the Elvish rulers, a gentle caress to Mitsuki's firm grasp. To say Katsuki held a soft spot for the man was an understatement, but even that kind smile, filled to the brim with joy, couldn't dampen Katsuki's hostility.
His raised hackles couldn’t be lowered even if he tried, only made worse with the lingering effects of his nausea. He felt like a caged jungle cat, wild and ready to strike at the first sign of weakness.
All of this secrecy and word weaving just serves to piss Katsuki off to entirely new planes of existence. To his knowledge, his mother had no friends (She's the Reigning Bitch Queen, remember). And to further that point, she nor anyone else ever talked about this mysterious woman or a stupid prodigy of the general's.
Katsuki sends his molten gaze around the room, temples throbbing from the action as he catches the excited looks from the council. Middle to old-aged men and women with eyes so bright and full of mirth, mouths pursed as if to hold back mountains of gossip lined questions- absolutely ridiculous.
Queen Mitsuki's stands from her chair, serious voice cutting through the thrilled tension, "I repeat for those who do not know, leave all biases behind. They good people." She delivers the last line directly towards Katsuki before addressing the room.
"Well, no time to waste. Get to it."
---
One would think the Gods had returned from their eternal rest with how frantically the servants fluttered around. Every handmaid in the castle is bustling to get sheets cleaned and rooms dusted, mouths moving just as fast as their feet. Katsuki has grown irrationally irate at the waiting game, the anticipation causing his threadbare patience to run dangerously thin.
And to make matter worse, no one offered him an explanation from the missed parts of the meeting, so everything he's gathered has been through eavesdropping.
He'd overheard from the ditzy handmaids that most of the royalty from neighboring lands are resting in their respective rooms. Which meant he needed to find some way to fill the gaps of time before he meets his mystery spouse.
It frustrates Katsuki to no end that he’s the only one oblivious to who is to be his intended. It could be any of the royalty staying beneath the palace walls.
Apparently, the humans arrived first via machine-drawn carriage. The King and Queen Yaoyorozu had sent the lovely Princess Momo as their representative. She's accompanied by Sir Knight Iida Tenya and her fair Lady-in-Wait, Uraraka Ochako.
His future consort couldn't be from the human race, their composition too weak and feeble to be of any help in the threat to the south. Though, their minds were wicked brilliant, a people with genius technicians that crafted some of the most intricately astounding architecture and weapons Katsuki had ever seen.
Be that as it may, Katsuki could not express his dissatisfaction of how pitifully defenseless the human composition is enough. Their only saving grace being their willingness to ask for aid in times of need, though they had a terrible lack of self-preservation and were constantly getting into trouble.
Due to all of this, Katsuki felt he could rule out a potential marriage match with the Princess. It wouldn’t be beneficial for their cause against the League.
The Todoroki court teleported in mid-morning. Just the Fae King along with his oldest and youngest sons. Those wretched creatures were a more common occurrence than Katsuki would like to admit. More often than not, Prince Touya Todoroki (Or his formal title: The Family Disgrace) was sent to the Elvish lands in a bizarre form of punishment.
The hag offered to house Prince Touya whenever he royally fucked up within his own court, a treaty that the elves and fae hatched a handful years before Katsuki was born. Touya is half mad and a rat bastard, who gets off on fucking with servants and court officials equally. More of a jester than a prince, a dramatic fool with a habit of influencing Katsuki in terrible ways.
But Katsuki liked him a helluva lot more than the youngest Todoroki prince. Shouto is painfully dull, so uptight that he was probably born with a shard of ice up his ass.
At least Touya was gifted with a sense of humor.
But, at the very least, it's safe to say that he would NOT be marrying either of them... And if his mother said he was, Katsuki'd just threaten to off himself and leave her to find a new heir.
However, there still might be... hope. Now he'd never admit it out loud, but he is quite fond of the last group to have arrived.
The dragon folk flew in around noon. Now that's a powerful people, a clan of raw fury and fire. A shifter pack of unbreakable spirits that could change their form into mighty beasts with the ability to reduce villages to ashes. He grew up around one of the hatchlings- Kirishima Eijirou. The future chief ignited a passion inside of Katsuki he wanted more opportunities to explore. Whether that was to fight or fuck him was still to be determined.
Interested sparks ripple across his palms at the thought of seeing Eijirou at dinner tonight. Just the idea of those slitted eyes on him, watching like deeply desired prey, made him the most preferable of the previous listed choices.
Katsuki shakes his head from the pointless thoughts.
Though, thinking logically, Katsuki felt positive his mother was on poor terms with the dragonborn. That his father was the primary communication between the elves and the hot-tempered people. His eyebrows pinch together, his stress of the unseen and unknown causing his shoulders to draw up in a faux form of defense. A wall to block all potential enemies out.
He could think of only one way to emit his roiling power and pent-up aggression, with an added benefit of expelling any extra tension from his tightly coiled body.
His magic burned at his fingertips, threatening to erupt if he didn't blow off the building mana.
So, he turned on his heels and stomped towards the training grounds, thanking the sleeping Gods that the arena was filled with elvish soldiers in various levels of practice. General Aizawa conducts drills for anyone who desires to learn, no matter the gender or station. It's one of the reasons the decorated war veteran had Katsuki's full respect. Through him, the prince learned how to fight with just his fists and with his magic, spent years studying the art of war, becoming a killing machine that had yet to experience the true joy of battle.
But by the sound of it, Katsuki might get his first taste of battle soon, get to experience the flavor of fear and gore between his teeth. His thirst for blood only grew with each sliver of knowledge of the threats at their borders- Growing with the tales terror and brutality their people suffered at the hands of their enemies.
Katsuki wanders towards the fighting pit, fingertips sparking at the prospect of frying an unworthy challenger. None of these foolish soldiers could hold a candle to his talent and finesse. He's going to demolish every opponent that dares step across from him, to blow off all his unbridled rage in a productive manner.
Once, right after he turned 18, Katsuki snuck into an underground (and illegal) pit fight and entered the ring. He kept his identity hidden and faced off against a multitude peasant until he had crushed them all. Each opponent never held back, never underestimated him, and offered a fair fight that light the fire in his blood. All possessed the single-minded goal of winning, and that fact altered his mentality towards the people he was destined to rule. It was the day he learned to love his people, to respect and live for these low born elves. The heart and soul of his race.
The experience earned him the title of champion for the night- a title he still held on to with the utmost honor. It was only after he won that he removed his hood, allowing every person at the general vicinity to witness the fact they battled the crowned prince himself- and lost. But, instead of causing an uproar, the people in attendance cheered harder.
In turn, that was the day Katsuki won the respect of every low born peasant.
Even if it got him in heaps of trouble with his mother and more pointless lessons on princely etiquette than he'd ever need (and had zero possibility of working), those moments he gathered from battling against the elvish low borns was exquisite. He wanted to give back to them, to fight for his people, to be their Golden Light, leading the elvish race into a better, brighter future.
Unfortunately, he'd never been able to sneak off and go to another one of those titillating pit fights again, but he desperately craves to feel the thrill of a true fight and worthy rival. An equal.
But for the time being, whatever sorry soldier that stepped across from him today was in for one hell of a beat down.
Goddess bless their soul.
---
Once again, Katsuki's patience is hanging on by a thread. A common theme for today, it seems.
Unfortunately, his hopes that the earlier combat training would ease his mounting tension had failed drastically. His irritation is only exacerbated by the third cup of wine he's guzzling down. Katsuki has spent the better part of two hours waiting for the mystery reveal of his future spouse.
And Prince Katsuki clearly did not do well having to wait.
The fae wine had only served to make his body and tongue loose, his frame settled haphazardly in his throne to the right side of his mother. His bleary gaze was currently fixed on his goblet, watching how the jewels glittered in the candle light, the emerald pieces reflecting in a distantly familiar way.
He'd grown bored of the constant chatter, of the fake, meaningless conversations and careful masks of the royals surrounding them.
And yes- He may have tried to catch the future dragonborn chief's eye once or twice, but the giant, red idiot had his head in the clouds. Which, again, only worsened Katsuki's mood.
The scale-covered moron had barely spoken to Katsuki all evening, which frustrated the prince to no end because. Well- Okay.
A summer or two ago they might have fooled around. Nothing more than simple kisses and over the pants rutting, but it was a night that Katsuki thought of often. So, the utter lack of acknowledgement left a bitter taste in his mouth. Did the dragonborn not want him, was Katsuki unappealing? Was he-
"Sooo, have you heard speak of the last group arriving today??" Denki whispers, tone low and secretive.
Katsuki's gaze slides to the left, thankful for the distraction from the inward pouting session. His annoying Lord-in-Wait lounged just off the dais, close enough for conversation to be held in the semblance of privacy.
Denki Kaminari is truly a beautiful specimen, a gorgeous being of half fae and elf. His bronzed skin is decorated with glittering chains and bells, a high-necked golden tunic covering his chest and upper thighs, leaving his back exposed. Dainty wings fluttered lazily in his seat, the candlelight reflecting elegantly through the stained-glass panels. His bare legs were folded gracefully in the cushioned chair, showing just enough to leave any suitors wanting for more. A white feathered fan waves in front of his face, strategically covering his mouth from prying eyes and cooling him off from the stuffy heat.
To all others, he seemed like a daft idiot, a jester of a future lord, but Katsuki knew better. Knew that his fae side made him quick and cunning. He's a delightful partner in crime, his closest companion, though Katsuki would rather sever own his head with a spoon that admit that to the boy.
Denki would never shut up about it.
"Whatever gossip you heard is definitely false. All representatives from our few allies are present." Katsuki clips, uneasy at the thought of another sets of people fitting within this already intimately cramped hall.
"I heard that..." Denki trails off, completely ignoring Katsuki in favor of build anticipation at the most inopportune time. His honey eyes dance around the room before meeting blood red. "All Might is coming."
Katsuki jolts in his seat, near empty goblet sloshing red all over his wrist, the liquid seeping into the embroidery of his silk glove. He clicks his tongue at the mess, irritation raising another notch. Snatching the napkin from his lap, he attempts to salvage the damage before it sinks too deep, but gives up and slips his fingers out of the ruined piece.
He hisses, eyes flaring, "You know better than to lie to me, fool."
"When have I EVER lied to you, my prince?" Denki giggles, the sound similar to the bells tinkling from his wrist with each flick of his fan.
Katsuki's lips twitch in amusement, filling his goblet with his fourth- fifth? glass of wine. "Just last night you tried to convince me that waterfolk eat their defective young... Which would've been believable if you used anyone other than mermaids. Those peaceful beings survive exclusively on small fish and seaweed. If you're going to lie, you shoulda said sirens."
"Why must you always prove me wrong." Denki whines, fanged teeth flashing playfully. "Besides, I didn't lie per se... Small fish could be considered defective young... Anyways, the whispers informed that All Might and his new champion have been steadily making their way through our villages, fending off monsters that terrorize each place for no pay. And, after the attack to the port last week, he sent request to visit. My informant says an additional letter was slipped to the Queen."
Katsuki's eyes narrow. He hadn't heard of any letter. He mentally kicks himself once again for being late to the meeting this morning. All of this prevalent information was most likely revealed in the beginning, but it was his own damn fault for arriving late.
He grits his teeth, refusing to ask for more even if he was dying to know.
The grin that Denki wears is telling, like a satisfied cat that was able to ensnare an unsuspecting mouse. The little shit knows that the prince was a fiend for tidbits of preposterous details.
Yes, the Great Golden Prince Katsuki has a secret love for gossip.
The little blonde menace purses his pretty mouth, preparing to launch into other potential erroneous whispers but the doors of the hall swing open.
A sheepish and sweet voice trills, accent barely loud enough to cut through the chatter, "Sorry for the delay!"
"I'd hardly call an ambush just a delay." Another accented voice scoffs through a yawn, tone melodic and smooth.
Denki makes a small squeak of interest, the whore probably attracted to that sultry timbre, eyes zipping from Katsuki's glare towards the newest additions to the room. Before his own attention drifts to the commotion, the prince catches how Denki's face falls slack behind his fan, eyebrows pinching in terror as his chest rises and falls in rapid succession.
Katsuki's wine slowed head shifts towards the hall entrance, and immediately sobers. His body goes rigid at the monstrosities that dared step into their sacred city. His fight instincts kick into gear, the goblet in his hand falling to the floor in a loud clatter. The only thing keeping him from immediately reacting is how the guards remain unconcerned.
Standing in the entrance of the room are two fucking orcs. The pair's clothing soaked through with water, blood, and muck.
The taller of the two orcs uses a black leather clad hand to push its dripping hair out of it's face, revealing ashen grey skin that looks ghastly the candle light. The monster's ears are decorated with uncut gems and a fucking bone through its septum. From this distance, Katsuki can't make out the color of its eyes, but rather the eerie white pupils worsened by the drastic bags that droop beneath. Its face is full of nicks, expression blank as it throws its sight lazily around the room. Two white tusks protrude from behind a full bottom lip, adorned with a bronze hoop. Katsuki can feel that searing gaze rake over him before settling on the space to his left, and weirdly enough, its nostrils flare.
While its horrifically ugly, there nothing is more grotesque as the thing to its right.
The shorter orc has sickly pale green skin, scratches and scars along its jaw and neck, face blemished with unsightly brown spots that look like someone smeared and splattered shit carelessly. The leather vest it wears is soaked with blood and muck, a tunic sleeve is torn completely off to show a horrifically scarred right arm, fingers of that hand twisted and gnarled. Its large legs are hidden beneath black leather pants, ripped and ragged in places. There's a tangled nest of water darkened hair atop its head with mud, leaves and twigs twisted throughout- a parody of a crown. Its own protruding tusks are uneven, one of them broken into jagged chips.
But arguably the worst part of its appearance were the giant, beady eyes. Wide and shining, an awful pair of putrid green irises that bounces around, assessing every elegantly clad royal in the room.
"So many friendly faces!" The green beast yips, accent thick, expression twisting into a grotesque mockery of a smile. His large, bulging eyes crinkle and scarred, shit speckled cheeks puff.
The banquet hall goes silent almost instantly, all attention zapped towards the spectacle that rushes into the room. A chorus of shocked gasps ricochet throughout, chairs being pushed back as every royal stands at the threat.
The pair strut down the main hall, pausing to bow to each of the gathered houses, leaving little puddles with every step. Eventually, they stop below the dais and the green one kneels before the Elvish royalty, that snarled bush of hair lowered in respect.
To Katsuki's immense surprise, his bitch of a mother rushes down the few steps, closing the distance in seconds. He watches in horror as she sinks down and reaches a gentle hand out to cup the creature’s chin, bringing its head up to look at her. They stare at each other, the orc's lip wobbling as tears glitter at the edges of its lids.
And then she hugs the ugly thing, debasing herself in a show of insanity.
And it's not just her.
With her initial move, the king consort also jumped off his throne and joins them, a heavy hand resting upon the beast's nape. General Aizawa follows too, his armored hand shaking as he pets through the nest of dark snarls.
Katsuki attempts to school his expression, red eyes rolling around the room to gauge the massive amounts of damage control he'll need to perform with each of their allies. The reactions from the other royalty vary.
The Dragonborn look intrigued. Kirishima and his companion, TetsuTetsu, seem contemplative and calculating. The future chief's wings flap behind him, a tell of great enthusiasm, eyes shimmer in a way Katsuki was unfamiliar.
The Todoroki fae display mixed emotions across the board. King Enji seems to have unintentionally lit wings of pure fire. Prince Touya looks awe-struck, eyes wild and wicked tail flicking. But what’s most peculiar is the sheer emotional bliss upon the youngest Prince's face. The ever stoic Shouto's expression conveys an intense longing, like his frozen heart was finally melting.
And the human's look damn near thrilled. Princess Momo's eyes are bright, a delicate gloved hand pressed above her heart. Her lady-in-wait's face is scarlet, subtly trying (and failing) to adjust her bodice into a more flattering position. And interestingly, Sir Iida seems seconds from running out of the hall, red eyes bouncing between the threat and the doors.
Katsuki lets out a calming breath at the lack of treason on the royals faces, at the fact that their carefully crafted alliances wouldn't turn on them at this great breach in decades long treaty.
The Queen detaches herself from the terrible creature, uncaring for the wretched state of her previously pristine clothing nor the countless faces watching this disastrous scene. She frantically demands, "Ambushed?! Is your mother-?"
The green Orc sniffs, wiping its nose and tears on the one intact sleeve, grimacing, "She fine, just tired. We set up camp outside the walls to recover and assess damages. Our people are tough."
"Indestructible is more accurate, brother." The grey orc quips, breaking into their little bubble.
The green beast snorts, corner of its mouth hitching high enough to reveal a dimple in its cheek, the genetic deformity making his face look even more unpleasant. "A pack of wild goblins were holed up in the caves at the edges of the city. We took care of them before anything could happen."
Masaru smiles back, proud, "Thank you for protecting us from unknown harm."
"Yes yes, thank you." The queen huffs dismissively, standing with the help of her husband, "But what do you mean 'set up camp'? We have plenty of beds here! For everyone in your party, no matter how big nor small."
The creature’s brow furrows, a ruddy red creeping along its cheeks as it also stands. It raises that ruined hand and rubs at the back of its neck in an awkward gesture. "W-well-"
"It's much easier to sneak through a city and into castle grounds with just two-" The grey one offers, sly and full of mischief.
The green orc cuts the other off, voice nervous, "-WHAt Hitoshi means to say is that we were worried of frightening the p-public. Too many of our kind can lead to panic so we... uh... chose a special route to get in..." It pauses looking down at the mess its making, "Sorry for the dirtying the carpets, we can clean them right away. We- I... just didn't want to inconvenience all present any longer than necessary."
"Ever the problem child, I see." General Aizawa hums, a rare grin stretched on his typically impassive face.
The creature quips back, challenge heavy in its tone, "The only problems I'll be causing you are in the training pits, General."
The dark elf scoffs, "Spare this old elf, I have no energy to brawl with you."
"What, y'scared? I didn't expect the years to make you soft." It replies, absurdly cheeky.
"Stop hogging all of his attention, Shouta!" The queen barks, the fond smile painted on her lovely face betraying the ire in her words. She takes the wretched thing's ruined hand, with a soft spoken "Come, love" as she guides it up the stairs with measured steps.
Directly towards Katsuki's throne.
Oh no. Fuck no. This cannot be happening. Katsuki REFUSES to believe this is happening.
The Prince’s legs spread automatically in the beginnings of a battle stance, fingers posed and ready to strike at a moments notice.
Once within distance, the queen snatches Katsuki's single gloved hand and, to his abject horror, places them atop each other.
She never looks at him, never offer reassurance or explanation. Just makes him touch this nightmare- This godless creation. His skin crawls even through a layer of silk, goosebumps rolling across his forearms at the utter blasphemy he's committing by sharing the same air as the thing, let alone touching it. He stares at the place they're connected before letting his gaze travel upwards, stomach churning.
The queen releases their combined hands.
"Katsuki, this is Izuku Midoriya-" Mitsuki beams, taking a few steps back and sightlessly finding throne. She slumps into the seat like a million pounds were just magically lifted off her delicate shoulders.
Blood ruby clashes with lindworm jade.
"Your intended."
The grotesque thing's chest heaves, nostrils flaring. Katsuki swears that a piece of his soul dies at the feeling of that beady vision drinking him in. A look that Katsuki could never begin to digest flashes across the orc's features, mouth splitting into its biggest grin yet. Twin dimples flash as lips part to reveal white fangs in addition to those uneven tusks.
It starts "Ka-"
A full body cringe rocks through the prince at the grating voice up close, his anger reaching it's precipice. A snarl rips through him at the mortifying truth.
All of these nobles were here to mock him, to watch as he falls from grace and splatters all over the white marble. To witness his fate of marrying a hideous monster, the embodiment of sacrilege against the slumbering gods.
There was NO fucking way he's marrying a godsforsaken ORC. That he's to wed a demon stolen straight from his worst night terrors.
The visceral "No." that rips through Katsuki's chest is hushed and thick with hate, killing whatever was going to come out of the thing's mouth.
Katsuki could barely stand being this close to the disgusting beast, to be touching it even through a layer of silk. He has to fight the urge to recoil in disgust but forced himself to stay strong. He refused to let his pride wobble, to let all of these people see him sink so far as to wed filth. The scum of the world.
So, he leans down, the wine and anger making his unruly tongue worse, and sets his heavy, magic-heated bare hand on the orc's ruined vest. The leather sizzles and warps from the show of power.
A thrill of sadistic satisfaction rolls through him at the inches of height he has over the thing- At the ability to look down his slender nose at it, both metaphorically and literally.
His next statement is venom-filled, kept strategically low- just loud enough for the ugly fuck to hear, "My parents are deranged to think I'd never marry a useless shitstain from your kind..."
Its brows raise, dimples disappear from view as its smile sloughs off its face, replaced by bewilderment and confusion.
Suddenly dizzy with a rush of power, Katsuki laughs cruel and airy, adding in afterthought, "Well, maybe I would if you were hung and reincarnated into any. Other. Race."
He watches as his irrefutable rejection courses through the vile orc's thick skull. Witnesses with immense pleasure as the revolting thing wilts in disappointment. He savors the millions of emotions that flicker across those giant green eyes.
Hurt, devastation, pain, desperation, sorrow.
Hopelessness.
And finally, acceptance.
All those passing emotions were written on every feature, a sweet poem just for Katsuki's enjoyment. But then that delicious ruin was washed away with a single blink- A careful, calculated mask slipping into place.
The corner of its mouth curves upward into the semblance of a smirk. It then has the gall to snatch Katsuki's forearm, its grip too strong to break free.
Katsuki freezes in fear.
Shit, he was going to die. Admittedly, taunting an orc may not have been Katsuki's brightest idea.
Fucking Fae wine, always getting him in trouble.
However, death was much better fate than having to marry an abomination. Silver linings.
Quick as lighting, the thing lowers its full lips to the exposed skin of Katsuki's wrist. It nuzzles into his flesh, breathing in before pressing a heart wrenchingly soft kiss, the kind one reserves for their most precious lover.
A zap of electricity pulses between them at the contact, making Katsuki's stomach twist, maggots roiling- wreathing in his gut. The spot burns, a hum of energy scalding the prince's core and heating his lifeblood. The sensation startles an involuntary crackle of magic from Katsuki's palm, the sparks bouncing off the orc's jagged cheek. The thing doesn't even flinch.
And while there was no physical mark left by that atrocious maw, a few rogue muddy droplets land on the pure white of the prince's tunic sleeve, tainting it. A tangible reflection of how violated Katsuki felt at this debasing display.
Its dull eyes never leave Katsuki's, purring against his wrist in challenge, "For someone so outwardly beautiful, you sure have an ugly personality, Princeling."
It emphasizes its point with a final, disgusting drag of its tongue over his thrumming pulse. The sultry, humiliating act has Katsuki's traitorous cock twitching beneath his clothing, body reacting against his will. Self-loathing nips at his heels- a secret, fucked up part of him liking the possessiveness in the gesture.
The green monster then takes a step back, the sharp words acting as a guillotine, severing the cord of hateful tension inside Katsuki. Their hands disconnect, the aftereffects of spit seeping into his skin and the last of that strange energy coursing through Katsuki fizzles out.
It offers a mock bow before turning its attention away, almost dismissive.
The ugly creature approaches the elvish nobility, an obviously fake yawn stretching its splattered face. "My companion and I are quite exhausted. Could we continue this reunion in the morning, Queen Mitsuki?"
"Don't calling me that, Izuku. It's a formality I'd never require from you." The queen huffs before continuing, "But of course, love. Make sure to bring your mother or else I'll storm into camp myself."
The orc- Izuku- takes measured steps backwards, gracefully descending the steps, dimples flashing. "Of course, Auntie."
The entire room watches as the green freak blindly fists his companion's black cloak, pushing it towards the door. The pair are at the exit in a flash, offering one final bow to all houses.
From its bent over position, its terrible eyes find Katsuki's once more, drawn to only him. The green beast licks its lips, slow and intentional, and purrs, "Please enjoy the rest of the evening."
---
That night, after the banquet hall finally cleared and Katsuki spent an exorbitant amount of time scrubbing the memory of orc off his skin, he awoke covered in sweat and holes seared in his sheets.
It seems that the nightmares that haunted Katsuki's youth have returned.
A disturbing and twisted memory of a dark, cold dripping chasm, the only solace a set of gentle hands and bright, tear-filled eyes.