bakerstreet | Wild, free

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Wild, free

"barbarian" lover

Long ago, in a distant land...

That's how a fairy tale would start, followed by velvet words and beautiful images on parchment, telling of the adventures of heroes. But you? You don't get a fairy tale - you certainly don't get the prerequisite knight in shining armor, whether you wanted one or not. Forget the knights. Bring on the barbarians, the raiders on behemoth ships, uncouth Northmen from the coldest reaches, and, if you're from a fantasy-setting, the orcs/dwarves/wild elves/other species.

It's the right time, yet the wrong place and the wrong person, for sure. Maybe you're being protected, somehow; on the other hand, you could be getting kidnapped. At any rate, your companion is a rough-edged warrior, a commoner, a ruffian rogue, or even worse, a savage.

Will you even survive this story unscathed? Because you certainly won't get a picture-book ending or, far be it, true love...right?

Or, if you're just here for the smut: observe the "loincloths or Pelts of the Barbarian, taut rippling muscles, oiled back, impressive weapons, the beard of a grizzly bear (or inexplicably clean-shaven at all times) and glorious manly manes."

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[Non-barbarian.]

[ Obviously not the barbarian. Wife offered in trade for something? pleasure slave that's been bought or kidnapped? ]

(Kink list here)

(More info is in her journal)

{{Not the barbarian. Adventuring companions, one night stands, raiding parties all welcome.}}

[Whether actual barbarian or just a really rough-edged commoner, Kacchan is 100 percent the barbarian.]

[He doesn't want to go.

He really doesn't want to go, back to the castle, back to the stifling life he's lived before. He's been in more danger than he ever has before - so much so that the guide that was hired to lead them through the wild lands got taken on as a protector for him, even though he can fight with a sword just fine - but he's never felt more alive and free than he has in the past few months. He's gained new friends with the traveling companions he picked up along the way, knights, mages, apothecaries, rogues, bards, even a half-dragon.

Even with all them, though, his father hadn't want anything happening to his heir - not his son, his heir, nothing more than a puppet his father thinks he controls to take over the throne after his old man has stepped down, Shouto thinks bitterly for a moment - and hadn't trusted his traveling companions to stay with him unless they were paid to do so, so he'd insisted and paid for extra protection for Shouto once his father saw that the guide could absolutely hold his own in a fierce fight.

There's something about the guide that's drawn his eyes in a way that hasn't happened with the others, though.

So here he is, bags all packed and ready to go on Frost, his beautiful white horse that's been his constant companion since before he made friends, standing outside Katsuki's tent wondering what's the least awkward way of asking if they might be able to stay in touch somehow. Shouto feels like he'll want to write letters to his new friends every day to stave off boredom or complain about social event he doesn't want to go to such as balls intended for him to find a woman to marry, and he's got information on where to send them for everyone else, so he's hoping there'll be at least some way of getting letters to Katsuki as well.

Katsuki is one of the few he very much wants to stay in touch with so much that the thought of never hearing from him again fills him with something that practically feels like despair.]

[It...wasn't supposed to be this way.

It was meant to be a simple job: get hired to take care of a prince who probably needed someone to help wipe his own ass, lead him through to whatever the fuck he was planning to do, get paid, and then get out. He'd done it countless times for the nobility before, and he would probably keep doing it once this was over.

Because Katsuki was the best. He knew this land -- the topography, the food, the languages, the traditions -- better than anyone else on this Gods forsaken rock, and the nobles knew that they would be in safe hands with him by their side.

Same song and dance, same story.

But why did this one become so complicated?

The Prince wasn't some spoiled brat who needed protecting. He was spacey, awkward, and clearly a man of breeding, but he was no weakling. Watching him fight was like watching a sunrise, watching him use magic was like seeing the raw, untapped beauty of nature. And the way he--

Fuck.

This hadn't been part of the plan.

He hadn't planned to spend his days watching over this prince from the corner of his eyes, spend his nights dreaming about him, and nearly get himself killed for his sake so, so many times.

He hadn't planned it, but he'd do it again.

And again.

And again.

But this was the end. They were going to part, and they would never see each other again. The prince would go back to his old life, get married, and it would be like they never knew each other --

-- No, the stubborn bastard would probably try to keep in touch, awkwardly attempt a friendship, and like an idiot Katsuki would let him--

Because they were from different worlds. No matter how much he wanted him, or was drawn to him, there was no way anything would come of it.

He just had to...

...

He just had to deal with that. Not matter how much it hurt.

Even if that meant facing that bastard and saying goodbye.

Katsuki stepped outside, ready to face his fate.

And there he was.

The man he'd fallen head-over-heels in love with, but could never have.

(Though...what if...)

He watched him, but words were lodged in his throat. Why couldn't he say something, especially when it mattered?]

[Shouto stands there for a moment, and he's possessed with the insane urge to just shove Katsuki back into the tent while kissing him senseless.

Katsuki would probably kill him for doing that though.

He just stands there staring for a moment longer, taking in Katsuki's features and committing them to memory as best he can even though he doesn't need to because his drawing journal is practically full of sketches of the man, then realizes he's staring and awkwardly clears his throat.]

... Hello.

[Shouto doesn't know why, but all those lessons on proper etiquette and speaking go right out the window whenever he sees Katsuki.]

Hey.

[This man was an awkward mess and Katsuki was, too. He'd never been much of a social butterfly, preferring the company of animals or his few friends whenever he was home.

He'd had one night stands, sure -- never lovers, as Katsuki was a man who played for keeps, and had never found the one he was willing to spend forever with -- but he'd never wooed or charmed anyone. But fuck, this situation made him want to try.

To maybe do...something.

To get him to stay.

Anything.]

You're heading back?

[Stupid. Come on, say something else. Anything else to make this conversation longer, to at least have a few more minutes--]

Can't say I expected that.

[...At least it's something.]

[Shouto gives a little scoff, looking away for a moment.] It's not because I want to go back. I have to, at least for... [No, better not talk about that where anyone could listen. He's had a thought that's popped up in his head before, something daring and probably brash, but he hasn't dared speak about it to anyone for fear that word would get out to his father before he could even seriously think about doing it.

He lets out a weary sigh.] I have to. My father's said that he plans to step down as king once I return, that more people will be willing to follow a 'war hero' now that the kingdom is saved since he's becoming less and less liked by them. If I don't accept the crown, then who knows who will be put on the throne. He won't put my brother or sister on it; he thinks they're too weak, because one's a healer and one's a woman. I don't want to leave the people in the hands of a tyrant.

[He clucks his tongue in disgust, his frown growing more pronounced.] I wonder if that's all anyone sees me as now. A war hero, like I did all the work on my own when there's so many others who helped too. They deserve - you deserve - at least some kind of recognition for what you've all done.

[He had to go back, but he didn't want to. He wanted what was best for the people, even though he had never had a choice in the matter. He was a bird who couldn't fly, who yearned for the outside.

He wanted credit to be given to those who truly did the work for the Kingdom -- he didn't want the glory. He just wanted things to be just and fair.

He was a kind, good man. A worthy King.

But Shouto was more than that. He deserved to be free.

How could he fall deeper in love with and grow more exasperated with a man at the same time?]

If that's all they see, they ain't worth your fucking time. No matter who they are.

[It was probably treason to talk shit about his father, who was basically a tyrant, but implying that his father was an idiot who underestimated him was still good, right?]

And who gives a shit about who he prefers? The people matter more than his shitty ego.

[That last sentence strikes a solid chord with him, and he takes in a slow, deep breath, heart quickening at the risk he's about to take.]

You're right. The people do matter more. [He pauses for a moment, wondering if he's going to get decked in the face for doing this, but he has to get close to Katsuki to be able to talk to him quietly enough no one has a chance of overhearing ~~and he wants to hold him in his arms just once too, however selfish that may be.~~ So he steps forward and wraps Katsuki up in a hug, placing his mouth right by his ear so he can whisper to him.]

I have... a plan, after my coronation. It's risky, and it might not end well, although I pray that it will. I might... be in trouble if it fails. I might need help. I won't have any money to offer you, but if it does end badly... will you... will you help me...? [He says it tentatively, asking not as a prince, but as someone who wants to believe he can trust Katsuki to come to his aid if he needs it without any personal benefit to himself.]

[Something...risky. Something that would not end well.

He wasn't going to kill his father -- Shouto wasn't that kind of man. If he'd wanted his father dead, he would have done it ages ago; Katsuki was certain of that.

What else could he possibly do? What would be so risky that it could cause him to need help?

And why was Katsuki completely willing and able to go along with it, even though every self-preservation instinct he had was screaming at him to run away and not look back?

Oh.

Right.

He loved him.

Yeah, that would do it.]

Don't get your dumb ass killed. I can't exactly do much for a stiff.

[He whispered back, leaning in and keeping his mouth close to Shouto's ear.

This was serious, but...he was going to savor this, even if he would do it later, when everything was said and done.

He would savor the closeness and wrap his own arms around Shouto's waist, pulling him close.

It was just a ruse, but fuck if that voice against his ear didn't make him shiver, or make him want to grab Shouto, drag him into his tent, and kiss him breathless.]

Don't worry that much. I'm reasonably sure it won't end in my death. [He says it wryly, although he's serious about it too.

When Katsuki returns the embrace, even though he hugged him first, it throws Shouto off guard for a moment, so much so that he breathes in sharply and stiffens for a second... then it's as if all the tenseness he carries with him all the time evaporates as he relaxes against the other.

He'd forgotten. He'd forgotten how good it felt to just be held by someone. It makes him squeeze his arms around Katsuki a little tighter before drawing back with a reluctant exhale, turning to Frost and digging around in a bag on her side.]

Here, I... [He hands Katsuki a folded up piece of paper. Inside is a drawing of Shouto, which he hopes looks decent enough. He's so used to drawing other things and other people, but he's not sure if he's captured his own likeness well since he can't really see himself unless he's looking in a mirror which isn't readily available when you're traveling.] ... So you won't forget what I look like. And so you have my signature. [His name is indeed signed at the bottom.] If you ever come to the capital city and need to get into court, just show my signature to a guard. They should let you in.

[His hands twitch a little with the urge to reach back out and just hold Katsuki again, not wanting to let him go.] ... Where will you go now, now that this is all over with? So I... can write you? If you wouldn't mind that.

[(He willingly held him. He squeezed him in a hug. Was he going to talk about how he willingly hugged him--

--No. No, he wasn't. He would think about that later, later, later--)

Only this dork would give him what amounted to a self-portrait and an autograph as a means of getting a free pass to the castle.

Didn't he know that someone could easily forge this? Didn't he know that no guard worth his salt would ever see this as a free pass to get in?

"Hi, I was given this by the King -- yes, I know it's a scrap of paper with a doodle and a signature on it -- so let me into your impregnable fortress, no questions asked, okay?"

And if someone could use it to get in, what would stop a less scrupulous person from just selling it to the highest bidder for an easy fortune? People would literally kill for this kind of favor with the Crown, especially the Prince!

...

Maybe that was the point. Maybe Shouto knew that Katsuki wasn't like that. He trusted him enough to not be that kind of man.

(That shouldn't have made his heart swell as much as it did. It shouldn't have made him feel that lightness in his stomach -- damn it, damn it, damn it!)

Katsuki smirked.]

I'll send a little birdy your way. Where I'm goin', a postal guy ain't gonna be able to catch me.

[And he liked it that way.

But fuck, what he would give to show the prince his cabin, with its furs and homemade furniture. It wasn't a castle, but it was his sanctuary.

Maybe it was that hug, maybe it was the feeling that this man wanted to keep in touch with him, or maybe it was the threat of forever on the horizon, but Katsuki's eyes warmed, ever so slightly.

They were a touch less sharp. Almost...fond.]

Bet you could if you tried, though.

[He's had enough threats on his life by now to know the guards aren't dumb enough to just let someone into the castle. Katsuki would be escorted and watched at all times until Shouto vouched for him, but with the signature, they'd at least come get him rather than just turning Katsuki away.

At least they were supposed to. Shouto hopes that the guards aren't so far in his father's favor that they would do something like that.

Katsuki's words bring a light smile of amusement to his face.] Traveling around more? Makes sense. I can't picture you as the kind of person to settle down in a single area for long term.

[He pauses, hesitant, then adds on almost tentatively:] If things work out... I won't stop searching for you until I do.

[That...should not have made his heart thump the way it did.

"I won't stop searching for you until I do."

What was he talking about? Clearly he didn't mean what Katsuki wanted it to mean...

(why the fuck would he hug him if he didn't mean something to him? The prince could have come up with any excuse to keep him close, but he went with a hug that he relaxed into and held Katsuki close--)

...But he couldn't help the hope that rose in his throat at those words. The stupid, stupid hope that wouldn't go anywhere, but was there anyway.

He'd spent too much time around Deku, Round Face, and Shitty Hair. Stupid optimists.]

I do have a place I go between jobs. A cabin, up in the Kamino Mountains.

[And of course it would be in one of the most notoriously difficult to traverse ranges in the Kingdom, not far from the nation's capital. Filled with unforgiving terrain and lush forests, it was, to Katsuki, a place of peerless beauty.

The mood spurs him on, daring to hope against hope.]

Maybe I should show you sometime.

A cabin in the mountains? I might put what you taught me about finding my way through the wilderness to find it. [He says it with the same light smile, possibly coming off as just bantering but deep down, he means it. If his plan works, if he's finally free afterwards, he'll track Katsuki down somehow or another and won't stop until he finds him.

But there's still things he has to do first. He has to put his people first before anything else. It makes the soft smile that had been on his face disappear, a more solemn expression taking it's place.

He doesn't want to say goodbye, but he has to.

... And he's suddenly struck with an insane idea about how to say goodbye without actually saying it. A determined look slips onto his features, and he takes another daring step forward, reaching a hand out to cup the side of Katsuki's face, lean in before Katsuki can get any words out, and kiss him solidly and deeply on the mouth.

Then he tears himself away, turning and quickly climbing up on Frost's back, guiding her into a quick pace that has him racing off.

He doesn't dare look back, lest he find some reason to not leave. He has to. It has him feel like he's being torn apart, but he has to.

But maybe, just maybe, it doesn't have to be for forever. All he can do now is hope.]

[Okay, so that just happened.

That.

That just happened.

The Prince of the realm, love of his life, future King of the Kingdom, just said that he'd find Katsuki's home somehow, then grabbed him and kissed him.

He.

Kissed.

Him.

He barely had a chance to even kiss back before he was pulling away, jumping on his horse and riding off like nothing happened.

Wait, he kissed him.

He kissed him?!

Motherfucker kissed him and he didn't even have the balls to say anything! Just looked at him with that determined stare that he was going to think about on every lonely night for the rest of his life, gently touched his face, and kissed him like this was some kind of fucking fairy tale!

Was he serious?!

Did he really think he was going to just kiss Katsuki and run?!]

That bastard...

[Change of plans.

He wasn't going to be going home after all.

He was going to track this son of a bitch down and they were going to have some words.

And kisses.

And a lot more words.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

And that was how he found himself, weeks later, staying in an inn in the nation's capital, preparing himself for a coronation that the selfish part of his heart hoped would never come.]

[To say Shouto has been stressed is an understatement.

Most people think it's simply because of the upcoming coronation when Shouto will officially take on the crown and become king but nobody knows what he's planning. He hasn't breathed a word of it to anyone.

But once he returned home, he has even more hope now that it will work. While he was off fighting and Natsuo off healing those that needed it, Enji had led from the comfort of the castle, but Fuyumi...

Fuyumi had led from the streets, going out among the people, making sure everyone in the capital was taken care of, that no one was going hungry, that those that needed looking after received it. She'd largely been ignored by Enji, which had given her the freedom to become a beloved figure among the people with her kindness and selflessness.

Shouto is confident in his decision.

But he still isn't quite sure how his father would react. Hopefully he won't end up locked in jail, but he's packed up everything valuable to him (which isn't much) along with travel provisions, instructing a servant to get Frost ready for a long travel under the pretense that he's going to go visit every place in the kingdom to get to know the people better.

It's not a lie, not really. He's just not planning on doing it as king.

And so, coronation day comes. He's delighted to see that many of his new friends have come to witness it (and makes him feel better about having more people to break him out of prison if need be) and spending time with them during the days before helps him feel more at ease.

He sees them out in the crowd as he takes the oath that he will, essentially, do what's best for the kingdom.

He has every intention of doing that as the crown is placed on his head, and he doesn't even bother sitting on the throne before he declares his first act as king.

His first act as king is to immediately abdicate and give the crown to Fuyumi.

At first, there's an uproar, a shock that runs through the large crowd gathered, and Shouto feels like his heart is about to burst out of his chest from how hard it's pounding, knowing he's doing what's best for the kingdom and hoping everyone will accept it.

He's not a teacher. Fuyumi is. He can lead if he has to, but he knows she can manage a kingdom far better than he can. What's more, he knows it's something she would be nervous but thrilled to do, while it would only cause him misery. He can be kind, but Fuyumi's warmth touches everyone. He knows she's not a pushover either; their family has been forged with stubbornness and steel. She won't break. He believes in her, with all his heart.

And it seems the people do too as a chant starts getting picked up, as shock gives way to delight and joy. Queen Fuyumi! the crowd roars over and over again as Shouto walks over to his sister and recites the same oath for her to repeat that he had just taken only a moment ago.

She repeats it, tears falling down her cheeks, but her wide smile is infectious, and she does her absolute best to keep her voice steady and strong.

Shouto places the crown on her head and steps back to let her talk, a feeling of utter relief sweeping through him. The people have spoken. They have their new queen, one they happily accept. Shouto is almost free.

There's just one more problem to deal with, and he can feel his father's eyes burrowing into him from intensity even though Enji makes no move to stop the coronation. Shouto wants to run now, but he won't leave just yet, continuing to show Fuyumi support by staying.

As soon as she's done giving her speech though, he takes the opportunity to slip out ahead of his family. Had things gone the way they had been rehearsed, the family would change out of their stiff regal formalwear and into something more lighter to take part in the following festivities.

Shouto seizes the moment to run as fast as he can to the stables where he's already hidden a change of clothes. He tosses off the stiff garment befitting a king for the last time and slips into clothes much more fit for travel, and he's just about to get on Frost's back and go when a voice calls out his name.

He stops and turns to see Fuyumi standing there, still with tears in her eyes but smiling. Where will you go? she asks, and he smiles back when he answers.]

Everywhere. But don't worry about me. I'm going to go find the best guide in the world to show me around.

Edited 2021-01-13 06:54 (UTC)

[Was it possible to fall in love with a man even deeper than he already had? Katsuki didn't think it was possible.

Then again, a few years ago, he had barely thought that he would fall in love at all. He was too solitary, too distant from people. He was too difficult to get along with, too closed-off. Who the hell would want to worm their way into his heart, or get to know him well enough to see the passionate heart that beat under his grumpy exterior?

The...former King, that was who.

Katsuki hadn't wanted to be noticed; dressed in thick clothes with a hood, hiding among the crowd as he avoided the gazes of his former traveling companions.

They'd seen his face after the Prince had left. He'd seen their pitying stares as they parted ways -- he didn't want to hear their "It's going to be okay"s, or their "You'll always be friends."

(They wouldn't pity him. They never did. But that didn't matter, not when his heart was going in a million directions and he didn't know how to articulate his feelings properly--)

He just wanted to see. He wanted to see, wanted to wait.

He wanted to see him rise, to enact this...risky plan that he might need help out of, and fulfill the destiny that he carved for himself.

As the coronation started, Katsuki inched closer to the front of the crowd, careful to avoid the gazes of his (friends) companions among them.

Then...it happened.

Shouto stepped down and gave the throne to his sister, without even sitting down on his throne. If there was ever a way to say "Fuck you" to his old man and do what he thought was right at the same time, this would definitely be it.

That crazy bastard.

So that was the stunt he wanted to pull -- no wonder he thought it wouldn't end well.

He inched closer, closer, closer--trying to get as close as he could without arousing suspicion as the ceremony drew to a close.

The festivities would be soon, but from the way Shouto slipped away first, and the way this unfolded...

Katsuki didn't have much time.

He rushed through the slowly-filling streets, dodging glances and slipping from alleyway to alleyway -- until he found himself stopped by a few guards.

They had...given him trouble, to put it mildly. He barely had time to pull the token (autograph. It was practically an autograph--) from his jacket to show them; they were ready to arrest him on sight for suspicious behavior!

Even after he showed them the token, they still refused to let him through...

Until a servant came by with a wide, excited smile.

"Oh! You must be the one who's meant to help His Highness on his journey!"

"You know this man?" The guard asked.

The servant nodded.

"This is the man who guided the Prince when he was traveling before -- he'd told me to prepare his horse for a journey, but I had no idea that he was going to go with a companion! I assume the Prince is going to want to see you."

"Wait, this man is Katsuki Bakugou?"

Katsuki snorted. "I'd only been trying to tell you this for the past five--"

One of the guards had decided to accompany him and the servant, heading towards the stables where Shouto's horse was already waiting.

It was there, where Katsuki saw him.

Dressed in thick clothes for travel, the Queen not far off, tears in her eyes.

He was smiling, holy shit he was smiling--

"...I'm going to find the best guide in the world to show me around."

...That bastard.

That amazing, wonderful, gorgeous bastard.

The guard kept close watch, practically pressed against him even as Katsuki moved forward.]

Who are you going to find, exactly? Because from the looks of it Half-and-Half, I think I found you.

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