Chapter Text
Shouto was going to marry. And he hated that.
His father had set it in stone- a princess from a powerful kingdom was to be his wife, all because of politics. He was never supposed to gain from marriage, he didn’t even like girls. It’s just the life he had to live, shouldering the will of his father for the good of his kingdom. That was the way it would be, until the two of them dropped dead.
And yet, despite both of their emotional disconnect, Enji had insisted that Shouto go out on his own to purchase a gift for the princess. Come to think of it, he didn’t even know her name, so this felt all the more absurd. Had Enji only sent him out like this to spite him? To rub salt in the wound? He wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest.
Nevertheless, Shouto donned his most inconspicuous cloak and made his way out to the nearby town in the bright of day. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the general area; he often hid himself and made his way out to break up the day, so he was sure he recognised every store. Despite the similarly thatched rooves of each small building, there were little distinctions that helped point his way. The toy shops slightly crumbling chimney, the intricate windows of the jewellery shop, and the shrubbery hanging from the window of the florists.
That was a place to start, Shouto supposed. Flowers always had that air of grace and romance to them- so even if those feelings were fake, they didn’t seem a gift that could go wrong.
Satisfied that this would do, Shouto made his way to the florists and turned the wooden doorknob. The old door it was attached to creaked and caught slightly in its frame as he pulled, but it eventually gave way to the familiar room inside. Bright and beautiful flowers of every kind surrounded him, blue and yellow and every colour the eye could see. Their fragrance brought up even the air in the room, and Shouto begin to smile despite himself.
“Oh, hello! Take a look around! Or wait- could I help you with anything?”
A voice he had never heard before surprised Shouto, and he looked up to see a boy his age behind the counter. Freckles dusted his awkwardly smiling face, and short curls of green hair topped his head- green like the usual lady behind the counter, he noted. Noted alongside the fact that he was incredibly cute.
“Are you new here?” Shouto asked, and the boy visibly took time to process the disjointed reply.
“Um, well kind of? My mom works the shop, but she’s sick today and needed me to cover. So I’m not new, but she’s rarely sick, so that’s probably why you haven’t seen me!”
Shouto nodded. “That’s understandable. It’s nice of you to cover for her.”
“Nice? I mean, thank you, but we didn’t really have much of a choice. We can’t really afford to close.”
“…Right, of course. I apologise.”
“Ah, don’t worry! I appreciate it anyway! So um, what is it you were looking to buy?”
“Do you have any flowers that symbolise love?”
“Oh, of course! But it also depends on what type of love this is: there are gardenias for secret love, roses are a classic, blue violets are for faith and intuition, tulips mean perfection and regality, and oh- sorry, I probably shouldn’t dump that all on you at once!”
Shouto was almost confused. “It’s fine, I asked, didn’t I? Though you know an awful lot about flowers.”
“Ah well, I’ve spent a lot of time around them, and mom likes to teach me their meanings and how to care for them! They honestly make me happy; there’s so many hidden intricacies to them, but even those who don’t know can still love them because they’re pretty!”
Shouto smiled slightly at his excitement. “That’s very true. I may not know much about them, but I know they are truly beautiful.” Like you.
“They really are! And they’re so good for our world too! Wow, I can’t stop talking again, I’m sorry. I swear this isn’t a messed-up sales pitch- !” He tugged at the side of his sleeve as he petered off.
“Please, don’t worry. What you have to say is interesting to me.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And could I please have a bouquet of tulips, and another of gardenias?” Was he seriously about to do this?
“Oh, you remembered! Um, and separately, right? I’ll get right on that!”
It wasn’t long until he had tied the two bouquets with colourful ribbons and handed them both to Shouto.
“Is there anything else you need today?”
Was Shouto about to do this? He could easily just leave now and give the princess both. Maybe she wouldn’t know flower meanings, wouldn’t think twice about the gardenias. And this boy is a florist, how much could he really need more flowers? No. He should do this. He’d come this far. With a rapidly beating heart, Shouto held up the bouquet.
“Please, keep this one.”
…
A beat passed before the florist’s face went bright red, and he quietly took hold of the bouquet. He stumbled over his words to the point where he could barely breathe, and Shouto found himself anxious. Was this a bad thing? Had he overstepped? Was it a stupid gift?
His thoughts were stopped short when the other hugged him.
Oh no.
He’d knocked off Shouto’s hood.
When he pulled out of the hug, the boy looked back up to Shouto and practically froze.
Voice up an octave, Izuku wheezed out “Prince- Prince Todoroki? Oh my god. Oh my god.”
Shouto instantly panicked as he pulled back up his hood. “Not a soul. Please, for everything I have, tell nobody I gave you that bouquet. It will be the death of us. I’m so sorry-”
“Don’t apologise! Please, please don’t! I’m just- you’re Prince Todoroki! And I’m just me! Oh, and I won’t tell anybody I just can’t believe this, ok since I’m here I’m just gonna say it you always looked amazing in your public appearances and I always wanted to give you a bouquet but you gave me a bouquet and I’m gonna go now!”
With not a word more, he picked up the bouquet and ran upstairs to the backrooms.
…
Did that… go well? Shouto honestly couldn’t tell. His mind was so full that he almost forgot to grab the princess’s bouquet as he left, awkwardly making his way back to the castle. He still thought only of the florist.
Maybe marriage wouldn’t be so bad, if only it was with him.