Just a Man
Izuku gently unwrapped the baby from its bindings, cooing softly at him trying to calm down his crying. Eyes filled with tears, the poor thing had no idea what was going on at this point.
His mother taken away, father killed, without a doubt the on hand maidens and helpers ran or are in the underworld currently.
This harmless baby was truly a victim of war, if he didn’t want to listen to the Gods commands, Izuku would’ve been fine raising this child. After all, he had friends of his own to that would stand up for him.
He thought back to his wife asking him the night before they left for battle.
“Since we have Kota, should we think of giving him a sibling?” Katsuki whispered in the dark. Izuku turned to face him, even after years upon years of marriage Izuku was still captivated by his wife.
“What made you think that?” He had no power to resist him, but it would be nice to know why at least before wholeheartedly agreeing.
A soft laugh was heard in the dark, the baby beside them finally calm and asleep. He caressed Katsuki’s cheek, trying burn every inch if his wife in his mind. The soft scars on his hands, the ash blonde hair complete with those burning fire like eyes. His wife was strong without a doubt, and yet he chose Izuku to wed.
He will forever thank the Gods for such a gift, he was able to win the challenge and now he had the love of his life right here in front of him. Katsuki spoke, voice gruff and calm in the deep night.
“Because you and I were only children, I’m sure the little brat will want a playmate….” Katsuki grumbled, gently rubbing his stomach. He’ll die first, but he did actually enjoy being pregnant, it was a wonderful wedding gift from one of the Gods. Katsuki knew better than to mess with a gift, so instead he thanked them.
Even now Katsuki still feels the after effect of the birth, but the baby was healthy so that was all that mattered.
Izuku kissed him gently, making as minor of movement as possible. Waking the baby up would make Katsuki pissed and he did not want him to be angry with him before he left. He smiled in the dark night, and held him close.
“I will do whatever you please my love, but let’s discuss more when I get back..” Katsuki smiled and cuddled in closer, inhaling his husband’s scent.
“Sounds good.” He whispered back before falling asleep.
A soft cry shook Izuku from his memories, looking down at the baby in his arms. His eyes were like Kota’s bright and wide. He could see the full future in them, just like in his son’s, he took a deep breath.
“I look into your eyes, and I think back to the son of mine.” In his eyes he saw Kota, just being born and already too expressive like his love.
“You’re as old as he was, when I left for war.” Izuku stood overlooking the fallen, burning city. His soldiers nursing the wounded, each caring for each other. Ten years of all of this, for such a quick battle…
“Will these actions haunt my days?” He looked down at the various blood splattered on the walls of the room, before noticing some of it had landed on the baby.
“Every man I’ve slain, is the price I pay endless pain?” He wiped off the blood before walking out the door. Seeing various burned portraits of the families, and one larger nearly untouched portrait of the mother and her child.
“Close your eyes, and spare yourself the view…” He turned away, not even willing to meet their eyes, burning away at his soul. He looked down, and held the small baby’s hand as he began to suck on it. He looked around and saw a knocked over bottle half filled with milk, rushing over he grabbed it and slowly started to feed his son.
“How could I hurt you?” The baby babbled in response, giggling like it was a game.
No, this baby was not his, this baby would be a monster…but to end it?
“I’m just a man, who’s trying to go home.” He cried out to the walls and the sky. Picturing his own castle, his own wife and son waiting for him. He still saw their faces the day he left, how proud and sad Katsuki was.
And how little Kota sobbed for his dad, how their new puppy tried to comfort them both while missing Izuku already.
“Even after all the years away from what I’ve known.” He thought back to trying to train his soldiers to fight, reasoning with the Gods to go with his horse idea.
“I’m Just a man who’s fighting for his life.” He slowly walked towards the entrance of the castle, gaining more courage each step to break this baby’s fate. If anyone could do it, it was him without a doubt.
“Deep down, I would trade the world to see my son and wife.” He reached the entrance and began to open the door, but only saw Kota dead.
Katsuki killed without an ounce of thought behind it, their dog dead from fighting this monster off. The kingdom burned down, all he wants to return home to…gone. It sprung from this child, this child would bring hell, no mercy whatsoever ever. His blood ran cold at the thought, this baby would be the culprit of burning away everything he longed for.
“I’m just a man.” He whispered.
No. He couldn’t lose what he worked so hard for, he couldn’t give up what he was fighting for. Not now, not ever.
He shut the kingdom doors, turned and went back past the burned halls.
“But when does a comment become a meteor?” He threw away the bottle, and covered the bundle up again. He stared straight ahead, passing the portrait of mother and son, refusing to meet their eyes.
“When does a candle become a blaze?” He went up the stairs and stopped at the door he found the bundle of blankets in the first place. Grabbing a small torch he broke off a piece of it and threw it into the rug, it quickly caught flame as Izuku shut the door. No mercy whatsoever ever should be shown to a killer.
“When does a man become a monster?” He went past room after room, before reaching a flight of stairs, walking up towards them not even daring to look down or back.
“When does a ripple become a tidal wave? When does the reason become the blame?” He reached the top of the stairs overlooking his men and all of the city. He reached the balcony, looked down and saw his men staring up at him.
“When does a man become a monster?” He shouted to the sky above. The loud thunder from earlier was eerily silent, the sky watched on.
As if it didn’t play a part in this choice, he held the bundle over the ledge and looked up once more. He heard them all, his men, the gods, even his wife chanting the same thing he asked himself. The bundle of blankets was quiet and calm, no sound or even movement.
‘When does the comment become a meteor?’
Izuku held his breath as his eyes slowly started to flood with tears.
‘When does a candle become a blaze?’ Shutting his eyes he saw his wife and son welcoming him home, his men cheering. Not being turned into ashes or being killed, but being excited. He saw Katsuki pregnant again, possibly with a baby girl this time, all safe and sound.
“Forgive me.” He whispered to the bundle.
‘When does a man become a monster?’ The voices shouted at him, the memories and dreams came back as a wave.
“Forgive me!” He shouted, opening his eyes and failing to look away.
The soldiers below him murmured, staying back as to catch a glimpse of what Izuku was holding.
Mirio’s eyes widened, and he turned away. The others watched on, not realizing what was happening.
“I’m just a man..” Izuku whispered as the baby’s eyes closed, well fed and ready to go back to sleep.
He dropped the baby.
Izuku dropped to his knees and sobbed, no one to comfort him as the sickening thud echoed. Mirio ran towards the castle entrance but was stopped by the fire starting to rage. Others were rushing out towards the shores.
“But what about our Captain?” Mirko shouted amongst the crowd.
“He’ll be fine! We need to get home! Everyone grab an oar and let’s get these boats off the shore!” Keigo shouted.
Mirio waited and watched the smoke filter out of the gates, before seeing a mop of green hair come out.
No one said a word to each other, but what could you say?
As all piled onto the boat, many departed for their own kingdoms and cites they called home. However Mirio and a few others stayed with Izuku, leaving Izuku with 600 of his own men.
The waves and the slow sunrise lured Izuku into a restless sleep. The sky stayed silent and Mirio kept watch over the others as they departed.
“Mirio? What about our food?” A soldier had asked as Mirio looked over at captain sleeping soundly, not in his quarters but where the most noise was instead.
“Shush, we will find an away when he wakes up. Give it time..” He reassured them quickly and calmly.
The sunrise turned into full day, with nothing but blue everywhere. The blood dyed shores of Shie were gone and they were on their journey home.