Chapter Text
Every male child born in this year, shall be disposed of, you will not resist
A small woman dashed through the dark loud streets, trying her best to ignore the screams echoing around her. Mothers, fathers, and siblings pleaded with the guards bashing down their doors, crying, yelling, fighting to keep their infant brothers and sons alive.
“Izuku, keep up honey,” the woman whispered quickly, grabbing her child’s hand and pulling him along as the family ran through the streets. The boy looked up at his mother, fear plastered across his freckled pale face, his hair matched his mother’s color and messiness. The mother pressed her baby tighter against her chest as she ran faster and faster, jumping between the shadowed building.
“Moma,” another child called out as he tried to keep up with his rushing mother. A basket was pressed against his chest, hiding the lash marks that covered his chest, still pink and swollen. His bare feet were covered in blisters as he followed his mother across the city, towards the river.
“Shh, we’re almost there,” She said casting a sad look at her eldest child, the boy had grown up too fast. It showed on the scars that littered his skin and the dull look that rested in his heterochronic eyes. His bi-colored hair was messy, the red and white were mixed up and no clear line could be seen. The three were all covered in dust and mud from the day’s work, only the small blond child in her arms was without dirt and scars.
The family dodged another group of guards before they reached a patch of tall green reeds looking around to make sure no one was watching, the woman gently pushed aside the reeds, she swiveled around once more before entering the greenery and coming to the edge of a stream which lead out to the river.
“Shoto, come here baby,” their mother said softly, gesturing for the boy to come to her side. The boy walked over, and set the basket down on the ground, removing one of the blankets and holding it as his mother talked softly to her newest son. He watched her intently until he heard his younger brother singing softly.
“God on high, do you hear your people cry? Help us now, this dark night...” he began softly, hands pressed tightly together. “Deliver us, Hear our call, and deliver us. Lord of all, remember us. Here in this burning sand, Deliver us. There’s a land you promised us...” tears had started to flow from his eyes, as he prayed for someone to save him and his family.
“Deliver us, to the promise land,” Shoto finished quietly, rubbing a hand across his younger brother’s back as their mother did. Izuku smiled up at his brother before moving to look down at the small boy resting in the wicker basket that his brother brought. He was wrapped in a thin red blanket that seemed dull compared to the baby’s intense red eyes.
Izuku reached out his hand to run in through his brother’s pale locks of hair that stuck out in every direction. The baby reached up to grab his hand, chubby fingers wrapping around the boy’s hand. Shoto smiled as he watched his younger brother coo at the smallest before their mother let her hand go back into the basket, stroking the baby’s face before begging to sing,
“My son, I have nothing to give, but this chance you may live. I pray we’ll meet again, if he will deliver us.”
The last note was held for a long time before drifting off into the night. The green-haired woman brushed back a strand of her hair as she continued the song, whipping away tears so that they didn’t fall onto her son’s face.
“Hush now my baby, be still, love, don’t cry. Sleep as you're rocked by the stream. Sleep and remember my last lullaby, so I'll be with you when you dream.”
Their mother slowly lowered the top onto the basket and secured it before setting it gently in the water and pushing it away from shore.
“Drift on a river that flows through my arms, drift as I’m singing to you. I see you smiling, so peaceful and calm, and holding you I’m smiling too. Here in my arms, safe from all harm. Sleep and remember this river lullaby.”
The small woman was shaking as the basket floated away from the sand, her child was still quiet, not wanting to interrupt his mother’s song.
“River, o river, flow gently for me, such precious cargo you bear. Do you know somewhere he can live free? River, deliver him there.”
She fell to her keens, shaking as sobs wracked her body as she watched helplessly as her child floated away from her. Green eyes were filled with tears, blurring the shape of the basket as it floated downstream and into the open water.
“Come on! We gotta follow it and make sure he gets someone where safe!” Izuku said grabbing his brother’s hand, pulling him through the reeds sling side the basket. Shoto stumbled as he followed behind his brother, trying to stay upright as they ran faster. The boys struggled to keep up as the river moved faster and faster. The ground was uneven and the boy’s feet were burned and covered in blood, but they ran as if they were hounds. Faster than the wind and water it seemed, motivated by the bond of family.
They watched as the basket was tossed into the main river, and swirled around, almost capsizing. Izuku gasped and squeezed his brother’s hand every time a boat got near the basket or a wave tossed the basket around too roughly.
They only slowed as the basket drifted away from the channel and down into a gut that flowed into a small pond. The boys crept up and hid in the tall reeds that grew around the pond which was filled with flowers and sounded in gauze curtains. A tall woman with flowing black hair and was wrapped in a loose white and gray dress. A small child about the size of Izuku stood at the edge of the pond splashing in the water.
The boys held their breath as the basket drifted into the pond and a handmaiden walked forward to retrieve it for the tall woman, who the boys didn’t recognize as their queen. The woman watched the handmaiden, following her with shocking yellow eyes saying nothing. Her son had the same shocking yellow eyes but besides that, held little resemblance to either the queen or Pharo.
The handmaiden lifted the lid of the basket and gasped, the sudden sound startled the child who started to cry loudly within the basket. The queen held a shocked expression as she walked over to the basket and lifted the crying child from the basket, shushing him. She stood in the shallow water swaying back and forth, her eyes never leaving the baby’s red face which was still scrunched up in annoyance at being woken up and held by this new woman.
“What are you going to do with him your majesty,” one of the girls spook up bowing as she asked wincing as the child let out another scream.
“He is a gift from the gods, he has spirit,” the queen said shifting the baby against her chest counting to sway gently. The girls surrounding the queen fought to keep the shocked look off their faces. Does the queen really want to keep that screamer?
“And what will you name him Queen Kurogiri? ” another one of the girls asked. After a long pause, the woman smiled looking down at the boy who still struggled in her grip.
“Bakugo.” Shoto frowned at the woman, as the relation hit him. He may never know his real name.
“He’s safe Sho! Look!” Izuku whispered quickly pointing at their brother.
“Come Denki,” the queen said as she began to walk away from the pond, the baby still in her grip. The prince followed after his mother, pulling on the dress waiting to be picked up. Not yet knowing that his mother had found a new favorite. The queen gently brushed away her son’s hand as she walked up a stone path. Shoto turned to his green-haired brother as the boy began to sing, just as their mother had. A large smile was painted on Izuku’s face as he watched his brother being carried away
“Brother, you're safe now and safe may you stay. For I have a prayer just for you. Grow, baby brother, come back someday. Come and deliver us, too...”
Shoto watched as the tall woman walked out of their view before finally speaking, “Goodbye Katsuki.”