Chapter Text
Katsuki Bakugou goes to the gym every day.
7 days a week, 365 days a year, Katsuki Bakugou can be found at a workout facility – rain or shine (unless he’s too sick to move, or the gym is closed for a national holiday). Some people call him a gym rat, others call him crazy. But at the end of day, Katsuki knows who he is, and that’s someone with dedication.
When Katsuki was 15 years old he found himself at his doctors office begging his doctor for a medication that might help inhibit his ruts. He had a life to live, and if every rut was going to be as painful and irritating as his first, he wanted the first ticket out of there.
Unfortunately for him, the science just wasn’t there yet. The doctor explained that research on heat and rut suppressants were only recently being funded, and that it would take years to be developed, let alone be released to the public.
But fortunately for him, the doctor offered an alternative: diet and exercise.
Most patients want a quick fix. And when one isn’t available, they give up and deal with the consequences. But most patients aren’t Katsuki Bakugou. And most patients didn’t care about their time half as much as Katsuki Bakugou did. So by the age of 28, Katsuki Bakugou knew the gym like the back of his hand. Could recite workouts like English scholars studying Shakespeare.
It didn’t matter that Katsuki hadn’t slept in two days, or that the snow outside the police department had buried his car. For over ten years Katsuki had lived and breathed this lifestyle. So a couple pounds of packed snow wouldn’t change that. He dug out his car, and drove to one of the closest Alpha only gyms in his area.
Now, don’t get the wrong idea here. Katsuki wasn’t sexist, on the contrary, he couldn’t care less about a person’s second gender. But what he did care about was lust-obsessed Omegas throwing themselves at him while he was trying to pump iron.
He wasn’t dumb. In fact, his fierce intelligence was a surprising bonus to the neat package that years of intense exercise and healthy eating allotted to him. Katsuki realized after his third time at a co-ed gym that he needed to find an Alpha only facility.
He wasn’t looking for a mate, and to be frank, explaining to each candy sweet smelling Omega that no he did not want to fucking spot them was exhausting. He was looking to push himself to be the best. To climb the ranks faster than anyone else had done before. And if he wanted to be the best, had to put in the time and energy to do so.
The light from the gym’s windows illuminated the white parking lot. The few cars there were parked close to the entrance, some covered in a small blanket of snow, while others were completely buried under a white mound. He parked his car towards the back of the lot and grabbed his duffle bag.
The gym was relatively quiet today. The comforting hum of cardio machines churning paired nicely with the steady sound of thudding tennis shoes. He swiped his card and went straight to the locker room to change.
Fifteen reps in, Katsuki felt the familiar twinge of fatigue set in. 48 hours of no sleep really drained a guy. Especially when he spent 35 of those hours hunched over case files trying to connect dots that seemed to exist in different coloring books.
He was exhausted. He finished his set.
His body moved on autopilot. 40 dumbbell curls. 40 weighted dips. 50 diamond push-ups. He completed set after set without one thought crossing his mind.
Katsuki fell back on the bench and situated himself under the barbell. One more set of bench presses and he could go home to shower and sleep. He lowered the bar to his chest and pushed. Up and down. A familiar rhythm. Somehow relaxing through the strain of muscles.
He closed his eyes to focus on his breathing. Inhale, rest. Exhale, push. Four times and he lost count.
Katsuki was suffocating.
The dimly lit alleyway was a staple his mind refused to erase. He desperately scratched at the bag pulled over his head. Digging his fingers into the rough hands pulling it taught against his neck.
He was suffocating.
He was dying.
He was.
He was awake, and he could breathe.
The suffocating weight no longer present, he blinked slowly, the lack of oxygen painfully apparent in this moment. Hovering just above him were two toned arms placing the barbell back on it’s stand.
Green eyes stared back at him, wide and concerned. The man’s pink lips moving a mile a minute. He couldn’t hear a word the guy was saying, but he smiled slightly at the powerful scent of ocean waves crashing over him.
Katsuki passed out.
He woke up in a hospital bed.
The nurse adjusted his IV bag and smiled warmly at him. “Nice to see you awake! You’ve been sleeping for about 15 hours now, but after seeing those bags under your eyes we figured you just needed some serious rest. We just have to run some standard tests and then you’re free to go, officer.” The man hustled out of the room and closed the door gently behind him.
Katsuki tapped his foot impatiently against the linoleum tile. His ride was supposed to be here 15 minutes ago. He checked his phone again, where the fuck was she?
Ten more minutes passed before Katsuki’s head snapped up in the direction of a speeding pink Jeep Wrangler. She came to a screeching stop in front of him, her wheels sliding slightly on the frozen road. “Hey Bakugou! It’s me, get in!”
“So where am I taking you?” Mina scrolled through her phone, loudly popping her bubblegum as she opened her GPS. “Plus Ultra Gym.” He stared out the window, and tried hard to ignore Mina’s line of questioning.
“Why the hell were you in the hospital? Did something happen in the field? Aizawa told me that you were working the case at the precinct.” He sighed through his nose. “Happened at the gym.” He didn’t offer anything else, just stared down at his dying phone and pretended to read a news article.
“See ya later, Bakugou! Get some rest!” Mina rolled up her window and sped off before Katsuki had the chance to thank her, not that he was really planning on it anyway.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled over to the front door.
He felt like an idiot. Who the fuck falls asleep while their working out! Let alone, falls asleep and drops a barbell on their fucking neck. If the keys to his apartment weren’t securely tucked away in his duffel bag he would’ve gone straight home. But no, Katsuki always locked up his shit before a workout. What an asshole.
He pulled open the door and headed for the lockers. Or at least that’s what he was planning on doing before a very buff blonde stood in his way. “Excuse me sir, I need to see your membership card!” Katsuki huffed.
“I’ve been coming here for years, Togata. You seriously going to give me a hard time right now.”
“Sorry officer Bakugou, the rules apply to everyone.” Katsuki flashed his canines. His blood boiled under his skin, a budding explosion ready to erupt. The heavy stench of scorched cedar poured from his scent glands. He was too tired for this shit.
A feral growl built up from his rib cage, ready to force the lesser Alpha to submit. But it never came.
The tranquil scent of the ocean nullified his anger, cooled his blood, and extinguished his flames.
“It’s okay Mirio-san, I got it from here.” The blonde cocked an eyebrow, “If you say so Izuku-chan.” He nodded once and walked back to the welcome desk.
I-z-u-k-u.
The last person Katsuki had wanted to see was standing right in front of him. 4 inches shorter, 10 times stockier, and 100 degrees hotter than he remembered. Izuku smiled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m so happy to see that you’re okay! I was planning on stopping by the hospital tonight when I got off work, so it’s really nice to see you up and about. When I dropped you off at the hospital the staff had to go through your pockets to find your wallet. Then after they found it a few different people asked me if I was your partner.” Izuku’s cheeks flared bright red, his eyes widening, “But don’t worry! I told them that we weren’t-that uh I wasn’t-your, you know.” He flashed him a crooked smile.
“It’s nice to see that nothing bad happened. But next time you should really have a spotter, especially for that kind of weight. You’re lucky I was on shift last night because the only other worker who can easily lift 154kg is Togata-san and he mostly works morning shifts.” Katsuki felt himself bristle at the comment, was this guy trying to say he needed someone to save him.
If it weren’t for the fact that this guy literally did save him, he would’ve torn him a new one. But facts aside, the guy's scent alone was enough to placate his anger. The feeling of warm weather and tanned skin was so close on his horizon, he could almost taste it. Izuku waved his scarred hand directly in front of Katsuki’s face. He blinked.
“Did you hear me?” Izuku’s stare was hesitant, and critical. Katsuki shook his head slightly. “I asked why you came back so soon.” A lightbulb went off. He cleared his throat, “I uh, I left my duffle bag in the locker room with my keys. I came back to get them, so I can drive home and get back into my apartment.”
Izuku eyed him skeptically. “I don’t mean to overstep, Sir. But are you sure you can drive home? You look like you’re ready to pass out again.” Katsuki huffed, “Of course I can drive, I’m not a fuckin’ child.” The normal confidence in his voice wavered slightly. Not because he thought he couldn’t drive, but because the green-eyed beauty rested his warm palm on his shoulder.
“It would make me feel a whole lot better if you let me drive you home. The last thing I need is an officer’s blood on my hands.” Katsuki looked at his hand and cocked his head “Officer? Who told you?”
Izuku’s blush could put a rose bush to shame. He quickly retracted his hand and shoved it in his pocket. “Well when the staff wouldn’t stop asking me if I was your partner I told one of them that I was not your boyfriend or your husband and I’d appreciate it if someone wrote it down so I could stop saying it. After that, they showed me the badge...and ya know I put two and two together.”
It was probably the oxygen deprivation talking, and not the tasty smelling snack standing before him. But the second Izuku finished talking, Katsuki opened his mouth with a cocky smile plastered to his face. “Sure you can take me for a ride.”
“So, how long have you been coming to Plus Ultra gym?” Izuku’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel, his head faced forward and eyes focused on the road ahead.
“For about 4 years now. I’m surprised I’ve never seen you before.”
Izuku smiled brightly, “I just started working there about a month ago, actually! I’ve been stuck with the graveyard shifts for awhile, but I had to switch it up since I’m going back to school. Now my schedule varies, but more often than not I work early in the mornings so I can go to class in the afternoon. Today I was covering for a coworker.”
“Turn left.”
Izuku merged lanes and switched on the blinker at the red light. Click. Click. Click. The light turned green. He looked both ways before crossing the intersection, his eyes flickering back and forth from the road to his mirrors. “You drive like a grandma.”
Izuku sputtered, “Excuse me, /officer/? Are you implying that following the law is an issue?” Katsuki smirked. “No way, grandma. I’m just trying to get home in time for sunrise.”
“It’s only 6 o’clock!” Izuku argued back, jutting out his lower lip. Cute. “My point exactly. My place is coming up on the right over here.”
Izuku pulled up next to the curb and put the car in park. His head bumped against the headrest, and his freckled face turned toward Katsuki. “I’ll make sure no one steals your car, officer.”
Warm light from the lampost spilled into the car, painting Izuku’s freckled face. His strong jaw highlighted in its shadow. Katsuki’s heart rate spiked. “And how exactly do you expect to keep me up to date?”
Izuku shrugged, his lips curving slightly at the edges. “Guess if I’m gonna be your informant, you’ll need my number.”
The aroma of pleased Alpha’s filled the car.
Warm waves and burnt marshmallows swirled around them. Katsuki leaned in and passed him his phone.
“Goodnight, officer. See you soon!” Izuku waved from the window as he drove away.
The bitter breeze did nothing to stop the fire engulfing him. He was fucked.
Katsuki slammed his door shut. Cheeks flared, heart pounding a mile a minute. His clothes felt heavy against his fevered skin, he pulled off his scarf and unzipped his jacket.
His phone chimed.
Message from Izuku: Goodnight, officer! Thank you for letting me drive you home. Feel better soon! q(^-^q)
K: see you soon, nerd.
He sank to the floor and stared down at his phone. A low needy growl rumbled in his throat. When was the last time something like this happened to him? He ripped off his jacket and threw it across the room. Katsuki opened his messages and typed out a quick reply before unbuttoning his pants.
K: thanks.
[Message delivered]
This was gonna be brutal.
Salt.
Everything tasted like salt.
Waves crashed into him. Powerful, dark surges that left his skin tacky and damp. He felt sunburnt and overtired. Teeth aching in his gums. Katsuki shoved his pants down, passed his knees, and pulled his cock from his boxer briefs. It was harder than he’d ever seen it. His knot already forming at the base, precum dripping slowly from it’s head.
His canines sharpened, pupils dilated.
“Motherfucker.”
His heart slammed against his rib cage, his blood pumping diligently towards his aching cock. His head fuzzy, vision blurred. Katsuki wrapped his hand around the base and used his pointer finger to smear the precum down his shaft.
God. Has anything ever felt this good?
His phone buzzed against the hardwood floors. He was close. Katsuki pushed up into his fist, the desperate need to knot, to claim, to fuck, took over his whole being.
Another buzz.
He glanced down slightly and saw Izuku had texted him back. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. He pushed his knot into his fist, and released bursts of cum all over his shirt.
Katsuki leaned his head against the door, his arm flopping to his side like a rag doll. His heart beat crashed against his ear drums. His pulse booming against taut skin. Katsuki let go of his cock and wiped the streaks of cum against his t-shirt. His canines still sharp and at attention, ready to bite and claim a mate that wasn’t there.
“What the fuck was that?”
Katsuki reached for his phone and smiled at the message.
“You can repay me by taking me out to dinner this week. What day are you free?”
That cheeky bastard. Katsuki typed out a message taking one deep breath before pressing send.
“How does Friday night at 7PM sound?”
He sat on the floor for five whole minutes before he could finally breathe.
“Sounds perfect to me.”