Chapter Text
The scent of sweet, fresh, Omega filled Katsuki’s nose as his eyes blearily opened. Mid-morning light seeped in from his bedroom window to cascade over his bed in rippling waves. Lighting up the curves and dips of the source of the sweet scent tingling his senses. Another deep inhale and his chest was rumbling in quiet rapture, still trying to define out the smoldering scent of charcoal and embers that sat deep beneath the lush forest freshness.
“ ‘morning Kacchan…” Izuku’s voice was hoarse with sleep and the greeting was quickly followed with a wide yawn, the Omega’s body flexing back against him as he stretched, and Katsuki gently pulled him closer.
“Good morning yourself Nerd…” The Alpha nearly purred the term of endearment, leaning into mouth lightly at Izuku’s neck while his hands groped softly over his abdomen and waist. “...don’t you have patrol this morning?” he added after indulging in the sensation for as long as his conscience would allow.
Not at all surprised when ‘One for All’ crackled against the bed a second before his Omega was springing out of his grip to race across his bedroom to the closet. Flinging clothes around as he searched for a clean uniform.
Katsuki rolled out of bed behind him, padding across the room in less of a hurry. “Clean laundry is already hung up.” He advised through the closet doorway. Having gotten used to his Omega’s early morning brain fog in the last few weeks.
“You’re a lifesaver!” Izuku chirped as he finally found what he needed and yanked the items off the hanger. Pulling them on so fast Katsuki was left blinking back the eye-stun of ‘One for All’s crackle.
Leaving him to blindly reach out for the Omega’s shoulder as he tried to breeze past the Alpha, headed straight for the front door. “Eat something before you go.” Katsuki demanded and he swore he felt Izuku shudder under his touch.
Yet the Omega was smiling his usual smile and his scent smelled honest as he turned back with a quick. “I’m not hungry! And I've gotta run, All Might is waiting on me today!” Before he tugged out of Katsuki’s grip to make a beeline for the front door.
The Alpha walked quickly after him, but he knew better than to try to chase his Omega. The front door was already closing by the time he made it out of the bedroom. Leaving Katsuki to grumble to himself as he made his way toward the kitchen to make himself breakfast.
It had been nearly two months since Izuku had spent his rut with him. Their relationship had easily slid back into what it was before the whole debacle, with Izuku spending most nights at his apartment. However, things had been different and Katsuki wasn’t blind to it.
For one Izuku hadn’t gone into heat since then. Not that either of them had tried bringing it on but before his rut Izuku’s heats had been fairly regular. Still, he’d asked the damn nerd and all he got back was assurance that the Omega felt fine. That his pheromones were regulating well, and he felt good. Which did nothing to actually assure the Alpha considering his lover’s history.
Now he was dashing off first thing in the morning, it had only been the last few days, but it was consistent enough that Katsuki pegged it as abnormal. “You’re not hiding anything Deku.” He growled while over-stirring his omelet mix in the pan, growling at the mess and sighing as he dumped in the vegetables and cheese he’d cut on the side.
“Fuck an omelet, scrambled is better.” He muttered while adding chili oil and turning up the heat. Already formulating a plan to drag whatever it was his Omega was trying to shield him from out into the open, and he had a decent guess of what it was.
******************************************************
Dust flew off the building tops as Izuku raced across them. Jumping from one high-rise building to the next as he made his way toward the city center. Only stopping once the icy chill from the wind couldn’t numb away the cold sweat clinging to his skin.
Finally coming to a stop and ducking behind an AC vent to empty the contents of his stomach. Retching and dry heaving until the sickening feeling passed. Just as quickly as the urge to vomit hit him the feeling was gone.
“This can’t really be happening.” Izuku whimpered quietly to himself, placing a hand on his stomach and closing his eyes. Willing the life he knew was forming inside of him to just not be real.
That wish only lasted a split second before he stepped off the building ledge and landed on the sidewalk below. Searching out the nearest vending machine to get a drink from. Needing to rinse his mouth more than anything.
He found a bench and plopped down, juice in hand. Sipping the drink and procrastinating his meeting with All Might. He’d told Katsuki they were meeting up to patrol the UA field trip grounds, but that wasn’t all. The Omega needed to face reality and he’d always been the best at doing so in the face of his mentor. Even now seeking out the older Alpha above anyone else to spill his secrets to.
Having thought it over and feeling more resolute, Izuku pulled himself up from the bench and sprang back to the tops of the buildings with just a whisper of ‘Full Cowling’ at his heels. Taking off across the city and it only took minutes to reach his old high school’s back fence.
The gate over the path was open and All Might leaned against one side. Munching on a bag of chips while he looked at the ground, but the moment Izuku stopped near him in a whirlwind of dust the Alpha’s face brightened.
“Midoriya! It’s good to see you.” He gushed and moved in to squeeze Izuku’s shoulder in a faintly strong grip. Izuku grinned under the greeting and nodded quickly. “It is, I'm glad you were free to do this with me.” He replied while strolling past his mentor to head down the forest path.
The assignment Izuku had asked his mentor to join him on was a simple one. To patrol and clear out the U.A. field trip grounds of any leftover debris or rubble from last year's exercises for the new first years to use this summer. However, Izuku had requested All Might as a partner for a more particular reason.
As they walked his mentor rambled, finishing off his snack and going on about the latest activity he'd done or show he’d seen. Izuku didn't interrupt him until they reached the first campground. “All Might I wanted to ask…” The Omega started off quietly, but it has enough to get the older Alpha’s attention. “...is the school looking for another teacher?” He asked a bit louder. Turning to face his mentor with a determined gaze.
All Might looked surprised, scouring over the Omega’s expression. “Are you not enjoying being an active Hero?” He countered Izuku's question with one of his own.
Midoriya looked at the ground, hiding the shame he felt for disappointing his mentor. “No, I love it. It's everything I've ever dreamed of. It’s not that-” He tried to find the right words to explain but the sudden souring of Alpha pheromones in the air caught him off guard. His head whipping toward All Might.
“Is it Bakugo?” The older Alpha all but growled and Izuku straightened his shoulders and stared back evenly at him. “No, Katsuki has been…very supportive.” His tone was steady and sure, surprising himself with his strength of conviction in defending his lover. Though it did nothing to enlighten All Might to the Omega's sudden career change and his frown deepened, though the Alpha pheromones did disperse.
“Then what would make you want to teach? It’s a contract job, you'll be signed in for at least a year and you've just gotten close to the top of the hero rankings.” The Alpha pointed out the drawbacks and hindrances to the Omega's lifelong goals. All things Izuku had considered, and he smiled softly at his mentor's concern.
Moving to place a hand on his stomach and trying to speak more confidently. “I know, but I think it would be best- for a while. Right now, it's not…safe…for me to be fighting strong opponents. I'm not saying I want to quit being an active Hero forever! Maybe just a year, or two…” Izuku couldn't help rambling just a little.
All Might continued to look concerned, moving closer to look Izuku over more carefully. “Are you ill Midoriya?” He questioned before coming a step closer and sniffing the air between them tentatively.
“No-” Izuku shook his head and brought his other hand to join the first covering his stomach. “...but maybe…pregnant?” His voice got quieter, almost whispering the last bit but All Might definitely heard him as he surged forward to grasp the Omega by the shoulders.
“Did I hear you right?! Say it again-” The Alpha demanded, his demand holding a sharp bark of Alpha command that Izuku didn't shy away from as he met his gaze. His own emerald green eyes hardening with honesty. “I'm likely pregnant…with Katsuki’s child.” His words drifted between them in the tense air for a few moments before All Might reared back, letting go of him to pump an expanding fist in the air.
“Plus Ultra! Midoriya, that's the most amazing news!” In his excitement All Might had transformed into his hero form. Pumping the air in an energetic spin before a coughing spray of blood had him shrinking back down and reaching out to brace himself on a nearby tree.
While Izuku felt a wave of relief hit him at his mentor’s obvious excitement, he still hadn’t gotten an answer to his question. “So…about that teaching position?” He pressed gently with a hesitantly hopeful smile. This time being rewarded with a big ‘thumbs up’ from his mentor who was still clearing his lungs.
******************************************************
Katsuki was distracted while on the job. With as much as Izuku occupied his thoughts that had become his usual demeanor. Even now, while caught in the fray of a street wide struggle for capture on one side and escape on the other, he was barely paying attention to anything that wasn’t right in front of him.
This usually worked out, but today it was causing an issue -
“Watch out!” Another hero came hurtling toward him through the air after being thrown. Uravity’s quirk only able to slow them down with the number she was having to manage. All of them being tossed around by the tentacled quirk user, unlike most users with animal appendages their seemed to be made of some sort of infinite alloy.
None of their quirks were making a dent and the criminal was past the point of speech by the time he got there. Having already transformed into the behemoth that tromped down the street.
Katsuki barely twisted out of the way as the body soared past him through the air. Gritting his teeth as he braced himself to jump back into the fray as well. Focusing on jumping far enough over the criminal that he could get a good view all around. Controlling his trajectory with small bursts from his gloves until he spotted what looked like a soft spot.
Right at the base of where all the tentacles connected at the nape of the behemoths neck, they turned from organic into inorganic. That’s where they needed to target.
He landed against a building, shattering the concrete side of it and clinging for just a moment before he jumped back toward his target. This time boosting his way right toward the quirk user’s neck, air-buffing into a stop with a forward hand before pointing both palms down.
“Why don’t you…” The Alpha’s hands glowed with the charge up of heat energy. “...take a fucking seat–!!” He snapped with the first unload of his quirk in a massive explosion, but that was only to save his palms from the back-burn meltdown that happened next. “–and talk it ALL OUT!!” Even mid-finishing blow the Alpha’s mind wandered to his Omega. Venting some of his frustration on the situation in front of him.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the heroes around him, just how strange his outbursts were sometimes, but none of them questioned it since his efficiency was undeniable. The powerful explosions first knocked the criminal backward, and then planted him firmly on his ass in the street.
The tentacles writhed in pain but quickly turned inward on Katsuki and he barely managed to tumble out of the way. Unintentionally leading the quirk user to injure himself instead. The armored tentacles nearly severing his own head from his shoulders. Blood splattering the street as the criminal shrank back down to normal size, gurgling for air past their severe injury, and all of the hero’s eyes widened.
It was unusual for a quirk to injure its user so severely, and it took a few seconds too long for the hero’s shock to wear off. One of them finally running in with a hoarse shout. “Medic! We need a medic!” But it was obvious to everyone there not even Recovery Girl could have saved the criminal.
His determination to end the threat and the rage in his submission blows ate away at Katsuki’s inside. He’d laid the groundwork that had led to this, and he couldn’t help but feel responsible. Turning to the line of local police keeping bystanders back from the scene with a face full of contained remorse and fury. “What the fuck started all of this?” He rasped to a pair farthest away from the civilians, never even having gotten the full story.
The officer in front of him blinked stupidly but the woman next to him piped up with a shaky voice. “It was a call for an office place dispute. Someone upset over being let go from their job and the manager called for a police escort out of the building. It escalated when police arrived.” The words absorbed into Katsuki’s mind like hot coals. A life had ended all because of one shitty day at the office, and it was his fault.
He hid behind his professionalism, nodding to the officers in thanks since he couldn’t speak past his grit teeth. Barely glancing at the scene of the criminal now, medics had made it over but all they could offer was a white sheet to cover the body and taking over transport.
His job was done, at least by the Hero Association’s standards, but Katsuki couldn’t let the feeling go that something wasn’t right. When all of the other hero’s split off to file their reports and continue with their days he decided to follow the criminal’s body to the morgue. Needing more information and he couldn’t think of a better place to start than finding out who the man he’d just killed was. Cringing in guilt at the fact he didn’t even know his name.
Normally a criminal autopsy was standard and could take upwards of 24 hours to process. However, with a surly Alpha hero in the lobby the staff was incentivized to move this one along. Shortening Katsuki’s wait down to just a few miserable hours. However, the official report was nothing out of the ordinary.
It had the core details. The person’s name, age, related family members and next of contact as well as cause of death. He flipped through the pages looking at the rest of it and not really understanding what he was seeing. Other than the fact that the autopsy bloodwork had a lot of red marks, yet the toxicology screening was clean so no drug. He wasn’t a fucking detective, but he felt in his core that something was wrong with all of this.
Too wrong for him to be able to let go, and he clutched tightly to the folder of papers as he left the city morgue. Headed to the Hero Association’s main office. Actually taking the proper channels for handling the incident instead of muscling his way through and smothering his feelings and senses, figuring he may as well submit his paperwork while he was there.
The trip to the main office wasn’t long, and as occupied as Katsuki’s thoughts were, he barely noticed the time. Focused on the horror of his morning as he traveled up the elevator and secured entries to the detective wing… and still, his Omega. Even while handing over the folder to one of Eizo Tanuma’s assistants Izuku crossed his mind, making him feel even more heightened guilt. “What’s this?” The assistant asked and Katsuki nearly snarled his response back at him.
“A fucking autopsy report, from a criminal killed by their own quirk. I want a deep dive background check. I’m not leaving until I get some answers.” The Alpha’s words held a heavy bark and although the assistant was a Beta, Katsuki could see him starting to sweat, but he didn’t have it in him to feel bad for them. Turning instead to the line of desks holding various blank reports in neatly organized stacks. Walking down it until he found one that -mostly- fit the situation he needed to describe. Dreading having to recall the morning in permanent ink but he was a Hero and he wouldn’t shy away from his duty. No matter what it was, and right now it was paperwork.
******************************************************
All Might had all but drug Izuku to the UA principal's office as soon as he’d been able to straighten himself out from his coughing fit. Completely abandoning their assignment in favor of handling the Omega’s much more entertaining problem.
The principal had been shocked, then thrilled, and then concerned. The little mouse tutting away about family, hero laws, and job responsibility. In the end he’d insisted the Omega get an official diagnosis from Recovery Girl and contact the Hero Association for a legitimate change of job placement.
Which led to Izuku sitting on a cot in the all too familiar nurse room at his old high school. Staring down at Recover Girl as the tiny old woman lectured him about proper decent and procedures. “...-you should have planned this out better! Hero’s have different rules that apply to them you know- what would the association do if they had needed you for a special assignment? And you aren’t even mated but the father is -another hero-...” Her voice rasped into a squeak of exasperation. “...you two can’t even get the mate benefits of allowed leave and bonding time. Have you even told Bakugo?”
Izuku was only half paying attention, busy staring down at the definitive sheet of paper in his hand. They’d done a blood test to be sure, and he was most definitely pregnant. “No, but I will tonight.” The Omega responded almost dreamily, his thoughts running so quickly he couldn’t process them let alone the outside world.
“-Not yet! Oh, that’s just wonderful–...” Recovery Girl seemed at her wits end, turning back to her desk while muttering about the city burning to a crisp at the hand of mating affairs and illegitimate children. “I’m giving you the name and address for a Pregnancy Clinic in town. They are highly renowned, and I have a friend there. I’ll get you an appointment this week, but you need to go to them for care. This is not my specialty.” The words felt like Deja vu to the Omega.
Remembering a similar event just months earlier about his heats and he came back to reality a bit. His expression became more serious as he took the slip of paper. “I will, don’t worry. I plan to do everything right this time.” He promised before moving to leave the room. All might was waiting outside and he didn’t bother pretending he hadn’t overheard the whole thing. Scratching his chin sheepishly as they walked back to the principal's office.
“She’s right though. Since you and Bakugo aren’t mate’s you won’t have any mating benefits with the association.” The Alpha looked away from Izuku as he continued. “And knowing you’re carrying his child may affect him in unforeseen ways, Alpha’s can get very protective over their pregnant mates– but to his instincts you are even more vulnerable…” He looked back at him with a deep emotion the Omega couldn’t place. “Try to be understanding if his behavior changes, and I hope he’ll do the same for you.” All Might finished just before they reached the principal’s door and he pushed it open.
The mouse busily squeaking away into his phone and at the sight of them coming back into his office he pulled the phone away from his ear and motioned quickly for them to sit down. Holding his little paw out for the test results in the omega’s hands. Eyeing them with approval after a quick glance over and quickly hitting the speaker button on his desk phone console.
“I’m telling you that I have proof right here!” He squeaked adamantly. “The tests were performed by Recovery Girl herself, so unless you plan on arguing with that–” He waited a long pause and only silence came from the other end. “– you have to allow hero Deku the right to seek refuge as a teacher at my institute. You started this precedent with your own requests and now i’ve opened my doors entirely. Be grateful.” The tiny principal had always been impressive in his righteous sense of duty. As an adult the Omega just fully recognized what kind of inner strength that took and he watched on admirably.
“It’s more than just job placement, if test results are provided and proper paperwork is handled we can make allowances for what you’re asking but we will need to keep quiet in the face of the media. Hero Deku’s condition and disappearance from the front lines may pose an opportunity for any rising threats. Also, you never mentioned who the father of this supposed pregnancy was….”
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded tired, grainy, suspiciously familiar, and a faint whisper of memories from his hero licensing exams nagged at him. But he couldn’t dwell on the thought much as the principal looked at Izuku expectantly and he smiled softly back at him and leaned forward to speak clearly over the phone. “Katsuki Bakugo– sir, and he doesn’t know yet so i’d appreciate you not reaching out for a few days.” He added, earning a loud clattering of noise from the other end of the receiver.
“Are you serious?! This could be a disaster…and after what happened already this morning. Are you mated? Oh man, I'd welcome the late registration paperwork at this point–please tell me you are–have mercy on us all...”
The Hero Association representative obviously started panicking and Izuku realized he was in for a long conversation of explaining himself. Sighing as he scrunched a bit in his seat, rubbing at the palms of his hands as he tried not to let his own anxiety take over his senses. Luckily for him the principal cut off the representative’s woe’s. “Send me over all of the paperwork, I’m an official notary for the Association. I’ll have it handled and back to you in two weeks tops.” The mouse could have been an Angel in Izuku’s eyes at that moment.
He almost teared up with how grateful he was but instead he smiled broadly. The Hero Association representative calming down and seeming almost as grateful as Izuku was. Changing his tune and promising to send the files via email immediately. As soon as they ended the call the Omega was rising from his seat. “I need to get home– well, to Katsuki’s, and tell him right now. I’ll call first thing tomorrow morning!” He exclaimed while reaching for just the positive test result sitting atop the papers he’d handed over to the principal during the call.
Resisting the urge to let Full Cowling curl under his heels as he tore out of the office with the test proof in hand. Leaving his absolutely stunned principal and mentor behind. Both of them blinking at the dust the Omega had kicked up before shaking their heads in disapproval.
Izuku didn’t care, at least not right now, he would apologize tomorrow. Right now, he was feeling true excitement instead of the dread that had been clinging to him for weeks. He’d managed to figure out his own situation and handled it himself. He was so incredibly proud to tell his Alpha what he’d arranged. Hoping Katsuki would approve of him seeking out a safer job position, and ultimately be just as accepting of his condition as the day he’d awoken from his rut.
He was absolutely giddy as he let himself into the Alpha’s apartment with the key he’d been given. Realizing immediately that the Alpha wasn’t home by the stale scent of his pheromones lingering inside. Izuku frowned and pulled out his phone to check the time as he closed the door.
The clock blatantly read 17:45. The Alpha’s shift should have been over nearly an hour ago…but he didn’t have any missed calls or texts warning Izuku he might be late. A tendril of concern picked at the Omega’s senses but he brushed it aside, hoping his lover just got sidetracked on the way home and decided to try to get something ready for them to eat. Too excited to stay still for very long.
He padded into Katsuki’s bedroom, intending to change out of his Hero clothes but the pile of the Alpha’s sleep wear on the floor caught his attention. Reeking of dense ashen Alpha pheromones and he grinned, picking up the shirt and holding it to his face to greedily huff. Deciding to wear it instead of anything of his own even if the shirt was a little big on him. Pulling Katsuki’s sweatpants on as well, only needing to retie the drawstring for them to fit right.
Happily swimming in the Alpha’s scent he made his way back to the kitchen. Opening the cabinets and refrigerator, he had none of Katsuki’s cooking skills, but he could at least make them sandwiches, or something to snack on, growing more determined to have something prepared and waiting for his Alpha as time ticked on.
Finally deciding on cold cut sandwiches since he could leave them in the refrigerator until Katsuki got home. He resisted checking the clock the entire time he was slicing vegetables and meat, working as slowly as he could hoping the Alpha would walk through the door any moment as his excitement escalated and ebbed in small waves inside him.
Still the Alpha hadn’t come home by the time he was done so Izuku set about cleaning up his mess. As well as doing the dishes in the sink from what looked like Katsuki’s breakfast. Feeling a small pang of guilt at having run out on his breakfast offer this morning and decided to clean up the entire kitchen. Not stopping to check the time again until almost every surface was sparkling and his hands smelled of lemon scented cleaner.
21:38 Katsuki was definitely late and Izuku couldn’t hold back the urge to check in on him any longer. Quickly pulling up his messenger and sending him a quick text.
: Is everything okay? I came back to your place for the night. Can’t wait to see you Kacchan.
He sat down on the couch and stared at his phone screen. Concern taking over his excitement as the minutes ticked by and he waited for a response. Knowing if the other had been hurt he would have heard about it by now…or most likely would have at least from one of their friends. Yet the fear that something serious had happened still nagged at him and he sucked his bottom lip between his teeth to nibble on as he waited.
**********************************************************************************************************
