a strong scent

by DepressedMom (orphan_account)

Summary:

the strongest scent is the essence of the greatest will. a representation of a soul.

to reject a scent is to reject that essence. izuku midoriya is used to rejection, especially when it involves one katsuki bakugou.

but izuku's never been one to give up easily. no matter the odds.

OR the canon divergent/quirkless/athletic/abo au nobody asked for
COMPLETE

follows plot of original bnha pretty well, but with a ~ t w i s t ~

Chapter 1: eucalyptus

Izuku Midoriya was as unremarkable as they came. If his life were a book, a movie or even a TV series he would not be the main character. Not even a supporting role, he’d be villager #3 that would keel over and die as the antagonist monologues their traumatic childhood.

In a world with Alphas and Omegas, special people with extraordinary strength - at least that’s what his mom said - Izuku was only Beta. Like his own parents.

His origin story would be bland if not a bit depressing. A lowlife nerd who kept his nose buried in All Might comics and movies and away from reality. An escapist of the highest caliber.

Inko Midoriya had originally encouraged the fascination, relatively content with her son’s interest. Izuku’s father had left them soon after his birth and her little boy needed some kind of male role model in his life. She wasn’t going to question her son’s happiness.

In his early years of life it had not been too harmful. All the kids his age were fond of the comics too, and his contagious enthusiasm earned him quick friends. Most notably from these friends was one Katsuki Bakugou.

The child was a bit rough around the edges but well-meaning as far as Inko could tell. He had an explosive personality, though he was a little too crass for Inko’s liking.

She really shouldn’t complain, Katsuki was Izuku’s best friend. For that she was endlessly grateful, so she wouldn’t question that either.

The two boys were close, as close as kids that age could be. Izuku followed Katsuki everywhere, at the park, in the playground and at school. They were united through All Might, and their love of superheroes was without limit.

Katsuki would drag Izuku everywhere by the hand, exploring and playing together.

They’d sit side-by-side laughing together for hours on end.

So, even if Inko had initially thought the boy would be a bad influence he wasn’t.

He made Izuku more confident, more sure of himself. Katsuki made his son stronger in ways he’d never fully know and for that she was grateful.

Izuku loved Katsuki, that much was clear to Inko from the very beginning. He admired the explosive blond so much so that there were days he’d chatter about ‘Kacchan’ more than his beloved All Might.

It almost made Inko worried, the boys were attached at the hip but often it seemed like Izuku worshipped the ground Katsuki walked on. He could easily become codependent for his first close friend.

After all, without a father figure in his life perhaps there were things her little boy was projecting.

Funnily enough, comfort comes to her in the form of one Mitsuki Bakugou. She tells Inko she’s never seen her son so gentle to anyone. Never seen him so considerate and compassionate with anyone but Izuku.

Inko lets their mutual adoration for each other comfort her. It’s just a phase, and clearly their sons were happy.

Izuku was happy.

But when Katsuki finally presents as Alpha things start to change. And not for the better.

---

 

Izuku has always been a bit of a crybaby. First year of junior high and he still hasn’t outgrown it. He knows it’s embarrassing and he tries his best not to do it too much.

Trying your best only helps so much.

Katsuki presents as Alpha and suddenly he can’t stand to be near Izuku anymore. He tries his best to make it work, tries to figure it all out but Kacchan has always been stubborn. Why is he surprised?

He tries to keep pace with him as they leave from school, but Kacchan has longer legs and his strides are difficult to catch up too. Izuku runs to keep pace but then Kacchan turns around and yells at him.

“Go away Deku! Stop following me like a creep, I’ve had it with you!”

Izuku pauses, lower lip trembling. They’d been friends for as long as he could remember. Why was this happening? What made Kacchan decide to leave? Izuku couldn’t figure it out.

“W-what did I do? Kacchan, what’s wrong? Does it have something to do with being Alp-”

“I SAID GET LOST!” Katsuki snaps, jaw clenching too tight. Now that Izuku can see his face, he notices a few things. His friend’s pupils were dilated to the point that the red of his irises were consumed completely. His face was paler than usual, and he was panting vigorously like he’d run a marathon.

“K-Kachan, if you could just tell me what’s wrong I’ll get out of your hair I promise.”

Katsuki seems to only grow more agitated once he’s said that. Izuku’s never seen him this angry, especially not at him. There’s a first time for everything and if Izuku was smarter he’d have seen this coming sooner.

He approaches Izuku, deathly slow. His fury so thick Izuku swore he could almost smell it. Then, with a start, Izuku realized he probably was. Kacchan had presented as Alpha, and this heedy smoke like smell must have been the pheremones that indicated his anger. If Izuku weren’t a Beta he’d be fighting fight or flight instincts right about now.

“You know what my problem is, nerd? It’s you! You reek! No wonder nobdies been hanging around us lately. You’re fucking gross! Don’t know why I didn’t notice sooner.”

The more Katsuki spoke the less Izuku recognized him as the kid he’d play hide and seek with and more like the bully he heard people whisper about. The whispers Izuku had tried so hard to deny. In all his life so far, Katsuki had only gotten annoyed with him. Sometimes he was even mildly frustrated. He was never like this before. Never this cruel.

“You’re a waste of time, I’ve had enough. If you know what’s good for you, do NOT come near me ever again. Don’t talk to me, don’t walk beside me again and for the love of God don’t even look at me! Got it, nerd?”

At this point, Katsuki had gripped his collar harshly, pulling Izuku close to his face so he could properly glower at him.

Izuku felt a pathetic whimper begin, his eyes growing wet but he refused to cry in front of Katsuki like this. This wasn’t his best friend, not anymore.

“Y-Yes Kacchan. I get it.”

Katsuki stares at him a moment longer, as if trying to read something from his face. There’s something there in his eyes. A spark of something Izuku hopes is guilt.

“Tch. Good.”

Whatever it was Katsuki seems to dismiss it quickly, turning away from Izuku and going on his way.

Only after Katsuki disappears out of view does Izuku allow himself to cry.

---

 

By the time his final year at Aldera Junior High rolls around, Izuku and Katsuki don’t talk at all. Just as Katsuki had requested.

His childhood friend still had other acquaintances around him, more lackeys than friends and Izuku did his best to stay out of the way.

In comparison Izuku was unbearably lonely these days. He wasn’t bright like Katsuki, a beacon of power and strength that made people gravitate towards him.

By then all the people from his junior high had created cliques of their own. Him and Katsuki had been a package deal for so long there was no space for shy, loser Deku.

This is how Izuku ended up spending his lunches alone eating under a staircase, busying himself by listening to music, working on homework. Anything he can to keep him distracted from his loneliness.
The only hope he has left is getting into U.A High. His dream school since he had learned Yagi Toshinori (the actor who played All Might!) had graduated from there. The legend was a UA alumni.

Izuku’s current dream was to get into U.A. If he could he would surely gain multiple scholarship opportunities. He’d be guaranteed success for life, no matter what he decided.

Many successful people came from U.A, the magnet school was renowned across the country.
Some of the greatest athletes, lawyers, doctors, scientists and CEOs came from that school. Izuku was determined to get in.

The problem was how. The application process was rather extensive, though it allowed liberty for the applicants to sell themselves however they wished. For people like Kacchan there was no problem.

Kacchan was a well-rounded athlete, who was incredibly smart and talented in almost any area he attempted. The guy was a genius who could cook, play the drums and parkour all in the span of a few hours.

Izuku on the other hand was nowhere near as naturally gifted as his ex-best friend. He was a bit of a nerd, so his grades were pretty good. His report card submission was most definitely not an issue, but there were multiple components for this application.

The report card wasn’t even the worst part. There was the Letter of Reference, the personal reflection and then a written essay component. All of this in addition to the Entrance Exam, honestly caused Izuku a lot of anxiety.

The personal reflection and essay component were easy enough. The prompt was about facing adversity, and though it wasn’t something Izuku could B.S he had enough confidence in his writing to know he would be okay. As for the personal reflection, he would be forced to bring up every single minor thing he had ever participated in his life. The bake sale in his 6th grade, the taekwondo summer camp he did once. The art class Izuku quit when he realized his mother could barely afford it.

Writing had become his forte. His notebooks and journals had become his only confidant, the only place his thoughts or words would go anywhere. Would mean anything. It had been such a long time since Izuku had ever verbally spoken to anyone besides his mother. He didn’t need to anymore.

In any case, there were only two things left to worry about.

The Letter of Reference and the Entrance Exam.

The Entrance Exam - Izuku had learned - could actually vary from person to person. The written portion was the same regardless, but the additional segment depended on the program you were applying for. There were four major branches in which you could apply.

Athletics, Arts, STEM and Business Management.

Yagi Toshinori, despite being an actor, had initially been an MMA fighter. He hailed as a former Athletics student. Izuku had intended to follow in his footsteps alongside Katsuki.

Then they stopped talking and Izuku hadn’t known what to do. They were supposed to do everything together, they had even taken MMA classes together. To be the best.

He knew then he had to get into U.A on his own. Without Katsuki’s presence ruining his life.

After their fallout, Izuku just could not do it anymore. The fighting, the aggression, the constant fury and frustration that seemed to permanently settle under Katsuki’s skin. It was too painful to look at him.

He didn’t want to waste his mother’s money on something that made him miserable. That’s why he quit the classes. Or at least, that had been the excuse he had given his mom.

At first this change left Izuku without a path. He hadn’t known what to do nor where to go. He also hated quitting halfway, he wasn’t supposed to be that type of person. Nevertheless, it seemed there a lot of things he took for granted. A lot of things that were changing around him regardless if he wanted it or not.

When Izuku resigned his uniform to the kind old man who ran the classes he felt a shame like nothing else. He was giving up on this because of what? Because of Katsuki?How lame was that?

Then out of nowhere Izuku realized something. All this time he had been following Yagi Toshinori and Katsuki Bakugou blindly.

He was engrossed in their brilliance; he went along with it hoping he’d find the same for himself.

Katsuki used to promise that they’d do everything together, that they’d be the number one hero just like All Might.

Then he was just kicked to the curb.

Izuku needed something for himself. Needed to become someone for himself.

This would be a problem. He didn’t know his own strengths or weaknesses, blinded by Katsuki and Katsuki’s success alone for so long. If he were to try something new now he wouldn’t know where to start.

Then one night as he read over a journal entry of his he found something interesting. He was reminded of something his mentor had told him once.

“I get that you boys like Toshinori. I really do, but you can’t fight exactly like him. You don’t have his body nor his physical strength. Use what you do have to your advantage. What does that mean for you, Izuku?”

“Um, I shouldn’t punch as much?”

“That’s an excellent start! Do you want to know what I think?’

“What?”

“You have a more narrow build than Katsuki but you have strong legs. This makes you faster on your feet! Use this to your advantage!”

Speed. This was how Izuku had taken his first steps without Katsuki by his side. He joined the track team.

It was strange to be doing things without Katsuki by his side. Yet, as time passed he found it more natural than he expected. He tried various track events, and found that he seemed to excel with more endurance focused events then throwing. He was pretty good at running. He kept with it. He could do well in most running events but extended sprints is where he excelled the most.

The 800m was his event.

He liked to keep it varied though. He wasn’t too bad at hurdles either.

He wanted something more challenging though, and wanted to broaden his horizons. Keep himself versatile. He needed something that would truly set him apart.

And then he saw it. The annual U.A Sports Festival held triathlons. They were meant to showcase endurance.

Izuku was in awe. It was perfect. Triathlon training it was.

After speaking to a few gym teachers and his mother he found a way to train.

Though his middle didn’t exactly offer it in full, in order to train Izuku had joined the swim team in addition to track and then he would bike to and from school on most days.

It was rather hectic but Izuku preferred it that way. If he was busy before, after and during school he had less time to indulge his self-doubt and sadness.
Unfortunately, this month has begun Izuku’s season of purposelessness. Swim had finished within the first few months of the school year and track had just ended. Which left Izuku with biking as his only remaining method of training.

This posed as a problem for the Entrance Exam, as he wouldn’t be running or swimming enough during the time required. He needed to train properly just until the exam. Izuku needed to figure something out, and fast.

As the bell rings, signifying the end of lunch Izuku contemplates on the last thing before heading for his next class.

That Letter of Reference had next to no hope. He had no adult figures that had any distinct impression of him that could possibly write him one. Besides his mother but that was pathetic and sad even for him. Izuku couldn’t go back to his old MMA mentor. He was sure Katsuki probably got his from there and Izuku was avoiding that.

Besides, Izuku quit so he probably didn’t have anything all that great to say about Izuku anyway.

That left the Swim Team supervisor who did not know Izuku’s name or the track teacher who had recently gotten fired

If there was any reason Izuku couldn’t get in, it would have to be that Letter.

Izuku was tired of quitting, and even more so of running away. He didn’t want to be Izuku who gave up when things got hard. He wanted to be Izuku who fought hard no matter what.

That’s the spirit he admired in both Katsuki and All Might. Izuku was not going to spend any more time admiring from afar.

Not when he could be that person himself.

Chapter 2: amber

Summary:

the start of something real

It was another moderately miserable day at school, and Izuku couldn’t wait for this day to be over. He couldn’t wait for this school year to be over. He wanted to enjoy school every day, have friends he could talk to and laugh with. He’d give anything to be surrounded by people who were like him, who cared for him.

For now such thoughts would be just a fantasy.

Speaking of fantasies, Kacchan seemed more level headed than usual. It was almost strange, no aggravated yelling at all. It seemed as though his perpetual dissatisfaction with the world was temporarily retiring.

“And now kids, I’d like to know what are your plans for high school?” their teacher asked, handing printouts of the students life-courses.

Oh boy.

Just as Izuku had anticipated Katsuki had woken from his stupor, a cocky grin on his mouth.

“Tch. As if you could lump me in with all these lazy extras. I’m clearly superior to all these lowlifes. A Prime Alpha like me is destined for greatness!”

“Hey, Bakugou there’s plenty of Alphas that go to prison! You're no special for being Alpha. Stop showing off!”

“Yeah Bakugou, you’re being a Knothead!”

The general displeasure of the class was being addressed, their voices growing increasingly louder and louder until Kacchan yelled at them all.

“Shut up! I’m not that kinda Alpha anyhow, I’m going to U.A! I’m gonna be number one MMA fighter, greater than even Toshinori!”

Everyone quiets after that, murmuring amongst themselves about the difficulty of the U.A Exam. Kacchan looks pleased with himself, crossing his arms and scoffing at the rest.

“My brother tried the mock exam and gave up!”

“I heard that the Athletics program is pretty hard too...”

Kacchan’s self satisfied grin seemed to grow wider and wider until finally the teacher perked up making his way towards Izuku.

Please don’t say anything.

Izuku begged silently.

Please don’t say anything.

Izuku hoped to any deity that was watching that they would take pity on him-

“Midoriya! You’re applying to U.A as well right? The Athletics program?”

The class went silent as everyone turned to look at him. All the eyes on his person made him want to jump out of his own skin and run for the hills.

Instead, Izuku nods quietly.

“You know you can’t just get in by studying all the time right Midoriya?”

“You actually need to be talented to get into U.A…”

All of Izuku’s classmates mutter amongst themselves in disbelief. Izuku really just wants to run out of here and cry. There’s way too much attention on him. Izuku opens his mouth to defend himself but Kacchan beats him to it.

“Deku?!”

This is the first time in a long time that Kacchan has even acknowledged his presence. He looks hostile, but Izuku notices that whatever anger the guy had felt when they parted ways was no longer present. At least, not right now.

“How the fuck are you getting into U.A Athletics? All you do is scribble in that notebook of yours like a useless nerd.” Kacchan noted, an irritated look in his eyes as his left eyebrow twitched. His eyebrow always did that whenever he was about to explode.

“I’m pretty good at the 800m! And decent at hurdles-”

“He’s the best 800m in the school and ranks 5th in the country. There’s no need to worry about him, Bakugou.” a kid on Izuku’s track team states with a growl.

There are a few gasps at that, people staring at Izuku as if to figure out his secrets.

Izuku flushes, completely unused to the compliment, even more embarrassed because he didn’t know the kid’s name.

For some reason this seems to anger Kacchan further, he gets up cracking his knuckles.

“You’ve been holding out on me nerd? Looking down on me? Don’t-”

And by some miracle the bells rings just then.

All the students are eager to leave at this point not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.

While everyone’s distracted Izuku turns to the kid again, slightly red in the face.

“Thanks for saying that.” he tells him shyly, unable to actually make eye contact.

The kid smiles somewhat warmly. “Don’t worry about it. Us track kids gotta stick together with all these wannabe MMA fighters pretending to be better than everyone else.”

Izuku gapes slightly. “Y-yeah, guess you’re right.’

“See you around, Midoriya-kun.” and with a wink, the kid parts probably to avoid Kacchan’s wrath.

Which is something Izuku should probably do as well. Still slightly flushed, Izuku tries to quickly shove all his materials in his bag and escape. As always Kacchan beats him to it.

“So that’s what you’ve been doing now. Secretly going off to track meets instead of meeting sensei for our classes. Fucking pathetic.” Kacchan sniffs, hands in his pockets in front of Izuku’s desk.

Two of his lackeys flank him on either side and usually Izuku would be too intimidated to even look them in the eye.

That day is not today. That kid, whoever he was, had made Izuku feel stronger. He had something now, something that he liked, something that he was good at.

Something that had nothing to do with Kacchan at all.

Izuku Midoriya was done taking Katsuki Bakugou’s shit.

“I don’t know why you’re so disappointed. You’re the one who told me to get out of your face, I only did as you asked.” Izuku answers coldly, ignoring the euphoria that had taken over to be standing up to Kacchan.

Kacchan looks stunned at the statement, as if he hadn’t expected him to say that. As if he hadn’t just spoken the truth.

“So you gave up your dreams of being like All Might...because of me? You’re giving up just like that?”

For some reason this angers Izuku. Why did Kacchan think his entire life revolved around him?

Izuku scowled the first time he’s ever done so. How had he followed this guy to the ends of the earth? How had he been so blind to Kacchan’s selfishness? Kacchan probably never cared about him once, content to have Izuku’s constant admiration feeding into his abnormally large ego.

Izuku was ashamed to have almost loved him.

“You’ve made it pretty clear that I disgust you, so I have no idea why you expected anything. I don’t want to be like you anymore Kacchan. I’m going to follow All Might in my own way. I don’t need you anymore.”

Kacchan makes an expression like he’d been punched in the face.

Izuku tells himself he doesn’t care about his feelings.

He slings his backpack and makes to pick up his notebook, the one in which he’d thoroughly analyzed Kacchan’s latest fight. The one where he used an incredibly effective double leg takedown.

Thankfully, he had only written MMA Fighting Techniques 101 on the cover of his notebook. Kacchan wouldn’t have to know.

Kacchan beats him to it. He swipes the notebook from him and stares at the cover before grinning.

“So you’re done with MMA, then? You don’t watch any of Toshinori’s fights anymore?” Kacchan questions, eyes locked on Izuku as he makes to open the notebook.

Izuku feels his heart stop.

“Why does it matter Kacchan? Give it back.” he moves to take it back but Katsuki laughs cruelly in seeing the emotion in his eyes.

“S’what I thought. Once a Toshinori fan always a Toshinori fan, no matter how you try to deny it nerd. Let’s be honest, you finally realized it for yourself didn’t you? That a useless Beta like you doesn’t have what it takes to defeat an Alpha. It’s just the way things are.” Kacchan grins, the self-satisfaction written all over his face.

“That’s the real reason you gave up on your dream. You realized a plain person like you could never get on my level. Well, I guess it's for the best that you figured that out on your own. Guess that means you won’t be needing this anymore?” Kacchan laughs, pretending to tear the notebook in half and slowly making his way to the window.

“Kacchan, give it back!” Izuku yells, scrambling to catch up with him.

“You want it? Jump for it.” Kacchan finishes, throwing the notebook out the window.

Izuku scrambles to see where it landed, only to find it landed directly on the school fountain. Completely soaked through.

Kacchan and his entourage laugh harshly at Izuku’s misery and Izuku can’t help but fight tears.

It would always be like this.

“Don’t worry Deku! Maybe you should just take a swan dive off of the roof and join that notebook of yours. You’ll never get into U.A, don’t even try. 5th in the city isn’t all that impressive.”

His lackeys seem to pause a that, unused to such a cruel and vile thing to say. This was the first time Kacchan had said such a thing and it even made Izuku pause himself.

If Izuku were a better man, he could’ve gotten Kacchan expelled. There’s no way he would’ve gotten into U.A by having something like that on his track record.

Yet, when it came down to it. Izuku really couldn’t do it. He knew deep down Kacchan didn’t mean that. He wasn’t that kind of person.

Kacchan could be cruel, could be mean.
He wasn’t bad though. He wasn’t evil.

So when they part ways Izuku counts to ten, breathes deeply and goes on his own way to collect his wet notebook.

He picks up the damp book and sighs. Maybe he could get his mother’s blow dryer to fix it?

Even if Kacchan could be mean and angry and sometimes very awful he was a good person.

Izuku remembers him fighting off bullies on the playground, chasing after him to catch bugs. Izuku remembers crying after getting hurt, having Katsuki scold him before drying his tears.

This is why Izuku still comes to all of Kacchan’s tournaments.

The thing with Kacchan was that he was most definitely a good person. He was just a dick about it.

Izuku sighs. He realized he’d forgotten his bike at home today.

Unfortunate, like the very nature of his existence.

Izuku, too busy reminiscing on all his life decisions, forgets he’s walking through the sketchiest area of the neighborhood. Where all kinds of illicit activities occur. Usually, Izuku keeps a careful eye out for this.

But, today wasn’t a normal day.

Too caught up in his own thoughts, he wasn’t aware of his surroundings. He wasn’t aware of the threatening presence that locked him into place until it was too late. The man is asking for money Izuku does not have on hand.

There was a distinct pressure around his throat, a thick forearm pressing right against his trachea.
This was the choke hold. Izuku knew how to get out of this! He did!

The body that was crushing him was masculine, and relatively muscular. Too strong for him to grapple with.

Then there was the gun to his temple, a touch he did not expect.

It’s like drowning, Izuku thinks. Every breath becomes harder and harder to take in. All Izuku could feel was the firm, immovable arm of his assailant. Black spots appearing across his field of vision. Suddenly, everything becomes black. Izuku was going to pass out—and he’d be at the mercy of his attacker.

He trained to get out of these situations. He was supposed to be able to get out of this.

The combination of the weapon and the threatening pheromones is too much to bare. Izuku panics.

The panic of not being strong enough, the panic of this superior Alpha’s presence that wills him to submit without doing a damn thing.

Maybe Kacchan was right about him being weak.

He felt tears in his eyes. Of course Kacchan was right, he always was.

Then as if born from his very dreams appears All Might. The alpha stands in all his glowing glory looking like he came straight out of Izuku’s comic books.

Izuku isn’t completely sure if he’s just deliriously making it up in his own head to combat the pain. His vision is filled with tears and he really can’t believe it. Izuku passes out, his head throbbing and his eyes hazy and his mind going a mile a minute.

When Izuku comes to it, his eyes blink rapidly to make sure he isn’t actually going insane.

All Might, no, Yagi Toshinori, his biggest role model and inspiration was trying to get him man. In all his buff, blonde glory.

“AH! Young man, I’m pleased to see you’re finally awake!” Yagi Toshinori says brightly, his smile just as flawless as it was on TV.

All of Izuku’s hero-worship and excessive fanboy lifestyle would have never prepared him for this.

“A-All Might! T-Thank you so much!” Izuku exclaims, instantly getting up to give him a full 90° bow to show his gratitude.

Then, All Might chuckles bashfully. A full grow man, blushing at being thanked for saving his life. A celebrity that had become a household name. The greatest MMA fighter in the world.

“A-Ah you're a fan? Don’t mention it, young man. I was just doing the right thing. Don’t worry about it!”

Izuku kind of wanted to laugh. Who knew that his hero would be so...humble. So kind, unlike the other blonde he’d idolized for so much of his life.

“W-where did that guy go?”

“Oh, I was actually tailing that man for quite awhile now. Already sent him to the police, so don’t worry about it!”

“Uh, All Might would you mind signing my-”

“Already done, young man! I’ve written it right here!” Mr. Yagi Toshinori points to his notebook on the floor and sure enough, right next to the “MMA Fighting 101” was his signature, curved and pretty.

Izuku bows again deeply. “T-thank you, sir! I, uh, actually have a few questions if you would mind answering them-”

“I’m sorry young man, I’ve got to go. Needed to make sure you were okay, but I really gotta-’

“Will you train me?!” Izuku asks, breathlessly before he loses his nerve. “I want to get into U.A and be just like you!”

All Might, no, Yagi Toshinori looks at him carefully then.

“Train you, huh? Your notes are too comprehensive to be a beginner, so you must have some experience. Look, I’m in a bit of a rush but I’ll teach you how to get away from a situation like that if it happens again alright?”

Izuku can only nod excitedly, this is the best thing he could ever ask for.

“The biggest issue there was that you panicked right? I’m sure if you weren’t so caught off guard you would have thought of something. Look, here I’m going to pretend to choke hold you. Without a weapon, what would you do?” All Might asks gently.

Izuku, slightly flustered to be in such close proximity, wills himself to not make a fool of himself to take a deep breath.

“U-Uh, well first I should put my chin down like this.” He makes sure to press his chin down as firmly as possible.

“Very good young man! Then what do you?’ All Might prompts, seemingly happy with his response.
“Then I grip my hand here, and here and I swing out like - this!”

Izuku grins to himself. He’s glad he hadn’t forgotten. He was safely out of All Might’s grip and sure enough the man's eyes sparkled.

“That’s right, young man! Now here’s what you do if there’s a gun involved.”

In the next few minutes, Izuku goes through the movements All Might demonstrates.

Izuku’s a quick learner, he grabs the imaginary weapon and All Might’s arm as instructed, swings his body weight outwards and grips the gun in his own hand.

He manages to steal it away and press it into All Might’s skull.

Holy shit.

Izuku moves away stunned. He did it! He wouldn’t...he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

“Congrats, young man! Now, I’ll be on my way. That man who attacked you has a few accomplices actually. They robbed a bank earlier and me and a few others are trying to secure their identities. Wll, I’ll be off!” All Might grins, turning to leave before Izuku stops him once more.

“W-wait, one last thing. D-do you...do you think a Beta and Alpha can fight on equal footing?”

Yagi Toshinori pauses once again. “Always asking the good questions, huh young man?”

“My short answer is no.”

Izuku wants to cry.

“My long answer is that historically, alphas have a history of playing dirty using orders around as they please. Alphas have instincts to dominate, and this can express itself in awfully aggressive and cruel ways. This advantage is biological, and makes it much harder for a Beta - who don’t have these extreme instincts - to fight to the same degree. That being said, I do think Alphas, Betas and even Omegas should be able to fight equally without gender altering those results whether that’s primary or secondary genders.” he finishes.

Izuku gapes, a little stunned but mostly happy. He wasn’t wrong to hope to be equals with Katsuki.

He already was.

Izuku can’t help but grin, completely in awe of his all time favourite role model. Here was a man Izuku could strive to be.

“Thanks again All Might!” Izuku says as the man starts on his way.

“Oh, don’t call me that young man. Call me Toshinori-sensei! I look forward to seeing you at U.A!”

Izuku blushes, Toshinori-sensei huh? He supposed it was weird to be calling him by the role he played. Though to be fair, everyone online had taken to calling him that anyway. He didn’t seem to mind.

He snatches his notebook from the floor and sure enough there was his life course worksheet with the words “getting into U.A!!!” written in bold letters on the sheet. He had forgotten to put it back in his binder. Dang.

Still, Izuku couldn’t help but feel happy. All Might believed Izuku to be capable of getting into U.A.

His role model believed in his dreams! Izuku couldn’t ask for more.

Notes:

if there is any confusion here's the breakdown
- izuku gets confronted by katsuki's crew, gets yelled @ like in canon and destroyed notebook
- alpha pheromones as all pheromones in this au is used primarily to dictate emotion. it cannot force anyone into rut/heat
- alphas can still use this to intimidate (theoretically anyone can, but alphas tend to have the most distinctive oppressive scents)
-scents usually reflect each individual's personality/uniqueness
- izuku&kacchan's relationship is very different from canon. without quirks people are less inclined to praise him a lot.
- in this universe aggressive alphas are generally looked down upon by the public

if you have any other questions don't be afraid to comment! thanks for reading <3 i'll be trying to update daily for this whole quarantine.

Chapter 3: katsura

Quietly humming to himself, Izuku couldn’t help the huge dumb smile that was present on his face.

Toshinori-sensei.

Who needed Bakugou? Who needs Katsuki’s attention or affection or love.

Not Izuku Midoriya, no sir.

His days of worshiping Knothead Kacchan was over!

The Yagi Toshinori told him he’d seem at U.A. That had to mean something! Katsuki's useless yelling was probably so he could feel better about himself anyway. His delicate Alpha pride was at risk of being threatened. No wonder he was being a piss baby. The guy wasn’t used to feeling like he wasn’t the most special and most important gift to humanity.

Izuku often wondered what would have happened if Kacchan had never presented as Alpha. Would he still be as cocky and self-assured now? Would he still feel as entitled as he did?

To be honest, Izuku already knew the answer to this. Katsuki had always been that way, and though his secondary gender did not help him reign that type of behaviour Izuku knew that it was a part of who he was.

For a brief second, Izuku wondered what it would be like if Kacchan was in a room with people like him. Equally as smart, athletic and talented.

With a start Izuku realized that’s what U.A would be. The thought sobered Izuku up a bit. A class full of athletic, intelligent and hardworking students.

Did Izuku even deserve to stand by them? To be their equal?

He didn’t know.

Loud noises and sirens abruptly startled Izuku from his reverie. Izuku really needed to pay attention to his surroundings more. He tended to get caught up in his own little world sometimes which often made him go on autopilot blocking out most external stimuli.

Izuku, as naturally curious as he was, couldn’t help but walk towards the chaos. He wondered what happened?

He started walking faster, almost running towards the sirens when he found them.

The men were dressed similarly to the man who had choked Izuku.

The other robbers Toshinori-sensei had told him about.

There was a man choking a boy the same way Izuku had been choked. The police had him surrounded all of them pointing their guns at the man.

“Drop your weapons or I shoot the kid.” the man Ordered, gun pressing more firmly to the boy’s neck.

The boy struggled against him, something caught in his mouth, trying to get out. The police dropped their weapons and Izuku wanted to scream. But even he could feel the weight of the man’s strong pheromones looking to intimidate. Strong enough to even make another Alpha fall to their knees.

Nobody was doing anything! The police just stood there uselessly.

That’s when Izuku saw it. Those distinct red eyes, the spikey blond hair. He could recognize that face anywhere. It was the face of his childhood friend who would pat his head when he needed comfort.
The childhood friend who was both kind and cruel. Who was both dense and smart. The childhood friend he loved more than anything else in the world.

He couldn’t bear to look at the helpless look in his eyes. Such a thing should never exist.

His strong, brave Kacchan wasn’t meant to be killed.

Izuku’s feet moved before he could think. He was barely thinking if he was honest.

He was moving from behind the criminal though, so the man likely wouldn’t move as long as the police men didn’t give him away.

Somehow, Izuku had moved fast enough that they hadn’t.

The first issue was the weapon the man was holding to Kacchan’s head. From there Kacchan was likely to escape.

Izuku hit the man’s wrist disarming him and grabbed the gun for himself.

“Hey, you brat! Get back here!” the man in his surprise let Kacchan go. That was all he needed. The man jumped to get a hold of Izuku, but Izuku skid out of the way, landing on his hands. The skin on his palms felt raw from the asphalt but the gun was safely out of the way and the attacker was properly disarmed.

Kacchan ducked out of the way before sending a jab right into the back of the man’s head. The criminal screamed, his pheromones thick with vengeance as he moved to take one of the cop’s guns from the floor.

Then out of nowhere, All Might appeared just like last time.

All Might was quick to disarm the man again, and keep him restrained. In no time, the cops had come with handcuffs, forcing the man into the back of the white and blue car.

“Why the fuck did you do that, Izuku?” Kacchan demanded, though he looked less angry and more spooked.

Izuku didn’t realize he was tearing up until Kacchan had squatted down to hold him. His hands rubbed at his scalp the way it had when they were kids. Izuku was too overcome with emotion to really think behind the meaning of “Izuku” or Kacchan’s comfort right now.

No, he was too terrified of the image he had seen just seconds before. Too stressed from the offensive scents of the alpha that still clogged his nostrils.

“Guess you can’t answer me right now, huh, nerd?” even as Kacchan said this his voice is low, soothing. Izuku almost immediately began to cry.

“I-I thought! K-Kacchan would…” Izuku guessed that his terrified scent was getting stronger because Kacchan’s head patting continued. He even began to rumble trying to alleviate Izuku’s pain like an Alpha would their mate or pup. He released his soothing scent, like caramel, maybe burnt sugar.

“Hey, I’m fine right? You’re fine right? Don’t worry, it’s over okay? We’ll have to go to the police station to give our statements and that’ll be done. Then, we’ll call Auntie and it's over okay nerd? Can you hear me?” Izuku, if he had been more present, would be alarmed at how well Kacchan seemed to comfort him.

How he still remembered all the right things to say. All the right things to do. Perhaps this was why he could never get over Katsuki.

He’d never love anyone as deeply as purely as he loved him.

Kacchan always knew what to do.

Like magic, Izuku’s cries begin to quiet. The next thing they knew they were in a car with a police officer, Izuku still clinging to Kacchan’s side. The detective had introduced himself as Naomasa something or the other but Izuku was still trying to get his bearings.

When Izuku’s scent finally returned to normal, Kacchan brushed his hand through his hair.

“You good now, nerd?’ he asks, softer than usual, probably trying not to gain too much attention from the detective that was driving them.

“Mm.” Izuku nodded in affirmation, moving away from Kacchan’s lap as his shock wore off.

There was something in Kacchan’s eyes that looked almost disappointed, but it disappeared as soon as it came.

“Cool.”

The air became suddenly very awkward and tense, Izuku kind of regretted moving away.

“Uh, when you said you quit the classes because of me. Did you, uh, did you mean it or were you just saying that?” Kacchan asks after a few minutes of silence.

Izuku looked at him carefully. He wanted to be angry with Katsuki, he really did. But, he couldn’t.

Not when he was so close to losing his...what were they now?

Not best friends certainly, but closer than acquaintances. Not quite rivals but not enemies either.
Looking at Kacchan right now he could only see the boy he’d do anything for.
That would probably never change.

Kacchan is his childhood friend, Izuku decides. No matter what happens that would never change.

Kacchan was Izuku’s precious childhood friend. He’d always be important to him.

“Yeah, I meant it.” he finally says, watching Kacchan’s face for some kind of reaction. When Kacchan flinches he continues. “Honestly though I didn’t think you’d care that much.”

This causes Kacchan to scowl. “Of course I care! We were supposed to do things together, dumbass! What makes you think I-oh.” At least Kacchan has the balls to look mildly guilty.

Izuku snorts. “Yeah, oh. You made it pretty clear you didn’t want me around.”

Kacchan looks at him like he ran over a cat, eyes sad in a way he’d never seen before.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then tell me what it is like! Because to me it looks like everyone’s an extra if they're not alpha like you, otherwise they can’t even be your equal.” Izuku says as he struggles to keep his volume down as to not arouse suspicion from the detective. He had already looked back curiously at their conversation.

Kacchan’s face was definitely crestfallen. He was staring blankly across Izuku before he opened his mouth again.

“I never...I never wanted you to feel that way. It’s not true you know, I don’t believe that at all. Out of everyone at our school the only person who’d ever be my equal is you. Beta, Alpha or Omega I don’t care as long as it’s you. You’re the only one that would ever come close.” he says finally, refusing to make eye contact.

The both of them are a little flushed at that. This was the first time in a long time they’d really talked about how they felt.

“W-why then? Um, why am I special?” Izuku softly, now only curious.

Kacchan gazes into his eyes searching for something. Then shrugs.

“The same reason you can’t seem to leave me alone either, I guess. You dreamed of being like All Might with me. We were going to get there together. So, even if that’s changed you're still my Deku. You’re the only one good enough to pay attention too.” he says finally, reclining backwards as if he had finally laid all his cards on the table.

Izuku flushed. “Your Deku. Huh.”

“I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!” Kacchan screams, gaining the attention of the detective.

The both of them go silent until the detective’s attention is finally diverted.

“So, you’re really not coming back then?” Kacchan ventures, voice strangely fragile. “Because of me? You’re giving up on your dreams because of me?”

Izuku looks at Kacchan, this time he takes his hands into his. Kacchan doesn’t pull away.

And, just like when they were kids Izuku would massage his hands the same way. Working from his wrist to the skin in between his thumb and his index finger.

It has the desired effect and Kacchan goes limp very quickly.

“I’m not. Maybe you're the reason I left but honestly I think it was for the better. Like I said, I was trying too hard to be like you and All Might. I didn’t try to figure out what Deku was going to be like. I need to figure out what I really want for myself.” he reveals gently, moving onto the next hand.

Kacchan looked at him like he’s entranced. Like he can’t look away. He licks his lips before responding.

“And what do you want? What are you going to do?”

Izuku closes his eyes, opens them to refocus on Kacchan properly.

“I still want to be like All Might, that won’t change just not in the same way. You’ve always liked him because he always wins right? It’s why you liked the MMA fights so much.’

Kacchan nods. “And you didn’t? You sure as hell seemed to enjoy getting your ass beaten by me!”

Izuku opens his mouth gaping at Kacchan before shoving his shoulder. “Kacchan!”

Kacchan grins happily at him, bringing his face close to Izuku’s before shoving his face back with his palm. “What? Am I wrong?”

“N-Yes! A-Anyway, I was talking to my mom about it and we kind of figured it out. While I don’t dislike winning, I’ve always wanted to be like All Might because he saves people y’know? That’s what always made him the coolest hero in my eyes…”

Izuku doesn’t know it then, but the look in his eyes at this moment is one his beloved Kacchan would never forget.

“And how does running the 800m mean saving people?” Kacchan decides to ask instead.

Izuku pouts at him. “It doesn’t but I like winning like that better. I don’t have to beat anyone up but I can still win in my own way if I work hard enough. I’ll just leave everyone to eat my dust from a distance!”

Kacchan seems to ponder this before nodding. “Guess it makes sense for a softie like you. What about your saving stuff then? How do you plan on being like All Might?”

He sighs, letting go of Kacchan’s hand to put his own face in his hands. “I’m still trying to figure that out. The first step is getting into U.A, I’ll figure it out from there.” Izuku winces suddenly realizing that his hands were scrapped. Slightly bleeding too.

Huh, why hadn’t he noticed that? Perhaps his adrenaline rush was wearing off.

Kacchan who had been unusually quiet beside him seems to notice it too.

“Deku?! When the fuck did you get hurt?” Kacchan demands. At this the detective pays attention asking politely.

“Midoriya? Are you okay?” ugh, this was the second time Izuku didn’t know the name of someone who was helping him. Get it together!

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just didn’t notice it till now. Just a few scraps on my hand from the asphalt. Not a big deal.” Izuku reassures, showing him his palms through the rear view mirror.

Seemingly placated the detective nods.

“Not a big deal, my ass. You got hurt because of me.” Kacchan grumbles, taking Izuku’s hands to cradle them in his again.

“S’fine Kacchan. I don’t regret it. I’d do it again if I had to! Saving people is what I’m meant to do. It’s made me more sure of my dream.” Izuku says tiredly, suddenly feeling the exhaustion of today weigh on his shoulders.

“I don’t need saving!” Kacchan refuses, frowning in clear displeasure. A beat then his frown grows bigger. “So you’re saying hurting yourself helped you learn something?”

Izuku laughs, surprisingly bright for the situation. “Yeah, I guess. Getting hurt from your mistakes usually helps you from making the mistakes again.”

Kacchan’s frown deepened further. “And you said that you’d do it again.”

“Yep!” Izuku grins cheerfully.

“Fucking martyr. Don’t know what I’m supposed to do with you.” Kacchan grumbles.

Izuku giggles, delighted by the sight of his grumpy best friend Kacchan. Not a complete asshole Kacchan. Not even comforting soft Kacchan.

His Kacchan, grumpy and grumbling Kacchan.
With this, Izuku allows himself to close his eyes for a few minutes. It’s been a long day.

Chapter 4: oolong

When Izuku awakes everything passes by in a hazy blur. Kacchan had shoved him awake, yelled at him to get out of the car and pulled him by the wrist into the police office.

They pass some time in the interrogation office, separately so Izuku doesn’t bother paying attention. They ask him question after question, why did he feel the need to get involved? How did he know how to disarm the gun? Had he interacted with this particular gang of criminals before?

The last question forces Izuku to pause. “Yes, I was attacked by one of them a bit before.”

This answer opens him up to another round of questioning. Izuku tries to explain as best he can, his encounter with the criminal, how it happened and where it happened.

When he brings up Yagi Toshinori though there is a stunned silence.

The only one who seems to understand is Detective Naomasa who has a slightly secretive smile.

“I figured as much. In that case, you’re free to go. Your mother and friend are waiting for you.”

Izuku nods, bowing to the police officers before making a quick exit. He just wants to go home.

“Deku, what the fuck took you so long!” Kacchan demands, equally as tired and worn out Izuku feels. He doesn’t want to be upset right now and so Izuku decides that telling the truth would be the energy saving method.

Katsuki’s mother, a carbon copy of her son smacked him upside the head. “Izu-kun’s clearly been through a lot today! Be nice, brat.”

Just as those words are said a rush of wind seems to pass them, and Izuku is pulled into the tightest hug of his entire life.

“Oh, Izuku! I was so worried. Why are you getting yourself into trouble like this?” his mother weeps, her arms crushing him in her strength. Izuku took comfort in her scent, soft eucalyptus and lillies. Gentle, sweet and comforting just like her.

“Mom - can’t - breathe!” Finally she let Izuku escape her grasp, checking Izuku’s face and body looking for injuries. She takes Izuku’s hands and frowns but doesn’t otherwise scold him.

“Well, I suppose it could be worse. Not like that river incident at least.” his mother decides plenty satisfied. The atmosphere immediately drops at the words.

Ah, the infamous river incident. Izuku doesn’t actually remember the details of said incident but everyone else involved seemed pretty traumatized.

Izuku was following around Kacchan and his lackeys - as usual- and they were just exploring. Exploring the forest they’d always explored together, taking their usual trek atop the log bridge over the river.

Izuku’s mom had always warned him about that log.

He didn’t heed her warnings because Inko Midoriya had a tendency to overthink and worry. She was great mom, Izuki was lucky to have her but right now Izuku was excited for his adventures with Katsuki and his friend so he didn’t care!

Perhaps he should have.

Before he knew it, he was sinking into the river with a crash to his head. From there he really had no idea what happened.

The next thing he knew he was in a hospital bed with a predictably clingy mother in tears. And most strangely, a less clingy best friend in tears.

For a long while after that Kacchan wouldn’t let him out of his sight. Held his hand everywhere they went, and even the slightest change in Izuku’s scent would have sent Kacchan to his side.

They were six years old at the time.

Now, nearly ten years later Kacchan still wasn’t too pleased to even mention the incident.

“No, never like the river.” Kacchan states moodily, shoving his hands into his pockets and sulking. His eyes grow distant and his scent sours, his usual gunpowder top note increasing to the point his usual caramel heart note was stifled completely.

“Okay! Well that’s my cue to leave with the brat, Katsuki say bye to Izu-kun and Inko it’s time we get a move on.” Mitsuki Bakugou sighs, pulling her son along. “See you guys!’
And with that they were off.

“Oh, but I didn’t get to thank Katsuki...ah next time.” his mother parts, before tugging Izuku with her as they move together towards the parking lot.

“For looking after you. I know the two of you haven’t hung out in a while. I figured something must’ve happened, but he still took the time to comfort you during your panic attack. I appreciate that.” she says softly, a little bit of reproach in her voice but mainly gratitude. “It’s good to know that no matter what happens between you boys, you’ll always have each other’s backs.”

Izuku is both too tired and too confused as to how his mother had come to such a conclusion but before he can ask they are interrupted by one Yagi Toshinori.

“Young man! You never fail to impress me!” he greets them, and his mother is in complete shock.

Ignoring her temporarily, Izuku grins bashfully. “Thanks, Toshinori-sensei.”

“S-sensei? Izuku this, this is -?!” his mother points, her surprise a near tangible thing.

“Yeah, mom. It’s All Might! He saved us earlier today.” Izuku explains, briefly more curious as to why the man had approached them.

Izuku’s mother bows, and Izuku follows quickly. “Thank you, for saving my son and his friend. We’re very grateful for your help.”

Toshinori-sensei acts predictably, blushing at the thanks and playing it down. “N-not a problem! It’s good that they’re both safe! I, uh, came here to take up on something young Izuku here had asked me earlier. He has proved himself worthy.”

Izuku can’t help but stare at him in shock.

“Would you like to become a hero, young man? I’ll train you, just as you asked up until your U.A exam.” All Might says much like the cartoons Izuku had watched a long time ago.

Izuku can hear a strangled sob escape his mother’s mouth and Izuku couldn’t help himself either.

With tears in his eyes and his future looking brighter than ever Izuku accepts.

---

Izuku’s quietly humming to himself, contentment he didn’t think he could ever feel in his bones.

Yagi Toshinori was going to train him. Believed in him.

Kacchan wasn’t bothering him anymore, they could still be friends.

Things in his life were settling in a way he couldn’t have ever dreamed of.

Life was looking pretty good right. Like it was worth living.

Even if he’s stuck eating lunch by himself, he doesn’t mind it. Not today. He has his notebooks sprawled around him assessing his current predicament.

His personal reflection had only taken his 15 minutes to do. His essay on facing adversity took another 30.Yesterday’s happenings with added evidence from the news made his story real, reliable and most importantly unique. He tried to write it as accurately as he could, not wanting to embellish anything for the sake of a ‘more entertaining’ read. At the same time, he didn’t want it to sound like the bland stunted rendition of the events he’d told the officers in choppy half-asleep sentences.

He’d done the personal reflection the second he got up for breakfast. Hadn’t been an issue. Then there was his essay, he’d finished now at lunch. He’d have to edit both later but he was surprised at how good it felt to get it all done.How quickly he’d accomplished these tasks. All he had left now would be the written exam, which he wasn’t too worried about; his mock was pretty good. Then of course, was the Letter of Reference that -

Shit! With all the excitement of having his role model train him, he had forgotten about that. Maybe he could get the man to write? Izuku couldn’t ask so much of him though.

It’s not like he had expected him to say yes.

“Oi, Deku!” a voice called an Izuku looks up to see Kacchan. Kacchan without his stupid lackeys trailing him as they usually did.

“Huh, Kacchan? What are you doing here?” Izuku asks, closing the laptop and moving his notebooks to make space for his friend.

Kacchan snorts, crouching underneath the space under the stairwell beside him. Izuku didn’t realize how small the space was, their shoulders pressed together.

It was tight fit but they made it work.

“The real question is what the fuck are you doing here?” he asks, his voice all gravelly and scratchy. Huh, no wonder he wasn’t with his goons. His voice only got like that after he cried. A lot. Kacchan had definitely cried himself to sleep last night and he wouldn’t let those guys near him in such a vulnerable state if that was the last thing he did.
“I like sitting here. It’s quiet and I get a lot of work done.” Izuku explains, deciding to not mention the reason he had even begun sitting here was because of Katsuki anyway.

Kacchan was vulnerable and raw right now. Izuku wasn’t an ass, he wasn’t going to rub salt into Kacchan’s clearly very raw wounds-

“Because of me, you mean.” Kacchan instead completely ignores Izuku’s inner monologue.

He frowns. “Kacchan, it's fine don’t worry about it-”

“Don’t tell me what’s fine and what’s not, shitty nerd! I was a dick to you! I was the worst! I told you you stank and that you digusted me and yesterday I basically told you to kill yourself and I don’t get how you can still stand to look at me and-” Kacchan’s lower lip is trembling, trying very hard not to cry.

Izuku could read his thought process in this moment as easily as breathing. He was frustrated, frustrated that he had hurt Izuku but also frustrated that he couldn’t read Izuku as he once could. He was even more frustrated that it was his own fault that he had nobody but himself to blame.

Izuku can’t really tell him otherwise, because it is his fault. He hurt Izuku more than he could fully comprehend but…

That didn’t mean he had to face his pain alone.

So, Izuku hugs him. Izuku hugs him so Kacchan’s face is pressed near the pulse point near his collarbone. Where the most of Izuku’s now soothing scent is released.

Kacchan sobs. It's quiet, silent, nothing like how Izuku cries loud and heartbreaking to hear.

If Izuku cries like he’s telling the world of his pain, Kacchan cries like he’s fighting hard to keep it all in. Choked gasps, and closed eyes.

Izuku runs his hands up and down his back letting him cry to his heart's content.

“I forgive you, you know. You’re an ass. You say things to push people away and you don’t always mean what you say. But you’re not a bad person. We wouldn’t have been best friends if you were. I’d never go out of my way to save a bad person.” Izuku reassures softly, as Kacchan’s cries die out slowly.

When Kacchan finally disentangles himself from Izuku he’s back to a grumpy self.

“You didn’t save me. You just kickstarted the inevitable.” Kacchan pouts, not looking him in the eye.

Izuku can’t help but smile. “Sure.”

Kacchan scowls hands ready for a fight. “You looking down on me nerd? Looking for a fight because-”

“No, of course not! You should know by now that I don’t do that. Anyway, if you’re feeling better I got some stuff to work on.” Izuku replies, before opening up his laptop.

“Hey! Stop ignoring me Deku! What’s so fucking important that you can’t pay attention to me anymore?” Kacchan seethes, grabbing Izuku’s laptop to see what it was he was working on.

There was a 10 page essay on the events of what occured yesterday. Kacchan scowls.

He shoves the laptop into Izuku’s lap again before groaning.

“The stupid U.A essay, Okay shitty Deku, I don’t care. Do what you want, just be a good pillow for me.” and after that the rest of lunch passed in complete silence, save for Kacchan’s quiet snores.

As Izuku typed, editing his work with Kaccchan sleeping on his shoulder he couldn’t help but smile. He could get used to this.

Chapter 5: soy

Summary:

how is it that in just a few months he was allowed to be reborn again?

Notes:

double update today!! :D

Izuku cannot contain his happiness today. The lunch he’d spent with Kacchan, the training he’d soon have with Toshinori-sensei and every day he was coming closer and closer to his dream.

It's his last period when his phone buzzes in his pocket. Usually, such a phenomenon either indicated his mother would be working late today or someone had interacted with his latest tweet on his All Might stan account.

Before, it would only ever be one or the other.

Today he had been looking forward to Toshinori-sensei’s text. He couldn’t believe it.

He had All Might’s number!

Unable to resist, Izuku took out his phone from his pocket discreetly. He felt his heart beating louder and louder in his chest. He had never used his phone in class before, but this was something he could not wait for.

Toshinori-sensei (all might!!): Meet me @ Dagobah Beach around 5

Izuku could not possibly contain his smile. Wow. He really had texted him. Izuku couldn’t help but wonder what Toshinori-sensei had in store for him! Would they be swimming? Izuku liked it well enough, though he didn’t have the natural inclination for it the way he did with running. Hurdles too came much easier since his legs were significantly stronger than his arms which made sense consider-

“Midoriya! Please stop texting your girlfriend or whatever it is your doing and focus in class! Do not make me confiscate your phone.” his teacher yelled, shocking Izuku into putting away his device and getting back on task.

Despite being slightly embarrassed at being called out like that, Izuku still couldn’t stifle the dopey smile that was lighting up his face. He was going to be trained by All Might today!

As soon as the bell rings, Izuku rushes to gather all his things to get out of school as fast as possible.

Just as he’s about to run out the door, he feels someone pull him back by the collar of his shirt.

He turns around ready to politely tell whatever classmate holding him back to knock it off only to be met with Kacchan.

Of course.

“What’s up with you, nerd? You’re being more restless and annoying than usual. You really gotta date like sensei said?” Kacchan asks, seemingly nonchalant, shoving his fists into his pockets the way that he does when he’s displeased but doesn’t want to show it.

Izuku flashes immediately from just hearing the word “date” come out of Kacchan’s mouth.

“D-Date?! N-NO! I’m, uh, just meeting up with someone” Izuku watches Kacchan’s face darken further and he backtracks quickly “No, not like that! It’s, ah, my new mentor!”

Kacchan looks at him critically before shrugging noncommittally. “Whatever you say, nerd. Don’t start slacking off now.” and with that he bumps Izuku’s shoulder (encouragingly?) before exiting the classroom leaving Izuku confused and slightly flustered.

This was a new dynamic for him to navigate with his childhood friend. They had been best friends once, hands intertwined ready to face the entire world together. Then they had been...not quite enemies since there was never any hostility from Izuku’s side. Further than acquaintances but not quite strangers.

Now they were something else. For some reason, Izuku felt like he’d spent a large portion of his life wondering what his presence meant in Kacchan’s life.

In any case, Izuku knew he had to get a move on. There was no way he’d keep Toshinori-sensei waiting.

---

Takoba beach is nothing like what Izuku had envisioned it to be.

He had imagined a sandy white beach, revealing a gorgeous skyline with crystalline waters. That around sunset he’d see the sun turn a bright, luminous orange and slowly sink into the horizon. The water would reflect the setting sun with almost equal brilliance. The sky would turn mauve, and the sounds of lapping water would lull him into a peaceful trance.

These expectations were brutally crushed by reality.

For all intents and purposes the beach had turned into a junkyard. Overrun by garbage of all varying sizes and shapes.

The only thing more foul than the sight was the stench.

Not wanting to be rude but completely puzzled, Izuku finally found his voice.

“Um, Toshinori-sensei, are we in the right place?” he asks tentatively, scratching the back of his neck. He had been under the impression he’d be taking laps around the beach and then going for a swim. This couldn’t have been further from that reality.

Toshinori-sensei looked at him and laughed. “Do not worry, Young Midoriya! We are where we were meant to be. I’m sure this is not what you were expecting, and it is for that reason that we are here!”

Izuku stares at him, at a complete loss as to what his role model was saying. “Huh?”

Toshinori-sensei smiles warmly despite Izuku’s clueless response. “If I were to train you in a regular gym that would attract a lot of unwanted attention, no? It would create a huge mess I’m sure neither of us would like to be involved with.”

Izuku takes in the information and can’t help but stare at him in utter awe. “So this is like a secret mission! To prevent altering the media of your presence!”

All Might grins and ruffles his air. “More than that, this place offers all the training you need while doing a good deed at the same time!”

“Your job in the next six months before the U.A Entrance Exam is to fully complete this training schedule until then!” Toshinori-sensei declares, and out of thin air produces a long list titled “Aim to Pass! American Dream Plan”.

Clean the whole beach?! By himself? Was that even possible?

Izuku takes the schedule from Toshinori-sensei’s hands looking it over.

1.5km run with 10-15kg backpack
3x50m rope pull
3x200m farmers carry
3x200m overhead carry
3x300m tire push
3x100 squats
run 3km
3x50 pushups
3x100m backpack carry
3x10 bench press
3x15 biceps curl

All of these were in addition to a well-proteined, high starch and high calorie diet.

Izuku had undergone multiple diets and workout routines before but nothing could have fully prepared him for this.

Privately, Izuku wondered if he was going to survive this.

Yet, when he looked into the brilliant, shining eyes of his role model, Izuku couldn’t find it in himself to back down.

Toshinori-sensei suddenly stared at him seriously before unlocking his phone. He was muttering to himself for a bit before looking at Izuku again.

“Take off your shirt, young Midoriya.”

 

“W-What?!” Izuku squeaked, completely taken aback.

“I want to get a before and after picture of you to see how well this works. Go on, now!”

The path to success was not linear, was not easy and was not fast.

Even if this process seemed impossible, just standing in front of Yagi Toshinori proved that even the most unlikely events could happen.

If he wanted this, he was going to work for it. With the eyes of his role model in his mind, Izuku refused to give up.

“I’m ready to do this Toshinori-sensei, PLUS ULTRA!”

And this was the beginning of a fresh kind of hell.

The days were going by more quick than he could remember in previous years. He’d wake up scarf down breakfast, bike to school, attend classes, bike back from school to the beach and go through his training, bike home, rush through dinner, shower and go to bed.

The same schedule would follow the next day, rinse and repeat.

Izuku was forced to do a lot of school work in quiet moments in between. In the morning as he ate breakfast, during lunch in his private stairwell. Often enough, a lot of his school work got piled up to finish on the weekend.

Izuku kind of felt like he was barely treading water.

The first week in particular was fresh hell. To the point that others would comment.

“You look like shit, Deku.”

“Thanks, Kacchan!”

“Is something going on at home Midoriya? Are you okay?”

“Never better!”

Like this, days turned into weeks and weeks into months.

Before he knew it, Izuku was moving the last of the garbage. Bit by bit, Izuku took a step back every single day. The first few days had been the hardest, it seemed like the garbage on the beach would never end.

Like the junkyard was growing without him knowing.

Then suddenly one day Izuku was startled. First there was a path amongst the junk, but just barely visible was a small road of sand peeking out through the filth.

Slowly these paths became entire areas of barren sand.

Now, Izuku could gloriously walk past lengths and lengths of the beach and admire it’s infinite glory.

With the last of the garbage collected in the huge garbage bags they brought Izuku grinned at the sight before him.

Here was that vision from all those months ago, the soft sand between his toes. The setting sun dipping into the horizon. The sun a bright, luminous orange and the sky sinking into a dark mauve.

“Young Midoriya!”

Izuku instantly turned to face him.

Though Izuku wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to having Toshinori-sensei looking over him the past six months had been invaluable to Izuku.

“Yeah, Toshinori-sensei?” he asks softly, not wanting to break the ambiance.

“I just wanted to say...I’m very proud of you, Izuku-kun.” the man said with watery eyes. “These past few months you’ve worked yourself to the bone in addition to whatever school work you’ve been doing. It takes a lot of courage, strength and discipline to accomplish what you’ve done these past few months. I’m very impressed!” Toshinori-sensei informs him sincerely.

Izuku feels his eyes start to burn and before he’s sobbing into hands trying desperately to keep his tears at bay.

“Oh dear. Didn’t I tell you to quit being a crybaby?” even as he says this, he’s bringing Izuku into a hug. Letting him cry into his stomach.
“S-sorry! I’m sorry sensei, it’s just...I’m not going to see you again after this, am I?” Izuku asks, sounding every bit as heartbroken as he feels.

“Won’t see you again? What on Earth...oh! OH! I never told you, did I?” Toshinori-sensei laughs, leaving Izuku feeling both miserable and confused.

“Never told me what?”

“That’s a secret! Just know that I will see you soon, young Midoriya. And that’s a promise!”

Izuku stares at him, trying to memorize every bit of his role model’s face. He consoles himself by remembering everything he went through these paths with All Might’s eyes on him. Supporting him, pushing him and training him to become the best version of himself he could possibly be.

Consoling himself with these memories he nods, drying all his tears.

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Now! I wanted to make sure you told me you’ve completed your personal reflection and your essay, yes?”

Izuku nods.

“What about that Letter of Reference?”

Izuku freezes. Oh crap. He had known he had forgotten something, but what with the training and school he had completely forgotten. The Entrance Exam was tomorrow! Would he have to get his mom to write it as he had feared? Maybe she could pretend to be one of his teachers. Was that identity theft?!

“Just as I thought! Don’t worry about it, kid. I’ve got it under control!”

Out of nowhere appeared a white envelope, with Izuku’s name on it.

“I-Is this?” he says in pure shock, hands shaking. The envelope is smooth as it reaches his fingers, a pretty red seal far too elegant to even be associated with Izuku firmly keeping it shut. “Toshinori-sensei, you did this? T-That’s too much!”

Toshinori-sensei nods. “You’re right! It would be too much of U.A had known I was this involved with you. That’s why I didn’t write it! Do you remember that detective who you spoke to, back when those robbers attacked?”

Izuku’s eyes widened. “V-Vaguely.”

Toshinori-sensei smiles at him fondly. “Honest, I like it! Well, he’s a good buddy of mine. When I told him you were applying for U.A and I was training you he took it upon himself to write about how much you impressed him.”

Izuku couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He barely even remembered the guy’s name!

“Congrats, Midoriya! You’re so close to getting into U.A! I have no doubts about tomorrow's exam. You’ll be just fine.”

Izuku couldn’t help it. He cried again.

“Seriously, young Midoriya I worry for you. Now, let me take a picture of your final step! We can compare the results of your training to what you had when you started.”

Drying his tears, Izuku nods. His t-shirt had long since been flung to the ground, working out shirtless felt better for his skin.

As Toshinori-sensei turns his phone to show him Izuku is shocked to see the difference.

Izuku had been fairly toned before, specifically his lower body. His thighs and calves had to be solid in order to endure his beloved 800m. Hurdles too required a solid base.

While his less than stellar swim did help to keep his arms and torso lean they weren’t particularly strong.

Now, however...his arms had almost doubled in size and his shoulders were certainly broader. The well cut six-pack was also an addition that came as a major shock to him. Honestly if he hadn’t had the same face in both pictures, he wouldn’t have even recognized himself.

Well, actually even his face looked different. He had freckled more due to more exposure to the sun, and his cheeks were nowhere near as soft. His face was less round and his jaw was sharply chiseled.

“Woah.”

Toshinori nodded, getting slightly misty eyed. “Woah, indeed.”

Izuku stared at him before crushing him in a hug.

“Thank you for everything, Toshinori-sensei. I promise, I won’t let you down.”

Before the man could reciprocate, Izuku let go to sit in seiza bending forwards and bowing with respect. Izuku wasn’t sure if he could fully express his gratitude. Saikeirei was the only way he knew how.

Once Izuku gets up, Toshinori-sensei rushes to collect him.
“There was no need for that, my boy! Oh, you’re going to make a grown man cry.” He says, pulling Izuku into a hug so fierce he thought he was going to be crushed.

“I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you, young Midoriya.”

Notes:

http://fantasytrainingproject.blogspot.com/2015/04/izuku-midoriya-training-boku-no-hero.html
https://www.tofugu.com/japan/bowing-in-japan/

some links i used as reference in case anyone's interested

Chapter 6: cherry blossom

Summary:

the start of something new

When Izuku awakes that morning with a determined gleam in his eyes. He would do his best today. There was nothing to worry about. He had spent countless hours, days and months preparing himself for this.

Then, why was there this pit inside his heart? Part of him couldn’t completely believe that this was happening. How could this be happening? How could he possibly deserve to be taught by Toshinori-sensei? There were dozens and dozens of applicants to U.A.

What had he seen in him? What made Izuku different in any regard?

In any case, now was not the time to be second guessing his sensei’s choices. He’d have to trust his judgement and pray he could live up to those expectations.

In the meantime, he’d better get up and eat breakfast at a decent hour. Today would be a long day, and he had to get going. There was no time to waste.

Izuku charged through his tasks at a brisk pace, glancing at his phone as often as possible to make sure he wasn’t wasting time.

Quickly brushing his teeth, and changing into presentable clothes Izuku all but shoved his breakfast down his throat.

“Izuku.” his mother says suddenly, catching his attention.

“Huh?”

“I just wanted to say...I’m unbelievably proud of you son. I know you’ve been training so hard all this time. And I’m so, so proud of you. You deserve to go to that school more than anyone, and if the people there don’t see that they are the ones losing. Not you.”

Izuku looked at his mother in shock, completely taken aback.

“M-Mom?” and of course, his mother’s eyes were misty, on the verge of the infamous Midoriya Meltdown.

As soon as he had seen the look on her face, he’d gotten up to hug her. He couldn’t handle seeing his mother's tears without a few escaping his own eyes.

“I love you so much! I know things have been so, so hard for you. You’ve never given up, no matter what’s happened and I’m just..so proud of you Izuku. I’ll always be so proud of you.” his mother weeps, cradling his face near her neck. The way she had when he was just a babe, keeping him close to her scent gland where the calming notes of eucalyptus and lavender would calm all Izuku’s worries.

It would seem as though that source of comfort and relief would never change.

“M-Mom, don’t cry! No, now I’m crying too. I love you too. So much.” Izuku murmurs, letting his mother’s embrace steal away all worries and anxieties.

After brushing their tears away they realize how much time they’d wasted. Izuku rushed to take his backpack with his change of clothes, lunch, his pencil case and the folder that held all the documents required for his application.

Giving his mother one last hug, Izuku departs for the train station.

It’s a gorgeous day, the sky clear and birds chirping. Izuku took a deep breath.

Today was the day.

Time seemed to pass at a strange rate, it felt as though the train was slow. The cityscape flying by seemed to go on for hours on end and Izuku wasn’t sure why he was getting worked up again.

Surely the ride only seemed to go forever since he was used to biking or walking to school.

As more people began to file in, Izuku suddenly longed for the comfort of anyone. His mother, Toshinori-sensei, even Kacchan. He desperately wished for a familiar face in this sea of strangers but for the first time in a while Izuku would truly have to fend for himself without the emotional support.

Izuku belatedly recalled something he had learnt when he was small.

No matter where you go, you were never truly alone as long as you had someone you cherished deep inside your heart.

That even in the loneliest of moments, if you recall someone with whom you love very dearly that person’s very presence in your life would light up one’s heart and soul.

Despite his love for his mother and his admiration for All Might this person, for him, could have only ever been Bakugou Katsuki.

Even with their falling out all those years ago, it was the image of a younger and nicer Kacchan that had lit up his darkest days. Though Kacchan could be an insensitive ass, he was a beacon of light no matter where he went.

So even if middle school had been a lonely, miserable time the knowledge that his friend was still there trapped in the body of an insecure brat.

This idea of a cherished person who’s image stayed in your heart was usually someone special. Someone you could not imagine your life without. Someone who touches your soul in a way that marks it forever.

While he loved his mother and All Might, truly, Kacchan has always meant something a little more. Even being in the guy’s presence made him feel vulnerable and raw in a way nothing else could.

Sometimes this vulnerability and rawness hurt, it hurt because there was nothing they could really hide from each other. Which made secrets and feelings kept under lock and key even more difficult to handle.

Nevertheless, Izuku couldn’t bring himself to be too upset. He couldn’t bring himself to resent Kacchan, because for all his flaws, Kacchan was still amazing and-

He really needed to stop thinking like this. He was just setting himself up for heartbreak. It should’ve been clear to his stupid, fragile, bleeding heart that the moment Kacchan told him that he stank, that he disgusted him. Izuku should have known at the very moment that there was no possibility of his childhood friend ever accepting his affections.

Kacchan may exaggerate the truth, especially when he was frustrated, but he never lied. Kacchan was an honest person. If Izuku’s very scent repulsed Kacchan during his presenting rut then it was all the more proof of any non-platonic compatibility.

Hope was a cruel and fickle mistress. For a person as plain as Izuku, hope was the only thing he had to hold onto. This hope made him sick with desperation. Even now it whispered him with sweet lies, telling him Kacchan’s lingering looks, his comforting touches and the way he seemed to fluster more easily was because of something more.

Izuku knows to some degree that there are other plausible explanations for these events. After all, if there’s one thing Izuku’s good at, it's mulling things over and over and his brain came up with every possibility and explanation there could be. Whether these conclusions hurt him or not were irrelevant.

In any case, Izuku shouldn’t be letting such a...petty distraction keep him from his current mission. Getting into U.A.

After then, he could take all the time in the world to delight in the husk of his best friend’s voice and-

Now was really not the time.

Izuku sighed before taking out his notebook. He needed something more concrete to distract him right now. His notebook detailing many pro-MMA fighters fighting styles seemed a lot more helpful than thinking about Kacchan.

Before Izuku knew it he was at his stop. As he trekked to the school, he couldn’t help but gape in awe. There was a huge gate in front of the school and further back you could see other buildings nearby. Some must be venues and stadiums to conduct all the Athletics classes. Some must’ve been dorms.

“Get out of the way nerd! Some of us got places to be!” an angry voice grumbled, causing Izuku to jump at the sudden intrusion of his thoughts.

Izuku moved away, voice a little caught in his throat. Kacchan looked so ready for today, his confidence and very presence palpable in a way Izuku could only hope to achieve.

“K-Kacchan, g-good luck!” he murmurs, a little in awe.

Kacchan only looks at him in the eye then, scoffing. “I don’t need dumb luck.”

He moves away continuing on his way into the building. “And you don’t either, shitty nerd. Grow some balls.”

On one hand Izuku appreciates the sentiment. On the other, he didn’t even know how to acknowledge the statement.

Izuku could feel the nerves get hold of him again. God, he was a mess. Just as he thought this, he found himself tripping readying himself to fall face first.

Like magic, he felt someone’s hand clutch at the back of his shirt before pulling him back safely.

A pretty cute, bubbly girl grinned at him. The wind carried a breath of sakura and lilac, with something a bit more grounded. Almonds? Or maybe walnuts? The scent was beta like him, that much he could confirm.

“Sorry about touching you without your permission. Figured it would be bad luck to fall right before the exam, right?” the girl says, shyly scratching the back of her neck.

Izuku found himself completely out of his depth, unable to respond. His face was burning from embarrassment and he could barely get a word through besides a very shaky “Thanks!”.

The girl smiled politely and continued on her way, leaving Izuku a little stunned.

He’d never really talked to a girl besides his mom before. He really had come far!

As Izuku walked through the doors of U.A, Izuku walked with newfound confidence and his head held high. No matter what came in their way, Izuku would succeed. There would be no more time to hesitate not today.

The first thing had been to confirm his registration, then submit his application by handing over his folder. After confirming that his registration and documents were all submitted properly Izuku was free to walk into the atrium. There stood the legendary artist turned actor to radio jockey and talk show host Present Mic.

As Izuku took a seat, he couldn’t help but mutter in awe. The man has been a legend born from U.A’s arts program known for his talent in music and the performing arts. He had heard rumours that he had participated in the screenplay of various movies and musicals though-

“Oi Deku, quit your fucking muttering.” a hauntingly familiar voice called.

Izuku turns in his seat immediately, stunned to his bright red eyes and spikey blond hair that he had seen so much of. All throughout his childhood. What were the odds that they’d be sitting next to each other? The place was packed, some even choosing to sit on the floor.

It seems that fate would always push them together. Izuku was still trying to figure out whether or not this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Grinning at Izuku’s shocked face, leaning forwards to rest his elbows and the table and place his chin on his palm leaning forward.

“What, nerd? Not gonna back out now, are ya?” Kacchan’s smile was wolfish, as if ready to pounce on Izuku when he least expected it.

Izuku huffed. “No way. Just surprised we ended up sitting next to each other.”

Kacchan nodded at that. “S’whatever. Not like we’re gonna be at the same exam venue anyway.”

“Huh?”

Kacchan looked at him like he was stupid. Or clueless. Actually, he looked at him like that a lot.

“Since we go to the same middle school? It’s a way to make sure we won’t cheat. Not like we need to, but it's just a precaution. You usually pay attention to shit like this nerd, what happened? Did you hit your head on the way in here, Deku?”

Izuku chooses not to make eye contact at that, which immediately sets off his friend’s suspicion.

“W-Well, I didn’t actually hit my head. There was the girl who came and helped right as I was about-”

Kacchan scoffs, though his eyes are fond. “Of fucking course, you did. Figures that a nerd like you is a klutz too.” he says, ruffling his hair.

“K-Kacchan!”

Before the two could continue with their regular shenanigans Present Mic yelled into his microphone.

“Goooooood morning, listeners! Welcome to the U.A Entrance Exam! Up until now has been the easiest part, but from here on you will be put to test. This school isn’t for just anybody.” Present Mic begins, his spiel and long winded yet entertaining as it was on the radio.

Izuku, for the life of him, hadn’t realized he was still fanboying until a random guy with glasses told him off for being disrespectful.

Izuku felt a kind of shame overcome him that he hadn’t known was possible.

Strangely, comfort comes to him in the form of Bakugou Katsuki of all people.

“What crawled up his ass and died?”

Izuku tried his best to stifle a laugh but the grin couldn’t stay off his face. Kacchan seemed pleased by the reaction before turning to finally pay attention to what Present Mic was saying.

“Now, now what a lovely question! That’s right, everyone here for the Athletics program has been placed in this information presentation. From here all of you will be randomly placed in various places across the campus to conduct your written assessments. Then after your lunch, in which you're free to roam as you please you will be given time to change as you see fit for your physical assessment. You will be separated based on type of athletics. These being Track and Field, Combat and Group Sports. How your event coordinators chose to split you up from there will be up to them! All right, that’s all we have to cover for now. Please file out in an orderly fashion for your written exam. You’re all dismissed.”

Just as those words were spoken, all the students rushed out. A mass of excitement, nerves and desperation to prove themselves.

Izuku wondered what the rest of the day had in store for him.

Notes:

somehow i think this is the best chapter i've written so far

Chapter 7: thyme

Summary:

U.A ENTRANCE EXAM REVEALED

The written exam had been exactly what Izuku had expected.

All in all, he probably shouldn’t complain. He had heard a bunch of people in his section scream about how they barely finished on time, or had to leave a few questions blank. It truly made him wonder if these candidates were even taking this seriously. Did they not study? How could they possibly think they could get into U.A without putting in that effort? Izuku couldn’t understand it for the life of him.

For no, that should be the least of his worries. He still had the physical portion of the Entrance Exam to worry about it. He couldn’t afford to be thinking about useless things right now.

Izuku had his lunch ready to eat, but to find a place to sit.

There! It was the All Might statue. As one of the most famous alumni of the school, All Might had been recognized by the school for his incredible achievements. Here stood an incredible statue with his likeness, and after seeing pictures online there was no way he’d be sitting anywhere else!

The likeness was uncanny, though there were a few things that were off. To start of with, they’d forgot completely to add the crow’s feet that lined the man’s eyes and-

“Figured I’d find you here nerd.”

Izuku was a little surprised as to how often Kacchan was finding him today. Perhaps he’d be doing it with some sort of purpose?

“Guess I’m pretty predictable, huh?” he grins, nervously. Kacchan was here with him. Alone, and willingly. Presumingly to eat lunch with him.

The thought caused a sudden rush of euphoria to flood through him. Kacchan wanted to spend time with him voluntarily.

“Of course, a dumb fanboy like you would want sit here. Can’t say I blame you though.” Kacchan says, sounding a little exasperated before sitting on the floor next to him. “Guess you did okay on the shitty exam then? You don’t look like you're about to cry anymore.”

Izuku pouted at that. That made him sound like a baby! “I don’t cry that much!”

Kacchan stares at him for only two seconds before Izuku caves. “I just have overactive tear ducts! I can’t help it, it runs in the family.” he huffs puffing up his cheeks in embarrassment.

Snorting, Kacchan reaches over to pinch his cheek. “Can’t argue with you there, Auntie cries pretty often too.”
They banter with each other like that for a few minutes like that as they eat. Talking like this with Kacchan came so naturally it was almost like they hadn’t avoided each other for almost three years.
It felt like a few hours had passed in those short few minutes but Izuku enjoyed it thoroughly. It had been so long since they could just talk casually like this, and Izuku felt truly blessed.

Then as if to wake him up from his dream his phone vibrated, reminding him to change now to make it in time for the next portion of the exam.

Kacchan looked over his shoulder and grunted. “It’s already time, huh? I think I saw the changing room this way.”

Together they walked past the main building to get to the boys change room. They changed in relative silence, turning away from each other.

Izuku was more than excited to wear the outfit his mother made for him. The school had given them freedom to wear what they wished. He was pretty excited to see how he looked.

It took some time to get into, but Izuku was impressed. The teal trisuit clung to him like a second skin and he was pretty thankful for Toshinori-sensei’s training or he would’ve been more self-conscious of it. There were pretty black details along the sides, little black boxes that extended from his ribcage to the hip.

Izuku felt better than ever, looking at the fruit of his mother’s support for him.

“You’ve really been working hard, huh nerd?” Kacchan called behind him. Izuku immediately snapped out of it, turning to face his childhood friend.

Izuku felt his mouth go dry. Kacchan’s outfit was also extremely form fitting. Generally, MMA fights were done without shirts but it seemed as those for the exam they had allowed. Perhaps, it was because they were still amateurs?

In any case, Izuku was somewhat thankful for the decision because he knew he surely wouldn’t have been able to handle a shirtless Kacchan right now.

His gear consisted of black surfer shorts that clung less to his legs than Izuku’s outfit but were snug nonetheless. Dark green gloves with orange palms, and a black rash guard that held an orange-X across his pectorals.

Izuku found himself a little speechless, though it appeared as though Kacchan wasn’t any better.

Feeling a little self-conscious now Izuku pulled on the dty-fit hoodie he had packed just in case. Kacchan frowned thoughtfully and Izuku decided he wasn’t going to think too deeply about that.

“Y-You too. Um, we should get going, right?” Izuku says after managing to find his voice after a few seconds of silence.

This seemed to finally snap the guy out of his daze.

“Right.” he grunted.

The two continued to walk in silence, and for once Kacchan seemed to be walking behind him. This was the first time he had purposefully done such a thing and Izuku wondered what he was contemplating so deeply to be lost in thought at a time like this. It was very unlike him.

When they finally reached the main building, Izuku realized they would be parting ways. He would be going to the P.E grounds while Kacchan would be going to Ground Gamma. They would have to part ways here.

“Kacchan.” he says softly, getting Kacchan’s attention from where he was looking at the ground. “Don’t lose.”

Kacchan grinned at him sharply, seemingly satisfied by his statement. “You too, nerd.”

And with that they parted ways.

As Izuku walked alone, without the silent comfort that Kacchan’s presence always gave him Izuku felt panic seize him again.

Izuku picked up the pace before he’d talk himself into ditching the exam completely.

---

Izuku recognized a few of the people in this venue.

There was the guy that had called him out before, Izuku made sure to stay clear of him, and then there was the girl who helped him.

Oh! Izuku should go say hi and thank her properly! He hadn’t really gotten the chance before and the girl had seemed friendly enough. Her costume was really cute, a pretty light pink short sleeved rash guard and black biker shorts.

Before Izuku even got the chance, the glasses kid stopped him. The dark haired guy grabbed him by the collar and started to rant at him like a misbehaving pup. He was unreasonably intimidating for a guy Izuku’s age. His state of the art Lycra shorts and top with the latest nike spikes also spoke of a well-off family. Why did this guy have to notice Izuku, off all people?

“Excuse me, but aren’t you the one that disturbed the entire presentation with your rambling?! And here you are going to disturb this girl here too! You need to get your priorities straight, we are here to take an exam. Not make friends! I’ll have you know-” as the guy continued to scold him his alpha pheromones grew more strong and intimidating. The heedier notes of leather and cedarwood took on a more burnt smell, flooding his nostrils and making Izuku whimper.

Izuku had always been pretty sensitive to scents and this alpha was making it worse.

“Hey, knock it off! I think you’ve told him off enough as it is. Can’t you see you're taking it too far?” the voice of the nice beta girl from earlier called.

The guy stopped abruptly, seeing Izuku’s rather pathetic demeanour and releasing him.

“Oh, sorry. I apologize, I didn’t intend to take this so far.” the guy says sincerely.

Izuku takes a deep breath, and thankfully the beta beside him releases her own calming scent and Izuku recovers quickly.

“Ah, it’s fine. You’re right, I just got ahead of myself. Sorry.” Izuku apologizes quietly, wanting more than anything for this awkward social interaction to be over.

“Uh, as long as you recognize your mistake, I suppose it’s fine.” the guy shrugs, pausing to look at Izuku’s sorry state. His eyes soften before extending his hand. “Though this is probably the wrong way to do things I’m Tenya Iida.”

Izuku smiles softly at that, still a little intimidated but wanting to put his best foot forward. “Midoriya Izuku.”

“And I’m Ochaco Uraraka! Nice to meet you guys!” the bubbly beta girl grins.

The atmosphere now significantly improved, Izuku’s about to ask them their respective events when Present Mic yells his greeting.

“All right you zygotes! Can I have the long jump, high jump and pole vaulting individuals to the Sand Box!” Present Mic calls in his booming voice. “Then I want to do the discus, javelin and shot put near the Red Field! Each athlete must participate in each event depending on location. This means long jump individuals must perform high jump and pole vault and those with the accumulated highest scores will perform better on this exam!”

Uraraka seems to perk up at that. “Oh! That’s me! Shot put is my event. I guess I’ll see you guys around. Good luck!” she tells them cheerfully before running off.

Izuku frowns, he hadn’t known this exam would be conducted like this. “This puts people who specialize in one partcular event at a disadvantage.”

Iida nods, adjusting his glasses at the bridge of his nose. “Yes, you are right. As expected, U.A isn’t looking for one trick ponies here. They’re looking for general athleticism to see how much we can offer the school.”

“I wonder what that would mean for the combat athletes..” Izuku muttered before Present Mic began speaking again.

“Alright, alright! Now can we have the 100m, 400m and 800m students walking towards the track in the middle of the venue! This will also be the location for those of you doing hurdles.” Present Mic yelled.

“That would be me.” Iida informed him, starting to move.

“Wait for me!” Izuku called, following after the man.

Iida paused, giving ample time to walk by his side.

“I see, so you’ll be joining me for these sprints then?” Iida asks curiously as the two stepped onto the bleachers waiting for further instruction.

Izuku looked at his feet then. Originally, he had planned to do his 800m. That was what he had told his track friends, that’s what he had told his mom and that was not what Toshinori-sensei told him to do.

To set him apart, he needed to take the path less travelled.

If Toshinori-sensei thought it was a good idea, and thought he should do it then...he might as well do it.

“Uh, actually I’m doing hurdles as well.” Izuku informed, rather shyly.

Iida looked at him curiously. “I look forward to competing against you.”

Izuku could not for the life of him truthfully say the same. He was still intimidated.

They were told to run in groups of five. And with Izuku’s luck of course he had been placed with Iida. There was another boy, a blonde haired french guy that also seemed particularly intimidating in their heat. Next to him was a boy with purple hair and sleep deprived eyes that also seemed like he could stand a chance.

Izuku gulped as he took off his hoodie to be placed on the bleacher.

With that he got into his lane for the first 100m. His fingertips brushed the earth beneath him and Izuku inhaled and exhaled deeply.

As this occured, the examiner started the countdown and they were off.

Before he knew it Iida swung by, the French kid second and himself in third place.

Damnit!
He was too distracted by nerves. He had to be better than this.

Once again, when it came time for the 400m sprint Izuku inhaled deeply. He could do this!

Though he did improve this time around he was still only second, right behind Iida. This was frustrating but Izuku couldn’t afford to lose his cool now. The next event was his event he had to dominate it no matter what.

By the 800m, Izuku could see that his opponents were losing steam. Izuku couldn’t help but grin. His grueling “Strong Man” esque workouts were really paying off. Izuku’s endurance was truly through the roof.

Just as he had predicted, Izuku had come in first for the 800m.

As the other heats took their turn Izuku was pleased to see that his time for the 800m couldn’t be beat. This was great news, and meant he’d be wracking up a sufficient amount of scores to pass.

“I must admit Midoriya, I really underestimated you. I had assumed you would do poorly considering our first event, but it seems you’ve only improved the longer we ran. Your endurance and drive are extremely commendable.” Iida notes by his side as they wait for further instruction.

Iida’s scent had finally evened out, perhaps after having an outlet for all his aggression. In fact, his scent was almost comforting now, notes of soy and thyme far more present than before. In fact, Iida was actually smiling warmly at him.

Izuku couldn’t help but flush at the praise. “T-Thanks for saying that Iida-kun. I appreciate it.” he stutters, returning the smile.

Iida looks away. “I seem to be a poor judge of character and I truly do feel about how I treated you earlier. Please know that should fate allow us to meet again, I would be honoured to be of acquaintance.”

At first Izuku’s confused by the formal tone but he smiles nonetheless. “I’d like to be friends with you as well, Iida.”

And just like the sprints come to close.

As the next event, hurdles, is starting to be set up Iida speaks to him again.

“I was wondering if you’d like me to stay for your next event. I have not much to do after this.” Iida asks, trying to gauge his reaction. “Perhaps your event will feel a bit easier with a familiar face watching your back.”

Izuku contemplates this. On one hand he didn’t want to bother Iida, his new friend (?) but on the other it would be nice. He remembers the lonely feeling of coming to the venue on his own without Kacchan by his side and Izuku feels his decision made.

“If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate it!” Izuku beams.

Iida snorts at his response though the reaction is fond. “I wouldn’t have offered if I had a problem with that.”

Once again, Izuku finds himself on the track inhaling and exhaling more deeply before running the track than after.

He ends up performing similarly, though not as bad as last time.

He comes in second in both the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles but comes in first at 800m.

Long distance was definitely more his thing. Overall, Izuku knows he’s done well enough to pass but that doesn’t guarantee anything. The seed of doubt in his head is firmly rooted and ready to grow.

“Midoriya! You did brilliantly on that last run there!” Iida praises, and it contrasts so completely to their initial introduction that Izuku can’t help but laugh.

“Thanks for saying that Iida. You’re pretty brilliant as well.” Izuku replies sweetly as the two make their way to the exit once they're dismissed.

For whatever reason this causes Iida to be a bit flushed. Before Izuku could comment on the development, a bright voice interrupted them.

“So the two of you are getting along then? That’s good to see!” Uraraka grins, appearing between the two boys.

“Indeed. Midoriya was quite excellent in our events, I have no doubts about our performances. How did you feel about your events Uraraka-san?” Iida inquires, growing Izuku’s curiosity as well.

“My event went really well! I placed first in my own event, Shot Put and I came in fourth overall in discus which is pretty good. My only issue was javelin, I’m pretty average with that. Something about the way you hold the thing has never come all that naturally to me. Anyway, I think I did pretty good so I’m optimistic as well!” Uraraka explains confidently, but not in such a way that grated on anyone’s nerves.

“That’s good to hear! Hopefully we’ll get to see each other at U.A!” Izuku states happily.

The three of them happily chatter as they exist, moving back to the main building so they could head to their respective change rooms.

“It was cool getting to meet you guys! See you around!” Uraraka tells them cheerfully before departing.

“I’m afraid I’ll be saying my goodbye to you for now as well. My brother has come to pick me up.”
Iida informs him a few moments after.

As Izuku changes back into his normal clothes he can’t help but sigh in relief. This neverending day is finally over.

“You done yet nerd? I’ve been waiting here for almost twenty minutes now.” a low voice grumbles.

Izuku immediately turns from where he was sitting only just pulling on his pants. “KACCHAN!”
He feels his entire body flush, he hadn’t even put on his shirt yet and Kacchan was looking directly at him.

Kacchan clicks his tongue in annoyance. “No need to get your knickers in a twist, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. Get a move on before I kick your ass nerd, I’ve waited long enough.”

“Sorry, Kacchan!” Izuku squeaks in embarrassment, shoving his shirt on before slinging his backpack onto his back.

As the two walk together to the train station, Izuku can’t help the bubble of anticipation that builds in his chest. He was getting closer and closer to his dream. All of which with Kacchan by his side.

This time last year he wouldn’t have believed such a thing to ever happen.

Now look at him! Here he was, laughing with his childhood friend as they went home together after a long day of chasing their dreams. And as Kacchan rencounted how he had beat every single opponent he had today Izuku couldn’t help but wonder if this was the beginning of an era.

Notes:

this was a tough chapter to right,, i wasn't sure how to go about the entrance exam process especially trying to combine so many different events,, this is what I ended up settling with though.

hope you guys liked it!

Chapter 8: iron

Summary:

tw: mentions of blood, almost fatal head injury
to get stronger, you need to know when you are weak

The one constant in Katsuki’s life other than the anger - that clings to him like a protective second skin - is none other than Deku.

If Katsuki had still been four years old, this would bother him. Crybaby, useless, Deku? Of all the people that stick by his side (even if it was as a thorn) why did it have to be Deku ?

When they had first met Katsuki hadn’t thought much of him. Just another extra that would tag along to his cool adventures and games. An extra that was a little more sensitive and frail than the rest but an extra all the same.

It isn’t until they start talking about All Might that Katsuki really begins to pay the green-haired boy any attention. Back then, it was a simpler time. Katsuki had still called him Izuku and he was the only person that might’ve loved All Might more than him.

Katsuki grows closer to Izuku because of this. While all the other extras all liked the superhero well enough, it was only little Izuku who lived and breathed all things All Might that Katsuki could truly relate to.

This is why they become closer than the rest of the extras that liked to follow Katsuki around. While they all worshiped the ground he walked on, only Izuku could dare to walk beside him.

The two of them used to do everything together. They spent some much time by each other's sides that even their parents had become friends.

Katsuki’s only problem with Izuku was that he cried a lot. Sometimes they’d watch scary movies and Izuku would jump and cling to Katsuki’s side. It annoyed him, but Izuku’s stupid tears made it hard for him to stay angry.

This begins to expand as they grow older. Izuku has a bleeding heart, and since Katsuki had made the mistake of letting Izuku walk by his side the runt really thought he had the right to fight Katsuki.

This is when Izuku becomes useless Deku. Izuku was supposed to be on his side when Katsuki got into fights, but the older they get the more Deku tries to defy him.

“Stop, Kacchan! Haven’t you fought him enough? Leave him alone, he’s done!” Deku yells, defending some two-bit extra that was entirely undeserving of his protection. “You already won the fight! Can’t you see he’s given up?”

Katsuki hates that Deku seems to just help anyone and everyone. He didn’t even personally know the guy he was defending, why was he betraying Katsuki?

These thoughts continue to fester when he learns more of secondary genders. His parents are a powerful dynamic - a female Alpha and male Omega. The two were the most rare combinations there was, and because of this they’d given birth to a naturally gifted talent like Katsuki.

Katsuki had no doubts he would be an Alpha too. A great one, seeing as he was kind of Pack Alpha of all these extras. His pack compromised of mainly Alphas and Betas, as there weren’t too many Omegas in their neighborhood. Much less ones their age who’d play with Katsuki’s Pack.

He didn’t care though. He didn’t need an Omega, not when he had Deku.

His alpha mother - who was known as ama - an alpha female. And then there was his omega father - who
was known as opa - an omega father. He called them Ma and Pa for short all his life though.

Katsuki’s sire had said that she knew she was meant to be with her husband because they leveled each other out. When she was a raging storm, her husband was the soothing cries of a loon. Where she was fervent passion he was gentle peace. They complimented each other in this way.

Most of all, she had said, when she held him he felt like home.

At the time Katsuki had found this cheesy and kind of gross. Ugh, that lovey dovey stuff was not for him.

Then, one day when Izuku had cried again and Katsuki was once again trying to console him he had realized something. Deku smelt like home, like vanilla and fresh laundry. Katsuki only ever felt peace when he was holding Deku. He felt like a moment of calm in Katsuki’s anger and Katsuki believed it then.

Deku was his, even if he was only Beta. Katsuki swore it. There was nobody else who felt right by his side and even if there was Katsuki didn’t want to find out. The only one he’d ever really need was Deku, whom he’d protect with everything that he had. After all, frail and useless Deku needed somebody strong like Katsuki to look after him.

All of this was fine. Until it wasn’t.

It had started off as any regular summer’s day in their neighborhood. Katsuki’s Pack (more like extras and Deku) were all exploring the forest as usual.

This forest was one they had been to many, many times before. Once he and Izuku had run in there to chase after butterflies. One of his most cherished memories.

This one was just the opposite. They were just crossing the river they’d crossed many times before. The tree trunk that had been extended was sturdy. The moss that had grown moist from the previous day’s rainfall was not.

That was all it took.

Katsuki who had been in front of the line, leading his Pack in a clean single file line had not realized what had happened until it was too late.

Deku had slipped and fell off the log, head first onto a rock in the river.

His Pack had watched in horror as the shiny teal water of the river grew red with Deku’s blood.

It was only then that Katsuki could bring himself to move. Someone screamed, someone else was going to get their parents and call 911 but all Katsuki could do was run to Izuku.

Izuku who smells like freshly spring and reminds Katsuki of the sun has fallen. He doesn’t seem so bright anymore and a more metallic scent saturates the air.

Izuku who was limp in the river, caught between the rock that had smashed his head open and the river bed. The only blessing in this cursed situation had been the shallow water, not deep enough to let anyone drown.

Katsuki still feels like he’s drowning though. He feels like he’s drowning as he holds his dearest friend's body close to his chest, reassuring himself that despite everything Izuku is still breathing and his heart is still moving.

Katsuki feels like he’s drowning as the paramedics take him away, and his parents rush to hug and comfort him as though he’s the one who’s injured.

He’s drowning the most every single day he visits Deku at that damn hospital bed. Katsuki grows to hate hospitals because of it, he hates the elevator with it’s unnaturally cheery music, and he hates the nurses that look at Izuku and him with pity. He hates the machines that Deku’s connected to and he hates that all he can do is sit and wait for Izuku to wake up. To get better.

Some days he wonders if he should even bother coming. It’s not like Deku would even know, it’s not like he’d be awake to see it. Yet, every time this thought pops into his head he finds himself still asking his parents to visit Deku even if he feels like he’s drowning with no way out.

The entire experience leaves him angry all day, ready to snap at anyone just looking for an excuse to get rid of it.

But when he comes to sit by Izuku’s hospital bed the rage calms. When Katsuki holds him, he feels like home.

The hospital room is silent and instead of rage all Katsuki can feel is numb.

That first month was the worst month of Katsuki’s life. The world is bland and disgusting and the only thing that mattered at that point was seeing Izuku’s peaceful, seeing his chest move and knowing he was still breathing, that his heart was still beating.

All he could think about was how if he had been faster, maybe he could have caught him. Or if Izuku had been walking beside him instead of all the way at the back of their shitty single file line he wouldn’t have slipped at all.

Fuck. No matter how many excuses he made, no matter how he tried to twist his memories in his own brain to take the blame away from himself nothing really helped. Deku was still comatose stuck in a hospital bed. It was still Katsuki's fault.

The frustration, the guilt and the insecurity began to slowly eat him alive.

Most of all he felt weak. The weakest he’s ever been without Izuku tailing him around. Without the brightest sun shining on him with all his admiration and devotion.

He was at his weakest and he hated himself for it.

His parents were at their wits end, they wanted to help but there was nothing they could do. They took him to therapy, they got him stress balls and tried meditation but the only thing that seemed to truly calm Katsuki was Izuku’s scent.

Some days Katsuki would take Izuku’s cold hand and rub their wrists together when he felt the most volatile. And without fail, it would ease the tension in his shoulders and dull the ache he felt in his chest at the sight of a quiet barely alive Izuku before him.

When Deku wakes up, Katsuki swore to God he’d never leave the idiot alone.

He made many promises to himself those days. If Deku woke up, Katsuki would stop fighting all the time like Deku had wanted. He’d stop letting all those stupid extras hang around them.

But the most important promises were just two. Two he would live by if Deku would just wake up already.

The first being he swore he would never let Izuku be hurt again. Most especially, not under Katsuki’s hand. He swore he’d never let Izuku get hurt no matter if it was just a scratch. Kastuki would protect his mate with his life.

The second promise he made is that he would never leave Izuku alone. He’d never abandon him, he wouldn’t give him up for anything. Katsuki swore that his number one priority would be to always watch over Izuku, no matter what.

So finally, after a full three months pass, Izuku finally awakens.

Katsuki has never been more thankful for anything in his life.

When Katsuki finally greets Izuku alive and happily awake, he doesn’t even think. He tackles his friend on his stupid, squeaky hospital bed and refuses to let go. He scents him all over, lets the warmth of his body and the sound of his heartbeat sooth him.

Izuku was alive and well, and Katsuki would never have to worry like that ever again.

Izuku’s a little surprised, laughing at Katsuki’s sudden clinginess though he doesn’t complain about it. He hugs his friend just as warmly and Katsuki knows with all his heart that this is what he wants more than anything.
He wants this more than all of Deku’s exclusive All Might merch. He wants this more than getting into U.A. He might even want this more than surpassing Yagi Toshinori as the number one MMA Fighter in Japan.

Just holding Deku like this is all he really needs, Katsuki thinks to himself.

As he holds Izuku closer to his heart, Katsuki feels the strongest he’s ever been. He wouldn’t let his guy go, he’d never let his future mate out of his sight if it was the last thing he did.

As the years go by, Izuku seems to notice his clinginess. He must notice that none of the other extras ever come to talk to them anymore. That Katsuki had forsaken his little band of misfits in exchange for more quality time with Deku.

Deku seemed to bask in it.

He’d smile brighter at Katsuki’s lingering touches and reciprocate with equal fervor. Their hands brushing on their way to and back from school, Katsuki’s arm made itself home around Deku’s shoulders.

Katsuki particularly liked pinching Deku’s cheeks and watching them burn so red his freckles disappeared.

Fuck, he was whipped. He knew it, his parents knew and all their classmates knew it too.

The only one who didn’t was predictably Deku, which was both a blessing and a curse.

It didn’t matter for now though. As soon as Katsuki presented as Alpha, he’d ask Deku to be his mate as soon as possible. Obviously, they didn’t have to mate right away but Katsuki had heard of promise rings and he had hoped that after his first rut maybe-

Ugh, that was kind of gross. Maybe not. Also wearing a ring during his MMA fights would mean taking it off for safekeeping which would be inconvenient. He could maybe put it on a chain and wear it around his neck? Would Deku even like that? Or would it be too reminiscent of an Omega collar? Would Izuku find that disrespectful? He’d seen somewhere that people in Alpha-Beta relationships didn’t like being associated as “Omega substitutes” and he didn’t want to offend the nerd.

Turns out he didn’t even have to get that far.

Katsuki’s 13 years-old when he finally presents as Alpha and it’s not at all as he expects.
Katsuki’s Alpha goes kind of crazy almost feral. It’s a sensation like his childhood rage, but so much stronger, so much more infuriating.

He’s more than shocked. This isn’t how his alpha mother had explained it at all. She said her first rut made her angrier and more frustrated than usual but she could control it. She said her gums ached and she had to go home a bit earlier, beat up some pillows but all in all it had been okay.

This did not make any sense because that’s not the way it went down for Katsuki at all.

Katsuki’s head was pounding and he was urging for a fight, urging to sink his teeth into something. Urging to find Deku. Deku who could always calm his rage, Deku who always made him feel at home. Deku who was the sweetest, and kindest person Katsuki knew without a doubt could soothe all his frustration just by scratching right behind his ear and playing with his hair as he always did.

Deku who’s very scent could let Katsuki relax like nothing else could.

However, when he turns to face Deku who sits right behind him Katsuki doesn’t feel soothed at all.

Deku’s scent is not soothing anymore, it’s enticing. Begging him to come closer and Mark him. Mark him all over. Which doesn’t make any sense because the only scent that’s supposed to make him lose control like this is an Omega. That too, for such an intense reaction it had to be an Omega Mate.

They were not mated yet. Deku wasn’t an Omega, Katsuki would’ve scented it on him if he had.

Guess his Alpha didn’t care, he’d seen Deku as his Mate for so long that his body just had the urge to claim. Urge to hold, urge to feel.

He looked at Deku’s stupid pretty, gorgeous face all he wanted to do was-

NO! He couldn’t be out of control like this?! He couldn’t be, Deku was supposed to make him calm. Make him feel safe, and keep Deku safe too.

Katsuki had a feeling that if he stayed near Deku any longer he wouldn’t be feeling safe at all.

“Kacchan? Kacchan, what’s wrong? Are you feeling okay? Your scent is all weird and burnt smelling again.” Deku frowns, scrunching his nose.

God, that cute face. He wanted to just reach over and kiss all his freckles, the one’s on his cheeks and down his throat and-
Oh, fuck this was getting out of control fast.

Deku’s scent was fucking mouth watering, he really wanted to get to the source of that and just brush his mouth against it and-

STOP.

Katsuki had to ignore Deku or he wouldn’t be able to control himself. If there was one thing Katsuki needed in his life it was control.

He didn’t like this, not one bit.

Katsuki walked up to the front of his class and told his teacher as bluntly and quickly as possible.

“I’m going into my first Rut. I’m going home.” he told him as he passed, not daring to look back while plugging his nose as best as he could.

The teacher, clearly in shock - thirteen was still pretty early to present even for an Alpha - nodded his consent.

Katsuki did his best to walk home quickly but before he could leave the building of course shitty Deku had come running after him.

God, his fucking scent! It was driving Katsuki insane and he didn’t even know why!

Deku was Beta! Just BETA why was his scent bothering Katsuki. Making him lose control he needed away, away from fucking Deku who kept coming closer and closer.

“Go away Deku! Stop following me like a creep, I’ve had it with you!”

Deku needs to get the fuck away from him. Katsuki is out of control, too angry and riled up. He’ll do something they aren’t ready for if Izuku couldn’t move away from him soon.

“W-what did I do? Kacchan, what’s wrong? Does it have something to do with being Alp-”

If Izuku acknowledges his Alpha, Katsuki knows that he’ll lose it completely. Why won’t shitty Deku just move away? Why couldn’t he just mind his own business?

“I SAID GET LOST!” Katsuki snaps, jaw clenching too tight. He’s sweating now, more than usual as his aggravated scent fills the air. He fucking hates this, this entire situation and Izuku still won’t turn away. He’s panting now, trying to restrain the effort of jumping Deku’s very bones. He doesn’t want hurt him.

“K-Kacchan, if you could just tell me what’s wrong I’ll get out of your hair I promise.”

Katsuki grows more agitated once he’s said that. Izuku’s never seen him this angry, especially not at him. There’s a first time for everything and if Izuku was smarter he’d have seen this coming sooner. Why wouldn’t the nerd just listen? Why did he have to be so goddamned stubborn?

He approaches Izuku, deathly slow. His fury so thick Izuku could probably almost smell it. Then, with a start, Izuku realized he was. His beloved Kacchan had presented as Alpha, and this heedy smoke like smell of his pheromones indicated his anger. If Izuku weren’t a Beta he’d be fighting fight or flight instincts right about now.

Katsuki can’t fucking take it. He’s right next to his Mate he just wanted to reach out and ruin him for anyone else. This wasn’t the time for it, he knew that. He couldn’t possibly Mate with Izuku right now he was too young, too crazed and too out of control.

Before all that though, Katsuki knew that Izuku wouldn’t have wanted it. Maybe to help him, maybe to be by his side because he was a selfless sacrificial idiot like that but he wouldn’t want it the same way Katsuki would. Not right now, not yet.

So, Katsuki had to keep him away until then. Katsuki had to keep him safe, and the only way to keep Deku away from him was to hurt him. Katsuki couldn’t lay a finger on Dek right now, even if he wanted to. But, he knew how to keep the idiot away without physical violence.

“You know what my problem is, nerd? It’s you! You reek! No wonder nobodies been hanging around us lately. You’re fucking gross! Don’t know why I didn’t notice sooner.”

A lie. A blatant honest lie. Deku’s scent was just fine, but the way it affected Katsuki right now just wasn’t. But he had to keep Deku away, and this was the only way he knew how.

The more Katsuki spoke the more hurt Izuku had become. He watched the hurt in his eyes first and then felt the shift in his scent. For a Beta, Deku’s scent was so strong in Katsuki’s nostrils and it’s the fear in Deku's scent that slowly alters his Alpha rage. Mate was upset. This left Katsuki to think a bit clearer but the anger is still there sitting on his chest. The anger makes him say things he doesn’t actually mean.

“You’re a waste of time, I’ve had enough. If you know what’s good for you, do NOT come near me ever again. Don’t talk to me, don’t walk beside me again and for the love of God don’t even look at me! Got it, nerd?”

This slight clarity in his Alpha frustration gives him more rage of his own. Why is it that Katsuki had to lose control and Deku could be calm and rational? Why was he the monster? Why was he the one that was constantly hurting Deku when he didn’t really mean it?

At this point, Katsuki had gripped his collar harshly, pulling Izuku close to his face so he could properly glower at him. So he could properly look at Izuku’s face and fill up on his scent. This Rut was going to be rough he already knew but he needed a good look at Izuku right now. So he could memorize his face and his freckles and the little furrow between his brow. So he could keep this image of Deku in his heart forever because there was no way their relationship would be the same after this.

Izuku let a pathetic whimper begin, his eyes growing wet but he refused to cry in front of Katsuki like this. It broke Katsuki’s heart. He hated hearing that fear and that sadness, hated the way Izuku’s scent would falter with it. Him and his Alpha agreed, he couldn’t keep his Mate happy in this state.

This wasn’t his best friend, not anymore.

“Y-Yes Kacchan. I get it.”

Katsuki stares at him a moment longer, trying to read something from his face. There’s something there in his eyes. A spark of something Katsuki hopes is love. Is even affection. But dies as soon as Katsuki thinks he’s seen it.

“Tch. Good.”

Whatever it was Katsuki dismiss it quickly, turning away from Izuku and going on his way.

As he leaves Deku there, all by himself Katsuki cries the hardest he’s ever cried since Deku had awoken. Fuck, fuck! He had seen the way Izuku’s lower lip wobbled and saw the crushed look on his face. And it hurt to see it. It hurt to see more than anything Katsuki had ever seen besides Deku in the river.

He couldn’t do this because Katsuki was weak.

Katsuki had been weak the first time he’d let Izuku get hurt and he was weaker here still. He was so weak he had to hurt the person he loved most to protect him.

Katsuki hated his Alpha, and hated the way his Alpha made him feel about Deku. In his all consuming rage that just wanted to consume and take, take everything that Izuku had to offer. Even if he wasn’t ready.

Katsuki didn’t like that one bit.

He had to get stronger. He had to be stronger than his Alpha so the next time this happened he wouldn’t have to do this again. But, Katsuki had to keep Deku away until then.

So, he’d have to leave Deku to his own devices for now. Let himself get time to regroup before he could let himself near Deku again. Until then, he’d have to stay away from him to keep him safe.

Even if it hurt them both.

Notes:

things got a bit angsty here, huh?
a lot more a/b/o elements here than usual! this is because as deku grows up beta with a beta mother, he's less concerned with these nuances than an alpha or omega would. he's less exposed to this kind of stuff.
here's the link for the names i used for an alpha mother and omega father
https://fanndists.tumblr.com/post/115215969599
i wanted a more specific word for mother and father with these dynamics in play

that being said, this world is mainly beta-dominated though there are more alphas than omegas.
this is mainly because while alpha genes do tend to be dominant, as the world gets more developed the world becomes more beta. alpha genes are actually co-dominant, so unless paired with another alpha or an omega are less likely to produce beta offspring.

 

in this universe, alphas take up almost 30% of the population and omegas about 10%.
any further details will be released with the appropriate chapter

please kudos/comment if you're enjoying! i'll respond asap when i can!
thanks for reading <3

Chapter 9: cashmere

Summary:

getting rid of the weak. survival of the fittest.

Izuku cannot believe he’s standing in front of the Athletics class 1A door right now. Getting his acceptance letter in the mail ahd been surreal enough. Realizing that he would be going to his dream school with his closest friend had been even more exciting.

There was no need to worry anymore! He’d finally made it into his dream school. Izuku wondered what kind of friends he’d make here, if he’d be able to manage that at all.

Inhaling in a steady breath, Izuku pushed on the door to meet his fellow classmates.

Izuku was more than a little stunned. In the classroom, was Kacchan arguing with Izuku’s new friend Iida. This was kind of weird. Kacchan had his legs extended on to the desk in front of him, his arms crossed underneath his head to demonstrate his level of nonchalance.

It appeared as though the taller Alpha was lecturing Kacchan about proper etiquette at school, how it was disrespectful to their previous senpais of the school and that U.A had prestigious image to maintain and delinquents like Kacchan should fix their behaviour before they got into trouble.

“Kacchan?!” Izuku squeaked, still stunned that he’d be in his class again. Some things would never change.

“Deku?!” Kacchan exclaims suddenly, to the point he nearly falls off his chair.

This seems to distract Iida as well, as he turns to look between the two. “Midoriya, you know this fool?”

Him and Kacchan make very long, awkward eye contact.

Izuku is aware that they have some semblance of a friendship now, ever since Izuku had ‘saved’ him. The two of them were almost nearing the level of closeness and intimacy they had before Kacchan’s presentation as Alpha.

Almost because Kacchan still hadn’t told him why they had parted ways to begin with.

“Yeah, I do. Kacchan and I are childhood friends.: he explains quickly, trying not to look at Kacchan too long.

“Childhood friends? I see that explains the nicknames. Well the, Kacchan could you-”

“Don’t fucking call me that, Glasses!” Kacchan yells, his pheromones getting all smoky as it always does when he gets angry.

“Well it’s not like you told me your name after I kindly introduced myself! Which means you have no excuse to keep calling me that! Also control your scent, you’re acting irresponsible.” Iida excalims, righteous anger building in his own gaze and the tightened flex of his jaw.

Great, two aggravated Alphas. It’s a good thing Izuku was used to damage control. Izuku immediately went to Kacchan’s side trying to discreetly press his wrist to Kacchan’s neck pretending to massage his tense shoulders. Hopefully having his calm scent right at Kacchan’s scent gland would make the effects quicker.

“His name’s Katsuki Bakugou actually. Please don’t call him that, he can barely stand it from me only because he’s known me so long.” Izuku explains kindly, letting the tips of his fingers dig into the knots in Kacchan’s back. Seems like he really could use a massage.

Izuku watches as the tension slowly eases out of Kacchan, and Iida by extension.

“I see. I apologize then, since I had no way of knowing your name without Midoriya’s assistance. In that case, I’d really appreciate it if you don’t place your feet on the furniture in any future instances-”

“Iida-kun! Midoriya-kun! It’s me, Uraraka! Oh my god, I can’t believe we’re all in the same class!” the bubbly beta grins, blessedly distracting both Iida and Kacchan at the same time. While Iida steps away from them, to engage in conversation with Uraraka, Izuku finally manages to get Kacchan’s attention to himself.

“Thanks for that. I was a second away from just blasting his ass. God, I was right he really is a pretentious prick.” Kacchan grumbled, though he seemed less genuinely pissed and more annoyed. Izuku couldn’t really contain the smile growing on his face. It was kinda nice having Kacchan back.

“Don’t worry, he’ll warm up to you eventually.” Izuku promised, a crooked giant smile stretching across his face. He really was super happy right now. He was in his dream school with people he actually liked being around.

Kacchan scowls at that, haughtily putting his chin in the air and grunting. “Not all of us are pushovers like you Deku. I seriously doubt it, the little privileged fuck and I won’t ever get along. He’s too aggressive.”

Izuku laughed at that, a bright cheery sound he himself hadn’t heard in a long time. Kacchan seemed equally stunned by his reaction, before a self satisfied grin grew on his face.

“Okay, Kacchan whatever you say.” Izuku smiled kindly. They chatted idly for a few minutes before Kacchan grew a little pensive.

“Deku, do you...do you mind sitting behind me again? Like old times?” he asked somewhat shyly, refusing to make eye contact. If Izuku didn’t know any better, he’d actually think Kacchan was trying to be cute to get his way.

“Depends. Can we be friends?” Izuku answers softly, feeling a little vulnerable. The hurt from middle school lasted, even if he knew Kacchan wasn’t like that anymore.

A beat of silence.

“If you want to, then yeah. I’d like that.” Kacchan replies, equally as tenderly and for some reason this gives Izuku hope. The way Kacchan was looking at him now was so reminiscent of the way he had looked at him for the first time since Izuku’s concussion.

Like he was at his most vulnerable state. Like he needed Izuku more than he needed anything else.

Everytime he had seen this emotion, Izuku felt like he was just projecting. There was no way, perfect, smart, athletic and cool Katsuki could ever need someone as useless as Deku. That was probably the way Kacchan had viewed it anyway.

But, right now it almost seemed as if Kacchan cared for him the same way Izuku cared for him.

It was gone as quick as it came.

Out of nowhere, a loud thud sounded. And in came a man in a bright yellow and orange sleeping bag completely worn out and exhausted looking.

“All right brats, settle down. Usually I’m supposed to make you all do useless icebreakers but I figured it would be better for all of you to get to know each other based on ability. I’m your homeroom teacher Shouta Aizawa. Go change into your gym clothes and meet me on the P.E grounds.” the gruff looking man announced, not looking impressed with any of them.

The entire class scatters like mice, determined to not make a bad first impression and changing as quickly as possible.

The changeroom was rather silent, and Izuku couldn’t muse to himself about how strange of a first day of school was. He barely knew anyone's names in this class, and they were already expected to show off their abilities?!

As expected of a school as prestigious and well-acclaimed as U.A. Izuku supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised.

The bland blue and white uniform were a must because specialized attire would make certain activities unfair. That being said, Izuku was slightly disappointed he wouldn’t get to see Kacchan’s outfit again. Because it was cool! He did NOT have any ulterior motives, none at all.

Once everyone in their class had made it to the grounds, Aizwaw-sensei had frogone his sleeping bag look and instead was dressed in an all black attire with a white scarf wrapped around his neck. The bags under his eyes were rather large and his shoulder length black hair was in complete disarray. In addition to all this, he had stubble all over his grumpy and worn looking face. All in all, he seemed rather unkempt for a U.A teacher, but there was something in the way he stood that commanded respect.

“Is this everyone? Good. Today the lot of you will be doing a general physical apprehension test. We’ll be making this a bit higher stakes. Whoever comes in last for this assessment will be expelled.” Aizawa-sensei states, exasperation evident in his tone of voice.

The entire class had been kind of excited before, but the atmosphere dropped completely. Izuku himself feels anxiety unfurl itself in his chest, like a raging beast all consuming.

All of that hard work and training could be for nothing if he were to get expelled now.

He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t let that happen.

Toshinori-sensei did not work him so hard so he could fail here. He had finally got into his dream school, and there was no way he’d quit now.

He’s here to stay, and Izuku was determined to prove that to Aizawa-sensei too, no matter how much of a hardass he had seemed to be.

He just got into U.A and Izuku was here to stay.

The events were as follows: 50m dash, grip strength, standing long jump, repeated side steps, ball throw, distance run, seated toe-touch and sit ups

Izuku felt his anxiety subside. By a lot. This was much easier than what Toshinori-sensei had made him do. Perhaps that entire ordeal had been in place to prepare Izuku to impress Aizawa-sensei not just to get him into the school. If that was the case, he’d have to thank Toshinori-sensei for his foresight.

The 50m dash had been dominated by Iida, that french kid Izuku still didn’t know the name of and a peculiar boy Izuku could swear he’d seen before. He had distinctive hair that was dyed split down the middle. Red and white hair, and heterochromia. He was a really pretty boy, his face was very familiar, his name had to be…

“Shoto Todoroki.” Kacchan exclaimed with a growl at Izuku’s side.

Oh. Oh wow! That was the son of the number two MMA Fighter Enji Todoroki though the man went but the moniker Endeavour. He was a very rude man filled with rage, the textbook definition of an aggressive alpha. People didn’t like him much, especially with the difference between him and the kind, outgoing number one Yagi Toshinori did very little to help his image.

Izuku wasn’t the biggest fan of Endeavour. Unlike Toshinori, the man liked to abuse the use of his unpleasant intimidation pheromones in order to win a match, even after his opponent was defeated. It was one thing to use your pheromones in order to make others succumb, but in MMA Fights amongst largely pro Alphas it wasn’t an uncommon tactic.

In any case, Endeavour was not the greatest guy and it always seemed like he carried anger and resentment in his eyes.

It appeared his son did the same.

“Deku why didn’t you beat that fucker? I thought you were supposed to be good at running fast.” Kacchan huffed next to him, sounding put out. He had done even worse than Izuku, though they had both made the top ten. As long as they remained consistent like that Izuku was sure they would be fine.

“Midoriya-kun is better at long distance. I’m sure you’ll see when we get to it. For his supposed childhood friend, you don’t seem to know a lot about him.” Iida points out, casually taking a swing of his water bottle.

Izuku watches as Kacchan’s face darkens, his eyes narrowing and alpha fangs rearing to go. “What did you just say, Four-Eyes?!” he moves to grab Iida by the shirt but before he can even attempt, Izuku moves in between the two to separate them. Again releasing his calming beta scent in hopes the two Alphas don’t rip each other's heads out.

“Kacchan, leave him alone! You need to stop getting into fights all the time, we’re at U.A now there’s no time for that.” he scolds, pushing both boys away and creating more distance between the two. The further away they were from each other's threatening Alpha scents the better they could control themselves.

“And Iida, while I appreciate the vote of confidence please don’t assume things about Kacchan and I’s relationship.” Izuku scolds again, this time turning to face Iida with a disapproving glare.

“S-Sorry, Midoriya-kun. I will not do so again.” Iida apologizes, clearly not used to his own aggressive Alpha behaviour. It must not happen often with this one, which was good. Iida seemed like the type of person who believed in being respectful and disciplined above all else. He had a good head on his shoulders; he just didn’t seem to know how to handle an aggravated Kacchan.

Which was fair, because even Izuku who had known him all his life could not achieve that consistently.

“Tch. Whatever. I’ve got better things to do.”

Izuku noticed that for every event he's consistently make top ten, but never make the top three.

It was very frustrating. The top three were consistently monopolized by mainly alphas. Todoroki, Kacchan and a female alpha Mina Ashido. Though there were people who would debunk these, it was usually in their specialized events.

For example in Ball Throw, Uraraka (whom Izuku remembered excelling at Shot Put and Discus) had beat Kacchan very thoroughly. Then in the standing long jump, a girl named Tsuyu Asui had dominated, though Izuku remembered being told she was a swimmer. The grip strength test had a very jacked guy named Mezo Shoji.

Izuku had been in the top ten in all of these, and had even come in as close as fourth in the grip test but he could never seem to break it.

Finally in the last three events, Izuku refused to back down.

As soon as he stood on the track for a long distance, he could already feel a rush of victory in his veins. It seemed that Kacchan was watching him carefully, waiting for him to slip up.

Well, if Kacchan was so determined to watch him closely Izuku was more than ready to give him a show.

As soon as the countdown had finished, Izuku felt his feet move before he could even think. Izuku imagined it was All Might waiting for him at the end of this competition. His heart was thudding loudly in his chest, and Izuku could feel his blood rushing through his veins.

Izuku had won by a landslide. Aizawa looked at him with something akin to respect.

“Not bad, kid.” he said with a shrug before waiting for the next person in Izuku’s heat.

Izuku grinned. Okay, he’d take it.

“Damn Deku. Guess you’re not so useless anymore, huh?” a familiar voice called, the self-important tone making it abundantly clear who was speaking him. Kacchan was grinning, seeminly impressed trying to wrap his arm around Izuku’s shoulders.

Izuku felt petulant. Why was Kacchan such an ass? Why did his compliments have to be so backhanded?

“I was never useless. Just took you longer to see that.” Izuku huffed, not having it at all.

“Deku-kun! You were so good out there, I hadn’t anticipated that at all!” Uraraka called, her smile bright and bubbly. Izuku would have spent more time basking in her praise if it weren’t for one thing.

“Deku-kun?!” both Izuku and Kacchan ask in unison. Though Kacchan sounds more angry and Izuku more shocked.

“Huh?” Uraraka asks, more than a little confused. “Isn’t that the nickname this angry fellow calls you?”

Izuku feels his face flush, more than a little embarrassed on how to explain it.

“Uh, Uraraka-san it isn’t exactly a nice nickname. It’s actually an insult, he calls me Deku because he thinks I’m useless.” Izuku tries to explain, his voice getting a little softer and more shaky than it had been all day.

God, it’s never been like this before. And if it had been it was too long for Izuku to fully remember. What it felt like to not only be talking to Kacchan again on a daily basis but also actually having friends outside of him. It felt weird. But it also felt good.

Uraraka’s face falls. “Oh, t-that’s not what I thought it meant like De-ri-ku! . To me it had more of a “you can do it!” vibe.” she explained kindly, scratching the back of her neck in embarrassment.

Izuku couldn’t help but look at her in awe. So this is what it felt like, having someone supporting you. I have someone believing in you. It brought heat into Izuku’s face. This was a good feeling.

“O-Oh! Well, if, uhm that’s the case you can call me that if you like!” Izuku accepted, unable to keep the smile off his face.

Uraraka beamed. “That’s great! Hey, do you want me to introduce you to a friend I just made? Her name’s Asui but she’s letting me call her Tsuyu-chan! Isn’t that cute?!” the bubbly girl gushed. Izuku nodded, completely taken with the idea of making new friends. It felt so nice to be included, and even better to be valued as someone worth talking to and being around.

Izuku refused to take it for granted.

This was probably why he didn’t feel or notice the jealous red eyes that followed him along the rest of the day. During the rest of the drills, Izuku found himself talking and chatting more than he could ever remember doing before.

Not only that, but people seemed to like him too. They liked hearing him mutter, they found it a little weird but looked past it. They thought he was cool, they thought he was nice.

They wanted to be Izuku’s friend and honestly he could not ever remember being this happy. Not in a long, long time.

When the results are put up from their evaluation Izuku can’t help but grin. Even if he wasn’t in the top three yet, he wasn’t doing too bad. He has just made it as the fifth best in the class. The first being Shoto Todoroki, second being Kacchan, third being an Omega by the name of Momo Yaoyorozu. Fourth was the Alpha Mina Ashido, fifth was himself, sixth was Iida, seventh was someone named Fumikage Tokoyami. Eighth was Mezo Shoji, ninth was Uraraka and tenth was a plain looking kid named Mashirao Ojirou.

In last place was that disgusting beta perv, Mineta Minorou. He was predictably, expelled.

This year looked like it would be shaping up to be a good one.

Chapter 10: sandalwood

Summary:

an ally is a friend fighting on the same side of the battle as you, knowing you could fail but supporting you nonetheless

That night everyone was milling about in their new dorm rooms. Most people only had a few suitcases to unpack but were very particular on the whole set up. Izuku certainly felt like he had to organize things nicely, he had a theme to maintain.

First he began with his All Might rug, which sat snugly in the middle of the bedroom. Then were the curtains, pretty red blue and white. The little stars on them gave it a very American-flag motif vibe to his room but he didn’t mind it much since it had All Might’s colours.

Then came the setup of his desk, which had a sleek black lamp and was lined with some of Izuku’s most beloved All Might figurines. There was the Pop! Animation figurine, the soft vinyl figurine etc. And of course, for this setup he had a dark blue desk chair.

Next to this sat his bookshelf the same tawny brown as his desk. This too held a collection of Izuku’s All Might figurines. In addition to this sat a framed picture of All Might, signed by Yagi Toshinori himself. Inside the bookshelf contained a multitude of Izuku’s notebooks and journals all numbered and systematically organized for optimum efficiency.

Finally, there were the barren walls of Izuku’s room. Each wall was covered completely in an assortment of All Might pictures no matter where you looked. Izuku had acquired quite the collection of posters since he was a kid and he was not about to let it go to waste.

By surrounding himself with the image of the person who inspired him most, Izuku felt like he could get the motivation to live each day to his fullest potential.

In comparison to everything else, his closet and bedspread were rather plain. The bed sheets were a pale blue, the quilt had a singular white stripe that stretched across the middle.

His closet contained only shirts that said ‘shirt’ on them, a couple hoodies, jeans, sweats and a few pairs of shorts. Izuku honestly didn’t have a particular sense of fashion, he liked wearing the bare minimum. Made his life a little less complicated.

Comfortable in his sweats, Izuku was ready to just watch YouTube videos for the next hour and half before dinner when someone loudly knocks on his door.

Tripping over his suitcase of extra All Might merch (which he would be forced to stuff in his closet, there wasn’t enough room), Izuku opened the door with little grace almost falling onto the unsuspecting individual.

“Still an absolute mess, huh shitty nerd?” Kacchan grumbles, catching him around the waist before Izuku could fall flat on his face.

Izuku’s face flushed upon impact, scrambling to put his hands on Kacchan’s arms and push him away as quickly as possible. Kacchan was a lot steadier than he looked, and he looked pretty steady. This information was not helping Izuku’s helpless unrequited love at all.

“Gah! Sorry about that Kacchan.” Izuku says instead, dusting off imaginary dust from his shoulders and absolutely refusing to make eye contact with his friend. If he did, Izuku was scared of what he’d see.

“Whatever. I came here to remind you to eat dinner. Aizawa ordered us pizza for successfully completing the first day of school or something. What the fuck was taking you so long?” Kacchan demands, and before Izuku could stop him pushes past the door to take a look at Izuku’s room.

Kacchan is standing in the middle of his room with a look in his eyes that somewhat resembles awe. He turns around assessing every wall, as if expecting something to jump out at him.

“Holy shit, Deku. Never change. I knew you were an obsessive little fanboy but this really exceeds my expectations.” Kacchan exclaims, sounding mildly impressed.

Izuku feels so embarrassed he could just disappear. He felt his entire body turning red, he never wanted this to happen. To be fair, he hadn’t ever imagined Kacchan being in his room, but perhaps it wasn’t too far fetched. They’d be living in these dorms together at least for the rest of the year, it shouldn’t have been too surprising.

Guess he went a little overboard with the All Might stuff, huh?

“Thanks? I think? Ah, can we just please go get dinner now?” Izuku grumbled, puffing out his cheeks in mortification. Having Kacchan in his room for any longer would do poor things to his heart and Izuku really can’t handle that right now.

Kacchan sends him a shit eating grin and Izuku knows it’s over him. His friend decides to plop down on his bed instead and lay on his back, sprawled out like a starfish.

“Nah, I don’t think I will. Don’t feel like dealing with extras and your room’s pretty nice. Go get dinner for us and we’ll eat here.” Kacchan demanded, kicking off his shoes and then digging his heels into the quilt as if to solidify his stance on the matter.

Izuku groaned. “Kacchan! I’m not even done packing completely and we shouldn’t be eating in MY bedroom it’s not-”

“Does it look like I care? I’m not moving from this spot.” Kacchan replies, not even glancing at Izuku.

Izuku wanted to scream. Interacting with Kacchan could be so annoying sometimes, it was always a one sided conversation. Kacchan was too stubborn and tired to listen to any of Izuku’s reasonings right now, though. It was probably better to do as he said anyway, it’s not like it would kill Izuku to follow his bidding right now.

He’d have to pick his battles.

“Fine. You better be here when I get back.” Izuku pouts, stuffing his extra suitcase in his closet before moving to exit the room.

“Like I’d ever leave you.” he hears Kacchan mutter, and Izuku couldn’t contain his soft smile at the response.

Gosh, it was stuff like this that used to make Izuku feel like he had a chance. Kacchan would always mutter something incredibly sappy but also very sweet and Izuku used to swoon before Kacchan had presented.

He knew though, that if Kacchan’s Alpha really did find his scent repulsive there was no chance for any sort of romantic relationship. So Izuku had to just accept the fact that Kacchan would only see him in a platonic sense. Izuku should just be grateful that he was even willing to be friends with him at all.

Izuku felt his chest physically ache and decided he better pick up the pace. Kacchan wouldn’t wait for him forever.

As Izuku approached the communal area, he felt a bit intimidated. It looked like cliques were already starting to form.

He watched as Iida, Uraraka and the swimmer girl Asui were all chatting excitedly about one thing or the other. Urarka was leaning on Asui’s shoulder showing her something on her phone as Asui laughed at her antics. Iida appeared to be staring at them fondly, while cutting his pizza with a fork and knife. It was strange to see but the man looked more relaxed and at peace than he had all day so Izuku decided it was better not to think about it so much.

Then Izuku observed the most rambunctious group, who Izuku had noticed earlier on in the day. Their presence just commanded attention. The centre of the attention was currently the female Alpha Izuku had noted before, Mina Ashido. Her hair was dyed a bright pink which contrasted nicely with her tan skin tone. This in addition to her brightly patterned clothes made her hard to ignore. Next to her, was a bright-eyed blonde Denki Kaminari. Kaminari was very witty and seemed to constantly look for mischief but he was friendly and outgoing nonetheless.He had a curious strip of hair dyed black, somewhat reminiscent of a lightning bolt. Interesting personalities indeed. Then there was the other blonde, Yuga Aoyama. The french guy, who was a bit of an attention seeker though he seemed pleasant enough. Next to them was the slightly plainer Hanta Sero. Sero seemed to be equally as extroverted as the rest, be he never demanded attention quite as much as the other two. Next him was the extremely buff Rikido Sato, who seemed to have a bottomless stomach. He was really going at it with a bag of Sour Patch Kids.

In the same vicinity was Kyoka Jirou, a beta with short dark purple hair who seemed to constantly have her earphones in. Surprisingly enough, she seemed to be happily chatting with the only Omega in their class Momo Yaoyorozu. Yaoyorozu was a sweet and very strong tennis player in the class, Izuku had found out. She, alongside Shoto Todoroki, had gotten into U.A through Recommendations alone. Beside the two was the kind of forgettable Toru Hagakure. The girl’s presence was almost nonexistent, and coupled with being an almost odourless beta did not help at all.

Seated on the couches were the more introverted people of the class. The shy and soft-spoken Koji Koda, who had gotten in -allegedly- for his unique horseback riding. Izuku still wasn’t sure if this statement was entirely true but wasn’t about to heckle the poor boy for details. Next to him was Fumikage Tokoyami who was talking to Mezo Shoji in a soft almost soothing tone. His quiet nature juxtaposes his very heavy metal almost goth outfit. Finally, laying on his back and scrolling through his phone was Mashirao Ojiro. A pretty normal guy in comparison to all the distinct personalities around him, though Izuku knew not to underestimate him. The man had a black-belt in Karate and Izuku respected anyone who had that level of commitment and discipline.

The people in his class were all very unique and distinct but somehow they were all strong and resilient. Izuku supposed to get into a school like U.A you had to be.

Despite going over all the different people in his class, Izuku couldn’t shake the feeling there were people he was forgetting. Shoto Todoroki had not seemed like the type who wanted to make friends at all, a loner genius type like Kacchan probably.

That still left one more-

“Hey! Are you just going to stand there all day? Don’t be shy, take a slice! I don’t think I saw you out of your room since we got here!” a bright-eyed sharp-toothed Eijirou Kirishima asks him, pizza box in hand.

Izuku yelps, jumping almost a foot in the air before turning around.

“Oh! Right, thanks!” Izuku replies, hoping his returning grin is just as bright as Kirishima’s. He takes two paper plates off the counter, setting slices from both himself and Kacchan.

“T-Thanks for that, I got a little distracted.” Izuku tells him shyly, feeling his entire face flush a bright red. Izuku had a hard time looking him in the eye, as mid assessment the man had just taken off his shirt and spent the rest of their assessment that way. Worst of all, Izuku was the type to properly scout the competition so there was no way Kirishima hadn’t caught him staring. Izuku wasn’t entirely sure if the guy would confront him on it, but he didn’t want to wait around long enough to figure it out.

“It’s no problem! You seem like the shy, nervous type so I wanted to make sure you didn’t go hungry.” Kirishima explains, leaning his weight on the counter. Izuku found his eyes assessing the guy’s biceps and his cheeks were turning red again, ah, he really needed to stop this.

Still Izuku was touched. This guy was really nice. “T-Thanks. I’m, uh, not really used to being around this many people all the time. I’ve never had friends before so this is kind of nerve wracking.” he admits truthfully, after placing the slices evenly and then putting a napkin on each plate.

Kirishima frowned at that. “Seriously?! No way, you’re so cute! I’d love to be your friend! Besides, anyone who can deal with Blasty McSplode and still live to tell the tale has gotta be a really manly person!”

Izuku’s blushing problem really wasn’t going to quit today, was it? Cute? Him, Izuku Midoriya the plainest person in the history of being plain being cute?! Izuku would have laughed if he wasn’t thoroughly flustered by a hot and nice guy calling, him of all people cute.

Izuku smacked his face in embarrassment, willing his blush to go away. “Ah! P-Please don’t just say stuff like that, I-I don’t think I can take it!” he says frantically, watching as the spiky redhead laughed warmly.

Between this guy and Kacchan, Izuku was sure he was going to die.

“See? You’re cute! Which reminds me! Um, not be invasive or anything but are you and Bakugou dating? That plate’s for him right?” Kirishima asks and this is the final nail in the coffin for Izuku’s death.

“NO! IT’S NOT LIKE THAT!” Izuku almost screams in complete shock and denial. How could he think that? What on Earth possessed the guy to believe that. Kirishima seems to understand his panic and blessedly moves him into a more private hall for this conversation.

“Oh, okay! I didn’t mean to assume anything, it’s just you guys looked close!” Kirishima hurriedly explains. The beta looked genuinely concerned, and it’s this kindness and consideration that allows Izuku to speak his mind. He didn’t seem like the type that would judge.

“Um, I-I’m pretty sure Kacchan doesn’t swing that way, we’re just childhood friends.” Izuku tells him quietly, wringing his fingers anxiously. He’d never really told anyone about this, and it hurt to really say it allowed.

Kirishima furrows his eyebrows looking confused and kind of disbelieving. “If you say so, but you never denied having feelings for him yourself.”

Izuku predictably flushes, realizing he hadn’t. But Izuku was no liar and he’d probably made it obvious anyway. There was no point in denying it, so Izuku shrugs.
Kirishima looks at him sadly and pats his head. “Hey, if you ever need to talk to someone I’m all ears okay? It isn’t manly to bottle up your emotions.”

Izuku suddenly finds himself overwhelmed. This guy was so nice and considerate and open and sweet. How could there possibly be human beings like this? Izuku finds himself tackling this near stranger in a hug - though this is quite uncharacteristic of him. But he didn’t know how else to demonstrate his thanks. He can’t remember the last time someone had been this open and kind with him, besides his own mother.

Completely against his own wishes, Izuku finds his eyes watering. Why did he have to cry so easily?

“T-Thank you, Kirishima-kun.” he stammers brokenly, and this seems to get his attention.

Kirishima seemed pretty startled before hugging Izuku just as tightly and patting his back.

“Aw, don’t mention it! You’re Midoriya, right?”

Izuku felt embarrassed all over again. Here he was, not even properly introducing himself and this guy was already comforting him like the big baby Izuku was!

“R-Right! S-sorry for crying all over you, that was a horrible first impression. I’m Izuku Midoriya! Pleased to meet you!” Izuku stated, trying to introduce himself in a professional and cooler manner. He extended his hand, hoping for a handshake.

Something about the way Kirishima was fondly smiling at him told Izuku it wasn’t working.

Kirishima laughed, playing along anyway. “I’m Eijirou Kirishima, though I guess you knew that already. I hope we can become friends!” he cheered sweetly, shaking his hand vigorously.

Izuku couldn’t help but beam back at him. Kirishima was just so good and nice he couldn’t help himself.

“I think we already are.” Izuku tells him truthfully.

This causes Kirishima to fluster a bit, looking at him wide-eyed but happy all the same.

“That’s right! Us, pining childhood friends gotta stick together!” Kirishima cheered.

This time it was Izuku’s turn to grin. “Oh, so that’s why you're invested! So where’s your loud Alpha you’ve been secretly in love with for years and will be stuck living with for the foreseeable future.” Izuku teased, lightly punching him in the arm.

Instead of laughing like Izuku had predicted, Kirishima’s face flushes. “Uh, you really hit the nail on the head with that one.” Kirishima states, slightly embarrassed.

This turn of events amuses Izuku greatly and he can’t help but tease a little further. Perhaps Kacchan’s been rubbing off on him.

“Oh? Who is it? They're in there aren’t they? You know my situation so it’s only fair that I know yours!” Izuku asks excitedly, curious to see how his own experience mirrors Kirishima’s.

Two betas who hopelessly long for alphas that seem to grand for them. What a story.

Kirishima looks flustered like he doesn’t really want to expose himself, but understands he has to. He seems to contemplate this a moment longer before sighing, a little exhausted.

“Okay, I’ll tell you but promise me you won’t tell anyone okay?” Kirishima asks, extending the pinky on his left hand.

For someone who had called Izuku cute, Kirishima was pretty cute himself.

“Okay!” Izuku promised, extending the pinky on his right hand.

“My childhood crush is Mina Ashido. W-We went to the same middle school and stuff, and I’ve admired her since. That’s all there is to it.” Kirishima explains, shrugging and refusing to make eye contact with Izuku.

Izuku swoons. The sweet spiky red haired beta would look super cute with the wild and energetic alpha. They seemed to be wholesome for words.

“Aww, Kirishima-kun that’s so cute! I hope things work out for you!” Izuku tells him genuinely.

Kirishima shrugs again, though there’s a wistful smile on his face. “You and me both. In any case, you’d better get that pizza to Blasty McSplode before he throws a hissy fit. It was nice meeting you Midoriya!”

Izuku nods, suddenly shocked as he remembered why he was down here in the first place.

Oh geez, Kacchan was going to kill him!

Scrambling to take his pizza slices and get on his way back to Kacchan, Kirishima chuckles as he watches Izuku struggle.

“Thanks for everything Kirishima-kun!” Izuku yells at him over his shoulder as he makes his way to the elevator.

“No problem Midoriya!” Kirishima calls back.

Even though Kacchan predictably yells at him once Izuku’s back in his room, Izuku couldn’t bring himself to possibly regret it. He had an ally now, and somehow knowing there was a friend out there that was struggling the same way, Izuku felt peace. The solidarity gave him strength and Izuku couldn’t wait to make more friends this year.

“What took you so long anyway?” Kacchan finally grumbles, biting off a chunk of his pizza slice.

Izuku smiled softly. “I made a friend I think you’d get along with.”

Kacchan scoffs, swallowing before throwing a scowl in Izuku’s direction. “I don’t need extras hanging around me, nerd.”

Izuku shook his head, not impressed by his friend’s statement in the least. “We’re not in middle school anymore Kacchan, the people here worked just as hard as us to get here. Even if you don’t make your new best friend here, I know you’ll at least respect that.”

Kacchan narrows his eyes, not fully believing him but not denying him either.

“We’ll see.” he grumbles, turning his face away before changing the topic.

Izuku couldn’t help the small satisfied smile that curled on his lips. He’d made friends, proven himself in class and he was eating dinner with Kacchan in his room. Life couldn’t possibly get better than this.

Notes:

is this the longest chapter i've written so far? it just might be. but i really wanted to take the time to somewhat give an overview of all the people in 1A at once so it ended up being longer than i intended.

like this work? like this chapter? be sure to comment + kudos if you do! hits aren't running the same way as they were pre-quarantine so it really helps to the engagement of this fic in other ways

thanks for reading <33

Chapter 11: sage

Summary:

exposition

Izuku had been surprised when he had come back to see Katsuki very closely reading his notebooks. It was strange to see him so interested in Izuku’s written ramblings but when he saw the cover of the page he understood why. The paper from the cover was all blotched and crinkled, but Izuku knew exactly what it was.

His MMA FIGHTING 101 notebook. The one Kacchan had attempted to destroy. Now here he was gently flipping each page like the book was precious.

“Ahem. Kacchan, I brought us dinner.” Setting down the slices of pizza on his desk, Izuku poked Kacchan with his foot.

Kacchan jumped, attempting to hide the notebook and trying to play it off.

“Where the fuck were you, shitty nerd?! I’ve been waiting for fucking ever and-” Kacchan, upon seeing Izuku’s unimpressed face, dropped the act. He gently put the notebook out in front of his grumbling a little bit.

 

“It’s okay if you want to read it. I know I wrote some stuff in there about your fighting style, feel free to continue reading.” Izuku tells him gently, sitting across from him on his bed as Kacchan tentatively picks it back up again.

“Deku, some of these entries are-” Kacchan begins slowly, as if trying to figure out a puzzle.

“Yeah from after we stopped talking. I know. I used to go to every single one of your tournaments anyway though. Just like when we were kids.” Izuku reveals softly, refusing to look him in the eye as he says it. “You only said you didn’t want me in your direct vicinity, and I couldn’t really help myself since Kacchan’s matches are always great to learn from.” he says honestly.

Izuku figured since his conversation with Kirishima that honesty is the best policy. He wanted to be real with Kacchan.

Kacchan looked strangely heartbroken at that. “So even after everything I said to you...you were quietly supporting me from afar, huh.”

Izuku flushed, shrugging and refusing to meet Kacchan’s gaze.

“Deku...can I hold you? Just for a bit?” Kacchan asks softly, his eyes demure and strangely out of character. Izuku couldn’t help the little gasp of shock that escaped his mouth before he scrambles into the space between Kacchan’s legs.

He doesn’t even question it, wrapping his arms around Kacchan and pressing his face into Kacchan’s shoulder. Closest to his sweat gland that he can get without pushing any boundaries. Kacchan hums, running his hands up and down his back.

"I-I’m sorry, y’know? For all that shit I said. I didn’t mean it and you didn’t deserve any of it.” Kacchan apologizes, a barely there thing and Izuku is more than a little shocked. Kacchan never apologized. This was new territory.

Izuku moved a bit so he could see Kacchan’s face and cup it in his hands. It looked like Kacchan was holding his breath, waiting for Izuku’s forgiveness but not expecting it.

As if Izuku was ever able to deny Kacchan anything.

“I’ve forgiven you a long time ago. I know that there is something still, that you’re not telling me or omitting. But I also know that you don’t lie and if your hiding something, it is with reason. Whatever that reason may be, know that I forgive. But you can’t do that to me again okay? There’s only so much of that I can take.” Izuku breathes, letting his voice tickle Kacchan’s ears softly when he speaks.

Kacchan swallows and nods. He opens his mouth, as if ready to say something before closing it and resting his chin atop Izuku’s head.

“I don’t deserve you.” he mutters softly and Izuku lets the moment wash over him. They sit like that wrapped up in each other, pizza set aside to just to let the moment soak in.

It’s only when Kacchan’s stomach grumbles that Izuku moves away laughing. Kacchan doesn’t let him move too much and he only just manages bringing both their plates of pizza over.

"What took you so long anyway?” Kacchan finally grumbles, biting off a chunk of his pizza slice.

Izuku smiled softly. “I made a friend I think you’d get along with.”

Kacchan scoffs, swallowing before throwing a scowl in Izuku’s direction. “I don’t need extras hanging around me, nerd.”

Izuku shook his head, not impressed by his friend’s statement in the least. “We’re not in middle school anymore Kacchan, the people here worked just as hard as us to get here. Even if you don’t make your new best friend here, I know you’ll at least respect that.”

Kacchan narrows his eyes, not fully believing him but not denying him either.

“We’ll see.” he grumbles, turning his face away before changing the topic.

---

The next day of school is overwhelmingly...normal in comparison to the first. Izuku supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised, even if U.A was special it was still a school. The only significant difference would be their gym class, which would be more personalized to their specific sports and extensions on certain assignments and such, since they would be out of school more often than other students to compete in tournaments and the like.

Despite all that Izuku’s schedule seemed pretty normal.

Period 1: Aizawa - Homeroom - General Sciences
Period 2: Math
Period 3: World History
LUNCH
Period 4: English
Period 5: Physical Education
Period 6: Japanese

Not bad at all. They had 9’o o'clock curfew on weekdays and on Saturdays they could stay up as long as they pleased. On weekends and holidays they were allowed off campus, so long as they got guardian permission. This could either be a teacher or parent, though both parties must be made aware.

So far, his school day was more or less what he had anticipated. Save for one thing.

Izuku was eating lunch in the cafeteria these days. With actual real life friends. With people who willingly spoke to him, laughed with him and teased him. Izuku was so grateful. He loved basking in Uraraka’s presence who was the embodiment of warmth and comfort. He quickly got used to Iida’s nagging that sounded less condescending now that he was getting to know him and more fond. Then there was Asui, who was kind and sweet if a little blunt.

These days Izuku’s heart is full.

Then the class everyone had been looking forward to the most occurred.

Gym.

Everyone scrambled to change into their real gym clothes, the boys change room loud and filled with laughter and excitement. This time they were told to change into their specialized gear should they see fit. Izuku was excited to see his classmates in their element. The last time all of them were worried about the threat of being expelled. This time they could properly relax and have fun without fear. Izuku couldn’t wait!

“Are you done changing Midoriya-kun? The earlier we get there, the more prepared we’ll be.” Iida asks, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts.

“Right!”

Once, Izuku and Iida made it to Ground Beta, where they would be meeting their gym teacher for the first time. Izuku was curious as to what their teacher would be like? Would they be strict like Aizawa-sensei or chill like Mic-sensei? Guess they’d find out!

After all their classmates had finally filed in, another door burst open revealing the last person Izuku would’ve thought of.

“Don’t worry, I AM HERE!” All Might - Yagi Toshinori - announced stunning the entire class completely. Even Kacchan and the Todoroki kid looked at him in awe, and they were the most lacking in emotion in most cases.

“ALL MIGHT?!” the class screamed in unison, whilst Izuku’s mind was going a mile a minute. This could make a lot of sense actually. Most of their teachers were well known celebrities in their own right, such as Midnight-sensei, a super cool badass boxer Omega that would use her scent to lower the guard of her opponent and then beat them. All of their teachers were also U.A Alumni, so in that regard Toshinori-sensei being here made sense.

On top of that, it might explain why he was keen on working Izuku so hard. He was also training to become a good teacher, in his own way.

“Hahaha, that’s right kids! I’ll be your gym teacher this year! Feel free to call me All Might or Toshinori-sensei. Either or, I don’t mind! Today we’ll be playing a redentition of Capture the Flag, only improvised!” Toshinori-sensei began, and everyone in the room listened carefully in absolute awe.

“Seeing as you guys are all in the Athletics program, I wanted to make things a bit different. Instead of playing in an outdoor environment you’ll be playing here, in this urban building setup in Ground Beta.On top of this, we’ll be playing a variant of Capture the Flag. One flag, the offensive and defensive team. Both teams are allowed to attack and defend by any means necessary. I’ve looked into most of your backgrounds and I am aware that all of you have some experience in combat or self-defense. This is for me to evaluate how much each of you already know.”

As Toshinori-sensei explains, Izuku watches as his fellow classmates get more and more psyched up. He hadn’t known that. To think most of their athletics program had experience with physical combat was incredible! Izuku supposed that this was even further proof of the All Might’s influence and legacy. Everyone here could fight and definitely well enough to get in to some degree.

This game would be no easy feat. The trick was to identify those that were specialized in MMA Training and who weren't. This way you would be able to know which opponent was more of a direct threat to fight and which ones to avoid.

Depending on these circumstances, an offensive team would have to choose a specific method of attack. Direct confrontation or sleuth.

“The defensive team will have to get tags to place on their bodies in addition to their flag. If the offensive team is able to steal this tag in addition to capturing the flag, they will be awarded double points. Once this tag is stolen, the defensive player cannot compete and is then considered unable to play. Any questions?” Toshinori-sensei finished, snapping Izuku back to attention.

Iida almost immediately put his hand up.

“Would the offensive team also have tags to steal? Otherwise it would be a bit unfair.” he pointed out, a little put off.

Toshinori-sensei smiled. “Already really getting into, huh? I like that spirit! I was actually wondering if that would be a good addition. Higher stakes and more fun for the rest of us to watch. What do you all think? Let’s have a vote! If you think we should as Iida here has suggested, please raise your hand!”

Almost everyone put their hand up.

“Alright, alright! It’s been decided then! Everyone please select a card from this box for the decided teams! This will be a random way to select your teams and whether or not you will be offense or defence. We will play this game two on two. Good luck everyone!”

Izuku, deciding not to lose his nerve, decided to go on first. Huh, looks like he’ll be on the offensive team. Izuku looked around for a similar looking card, when he spotted Uraraka.

Score! He was already friends with the girl so it would be easier to work with her!

“Uraraka-san over here! We have the same card!” Izuku yelled excitedly, happy to his friend coming his way. Uraraka beamed, skipping over to him to compare their cards looking more and more excited.

“Deku-kun this is going to be so fun! I’m really glad I’m working together with a friend, I’m sure we’ll win!” Uraraka cheered, and Izuku found himself mirroring her excitement. What could he say, her energy was contagious! Though they shouldn’t get too excited, they still didn’t know who they were up against. As they waited in line to show Toshinori-sensei their team Izuku’s mind buzzed.

If they went against someone like Kirishima who was certainly MMA trained, or Ojiro Mashirao who was trained in karate it would be best if they went for something more sneaky and less confrontational. That way they could win without having to battle them head on. Even if Izuku could theoretically out maneuver them, their level of experience would allow them to bounce back quickly. Better to get the job done fast, and with Izuku’s speed it should work out okay.

However, if they ran into someone like Aoyama - the french guy - Izuku was sure he could take that guy down quickly. His very stance proved that his combat abilities were not something he relied on. It would be much easier to take that guy down head on then waste time sneaking around him.

“All right everyone! I’ve put the teams on the board! I’ll ask the first teams to start getting ready immediately!”

As Izuku snapped his eyes to the board he drew in a huge breath.

Oh dear. It looked like he and Uraraka would be facing Kacchan and Iida. This was not ideal, but he supposed it could be worse.

It could’ve been Shoto Todoroki and Kacchan. That would’ve been a nightmare to deal with.

“Oh, jeez. It’s that ‘Kacchan’ of yours. Are you going to be okay for this?” Uraraka asks him, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

In full honesty, Izuku wasn’t sure. He and Kacchan had just mended their friendship, albeit shakily. He was really scared of losing that, especially since Kacchan had apologized. Kacchan had almost never done that, it shocked Izuku even now.
But he was trying to change for Izuku, he couldn’t ignore those efforts.

Izuku was just scared that if something went wrong today, they’d be back at square one.

Still, even if that were the case they’d always be friends. No matter what happened, Izuku truly believed that and that was kind of the problem.

Izuku couldn’t ask more from his friend. He wouldn’t be greedy, he wouldn’t be selfish. There was no way Kacchan was going to like him like that. His Alpha didn’t even like Izuku’s weak beta scent for God’s sake there was no way anything more than platonic could ever occur between them.

So, Izuku would lock his feelings inside a box and do his very best at U.A. That’s all he had left.

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it Uraraka-san, here’s the plan.”

Notes:

i pretty short chapter ik TvT but have some bkdk fluff and a quirkless version of the battle trial arc
i'm not sure how this turned out, so please leave me your thoughts in the comments!
what's been you favorite part of this fic so far? what are you looking forward too?

Chapter 12: cinnamon

Summary:

things escalate quickly

Izuku took in a deep breath. The buzzer had sounded to indicate the start of the round, and he and Urarka had to clear at least first five meters of the floor as quickly and as quietly as possible.

They’d decided on being sneaky. This fight would be too long and hard against Kacchan. They’d waste unnecessary time and they had a time limit. So long as the defensive team could keep them away from their flag, they could win.

The problem was that Iida was not as inclined to fight as Kacchan. He wasn’t the type, and as demonstrated the previous day the two had completely different views on how to handle any situation. The two bigoted alphas were too stubborn to come to any conclusion so that could only mean one thing.

The two would end up splitting off. Kacchan would come out of his territory, looking for a fight from Izuku no doubt and Iida would prioritize protecting the flag. This would mean both Izuku and Uraraka would have to split off as well.

Izuku, who was more trained in self-defence than Uraraka (who had only gone to a summer camp once, which wasn’t bad but not ideal) would have to deal with Kacchan and Uraraka would have to steal the flag.

This meant something else too, even if Izuku lost or let his fight drag on so long as Uraraka could succeed in her mission they could still win.

Izuku just had to distract Kacchan long enough before he figured it out.

Kacchan was smart, but he was hot headed and easily overcome with rage in any situation. If Izuku could play to that, rile him up a little and draw him further and further away from the flag their mission could go smoothly.

So long as this worked, they really did have a good shot at winning this.

Izuku heard loud stomps and aggressive screaming. The noise was still echoey, so he knew the loud alpha was still far away.

Quickly turning to Uraraka and holding her by the shoulders, Izuku looked at her deeply in the eyes.

“That is most definitely Kacchan, so we’re going to have to split up earlier than expected. You remember what you have to do right? Sneak in through the vent, I’ll make sure to make loud noises with Kacchan to throw Iida off and make him feel like we’ve been caught by Kacchan. This will lower his guard, and then once you quietly remove the vent cover you should be able to grab the flag and crawl back through the vent. Once you’ve got it, I’ll need you bang inside the vent once you reach over our territory, and hit the side 3 times. That’s when I’ll know you have the flag and we’ll secure our win.” Izuku reiterates for the nth time, more for his own sake than for Uraraka.

She seems to understand this, and just nods enthusiastically.

“Don’t worry, Izuku, your plan is genius! I’ll be fine, Iida won’t suspect a thing!” Uraraka reassures, taking Izuku’s hands and giving them a squeeze.

Izuku grins grimly. “It’s not Iida I’m worried about.”

Kacchan’s screams were getting louder.

“Guess this is where we part ways, I’ll see you later Deku-kun!” and before Izuku can even think, the beta gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before disappearing.

Izuku’s face is a bright red, hand softly touching his cheek.

What just happened? What?!

There was no time to think about this now! Kacchan was getting closer and closer, Izuku couldn’t afford to get distracted. Then again, maybe this was the distraction Izuku had needed.

He’d been following after Kacchan for so long. Hanging by him helplessly, just waiting to be acknowledged, just waiting to be given the time of day by the perfect Alpha.

Hadn’t he waited long enough? Wasn’t he supposed to step out of Kacchan and All Might’s shadow like he promised?
It was time to get over Kacchan. It should’ve been clear to him by now that he never had a chance with the blond. He hated his scent, and no matter what else happened you couldn’t change the way you felt about someone’s scent. They usually reflected how you truly felt about them. Izuku was done waiting for Kacchan to decide whether or not he was worth it.

Not when there were people like Uraraka who seemed to like him just fine.

And this when Izuku gains the strength to answer Kacchan’s calls to fight. Once and for all.

Izuku runs from the spot he was hiding, quickly finding Kacchan due to his overwhelmingly aggressive scent and loud footsteps. Izuku skids past the last of the distance between them, easily masking his own weak beta scent to poke Kacchan’s back. The action proves to send a shock of electricity down his finger and Kacchan must feel it too. Izuku quickly recovers, putting on his best game face before smirking at him.

“Looking for me Kacchan?” Izuku asks, grinning at his friend. “If you want to fight me, you gotta catch me first!”

Before the blonde can even respond, Izuku zips away. He zigzags through the pillars of the floor, trying to create more and more distance between Kacchan and his flag. By presenting Kacchan a competition so boldly, there was no way he would ever deny. By playing into Kacchan’s very Alpha desire of wanting to chase and fight him he was able to successfully distract him from thinking about Izuku’s motives.

This is because Kacchan fought for the thrill of the fight. It was a very Alpha thing to do, and such people would never think twice about motives when the opportunity to prove themselves superior were at play.

“Get back here, shitty nerd! Stop running away like a loser and fight me!” Kacchan screamed behind him, and Izuku couldn’t help but laugh.

Kacchan was so easy to fool.

He kept up the pace, darting in different directions and giving Kacchan a hard time on purpose. If he continued at this pace, Kacchan was sure to run out of endurance. No matter how hard he trained in his MMA fighting, there was no way his ability to run would be at par than Izuku’s. If they kept this up, Kacchan would be sure to lose endurance soon.

Once Kacchan started to feel the lag of not being able to keep up, he would grow angry. It would frustrate him to think Izuku could be better at him in anything, and then he’ll demand to be fought. It would be at that point that Izuku would have to think more critically. Izuku would have to take everything he had observed from Kacchan’s fighting style and use it against him.

That would certainly be more tricky, but for now he would allow Kacchan to chase him some more.

It also seemed that he seemed to be enjoying the thrill of the chase too, something Izuku enjoyed quite a bit which made him a bit curious.

Kacchan wasn’t the type of guy who liked chasing after things forever. To see him so focused and determined in getting to Izuku, even though this wasn’t the way he generally did things made Izuku smile.

Perhaps Kacchan really was changing more than he had been giving him credit for.

“You can’t keep running forever, Deku! Fight me like a man!” Kacchan screamed, face dripping with sweat. So he really was getting riled up.

This meant he was nearing the end of his endurance if he’d resorted to yelling again. Usually, Kacchan stayed focused on the task at hand, and only started yelling when he was getting really desperate. This was pretty rare for Kacchan during an actual serious fight and for him to start doing it now wasn’t a good sign at all.

He needed to give Uraraka more time. They had come up with signals. One hit if something was preventing her from getting the flag, two hits if she had retrieved the flag and was on her way and a third hit if she had made it across their territory safely.

Izuku had to keep this fight going until that third hit.

He’d have to start talking back to prolong this.

“That's all you got, Kacchan? Can’t keep up?” Izuku taunted, smirking at Kacchan in the way he knew riled the Alpha up a lot.

Predictably, Kacchan growled at the insult. A deep thing that seemed to rumble from his chest. It was an oddly pleasant sound that made Izuku’s skin tingle.

“Really starting to get a mouth on ya, huh Deku? Think that since you're in U.A now, you're the top shit? Think again! I’m gonna beat your ass here so hard, you won’t be able to walk straight for days!” Kacchan threatened, his rumbling getting a little lower, his stance shifting to a fighting one.

Wait, why was he ready to fight? At that very moment, Izuku realized he was cornered. That was no good. On one hand that means they were the farthest away from Kacchan’s flag, which meant Kacchan couldn’t possibly get back to Iida in time. On the other hand, with Izuku being trapped there was no way for him to help Uraraka either. They would be on their own for good now.

Out of nowhere Izuku heard the two thumps Uraraka was to hit.
Perfect!
She was on her way, and there was very little Iida could do to get it back in time.

Either she had somehow managed to take Iida’s tag, leaving him indisposed. Or, she had been able successfully steal it with Iida noticing. Izuku prayed to God she had put the vent cover back on, because that would buy them more time.

In any case, Kacchan didn’t seem to pay it attentio which Izuku was succeeding so far. He just needed to buy her a little more time.

He needed to keep riling Kacchan up, needed to keep him distracted for sure.

Izuku had no choice, he needed to fight him.

“I’d like to see you try, Kacchan! Bring it!” and sure enough, Kacchan came at him with his right hook. Izuku couldn’t hold back his grin. Kacchan always started with that right hook. While he wasn’t always predictable with his moves, Izuku could always count on a few things.

The first was starting with that right hook. No matter how hard you may try to unlearn something, humans were creatures of habit. There was a certain rhythm in which people fought. Almost like a dance.

Izuku had observed Kacchan’s dance for years and years, even if Kacchan may have forgotten about it.

This gave Izuku a very great edge.

Izuku catches his right hook almost immediately before shoulder tossing him onto the ground. Izuku hears Kacchan gasp at the impact, and though Izuku feels slightly guilty about causing his friend pain he can’t help soaking in his friend’s shock.

It was a difficult thing, being able to catch Kacchan off guard. Izuku couldn’t help but rejoice just a little.

“Seems like you’ve been underestimating me, Kacchan.” Izuku grins playfully, as Kacchan gets to his feet huffing in frustration. “I’m not your useless, punching bag Deku anymore. My ‘Deku’ now means ‘You Can Do It’!” he exclaims.

Izuku watches Kacchan’s expression morph, from something mildly irritated and annoyed to something completely frogein. It was an ugly expression, one of contempt of self-absorption that disfigured Kacchan’s normally immaculate face. Izuku realized that Kacchan was a less nasty brat now and was starting to become a more angry bastard.

Izuku kind of wanted to scream. This was the main problem now, wasn’t it? Kacchan was usually grumpy and rude, though he held a gold heart. Kacchan could be blunt, sometimes insensitive but he wasn’t a bad person.

Yet, he had some moments. Some moments like these where his Alpha rage was almost feral, and even Izuku who had known him all his life wanted to cower.
Actually, maybe that was the reason he was cowardly all the more. Izuku could see Kacchan at his worst and at his best. Just as his good moments were far above what you’d expect his bad moments were worse still.

Izuku still couldn’t dispose of the day Kacchan told him to kill himself. He couldn’t completely believe his ears. Kacchan was mean but he wasn’t usually that cruel.

But he could be. Sometimes it seemed like he’d say things with the sole purpose of hurting Izuku, because he knew fully well that it hurt him and he still didn’t care.

That more than anything hurt the most. That Kacchan knew what he was doing, that he knew exactly why and how to hurt him and he’d do it anyway.

That’s what sucked most about loving someone like Kacchan. He was the best at everything, especially breaking Izuku’s heart. Especially tearing Izuku down.

It hurt that Kacchan knew he had some kind of power over him, and still chose to hurt him every time.

Brought back to the current situation, Izuku dodges Kacchan’s flying kick. Again, another move Kacchan used often when he wasn’t taking the time to think through his fight. This only happened when he was too far into his rage that he relied solely on instinct. It never seemed to help him turn the tide.

Too caught up in his thoughts, Izuku doesn’t realize Kacchan was going at him with a spinning backfist. There are blackspots in front of his eyes, as Izuku fights to see properly again.

God, he had been out of it! This had always been a problem for Izuku mid-fight. His old sensei hated him for it, and it seems like Kacchan was starting to remember things about Izuku too.

“If you can do it, why are you spacing out nerd? If you're not useless, why didn’t you see that coming?” Kacchan snarls, and Izuku wants to cry and throttle him all at once.

Izuku finds that he’s still kind of dizzy, but Uraraka still hasn’t given him the okay. He had to keep going. He had know idea what was going on with Uraraka and Iida and he prayed to God that things had gone okay.

Then, the speaker came crackling alive, blaring Toshinori-sensei’s voice.

“This is a warning to Katsuki Bakugou. Hits to the face here was unnecessary and if you deal another violent hit like that again you will be disqualified.” his voice rang, impossible to ignore.

Kacchan ignored away, snarling his fangs protruding. Oh dang, Kacchan’s Alpha was out this wasn’t going to be good news for Izuku.

As if to further prove his defiance, he goes again to do the swinging backfist which Izuku thankfully sidesteps. So instead, Kacchan switches into a low kick faster than Izuku’s kind of slow brain can process.

Izuku loses his balance quickly, and leads on his back head first. It makes a horrible noise that gets both boys pausing.

Something akin to guilt appears in Kacchan’s eye for a second, before it disappears as Izuku shakily manages to get up.

“You don’t know how to give up, do you? Can’t you just stay down for once?” Kacchan snarls, angry and pissed in a way that was filled with so much ill intent that for a second Izuku couldn’t even believe he used to call this guy his best friend.

He can’t believe he loved such an asshole.

“I’m not stay down until it kills me. If I have the power to keep trying, I will.” Izuku responds curtly and at that moment, Uraraka taps the inside of the vent three times.

This time Kacchan seems to hear, and he looks away confused for just a second.

That second is all that Izuku needs.

Izuku quickly punches Kacchan in the balls, just to keep him distracted. The entrance part of the vent was close, if Izuku could just move the vent cover Uraraka could get out in time.

He hears Kacchan yell out in pain, but even handicapped with his vision Izuku is still faster than him.

Izuku skids to a halt when he reaches the vent cover and pulls it off, tapping the vent thrice to indicate the final message. Getting out as fast as possible, Izuku hears Kacchan’s laboured breathing and knows that he needs to keep Kacchan away from the vent entrance a moment longer.

At that moment, Izuku could barely think. His ears were ringing too loudly for him to even hear his own thoughts and he really didn’t want to deal with this right now.

So he throws away the vent cover and rushes at Kacchan full throttle. He headbuts him right in the stomach. The impact is harder than what Izuku had initially anticipated, but in addition to his previous injury he’s not surprised about the pain it deals him at all.

Izuku hears Uraraka cheerfully yell about their victory and the buzzer sounding to finalize the claim. The last thing that Izuku gets to witness is the horrified face of Kacchan before him as his vision fades to black.

Notes:

that was my first attempt at writing a battle sequence,, it was weird replacing quirk usage with actual moves but i'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out :DD
i'm debating whether or not to tag this slow burn bc the two won't get together until very late into this fic BUT they do have a lot of touchy/flirty moments in between

THANKS FOR READING and as always don't be afraid to leave kudos or a comment if you're enjoying this fic so far

Chapter 13: lavender

Summary:

the tides are slowly changing

When Izuku comes to it later that day, he has the strong urge to vomit. His vision is still a little blurry, and he feels like he got run over by a car but all in all it could be worse. He groans, stretching out his arms as far as he can extend them before an unfamiliar voice calls to him.

“Ah, so the problem child is finally awake?” the voice comes from an old woman, rather short in stature and kind eyes. Though the set of her mouth seemed rather unimpressed at the moment, maybe even disappointed.

Why was she already disappointed in him? He hadn’t even done anything yet!

“S-Sorry, what? Um, where am I?” Izuku asks instead, not wanting to offend the woman further. Izuku moves to get up, but his vision gets kind of warped and he cries out a bit. He clutches his head, fingers digging into his scalp trying to get his bearings before he feels a rather large bump on his head.

The old woman clucked her tongue, moving towards him and helping him sit up straight again.

“You’re currently in the infirmary after sustaining a mild concussion from your gym class. This in addition to dehydration caused you to pass out for the rest of the day. Though I wouldn’t recommend it, you might be able to catch the last few minutes of the last period if you want.” the woman explains with a sigh.

She hands Izuku a glass of water and some vitamin gummies before continuing.

“T-Thank you so much Mrs…?” Izuku asks, downing the glass of water and accepting the gummies with his other hand.

For the first time since their encounter the old woman smiles warmly.

“At least, you’ve got manners. I supposed you’d call me Chiyo-sensei but everyone here calls me Recovery Girl, so it’d be for the best if you did the same.” she explains gently.

“Thank you, Recovery Girl. Can I go back to class now?” Izuku asks, more than a little anxious in realizing he had missed classes today. He was already falling behind and it was only the first day!

“In just a moment. What on Earth were you thinking when you went in for that headbutt?! Your incompetent Toshinori-sensei showed me the playback and I was absolutely shocked. You already hit your head, and what do you do? Hit your head again? What were you thinking, child?!” Recovery Girl scolded, arms crossed over her chest.

This was giving Izuku major flashbacks to his own mother scolding him for being reckless as a child, during his MMA Fighting phase.

Izuku was more than a little embarrassed at his careless behaviour.

“S-Sorry, I wasn’t really thinking at all. My brain was too foggy so I was kind of just fighting on instinct at that point.” Izuku explained, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. He couldn’t even look the nurse in the eye in shame. He was such a mess.

Recovery Girl’s eyes soften and she pats Izuku consolingly on the head. This causes Izuku to preen, he’s always loved head pats. They made him feel warm and safe and happy. It was a good feeling.

“You remind me a lot of Toshinori when he was a pup. Always reckless, moving before he could even think. It’s the mark of an impressive person, but at a hefty cost. You’re still so young, and if you keep getting concussions like this you won’t be allowed to play any sport. Please be careful, young man.”

Izuku nods, bowing at his elder before sending her a bright smile.

“Thank you for taking care of me!” Izuku cheers as the old woman laughs at his antics.

“I better not see you back here again anytime soon!” Recovery Girls calls as Izuku leaves, and Izuku grins at her.

“No promises.” he whispers to himself, as he runs to class hoping he can at least get a few notes in.

Unfortunately, by the time Izuku makes it into class people have slowly started filing out. Izuku can’t help but pout. He really slept almost half the day away after Gym! And he’d missed Japanese Literature too. He was pretty good in that class.

Despite this, Izuku is immediately greeted by many of his classmates. Some of which he had never spoken to before.

“You were awesome out there Midoriya!” Kaminari cheers, the beta grinning as he runs up to speak to Izuku. Kirishima playfully shoves him away yelling something along the lines of ‘Don’t hog him all to yourself!’ before turning to face Izuku himself.

“You were really manly Midoriya! That Bakugou can be a real ass, but you guys won anyway!’ Kirishima cheered, swinging an arm around his shoulders. Izuku couldn’t help the grin that stretched across his face. He wasn’t used to getting this much attention, or these many compliments.

“Indeed. The execution could have been improved upon, but I must applaud you for your efforts.” Tokoyami states, looking at him in a mildly impressed manner.

Yeah, this is more attention and praise than Izuku could take.

He looked around the room, trying to distract himself before he noticed something. While his entire class was there, someone was missing. Izuku felt his blood freeze.

Kacchan. The person who wasn’t here was Kacchan.

Izuku looks at Uraraka and it seems she already knows what he’s about to ask. There’s something mildly disappointed in her eyes, but the look passes as quickly as it came.

“Bakugou left a while ago. He’s been kind of pissy all day, be he should be on his way to the dorms,” Uraraka tells him quickly, and Izuku doesn’t even think about it twice he’s chasing after the alpha as he always had.

The sun is setting now, a testament of how much later in the day it truly was. The sky was a pretty yellow, orange and deep red. The same heated red that Kacchan’s eyes were when he was overcome with anger, frustration, affection and sadness.

Izuku could take a guess as to what he was feeling right now.

“Kacchan!” Izuku calls, an aching feeling in his chest. This same situation has happened before. An alpha looking away from him, overcome with emotions, Izuku wasn’t privy to refusing to even look at him. As if no matter how long Izuku would chase after him, he’d never truly be able to walk by his side.

To Izuku’s relief Kacchan doesn in fact turn around, and for second Izuku takes comfort in that Kacchan will always look him in the eye. That Kacchan would always know that Izuku was looking after him, even when he didn’t want it. Especially, if he didn’t want it.

This relief decapitates in a second, because Kacchan’s scent is dense and overbearing. The smoky smell of amber and gunpowder was clouding the generally sweet caramel and cinnamon top notes. The gunpowder was overwhelming now, the way it only ever got when Kacchan was truly upset.

Kacchan got angry easily, but it was easy to pick out the spike of amber that indicates surface level irritation.

Not like this. Not this strong frustration at life itself, present in the way the gunpowder heart note seemed to completely take over his scent. The only other time Izuku remembered his scent acting like this was when he had presented.

That fateful that caused the strain in their relationship for so long.

It seemed that chasing Kacchan would only leave them running in circles. He knew this because he watched before his very eyes a repeat of that dreaded day that broke Izuku’s heart.

“Why?! Why the fuck is it always you?! Why do I have to lose to you of all people? Why couldn’t you just stay weak and useless and out of my hair! I can’t deal with you!” Kacchan screams, and god does it hurt to hear him say all of that.

It isn’t new though. Izuku’s heard this all before. He knows this how Kacchan truly feels about him, and it hurts they way a wound is opened again.

Numbed to the full effect of the pain but leaving an awful stinging sensation nonetheless.

“K-Kacchan…” Izuku breathes, he wants to be of comfort. He wants to ease Kacchan’s pain but he knows he’ll only make it worse.

“You had to come for me because that shitty criminal, and now I lose to you in that stupid game. Why is it always you? What is it about you that makes me this weak?!” Kacchan demands, and Izuku watches as tears run down his face unbidden.

It hurts to watch Kacchan cry like this.

It hurts to see the strongest person Izuku has ever known become so vulnerable before him.

It hurts most to know that the source of Kacchan’s sorrow had always been Izuku.

Izuku wants to apologize, wants to hold Kacchan the way Kacchan always held him when he was overwhelmed. But that would only make this situation worse, and would only wound Kacchan’s alpha pride.

For once, Izuku finds himself without a single word to say in retaliation.

“God, but it’s not just you who has to be worried about! That half and half motherfucker was all cool and composed, and took everyone down without breaking a sweat. Then that Ponytail girl started going over all the reasons we were doomed to fail and I found myself unwillingly agreeing with her. Why?! MMA Fighting is my thing I’m supposed to be the best in the class?! So, why?! Why did I lose?!” Kacchan ranted, demanding but it no longer sounded like he was talking to Izuku anymore.

It sounded like he was berating himself.

Izuku didn’t know what to do. He’d never seen Kacchan like this, never seen him this distraught.

And as if ripped straight out of a comic book appeared All Might in all his glory.

“Young Bakugou…” All Might says gently.

Kacchan stiffens, his back going unnaturally straight. He wiped his tears away quickly, trying not to make sustained eye contact with their role model.

After all, the only person who admired All Might and Yagi Toshinori’s fights as much as Izuku had was Kacchan.

“Young Bakugou, you are a very talented young man. I watched as you took down every opponent in your entrance exam tournament. When it comes to raw strength and power, you have it spades. It is because of your own efforts and dedication that you got to such a state and you should be very proud.” Toshinori-sensei tells him sincerely.

Izuku watches in awe as Kacchan’s face flushes as he looks away from All Might.

Much to both of their amazement he wasn’t done.

“Bakugou, you are an extremely capable young man. I have no doubts you will one day surpass me. But before doing so you must recognize that there are elements in any sport beyond raw power. It would do you well to remember this in other aspects of life as well.” Toshinori-sensei continues, pointedly looking at Izuku as he says this but moving on quickly.

“You are extremely strong, young Bakugou. It is with this strength that you must face mistakes that you have made. Doing this does not make you weak, but will make you stronger in the future. There is strength in recognizing your own faults and doing your best to fix them. And you’re already halfway there!” Toshinori-sensei explained, jovially and Izuku was more than a bit taken aback.

How was his role model this perfect? How did he always know how to say the right thing at the right time? This man didn’t even know Kacchan as long as Izuku had, but he had somehow managed to figure him out better than Izuku himself.

That kind of hurt, actually. Izuku had known Kacchan all his life, but he couldn’t think of a single thing to say in response. And here was All Might, telling him exactly what he needed to hear in a way that would make Kacchan actually listen to him.

Kacchan inhaled deeply, collecting himself before finally looking Toshinori-sensei in the eye.

“Thanks.” was all he said bowing politely, before turning on his heel and walking away.

Short, curt but sincere.

And Izuku had just stood the side, watching the entire thing go down without contributing at all. As useless as always. He’d watched his supposed ‘love’ breakdown before his eyes and did absolutely nothing to stop it.

Izuku should’ve known better. He was always going to be useless Deku to Katsuki, and it would do them both some good if they stayed away from each other.

No matter how much that broke Izuku’s heart, it was plain to see that Izuku clearly brought out the worst in Katsuki. It was for the better that they kept their distance.

“Young Midoriya! I’ve been meaning to talk with you, but I hadn’t really gotten the chance until now.” Toshinori-sensei excalimed, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

Right. There was no point in dwelling on a lost cause. He would only cause Kacchan grief and turmoil. It was time he looked ahead, and chased something else. Someone else.

“First, I would like to congratulate you on getting in! I wanted to contact you earlier, but I thought I could surprise you in person instead.” he grinned, and though Izuku didn’t feel it completely grinned in return.

“You really did! I can’t believe you’ll be teaching at U.A now! Guess it’s not too much of a surprise, after you taught me.” Izuku exclaimed, hoping he was matching his enthusiastic teacher’s energy.

Toshinori-sensei seemed to buy it, which was good enough for him.

“That’s right! Just as I was helping you train to become a student, you were helping me train to become a teacher. It was a mutually beneficial exchange. But, in any case that’s not why I came after you to talk about.” Toshinori-sensei, smile slightly leaving his face taking on a more serious tone.

“Oh?” Izuku asked, concerned.

And suddenly, like someone was deflating a balloon, Izuku watched his mentor decrease in size. From an extremely muscular and well built young man to a scrawny barely bones almost sick looking old man.

Izuku was in shock. “T-Toshinori-sensei what is this?” he demanded.

His teacher smiled sadly, looking at Izuku before looking at his own hands.

“As you know, all athletes must retire one day. I’ve been on the verge of it after a lethal fight that sent me to the hospital.” Toshinori-sensei explained, as Izuku’s mind was running a mile a minute trying to find a possible explanation.

Izuku suddenly remembered. “Y-Your fight against Toxic Chainsaw…”

Toshinori-sensei nodded sadly. “At that point, I had suffered multiple severe concussions and many fractures as well as a number of other serious injuries. All of this, in addition to overworking myself has made my condition much worse. I hate to say it, but it’s only a matter of time before I retire. The problem is, that I’ve involved myself with a lot of police work and come across lots of criminal activity. So if news gets out of my condition-” Toshinori-sensei explained, but didn’t have to finish. Izuku could already guess.

“You could be grave danger.” Izuku finished, eyes going wide. His role model would have to give up his title soon. He really was in no condition to be getting in many more fights. Considering how old he was, Izuku supposed he had a long run as an athlete. That still didn’t lessen the blow of hearing this from the man himself.

“That’s right. You may know no this, but U.A has some of the best security in the country. With so many famous individuals in the same spot, it has to be. Principal Nezu is actually a friend of mine, and he offered me a teaching position in exchange for security.” Toshinori-sensei informs him.

“Why are you telling me this?” Izuku asked, a little stunned at this information overload. This was so much to process, Izuku wasn’t sure what was happening anymore.

Toshinori-sensei looked at him wistfully. “T-that's a good question. I don’t really know. Maybe it’s because I trained you for so long and I get emotionally attached easily. Or maybe it’s because you remind me of myself when I was your age. Or maybe it’s that awful concussion of yours that’s making me wary.”

Izuku stares at his role model in awe.

“You’re a good kid, young Midoriya. You’re smart and perceptive, hardworking, kind and selfless. All good qualities. But I worry about that recklessness, kid I really do. You gave me a heart attack with that headbutt of yours. What I’m trying to say here is that I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.” he says gently, patting Izuku on the head.

Izuku loved head pats. Izuku nods as his mentor continues to speak.

“I wasn’t careful when I was younger. That’s what got me here, and I see that in you. So I’ll be watching you Izuku. As your mentor and teacher, I’ll make sure you won’t make those same mistakes.” his teacher finished, smiling down at Izuku.

Izuku hugged his mentor as soon as he finished. Izuku was really at a loss for words right now. He’d lost one beacon of light but he’d found another today.

“I won’t let you down All Might!”

Notes:

hi!! i wanted to apologize in advance ik i said i'd update daily but life's getting pretty hectic. i'll be aiming to update at least every other day, but updates from now on will be sparodic. do not worry i will updates multiple times during the week but my class work has gotten heavier. thank you for understanding!! <3

as always be sure to leave a comment or kudos if you're enjoying the fic so far!

Chapter 14: chamomille

Summary:

pride we must earn

As Izuku readies himself for school, it is with a heavy heart. Somehow, in just a few days Izuku had gone from being Kacchan’s best friend again, to being completely shut out. Izuku couldn’t believe how quickly things could change just in the course of the day.

To be honest, he had cried himself to sleep last night mourning the loss of their friendship. Again. It was now properly solidified for Izuku, they could never really be best friends again. If after every opportunity Kacchan would push him away there was no way they’d ever find peace. Besides, Kacchan didn’t even respect him as an equal. There was no way they could have any sort of relationship if Kacchan didn’t even see him as someone worth respecting.

So, Izuku would have to get over it.

Izuku thought he had a long time ago, but then suddenly Kacchan was holding him as he cried in panic. Kacchan was asking him about his dreams. Izuku could still vividly remember his heartbroken face when he had thought Izuku was giving up on MMA fighting because of him. He had genuinely looked hurt.

That’s always what confused him the most. Kacchan always said he never cared, but his actions proved otherwise. The reality had always been that Kacchan’s actions proved more than words.

Then why did Kacchan always push Izuku away if he still cares about him? Izuku doesn’t know.

There’s no point in dwelling more about this situation. Kacchan had made it plenty clear, Izuku made him the worst version of himself. Kacchan was going to avoid him for as long as necessary. Izuku shouldn’t hurt him.

Even if Kacchan always did.

Izuku was going to have to be more mature in this situation. He couldn’t afford to act out.

Besides, he wasn’t in Junior High anymore. Izuku had friends here, and for now that would have to be enough.

---

“I have to say Midoriya-kun, your strategy was excellent yesterday! Uraraka-san told me all about it! You’re an incredible judge of character, and the way you planned out your actions so immaculately really played off!” Iida praised, his hands chopping the air violently.

Izuku laughs it off, hoping Iida will let the subject go. He doesn’t.

“I’d say you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, if it weren’t for that headbutt of yours!”

Izuku winced, was that a pun? He wasn’t entirely sure.

“In any case, despite being reckless you’ve definitely earned my respect!” Iida finished with a grin, ruffling his hair as the two of them made their way into the classroom.

“Hey, I had a concussion! I couldn’t really think properly at the time.” Izuku exclaimed, trying to defend himself. Maybe it sounded like he was making excuses, but it was the truth! He hadn’t purposefully tried splitting his head open, he couldn’t even think straight at the time!

Iida paused frowning. “You have a concussion? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Should you even be in class then?” he quickly let go of his hair, as if messing his hair up a bit would weaken him further.

Izuku kind of wanted to laugh from the quick shift in mood, but he could see the genuine concern in his friend’s eyes. It made Izuku a little happy, that he was being cared for by his friend. It’s a good feeling to have and Izuku wanted to keep that feeling in his heart.

“The nurse said that it was only a mild concussion, so I’d be good to go today. Though I’m banned from participating in the gym for the rest of the week.” Izuku explains, grinning up at his friend.

Iida looks a little dissatisfied but nods nonetheless.

“Alright, if you say so. In any case, I hope you’ll prioritize your health next time Midoriya. You’re wellbeing matters more than anything else.” Iida tells him, hand on his shoulder to further prove his sincerity.

“Yes, Iida! I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Deku-kun!” Uraraka cheers, unexpectedly giving Izuku a back hug.

Izuku flushes, still unused to being touched by a girl despite Uraraka’s overly affectionate nature. It would probably take him some time to get used to, but for now he’d soak up the attention. He was a little touch starved, and her scent was extremely comforting.

“Move out of the way, you fucking extras!” Kacchan snapped, his alpha scent bristling with irritation. Even his teeth seemed sharper than usual, bordering on feral. This was like middle school all over again and Izuku hated it.

Did Kacchan decide that he hated Izuku again that much? Was that all it took? One bad day and they weren’t only no longer friends, but just Izuku’s presence was enough to set him off? In a way, this was worse than middle school. At least then Kacchan had ignored him for the most part.

Uraraka moved away, though she looked less threatened than Izuku personally felt.

“What’s your problem, Bakugou? You’ve been all feral since yesterday. Are you a sore loser?” she asks, with bravery Izuku could not phantom possessing himself. Izuku had to give it to her, the girl had guts.

Kacchan growled, visibly bristling at the shot at his pride. “Don’t stick your nose in things you don’t understand, Round Face.”

Uraraka seemed to grow angrier at this, bristling herself. If Izuku hadn’t known her to be beta Izuku would think her to be Alpha with the way her pheromones thickened in her anger. The aggression was very clear, as if she were ready to fight Kacchan right at that very moment.

“Maybe stop being such an ass and I wouldn’t have to put you in your place!” Uraraka snapped, almost getting into Kacchan’s space and Izuku could feel the spike in his angry pheromones. It was furious and lethal, Izuku had thought his upset wounded ego scent was hard to deal with but this was much, much worse.

Izuku couldn’t help but whimper,shutting his eyes and balling his fists. The angry scents were getting to him, and all he wanted to do was soothe to calm the angry pheromones and quell them with his own but his weak almost odourless beta scent couldn’t do a thing against these two.

This seemed to snap Iida’s attention who quickly let out his own calming scent, rushing to calm his distrubed friend.

This caused both Uraraka and Kacchan to stop immediately, apparently aware of Izuku’s distress.

“Both of you, stop it this instant! Midoriya-kun sustained a concussion yesterday, and he doesn’t need your angry scents bothering him on top of all that! Both of you are U.A students, and should no better than to act like uncivilized immature pups in a feral rage. You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Iida scolded, as he continued to calm Izuku down with his scent.

Izuku let his soy and thyme scent rap around him like a hug. There were other notes there, parchment paper and a spike in worn leather as he scolded them. Overall though, his scent was soothing and protective especially in contrast to Kacchan’s furious gunpowder and Uraraka’s roasted almonds.

“Oh, sorry Deku-kun! I didn’t know.” Uraraka apologized, almost instantly as she rushed to place her own soothing scent around Izuku’s wrist. Soft cherry blossom and rosemary. Gentle, a little too sweet, but nonetheless calming.

“Nobody told me anything.” Kacchan grumbled, but he reluctantly backed off sitting on his seat in front of Izuku and dampening his scent. There was still something unpleasant in his scent, but it was much more subtle and less in his face.

Izuku supposed that was the best they were going to get. Eventually, Iida and Uraraka began chatting again as Izuku listened quietly. Izuku really liked being surrounded by their calming scent, it made him feel safe and secure.

Friends. Izuku was truly thankful for them.

As Izuku thanks them, they both laugh and dismiss their help as though it’s nothing. Yet, for Izuku it meant everything.

Finally, after everyone filed in Aizawa-sensei called for their attention.

“Alright, everyone. Today we’ll be selecting our Class Reps. Each of you will get a slip of paper, and for anyone who gets the most votes they will become Class President and Vice Class President.” he informed lazily, before crawling back into his sleeping bag.

What a weird guy.

Everyone in their class started talking again, and Izuku sighed. Everyone would be writing their own name at this point, as nobody had really gotten the chance to know anyone else's character at this point in time.

Izuku kind of felt like it was a waste of time to be doing this early on in the year. He felt a little self-absorbed putting in his own name.

Oh well.

To Izuku’s absolute shock, he found himself with the most votes. Two people had voted for him. He had three points total.

What the heck? He wasn’t qualified to do anything, much less become class representative!

The person who came in second was Momo Yaoyorozu, who actually made sense. She was smart, perceptive and incredibly sweet. She wasn’t afraid to give her thoughts and she had a quiet but very present strength in the way she carried herself. All good things that made her an excellent candidate.

Izuku could not relate at all.

The only person who seemed more shocked than him by this was Bakugou who bristled angrily.
It was nowhere near the amount of aggression he had directed at Uraraka but just smelling it off of him at this distance was too much for Izuku to handle.

Uraraka was strong beta. Further proof of more capable people than Izuku.

“How did shitty Deku come first?! Are we even talking about the same person?!” Kacchan seethed pettily, though it didn’t look like anyone was paying him any mind.

“Oh? Looks like the big bad Alpha’s about to go feral again.” Kaminari snorted offhandedly, and Izuku froze in his seat.

What was happening today? Had he missed something? All these people were talking back to Kacchan!

Wow, U.A truly was something else, huh? Of course all the other betas here would be unaffected. In fact, Yaoyourozu, an Omega, seemed completely indifferent to Kacchan’s scent.

Was Izuku just defective or something? Why was he so sensitive to Kacchan’s scent?

Surprisingly, it seemed the comment about Kacchan going ferally brought him back his scent completely dampened except for mild annoyance.

“Tch. As if I’d give you extras anymore reason to be annoying.” Kacchan grumbled.

“Well, that settles. Looks like Midoriya and Yaoyorozu will be your Class President and Vice-Class President. Congratulations.” Aizawa-sensei stated, before the bell rang.

Izuku found himself a little stunned the rest of the day. Dazed even during lunch. What even was life right now? Nobody even batted an eye, nobody had second guessed Izuku’s ability to lead. What was up with that?

“Midoriya-kun, are you alright? You’ve been awfully quiet today. Is it your concussion?” Iida asked in a worried manner. Izuku allowed himself to take in Iida’s warm and protective Alpha scent.

Izuku used to think Alpha scents were too intense but maybe it was just Kacchan.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s not the concussion, I just...I’m a little shocked at being given the position. Aren’t there people more qualified than me?” Izuku asked, finally deciding on speaking his mind. Remembering his conversation with Kirishima he knew it would be for the best. It was okay to rely on your friends. It's what they are for.

Iida smiled at him kindly, ruffling his hair.

“Oh, is that all? Don’t worry Midoriya-kun, you’ve proved to have excellent judgement under pressure. You’ll be just fine. That’s why I voted for you.” he reassured, before going back to his food.

“You voted for me?! Why? I thought you’d want a position like that!” Izuku demanded, more than a little shocked.

“Yeah, Iida I have to say I’m pretty surprised. You seem like the type who likes organizing events and keeping order.” Uraraka asked, openly curious. She was fierce and as genuine as a puppy. Izuku was happy to have a friend like that. Like them. One with fierce loyalty and the other with a good head on their shoulders.

Izuku was lucky indeed.

“As much as I wanted and would have liked the position, I trust Izuku to lead this class well more than anyone else. Especially after you told me about his performance yesterday.” Iida said simply, though Izuku could detect the slight disappointment in his eyes.

“Make sense.” Uraraka agreed easily, before they all returned to their food. Izuku could not believe that they could just accept that.

It made no sense to Izuku but he supposed he’d have to accept.

Suddenly, the alarm started blaring loudly throughout the school and people got up looking more and more distressed as the alarm continued to blare.

“W-What’s happening?!” Izuku asked, feeling the anxiety rise under his skin. Uraraka clung to him instantly, not allowing himself to separate from his friend.

“I don’t know. But, I’m about to find out.” and before either he or Uraraka could protest, Iida had ran into the crowd. People were packing closer and closer together, shoving and pushing trying to somehow exit the cafeteria but they were pressed so firmly together for one another too caught up in the panic to move anywhere at all.

Urarka was digging her hand into Izuku’s, looking just as distressed as Izuku felt. Man, Izuku wanted to just go home and get out of here.

What could have possibly happened? Was there a school shooter on the loose? Had a criminal infiltrated the building? What was happening?

The pushing and shoving was getting worse, and Izuku only feared that he would be seperated from Uraraka and would get crushed into a bunch of strangers crushed in anxiety and fear.

Then out of nowhere, standing on top of a table was Iida. Hands cupped around his mouth screaming at everyone to listen to him.

“Everyone! Please calm down . There is no need to panic! It would appear as though the press was able to infiltrate the security system. There is no threat! Please remain calm!” Iida Ordered.

Sure enough, the crowd settled dispersing and everyone let out sighs of relief. Just like that the chaotic herd of people had quieted and calmed, rationally behaving once again.

He and Uraraka approached Iida immediately, more than impressed as they praised him.

“You were amazing Iida! You got everyone to listen so quickly.” Uraraka exclaimed, bouncing on her feet and grinning at Iida.

Izuku felt his own excited grin reach his own lips. Iida had acted like a hero, a true leader.

“Yeah, Iida. You’re incredible.” and oh dear that sounded more breathless than Izuku had expected.

Iida flushed at the praise, but his scent was pleasant and warm wrapping around them like a nice blanket.

“It was the right thing to do.” he shrugged, trying to play it off. Izuku couldn’t help but look at Iida ina new light. He was really cool, in his own strange way.

Definitely more fit to be a leader than Izuku though.

---

When they saw Aizawa-sensei again the next day, and he called up the Presidents of the class, Izuku had already made his mind up. Even now, just standing up in front of his class being forced to look them all in the eye, knowing fully well he was only going to give up his position, Izuku felt his legs tremble.

Ugh, Izuku was not yet used to any of these people giving him this much attention. Izuku never wanted to do this ever again.

“H-Hello, uhm, everyone thanks for voting for me and stuff, I-uhm.” Izuku was trembling, his hands shaking but he found Iida’s eyes and found strength.

“I just wanted to say that while I appreciate the support, I think someone else would be more suitable for this position. Yesterday, Iida-kun dealt with the whole reporter fiasco like a true leader. While I was panicking, too overcome with my own fear Iida addressed the issue and got everyone to calm down. I think that makes him far more qualified and more worthy of being Class President than anyone else. This is why he should be Class President, not be. I, Izuku Midoriya, hereby forfeit my position to let Iida take my place. Those of you who agree, say I.” Izuku exclaims, leaning on the stand for support on his long spiel.
At first there was only silence, and Izuku was afraid his efforts had been in vain.

And then, Kirishima, like the knight and shining armour that he was, cried a big “I! If Midoriya thinks it’s for the best I support it. You were super manly back there Iida!”

Slowly, Izuku heard many others rush to voice their support.

Iida looked completely overwhelmed, getting up slowly before approaching Izuku’s side. He looked shocked, his eyes wide with surprise mouth hanging out and completely stunned.

He looked at Izuku then the class before speaking.

“Midoriya-kun are you sure?” Iida asked, as if he hadn’t admitted to Izuku earlier that he had wanted this position.

“Yes, I’m sure. You said you trust my judgement right? To reject that now would be telling me that you were lying.” Izuku told him smugly, he had prepared this statement in advance anticipating Iida’s question a long time ago.

Iida stared at him a few seconds longer, before nodding resolutely.

“Alright, I don’t want to be accused of being a liar. If that’s the case, with Aizawa-sensei’s permission I will humbly accept the position!” Iida announced, proudly puffing his chest.

“I don’t care.” Aizawai-sensei replied blandly.

With that a loud round of applause was given, the entire class chaotically hooting and shouting with laughter. What an interesting bunch of people, Izuku looked forward to working and being friends with every single one of them.

Eventually.

Izuku sighed with relief, ready to go back to his seat before he caught the look on Yaoyorozu’s face.

She looked a little out of place, looking at the rambunctious class and then at her own hands as if she didn’t trust herself. Her scent was of jasmine, hibiscus and patchouli. It reminded Izuku of a fruity, floral tea with something bit more warm and powerful hidden beneath it’s depths.

“Are you okay with this, Yaoyorozu-san? Did you not want your position?” Izuku asked carefully, as a look of realization had finally snapped back onto her face.

She smiled, though slightly painfully, a t him shaking her head.
“No, no! Nothing like that, I’m just...unsure if I’m worthy of this position.” she revealed quietly, as the rest of the class was distracted.

“I know this won’t mean much coming from me, seeing as I gave my position a way and all. But, maybe don’t think of it that way. Um, you’re O-Omega right? You’re the only Omega in the class! So, think of it as giving a voice and a face to people who don’t always get that opportunity. Not to put any pressure on you or anything! But, like, it's really a shame there aren’t more Omegas in the athletics program you know? But when we have events and stuff, and they see an Omega as one of the leaders of the Athletics program during the school festivals and stuff you’ll be giving a lot of people hope. Omegas all over the country are going to see Momo Yaoyorozu as their role model. Just as so many see Midnight. You’re the only person in this class that can do that, so if you still don’t see yourself as worthy think of yourself as someone who will strive to become worthy so the people who come after you will too.” Izuku ranted, passionate and true.

Izuku had always admired Omegas. Way back, when Izuku’s grandparents were just born it was still tough for Omegas in a lot of ways. Izuku’s grandmothers were both Omega. They had to wait a long time, much longer than Alphas for same-secondary gender marriage.

It had taken even longer for them to find a surrogate, who would help them bring a child into the world.

Their struggles were something Izuku’s beta mother would always instill in him. Omegas used to be rare for how long they were considered undesired children. It was awful the things people used to do.

Of course, by now things had changed a lot. There were many, many laws in place to make sure such awful things would never happen again. Omegas were paid the same by the time his grandparents were in the workforce.

That didn’t mean that sexism no longer existed, because it did. But, it had improved by a lot.

That wasn’t to say that what Izuku was saying wasn’t true. There were rarely, if any Omegas that wanted to go to U.A for Athletics. There were plenty in STEM, some more in Arts, and at least handful in Business. But in Athletics there were very few. Four in total, and Yaoyorozu was the only one in their class.

In fact, Omegas in the U.A Athletics department was unheard of until Midnight. She had forged her scent and her abilities into well-worn weapons and took U.A and the boxing world by storm. Her image had become an icon, a figurehead for many aspiring Omega athletes. It was the first time Omega abilities and instincts had been considered a strength and not a weakness to the athlete world.

Izuku wanted Yaoyorozu to know that he hoped to see that same bright and brilliant future for her. That there was no need to second guess herself. She was already here, and she just needed to show the world what she’s got.

Yaoyorozu looked at him, shocked, before pulling him away and into the hall to give him a huge hug.

Izuku still wasn’t used to hugging girls besides his mom, but he returned the hug the best he could all the same. Yaoyorozu’s scent was really nice and comforting, like his own mother’s embrace maybe better. Izuku felt her tears dampen his shirt and that when he grew alarmed.

“Yaoyorozu-san? Are you okay? What is it something I said? WAS WHAT I SAID RUDE I-I swear I wasn’t trying to offend you or put pressure on you or anything I-” Izuku panicked, was what he said considered insensitive, had he said the wrong thing, worded it the wrong way?

“N-NO, not at all! Actually, you said everything I needed to hear. Thank you for saying all that. That stuff about your grandmother's I-”

“W-WAIT, I said all that out loud!” Izuku exclaimed, he hadn’t meant to spill his entire life story.

Yaoyorozu let out a watery laugh, hugging Izuku to her still.

“I thought your muttering was meant for me to listen to! No matter. I appreciate it all the same. I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations, and be someone that will make your grandmothers proud.” Yaoyorozu promised sincerely, and Izuku felt his own eyes water.

“I’ll help you every step of the way, the best I can!” Izuku promised as well.

Izuku was realizing for the second time this week, that the more he opened up to random people the more likely they were to be his friend.

Izuku was very lucky indeed.

Chapter 15: moss

Summary:

U S J pt.1

The entire class was chattering with excitement. U.A was one of the best schools in the country, and with such a title, it was to be expected that their budget was almost limitless. On top of government funding, there were all kinds of sponsors that helped fund the school. This meant that their cafeteria food was cooked by Michelin star chefs, that their security was top of the line and every single they ever worked with was top of the line.

It would seem that even their field trips would work the same way.

They were all headed to U.S.J, the U.A Stadium Joint. It was one of the biggest stadiums the city had to offer and it was the single coolest thing Izuku had ever heard of.

As Iida herded them into their (private!) bus, a rotten feeling seemed to brew in his gut. He wasn’t too sure why. Nothing seems too out of the ordinary. They were going on a field trip, it would be fine.

Yet, even as he tells himself this Izuku can’t completely shake off this bad feeling. If U.A had some of the best security in the country, how were mere reporters able to infiltrate? If they could do that, why hadn’t it occurred before? If they couldn’t up until now, what changed?

It also seemed rather fishy, but maybe Izuku was looking too deeply into things.

Besides, looking at all his classmates relieves Izuku’s stress.

Kaminari and Mina are talking a mile per minute, as if they took a pause to breathe they would forget their unending tangent.

To his right was Asui, who seemed determined to make Izuku call her Tsu-chan for one reason or the other. Izuku was not ready for that step in their friendship and settled on just Tsuyu for now. She seemed reluctant with the development but left him alone about it for the most part.

Then, to his left with Kirishima. He had asked Izuku privately about his development with Kacchan, and Izuku had tried to be brave when he spoke to him about what had happened after their fight. The fallout, the tears, the heartbreak, all of that Izuku tried to avoid talking about in depth but Izuku had a feeling that Kirishima had understood anyway.

He had looked at him sadly and rubbed his back, promising things would get better.

Izuku still wasn’t too sure if he wanted to believe him or not, the false hope would only serve to break his heart further.

“Midoriya! What did you try out for?” Kirishima asked, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

It seemed everyone in the vicinity was listening, curious to see what their ex-Class President had to say. Izuku really wasn’t in the mood to socialize, and luckily he didn’t have to.

“Midoriya did the same events as me, with the addition of the hurdles event!” Iida informed, his voice carrying over loudly despite him sitting on the other end of the bus.

Izuku found himself very grateful for having been spared that position. He wouldn’t have been able to command anyone’s attention at all.

Kirishima grinned. “So you’re a speedy boy too, Midoriya? If Iida’s Sonic what does that make you?”
Kaminari cackled, apparently interested enough to stop his conversation with Mina.

“That means Midoriya’s Scrouge the Hedgehog!” he pointed out, amused at the comparison. “Those guys would be a speedy hedgehog team.”

“I refuse to be compared to a hedgehog!” Iida complained.

“HAHA! Kaminari that would make you Pikachu!” Mina giggled, apparently taken with these comparisons. Their class continues to debate on what video game character each of them would before Kirishima pointed out something peculiar.

“What would Bakugou or Todoroki be? If we’re going by personality and pokemon type here it would be pretty complicated!” he noted, as everyone began contemplating his statement.

“This is stupid.” Kacchan grumbled, though he looked slightly pleased that nobody could figure him out.

Well, if Kacchan truly felt like Izuku was the bane of his existence Izuku would at least play the part.

“Kacchan would be Thyphlosion without a doubt. He’s got an explosive personality, so it seems fitting Todoroki seems like a Volcanion to me.” Izuku explains, watching Kacchan getting irritated by being compared to such a ‘bland Pokémon’. Especially since he compared Todoroki to such an epic Pokémon as well. It probably wounded Kacchan’s delicate Alpha ego.

“Yes, it seems rather fitting. Though, I doubt anyone would ever want to train him, it would be an impossible feat.” Asui - no, Tsuyu - exclaims.

Izuku watches as Kacchans irritation increases with some amusement, but it’s Kaminari’s next comment that puts the final nail on the coffin.

“We haven’t known each other long, so it’s truly amazing that everyone here already knows that his personality is garbage steeped in sewage!”

“What did you just say to me, Dunce Face?!” Kacchan demands getting up from his seat in an attempt to threaten the beta, but even with his angry scent nobody in the bus seemed bothered at all. In fact, they were all laughing having a blessed time teasing the angry blond. Mina commented it was too easy to rile Kacchan up.

This was so different from what Izuku was used to. Usually, an Alpha’s angry pheromones and Orders would only work on those who were already intimidated by them. In their old school, Izuku’s classmates would be cowering in fear at such an angry expression from an Alpha.

This was U.A, Izuku supposed, things were meant to be different here.

Conversations continue to flow in this way and Izuku still can’t quite grasp that he gets to be a part of it.

---

By the time they arrive at the Stadium, everyone is bouncing with energy after being cooped up inside the bus for so long. Aizawa-sensei leads them to the front desk, where a retired JAXA astronaut stood. Izuku had heard about this teacher before but hadn’t seen them around before. Another notable U.A alumni, that was called by the name of Thirteen.

The only person who looked more excited than him at the turn of events was Uraraka, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet totally ecstatic.

They followed Thirteen to the main area, from which they would be allowed to explore to their heart's content. There was the pool, the rock climbing wall and all separated into different room-like structures within the same floor. The stadium was huge. To be able to hold an entire soccer field, pools, and all these other things was insane.

He had only heard rumours of such a place before, since this place was reserved for U.A and pro-athletes only.

Izuku felt more than honoured to be allowed to even step foot in a place like this.

It was as Thirteen was explaining instructions for the day, when the lights cut out.

Izuku heard someone scream, heard the sound of glass breaking and then the lights turned back on. For some reason, the sprinkler had turned on making everyone get wet yet the alarm didn’t blare.

Which meant the security went down, just like it had at U.A yesterday. Yesterday had been a warning that nobody had heeded, and for that they would pay.

A beast of a man, followed what looked like an army of minions had spread across the Stadium. The Beast was holding Thirteen by the throat, it’s arms so thick it could probably smash Thirteen’s skull open without even trying.

Next to the Beast, was a scrawny almost frail looking man who kept itching at his neck. His skin and hair were flaky and dry, and his body was covered in hands.

These men were most definitely involved with some shady business. The yakuza?

“We’re here because we were informed that Yagi Toshinori was here. I have a score to settle with him.” the flaky, dry-skinned man stated. His tone was rough from disuse, and like his shaggy appearance suggested was probably not someone who went out a lot. Not yakuza then, some criminal group.

Izuku held his breath, the man’s scent was bothering. Pomegranate, whiskey, passionfruit, maybe licorice? So many scents piled one on top of the other, so thick and and permeating that Izuku felt like his scent alone could knock a full grown man onto his knees.

No, it wasn’t the man's scent he was more subdued. He wasn’t angry, he wasn’t looking for a fight.

It was his Beast. Which meant that monster looking creature was...was human. To some extent. His purple coloring, his exposed brains and the unnatural build of his body would suggest otherwise but he was human at least in part. The grotesque figure would haunt Izuku forever.

“Children, get away! Toshinori isn’t here, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave.” Aizawa-sensei stated, somehow calm and collected. “Iida, please escort the class out of here immediately. I’ll deal with this.”

Izuku found himself developing newfound respect for the man. Still, he didn’t like the idea of leaving his teacher to fend for himself.

It seems the criminals are thinking the same thing. Three very large men block the exit of the door, and every exit of the stadium. What? Where had they come from? Why did they want to attack a bunch of students?

“I’m afraid nobody will be leaving here tonight. Either Toshinori gets here quickly, or all these children will have to die.” the flaky criminal man smirks.

“I am Tomura Shigaraki, successor of All for One and the Leader of the League of Villains. We’re to seek revenge from your beloved ‘All Might’. It’s time his stupid legacy comes to an end and we’re here to get the job done.”

Izuku feels his breath leave his body. So this was what Toshinori-sensei was afraid of. Izuku couldn’t believe that this was happening.

All for One. Izuku remembered that man had conducted experiments. Creating what he called the Ideal Alphas.

He pumped testosterone and steroids into subjects in hopes to create the Ideal Alpha. One that was completely slave to their instincts, stuck in a feral rut until it died. They were aggressive and ready to fight at any given moment, so gone to their instincts that they could no longer form conscious thought. It was a disgusting, cruel thing and Izuku had been sure that when Toshinori had helped the police put the man in jail his reign would have been done for good.

Izuku had been right, this Beast truly had been a man once. Reduced solely to his instincts. A monster.

Izuku realized that they were trapped. They were trapped in this stadium, and it was very likely that someone would get hurt.
Izuku had to call the police! He had to do something before this could get any worse. As he snatched his phone from his pocket, Izuku’s heart fell. No signal, even though he had it not even ten minutes ago.

That meant these people had planned this ordeal meticulously. They were in big trouble.

Izuku heard someone yell, and started to realize it was Kacchan. He ran at the guy, clearly ready to take the man down but before anyone could do anything the man pulled a mask over his face and the gas was released into the air.

That could be the only explanation for why Izuku’s world went black.

---

He comes to with a slap on the face. Izuku groans, blinking his eyes open only to see the faces of Asui - Tsuyu - and Yaoyorozu in front of him.

“Midoriya-kun, are you okay?!” Yaoyorozu exclaims, her soft chamomile scent wrapping around Izuku like a warm embrace. Gaining strength from his friend’s concern, Izuku pushes his body upwards blinking to take a look around. They were stuck on the diving tower of one of the pools.

“H-How did we get here?” Izuku asked, still kind of dazed.

Tsuyu frowns, her eyes gazing to the main plaza and Izuku follows her line of sight. There he sees a lanky man - Aizawa sensei - fight off almost six different criminals at once.

“W-We don’t really know. My best guess is that those League of Villains people used some sort of sleeping gas and separated to be less of a burden to fight. After all, we are the Athletics program so they know most of us can fight.” Yaoyorozu explains, pointing at the pool and that’s when Izuku sees it.

At the bottom of the pool, there was an entire soccer team worth of criminals wading in the water waiting to take them down.

Oh, geez.

“Yikes.” is all Izuku could bring himself to say looking at the criminals fighting below with Aizawa-sensei and the ones they had to deal with.

Surprising him, both the girls laugh at that. Loudly and pleasantly, and they don’t seem to be able to contain. There are even a few tears in the corner of Yaoyorozu’s eyes and Izuku feels a little proud that he’s accomplished such a feat.

“Understatement of the year.” Tsuyu shakes her head, a slight quirk to her lips as she says it.

“R-Right! So, um, we should come up with a plan right? If we just wait up here, they could just climb up here and force us down so we should do something about that right?” Izuku mutters, more to himself that the two girls.

His mind is going a mile a minute. All he can think about is Aizawa-sensei battling for his life, all of their lives out there clearly outnumbered and if the criminals decided to use the Beast, outmatched.

“D-Do you really think they’d do that? It would be safer for us to just stay up here and hope help comes in time.” Yaoyorozu points out, looking unsure of herself. “Besides, none of us are fighters. I only took karate for two years before I quit. I play Tennis, Tsuyu’s a swimmer and you’re a mid-distance sprinter so it isn’t reasonable to fight.”

Izuku understood where she was coming from, he truly did but he had an inkling of an idea. He believed in it, he believed they could do it. Izuku thought about it, looking at the amount of people on the ground. If these guys were strong at combat, they wouldn’t have to send so many.

That in itself spoke volumes. Izuku couldn’t guarantee anything in life, but he could take a chance.

Glancing at Aizawa-sensei who was slowly losing steam, Izuku knew he had too.

“Actually, I was training to be a MMA fighter for almost ten years. I can fight, and I think I have a plan. Tsuyu, for how long can you hold your breath underwater?”

Notes:

This chapter just moved on it's own,, but somehow i like it

Chapter 16: wild rose

Summary:

USJ PART 2

Izuku knew he was being reckless. It was what he was best at. He used to get into many fights as a kid, defending others from bullies. His mom would hate seeing Izuku come back home with bruised knees, and if to get worse split lips and blackeyes.

Yet, no matter how much his mother would scold him Izuku couldn’t stop himself.

As a child, he had always been dreaming of being like All Might. His hero, his role model. He would save others with a smile, and no matter how tough or difficult things got he would always come out on top.

He was a dream for Izuku, but very quickly he had learnt that heroes with superpowers would only be a dream.

So, instead Izuku fixated himself on the actor Yagi Toshinori himself as Kacchan had. He was similar to his role, always winning with a bright smile. He was also considered the Ideal Alpha.

Everyone loved him because he wasn’t the typical Alpha athlete. He was the furthest from an unnecessarily aggressive, angry Alpha who used his power to hurt others. He never used his scent to overwhelm his opponents, and he was a hero in his own right.
He helped his police officer best friend with missions in his free time, and he was an all around great guy. Izuku had very quickly latched onto becoming an MMA Fighter like him.

Except Izuku never really liked fighting for the sake of fighting that much. If it was to protect others from bullies, it felt right. He was protecting a precious life.

He wasn’t like Kacchan, though. The thrill of the fight was only there for Izuku when there was a cause for it. Kacchan liked winning for the sake of winning, and he liked fighting for the sake of fighting.

Izuku only fought with all he had when there was something on the line Today was one of those days.

Tsuyu and Yaoyorozu had gotten into their positions. It was Izuku’s turn to play his part.

If Izuku was honest, he was afraid. There were so many of them and Izuku had no information on any of his opponents, or the way they fought. Izuku had to pray everything worked on.

The image of Aizawa-sensei fighting for his life was enough for Izuku. He had to do this.

Izuku thought of Kacchan, fearless and brave. Confident and ruthless, Izuku loved to see the way he fought despite everything else. He was strong because he believed in his own abilities, that’d he come out on top and that ambition and drive to reach victory was one of the most exhilarating things Izuku had ever gotten to witness.

Kacchan was the only reason he had fought for so long. Once he had made it clear that he didn’t want Izuku around him anymore there was nothing left for Izuku to fight for.

Now his time had come again, and Izuku refused to come out of this without his entire class safe.

“Hey, ASSHOLES! INCOMING!” Izuku screamed, running at full blast off the diving tower extending his arms above his head and tightly pressing his legs together before he dived straight in. Successfully distracting all the low-tier criminals and giving Tsuyu the chance to do her job.

His splash temporarily blinded the criminals, but someone tries to drown him while he’s still underwater. Izuku tries to move his legs up, using the red flag cue he had given Tsuyu to find him.

Izuku fears that he’ll drown desperately kicking his legs up but his head was still underwater, trapped in the chokehold and while he was trying his best to press his chin down the way All Might taght him he wasn’t managing to get away.

Luckily, Tsuyu came in time kicking the man in the ribs and helping Izuku out. Izuku rises to the surface in time, and attacks the man who had tried to drown him.

Tsuyu is holding his feet down, holding her breath easily and somehow able to hold his legs together. Izuku uses this time to place his feet on the man’s back keeping his face underwater unable to see.

Izuku uses the man’s back like a board, and the other criminals are coming close attempting to end Izuku themselves. Izuku was in his game now, and though slightly unstable found his footing easily.

Once Izuku stepped on the man he was drowning he went to step onto the next criminal, right on his face.

Izuku uses their shock to his advantage, hopping from head to head. Tsuyu was creating a human bridge for him underwater, shifting them from the floor of the pool. Izuku could then step from person to person, quickly, using their shock to move.

In order to indicate his shift from person to person, he’d hit his foot in the direction of the next criminal he needed to step on.

Izuku makes it onto land, but there's enough men trying to follow him. Izuku screams the codeword and right on time, the pool begins to drain rapidly.

Yaoyorozu worked quickly and Izuku was very thankful for her.

The men, caught off guard, begin to scatter overwhelmed by the turn of events from the pool. Many struggle to realize what is happening.

There are a few who attempt to attack Izuku, but their form is too poor and Izuku is easily able to use their shock against them.

It occurs to Izuku now that they needed that many criminals not because they were bad at fighting, these guys could barely throw a punch. They seemed extremely incomptent in actual fights, and had used their numbers to intimidate them.

One properly thrown kick to the calf, they’d buckle a bit and Izuku would dump them into the pool.

He’d alter his approach, but Izuku’s adrenaline hadn’t been this good since his fight with Kacchan. These extras wouldn’t be able to

They aren’t completely concentrated on his movements the way MMA Fighters would be able to. On top of this, they're under pressure in a circumstance they did not anticipate.

They don’t stand a chance.

Izuku dumps them into the draining pool as he finishes them off. This way they could contain them all in one place without worry. The ladder in the pool had been disposed of my Tsuyu by the time Izuku had yelled the code word and the pool had drained.

Tsuyu seemed to be caught up with the last criminal standing, and Izuku made quick work of him. Izuku kicks at the man’s calf from behind and he topples on impact.

With help from Tsuyu, they grasp each leg and dump him in the drained pool.

“Izu-kun! I have to say I’m very impressed. I knew you were decent from your fight with Bakugou, but you approached this at a different level!” Tsuyu exclaims and Izuku only shakes his head, laughing a bit at the compliment.

“These guys don’t know how to fight properly, so it really wasn’t that impressive.” Izuku mutters, rubbing the back of his neck shyly.

Yaoyorozu appears, somehow holding towels in arms. Izuku doesn’t understand how the girl always gets her hands on things, but for now it was better for them to not question the motives.

“Regardless of how you downplay it, your plan was brilliant! I don’t get how you came up with that in such a short time, and I’m even more impressed that you managed to execute it!” Yaoyorozu informs him, passing the towel to Tsuyu and Izuku. “How did you know they wouldn’t be able to fight well?”

Izuku shrugged. “I didn’t know, I guessed. If they needed so many people to take care of three kids, there was no way any of them were any good.”

They began walking, moving to the main plaza but sneaking around enough as to not attract any attention.

“On top of that, none of them attempted to attack first. They weren’t trying to climb up the diving tower or anything. This means a few things. First, that they aren’t prioritizing our deaths or anything. That Shigaraki guy was clear, he only really wants to kill All Might. The only reason he separated us like that was to keep us from banding together to fight them as a whole unit. They didn’t plan that fully though. They didn’t know what we were capable of or they never put Tsuyu, a swimmer, at the pool. They also didn’t know one of us could fight, so they were relying solely on intimidation to keep us away.” Izuku explains, keeping his voice low so as not to raise too much outward attention.

Tsuyu and Yaoyorozu are on either side, listening to Izuku’s explanation with full concentration.

Man, this center of attention thing was weird. He had no clue why Kacchan seemed to like it so much.

“Wow. I can’t believe you turned down being Class President because you thought you couldn’t be a good leader.” Yaoyorozu scoffs, after a few moments of silence.

“I agree, Yaoyorozu-san. Izu-kun can be very dismissive.” Tsuyu notes, her voice contemplative as if she was still trying to understand something very difficult.

Izuku narrows his eyes, there was something weird happening. The Beast had moved, none of the other lackeys of the main criminal were around. Something went wrong, and they really needed to pick up the pace. He couldn’t see Aizawa-sensei what was-

“You and Midoriya should call me Yaomomo from now on. It’s what Jirou-san’s been calling me and I find it rather cute because-” Yaoyorozu informs Tsuyu, her voice and scent warm and sweet. Izuku if flattered he truly is that she sees them to be close.

“Yaomomo, Tsuyu we need to get going! I can’t see Aizawa-sensei from here, lets’ go this way.” Izuku interrupts, he feels bad for it, he does. However, now is not the time.

Their teacher’s life could be on the line.

As they move closer, Izuku realizes with horror why the Beast has moved. Underneath his foot, was Aizawa-sensei’s body, a pool of blood jutting out from just underneath his chin. His elbow seemed to be dislocated, and with a start Izuku wondered if he was even still alive from fighting a monster like that.

Yaomom gasps from beside him and Izuku can hear Tsuyu’s sharp intake of air.

They were too late.

Izuku feels fury burn up in his veins, hot and scalding boiling him alive. So, this was how Kacchan felt. This was the unwilling force that would possess him when Kacchan fought, a consuming rage that demanded blood, demanded consequence demanded justice.

Izuku could feel his arms tensing up, and as he moves to get involved he feels both Yaomomo and Tsuyu grab onto him on either side.

“Izu-kun, you can’t do that! You’ll end up like him. Please think this through again or we’ll all-” Tsuyu pleads, hoping Izuku would just listen to her and see past his anger.

Izuku can’t though. He can’t see past anything but Aizawa-sensei’s lifeless body and Izuku can’t take it.

“You shouldn’t have moved, little hero .Too bad you didn’t listen to you friend, because you’ll have to deal with the consequences.” Shigakari snorted, jutting his chin towards the Beast, it’s Master speaks to it.

“Nomu, go to the green one and ATTACK .” the man says nonchalantly, and the Beast, the Nomu listens.

Izuku is in shock. How is this ‘Ideal Alpha’ being Ordered by a man with less than half his scent? Was he programmed to do this, or was the original Alpha submissive?

Izuku didn’t know, but he didn’t want to find out.

Surprisingly, the Nomu doesn’t attack in a feral rage but approaches the slowly and just picks Tsuyu up by that throat.

That one second of shock passes Izuku in an instant, and he slams his entire body weight into the midsection of the Nomu.

It doesn’t let go of Tsuyu, but it does weaken Nomu's grip and Tsuyu manages to squeeze herself out of Nomu's massive hand.

Shigaraki looks extremely pissed off by this and to Izuku’s utter disbelief it wasn’t even directed at them.

He was mad at Be-Nomu. He was angry at his creation (?) for choosing the wrong victim. He had wanted the thing to attack Izuku, not Tsuyu. He had just Ordered “green thing” and while Izuku’s hair, eyes and costume were all green it had gone to Tsuyu.

Tsuyu who’s only green colouring was her outfit, but had been the last to draw attention.

Which meant that the Nomu couldn’t think for itself. Could it even attack on its own? Here was a limit in its ability, if Izuku could only figure out a way to use it against the monster right now, he could-

Izuku was being choked again.

This time, a Monster Alpha that had beaten Izuku’s seasoned fighter teacher. Aizawa-sensei was a black belt in karate and was well versed in many forms of self-defence. If he couldn’t defeat that thing, Izuku wouldn’t stand a chance.

Izuku tried to thrash in the monster’s hand but no such luck. Izuku readied himself to die, or at the very least pass out.

And, just like that last time Izuku had choked All Might had come to save the day.

Izuku felt like this was a repeated theme in his life. That wasn’t to say he was ungrateful for it, but he wanted to be strong enough to fend on his own.

In anycase, Shigaraki seemed sufficiently satisfied,

“All Might, or should I say, Toshinori-sensei, what a pleasure to meet you. How kind of you to finally join us. We were a little frustrated, you see. We were promised a showdown, but you didn’t come when we needed you most. What a shame, guess you’re nothing like you pretend to be, huh?” Shigaraki snarls, lips unfurling cruelly as if he’d rather bite someone’s head off than talk to All Might.

“Whatever your reasons may be, if you have a problem with me you shouldn’t take it out on others.” Toshinori explains, though his voice is less patient than Izuku’s ever heard before.

“Asui, Yaouyorozu and Midoriya. I need the three of you to take Aizawa-sensei and bring him somewhere safe, check his pulse and if his breathing is even. He’s seriously injured but he’s definitely alive.” Toshinori-sensei tells them quickly, glaring at Shigaraki as if to prove a point.

“By all means.” the criminal shrugs, moving out of the way and letting Izuku get a good look at his teacher.

Sure enough, the man is breathing and without Nomu's foot on his back appears to be okay despite the elbow.

Izuku wants to protest, looking at Toshinori-sensei’s back. He remembers the man’s big reveal about his injuries and how he isn’t at his top form anymore. Izuku feels his worry begin to grow.

That “Ideal Alpha” thing was a monster. But if there was anyone who could put away the bad guys it was All Might. Izuku had to trust in him.

It seemed that this would be taken care of now, and Izuku was no fighter.

Besides, they had a sensei to rescue and Izuku more than anything else wanted to save people. Wanted to protect people and keep them safe.

The best thing he could do to accomplish that right now would be to join Yaomomo and Tsuyu. Izuku needed to stay in his place, this wasn’t the time to act on his own. People’s lives would be at stake.

So, Izuku listens to his hero and carries Aizawa sensei on his back. Even though he’s doing the thing he’s supposed to do, doing the thing that All Might had assigned to him Izuku could not shake a very bad feeling.

The worst was yet to come.

Notes:

i forgot if i've mentioned this before but All Might/Yagi Toshinori is similar to "The Rock" where he's a Pro at his given sport, but his mass success lead him to get his own superhero series "All Might". The best part is that his comics actually reflect fights Toshinori has fought and criminal cases he's been dealing with BUT with altered names/details

it's not that relevant to this chapter, but i think it's interesting to keep in mind for future chapters owo

Chapter 17: frankincense

Summary:

FINAL USJ CHAPTER

As they got further and further away from All Might, the growing dread in Izuku’s stomach felt worse. Toshinori-sensei wasn’t at his best, that monster was giving Izuku very bad energy and he couldn’t bear to think about it, but wasn’t Izuku abandoning his hero? His role model? His reason for living?

Wasn’t Izuku just running away from his problems, as he always did when things got too tough?

No. Izuku refused to be that anymore. He refused to be the ‘Deku’ who uselessly stood by, as he’d told Kacchan before. No wonder his friend was so angry, all this big talk but Izuku never really backed it up.
He said he was changing, but he stood on the sidelines still.

What did he want to do? What should he do in this situation? Izuku had told himself that he gave up on MMA Fighting because he didn’t like senseless violence. Didn’t like fighting for the sake of fighting, no matter how much he had fooled himself by saying it was ‘to improve’ or ‘to be strong’.

There were other ways to be strong, and Izuku was fine with his conclusion. That he wanted to be like All Might because he saved people, and Kacchan liked All Might because he always won.

He had told himself that transporting Aizawa-sensei would be saving him, but that wasn’t right. All Might had already done that. Aizawa-sensei was only safe now because of Toshinori-sensei’s presence itself. Aizawa-sensei was already safe.

Tsuyu and Yaomomo would be more than enough to transfer the man. Yaomomo was more than capable of handling the situation, he had her mumble about first aid as they walked.

Izuku coud fight, and he could fight reasonably well. If Izuku fought now, it wouldn’t be senseless fighting. It would be to protect Toshinori-sensei as nobody else knew of his circumstances but him. This means Izuku could protect him. Izuku could save his hero.

Isn’t all that Izuku had ever wanted? To be a hero in his own right?

There was no time to waste, Toshinori-sensei needed him.

It was time for Izuku to repay his hero a favour and support him, they way his teacher had supported him.

“Guys, take care of Aizawa-sensei.” Izuku tells the girls, placing him carefully in Yaomomo’s hands. “I need to do something, please understand.”

 

“Izu-kun, what are you-” Tsuyu began, clearly trying to prevent Izuku from being reckless again. Izuku didn’t even blame her, it was clear already that Izuku could be impulsive, it had almost gotten the girl killed. No, Izuku wouldn’t be so short-sighted, he just wanted to keep an eye on Toshinori-sensei and step in if needed.

“Tsuyu, Midoriya-kun hasn’t led us astray so far. Let’s trust him some more. It’ll be quicker with just two of us anyway.” Yaomomo interrupts, eyes focused on Aizawa-sensei.

Tsuyu stares at her and Midoriya before finally nodding. “Do what you have to do.” she says quietly, taking their teacher on her back instead and starting to walk away.

“Midoriya-kun, I don’t know what your plans are but I trust you. But, please take care of yourself too.” Yaomomo warns, clearly not fully sold on Izuku’s idea of splitting up.

Izuku tries to give Yaomomo the smile he had seen back then on TV, the ones Izuku analyzes and stares at for hours on end. It was the smile that made Izuku admire both All Might as a character and Yagi Toshinori as a person so much. Knowing you were facing a difficult, maybe impossible situation but giving it his all anyway.

“I won’t let you down.” Izuku promises, and with that his friend reluctantly jogs to keep up with Tsuyu.

Izuku had a job to do, and he had to get there before it was too late again.

He zips back to the plaza, watching as Toshinori-sensei goes at it with Nomu. The Nomu had swung with a left hook, but Toshinori-sesnei easily dodged it before attempting an uppercut. The Nomu blocks it easily, and it seems that the two seem to be equally matched.

Izuku scans his surroundings, seeing a bored Shigaraki leaning on a wall. Then, Izuku notices the presence of his classmates. There’s only four of them all together, and quite frankly Izuku isn’t that surprised by the turnout. Todoroki, Kacchan and Kirishima.

Out of the three, the only one who would be willing to spare Izuku any information would be Kirishima.

Izuku easily approaches him, poking him in the back and causing the guy to exclaim loudly in response. Kirishima was easy to catch off guard. This ends being unwise, as Kirishima instantly puts him in an over the shoulder arm drag.

“Ow!” Izuku exclaims, he had not anticipated such a violent reaction from his friend and Kirishima is quick to apologize.

“Ah! Sorry Midoriya! But there’s a bunch of crazy villains here so I’m kind of in combat mode, y’know?” he explains, helping Izuku back to his feet.

“Tch, it’s the nerds fault anyway. This isn't’t the time to fuck around.” Kacchan scoffs, and while Izuku is irritated by his behaviour he reminds himself something.

Kacchan may be crass, insensitive, unfriendly, socially repulsive and an asshole but he was a good person. More importantly, Izuku trusted him more than anyone but because when it came down to it Kacchan would always do the right thing, no matter how cranky he acted as he did this.

“Kacchan’s right. Aizawa-sensei was defeated by Nomu just a few minutes ago and I’m worried about Toshinori sensei. That thing’s barely human.” Izuku informed, gaining the attention of even Todoroki who didn’t seem to react to anything until now.

“Deku, what the fuck are you talking about?” Kacchan asks, but his tone is more curious than aggressive for once. Izuku gets down to business.

“I’m sure you or Todoroki could tell, but this isn’t some regular body builder criminal Alpha. Right now I’m under the impression that thing has been heavily genetically modified. I’m smelling at least 4-6 different scents that don’t go together. This “Ideal Alpha” thing has been modified to take on a bunch of different alphas pheromones, coupled with maybe testosterone supplements and steroids to keep him big. This thing is designed to take Toshinori-sensei down. This thing is in constant ‘Feral Alpha’ mode too so there’s no way it can think for itself either.” Izukuu explained breathlessly, trying to keep his voice down so as to not attract any attention.

The three of his classmates stared at him for a bit.

“Damn Midoriya, you could tell all that just from his scent? You’re pretty smart!” Kirishima praised, though his eyes still looked burdened by the info dump.

“It’s rather strange for a Beta to be so attuned to scents.” Todoroki pointed out offhandedly.

Kacchan scoffs, though he looks at Izuku seriously. This is why Izuku would always trust him, despite how mean he could be. When it came down to it, Izuku knew he could count on Kacchan in any situation.

“Deku’s been sensitive to scents since we were pups. S’not a big deal IcyHot get over yourself. There’s still something you’re leaving out, isn’t there shitty nerd? I see it all over your face.” Kacchan notes, crossing his arms and giving his best glower.

Sometimes, Izuku wished that Kacchan was the delienquent dumb muscely blond everyone thought he was. His life would be so much easier if Kacchan wasn’t as perceptive as he was.

“Y-Yeah. I don’t know if you remember this, Kacchan since they fought when we were really young but do you remember that one time Toshinori-sensei won but was forced into the hospital? Where he won by the skin of his teeth, and then that whole scandal came up? That guy was All for One…” Izuku nervously reveals, and he watches with bated breath as Kacchan’s face darkens at the implication.

“Holy shit, nerd! You’re annoying fanboy shit’s actually useful for once! But if you’re right that means…”

Izuku and Kacchan shared a look of horror. Izuku was really thankful that they were on the same wavelength for these kinds of things, and for all of Kacchan’s teasing he was just as much of a nerd when it came to Toshinori fights. He knew exactly what Izuku was talking about.

“What, I don’t get it? What scandal?” Kirishima asks, and yeah maybe Izuku should have made it more clear.

“Look, Shitty Hair! All you need to know is that All for One guy’s one fucked up criminal that almost Toshinori-sensei out of commission. If the Shigaraki-fucker is telling the truth about being his successor, we’re all fucked.” Kacchan informs kindly.

“Then what are we waiting for? We should get to them now.” Todoroki states, he looks at Izuku again with something weird passing in his eyes. The look is gone before Izuku can place it, and Todoroki adopts his usual stoic expression.

By the time they join Toshinori-sensei’s got the Nomu in a ground and pound. The Nomu’s crushed the floor, with Toshinori placing a flurry of harsh but quick attacks to the monster’s ribs.

Usually in Toshinori-sensei’s fights, if this happened it would be game over. He’d win and his opponent would either submit or pass out. This Nomu didn’t look affected at all, instead it seemed mildly annoyed.

Suddenly, the monster wrapped its legs around Toshinori-sensei’s hips and slammed him backwards with its leg strength. Toshinori-sensei’s head made a sickening crack sound against the ground and Izuku held his breath.

Thankfully, his teacher seemed to recover quickly, twisting out of Nomu's grp before creating some distance. The man was panting, and Izuku could only wonder what concussion Toshinori-sensei was on at this point. He bounces back regardless, smashing a hammerfist into Nomu's skull. The two continue to parry.

Izuku frowned, it seemed like Toshinori-sensei was having no issue at surface level but he could tell by the man’s waning smile that something wasn’t right.

Izuku watches his line of sight and is suddenly overwhelmed from what he sees.

Shigaraki had gotten up from his bored position from the floor and was grinning in an all too macabre way. It sent chills down Izuku’s spine. The man seemed to have opened some kind of briefcase, and Izuku could tell that the man was up to no good.

Izuku turned his head to face the others but they all looked caught up in All Might’s fight.

He wasn’t sure what to do, right now they were safe as nobody was paying them any mind. With Aizawa-sensei safely out of the way there are other concerns taking up space in Izuku’s mind.

The whereabouts of the other students, if there was help on the way, and whatever the creepy Shigaraki guy was up to as well as All Might’s dwindling health.

He won’t know the whereabouts of other students besides Yaomomo, Tsuyu and the guys here….unless.

There were three people trapped in his location. Which meant the other boys were very likely stuck somewhere else with more people having split ways. Where could they have gone? Izuku needed figure something out and quick or who knew what else could happen and-

“Oi, nerd. What’s going on in that big head of yours? Got a plan or something?” Kacchan asked, shoving his shoulder slightly to bring Izuku back to the real world.

A small part of Izuku wanted to tell the Alpha to kindly fuck off. But Kacchan was smart and he understood Izuku’s thought process more than anyone else.

“W-We have a lot of concerns right now. First, we need to ask for help and get the message of this attack out to the police but our phones won’t work because these guys messed with the system. Which means someone has to-”

“Already taken care of,” Todoroki informs “Iida was able to slip past the door and a bunch of us distracted the guards. We defeated them easily, they weren’t particularly strong. I only came here after that.”

That took a huge weight off of Izuku’s chest. Help was on its way. They just needed to hold out until then.

“Okay then there’s only two major things to care of outside of that. Shigaraki and Nomu fight. At least two of us should be there for back up, just in case Toshinori-sensei needs time to regroup or if we’re super desperate overwhelming the Nomu. I’m also worried about that Shigaraki guy, because he’s in control of the Nomu and that makes me wonder what else he can do and we haven’t even seen his combat abilities yet-”

“Midoriya! Slow down. Look, Toshinori looks fine for now but if you want to split up and make sure he has backup, we can do that!” Kirishima reassures, placing a hand on his shoulder. His calming scent manages to ease some of the anxiety in Izuku’s chest but he still feels tense.

“Yeah, yeah divide and conquer and all that. What was that about the creepy fucker controlling the monster thing?” Kacchan asks, pushing Kirishima off of Izuku’s shoulder, almost growling.

Izuku didn’t want to know why Kacchan’s Alpha got all riled up for such a small thing but honestly, he had bigger concerns.

“I mentioned it before, but I told you the Nomu can’t really think for itself before. In fact, even in it’s feral state it took an Order from Shigaraki which makes me think there’s more going on here that we don’t know of. “ Izuku murmurs, pointing at Shigaraki and sure enough the man looks like he’s having fun fiddling with that suspicious looking briefcase.

“Why the fuck are you only saying this shit now? Let’s get a move on!” Kacchan barks, eyes practically glowing in delight at the prospect of a fight. Gosh, Kacchan was really attractive when he was all rearing to go ready to beat anyone who stood in his way. Izuku just wished he realized Izuku was never standing in his way, he’d only wanted to walk beside him. That's all he's ever wanted.

But asking Kacchan to care for him was asking for too much. The only thing he cared about was winning.

“Alright, I’ll be going to Toshinori-sensei then.” Todoroki nods, turning away and walking towards All Might’s fight.

“Stop walking in front of me, you IcyHot bastard!” Kacchan grumbled, before following after him. Izuku tried to swallow his disappointment, now was not the time for heartbreak part infinity.

“Hey, don’t think about him Midobro! I kinda get you now, Bakugou’s pretty manly but you shouldn’t have to put up with that guy all the time.” Kirishima reassures him once the two were out of earshot.

Izuku sighs. “I know. Come on now, we have a criminal to spy on.”

They make their way past the debris, being careful to make each footstep soft on the balls of their feet. As they moved closer, Izuku realized with startling clarity what the stupid briefcase was for.

Somehow, Shigaraki was using some kind of device within the briefcase to control the Nomu. He turned a knob to the left and the Nomu would follow. Izuku informed Kirishima, who’s eyes widened, looking from Shigaraki to Nomu and back again.

“But, how? I thought you said he verbally Ordered him before?” Kirishima wondered aloud, squinting his eyes at Nomu as if to answer all their questions.

“I don’t know maybe a microchip in its brain? A shock collar? What’s to say it isn’t part cyborg?” Izuku wondered, his mumbling took the best of him again. It didn’t make sense, why and how did Nomu respond to it’s order but also need to be manually controlled? Why was it necessary? How was the Nomu thing even possible?

“Uh, Midoriya? Hey! Midoriya!” Kirishima calls, getting Izuku out of his own head. Right! They had to get on with this, they didn’t have time to mess around.

“Sorry Kirishima. So, first order of business we need to keep him away from that briefcase long enough to disable it, and if we’re super desperate destroy it.” Izuku tells him, as Kirishima scans the area for him.

They should probably move fast, but they had to stay smart about this. If they sneaked around him it would give them some kind of edge.

“Can you distract him? I’ll try to disable the device or break it. Whatever works.” Izuku asks, and Kirishima nods.

“Sounds like a plan.” Kirishima agrees, his friend moves further up before yelling so nonsense at Shigaraki.

From there, Izuku stops thinking and starts moving.

Shigaraki doesn’t seem to budge from his spot, so Kirishima attacks him. The man-child gets angry that a ‘lowly Beta’ even dares touch him and presses some kind of button before setting the briefcase aside and charging at Kirishima himself.

During this time Izuku races to the device, and this shock discovers that it is connected to some kind of shock collar. It was almost like a twisted video game where the “Ideal Alpha” monster moved accordingly to the buttons Shigaraki pressed.

A game controller to control an actual person. Person turned into a Beast, but it used to be man and now the creature was quite literally a puppet and the whim of it’s Master.

It made Izuku sick to his stomach, the rage the Alpha would feel would be constant in it’s Feral State and it would not be able to live on it’s own even if Izuku destroyed the device.

If he destroyed it, it would be like killing a person. A person without their core thoughts or beliefs or ideas but he would still be taking a life.

Was he ready for that?

Izuku looked up, watching as Toshinori-sensei was losing steam. Looks like Todoroki and Kacchan had decided to join the fray keeping Nomu on it’s toes.

It looks like Shigaraki had kept his Beast on autopilot, which meant the thing couldn’t do any complicated moves. This would make it much easier for Toshinori-sensei to defeat the Nomu, but Izuku had to do the most he could to help them.

And that would be disabling it. Izuku was familiar with computers but the code was nothing like anything he’d seen before.It looked like whoever had created it had developed their own programming language.

This meant Shigaraki most definitely had an entire team somewhere, hiding in the shadows who believed in his cause. Even if they did manage to defeat him here, there would be more to come later.

Focus! Izuku couldn’t afford to overthink right now, Kirishima was fighting for Izuku right now and he had to repay his friend for the trust he had placed in Izuku.

He tried pressing various buttons, hoping to find some kind of menu to change settings or change anything at all, but no such luck.

“OH! Of course it’s the green kid! You’re just asking to get a beating aren’t you, you pathetic odourless Beta!” Shigaraki snarled, apparently aware of Izuku’s presence.

“Hey! I’m not done with you!” Kirishima screamed before getting the criminal in a sweep before placing him in a mount. “Midoriya, hurry!”
Oh no! There was no hope in trying to disable the device now. Izuku had no choice, he had to, Izuku had to, there was no option left.

He had to save his teacher, his friends and himself. Surely Nomu would want to be put out of its misery?

This thought offers Izuku no comfort. He would have to take a life to spare many more. It was this very situation that repulsed Izuku from fighting; he hated senseless violence.

He knew though, that this wasn’t senseless violence. It was necessary violence to save lives.

He hated it, but he had a duty. He accordingly smashed the briefcase onto the wall and fell apart into shards of debris.

Unfortunately, Izuku hadn’t anticipated the amount of power he had used in destroying the device and the projectile of his own destruction scraped at his skin. Fragments of glass, metal and plastic staining his hands red, creating slightly deep slits in the skin of his palms.

Could be worse, though.

Shigaraki lets out a yell, something about annoying kids meddling and manipulates Kirishima - who was frozen in shock - to perform a quick but effective rear naked choke. The man makes his way to Izuku, who is still stunned at his own actions and picks him up by the neck.

“You’re a troublesome kid. You annoy me, so I’m going to kill you.” Izuku tries to kick out, to bite, to scratch in a desperate attempt to get out of this position.

Then out of nowhere, Shigaraki gets shot in the hand. Izuku is instantly freed as the man yells out in pain, and Izuku lands on his ass. Izuku looks in the direction from which the bullet was shot and the relief he feels is unparalleled to anything he’s ever experienced before.

Everything that occurs is a blurry mess. Izuku knows that Toshinori-sensei was successfully able to defeat the Nomu once the device was gone, that Aizawa-sensei is given immediate medical attention as well as himself.

He vaguely recollects Kirishima running to him as quickly as he could, assessing the damage to Izuku’s hands and apologizing for being unable to help Izuku needed it most.

Izuku frowns, and tugs his friend in a hug trying to be mindful of not staining his friend’s shirt with his blood. Kirishima quickly gives in, holding Izuku close to him and Izuku is surprised to realize that Kirishima is crying.

Kirishima is crying for him .

Izuku isn’t used to being the one on the receiving end of tears, but he awkwardly attempts at patting Kirishima’s back reassuring him.

“I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that without you.” Izuku promised, as Kirishima finally let go, wiping his eyes.

Kirishima lets out a watery laugh. “Yeah, you would have. You’re so reckless, you’re gonna give me grey hairs.”

The two of them share a laugh as police and paramedics continue to assess the area. A kind one approaches them, helping Izuku up and bringing him into an ambulance though he isn’t in critical need of medical assistance.

Before he makes it there, someone hugs him from behind. He kind of anticipates it to be Kirishima again, maybe Yaomomo or Uraraka but is surprised to find Kacchan holding him like that even after their fallout.

Kacchan pulls away, hands on both of Izuku’s shoulders inspecting his hands critically.

“Why are you always the one getting hurt?” Kacchan demands, his eyes look a little mistier than usual but maybe Izuku is just projecting.

“I don’t mind so much, as long as everyone’s okay.” Izuku shrugs, trying to remain nonchalant.

Izuku tries not to think too hard about how many times he’s gotten choked. How many times people have made attempts on his life in the last few months

Izuku tries not to think too much at all.

Kacchan flicks his head, bringing Izuku back to the present.

“Well you better stop it. Your attitude is pissing me off. ” Kacchan scolds, and Izuku can’t hold back his smile. This was Kacchan expressing concern and care for him in his own way. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad for them.

Maybe there was a chance after all.

“Okay Kacchan, for you I’ll try.”

Notes:

i'm really impatient and want to start writing loving & soft bkdk bfs already but i can't yet TvT
hopefully this means that when they finally do it will be worth it <3
for now, you'll see little glimpses though so hopefully that will satiate y'alls bkdk hearts

Chapter 18: bergamot

Recovery Girl has been glaring at Izuku as she worked on Toshinori-sensei's injuries. Izuku wanted to feel more guilty than he did but he really couldn’t bring himself to regret his actions.

He had actually thought through his actions this time, but he couldn’t think of anything at the time. He didn’t know to disable the stupid device, and he didn’t have the time to figure out any other means.

He didn’t regret his decision one bit, but the look of disappointment in her eyes did nor escape Izuku at all.

Izuku fiddled with the bandages wrapped around his arms. He’d only got injured from his forearms to the palms of his hands. The skin there felt pretty raw, but after being properly dressed he guessed they’d be healed in no time.

Unfortunately, the wounds would scar which made Izuku feel a bit insecure. He was already pretty plain, was far from being good looking and he wondered how this would change when he’d expose his arms after this.

He’d been told before that he had a pretty forgettable face, that he wasn’t too memorable. Now, would he be repulsive? Difficult to look at?

He thought of Todoroki, the only person he knew with visible scars. Todoroki was easily one of the most gorgeous people Izuku has ever met, and the scar only added to it. It spoke of resilience and endurance he must have endured to earn such a scar.

So, wasn’t it hypocritical to not consider himself equally as deserving as Todoroki. Then again, Todoroki was very good looking from the start, and Izuku couldn’t say the same thing for himself.

“Midoriya, your injuries should heal nicely if you change them properly before showering. Wrap them carefully the way I showed you, alright?” Recovery Girl informed, pulling Izuku from his thoughts. This is when Izuku discovers the presence of a familiar looking officer.

Izuku quickly stands up, nodding to the Recovery Girl before bowing in greeting to the officer. Recovery Girl quietly excuses herself and Izuku’s a little stunned.

This was the officer that had driven him and Kacchan to the police station last time. The same one that had written his Letter of Recommendation. Izuku owed this man a lot.

“Detective Naomasa-san! Thank you for helping me!” Izuku tells the man, bowing a little lower to properly show his gratitude.

As Izuku straightens up, Toshinori-sensei grins at him fondly. “That’s right! Young Midoriya, as I’ve told you before this is a close friend of mine. As you’ve had an altercation with the villain, he just needs to ask you a few questions.”

The Detective nodded, sitting on the chair near Izuku’s cot. The man seemed a little tired, but he held a notebook in his hand and smiled at Izuku kindly.
“I’m also aware of Toshinori’s injuries, so be sure to not leave anything out. Leave everything to me.” Detective Naomasa informs.

“Um, okay.” Izuku agrees, sitting down on his own cot again. Honestly, Izuku’s not sure where to start and today has been so long he just wanted to go to his room and sleep.

“So, Izuku, the last I’ve understood, was told to me from your friends Kirishima and Bakugou. They said you had figured that the opponent Toshinori was against wasn’t entirely human. Toshinori seems to believe this as well, and we’ve managed to capture it. You could tell me what led you to that conclusion?” the man asks, flipping his notebook open and clicking his pen.

Straight to business. An easy enough question to answer, Izuku supposed.

“Uh, well the Nomu - that’s what Shigaraki called it anyway - had a really strange scent. At first I thought it was because it was the ‘Ideal Alpha’ that Shigaraki originally introduced , but the scent was more complicated than that.” Izuku explained, nervously playing with bandages on his hand. It felt weird explaining his reasoning to an adult. Part of him wondered if he even sounded believable.

The Detective made no visible reaction, giving Izuku the courage to continue.

"Every scent has a distinct base note, heart note and top note. Toshinori-sensei for example, has an amber base note, cedarwood heart note and a sage top note.” Izuku says, looking at the man mentioned to see his surprise, though he didn’t look upset in any way at Izuku knowing such information.

“Some people might have more complicated or obscure top notes but those scents are very prominent. With that Nomu, it was almost impossible for me to make out it’s particular notes which is strange in itself. What I could make out didn’t have any compatible scents which is what through me off. There was licorice, passionfruit, lemongrass and ginger. All these extreme oppressive scents in addition to its grotesque appearance and the controlling device all lead me to believe it wasn’t any normal human being or Alpha.” Izuku concluded, nervously bunching up the fabric of his pants in his fists.

All of this was the information Izuku had just assumed. If there was something more to it, Izuku didn’t know.

The Detective continued writing for a few minutes in silence, occasionally crossing things out or adding a few words to his findings. He looks up at Izuku and smiles.

“You have a keen nose there Izuku, especially for a Beta. I’m impressed, you really pay attention to detail when it comes to that. Now, tell me about that controlling device and the “Ideal Alpha” you brought up. Toshinori mentioned the latter, but I don’t think he was aware that the Nomu was being controlled until your friends mentioned you talking about it.” the Detective asked curiously.

Izuku paused. From here on, Izuku had really only made assumptions he had know way of knowing if it was accurate. Then again, the Detective only wanted to know what he thought.

“Yes. I’ll start with the “Ideal Alpha” thing. When the criminals first entered, Shigaraki introduced himself as the successor of All for One. If I remember correctly, that guy was a super powerful underground criminal involved with a lot of shady alpha pheromone dealings. Since he was already involved in that sort of dealings, and was known for experimenting with himself I figured it made sense he would do this to someone else. From my understanding, that Nomu Alpha was designed in hopes of challenging and beating All Might.” Izuku explains, not meeting the Detective’s eyes.

Izuku hears Toshinori gasp.

Izuku raises his head and sees the Detective frown, the first genuine show of emotion he had displayed all day.

“I see. A classmate of yours, Iida mentioned Shigaraki’s involvement with All for One as well. I must say that I agree with your assumptions. It seems to be the most plausible explanation as of right now.” Detective Naomasa winces, his eyes looking serious.

“How is that possible? I thought he had died! His injuries were too grave.” Toshinori-sensei demanded, looking more distressed than Izuku had ever seen him. His form had been in its reduced state, and his own injuries were incredibly difficult to look at at this time.

“I know Toshinori, but it’s possible he has some kind of healer and still lives. In any case, we’ll have to stay vigilant for any more attacks from this group, the League of Villains. If All for One really is involved this isn’t something to take lightly.” the Detective replies solemnly.

Toshinori-sensei frowned, walking back and forth anxiously.

The Detective turned back to Izuku to continue, so Izuku opened his mouth again ready to divulge the last of the information he could provide.

“Right, the controlling device. At first, I thought Shigaraki controlled him using Orders. Which didn’t really make sense, since that other Alpha Nomu thing seemed to be trapped in a permanent feral state. But, when me and others agreed to split up to help Toshinori-sensei I saw Shigaraki fiddle around this briefcase thing. He moved around with it a lot, and when I got a closer look I saw how it moved. The screen was like he was looking through Nomu's eyes! On top of that, the controls looked like it came straight out of a video game controller. All the moves that Nomu made during extended combat had to be controlled by Shigaraki himself.” Izuku explains, his mouth is dry and his throat sore from talking so much all at once.

The Detective looked surprised, but didn’t say anything else. For the next few moments, the man was writing at a fast pace not stopping to cross things out or add little details as he had before.

He exchanged a look with Toshinori-sensei before getting up.

“Thank you, Midoriya Izuku. Your information will be invaluable to our case, and as a member of the police force we thank you for your cooperation.” the man bowed, shocking Izuku completely.

“I-It’s no problem at all!” Izuku replies, shyly unused to being thanked in such a manner.

“I knew you were something special kid. There aren’t many people who would do what you did back there. Running head first into danger, even when you’re scared. Collecting all that information even in a time of crisis. You have a lot of potential kid. I think you could easily do my job some day.” the Detective told him kindly, leaving Izuku in even deeper shock.

All this praise! Wow, he had not been anticipating this at all.

Izuku felt his face flush and he bowed again nervously.

“T-Thank you for saying that.”

The Detective says his goodbyes to the both of them, but Izuku is way too inside of his own head. This man, who was recognized by Yagi Toshinori, thinks Izuku of all people could be a good detective.

Izuku had never even considered it before. He had written off being an MMA Fighter, but he didn’t know where to go from there. All he knew is that he wanted to be like All Might, he wanted to save people.

He could do that in many ways. He could work in the medical field, like his mom who was a nurse. Or he could be a firefighter like his father used to be. He could be a lawyer and keep criminals on a legal front. He could even be an artist, a singer or performer who inspires people to live people’s lives to the fullest.

To Izuku, all these people saved others. But, none of those things seemed like things he was particularly good at, or were lifestyles Izuku could particularly see himself pursuing.

A detective. That would be right up his alley, feeding his curiosity, fueling his desire to know everything, having the potential to save many people’s lives. He’d use his ability to pay attention to detail, and even his sensitive nose would prove to be helpful for that field of work.

Izuku had the potential of a bright future and his fingertips, and this was only the beginning.

---

After Izuku got a few final words from both Recovery Girl and Toshinori-sensei, he slowly made his way to the dorms.

The sun was beginning to set, and Izuku couldn’t believe that time was passing so fast without him even knowing. It was pretty day, life was looking good and-

“Fuck off, Glasses! If I wanna talk to Deku that’s our fucking business, I don’t need you extras butting into everything that I do!” an achingly familiar voice screamed.

Oh, dear. Izuku started picking up the pace, a little worried as to what he would find.

It was Iida, Uraraka and Kacchan.

The two Alphas seemed to be getting into a heated debate, Iida’s hands chopping the air and moving all over the place as Kacchan screamed in his face, looking as angry as ever. Meanwhile, Uraraka was laughing in amusement in the background, somehow entertained by the angry Alphas at each other’s throats.

“You’ve given Midoriya-kun a lot of unnecessary trouble! I’m surprised an uncivilized delinquent like you was even able to befriend someone as kind as him.” Iida sneered, not taking Kacchan’s aggression today with any patience at all.

Izuku would have to intervene as soon as possible.

“Guys! What are you doing here?” Izuku interrupted, and luckily the two Alphas pause at that turning around to see Izuku’s face.

“Deku-kun!” Uraraka yells before tackling him in a hug. Still unused to affection from a female, Izuku lets his hands awkwardly hover over Uraraka’s back, not fully allowing himself to touch her despite everything that happened in the last few days.

 

Izuku just wasn’t expecting it okay!

Probably sensing Izuku’s unease, Iida moves away from Kacchan, turning his focus to Izuku.

“Uraraka-san! Please give Midoriya-kun some space, he’s injured!” Iida scolded, pulling Uraraka away from him.

“Oh, sorry! We were waiting for you since you got injured. We heard what you did from Kirishima-kun, Deku you’re incredible!” Uraraka cheered, patting Izuku on the back encouragingly.

“Yes, Midoriya-kun we wanted to tell you that you did well. I don’t understand how you figured out what you did, but you are truly outstanding in all that you do.” Iida agrees, smiling kindly at Izuku.

Man, it was so weird having supportive friends. A good weird.

Izuku flushed. “T-Thanks for saying. But if it wasn’t for Iida-kun we wouldn’t have gotten the help we needed in time! And if everyone wasn’t fighting so hard and doing their best, someone could’ve gotten really hurt!”

“People did get hurt. You, Aizawa-sensei and Toshinori-sensei. You guys can be all fucking kumbayah about this shit but we didn’t come out from it scot free.” Kacchan grates, a very irritated twitch to his eyebrows. It was the thing that he did when he started to get aggravated but was still in the stage where he was trying to hold back.

“Ah, Bakugou. You’re still here. Very well, then. You’ve made it very clear you wanted to talk to Midoriya-kun alone so we’ll respect your wishes. Come on, Uraraka-san let’s go.” Iida nods, dragging Uraraka away by the hand.

“If you’re mean to Deku-kun, I’ll fight you Bakugou!” Uraraka yells, though she’s being dragged against her will.

“Like I’m scared of your threats. Don’t need your shitty excuses, if we’re gonna fight get ready to go down Round Face!” Kacchan calls after, scoffing at the way Uraraka sticks out her tongue.

Izuku takes a second to let that information sink in. That actually sounded like Kacchan was getting along with people, as equals. That’s new.

“Guess you don’t have shitty taste in friends after all, nerd.” Kacchan tells him, pushing his hands into his pockets as he always does when his hands get sweaty. When ever they do get that sweaty, his hands smell very strongly of burnt sugar, the scent gland on his wrist making it especially musky.

“Well, I’m friends with you so I’m not too sure about that.” Izuku snorts, feeling unusually cheeky as he starts walking, in the direction of their dorms.

There’s an awkward beat, a pause, where Kacchan apparently stunned doesn’t follow him.

“You coming Kacchan?” Izuku asks, pausing to see if Kacchan will follow.

He does, blinking his eyes as if woken up from a daydream before catching up to Izuku in an instant.

“You still think we’re friends?” Kacchan asks, voice strangely soft and quiet.

Izuku frowns. “You don’t?”
Kacchan is quiet for a few seconds, and Izuku feels his heart hurt. Why is he even surprised by this? Since, when did Kacchan actually care about him at all? Since when did Kacchan ever pay him any attention-

“Friends aren’t supposed to hurt each other.” Kacchan says softly, refusing to make eye contact with Izuku looking more unsure of himself than Izuku’s ever seen him.

“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. That doesn’t mean friends can’t forgive each other.” Izuku tells him. Looking up to the sky, Izuku watches the pretty transition of dusk. It was darker, harsher than Izuku was used to but he found it beautiful all the same.

“So, you’ve forgiven already? Even before getting an apology ?” Kacchan asks, staring at Izuku as if he can’t figure him out.

For a guy like Kacchan, maybe it was hard to understand. Endless patience was one of the few gifts Kacchan had not been blessed with at birth. Luckily, Izuku had it in spades.

“Of course I will. I’ll always want to forgive but I won’t forget. While a formal apology is always nice, it's better to see the change yourself. Actions speak louder than words, and if they don’t hurt me again then it’s okay.” Izuku replies honestly, watching as the sun dips slowly into the horizon.

“What if they do hurt you again? Would you still put up with it?” Kacchan asks, this time more desperately. Sometimes, Izuku wonders what goes on in his friend’s mind.

“Guess it depends on why they're hurting me. If it’s because they just like it, then no. If they’re just doing it because they can and they have the power to hurt me, I’ll never forgive them. But, sometimes people hurt people without even knowing, or because they have no other choice. Maybe they have reasons I don’t know. If that is the case, I will forgive them because I believe that they wouldn’t hurt me if they had the choice not to.” Izuku explains, still not looking at Kacchan as he says it.

This is all a hypothetical after all.

Kacchan pulls Izuku’s shoulders forcing him to look him in the eye.

“What if they don’t know why they’re hurting you?” Kacchan demands, and there’s tears in his eyes as he says this.

Izuku pauses, trying to understand what Kacchan is trying to say in the words that don’t come out his mouth. His eyes are full of unshed tears and he looks like he’s in pain.

“Then, I’d say they're probably hurting too. Do you think they are hurting others on purpose?” Izuku whispers gently, wiping Kacchan’s tears away with his thumbs.

“No.” Kacchan breathes, his voice shaky even with just the word.

“If that’s the case, I forgive them. If they don’t want to hurt for the sake of hurting, and they don’t want to do it again then I forgive them, as long as they try their best not to do it again.” Izuku reassures, before allowing Kacchan to scent his neck. He always seemed to calm down after that, especially if he was upset.

“What if they don’t deserve your forgiveness?” Kacchan asks, as he allows the tears to silently run down his face. He buries his face into Izuku’s neck and his tears dampen Izuku’s shirt.

He doesn’t mind though, not at all.

Izuku runs his hand through Kacchan’s hair, in the comforting way he used to love when they were pups.

“That’s for me to decide isn’t it? Besides, I can’t think of a single good thing that you don’t deserve, Kacchan.” Izuku tells him sweetly, letting the Alpha purge the awful emotions he was bottling up for so long.

Kacchan makes a sound like he’s choking, and then he really does cry. A broken sound Izuku hopes he never has to hear again.

“You. I don’t deserve you.”

Izuku feels his own heart shattering, and Izuku tightens his grip on the Alpha in his arms. Kacchan is still aggressively burying his face into Izuku’s neck and gosh, Izuku just wants to kiss him. He wants to hold him, and cuddle him until Kacchan would finally fall asleep. Izuku wanted to say that he loves him, and that Izuku didn’t care what Kacchan felt like he did or didn’t deserve.

Instead, all he says is “Well you have me. Whether you like it or not.”

Kacchan makes a gross kind of snorting sound, but doesn’t refute it. Finally, once his tears are dried they walk back to the dorms in silence.

There’s a part of Izuku that is satisfied by the newly acquired peace. There’s another part that desperately wants to reach out to the space in between them and hold Kacchan’s hand.

But he was tired of the one having to do all the work. Of being rejected every time he tried to close the distance between them.

Besides, if Kacchan ever wanted something he always went for it. Until that day, Izuku refused to be the first to move, the first to ask. He was serious about what he said before, actions spoke louder than words and if you wanted something you had to work for it. You have to put your pride aside.

The ball was in Kacchan’s court now, and it was up to him to decide what he wanted.

Chapter 19: saffron

Summary:

a break from a heavy time

As soon as he and Kacchan step into the dorms, they are bombarded by friends and classmates.

Kirishima is the first to greet them, bulldozing the both of them in a hug. “My favourite manly bros are finally back! Midoriya, I was starting to think you got more injured than I thought!” he whines, ruffling Izuku’s hair and Izuku can’t help but giggle.

It’s really nice having such affectionate friends and Izuku enjoys basking in it.

“Get off of me, Shitty Hair!” Kacchan grunts, smacking Kirishima’s hands off of him.

Izuku can’t help but raise an eyebrow. He had given actual nicknames to Uraraka, Iida and Kirishima now. This was a massive improvement from his general stance, usually calling his classmates ‘extras’ and writing off anyone who wasn’t ‘relevant’ in his eyes.

Izuku couldn’t help but grin. Kacchan really was changing for the better, slowly but surely. At this rate, Izuku might even see him make some real friends. He sincerely hoped Kacchan would, friends he could respect right off the bat, who he didn’t have complicated histories that would prevent him from opening up fully. Kacchan deserved to have that, especially since Izuku already did.

His happy grin wasn’t meant to last, he felt the unusually angry pheromones of one angry Omega.

Uh oh.

“Izuku Midoriya!” Yaomomo said, a cold sort of fury in her eyes. Both Kacchan and Izuku straightened at this, completely unused to hearing Izuku getting scolded out of the two of them.

Kacchan subconsciously moved in front of him, probably an instinct he’d acquired since they were super young and got picked on by bullies.

Yaomom completely dismisses Kacchan, picking him up by the collar and dumping him to the side before getting into Izuku’s personal space. Kacchan looked stunned, as if he couldn’t believe the girl would just move him away like that. There’s no time for him to react as Yaomomo

“Did I or did I not tell you to be careful and keep safe?” Yaomom demanded, hands on her hips like a frustrated mother trying to scold her child.

Izuku feels her judging stare and immediately feels bad for disappointing her. Izuku’s smile deflates.

“You did.” Izuku concedes, pouting a little at being reprimanded like this. Izuku rarely acted out, or got into trouble with his mom or his teachers and for some reason this made him feel just as ashamed as if it were an adult.

“I hope you know that if you ever go out on your own like that again, I will be extremely disappointed with you Midoriya.” Yaomomo informed him, arms crossed her arms over her chest.

“O-Okay, I’m sorry Yaomomo-san. I’ll try not to run off on my own again.” Izuku promised, and as soon as he says those words he’s pummeled into one of the warmest hugs Izuku has ever had. Yaomomo is practically purring, stroking his hair like his mom used to when she needed comfort.

The rest of the class seem to back off then, letting the two of them have their time as the Omega takes her time to hold before separating herself from Izuku and looking him in the eye.

“The next time you run headfirst into danger like that I won’t let you go alone.” Yaomomo promises, her eyes fierce and resolute. Izuku can’t help him but smile and her loyalty and protectiveness, he knows it’s because she cares.

“Of course.” Izuku replies, smiling at his friend kindly.

Yaomomo only releases him then, taking Izuku’s wrist and dragging him into the kitchen.

“Alright, then! Let’s get you some food! Oh, and I can make you some tea, you must be exhausted after today.” Yaomomo chattered, mainly to herself as she forced Izuku to sit on the barstool near the counter as she got to work. She put the kettle to a boil before rummaging through the cupboards trying to get everything in order.

“Yaomomo sure it a Mother Hen, huh?” Kirishima points out, sitting in the barstool next to Izuku as the two of them watched her work. She was completely in her zone, and she looked strangely happy to be fussing over Izuku like this.

“She sure is. I appreciate it.” Izuku nods, smiling softly before turning on the stool to face his friend.

“So, tell me! How’s things with Bakugou? He was pretty concerned about you, though he was pretending not to show it.” Kirishima whispers in his ear, trying not to bring too much attention to their conversation. For Izuku’s sake.

Izuku laughs nervously, flushing slightly. “Uh, well I forgave him for being an ass. But, that isn’t really new.”he tells Kirishima quietly.

Kirishima chuckles though the sound is a little sadder than usual. “Figures, I guess. That guy doesn’t seem like the type that talks about his feelings easily. It must be hard.”

Izuku smiles softly. He was right, Kirishima was most definitely a good friend to have.

“It is, but he’s worth it. Besides, with you around it won’t be so bad any more.”

This time it’s Kirishima’s turn to flush, the guy looks away embarrassed, coughing a little to dispel the awkwardness.

“I-It’s no problem. You’re too nice, honestly. Anyway! I didn’t just come here to discuss Bakugou, all of us are gonna have a mass sleepover in the common room. Iida even got it approved by the faculty, so long as the boys stay to one side when we sleep and the girls on the other. They said they’re allowing it so we can rest and recover from shared trauma or something. But I think it would be a great time for us to make our moves!” Kirishima tells him cheerfully, but before Izuku can respond Yaomomo’s placed a bowl of ramen and hot tea in front of Izuku.

“Ah, Kirishima-kun’s explained our sleeping arrangements for tonight, I presume? Yes, it’s a great idea that Ashido-san proposed. It’ll be nice to destress with the people we fought so hard with.” Yaomomo informs, finally finished with her ministrations.

“Thank you for the food, Yaomomo-san!” Izuku grins, before digging into his food happily.

Yaomomo ruffles his hair fondly, and Izuku reflexively nuzzles into her palm. Watching the two Kirishima chuckles, as he leans back on his chair.

“You’re like a pup, Midoriya. Anytime anyone sees you, they want to take care of you.” Kirishima grins looking at him fondly.

Izuku pauses his ravenous eating, to see Yaomomo laughing in agreement.

Izuku pouts. “I’m not a pup!” but as he says this, the two of them only laugh harder.

---

As Izuku drags a sleeping bag from his bedroom, struggling to bring his fluffy pillow, sleeping bag and his All Might plush into the elevator he finds a rather tame Bakugou cackling at him.

“What?” Izuku demands, slightly put off at being laughed

“Toshinori-sensei is literally our teacher, and you still have your nerdy merch?” Kacchan laughs, gesturing to his All Might plush.

“S-So what?! I need to help me sleep, leave me alone!” Izuku huffs, before cramming all his things into the elevator and refusing to make eye contact.

“Once a nerd, always a nerd.” Kacchan grins, leaning on the elevator wall before pressing the main level button for him.

“You say that, but you had All Might merch too!” Izuku points out pectuatanly.
Kacchan rolls his eyes, unimpressed. “Yeah, when we were like four. Grow up, Deku.”

Izuku huffed, looking away from Kacchan and hugging his All Might plush closer to his chest refusing to respond to that.

They stand in the elevator in silence until the doors open, and just as Izuku’s about to leave Kacchan stops him.

“Hey, Deku. Are you gonna actually do the shitty sleepover thing with the extras?” Kacchan asked, looking a little unsure again. Whenever Kacchan dropped his cocky facade, Izuku was always set on edge. Even when Izuku was upset or annoyed at him, whenever Kacchan looked at him all genuine like that Izuku couldn’t bring himself to stay away.

“They’re not extras Kacchan, they’re my future friends. They can be yours too, if you gave them a chance.” Izuku tells him sincerely, before continuing on his way. Still struggling with all the items in his hands.

To his surprise, Kacchan takes the pillow and sleeping bag in each hand leaving Izuku with the plush.

“Fine, then. I’m only coming so I can prove to you that I’ve changed. I don’t care about those shitty extras.” Kacchan grumbled, walking ahead of Izuku to get away from his reaction.

Izuku couldn’t help the grin on his face. Kacchan was changing for the better. Baby steps, but there was initiative and Izuku couldn’t fault him for that.

---

Izuku was a little excited. He hadn’t gone to a sleepover since he and Kacchan were little kids, and here he was at his dream school surrounded by such incredible, genuine and talented people. He was so ready to befriend everyone in this class!

Tsuyu was updating Uraraka on what Izuku had done at USJ, and seemed that everyone in his class was now aware of the things Izuku had done. Gossip spread fast in this class, Izuku noted. Then again, people like Kirishima and Uraraka were fast friends with everyone, and they seemed to inform people on events without thinking about it too much.

Another reason Izuku was excited was because they had spread out their sleeping bags and well...Kacchan had put his sleeping bag next to Izuku's. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that Kacchan did that, considering that he made it clear that he wasn’t here to make friends.

Still, it made butterflies flutter in his stomach just thinking about it.

Kirishima had teased him relentlessly, poking Izuku with an elbow and whispering in Izuku’s ear making Izuku giggle.

Kacchan glared at them for that, though Izuku couldn’t figure out why. Was it because he felt out of the loop? Izuku stopped laughing as soon as he noticed it, but when Kirishima caught sight of it a shit eating grin lit up his entire face.

Oddly, it reminded Izuku of Kacchan when they were younger. Izuku had a feeling that Kirishima would be a good friend for Kacchan to have. He was easygoing, friendly and honest. And his penchant for admiring manliness would make them fast friends if Kacchan just let himself open up more.

“Midoriya! I think your Baku-boy’s getting pretty jealous right now! Look at his face, he’s so angry!” Kirishima tells him, his sharp toothed smile lighting up his entire face in delight.

“Kirishima-kun, Kacchan always looks like that, it's his neutral face.” Izuku tells him offhandedly, trying arrange his All Might plush within his sleeping bag discreetly, hoping nobody would notice.

Kirishima looks like a kicked puppy, not understanding why Izuku wouldn’t see what he was seeing. “Midoriya if you could just-”

“ALL RIGHT EVERYONE! First order of business for this sleepover is ice breaker games! Everyone gather around the TV!” Ashido yelled, gaining the attention of everyone in the room.

Slowly but surely, people filled into the communal room. Izuku’s classmates were all spread around the couches, some sitting on the floor or on the arms of a couch. Izuku was a little worried he’d have to sit on the floor as well.

To Izuku’s surprise it looked like almost his entire class was here. All except Todoroki, to which he wasn’t too shocked. After all, the guy gave major ‘Ice Prince’ vibes. Kind of distant and cold, though not particularly mean-spirited. The guy was super athletic and talented without a doubt. Izuku really hoped that he’d warm up to the class in the near future.

“Deku-kun! Come sit with us!” Uraraka yelled, getting Izuku’s attention instantly. She had saved Izuku, a spot between her and Iida and Izuku was incredibly grateful. Izuku had squish himself between the two, his thighs brushing each other on either side.

Izuku felt a little embarrassed, but his two friends didn’t seem to mind in the least.

“It’s good to see everyone in high spirits! Today was a very difficult day for all of us, but everyone seems determined to make good of it. As expected of the students of U.A!” Iida stated, a soft smile gracing the Alpha’s features.

Izuku couldn’t help but smile at his friend fondly. He remembered the first time he’d encountered Iida, he had been so intimidating and determined to reprimand Izuku that he honestly didn’t know what to think.

Now, he could see how kind Iida was. He truly wanted what was best for everyone, though he often felt the need to use strict rules and order to make it happen. It wasn’t always the most appropriate solution, but Izuku could appreciate him for who he was.

“Okay guys! So we’ve decided on two games, so we’ll have to take a vote. We can play ‘Never Have I Ever’ or ‘Truth or Dare’.” Ashido announced, the bubbly Alpha practically vibrating in her seat.

“Wouldn’t it be better to play ‘Never Have I Ever’? That’s more of an ice breaker, isn’t it?” the blonde karate kid asked, looking around the room for validation.

“He’s right! We don’t really know each other too well yet, so it would be better to play that first!” Hagakure agreed easily, the girl’s voice bright with excitement.

Everyone nodded along, various noises of agreement, all except for one.

“Where’s the fucking fun in that? It’s better to see how much of a pussy you extras are, then I’ll know who to avoid and who’s complete trash.” Kacchan sneered, looking at everyone around him in disgust.

“Aw, come on Bakubro don’t be like that! Besides, if you’re gonna look at it like that ‘Never Have I Ever’ is a good way to test people’s manliness too.” Kirishima exclaimed, putting a friendly arm around Kacchan.

“Tch. Fine, whatever.” Kacchan rolled his eyes, and while everyone else dismissed that small conversation Izuku could only stare at the two of them in awe.

Izuku knew the two of them could be good friends, but he couldn’t believe how quickly Kirishima had earned Kacchan’s respect. It had taken years for Izuku to do that. He still wasn’t completely sure if it was there.

Despite hoping Kacchan would make real friends, Izuku couldn’t help the small bubble of jealousy. Kacchan so easily accepted Kirishima as someone worth his time. Why did Izuku have to fight for that for so long, when he had known Kacchan all his life.

As the game started between his classmates, Izuku couldn’t help but swallow back a bitter feeling. He didn’t feel too good about any of this anymore.

But then he thought of Uraraka, Iida, Tsuyu, Yaomomo and even Kirishima. He had made all these friends outside of Kacchan before him. It was only fair that Kacchan had a friend group to himself. Izuku need to remember that just because his entire world revolved around Kacchan it wasn’t necessarily mutual.

He should just be satisfied that Kacchan wanted him around at all. Besides, Izuku had other friends now. It was time he stopped his unhealthy fixtation on his childhood friend, and let his crush settle into something more manageable.

With Uraraka's bright laughter, Iida's quiet support, Asui's calm demeanour, Yaomomo's fierce protectiveness and Kirishima's contagious joy Izuku was sure he could make it work.

Chapter 20: honeysuckle

Summary:

high school shenanigans & a moment of reprieve

Izuku’s done ice breakers before. The first day of middle school, summer camps and similar events. The difference was in those circumstances, there was adult supervision. Today, that was not the case. These questions could range from ‘what is your favourite colour’ to ‘what kind of porn do you watch’ and with a bunch of over enthusiastic sixteen year olds, you’d never know what you’d get.

It had started out pretty simple, with Hagukare. “Never have I ever had a job.”

Izuku frowned, putting a finger down he was already off to a bad start. That wasn’t fair! He had only gotten a job as a newspaper boy on his bike since he and his mom lived alone. That in addition to not having any friends in middle school left Izuku with a lot of free time.

Luckily a few others put a finger down, Uraraka, Jirou, Tokoyami and strangely Aoyama.

Everyone looked around curiously, trading glances to the few who had put a finger down.

“I’m broke.” was all Uraraka said, shrugging her shoulders at the curious looks she was receiving. Her face looked a little troubled though, which outwardly wasn’t that much of an issue but Izuku knew her well enough that sort of look wasn’t something she did often. Izuku would have to ask her what was troubling her later.

Slowly, but surely the questions began to change the shift going from slightly more personal to really weird.

“Never have I ever swam in the ocean.”

“Never have I ever called a teacher mom.”

“Never have I ever peed my pants.”

It was after a lot of chaotic chattering at the last question that things took a turn for the worse.

“Never have I ever had a girlfriend.” this one came from Kaminari, and Izuku was surprised to see Shoji, Jirou and Ojirou put their fingers down. Izuku hadn’t expected it since they were all the rather silent, introverted types that didn’t outwardly seem like the kind of people who put themselves out there.

That must mean they were all kindred spirits, whom people had naturally and organically fallen in love with on a mutual basis! Izuku couldn’t help but look at them in awe, and he wasn’t the only one.

“Woah! You guys are ahead of the game! What’s dating like? I’ve never even liked anyone like that before!” Ashido exclaims, her eyes with wonder and curiosity.

Izuku frowned, looking to find Kirishima’s reaction. On one hand, it was probably good for him to know that she never liked anyone, but on the other it meant she didn’t have feelings for him either.

To Izuku’s surprise, Kirishima seemed to have a resigned smile, not looking too shocked. Huh, he must’ve already known, they were childhood friends after all. Then again, Izuku wasn’t too sure if Kacchan had ever liked anyone. For as long as he’d known him, Kacchan wasn’t really interested in romantic stuff.

Izuku saddened at the thought, if there had been someone Kacchan had liked he would never tell anyone. That was just the kind of guy he was, so really Izuku wouldn't know for sure.

No! Bad, Izuku! It didn’t matter who Kacchan did or didn’t like, that's none of Izuku’s business. For now, he’d just enjoy this simple game with all his new friends whom he enjoyed spending time with.

All the questions asked after went over Izuku’s head.

“Never have I ever played Fortnite.”

“Never have I ever learned a TikTok dance.”

“Never have I ever performed on stage.”

All these questions went way over Izuku’s head. No matter how he tried to forget, Izuku realized there was still so much he didn’t know about Kacchan. There was still so much to find out, but part of Izuku didn’t want to know, just in case it wasn’t something he was ready to hear.

Still the thought wouldn’t leave Izuku alone. Maybe that's why he decides to say when he says next.

“Never have I ever had my first kiss!” Izuku almost yells, clenching his fists and closing his eyes firmly as he says it. When he looked around, nobody else seemed to take it that deeply. Gosh, he was just working himself up for nothing.

When he looks around, though almost everyone has put a finger down. All except Iida.

To say Izuku is shocked is understatement. Izuku was under the impression that to kiss someone romantically meant that you went out with them or something. But even Kirishima, who really liked Ashido had already had his first kiss.

In fact, the only others besides himself who hadn’t put a finger down was Ashido and Iida.

Those two didn’t surprise him in the least, but seeing Kacchan put a finger down broke his heart. He looked pretty neutral about it, like having his first kiss wasn’t a big deal but Izuku couldn’t believe it. How hadn’t he known that? Why had he not heard of Kacchan’s first kiss? Surely, his lackeys in middle school would’ve bragged about it for days and days on end? Why hadn’t he known? He knew everything about Kacchan how could he-

“Deku-kun? Are you okay?” Uraraka asks gently, placing her hand on his forearm. “It’s okay, k’know. Nobody is gonna judge you for not having kissed anyone before. And if they do, I’ll knock their teeth out!” she told him seriously.

Izuku couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s threat, smiling at her.

“Thanks for saying that Uraraka.” he tells her softly and she just grins back at him.

“Anytime! Besides, if you’re that ashamed about it, I can just kiss you right now! It’s no big deal.” Uraraka reassured, though there was mischievous glint in her eye.

“U-Uraraka-san! D-Don’t joke about things like that!” Izuku blushed, his entire face burning deeply in a way it had never felt in his entire life. He had never been flirted with before, even as a joke and it was too much for his heart to handle.

“Hmph. Who said I was joking? Anyway, all I’m saying is that a first kiss doesn’t have to be that big of a deal. Don’t worry too much about it!” Uraraka tells him, and Izuku allows himself to contemplate that for a minute.

Yeah, she was right. Kirishima seemed to like Ashido a lot, but his first kiss had been with someone else. And that was fine. First kisses didn’t need to be saved for that special someone. They didn’t have to make fireworks bloom in your heart, or make you dizzy or any of those things. They could be sweet and simple. Or they could be complicated, rich with longing and pinning of an entire lifetimes worth of sorrow. Or maybe even just a drunken mistake. And in the moment, that had nothing to do with complex relationships or hidden feelings.

He’d read about it in books, seen in it different movies and the awful dramas his mom liked to watch.

Sometimes, it was just an experience.

Still, Izuku turned around to blink away the tears that had come to him unannounced. He couldn’t afford to be a crybaby anymore, he had to be better than that.

Closing his eyes, and willing himself together Izuku refused to throw himself a pity party at this sleepover any longer.

He was here to have a good time and make new friends. That’s what he told Kacchan, and that’s what he had told himself. There was no time to continue crying over a past he could no longer change.

Focusing back on the game, Izuku noted that there weren’t many people left playing the game. A lot of them had all their fingers down, crossing their arms and waiting for the rest of the game to end just talking among themselves.

“Never have I ever had siblings.”

“Never have I ever been an only child.”

“Never have I ever had pink hair!”

“Never have I ever worn glasses!”

“Okay, that’s enough! These questions are getting too specific and bland. Can we play something else now?” Kaminari whined, having finished a long time ago, sprawled on his back looking bored out of his mind.

“That would mean we’re moving on to Truth or Dare, right?” Tsuyu asked, looking around to see if she was right.

“Heck, yeah! Let’s do it!” Sero cheered, as their class regrouped into a proper circle/oval again to start a new game.

“I can’t believe we’re playing this. Isn’t it kind of lame to be doing this?” Jirou wondered, looking a little disgusted with herself, though she got into her spot nonetheless.

“Hey, don’t be like that! It’s just so we can have some fun after today.” Kirishima responded, and suddenly everyone tensed. It was a reminder that things aren't always going to be great but, if they had each other’s backs it still could be.

“Aw, Midoriya that’s so sweet!” Ashido told him, and Izuku’s entire face flushed. Curse his inability to keep his thoughts to himself. Why did he have to mumble so much? It never did him any good!

Yet, looking around he could see that the mood had gotten warmer and people were actually agreeing with him and smiling. It made Izuku’s chest warm to see that.

“All right then, it’s settled! Next game is Truth or Dare, I saved this bottle from my Coca Cola bottle collection for this very moment so all of you should thank me!” Kaminari announced, placing the bottle in the middle of the circle.

Everyone laughed at the blonde’s over dramatic presentation of the bottle, but clapped for him nonetheless. His energy was incredibly contagious and it was hard not to get swept along with it.

“So this is how it works! The first person spins the bottle, and to whoever it lands on gets asked ‘Truth or Dare’ and then you guys know the rest!” Kaminari informed, as everyone quieted their laughter.

“Are we playing with some kind of penalty?” Sato asks curiously.

“Fuck yeah! Otherwise people are gonna pussy outta shit!” Kacchan exclaims.

“Okay, okay! Um, how about whoever doesn’t do their truth or dare has to do five push ups?” Tsuyu suggests.

Kacchan scoffs at the suggestion. “Weak. We’re a class full of the best athletes in the country. You need something better than that.”

“How about whoever backs out has to do dishwashing duty for the next month?” Uraraka asked, and everyone muttered how awful that would be. All of them ate alot, which means there would be a lot of dishes to clean. The perfect penalty for a class like theirs.
“Excellent idea, Uraraka-san! This way we can split up our chores and decide on a penalty for this game! You have incredible foresight.” Iida complimented, and Izuku watched as his friend’s face flushed at the praise.

Izuku couldn’t help but smile to himself. Interesting.

After this, everything got settled. The first to spin the bottle was Uraraka, who had come up with the penalty. She had a frightening grin on her face as she aggressively spun the bottle. The bottle landed on Kirishima, and the girl’s grin grew wider.

“Kirishima-kun, Truth or Dare?” she asked sweetly, and Izuku’s alarm grew. Just what was she planning?

“Dare! It’s the manly way to go!” Kirishima announced, puffing out his chest a huge grin placed on his face.

Uraraka looked way to pleased by his response.

“I dare you to kiss the cutest person in this room!” she told him, her smile now almost wolfish. Izuku couldn’t believe his friend would say something like that, except it was Uraraka so really he shouldn’t be that surprised.

Izuku watched the panic rise on his friend’s face, and Izuku really felt for him, he did. The first dare, and now he was at risk of exposing the crush he was still trying to manage. If Izuku had been placed in that situation he had no idea what he would’ve done.

But he had a feeling he knew what Kirishima would do in his place. He had mentioned earlier, getting their collective crushes attention. He and Kirishima were pretty close for people who had met not too long ago.

 

Then again, friendships forged from life threatening circumstances were definitely different than normal.

It was with this and Uraraka’s words in mind, about how first kisses weren’t a big deal. Kirishima had already kissed someone, and if Izuku was being honest Kirishima was kind and rather cute.

And Izuku liked him well enough, he would never regret a first kiss with a friend like Kirishima.

That’s why as Kirishima panics, about not wanting to the do the penalty when they just started the game, Izuku coughs and all attention is on him.

“U-Um, K-Kirishima. I-I can do it.” Izuku tells him nervously. Gosh, everyone’s attention was on him! It was really getting to him.

Kirishima looked confused at first, before the realization hit him fully. His eyes lit up with delight and there was mischevious grin that stretched across his face.

“Alright, Midobro! It really doesn’t get cuter than you!” Kirishima grins, and as Izuku slowly makes his way to his friend he can hear people wolf-whistling and catcalling.

Ah, yikes.

Izuku crawls on top of his friend’s lap, and Kirishima places his hands around Izuku’s waist. His heart is thudding loudly against his chest and he can feel Kacchan’s eyes on him from beside them.

This was such a bad idea, but it was too late to take it back now.

First kisses aren’t a big deal! First kisses aren’t a big deal!

Kirishima places his mouth next to Izuku’s ear, looking like intimate moment but really just checking in on his friend.

“Hey, are you sure you want to do this? It’s your first kiss and stuff, so I’d understand if-” Kirishima begins but Izuku immediately huffs.

“I want to kiss you Kirishima. I don’t feel pressured at all.” he promises, clutching onto his friend’s shirt, nonplussed and determined.

Kirishima looks at meaningfully, sharing a message without words. When Izuku gazes right back at him, the guy grins hugging Izuku quickly before moving away again.

“Gah, you really are cute Midoriya! It’s super manly.” Kirishima informs, and Izuku can’t help but laugh he’s about to respond with something in kind but Kirishima kisses the words right off his lips.

Izuku clutches at his shirt, and feels Kirishima’s hands tighten at his waist too. His lips are surprisingly soft, if a little chapped. He tastes a little of root beer, and Izuku finds it very pleasant. Kissing Kirishima was warm, and sweet and simple just like their relationship. The cheering noises of his classmate are drowned out but the gentle sensation and as they pull away Izuku can’t help the grin on his face.

The kiss was only really a prolonged peck, but Izuku appreciated it nonetheless. It was a lot better than what he was anticipating.

“Thanks Midoriya!” Kirishima laughs brightly, though his eyes are looking somewhere else. He looks pleased, but Izuku is too stunned to be paying attention to anything beyond Kirishima right now so he just nods numbly.

When Izuku still doesn’t move, Kirishima squeezes around his waist and whispers. “Mission accomplished. Blasty McSplode looks like he’s gonna kill me right now. You should probably get going before you get caught in the crossfire.”

Izuku’s brain comes back to life then, and he instantly scrambles out of Kirishima’s lap. Mumbling apologies, and bowing in a flustered dance to get out of there and back to his seat.

Apparently everyone else had moved on while Izuku had sat dumbly in the redhead’s lap and it was already Tsuyu’s turn to spin the bottle and deal out someone’s truth or dare.

As Izuku went back to his seat, Urarraka nudged him in the ribs grinning at him.

“Didn’t know you swung that way Deku. Beta male on beta male action. Not the most common coupling but pretty cute!” Uraraka told him sincerely and Izuku felt his face flush all over again. He hadb’t really even thought of that!

“Uraraka, it’s not like that! We’re not like that! Besides, we like different people.” Izuku huffed, trying to get the girl to see reason.

“Oh? That’s too bad, you guys would’ve looked cute together. All red and green, it could’ve been the Christmas duo!”

“Uraraka-san don’t tease him! He was only helping a friend in need. If he says he has feelings for someone else, we should respect that.” Iida chides. Somehow, its Iida’s scolding that gets the girl to lay off.

The rest of the game goes by relatively smoothly, Aoyama is dared to walk downstairs in heels (which he somhow executes perfectly, with grace Izuku couldn’t phantom), Sato reveals that he’s a dedicated baker, Jirou is dared to sing a meme song (but somehow manages to reduce everyone to tears with her singing), Kacchan is dared to arm wrestle the body builder Shoji (whom he beats with some kind of ‘winning strategy’ though Kaminari thinks he’s cheating.

The game goes by at this pace, and even Izuku’s dare is nothing. He had to TikTok dance to a song called ‘Say So’. It was very cutesy with relatively simple movements, and the girls all cooed about how cute looked, all agreeing with Kirishima’s earlier statement. This caused Izuku’s face to flush further, but they only cooed more. The only plus to this was seeing a foreign emotion in Ashido’s eyes which he made sure to keep note of.

Slowly but surely, people began to nod off and it was decided that everyone go to bed.

Half-asleep Izuku dragged himself to his sleeping bag, but before he could collapse he felt a hand on his wrist.

“Deku.” a familiar voice called, and Izuku suddenly felt wide awake.

He had forgotten that Kacchan had placed his sleeping bag next to his. Izuku wasn’t sure if he’d be able to sleep peacefully tonight.

Izuku turned around shifting to face his friend. Before he could open his mouth, Izuku was dragged over to Kacchan ‘s sleeping bag and they were now facing each other sitting cross-legged.

“W-What’s going on, Kacchan?” Izuku softly, his voice felt a little dead after laughing so much today.

Kacchan was silent for a moment, before unexpectedly taking Izuku’s hands into his. Izuku felt his heat lurch in his throat. What was happening? Was he dreaming?

“What happened with Kirishima back there? He said you were helping him, but he wouldn’t tell me the details.” Kacchan asked strangely solemn. His brows were furrowed, and he was frowning slightly. He looked a little distressed, and it gave Izuku a bit of hope he had no right to be feeling.

Kacchan had also used his last name, no weird nickname in sight. That meant he was being serious. That meant Izuku would have to be honest. But he shouldn’t expose his friend, especially since Kirishima had gone many lengths for him.

“Oh, so that’s why you wanted to talk. Well, t-there’s someone who Kirishima-kun likes that he’s known for awhile. He didn’t want to expose his feelings, and he didn’t want to do the penalty and since I knew about his situation, I did what I could.” Izuku tells him truthfully. It was best not to lie with Kacchan, he knew Izuku too well. As long as he kept Kirishima’s crush identity a secret it should be fine.

Kacchan looked at him carefully, as if scrutinizing him for a visible clue to his questions. Finding nothing, Kacchan sighed squeezing Izuku’s hand before releasing them.

“So you’ll just crawl into peoples laps and kiss them if they’re your friends?” Kacchan asked aggresively, a frustarted look in his eyes. “There’s nothing else there? No hidden agenda, nerd?”

Izuku didn’t understand why he was getting angry all of a sudden but he wasn’t having it. “Yeah! I would! There’s no hidden agenda, I’d do the same for you!” Izuku yelled in frustration.

Izuku was expecting a sneer, was expecting more yelling, for a spike of pheromones and confrontation maybe even a fight.

Instead, Kacchan seems to completely deflate at that and he looks completely lost. There’s a pregnant silence and for a few moments nothing is said between them. Izuku is almost ready to give up on this conversation as a whole and go back to his own sleeping bag when Kacchan speaks again.
“Then scent me.” Kacchan declares.

“Huh?” Izuku asks, too sleep deprived and stunned at the days events to possibly catch on to what the stupid Alpha was saying.

Kacchan looks a little unsure now but he decides to keep going on. “When we were pups, you used o scent me every day before we went home. You don’t do that anymore.”

Izuku stares at him in shock, mouth slightly agape. “That’s because you told me to stay away from you! You said you hated my scent?!”

Kacchan frowns like he wants to yell but can’t bring himself to do that anymore.

“W-Well, it’s...it’s not fucking like that anymore, okay nerd?! So just say if you’ll do it or not!” Kacchan grumbles, his face flushing and refusing to even look at him.

Izuku can’t believe what he’s hearing right now.

“Kacchan...are you asking me if we can cuddle everyday again? Like when we were kids?” Izuku can’t help the bright tone in which he says this, and Kacchan must detect the shift in his scent because he softens then, shyly scratching the back of his neck.

“What about it?” Kacchan grumbles, and Izuku can’t help the purr of satisfaction that tickles his throat. He lunges at the Alpha, burying his face in the scent gland of his collar and nuzzling into his throat deeply.

Izuku can feel the tension melt out of Kacchan’s body, the Alpha wraps his hands around Izuku’s waist and rubs his own face into Izuku’s throat. A satisfied rumble in the depths of his chest, and they stayed locked together like that.

“All you had to do was ask.” Izuku informs him, happily bathing in Kacchan’s scent. It’s warm and sweet, as it always was when they had scented as pups. But as an Alpha the scent was even more tantalizing. The sweetness of caramel, the spice and heat of cinnamon and hints of fiery amber that had been subdued. Izuku wished he could bathe in the scent forever, but this would do for now.

“Shitty hair didn’t have to ask.” Kacchan complained, though he was burying his nose into the curls ontop of Izuku’s hair. Despite the whiny tone of voice, Izuku could tell he wasn’t as upset as before.

“ Kirishima-kun , doesn’t have to ask because I know he won’t bite just because he’s in a bad mood.” Izuku pointed out, relaxing into Kacchan’s hold and allowing himself to drift off.

Izuku is almost completely asleep when he just barely registers Kacchan’s voice.

“I’m not gonna bite unless you ask me too.”

Notes:

this is a bit longer than usual but i'm happy with it!
in a lot of high school animes i feel like there isn't enough time to make us feel like
'oh these guys can just be regular high school students with regular high school events'
so that's what made me want to have a fic like this.
i find truth or dare to be cringy irl, but i wanted our fav 1A be able to experience a general high school game where nothing is at stake (but pride ig lmaoo)
happy easter btw! i forgot to say so yesterday <3

Chapter 21: raspberries

Summary:

a declaration is made

The next morning is a whirlwind of strange affairs for Izuku. He wakes up to giggles and the sound of someone’s phone making a click sound. The noise startles him awake, which in turn startles Kacchan awake and to both of their embarrassment they realize they had fallen asleep scenting each other.

Which meant they had slept together.

Not like that! Izuku’s face burns a bright red as Kaminari teases him all the way to the boy’s washroom. Izuku can’t even brush his teeth in peace, as Sero gives him a playful nudge.

They tried teasing Kacchan too, but one aggressively growled and the boys had run away quickly, not wanting to get into a fight this early on in the morning.

Izuku found he couldn’t even look Kacchan in the eye right now, which was just as well since Kacchan seemed to be avoiding him in public as well. For once, Izuku was grateful for it. The teasing would be much worse if they weren’t.

As bites into his cereal, he watches Uraraka sidle up to him with a shit eating grin on her face.

“So, a little birdie informed me that you were cuddling up to Bakugou last night? After kissing Kirishima, my, my Deku-kun you’ve got all the boys wrapped around your little finger don’t yeah?” Uraraka grinned, laughing at her friend’s expense.

Izuku didn’t even bother responding to that, face flushing as he shoved another mouthful of cereal into his face.

“I must apologize, Midoriya-kun. I had only meant to inform Uraraka-san about why Bakugou smelled so much of you. I didn’t intend for her to harass you like this.” Iida sighs as he joins Izuku for breakfast.

Uraraka squeaks in indignation. “I’m not harassing him, I’m only teasing!”

“To be fair, she isn’t wrong. It’s starting to look like Midoriya has his own harem within U.A.” Tsuyu, who usually was only blunt but never like this adds.

Both Izuku and Iida flush at such a bold declaration.

“Tsuyu-chan! Please don’t say such crude things!” Iida scolds.

Izuku decides it would be for his benefit to stop listening to the conversation all together now, and just move on with his day.

Uraraka and Tsuyu seem to be content to chatter amongst themselves for the time being and Izuku finally lets out a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry everyone’s been making you uncomfortable, Midoriya-kun.” Iida tells him gently, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts to observe his friend’s face.

Izuku sighs, but smiles at him warmly. “It’s fine, Iida-kun it’s not your fault. They’re just poking harmless fun, it’s fine.”

Iida returns the smile, though his gaze remains unsure. He ruffles his hair lightly before responding.

“You’re a good person, but you’re a bit of a pushover too. If something’s bothering you, please rely on your friends Midoriya-kun.”

Izuku’s heart warms. “Will do, Iida-kun! That goes both ways!”

---

As their class begins to settle down for the day, Izuku is shocked to see the articles all over the internet about the USJ incident.

While it made sense that given the scale of the situation, it was still surreal to see his classmates and faculty involved in multiple articles, threads all over the internet. Everyone in his class was talking about, a few people’s parents had apparently called to check in on them.

Izuku himself hadn’t realized his mother had called multiple times! Izuku had always been bad at responding to messages, but this time he instantly opened up his messages to his mother’s number.

His mother had attempted to call him over 15 times, and left him over 60 hysteric messages. Izuku was in class now, but he made sure to inform her that he was safe and relatively unharmed in a short but insightful text message.

Izuku prayed to God that the U.A staff had informed his mother of his well being before hand or he would get much scolding from her for it.

Then, out of nowhere, the door slammed open revealing AIzawa-sensei. Completely unexpectedly as well, the man was obviously still terribly injured. Covered in bandages all over his torso, arm, neck and even portions of his face though he yes remained uncovered.

“AIZAWA-SENSEI?!” his class screeched in unison.

“Is it really okay for you to be back at school already?!” Iida demanded, multiple classmates muttering in agreement at his statement.

Aizawa-sensei only grunts in response, shuffling towards his desk at the front of the classroom and dumping a pile of folders on the surface.

“My injuries are irrelevant. U.A’s prestigious Sports Festival is approaching soon and there is no time to waste. All of you must prepare for it as soon as possible.” Aizawa-sesnei redirected, causing everyone to pause in shock. “Yes, Yaoyorozu? What is it?”

“Is it really necessary to go through with the U.A Sports Festival preparations when our school is being attacked by criminals?” Yaomomo asks in concern, the girl is standing straight hands pressing flat against her desk. Izuku can see the tension in her posture, her scent growing a little more foul reflecting her mood.

“You and Midoriya-kun have even gotten injured. Is it wise for us to proceed with the festival under these circumstances?” Yaomomo continues.

Aizawa-sensei pauses with his papers, looking at Yaomomo with consideration but nodding nonetheless.

“I understand your concerns, all of you, I do. U.A is doing everything they can to tighten security in hopes this situation does not occur again. Despite that, continuing with the festivities is a decision the staff has gone over with care. As a school with such a big reputation, we want to show everyone that as a school and as a society we will not waver at the sight of those that oppose us. Your safety is our number one priority, but we will not let criminals like that scare us from going about our daily lives. That’s the very kind of terror and fear they wish to instill in us, and we will not succumb to their wishes.” Aizawa-sensei explains, as everyone listens closely to his every word.

“U.A really is at a different level, huh?” Kaminari mumbles, a few grunts of agreement heard around the class.

“Besides, this is where people all around the country will have an opportunity to see what you students are made of. The Festival results will bring most of you many opportunities for scholarships, internships and further training if you so chose. All in all, this is not an event any of you should want to skip out on. Any more questions?” Aizawa-sensei adds, as everyone quiets to get started for class.

The energy in their classroom is more uplifted now, everyone muttering excitedly about the Sports Festival. It would be an incredible experience without a doubt.

---

By lunch time, Uraraka is shaking with excitement practically bouncing off the walls.

“Someone’s excited.” Iida laughs, happy to see their friend in such high spirits.

“Of course! We’re at U.A! The Sports Festival is arguably one of the most watched sporting events besides the Olympics and do you know what that means?!” Uraraka demands, grinning devilishly.

“What?” Izuku asks, in spite of knowing the answer, letting the girl release her energy in full.

“It means internships, baby! Scholarships, scouting from pro-trainers you name it! Guaranteed future and I don’t have to pay a single cent!” Uraraka cheers, pumping her fist into the sky.

Izuku and Iida laugh at her enthusiasm though it does make Izuku pause.

“Uraraka, I forgot to ask but why did you come to U.A? What made you want to go here?” Izuku asks curiously as the girl pauses in her cheering.

“Oh.” her face flushes looking away in embarrassment. “Well, uh this is kind of embarrassing but mainly it’s because of the money. My parents run this construction company, and it hasn’t been doing so well. I worry about them a lot, but they still want me to live happily no matter our situation. I just...I want to take care of them, y’know? If I graduate from this place, no matter what I do I’ll get a good job and a great scholarship. So, that’s why.” Uraraka rambles, before flushing and looking away again.

“E-Enough about me! Iida you’re well off! Tell us about why you’d want to go to a school like U.A!” Uraraka redirects. Izuku kind of wants to ask about her more. At first, her reasoning sounded a bit superficial but at the same time, it was reasonable. Practical. Now the comment about her being broke made more sense as well.

“Uraraka-san, even if you say it's embarrassing I hope you know that your wish is very admirable. I’m sure you’ll make them proud.” Izuku tells her sincerely. Uraraka flushes an even deeper red.

“Deku-kun, don’t say stuff like that!” she argues, but Iida coughs a slight smile on his lips.

“Midoriya-kun is right. You have a very noble wish, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of it at all! As for myself, I wish to carry on the legacy of my brother. My entire family graduated from U.A and are well-respected members of the police force. My brother used to go by the name of Ingenium and he did very well here. He’s a police lieutenant looking to become a chief of police, as my father once did.” Iida explains, and as soon as the word “Ingenium” passes his lips Izuku has stars in his eyes.

“That’s right! Ingenium was part of the Iida family, I was wondering why your name seemed so familiar! Your brother is track, legend !!” Izuku exclaimed.

Now it was Iida’s turn to get flustered. “A-Ah, yes. That’s why I didn’t want to bring it up. I wanted to earn that honor first.”

“Look who’s being admirable now!” Uraraka laughs, and before Izuku can respond he’s being pat on the back.

“Young Midoriya, can you come with me? There’s something I wish to speak to you about.” Toshinori-sensei’s voice calls, making Izuku jump in his seat.

When he turns around, he’s greeted with Toshinori-sensei’s somewhat shy face. Izuku scrambles to get up, uttering a quick goodbye to his friends before following after his teacher.

Izuku is in such a rush that bumps straight into someone’s chest, causing both of them to stumble. Izuku bows quickly, an apology already on his lips.

“I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t look to see where I was going!” Izuku tells the stranger, only to see Todoroki standing before him looking a little nonplussed.

“It’s fine, Midoriya.” Todoroki responded, his voice cold but deep like a frozen lake that would shatter at the pressure of one miscalculated step.

The guy was really intimidating, with pretty yet intense heterochromatic eyes and perfect skin despite his scar. Even his hair looked soft and elegant, and Izuku felt frozen under Todoroki’s weighted gaze.

“Young Midoriya, hurry up! The tea will get cold!” Toshinori-sensei called from a little ways ahead.

Izuku looked from his teacher to Todoroki and back nervously before bowing once again to the unfairly gorgeous boy before him and following after his teacher.

Todoroki was looking at him funny, and Izuku wasn’t too sure what he was feeling about that.

Following Toshinori-sensei into the teacher lounge, sure enough the man had made tea. Two cups set on the table ready to drink. His teacher seemed unnecessarily uncertain, fidgeting with the kettle and then the cup in his hands.

During this brief silence, Izuku took the time to soak in his role model’s wellbeing. Despite the previous fight the man had been in, he looked rather well. Though he still looked far too skinny than how he had imagined, or seen on TV as far as injuries went, Toshinori-sensei barely had a scratch on him.

“First and foremost, Izuku, I wanted to thank you for your actions at USJ. If it weren’t for your quick thinking and excellent observations, I don’t know how I would’ve managed to get out of that spot.” Toshinori-sensei thanks him, bowing way too low for someone as normal as Izuku.
“T-Toshinori-sensei! There’s no need to do all that! I just did what I could, honestly that’s all.” Izuku told him kindly, trying to wave his hands and get the Toshinori to stop bowing to him already, this way too much to handle.

“That is not true, but it is not only my thanks I give to you. Both the police and the U.A Staff wanted to express their gratitude as well for thinking ahead and saving many people with your foresight. If you hadn’t figured out the controlling device myself and many others could’ve been heavily injured. And for that you have our thanks.” Toshinori continues, and wow, okay this was too much for Izuku to handle right now.

“D-Did you call me here just to say that?!” Izuku asked, he was a little overwhelmed right now and he did not know how to handle it.

Toshinori-sensei laughs at that, smiling as he takes a sip of his tea. Izuku follows suit, not wanting to let the tea go cold.

“You aren’t too good at receiving praise, are you Young Midoriya? Well, that is no matter. You’ll learn to accept compliments gracefully over the years here at U.A. What I called you for was actually more of an inquiry on my part. My friend, Detective Naomasa, talked to you about being a Detective, did he not?” his teacher asks.

Izuku nods, curious as to where this conversation was going.

“If you are tuly invested in following such a career, I wanted to inform you that I can personally attest to finding you a suitable internship. I’ve worked with various detectives and agencies over the years, and after everything you’ve done, for the sake of my wellbeing and many others, I wanted to let you know I’ll help in any way that I can.” Toshinori-sensei explained, shocking Izuku to the core.

Toshinori-sensei was offering to network for him. Toshinori-sensei who had helped him get into U.A in the first place was now helping Izuku get even more opportunities. Izuku wondered if he was a saint in a previous life.

“T-Toshinori-sensei, are you sure? Is it really okay for you to do that? You’ve already done so much for me…” Izuku frowned, unsure of how to respond to any of this.

It seemed the universe just kept giving, and giving to Izuku. Perhaps to make up for a lifetime of pining and unrequited love.Though even that seemed less unrequited now. Though he shouldn’t get his hopes up.

“Of course! All I ask is that you really put yourself out there, and make a name for yourself at the Sports Festival. Think you can manage that, Young Midoriya?”

“Yes! I won’t let you down Toshinori-sensei!”

Notes:

i like chapters like this!! not too much plot but little hints of things to come!
pretty casual chapter all around

Chapter 22: opoponax

Summary:

Sports Festival: Round 1

Izuku spends the next few days training harder than ever, working himself to the bone during gym. Then as soon as he got back to the dorms doing his at-home workout routine and then heading straight for the shower. Izuku keeps himself busy, not wanting to fall behind when he has to make a name for himself as Toshinori-sensei expected of him.

The pressure is high though. One day, after the bell rang from their last period they had heard a lot of noise come from the entrance of their classroom. Kacchan, who always made sure to leave the class first opened the door with little patience and Izuku was shocked to see the amount of people waiting for them.

Students from other classrooms were peering into 1A, as if trying to take stock of each of them. It made Izuku shiver uncomfortably.

“Why are they here?” Izuku heard Kaminari mutter, and then a loud scoff from Kacchan was heard across the room.

“They’re here to scout the competition obviously. Our class is already famous because of the attack, and now these guys are here to prove something.” Kacchan explained nonchalantly. “Too bad I don’t give a fuck. All of you are just extras getting in my way. Move before I make you.”

A male student with rather shaggy purple hair and large eye bags sneered at Kacchan’s impudence.

“Don’t get too cocky, 1A. With a student already expelled from your class, you should be more careful. People like me can end up in the Athletics program just as well. The Sports Festival will give us the opportunity to do so.” and Izuku’s curiosity is piqued by the young man with the lazy drawl.

“Ha! A little bit of spotlight, and the attention already gone to your heads! I came here to see how cool your class would be, but turns out you’re all condescending assholes!” a sharp toothed student with silver hair screams. In a way, he reminds Izuku of Kirishima if he were angrier.

“Oh, dear. With a first impression like that it looks like we won’t be making too many friends outside of our class.” Yaomomo murmurs to Tsuyu.

“Bakugou, why are you so determined to make an enemy out of everyone?” Sero complains, leaning on Kirishima’s shoulder.

Kacchan shrugs. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’m gonna beat all you assholes anyway, why bother?” he huffs, before shoving a student away and making his own exit.
Apparently satisfied with their scouting, the other students disperse muttering to themselves. They seem to be giving Kacchan retreating back the evil eye, unimpressed with his display perhaps even disgusted.

It’s kind of surreal to Izuku, all his life people would clamour for his attention and validation. Kacchan was always the coolest, the smartest, the most athletic and the most talented of everyone else. He didn’t need to be nice or civil, people would want to be around him regardless.

Izuku supposed that things were different now. This school took in the best of the best. Here even your character and kindness would matter, because everyone was smart and athletic and talented. So even if you were the best, people didn’t have to like you for it. In fact, people were more wary if anything.

It was strange for Izuku to think about, he had spent much of his life admiring Kacchan. But there were things he did dislike about him, such as this. The unnecessary hostility he’d provoke just because he could. It frustrated Izuku to no end.

But, for all of his faults Kacchan had strengths in spades. To be so uncaring of people’s opinions, to only live by the values you hold through. That’s what Izuku admired about Kacchan most.

He would not let anyone show him up. Izuku would work hard too!

---

The nerves settle into Izuku’s heart a little too deeply. Two weeks had passed by so quickly and it was already the day of the Sports Festival. Izuku had trained a lot for this moment, had even trained in middle school for some of the most popular events at this school.

The entire class - save for Kacchan and Todoroki - seemed more on edge than usual. Who could blame them? After basically having the entire first year declare war on one class, the pressure was on. Their class had more enemies than allies, and being on national television for all to see had been bad enough.

Everyone was coping in different ways.

Jirou had her earbuds, some kind of loud alternative rock song blasting so loudly being near her you could make out the lyrics. Izuku privately wondered how she hadn’t gone deaf yet.

Kirishima had taken to doing variou sets of exercise. He had moved on from squats to pushups, and he even had Kaminari sit on him for good measure.

Uraraka had taken to playing Candy Crush rather aggressively on her phone.

Yamomo was meditating, though it seemed to be making her more nervous than helping. Izuku wanted to approach her, be she had snapped at Hagakure for disturbing her peace earlier and Izuku wasn’t too keen in getting scolded right now.

Then there was Kacchan, who had been stretching looking completely unaffected.

Izuku really wished he could have Kacchan’s confidence. Just once.

“Alright everyone! The Arena is ready, we should get going now.” Iida informed the, poking his head in.

Izuku inhaled deeply, trying to ease the queasy feeling in his stomach to no avail. Then, out of nowhere the face of Todoroki appeared before Izuku.

The Alpha was as tall, and intimidating, and unfairly pretty as ever looking Izuku up and down and seizing him up, looking rather unimpressed. Izuku gulped, he didn’t like where this was going. The entire class was watching them with bated breath, and Izuku kind of wanted to cry.

“When it comes to raw strength and talent, I do believe I’m far superior to you. Yet, you’ve managed to capture the attention of the number one MMA Fighter. I don’t know his reasons, but I will challenge you anyway. I plan on beating you, Chosen One, so there is no doubt about who the most capable athlete is here.” Todoroki announces, levelling a meaningful glare straight into Izuku’s soul.

Izuku can’t even fully believe that this is happening. Chosen One?! CHOSEN ONE!? What did this guy think Izuku could possibly have chosen for? Todroki was an MMA Fighter, Izuku was not. How could he possibly be seen as a threat to this guy?

With a start, Izuku realized this guy must think he’s Toshinori-sensei’s successor or something. Which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Hey, hey Todoroki! Leave Midoriya alone, there’s no need to start a fight right now.” Kirishima - bless his heart - attempts to diffuse but Todoroki rolls his eyes, baring his teeth. This is the first time Izuku witnessed such a bold display of Todoroki Alpha attributes. It was more intimidating than Izuku wanted to acknowledge.

“I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to prove a point.” Todoroki informed coldly, attempting to leave but before he could Izuku stopped him, finding his own resolve.

“Todoroki-kun!” Izuku called, as he watched the Alpha still. “I already knew all that. You are stronger than me, more powerful than me and you probably have the most potential in this entire school. You are superior to me in every way-”

“Midoriya, you shouldn’t talk about yourself like that.” Kirishima interrupted, and while Izuku appreciated the sentiment, he really did, Izuku was on a roll right now.

“I know that you’re better than me. It’s only natural, but you shouldn’t get comfortable just because you think your better than us. You heard what that General Studies kid said. That goes for all of us. We’re all here because we are capable and we’re all going to the best that we can. So don’t get too comfortable Todoroki because we’re all going to give it the best that we got!” Izuku declares, feeling his own sprites lifting with the mini-pep talk.

His class cheered, as Kirishima and Uraraka pummeled him in a joyous hug. Todroki only tilts his head, like a curious pup before nodding in acceptance and going on his way.

Everyone seemed to be in high spirits after Izuku’s speech, and even Kacchan shoulder checked him in a weird gesture of solidarity.

“Nice speech nerd. Really put that IcyHot bastard in his place.” Kacchan murmurs quietly.

Wow, he’d gotten Kacchan’s approval for something. Izuku felt like he could die happy right now. It really was nice to be back on talking terms with his childhood friend. It felt good to know he had Kacchan’s support, no matter how strangely he expressed it.

“Though he should’ve been declaring his challenge on me, but whatever. When I beat his ass then he'll know.” Kacchan scoffed, and Izuku couldn’t help but grin. He was resisting the urge to kiss Kacchan’s cheek but he wasn’t sure it would be well received.

“What are you looking at me like that for, nerd?” Kacchan asked, assessing Izuku’s face as if it would give him the answers he so desired.

“Nothing! Kacchan’s just really cool, that’s all.” Izuku tells him hurriedly, finding his face flushing at the sincerity at which the words tumble from his lips. Luckily, Kacchan looks pretty affected too. There was a light blush dusting the apples of his cheeks as he rolled his eyes at Izuku’s compliment.

“Say that after I beat everyone here dumbass.” Kacchan grunts, though Izuku can tell by the tilt of his lips that Kacchan is secretly pleased.

Then, the voice of Present Mic brought Izuku back to reality. They were in a huge stadium, with spectators of all different ages, shapes and sizes watching their every move.

The pressure from earlier starts to hit Izuku in full swing and he honestly feels like he’s starting to drown.

There’s a lot of cheering, and talking and noise. The scents of the large audience wafted, reaching Izuku’s nose and making him frown in disgust. It was overwhelming and too much, and suddenly Izuku just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible.

Present Mic goes on to announce their arrival as the first years of U.A. He introduced the Chief Referee for the day, Miss Midnight and wishes everyone luck.

Midnight then calls Kacchan, as the student representative - because he had performed the best in their physical entrance exam - to say a few words and the pledge.

Izuku could already feel the discontent and tension amongst their grade, all looking to see what Kacchan next big move was.

And, as Izuku should’ve expected, Kacchan made a short but effective impression.

“I’m going to win this entire Sports Festival. Eat my dust.” before walking off stage promptly. Izuku could hear the boos of the people in the crowd, and many of the students at Kacchan’s bold declaration, but his childhood friend seemed unaffected by the disapproval thrown his way.

Present Mic attempts at damage control, and quickly realizing such a feat would be futile simply moves on to introduce the first task. The first of which, as Izuku had already known, would be the triathlon.

Everyone here, including Kacchan only knew him to be strong in the 800m. And, after that hurdles. They were not fully aware of Izuku’s general athleticism, nor that he had been training for this very triathlon long before coming to U.A.

Izuku knew that if he was going to make a name for himself at any point, it would be for this first event.

Once the one-on-one combat would occur, he wouldn’t last long. So he had to make sure that his first impression would be the best impression.

“Hey! What are you kids waiting for?! Your time starts now! Don’t let us fool you, we have some tricks up our sleeves. Use any means to win, but you must swim, cycle and run in your allotted areas.” Present Mic screamed, and Izuku didn’t even hesitate. He ran before he could stop to think, the mark of a true hero.

As everyone tried to force their way into the narrow opening of the track. The huge mass was in a rather uncomfortable bottle neck, and Izuku that the quickest to move had been Todoroki.

Dang! That guy would be getting a head start!

As soon as Izuku could move out of the crowd, he dove into the water - P.E Clothes and all - despite how uncomfortable it felt. They had been forced into P.E clothes because not all the first years had access to better clothing and equipment providing an unfair advantage for many of the students in the Athletics program.

Luckily, the material was rather breathable underwater and didn’t hinder Izuku’s movements at all. Izuku’s freestyle wasn’t the most technically perfect, but it got the job done. By the time he had reached the bicycles there were only a few people around him.

Izuku could see Todoroki and Kacchan in the distance neck in neck, but still on the cycling portion. Izuku wasted no time, getting on to the cycle and speeding after them.

There were people a bit ahead, and tailing him though. Most being from Class 1A, and a part of Izuku was relieved. There was Tsuyu, unsurprising considering her event, Kirishima, Yaomomo and that French guy Aoyama.

Izuku was fast on his bicycle, but there was a significant gap between him and the two Alphas. Izuku needed to think of something, and fast!

Then, Izuku noticed something. They had made it harder and placed objects in their way to divert through! It seemed the other two boys had managed this easily enough by just running over the softer objects like the sock or the blanket and going forcefully and powerfully to be stopped by a little added friction.

To bridge the gap between him and the two Alphas, he’d have to be a little more reckless.

Approaching the end of the cycling section, Izuku did the unthinkable. He rode onto a large boulder, and was flung across the sky past the two Alphas. Izuku stumbled a bit, but quickly found his footing running as fast as he could. Unfortunately, his bicycle landed somewhere farther than Izuku almost hitting the two Alphas and causing them to pause.

This added advantage, gave Izuku more than enough time to create a large gap for the Alphas to follow. Then, Izuku just ran. He sprinited faster and with more energy than he run in a long time, pumping his legs and arms not stopping to overthink anything. He had no time to second guess himself, he only had time to run, run, RUN.

To Izuku’s relief, he had crossed that finishing line first with a shred of doubt as to who the victor was for this event. He panted, leaning on his knees to take a lungful of air and just breathe.

Izuku’s ears popped, and it was only then that he could register the roar of the crowd, clapping and cheering for him . It felt completely surreal.

Izuku watches as Todoroki and Kacchan eventually make it past the finish line, coming in second and third respectively. Todoroki doesn’t make eye contact with Izuku, but Kacchan meets his eye readily placing himself directly in front of Izuku and crossing his arms in front of his arms.

“How the fuck did you do that? The falling out of the sky thing.” Kacchan demands, looking frustrated but not overtly aggressive.

Izuku thinks to himself that this is the first time he’s seen Kacchan acting reasonably after a ‘loss’. He really was changing for the better.

Izuku laughed, slightly embarrassed as he explained. “There was too much of a gap between me and the two of you guys, so I may have used that huge boulder at the edge to propel myself into the air and close the gap.”

Kacchan stared at him for a few moments, before growling and suddenly pulling Izuku into his arms.

Izuku panics - they were on live TV! - but now with more people coming in at once they were no longer the subject of interest for the cameras. So, Izuku allows himself to bury into Kacchan’s chest and let his friend scent him as he pleased.

“You’re batshit crazy, y’know that?” Kacchan murmurs into Izuku’s ear, but Izuku only giggle at his friend. The euphoria of winning - of making a name for himself - is leaving Izuku a litte more brave and carefree than usual.

Maybe that’s why he says “I have to be to keep up with you.” Izuku tells him sincerely, and Kacchan snorts back a laugh but doesn’t argue more than that.

It’s only a few moments later when Kacchan releases him, apparently satisfied with his scenting before he glares at Izuku meaningfully.

“You may have won this round, nerd. But I won’t let you win so easily from now on.” Kacchan promises, though his face looks less angry and more excited than Izuku had seen before.

Izuku can’t help the bright grin that spreads across his face.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Kacchan!”

Notes:

i'm noticing that it's getting easier and easier to maintain the length of these chapters in shorter amounts of time. guess my goal is working pretty well! will this mean longer and higher quality chapters in the future? who knows!

Chapter 23: ozone

Summary:

Cavalry Battle pt. 1

It was quickly becoming clear to Izuku that any happiness he may happen to experience would not be without an equal amount of pain. Just because the universe liked to balance things out, not just to make Izuku suffer.

Or so he hoped.

After his blessed scenting moment with Kacchan, and then obnoxious waving to his mentor in the crowd, Midnight had started talking.

“Congratulations to the top 42 qualifiers! All of you will be moving onto the next round, a team component. What will it be? What will it be?” Midnight cheered, as Izuku squinted his eyes at the large screen to see what the next event would have in store.

“It’s the Cavalry Battle! Well, would you look at that! All right, kids let me break down how this game will be. All 42 of you will have to create teams of which must compose from between two to four members. Each member of your team will have an amount of points scored on your headband, depending on how you placed in the previous events.” Midnight explained.

Izuku wanted to die. They had placed all 42 qualifiers on screen, and because Izuku had come in first he had ten million points placed on his head. How was he supposed to have any team members with that many points on his head?! He's the biggest target!

On top of this, Izuku was still pretty shy and socially awkward. He was going to have a horrible time trying to find teammates.

Midnight didn’t care about Izuku’s mental breakdown though, and continued her long winded explanation. “In each team there must be at least one rider and one horse. The only rules we will provide for all of you, is that you must not make another team fall on purpose. The other is that should you be knocked out of bounds, outside of the red lines on the ground your entire team will be disqualified. Your main objective must be to steal as many headbands as you can, and the team with the most points will win. Teams will be disqualified for foul play, and any unnecessary rough housing will be penalized. All of you have fifteen minutes to make a team and strategize if you so chose. Good luck everyone!”

Izuku resisted the urge to scream.

He attempted speaking to some classmates he was friendly with, approaching Ojiro only to see an apologetic look in his eyes as he was brutally rejected over and over again.

If Izuku couldn’t at least find one other person willing to be on his team he didn’t stand a chance.

Izuku felt someone tap on his shoulder, and he couldn’t contain his glee. As Izuku turned around he came face to face with Uraraka who was grinning at him brightly.

“Hey, Deku-kun! Want to be a team?” Uraraka asked kindly, and Izuku couldn’t help but envelop her in a huge hug.

“Really? You want to be on my team? Even though I have all these points?” Izuku asked, feeling tears quickly swell in his eyes. He was trying to be less of a crybaby, he swore he was. It just...didn’t work sometimes.

Uraraka was quick to return the embrace. “Of course! It’s always better to work with friends! Besides we make a pretty good team, don’t you think? We kicked butt last time, and we’ll do it again today too! Besides, that also means that we don’t have to go full offensive and just make sure we keep your headband safe.”

Izuku smiled as he pulled away from his friend. Even if this game ended up just being the two of them, Izuku felt like together they could do anything. “You’re right! We do make a good team! Let’s see if Iida-kun will join us!”

Iida-kun did not, in fact, want to join them. He started out with an apology, explaining that while the two of them were dear friends to him - which made Izuku very happy to hear - but he wanted to prove his own worth today. He said he felt like he’d be leeching off of Izuku’s success and to avoid that he had to reject their offer.

Uraraka seemed to understand the sentiment then Izuku, who was pretty bummed to hear it but they weren’t going to force their friend to do something he didn’t feel comfortable doing.

Then, they were attacked by a very eccentric girl with bright pink hair and an interesting steampunk aesthetic.

“You’re the kid with ten million points right?! Let me be on your team! The cameras will be on you the entire game which is the perfect opportunity to show off my babies!” the girl ranted excitably.

Uraraka and Izuku exchanged a glance. “Your babies?”

“Yes, yes! I’m a part of the STEM branch of U.A and my babies have helped me stay on par with the rest of you this far. Look what I have here!” the girl chattered, pulling out what looked to be - a jetpack?!

“Is that allowed?!” Uraraka screeched, trying to keep her voice down and failing.

The girl grinned at her wolfishly and Izuku wasn’t sure if he was intimidated or impressed or both.

“Yes, it is! Think about it this way, this Sports Festival is designed for you Athletics kids. The rest of us have to show off somehow! We STEM kids can use whatever devices we want, as long as we make them ourselves.”

Izuku stared at her in awe. “Y-You made that?”

The girl rolled her eyes. “I already told you that, didn’t I? Geez, looks like you’re a little slow on the uptake. Well, it’s no matter. What do you say? Can I be on your team?”

Looks like things wouldn’t be so garbage after all.

“Yes! Of course!” Izuku replied, easily accepting the girl into his team. “U-Um, not to be rude but what’s your name again?”

At this the girl gets flustered, the only time where Izuku could see any kind of emotion on her face besides pride. “Oh! Sorry, I didn’t really introduce myself did I? Power Loader always tell me to - agh - whatever! I’m Mei Hatsume! What about you guys?”

“Ochako Uraraka!”

“Izuku Midoriya!”

“Cool.” the girl - Hastume - Izuku reminded himself, responded nonchalantly. “So, Mr. Midoriya is our team complete or is there someone else, you’d like to scout?”

Izuku looked around. It looks like most people had found some kind of team already. Iida and Yaomomo had teamed up with Todoroki, alongside Kaminari.

Meanwhile, it looked like Kacchan had teamed up with Kirishima, Sero and Ashido.

All of these people were some of the strongest athletes in his class, and there weren't many people left without a group. It would be nice if Izuku had one more offensive player.

Uraraka would be the best to snatch others' headbands away, given how her strength relied on accuracy and her arms. It would be best if Uraraka would focus on that aspect of the game.

Hastume would be defense without a doubt. With the help of her jetpacks - sweet! - defense would be their biggest strong suit if they kept moving.

Izuku could tell that he’d have to be the rider. The two seemed to already consider him the de facto leader, which was fair. He’d be in charge in keeping all of them in sync and dealing out instructions.

They still needed someone on offense and Izuku was sure they’d be able to survive. But it looked like most of the combat oriented students had already paired off and Izuku was worried about --

Oh! Yes, that person would do. Izuku just prayed they would accept his invitation.

---

As soon as the Cavalry Battle begins, Izuku’s team is attacked on all fronts.It was almost ridiculous, and Izuku knew without a doubt that if they hadn’t had Hastume they wouldn’t have survived. Luckily, Izuku had anticipated the ambush, and his teammates knew exactly what to do.

“Hastume, now!”

And they were lifted into the air instantly. It looked like Hastume’s jetpacks were actually super accurate, and they were lifted into the air though a little unsteadily.

Hastume was muttering a little about the stabilizer, and though it seemed that they were a little unbalanced in the air it looked they would be fine.

He heard people cry out in frustration, accusing them of cheating from down below.

At that very moment, the screen lit up broadcasting the four of them airborne in all their glory. As the screen displayed their flight, Present Mic revealed the same information that Hastume told them.

That the students from the STEM course were free to use their own inventions. Not only this, but Hastume had been the only STEM student who had made it this far. Izuku saw the crowd muttering in awe at Hastume’s intellect, and the girl was grinning from ear-to-ear.

“My babies!” she cheered, happy to stay airborne and watch the plebeians battle it out down below.

Looks like their arrangement was mutually beneficial after all. Izuku was more that relieved that it had worked out.

It was too early to be comfortable though, and they still had to be wary.

Most of the teams had temporarily stopped their advances on Izuku’s team, choosing to earn headbands on easier opponents that were still on the ground.

Most, however, didn’t mean all. This was the case for both Kacchan, who appeared to be seething in fury at the new development, and Todoroki who had a glare pinned to Izuku’s headband.

Oh, boy this would be fun.

It appears that even Kyoka’s team was about to target them, only to realize that one of their headbands had already been stolen without them noticing. They quickly changed targets, identifying a crazy blonde guy as the threat.

Izuku was too distracted by this to notice the sole person - Mezo Shoji - running at them in full speed. By the time he didn notice it was too late, the pervy little purple guy that had been expelled from his class earlier in the year, attempted to jump up and steal Izuku’s headband.

Luckily, the ever observant Tokoyami had moved just in time causing the little guy to fall back into Shoji’s arms. The kid cursed at them, but didn’t attempt to try it again getting distracted by another attack from a different team.

Then, all at once teams come to pursue them. It seemed as though they had decided to take a leaf out of the diaper guy’s book. The silver haired guy that looked like Kirishima - Tetsutetsu (?) - launched an aerial attack at almost the exact same time as Kacchan’s team. From opposing sides. Instead of just throwing their teammates - as Shoji’s team had done - it appeared that Kacchan’s team was doing some kind of cheerleader launch into the air.

Izuku’s team managed to evade both attacks, but not without casualties. Uraraka had to kick out against Tetsutetsu’s grasp to keep him away from Izuku’s headband but in turn breaking the hover sole from her left foot.

Despite this, they manage to stay in the air so Izuku considers that a win. Hastume repositions herself to take some weight off of Uraraka, allowing them more balance and some time to breathe.

Midnight announces that aerial attacks are completely legal, so long as it's the riders who attacked. As long as their feet didn’t touch the ground it was fine for them to continue attacking in this way.

Izuku watches as the crowd cheers loudly, apparently finding great entertainment from this statement. Izuku hadn’t truly realized how popular they were until now.

“Go Class 1A! You guys are on another level!”

“As expected of the kids who defeat criminals!”

“Go team Midoriya! You guys are awesome!”

Such statements leave Izuku a little stunned, though this is rectified after hearing Kacchan scream angrily. It appears as though the crazy blonde from class 1B had acquired his headband and Kacchan was predictably infuriated.

“While I’m sure the class appreciates the support, but the only team currently in the top 4 from class 1A would be Team Midoriya! Team Bakugou just lost a significant amount of points to Team Monoma from class 1B. Don’t underestimate the other Athletics students!” Present Mic informed, and Izuku looked carefully at the team mentioned.

Crazy blonde guy was named Monoma. Izuku had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last he heard of him.

Izuku tells his team to move closer to hear what the boy is saying, and Izuku isn’t too sure he dislikes what he hears.

“All of you 1A losers went all out in that first round. Trying to show off, no doubt! During that team we were watching all your moves, and we’ve got a good idea on how you work. It was foolish to obsesses over your preliminary rounds, as you expend more and more energy while we strategize. By the time you’ve wasted all your endurance, we’ll finish you and take your headbands with us. Besides, Mr-I’m- So-Strong-Alpha Bakugou. Weren’t you the victim to the robber incident?” Monoma gloated, sounding uncannily like a Disney villain explaining their motives.

Izuku could hear Kacchan growl angrily, and even from here Izuku could smell the change in his scent. The gunpowder note was overwhelming as it always was whenever Kacchan was truly wound up.

“Forget Deku, extras! We’ll annihilate these 1B fuckers and then we’ll deal with the nerd!” Kacchan declared attacking Monoma right away.

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief. For now, it seemed like his team didn’t have to worry too much.

“Okay, Tokoyami, Hastume, Uraraka let’s move more to the cnetre and a little higher up. We can observe for now, and then maybe carefully swipe a few headbands if we’re lucky and -” before Izuku could respond, a team Izuku had prayed would ignore them appeared right in front of them.

Todoroki,Yaomomo, Iida and Kaminari. Izuku wanted to die.

“If you’re just going to sit back and watch Midoriya, I’ll be taking that ten million point headband as payment for your free entertainment.” Todoroki announced.

Yikes. Looks like things wouldn’t be that smooth sailing after all. If the intent staring of their opposing team was anything to go by, Izuku was sure they would be lucky to even make it out of this round with a headband on at all. They had thought sticking to defense till the end would let them get away unscathed. Izuku should've known better. If Todoroki had declared war on him, Izuku should've known at that very moment that it was over him.

Notes:

hey, guys! so it's going to be kacchan's birthday soon and i wanted to do something special but i wanted some opinions on it!

would you guys rather have:
A separate oneshot set in the future of this verse (this would be more romance-y and established relationship)
OR
A in timeline chapter dedicated to birthday fun (in this fic, and in proper timeline)
OR
a mix of both (but would be within this fic)

please let me know what you think/would like <3 thanks for reading

Chapter 24: cedar

Summary:

End of Cavalry Battle and the start of...?

The last ten minutes were incredibly exhausting. While the other teams were battling amongst themselves Izuku’s team was barely keeping it together.

Todoroki was not backing down, jumping into the air in quick succession not allowing them a single break. He very purposefully aimed attacks to their feet, attempting to break off their sole hovers and it was unbalancing them at every second. These barrages of attacks were also aimed at their jetpacks and they too were dwindling in strength. It was starting to look like they might just be better off back on land, but that would only give the other team more openings, not to mention how much more easily accessible their headbands would become to other teams as well.

At one point, they had launched Todoroki high enough for the boy to reach Izuku’s lap. Izuku struggled to keep the guy's hands away from his headband, locking his wrists together above the boy’s head. Todoroki let out a loud growl, slightly shocking Izuku though he doesn’t lessen his grip. Izuku had never heard the boy behave in such an aggressive manner, and the only time he'd heard a true Alphan growl before had been with Kacchan.

But Kacchan was always aggressive, and the Alpha instinct was as natural of an instinct to him as yelling was. This was unnatural for Todoroki, who was always perfectly composed, cool and collected. To see him break away into Alpha fury must mean that Izuku was really getting under his skin. His scent had spiked - Izuku could smell it clearer this way too. Todoroki usually suppressed his scent a lot, by the explosion of it set Izuku spiraling somewhat - white musk, myrrh, and maybe spearmint - assaulted Izuku’s nostrils before it was fully swept away as if it hadn’t existed at all.

Izuku wondered if this was a good thing or a bad thing in the long run.

Izuku - too distracted by his thoughts and Todoroki’s jostling - doesn’t fully realize that they are sinking to the ground. With the added weight of Todoroki, the jetpacks cannot support them and they are reaching the floor before Izuku can fully realize it.

Then, in a flash, Todoroki pauses his movement and Izuku feels a headband being taken away. Before he can even blink, Todoroki is back on his horses, Iida holding the extra headband in hand. Iida’s scent is very proud, the leather so strong Izuku extends his neck in submission unwillingly.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Midoriya-kun!” Iida tells them charmingly, before the entire group retreats, not allowing Izuku to collect his thoughts.

“W-What just happened?” Izuku asks, a little stunned at the turn of events.

“Do not worry Midoriya. We still have plenty of time to steal more headbands. This game isn't over yet.” Tokoyami reassures, and Izuku is brought back to reality.

Right! Izuku isn’t playing this game on his own. He has an entire team backing him up, supporting him all the way. He refused to let them down.

“There aren’t many people left with headbands with significant points though. And those that do are too heavily guarded right now to attack.” Izuku told his team, finally communicating his thoughts verbally for once. He hadn’t really had to tell them much once the game had started uptil now, since they planned their game beforehand. They’d play defence, stick to the shadows and escape to the skies if they couldn’t. Unfortunately, Izuku hadn’t anticipated the brutal attacks on their machinery, and now they were cursed to walk the Earth once again.

“My poor babies…” Hatsume muttered unhelpfully.

“Don’t worry Deku-kun! If that’s the case we should go steal back our headband from Todoroki’s team. They probably won’t expect because they’ll think we’ve been outclassed or something dumb and Alpha like that.” Uraraka muttered, and a sudden thought to Izuku then.

That’s right! A common effect Alphas could have, especially on Betas and Omegas was using their scent to further intimidate opponents. That's why most athletes, especially combat or competitive athletes tended to be Alphas. It helped to have that added advantage.

Todoroki’s team had two Alphas. Izuku’s team had only one, Tokoyami who’s scent was never overwhelming, just the barest hint of oak, perhaps a bit of his basenote leaking through.

Now that Izuku was familiar with Todoroki’s intimidation scent - which he had released when he growled, Izuku realized he’d done it on purpose - Izuku would be able to tolerate the scent perhaps even ignore it.

And most certainly, the Alphas of the team had now developed a false sense of security. It was a subconscious thing, but Alphas did it without realizing. Once an Alpha thought you were defeated or had submitted, they no longer sensed you as a threat.

Izuku had figured this out through extended exposure with Kacchan, but he knew now what to do.

“Uraraka, you’re a genius! Let’s go get our headband back!” Izuku told his team brightly. They seemed rather confused by his quick change of mood, but Izuku knew what they had to do.

The Todoroki team was now holding off against Kacchan’s team - apparently they had figured Izuku had lost his headband already which Izuku resented greatly.

Nonetheless, the situation was in their favour. With the Todoroki team currently distracted, Izuku quickly motioned to Uraraka to give him her only working sole hover. Izuku would fly in and out as fast as possible. He also needed to make sure to keep his own practically odourless Beta scent suppressed for added secrecy. He had to move in and out quickly, without raising too much suspicion. He had to do it now and fast.

They slowly approached, sure to stay at the fringe and away from both teams' immediate line of sights. As Kacchan’s team continued to corner Todoroki’s team, Izuku’s team quickly got into position to launch Izuku into the air.

Sure enough, Izuku had been catapulted onto the other team. He covered Todoroki’s eyes instantly, with one hand and plucked the highest headband on his forehead with the other.

Izuku could hear an aggravated ‘Deku!’ in the background but before anyone could do anything he activated his sole hovers and crash landed onto his team. He had made use of the hovers as much as he could but they were useless now.

That was no problem now. They had acquired their headband and would be back on the leaderboard in not ime. Izuku was ecstatic. He’d be first two times in a row now, so even if he did inevitably lose during the one-on-one combat, he’d most certainly made a name for himself.

“Good job, Deku-kun!” Uraraka cheered.

“Your plans are as immaculate as always.” Tokoyami agreed, nodding serenely.

As Izuku moved to check the headband Izuku’s smile faltered. The headband Izuku had stolen had not been his ten million point headband. Instead, it was only seventy.

“Looks like we celebrated too early….” Hastume frowned, taking the headband from Izuku’s hands.

“I-I’m so sorry guys. I got way too ahead of myself! I’ll try to attack them again, and maybe we’ll have enough points to still-”

And at that very moment, as if fate was spitting on Izuku’s face the ending alarm sounded to establish the concrete end of the Cavalry Battle.

Izuku heard Kacchan’s angry curses of frustration. As if coming in second was anything to be ashamed about. Izuku wasn’t even sure if they’d make it to the next round with the amount of points they’d gotten.

“G-Guys I’m so sorry, I should’ve...and now we lost and I…” Izuku couldn’t find the proper words to express his remorse, he’d been so caught up in winning - like an annoying Alpha he usually insulted for this trait - he hadn’t thought his actions through. And now, his entire team had to pay the price.

“Do not worry, Midoriya. I was able to secure an additional headband. Just in case.” Tokoyami reassured, revealing a secondary headband he had snatched. It was more than enough for them to be placed on the leaderboards

“Tokoyami, you’re incredible!” Izuku informed him sincerely, taking the boy’s hands in his and shaking excitably.

Tokoyami seems flustered by the praise, and despite his tanner complexion flushes more than Izuku’s ever witnessed him flush before.

“It was nothing Midoriya-kun. You created the opening, all I had to do was snatch it while he was distracted.” Tokoyami denied. Izuku wanted to show his friend how incredible he was, but it seemed like he couldn’t take any more compliments for today.

So, instead Izuku settled with a “Thanks for teaming up with me and working so hard guys! I really appreciate it.”

His teammates all smiled and laughed, and if Izuku had paid just a bit more attention he would’ve heard Tokoyami saying “too bright, so precious”.

Izuku is about to go off to search for Kacchan, calm him down a bit since he seemed frustrated, maybe find a private place to scent him a bit since that always seemed a bit. He catches his childhood friend’s eye, and he didn’t seem as angry if a bit sulky. Izuku was about to go after him when he felt a cool hand clasp around his wrist.

When Izuku turns around, Izuku comes face to face with Todoroki’s cool intimidation. His scent is leaking through still, fainter than the spike Izuku had caught but definitely noticeable.

“Midoriya, I need to speak with you. Privately.” Todoroki tells him, just as stoic as usual but Izuku can see an undercurrent of tension and intent the boy doesn’t always carry with him. Rejecting him wasn’t an option.

“Oi, IcyHot! Why are you touching Deku like that, you bastard?” Kacchan growls, strangely territorial and definitely angrier than he seemed earlier.

Todoroki’s eyes widen, and he quickly lets go of Izuku’s wrist as though it burnt him.

“I do apologize for invading your personal space, but I do wish to speak with you Midoriya. Alone.” Todoroki repeats, looking pointedly at Kacchan.

Kacchan’s nostrils flare and his scent spikes, but this time Izuku can’t understand why he’s getting so upset. “What could you possibly need to say to Deku that I can’t hear?”

“It’s none of your concern, Bakugou. You’re not Midoriya’s Alpha nor keeper. If I wish to speak with him it’s between me and him.” Todoroki glares, not backing down in the slightest. His scent is also starting to spike, and Izuku really doesn’t want to deal with two angry Alphas ready to fight.

“Guys, guys! Please stop!” Izuku whimpers, he doesn’t mean to sound so pathetic but it comes out more scared than he means to.

Both Alphas stop instantly, probably recognizing Izuku’s distress from his scent. Kacchan quickly pushes his head into Izuku’s neck, scenting him immediately and allowing Izuku to calm. Kacchan’s caramel basenote always had a way of breaking down Izuku’s every anxiety. It was like a safety blanket encompassing him wholly.

Todoroki stares at them with widened eyes, but quickly schools his face back to his usual stoic demeanour.

“Sorry Midoriya, Bakugou. I didn’t mean to challenge your courtship. I just have some questions I need answered as soon as possible.” Todoroki explains coolly.

Izuku feels his face flush. Separating from Kacchan’s embrace quickly, unable to believe Todoroki’s statement. “C-Courtship?! N-No, it's not like that-”

“I’ll wait for him in the waiting room. Bring him in there as soon as possible, and make it quick.” Kacchan interrupts, and Izuku shoots him an incredulous look.

They weren’t courting?! They only just went back to being friends, why was Kacchan doing this?

“Of course. Please come along now.” Todoroki nods, before swiftly turning on his heels making his way out of the arena.

“K-Kacchan!? What was that? Why did you just-” Izuku demanded, before again getting interrupted by the incredibly rude Alpha.

“I don’t trust that IcyHot bastard. Ever since he started singling you out, he’s been weird. He’s the son of that asshole, Endeavour. You know how sketchy that guy is. I don’t know what he wants with you but be careful, Deku. Come back to me right away.” Kacchan tells him seriously, clasping his hands gently.

His expression was serious, and Izuku knew that if Kacchan was willing to act like that there was a reason for it. Izuku trusted that. He trusted Kacchan more than anyone else, if he thought Izuku should be wary of Todoroki he would. Kacchan was a good judge of character most of the time, so he’d take his words to heart. Besides, Izuku already knew about the rumours about Endeavour. The number two pro-MMA Fighter wasn't exactly well viewed.

Izuku searches the Alpha's face, only seeing genuine concern in his eyes. Izuku quickly allows himself to scent the Alpha again, letting his childhood friend’s scent settle in his heart. Izuku always gained strength from his scent.

“Okay, Kacchan I will. Don’t worry too much, I’ll always come back to you.” Izuku tells him sincerely, before letting go of his hands. If Izuku stayed in his space any longer he’d do something dumb. Like attempting to kiss Kacchan’s cheek or something.

Izuku ran after Todoroki feeling something a little concerning brewing in his gut. Whatever Todoroki was going to tell him wasn’t going to be anything good, Izuku was sure of it.

Notes:

oooo i feel like now we acc get to see real bakudeku and i am: LIVING FOR IT
also next chapter will surprise u, deviating from bnha just a tiny bit

Chapter 25: incense

Izuku fidgets quietly as Todoroki leads them into an empty hallway, their footsteps echoing loudly. Up until today, Izuku never really had a significant interaction with the Alpha. He seemed like the silent, brooding type and while Izuku could understand that he wasn’t the friendliest person in 1A.

Todoroki just seemed so distant, so above it all. Like everyone around him was beneath him, it was a scary feeling. Perhaps that’s how strangers felt in Kacchan’s presence, maybe even worse since he seemed so overtly hostile.

Still, Izuku was rather curious about Todoroki despite all these things. More so than Todoroki’s intimidation Izuku felt like there was something else that was wrong. Todoroki isolated himself from every interaction he possibly could, worse than even Kacchan who seemed to be making friends.

If Todoroki didn’t even seem to have one friend in this class...wouldn’t he be lonely? Izuku had spent so much of his life without friends, and the one person he had considered to be closest to him had shut him out for years on end. Those were the loneliest and most awful years of his life.

Izuku couldn’t imagine constantly living in such a state. It didn’t even make sense to him! Todoroki was smart, hardworking, talented and even handsome. Surely there must’ve been people who would want to befriend him? Perhaps the people whom he had teamed up with?

Then again, that could’ve been Todoroki just making do with the situation.

“Midoriya.” Todoroki calls, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.He hadn’t realized that the Alpha had brought them to the Faculty Entrance until now. Izuku really needed to start paying attention to his surroundings more.

“T-Todoroki-kun, w-we should, uh, hurry right? We’ll need to eat lunch soon, and Kacchan probably waiting for me and-” Izuku rambled, finding this situation even worse than he had anticipated.

He was alone , with an Alpha who clearly didn’t like him. Had gone out of his way to privately speak with him. What good could possibly come out of this situation? Todoroki’s expression hadn’t even changed, as serious and as stoic as ever. Izuku didn’t have a single clue what he could possibly want from Izuku.

“Are you Toshinori-sensei’s secret love child?” Todoroki blurted, shocking Izuku out of his core.

Love child?! The Toshinori’s love child?! What was Todoroki on? Was he on drugs? Should Izuku take him to the nurse’s office? How could he ever come to that conclusion?

“W-WHAT?! No way, I’m not related to him at all!” Izuku denied immediately, waving his hands around and creating a huge ‘X’ with his arms across his chest. Izuku honestly couldn’t bring himself to believe this.

Todoroki tilts his head curiously - not unlike a cat - leaning against the wall behind him before crossing his arms in quiet contemplation. He observed Izuku for a few moments, and Izuku wondered what he was even seeing.

Izuku didn’t even look Toshinori-sensei in the slightest. Izuku had dark green hair and eyes, fstupid freckles all over his face and he was relatively short for a male his age. Toshinori-sensei on the other hand had bright blonde hair and blue eyes, was exceedingly tall and buff and was not like Izuku at all in most regards. Todoroki was either a crazed conspiracy theorist or just batshit crazy. Right now, Izuku was leaning on the latter.

“Alright. Even if you say that you aren’t biologically related to him, you have some sort of connection with him. Perhaps he’ll take you on as his successor or sponsor. If I’m honest, I don’t care too much about your relation to him. All you need to know, as the son of the number two pro-fighter Endeavour, I have all the more reason to defeat you.” Todoroki informs bluntly.

Izuku could only blink at him. There was no way Izuku would be Toshinori’s successor. He wasn’t a fighter but he had a feeling Todoroki already knew that. As for being Izuku’s sponsor...he’d heard of it before. Previous alumni, or even agencies or companies that were interested in one of the U.A students. They would offer programs or even pay tuition in exchange for immediate recruitment upon graduation.

While that option may be possible for Izuku especially with Toshinori-sensei’s interest in finding him a work study it was still too early to tell.

In any case, there was no concrete way for Todoroki to know any of this. Which really made Izuku wonder…

“What makes you think Toshinori-sensei pays any attention to me? I’m not particularly special. I’m not even an MMA Fighter. There’s no reason for it.” Izuku responds evenly, trying to maintain an equally as stoic face.

“That’s what I thought too at first. But Toshinori-sensei has been watching you carefully, calling you often for private lunches. He doesn’t do those things with any other student, which means he’s taken a special interest in you.” Todoroki replies easily, as if they were discussing some as obvious as the weather.

Izuku hadn’t known that Toshinori-sensei was watching him that carefully. Izuku honestly didn’t know what to say to that. He still didn’t really understand why Todoroki wanted to talk to him.

“Whatever that reason may be, that’s not why I wanted to speak to you. For whatever reason, he chose you as someone of interest. And that means I need to watch out for you as well. My old man’s been living in Toshinori’s shadow for as long as their careers have set off. His only goal in life has been to defeat Toshinori, but for as long as he’s lived he’s never been able to do it.” Todoroki explained, pausing deliberately as if to seem nonchalant. Izuku could smell the underlying tension. Izuku had a feeling that whatever Todoroki was going to be telling him would be unpleasant for the both of them.

“Midoriya, have you ever heard of arranged marriages?” Todoroki continued, looking into Izuku’s eyes with such quiet fury that Izuku couldn’t even return the gaze properly.

Izuku’s mouth went dry.

“Y-Yeah I’ve heard them before. It’s an old traditionalist ritual where an Alpha and Omega pair are to marry and breed many pups. I-It’s pretty uncommon now, almost completely out of practice.” Izuku replied slowly. Izuku had a feeling he knew where this was going. He’d heard rumours, of course. In Reddit forums, some tweets from small accounts here or there until the account posting would ‘mysteriously’ get suspended. There hadn’t been any concrete claims, so it wasn’t looked into for a long time. No reliable claims, until now.

“Yes. You’re right, it is uncommon but still practiced I can assure you. I know this because my Alpha father bought my Omega mother from her family. It was an offer her family couldn’t refuse. A successful young Alpha that would bring their family pride. And my old man’s a desperate traditionalist. They say that an Alpha/Omega offspring will be far stronger than their parents. Endeavour always wanted to be number one, and he’d do anything to get there.” Todoroki revealed, and Izuku could smell the Alpha’s scent very clearly, for the first time he’s ever been this close.

His hatred is so embedded in his very being, that Alpha rage, the desire to destroy the desire to attack. A desire so deep it seemed to be instilled into his core.

It was understandable though, and Izuku felt horrified for him. Just what had he and his family endured? For how long? Had they ever known peace? Had they ever known love? Or was he living in constant terror every single day?

It only made sense that he kept others away. This kind of burden was not easy to share.

“My father’s lived his entire life through intimidation and barely veiled threats. If my mother ever dared disobey her, he’d use his Order and Scent against her. Every single time. My mother was always terrified of him, it made her mental state deteriorate. She was living in constant fear. And to the bastard, I was the perfect creation. All else in my family were born Beta or Omega. I had one Alpha brother, but he ran away when I was young. I was the only Alpha who could take it. Because my fury could match his. It’s because of how much my scent, and the left part of my face resembled my father’s that my mother did what she did.” Todorok continued, every single detail he spared was worse than the one before.

Izuku looked at Todoroki’s scar and realized what the implications of what he had said meant.

“My mother in an unstable state poured boiling water on my face, saying the left side was unsightly. I don’t blame her for it. I cannot. My father was the one that had pushed her to this state. It was the first time he ever thought about what he’d done but it was too late. He sent my mom to the psych ward and we never saw her again.” Todoroki growled, his eyes gleaming with frustration, with grief and revenge. His scent was the most complicated Izuku had ever felt in his entire life. The scent of myrrh was all encompassing, like all the whole truck load of the heady scent was being burnt right in front of Izuku’s nose. It was almost burning the inside of Izuku nostris, the smell was acid in his brain, the Alpha was so so angry , angry at him . Izuku began to whimper, unable to handle the strain of such a furious scent - Kacchan could get angry - but never like this. Never with this much intent.

This, in addition to the story made Izuku want to vomit, honestly this was more information that Izuku thought that he could handle. But the scent, the scent was triggering Izuku’s flight extinct and Izuku really couldn’t-

All at once, the scent was stifled and Izuku felt himself shaking the core gripping the wall behind him. Deep breaths, in and out. Gosh, that Alpha Rage really reminded Izuku of that horrible person -

“I’m sorry, Midoriya. I shouldn’t have let myself get into that Rage. I should’ve known better, your sensitive to scents I shouldn’t have-” Todoroki apologized, looking genuinely remorseful.

As soon as Izuku was able to smell past that myrrh - just the faint scent of spearmint and white musk Todoroki usually carried Izuku breathed a sigh of relief.

“D-Don’t worry about it. S-So you were saying?” Izuku asked, trying to let go of the queasy feeling. Why was Izuku reacting like a sensitive cry baby right now? Clearly, Todoroki had been through a lot. For whatever reason, he’d trusted Izuku enough to tell him. The least Izuku could do is listen quietly to the boy without interrupting.

Todoroki furrowed his eyebrows, as if he was going to argue but decided against it.

“Anyway, I just wanted to say that the main reason I picked a fight with you isn’t only because of Toshinori-sensei. Every time I’ve had to fight against you, my stupid Alpha scent spikes. I’ve been trying to stifle it completely, suppress it but my father won’t let me get proper suppressants. I’ve been controlling it for a long time now, but anytime I fight with you it somehow leaks through.” Todoroki informed, eyes darkening a bit.

“I’ve spent my entire light training suppressing my scent. I refuse to use my scent willingly to intimidate others. If and when I fight against you, I won’t be using my scent at all. I’m going to prove that you don’t need underhanded Alpha techniques to win in a fight. If I can beat you without doing that, it will prove everything my father stands for wrong!” Todoroki declares, eyes passionate and fiery. While this fire stems from anger, Izuku could see that Todoroki despite having been through what he has, does also want to fight for his own means.

Izuku quietly absorbed everything the young Alpha had told him. His life was tragic and awful, and Izuku could empathize with Todoroki’s feelings he honestly could.

Yet, at the same time...not that he thought Endeavour was a good person. He clearly wasn’t but suppressants could be dangerous especially for a long time. It was why they were banned for sporting events and other competitions as well. On top of that, while scents could be used as an unfair advantage, they only really affected people who were already intimidated by the aggressor. While this was a horrible thing for Endeavour to use against his own family, in a fight fair was fair. There was a reason lots of top athletes were Alpha after all, and it wasn’t impossible to force yourself through it.

Unless of course, you were like Izuku and you were very sensitive to smells. Combat sports weren’t recommended for people like this anyway.

Todoroki was starting to turn away, clearly done with the conversation but Izuku didn’t want to just let things go.

“Todoroki-kun!” Izuku called, causing the Alpha to pause. “Y-You’ve been through a lot. To come out of a situation like that and becoming the person that you are despite makes you incredible. You’re really strong, and with a past like that I doubt there will be very much that can stop you. But, just as you are strong there are others who are stronger too. Alphas like Kacchan would probably find it insulting that you’d be suppressing your scent for their sake. I get why you aren’t proud of being Alpha or your scent, I really do. But...like I said before everyone’s giving it there all today. You shouldn’t hold yourself back, or you’ll be insulting everyone who fights you.” Izuku tried to explain, hoping that Todoroki will see reason.

Todoroki doesn’t even turn around to face him, only shrugging his shoulders in acknowledgement.

Izuku stands there, stunned in silence for a few moments. It looked like his words weren’t reaching Todoroki at all.

After collecting his thoughts, Izuku slowly made his way to the waiting room.

Kacchan was probably getting annoyed at him for taking so long. What Izuku doesn’t expect is Kacchan to be waiting for him outside the Faculty Entrance. He seemed strangely calm for a guy who had been waiting so long, and with a start Izuku realized why.

“Kacchan!? Were you eavesdropping the whole time?” Izuku demanded, genuinely upset. Todoroki had told him all that in confidence. He wouldn’t have made it a point to speak with Izuku privately if he was okay with other people knowing.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping! I wanted to make sure the idiot didn’t try something sketchy, I wasn’t expecting his entire fucking lifestory!” Kacchan seethes, pulling Izuku away by the wrist. “Look IcyHot’s had it rough, I’m not about to say shit. Can we just go? I overheard Pinky looking for you and if one more person tries to talk to you again, I swear I’ll-”

As they walk closer to the waiting room Izuku lets Kacchan curse out people by nickname’s Izuku can’t fully recognize but allows the boy to do as he pleases. He did have to wait a while, and Izuku was sure if their positions were reversed he’d be frustrated too.

What they don’t expect however is to get ambushed once they get to the waiting room.

“Deku-kun! Where were you, we’ve been looking all over!?” Uraraka yells, prying Izuku away from a still seething Kacchan.

“What? Why were you looking for me?” Izuku asks, a little bewildered by the onslaught of attention.

“Ahh! Okay, we don’t have time so just follow me. Me, Yaoyorozu-san and Ashido-san need help and you need to come with me right now!” Uraraka told him pleading, ushering Izuku out the door.

“What the fuck? Me and Deku haven’t even eaten lunch yet, you guys should fuck off until then!” Kacchan grouched, clearly not amused.

Uraraka for whatever reason had a various devious grin on her face as she heard that. “Is that so? If you guys were supposed to eat together you can come along too. Maybe you can help Deku-kun get ready!” Uraraka cheered.

“Why?!” Kacchan demanded, though he moved to pick up both their lunch boxes.

Izuku frowned but followed along anyway, hearing a rumbling Kacchan walking behind him as well, their lunches in tow. Kacchan keeps demanding ‘why?!’ out loud, and Izuku decided it would be better to ignore him for now. Izuku tries to pester Uraraka for more information, but somehow the girl easily deflects. Frustrated at being left in the dark, Izuku slows to match Kacchan’s more lethargic pace.

“What do they need me for?” Izuku wonders aloud, trying to think of things the three girls would need him for. He wasn’t particularly close with Ashido, especially compared to Uraraka or Yamomo. He didn’t have a clue on what this could possibly be about.

“Fuck if I know. Pinky was being weird as shit after the last round. She couldn’t stop giggling about something dumb with Shitty Hair.” Kacchan grumbled beside him, causing Izuku to pause.

Shitty Hair was Kirishima...and if he was talking to someone named ‘Pinky’ who was on the same team as Kacchan. Pinky….oh the girl had bright pink hair! It would have to be Ashido, Izuku was so happy for Kirishima! That meant some kind of progress was being made between the two.

“Okay, Deku-kun! Wait outside here I’ll be back in a second!” Uraraka informed excitably, running into the girls change room without another word.

Izuku frowned, exchanging a glace with Kacchan, but waited patiently nonetheless.

In not even a second, Uraraka had come back a bag in hand. She pushes the bag into Izuku’s arm and ushers Izuku towards the boys change room.

“Deku-kun please change into that and come out here as soon as possible! Bakugou-kun could go in to help you out, if you know what I mean.” Uraraka winked, bodily shoving Izuku into the boys change room giving no time for Izuku to think about anything.

Both Izuku and Kacchan flushes, and Izuku moves into the changeroom in hopes he’ll never find out Kacchan’s response to that.

---

When Izuku steps out, clad in the skirt and crop top cheerleader set that he was provided he pointedly does not allow himself to look at Kacchan at all. It was pretty all considering, an orange skirt and matching crop top with a white band going over his chest. The letters “U.A” were written in a huge font as if to say that Izuku was U.A property. Izuku wasn’t happy about it in the slightest.

He only slightly lives down his mortification when he sees the other girls dressed similarly. That still doesn’t make him feel better though. He was still the only boy wearing the outfit and he wasn’t impressed at all.

“Uraraka. Can you please explain to me how my crossdressing is of help to any of you?!” Izuku asks with a little more grit than necessary.

“Oh, Midoriya-kun! Please don’t yell at Uraraka-san! I was the one who suggested it, actually. I was feeling uncomfortable as the only Omega in this get up and I was worried there would be too much attention on me!” Yaomomo interfered, eyes all big and sad. Man, they were pulling out the big guns.

Izuku was about to protest - wondering why he - of all people had to have that attention instead.

Before he could get in a word, though, Ashido was whispering in Izuku’s ear, sending a shiver down Izuku’s spine.

“Besides! I’ve figured you out Midoriya-kun. If you don’t want our resident Blasty Boy to find out about that crush of yours, you’ll cooperate with us immediately!” Ashido giggled, and Izuku frozen as soon as the words left her mouth.

How? How did she figure it out? Could the female Alpha smell it off him? No, if that were the case Kacchan would’ve been able to figure it out. Did Kirishima tell her? No, he wouldn't do that...would he? Maybe he had to come up with some kind of excuse for why they had kissed?

“Oi, Pinky get your perverted Alpha hands off of Deku!” Kacchan screamed, and the girl stepped away laughing.

“Why’s that Blasty? You want to get your perverted Alpha hands on him instead?” she answered cheekily.

Izuku watched as Kacchan’s nostrils flared, but his face was lightly dusted in pink. Which caused Izuku’s cheeks to flush as well.

Izuku coughed, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Let’s just get this over with.” he sighed. Kacchan made an effort to not look at Izuku as he shoved Izuku’s lunch box in his hands. Izuku quietly ate his food as the girls cooed over him, trying to ignore their needless fussing.

By the time they made it back to the arena for their little cheerleading routine, Kacchan was finally able to look Izuku in the eye though not without a slight blush on his face.

“Oi, nerd listen to me. First of all, I don’t know what Pinky told you to blackmail you into this but whatever it was can’t be worse than this. There’s all sorts of weird pervs watching this at home and you really shouldn’t have to be forced into shit you don’t even want to do and-” Kacchan told him seriously.

Izuku took the Alpha’s hands and his childhood friend stopped just as quickly. Izuku reached up to slightly nuzzle at Kacchan’s sweat gland, enjoying the mixing of their scents before looking his friend in the eye.
“Honestly, Kacchan I’d rather do this. Besides, I’m breaking gender norms! So, that’s pretty cool! And taking off weird attention from Yaomamo-san so it’s kind of a win-win, right?” Izuku laughed, trying to be optimistic.

Kacchan searched his face for any kind of discomfort. Finding none, he just sighs before nuzzling his own head into Izuku’s sweat gland. “Our class is full of freaks and perverts, dweeb. Be fucking careful.” is all Kacchan says before he pushes Izuku in the direction of all the other girls.

Izuku wondered which one Kacchan saw himself to be.

When Izuku is released outside, he sees all the girls frowning. Jirou was running around trying to chase Kaminari, Yaomomo stepped on the little purple boy and Tsuyu was shivering in discomfort.

“How did scum like you get into this school?!” Yamomo yelled at the weird pervert guy that had supposedly gotten ‘expelled’.

“What’s going on?” Izuku asked, a little out of his depth. They were supposed to be doing some cheering thing right? By why were there actual cheerleaders already performing a routine? Was this a secret round of the Sports Festival? Izuku didn't know! Maybe Izuku should’ve stuck with that salsa class his mom had made him try out once.

Uraraka approached sadly, a frown on her face. “Sorry, Deku-kun. Looks like those boys tricked us. We were told we were supposed to do that cheerleading routine but the idiots just wanted to see us in short skirts.” she scowled, jabbing a thumb in that pervert kid’s direction.

“Sorry we pulled you along into this too, Midoriya. We hadn’t anticipated this.” Yaomomo apologizes. Izuku is about to deny the apology, he’s just glad they wouldn’t be doing any jumping. The skirt was kind of short and he really didn’t want to flash anyone.

“Wait, Midoriya? ” Kaminari exclaimed, turning around to face Izuku before his jaw dropped in shock.

Izuku regretted every single life decision that brought him up to this point.

“Wait, Midoriya! I didn’t know you were so ripped!” Kirishima called, inspecting Izuku from head to toe, glancing at Izuku’s abs for a little longer. All this attention to his body and close proximity really wasn’t any good for his health.

Ashido seemed to perk up at that. “More than that, look at his legs! He has such pretty calves!” Ashido gushed, and yeah this conversation was too much for Izuku he was about ready to go home. His classmates continued to chatter about his ‘surprisingly nice body for someone who dressed so awfully’ .

He heard Kaminari mutter something about perhaps not being as straight as he thought he was anymore and Izuku took the chance to high tail out of there.

Unfortunately, Izuku bumps straight into the crazy blonde from earlier - Neito Monoma - and falls flat on his ass. Izuku is ready to be yelled at for being 1A scum, but to Izuku’s surprise the guy just helps him up.

“Are you alright? Someone as cute as you shouldn’t be on the floor like that-” Monoma began, helping Izuku to his feet as Izuku held his skirt down. He prayed he hadn’t flashed anyone by accident.

“Hey, you Copycat motherfucker! Get your dirty hands off of Deku!” Kacchan yelled, confusing Izuku as to where exactly he had even come from. Kacchan pulled Izuku away from Monoma easily, putting an arm around Izuku’s waist and scowling unhappily. Despite his unpleasant facial expression there was a slight blush to Kacchan’s face. Izuku wanted to ask him about it, but Kacchan didn’t seem to be in the mood for questioning. Besides, there were more distracting things to worry about.

Kacchan’s bare arm was pressed against his waist. It was warm against the cool skin of his stomach and it made Izuku want to just sink into Kacchan’s arms. This wasn’t the time though, as Kacchan was muttering about ‘shitty, pervert classmates’ and ‘that meddling fucker Pinky’ Izuku decided it was best not to ask his friends too many questions.

Still, Kacchan's scent was very different from what it usually was. The burnt sugar/caramel notes were as sweet as they were when he was happy but the muskier notes of amber was also equally as powerful. This exact combination of scents wasn't a common one for Kacchan. He only occasionally caught whiffs of it in the boys change room after a particularly good spar, and it only ever appeared after sparring with Izuku. He liked Kacchan's scent a lot normally, but this particular mix always made Izuku flush for reasons he didn't fully understand.

When they finally reached their destination, Kacchan shoves Izuku’s P.E clothes into his arms shocking him out of his thoughts.

“Change as fast you can, nerd. I’m going to turn around and count to 20 and if you’re not done changing by then, I’m going to beat your ass. The next round’s gonna start soon, so make it quick. Got it?” Kacchan informed him.

Well, no matter what happened, at least Izuku knew he could always rely on his childhood best friend.

“Got it, Kacchan!”

Chapter 26: orris root

Summary:

Izuku realizes that he can save people, even if he can't always win.

Kacchan is extra vigilant as they walk back to the Arena together, muttering about pervy classmates all the while as they walk. Izuku’s pretty content just walking by his side, being in his space and also being out of the short skirt that gave him unreasonable amounts of anxiety.

Another thing is Kacchan’s hand placed at the small of his back, a protective perhaps instinctual gesture that gives Izuku a happy kind of warmth. Izuku is careful to not say a word about it, sure that if the Alpha noticed he’d remove his hand right away.

Finally, as they enter the Arena they hear Present Mic explaining the next round with his usual rigor.

“The next round is my personal favourite! Close combat! One-on-one battles with two randomized opponents from those that qualified high from the previous round. Two students will go head-to-head in the ring and will fight until someone is unable to battle, surrenders or walks out of the ring. You can use any means necessary but please avoid causing serious injuries to fellow students.”

Izuku frowned, muttering to himself. “That sounds ominous.”

Kirishima who was sitting to the left nodded, as Kacchan - to his right - rolled his eyes.

“This is U.A. They want to see everything we’ve got.” Kacchan shrugged.

“All right, kids! We’ll be matching you all up based on lots. Please stand by as we randomize your opponents.” Midnight-sensei announced as everyone crowded around near the front of the Arena.

As the screen randomized the rounds, Kirishima nudged him with his elbow playfully wiggling his eyebrows. When Izuku only rolled his eyes, and smacked his arm, the redhead came closer to lean into his ear.

“Looks like Blasty’s pretty protective, huh? And here you were saying it’s unrequited.” Kirishima whispered a huge grin plastered on his face.

Izuku felt his entire face flush at that, shaking his head in embarrassment.

“I-It’s not like that! Kacchan and I have been friends since we were kids!” Izuku denied, waving his hands back and forth violently.

Kirishima only laughed at him. “So friends just scent mark each other like that?” he asked, and Izuku paused, feeling slightly awkward about it.

“Y-Yeah, I think? We’ve scented each other like that since we were pups. I thought close friends would do that, right?” Izuku asked, heart kind of pounding. Was there some kind of secret Alpha thing Izuku didn’t know about?

Kirishima raised an eyebrow, though his expression was less smug than before.

“Well, yeah I guess. But you guys do it so often and intimately I thought it was a courting ritual.”

“Courting ritual?! What no - Kirishima-kun! - you of all people know it isn’t like that.” Izuku cried, not wanting anyone to take it that way, because it wasn’t true no matter how much he wished it.

Kirishima frowns, ruffling Izuku’s hair in sympathy. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just happy for you, y’know?
Izuku smiles at him.

“I’m not the only one who made progress. I have eyes.” Izuku grins back equally cheesy, Kirishima looks like he’s about to argue - a blush as bright as his hair adorning his cheeks - but was interrupted by the screen displaying the new match ups.

Izuku stared in wonder. He’d be up against that guy from General Studies, the one that had been determined to find his place in the Athletics department. Izuku wondered what that guy had up his sleeve.

He looked around at other match ups. Kirishima and the silver guy that was like him, Testutetsu. Then there was Sero and Todoroki, who Izuku would have to fight if he won. As quickly scanned the screen, Izuku let out a soft gasp.

Uraraka vs Kacchan. There was no doubt that Kacchan would win, but it was an awful match up all the same. A track athlete vs one of the best MMA Fighters in their year. It wasn’t going to end pretty at all.

Izuku wondered if he should show his ‘MMA Fighting 101’ notebook. It had tons of helpful notes about Kacchan’s preferences...in fighting style! Amongst others. Actually, maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea to show her the notebook, he’d never hear the end of her teasing if he did.

“I’m pulling out of the round!” someone announced, shocking Izuku enough to find the owner of the voice. Izuku was surprised to see it came from Mashirao Ojirou who was from his own class.

“Oijrou-kun, are you sure?” Iida asked, clearly concerned about their fellow classmate’s behavior.

“Yes.” Ojirou nodded, looking saddened but resolute. “If I can’t even remember how I got here, I can’t bring myself to continue on to the next round. It wouldn’t feel right.”

There was an awkward silence as everyone struggled to process what that meant. There are people wondering what that would even mean, until another voice joins in.

“I feel the same. I wouldn’t be earning a win I have no recollection of. I wish to withdraw as well.” a person from 1B announced as well, shocking everyone even further.

Just what was going on?!

Midnight-sensei seemed to have an idea, a knowing glint in her eye. “Very well, participants from Team Tetsutetsu are free to take their place.”

Izuku froze. What was going on? He wasn’t the only one who found this incredibly shady, was he?
Looking around at his classmate’s faces he knew he wasn’t the only one. Even the ever stoic Todoroki looked like he didn’t quite understand what was happening.

“Midoriya!” Ojirou called, causing Izuku to turn to the Beta. He seemed a little disturbed as he approached Izuku but there was a determined set to his jaw that Izuku couldn’t ignore.

“What’s wrong, Ojirou-kun?” Izuku asked, a little surprised that the Beta would be talking to him of all people. They weren’t particularly close, and hadn’t really interacted much before this.

“The guy you’re about to fight with...he was on my team for the Cavalry Battle.” Ojirou explained, frowning slightly. “The guy’s an Alpha, and I’m pretty sure he just Ordered me and the rest of the team into doing his bidding, but I’m not entirely sure how he did it. He has a way of getting into your head. You need to be really careful with him, okay? Make sure not to respond to any of his questions, I think that’s how he gets inside your head.”

Izuku looked at Ojirou, then at the screen then back at Ojirou. It wasn’t an impossible task for Alphas to Order around people. For it to be really effective, there were a few requirements. Intimidation was the main prerequisite. If the Beta, Omega or possible but not common other Alpha was already scared or intimidated by the Alpha they would be more inclined to do it. Another one was playing on desires. If the victim was already inclined to complete the Order, even if it was just a small desire the Order would be effective.

The final one however, was an element of surprise or shock. If you aren’t expecting the Order it was less likely to work.

Depending on the individual Orders could be more or less powerful, and have slight nuances and variations as to how they operated.

It seemed as though Shinsou Hitoshi’s variation was through asking questions that provoked some kind of response. That was how ‘he’d get into Izuku’s head’. Now that Ojirou had told him this, the element of surprise would be lost which should be effective against him during the battle.

Izuku looked at his opponent again. In theory, Izuku was now more than equipped to handle him. But, Izuku was always bad with heavy, angry, intense scents. There was still a chance Izuku could mess this up.

“Thanks for telling me Ojirou-kun. I really owe you one.” Izuku told the blonde politely, bowing his head in gratitude.

Ojirou smiled at him warmly, before the expression sunk a bit. “Don’t mention it. I heard you were really sensitive to Alpha scents, so I wanted to make sure you’d be okay.”

Izuku gives him a nervous smile in return. “Ah, yeah that’s true. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.”

---

As Izuku climbs into the ring, he feels his anxiety grow. He didn’t think the Alpha would have such a strong effect on him, but Shinsou Hitoshi was not what he was expecting at all.

His scent was complicated, at least at the moment. Resentment seemed to be rolling off him in waves, not only tangible through his scent but the look in his eyes. There were notes of cocoa absolute, heliotrope, musk - as most Alphas did - and hints of patchouli and perhaps coffee. The musk and patchouli were particularly intense clogging up Izuku’s nostrils even without him being in Shinsou’s direct vicinity.

Izuku’s anxiety was really getting the better of him. Being under the gaze of a guy like that - who so clearly made his distaste palpable - who promised Izuku a world of pain was not the kind of thing Izuku wanted to deal with. This was the real reason Izuku had kept away from MMA Fights.

While the technique and level of skill involved was incredible to watch, incredible to admire it was only really fun from a distance. When it came to the thrill of the fight - that wasn’t Izuku’s cup of tea. He hated fighting, especially when he didn’t have to. Especially if he didn’t want to. Especially if there wasn’t anything worth fighting for.

If it were up to fight or flight, Izuku would pick flight every time. Not unless there was something worth fighting for.

Seeing this Alpha, who quite obviously dreamed of being in the Athletics program, Izuku couldn’t find it in him to fight such a person. He really couldn’t. How was he supposed to just crush someone’s dream?

Still, it would be an insult to his opponent if he just let him win. Izuku’s old self-defense mentor had taught him at least that much.

This meant Izuku was going to have to be quick, be fast like he always was and push Shinsou out of boundaries as quickly as possible.

Of course, the universe wasn’t so kind as to give Izuku a break.

As soon as the bell rang to start their round, the Alpha’s scent had gotten much worse. The layers of resentment were far more complex that Izuku had first anticipated. This wasn’t anger that was created as recently in that past months of school. Not even the past year. This was the kind of crippling Rage that was bottled inside for years and years condensed in a single wave of hi scent.

It was enough to immobilize him with such a sudden assault.

“Midoriya, right? Quite the first impression you’ve made. This might’ve been a fun match if that monkey-brained idiot hadn’t told you my quirk, right?” Shinsou asked nonchalantly, and at the insult Izuku loses all sensibility, all rationality.

Izuku doesn't think at all as he instinctively opens his mouth to defend his friend’s honour.

He realizes his mistake upon impact. He’s made himself vulnerable.

Shinsou smirks, but his eyes look troubled. “That was a lot quicker than I thought. Sorry I had to do it this way, but you need to understand I had no other option. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I want to make my dreams come true too. I’ll do anything to get there.”

Izuku found himself wanting to respond but the Alpha’s unsaid Order kept him from doing so.

“ Walk out of the boundaries and lose this round, Izuku Midoriya .” Shinsou Ordered.
His eyes were sympathetic yet stern, and Izuku had no choice in this matter really.

So much of his body had been begging to run away much before the Alpha had even opened his mouth. It was no surprise to Izuku that Shinsou was able to latch onto his desire like that, and inflate the notion until it consumed him.

Izuku wished he could apologize to Ojirou, despite his warnings Izuku had still risen to the bait. As Izuku slowly pivoted on his feet, facing the crowd Izuku felt his mind spiraling. His body was moving on it’s own, running away as he always did.

And Izuku was powerless to stop it.

But, then, like a divine intervention he sees Toshinori-sensei’s disappointment written across his face and Izuku finds himself heartbroken. After everything his role model had gone through for his sake, was Izuku really going to give up on his hero now?!

The very thought sends Izuku’s body into shock.

Izuku didn’t want to give up. He wasn’t a quitter, he wouldn’t run away. Not anymore, he wasn’t the person who ran when things got difficult anymore. Izuku was better than that. Hw swore he was.

Talk was cheap though. Izuku needed actions, he needed to prove himself worthy of Toshinori-sensei’s trust.

While Izuku could fight his body and prevent himself from moving, being able to snap out of Shinsou’s control completely was another matter. Izuku desperately wracked his brain for some kind of solution.

Shinsou would approach him soon, perhaps dump him out of boundaries himself soon. Izuku needed to escape his Order and he needed to do it fast.

It was a reckless idea, a stupid idea but quite frankly its what Izuku was best at.
The best way to get out of an Order quickly was some kind of shock. The physical kind, such as a shock. Something a simple as bumping into someone accidentally could break it depending on how powerful the Order.

Izuku didn’t have such a luxury, but he did recall this weird post online that demonstrated how to break a ligament in your thumb. Izuku could do that much.

Izuku tried not to think about the pain in his hand as Shinsou’s thick scent receded, probably in shock at Izuku’s actions. Shinsou’s mouth was open in surprise and Izuku didn’t have the time to think too hard right now.

Shinsou opens his mouth, probably to curse Izuku out or demand answers as to how he had escaped Shinsou’s orders. But Izuku was fast, he wouldn’t give him the time to do such things. He rushed at the Alpha with all his weight, trying to push him out of boundaries with all his body weight.

But Shinsou really is giving it his all, digging his heels into the ground refusing to move.

If that’s the case, Izuku would be forced to make it happen.

Izuku delivers the suplex perfectly, thankfully out of bounds as well. The crowd roars, Shinsou groans and Izuku knows somewhere in the stands Kacchan and Toshinori-sensei and all his friends are cheering for him, watching him win with delight.

But all Izuku can feel is numb, because he’s just crushed the dream of someone not too unlike him, if only a bit more unlucky. Even though Izuku’s crushed his opponent, he doesn’t feel the win. It feels empty, because when All Might won his fights in the movies and comics it was because he was the better, stronger and most justified man.

Izuku could not say he felt like he did the same.

As the two of them bow to each other, and turn to exit these thoughts continue to plague Izuku. It didn’t feel fair. He always wanted to be a hero, but he just prevented someone from reaching their dreams. This doesn’t sit well for Izuku not at all. This is why he can’t keep his mouth shut.

“Shinsou-kun. I hope that you can join us in the Athletics department soon. I get your situation, and you’ve made it really far already. U.A will recognize your efforts, and if they don’t I’ll talk to the principal myself.” Izuku tells the boy, whose back was turned to him still. But, he looks back at Izuku and for the first time he sees a small smile grace his face.

“Thanks, Midoriya. For someone in Class 1A, you’re pretty cool.” he replies nonchalantly, before walking away, though Izuku detects the lighter scent that permeates the air. It looks like nobody as acknowledged his efforts before now, and Izuku was glad he could at least do that much.

---

After returning from Recovery Girl, Izuku was bombarded by concerned comments from his classmates. Yaomomo was making distressed chirping noises - fussing over Izuku for a bit - before finally letting Izuku go find his seat. Izuku let the worry of his friends over his well being wash over, and he couldn’t keep the dumb smile off his face.

It felt good to be cared for.

“What the fuck just happened there?!” Kacchan yells as Izuku makes his way to his seat on the stands, Ojiro seems similarly disappointed though he looks a little curious as well.

“Uh, Shinsou-kun has a really overwhelming Rage-like scent and it overpowered me. He Ordered me to step out of the ring, but I got out of it just in time.” Izuku explained in embarrassment.

Kacchan rolled his eyes muttering about ‘shitty sensitive Deku’ though he looked less visibly angered than before, sighing before quickly brushing his wrist against Izuku - a discreet and more subtle way of comforting him. Izuku appreciates the sentiment.

“So that’s what happened. Guess my warning was useless after all.” Ojirou sighed, looking a little dejected.

“No, not at all! If you hadn’t warned me I would have panicked and lost right away!” Izuku reassured.

The two continued to discuss Shinsou’s potential, whether or not he would be allowed into the Athletics department. It wasn’t an unlikely possibility. All of the people who had made it into the one-on-one combat round were people from the Athletics department, save for Shinsou and Hastume. Hatsume hadn’t displayed any interest in joining Athletics, in fact it seemed like she cared for very little outside of her babies.

Which meant Shinsou was the only eligible Athletics transfer. On top of this, with the pervert boy - Mineta, Kaminari informed Izuku - kicked out of Athletics it meant there was a space available for the boy already.

Things were looking good for Shinsou, and for that Izuku was glad.

---

Izuku watched in as Todoroki took down his opponent - Sero - in under ten seconds. The entire stadium was silent, save for a few quiet whispers of awe and shock. Izuku knew that the Alpha was strong, but he hadn’t realized he’d be as fast as he was either.
It was shocking, but Izuku knew he wouldn't have expected any less. Endeavour had trained Todoroki to the bone, there was no doubt about it.

Izuku wondered sadly if Todoroki ever felt like he had been cherished or cared for in his life. His father was the worst, and though the boy didn’t seem to have any resentment for his mother's actions it must’ve been hard to be hurt by someone you loved. He hadn’t even seen his mother since the incident and made Izuku want to do something.

He must be so lonely. Izuku knew that feeling, and he hadn’t even gone through half of the trauma Todoroki must have faced. The boy deserved to feel sure of himself, to grow and thrive outside of the influence of his father.

Izuku was determined to do something about it.

Izuku heard the whispers around him. How Todoroki was an exceedingly strong Alpha so similar to his father.

It grated on Izuku’s nerves, but he knew that if Todoroki hadn’t spilled his life story to him perhaps he would be privately thinking the same too. It wasn’t fair.

The battles continued on. The next round was Kaminari and the green-haired girl from Class 1B, Ibara. Kaminari looked plenty confident as he took the ring, a smile placed on his face that Izuku could now recognize as his ‘flirty smize’. Kirishima’s words, not his.

Whatever his flirty remarks might have been had been for naught. Kaminari had attempted to attack first, obviously hoping to push her out of the ring in order to spare her. This ended up being the worst decision he could make. The girl specialized in martial arts and the baseball player honestly didn’t stand a chance. She was swift and graceful as she took Kaminari down, pinning him to the ground and pulling his arm behind him in what looked to be a rather painful position.

Izuku felt bad for laughing, but Kaminari made it hard not too. He was a sweet, well-meaning guy but if a cute girl was involved, he would be all but useless. It was really funny if a little sad to see how cocky he had been in the beginning only to get crushed on sight. It was never a good idea to underestimate an opponent, cute girl or not.

The girls' techniques were certainly impressive, and Izuku found himself jotting down some of her most effective moves, mumbling to himself. A few of his classmates - most prominently Kacchan - seemed a little put off by the rambling and Izuku tried to keep his voice down he really did but Ibara’s finishing front stance high block was extremely refined, her form was perfect and -

“Oi, Deku! Cool it with the praise, she wasn’t that good. You’re just a dweeb.” Kacchan grumbled in annoyance, his eyes rolling and his mouth set in a scowl.
“S-Sorry, Kacchan! I-I know my muttering bothers you.” Izuku murmured, shrinking back into himself. Just when he was starting to think they were getting closer again, Izuku was reminded once again that Kacchan didn’t like him that much. Izuku shouldn’t be taking his kindness for granted.

Kacchan muttered about something along the lines of ‘that isn’t the fucking issue’ but Izuku was too scared to find out what that issue actually was. They had just become friends again, he didn’t want to risk anything.

Izuku instead chooses to distract himself with the next few rounds.

The next battle is Aoyama against Ashido, and Izuku already has a good idea of who the victor would be. Aoyama was excellent at running, and was apparently skilled in fencing. This wasn’t necessarily bad, but up against Ashido who was a gymnast and had experience with boxing - according to Kirishima, who was cheering her on loudly from the stands - Aoyama’s prospects of winning weren’t too high.

As Izuku expected, Ashido wins easily, and Kirishima congratulates her as she arrives. Izuku is happy to notice that Ashido hugs Kirishima upon her arrival picking him up and spinning him around in euphoria. It was very cute, and the smile adorning Izuku’s face wouldn’t leave for the next few rounds. Looks like things were looking good for Kirishima, and Izuku was more than happy for him. Kirishima deserved to be cherished.

Izuku discreetly shoots Kirishima a secretive smile and a thumbs up, causing Kirishima to blush and return the gesture.

Things were looking good.

The next match-up was very difficult for Izuku to decide on a better opponent. Tokoyami was a powerhouse a force to be reckoned that could rival Kacchan on brute force alone. He apparently trained in kickboxing in a foreign country, and was extremely skilled. However, Yaomomo was a tennis player with an alleged shoot boxing history. At the time she had told Izuku this, she had said she was rusty. Izuku didn’t know her actual skill yet, but Yaomomo tended to sell herself short.

That being said, Izuku had seen how driven Yaomomo could be.

At first, she was holding her ground dodging every one of Tokoyami’s attacks, but Izuku could see that her opponent's attacks were overwhelming her. She didn’t fully trust in her ability, and this was preventing her from fighting at her best. This hesitation is what ended up pushing her out of bounds and eventually losing the match.

Izuku could hear his classmate’s sympathy, saying the match up wasn’t fair to begin with but Izuku knew better.

It strangely reminded Izuku of Todoroki’s situation. No being able to trust themselves fully, despite the fact that they were clearly accomplished athletes in their own right. They were recommendation students after all, they should trust themselves more.

The next match ended up being Tetsutetsu against Kirishima which made Izuku more than amused as they began. He was right to have seen similarities between the two, because seeing them go head-to-head as they were at the moments seemed to prove it all the more. However, as they parried, trading blow for blow it seemed like neither person was going down at all. After a while the moves began getting repetitive and Izuku felt his interest grow less and less.

Izuku caught the eye of the next match up and realized it would be Kacchan against Uraraka.

This matchup gave Izuku a very queasy feeling. Uraraka was Izuku's first friend at U.A. She was supportive, kind if a little blunt but she was earnest and pure at heart. She had confided her story to him, about wanting to make a name for herself so her parents could live comfortably. Izuku felt for her, he truly did and he didn’t want her to lose.

At the same time, Kacchan had been training for this moment his whole life. From the very beginning, his dream was to be a pro-MMA Fighter, one that would one day surpass Toshinori. From the time that they were pups, Izuku could recall Kacchan copying the movements Toshinori would use on screen. Izuku would be the opponent, content to be Kacchan’s training partner even if his childhood friend would throw him around a lot. Seeing Kacchan in his element, copying their hero, had made Izuku’s heart skip a beat and left him a little breathless even back then. To imagine that person losing was unfathomable to Izuku.

And for all it was worth, from a non partial standpoint it was obvious who was going to win. Uraraka was a track kid, that too specializing in throwing events. Her arms were strong and she was relatively agile but compared to a guy who spent his entire life honing his body to perfection in order to become the best MMA Fighter...it wasn’t a fair comparison. A one-on-one combat against these two would make it near impossible for Uraraka to win.

Still, Izuku remembered how quickly the girl had come to his rescue. When everyone had abandoned him it was Uraraka, not Kacchan who had stood by his side. Izuku needed to remind himself that he wanted to be his own person now. He had dreams, hopes, friends and priorities that were greater than Kacchan now. He was going to support her the best he could.

Izuku held his ‘MMA Fighting 101’ notebook in his hands as he went in search for Uraraka.

When he finally found her in the waiting room, talking to Iida in a hushed voice Izuku paused. He didn’t want to interrupt them, and Uraraka’s face was as serious as he had ever seen it before. Not wanting to interrupt the intimate moment, Izuku was about to leave. He’d just wait outside for the girl, but then she called his name.

“Deku-kun! Did you come here for something?” Uraraka asked curiously, an easy grin somehow plastered across her face.

“O-Oh, um yeah but I didn’t want to interrupt anything.” Izuku replied shyly, looking from Iida to Uraraka and observing as their faces both grew flushed. Interesting.

“A-Ah, don’t worry. We were just done talking, don't worry about it. Now come over here and tell us what’s on your mind!” Uraraka defended, looking extremely flustered.

“Y-Yes, Midoriya-kun! It’s fine, please join us.” Iida added, almost sounding like he was pleading. They were acting really weird, but they had bigger concerns right now.

“Well, since you joined my team for the Cavalry Battle I wanted to support you in return. I have some observations of Kacchan’s fighting style that could be helpful and I was wondering if you’d like to go through it.” Izuku told her, picking up his notebook and showing it to his friend.

Uraraka smiled at him but shook her head. “I really appreciate the offer Deku-kun, I really do, But like Iida said before...I want to prove myself too y’know? I don’t want to leech off of you to win, I want to do it on my own.”

Izuku widened his eyes but nodded, putting the notebook away.

“Besides, I don’t think your precious ‘Kacchan’ would be happy to hear you chose me over him.” Uraraka continued, a shit eating grin placed on her face.

Izuku stared at her scandalized. “Uraraka-san!”

---

The fight between Tetsutetsu and Kirishima ends in a draw, apparently to be settled with an arm wrestling competition later on.

Meanwhile, the fight between Kacchan and Uraraka is intense from the start. Izuku tell that Kacchan is bargaining something with Uraraka, probably telling her to surrender now or be prepared to face his full ability. Uraraka doesn’t back down, and Kacchan attacks head on.

Kacchan is strong but Uraraka is much more nimble on her feet. She evades most o his attacks, jumping from place to place. She’s faster than him, but unable to land any direct blows yet. It looks like she’s going for endurance match, continuing to doge attack after attack in hopes of tiring him out. For awhle, it looks like it might just work and she actually manages to land a few hits on him.

But it isn’t enough. When Kacchan wins, Uraraka’s had passed out i oxygen and Izuku couldn’t help the guilt he felt to see her in such a state. At the same time, Izuku admired her tenacity and her will to give it her all. Anyone watching would feel the same, and even if she hadn’t won, Izuku knew for sure that her impression wouldn't be forgotten. The crowd, and even Present Mic seemed to sympathize with her saying she fought bravely till the end, and while Izuku was happy for this he didn’t like how people were muttering about Kacchan under their breaths.

How he was the worst kind of Alpha, inconsiderate and ruthless going at it like that on a fragile Beta girl. Izuku couldn’t believe his ears, and when Kacchan came to join them on the stands he was getting scolded by even the people who seemed to like him like Kaminari and Sero.

Kaminari demands how Kacchan could stand to hurt a girl so frail, and Izuku really wanted to give him a piece of Izuku’s mind.

To Izuku’s surprise Kacchan doesn’t rise to the bait, just sits next to him and replies bluntly.

“What part of that girl do you think is frail?” Kacchan demands, looking unamused by the comments. Izuku resists the urge to kiss him just for saying that.

Instead he squeezes his childhood friend’s hands who’s attention turns to him.

“Don’t you have a pretty boy to beat, nerd? What’re you still doing here?” Kacchan asks, though he doesn’t pull his hand away.

Izuku startled out of his seat remembering that Kacchan was right. He was fighting Todoroki after the arm wrestling match, he needed to get going now.

“Thanks, Kacchan!” Izuku yells over his shoulder, jogging to the Arena a wave anxiety unfurling in his chest. In his rush, he misses Kacchan’s soft smile shaking his head at the useless nerd.

---

After hearing Endeavour compare him to Toshinori, and Todoroki to himself, Izuku decides that he’s absolutely had it.

Originally, he didn’t know to what extent he should fight against Todoroki. The Alpha had said he refused to use his scent, which in all regards would be better for Izuku. Strong scents were difficult for Izuzku to deal with, especially if they were upset and distressed.

In full honesty, it was less about the actual scent that immobilized Izuku and more about what they meant. Izuku’s nose was extremely sensitive, and he could detect every nuance of a scent. The more exposure he had to the scent, the more he could break it down and analyze them.

And Alpha scents were the worst of them all. They were usually incredibly strong emotions, repressed emotions as if bottled up and used only when something truthfully awful would happen. The scent would explode then, the barely continued neutral scent every Alpha carried would overflow would destroy them from the inside out.

Every single time, these emotions had only ever been negative. It could be grief, frustration, sadness, regret, resentment, or hate. These emotions were stifled and kept under wraps, since Alphas were told all their lives that they must restrain themselves. It was difficult but necessary. In the past, Betas and many Omegas suffered greatly due to Alpha desires. They used to be highest up the food chain, given the utmost priority all their lives.

But as nations and societies grew more modern, and the amount of Omegas lessened due to unfair secondary gender partiality things changed. Omegas were already rare, the unique recessive gene required to Present as one was difficult to win out. On top of this, for so long Omegas had been viewed as inferior. It was only when Omegas were in danger of becoming extinct that things began to change.

The measures taken had to be dramatic to reverse the effects. Alphas that went into Feral Rage would be muzzled and chained down. Those Alphas that expressed overtly aggressive behavior were once seen as strong were not looked down upon. Many things had changed. Omega rights were the best they had ever been and things were as ‘fair’ as they could be.

This had a lot of negative consequences too, unfortunately. Emotions on Alphas were seen as weak, they were meant to be silent but assertive. Strong but polite. In a lot of ways, Todoroki exemplified these things.

This also meant that all that pent up emotion had nowhere to go. This was the true reason why Alphas excelled at sport. Why most athletes ended up being Alpha. It was the healthiest way for them to get rid of the pent up aggression and energy.

But Todoroki’s situation was different still. All his life he had kept careful control, not wanting to fall in his father’s footsteps not allowing himself that release.

Which meant he never truly went full out. Which meant much of his aggression could possibly be redirected to himself, and that was a dangerous game to play.

Izuku would save Todoroki from himself, once and for all.

The battle is difficult. Izuku attempts Uraraka's strategy, dodging and staying on the balls of his feet. Running around, slipping underneath Todoroki and sending a quick kick where he least expects it.

Izuku’s endurance is far better than Todoroki and he’s fast so it could work. But, Todoroki could give Kacchan a run for his money with his strength. Luckily for Izuku, he was used to opponents like this.

Whenever Todoroki attempts to get him out of bounds, he jumps away. Whenever Todoroki tries to get him to surrender, Izuku refuses. Izuku watches as the boy gets more and more frustrated, especially because Izuku was still taking a lot of his attacks. And Todoroki is more powerful than him physically, so the blows hurt, they hurt a lot. But, Izuku gives as good as he gets. Though his punches may not bruise as much, it’s enough for Todoroki to lay off for moments at a time.

It’s not too bad all considering. There is no heavy heady scent that makes Izuku’s brain blank and curl up in a ball, and without that mental obstacle Izuku can use his brain and body to the fullest of his ability.

Suddenly, Todoroki uses ‘Back Control’ a very effective move on someone with a smaller build than him - like Izuku - and Izuku’s pinned to the floor. Izuku struggles to move and Todoroki executes an - axe kick. Its delivered to Izuku’s stomach and Izuku chokes on his own spit.

It hurts like anything, but when he demands Izuku to surrender - Izuku refuses. He performs another axe kick and Izuku honestly thinks he’ll start seeing stars soon, but he doesn’t surrender still.

“Why are you going so far?! Why are you still fighting? You’re heavily injured and you’ll pass out any second. Why won’t you just give up?” Todoroki demands, his voice shaking, panting from exhaustion. They’ve been going at it for awhile now after all.

Finally seemingly done with Izuku’s lack of cooperation, Todoroki just picks him up. Izuku’s a little stunned by the action, his legs wrapped around a handsome Alpha’s waist and his hand gripping the front of the Alpha’s shirt. Izuku can’t even believe this is happening. Todoroki looks like he’s about to just dump Izuku out of bounds but Izuku won’t let him.

Izuku feels a grit and determination he never knew he could feel, his desire to help this Alpha who had been alone for so long.

Izuku wraps his thighs around Todoroki’s neck, choking him. Izuku’s legs are strong from running, hurdles and the like. This wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience for Todoroki at all, unless he was particularly masochistic. Izuku’s thighs are powerful and Todoroki is forced to come down with the force of Izuku’s thighs.

If Izuku was going down, Todoroki was going down with him.

The flying triangle choke is effective and it brings Todoroki to his knees gasping for breath. Izuku tightens the grip, his hands still clutching the front of Todoroki’s shirt, forcefully bringing them face to face. There isn’t much space between their faces, and Izuku can feel Todoroki’s choked breath on his face.

“Todoroki-kun. I’m not an MMA Fighter. I don’t really care if I win or lose but if you don’t fight me with all you’ve got, I’m not going to stop until you knock me out completely.” Izuku tells him, eyes blazing.

Todoroki, still struggling for breath only looks confused, so Izuku ditches him. Moving his body away from Todoroki to allow him some breath.

“You keep on telling me you don’t want to be anything like your father. And you aren’t. Todoroki, can’t you see that you’ve already set yourself apart from him? By using your scent, you’re only solidifying your own success, not his. His blood may flow through your veins, but your heart is your own. Your desires and dreams are your own. You are already a far greater Alpha than him. Use your scent, now to win and surpass him. Don’t live in fear of your Alpha instincts and your father live in spite of them.” Izuku declares, his voice cracking and dry.

This fight is taking everything out of him, but he hopes that it will for Todooroki too.

Todoroki freezes, and Izuku smiles. He smells the rise of his scent, so potent with a plethora of emotions. There is fear, there is pain and a lot of grief. Yet, there is something sweeter than Izuku hadn’t detected before - spearmint - that suspiously smelled a lot like hope.

It’s maddening, the thickness of Todoroki’s scent heady and so intense. It makes Izuku’s already hazy head dizzy, but now that Todoroki is ready to give it his all, Izuku is willing to do the same.

When Todoroki rushes Izuku the second time today, Izuku is anticipating it but his reaction time is too slow. The height of his emotions, his adrenaline, his energy has been expended and depleted to the best of his ability. Even though Izuku is sure of his defeat, he feels like he’s more than won in what he had set out to accomplish.

As Todoroki delivers the finishing suplex, Izuku does indeed pass out. But, he goes down with a satisfied smile on his face, like All Might in the comics he loved.

Izuku doesn’t get to see the surprised faces of his classmates as Todoroki picks him up. Delicately and carefully as if Izuku were something precious, Todoroki carries him off to Recovery Girl’s room bridal style.

In the stands, a blonde with spiky hair and bright red eyes watches on with jealousy.

Notes:

are you guys ready for the birthday chapter tomorrow? ngl i don't know if i am!
on another note: would you guys be interested in having the next chapter in katsuki's pov? we haven't heard his thoughts in awhile...

Chapter 27: honey

Summary:

In which Katsuki struggles with his Alpha

Katsuki was more than pissed at the moment. He was always pissed to some degree, sometimes mildly annoyed on better days. Not that he was not just angry now, he was downright furious, to the point he couldn’t even think straight. Initially, he had actually felt bad for the other Alpha. Todoroki had backed off when Katsuki had shown him he was too close to his future Mate. He kept his distance from Deku as Katsuki had instructed, and had only wanted to inform his opponent of his situation.

And his life was fucked up, even Kastuki could understand that. He had always known Enji Todoroki was nobody to look up to, but he hadn't realized to what extent until now. He felt bad for Todoroki’s situation, and the guy seemed to respect both him and Deku well enough despite his initial hostility.

It was all fine and dandy until their fight. Their battle. Something changed, but Katsuki couldn’t explain what had shifted.

To begin with, he had never seen Deku fight as hard as he had today. It was clear to anyone watching that Deku should’ve backed down a long time ago, but he hadn’t. That was one of the many reasons Katsuki liked him. Deku never gave up on anything or anyone and now he was watching it in action. He got to witness just how far Deku would be willing to push himself more, and he admired that about his childhood friend.

Right now, though it was difficult to watch. Deku was very evidently getting the worse end of the stick, but it wasn’t one sided. Most of his hits were affecting Todoroki as well, but his arms weren’t as muscular and strong as Todoroki and didn’t provide as much damage.

Katsuki didn’t understand what exactly Deku was trying to prove at first. He had given up on MMA Fights he had said. It wasn’t something he enjoyed, it wasn’t Deku’s dream and Katsuki had privately always known that. It still hurt to know that he’d given it up because of Kastuki regardless.

For someone who didn’t apparently enjoy fights, Deku seemed all in. Determined in a way Katsuki had only seen before when the boy ran. For some reason, this fight with Todoroki was making him go all out in a way he hadn’t even done against Katsuki. This made it seem like Deku was holding back when they played Capture the Flag and it kind of pissed Katsuki off.

Why did Todoroki get to fight him at his best? Wasn’t Katsuki strong enough to take that too? Why didn’t Deku ever fight him, look at him with that same driven intensity when they fought? Why did Todoroki deserve it more?

These thoughts started to lessen though as he watched his childhood friend get slower. Deku seemed determined to make this a race of endurance, refusing to surrender no matter how much Todoroki goaded him. Yet, he was agile and fast enough to escape the situation when Todoroki tried to push him into the boundaries.

Despite all this, Deku’s eyes gleamed not faltering at all no matter how Todoroki attempted to stifle it.

When Todoroki picks him up, Katsuki honestly thinks it's over. Katsuki would be jealous of how easily Todoroki is able to hold him, touch him, carry him but he’s more concerned about Deku. Deku’s going to lose after fighting so hard and Katsuki couldn’t help but feel like this wasn’t the way this intense battle should end.

Deku looks like he's about to fall and keel over in exhaustion and Katsuki knew he hadn’t ever fought this hard before. He looks seconds away from collapsing and then - to Katsuki’s shock and everyone else in the Arena - Deku secures his thighs in a flying triangle choke. Katsuki feels his spirit leave his body as Deku’s powerful thighs choke Todoroki out.

He feels a little weird thinking it - even to himself - but he kind of wishes he could be Todoroki right now.

Over the past years, Deku’s body had grown much stronger than Katsuki had known. Particularly his legs and butt, what from all the track running activities he participated in.

Watching Deku’s firm thighs choke Todoroki to the ground makes Katsuki feel some type of way. Deku’s really attractive when he fights, eyes blazing, sweat rolling down his face, muscles clenching deliciously. The passion, the drive, that desire to win Deku doesn’t realize he possesses comes out to play and this was the kid Katsuki was in love with. Katsuki kind of wishes he could switch places with IcyHot, even if he was getting choked. What a small price to pay if he got to see a face like that up close.

Then Katsuki sees red. Deku brings Todoroki extremely close to his face, yanking his shirt closer and tightening his thighs and he tells him something that looks rather intimate. This entire battle starts to feel like some climatic coming of age romance novel, and this very second is when two fated lovers are meant to join.

It pisses Katsuki off to no end. Katsuki is the one that knew Deku since they were kids, Katsuki’s the one who’s been in love with him as far as he can remember and Katsuki was the one Deku liked first.

Stupid, pretty boy, Alpha Todoroki needed to fuck off.

Someone behind him wonders aloud if they were going to kiss, and Katsuki was really about to punch someone in the face. He tried his best to calm down, not wanting to get into a feral Rage. That would be really bad, because as it was the general public saw him as an overly aggressive Alpha. Hopefully future sponsors would see his talent and hardwork and not care.

Thankfully, Deku does move away from his opponent though now his eyes are gleaming as bright as ever. He's yelling at Todoroki, and he almost looks angry but he knows it's not genuine fury. To Katsuki it looks like equal parts desperation and passion, though he still fails to understand what exactly the two are fighting about.

That’s when Katsuki smells it. He’s never smelled anything so all encompassing and potent before, Todoroki’s scent was full of pain, regret and grief. It must’ve been hard to contain his scent like that for so long. Kastuki knew that holding onto his own angry scent was difficult, but this was so condensed and complex Katsuki wondered how this guy hadn’t fallen into a feral Rage of his own.

As soon as this happens, Katsuki understands what this is about. Todoroki holding back, not giving it his all in fear of becoming just like his shitty father. Todoroki had sworn he’d never do this, that he’d never use his scent to manipulate someone. This was putting himself at a huge disadvantage, which would help his opponents defeat him. Especially for someone like Deku, whose nose was more sensitive and kneen than anyone Katsuki has ever met (besides his dam, who was Omega which was understandable) and this meant Deku’s biggest obstacle in fights would be avoided.

Which meant the reason Deku had fought so long and hard was to get Todoroki to fight his hardest. To let go of his burdens and trauma to fight him as equals. To unblock the obstacle that prevented Todoroki from becoming the greatest version of himself. Deku wanted to save him. He wanted to bring out Todoroki’s full potential.

So that’s why he smiled brilliantly when the thick scent encompassed him. This was a scent that had even Katsuki coughing and he wasn't usually bothered by this stuff. Despite that all, Deku was smiling as his shoulders became defeated and Todoroki used a final surplex as the final blow.

Deku’s eyes had been glowing before he passed out, as if he had been the victor of this battle. In a way, Katsuki supposed he had been.

God, Katsuki was in love with a fucking martyr.

Then once again, Katsuki was forced to see red as the stupid IcyHot bastard picked up his Mate like he was some kind of Disney prince. There was even a soft smile on his face, and Katsuki felt fury he had never felt before.

This Ice Prince motherfucker was holding Deku like he was precious. Which he was, but Todoroki was not the one who should be holding him like that and it makes Katsuki even more keen to beat his ass when the time comes.

Unfortunately, there are still fights for him to finish before then.

He beats Shitty Hair easily - though out of all the extras in this class besides Deku, Kastuki respected him most. After this, he beats Tokoyami - or bird-looking fucker as he had called him before - less easily. The only reason Katsuki was able to defeat him at all was because of his MMA background. It gave him more versatility and styles he was familiar with while Tokoyami was a powerful one trick pony.

The most frustrating thing is the fact that when the time for Finals comes, Todoroki doesn’t seem in it at all. Katsuki demands the fucker to fight him like he fought Deku, and when he doesn’t it ruins Katsuki’s entire day. Deku isn’t even trying to be an MMA Fighter anymore, but this fucker thought Deku was better than him? Stronger than him? More worthy of respect than Deku, who would never hurt fly unless necessary?

It bothers Katsuki to no end. He tries taunting him - encouraging him - in his own Katsuki way and the fucker doesn’t even respond. Katsuki tries desperately to push him into doing something and it’s not working at all.

There’s a moment of hope where Deku - apparently somewhat recovered now - cheers and tells Todoroki not to hold back. For a split second, Katsuki smells the scent and he’s so ready to actually win this once and for all. He reminds himself to find a way to thank Deku for his cheesy encouragement because it seems like Todoroki will finally let go again.

Yet, the scent dies as soon as it appears.

Katsuki can’t see past his frustration. This bastard has the audacity to fight a track player with full force and energy but refuses to do it with an actual MMA Fighter. This fucker is the one that was so close to his future Mate that their lips almost brushed. This fucker had Deku’s thighs near his face, had him bent over only after knowing Deku for a few months. This fucker was the one that held Deku so intimately to his chest, as if Deku was someone special to him. On top of all this, this fucker had the audacity to not even see Katsuki as a threat. First by challenging Deku instead of him, then by not even releasing his Alpha scent - on a fellow Alpha that could actually take it! Compared to releasing it on Deku who everyone knew wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

When Kastuki wins the Sports Festival, it’s not with pride and happiness at finally becoming one step closer to his dreams. It's not with poise and grace, and it’s not a happy affair for him in the slightest. He doesn’t get to kiss Deku out of happiness and ask him out as he had fantasized about for so long.

No, Katsuki can’t do any of that because he’s fallen into feral Alpha Rage. He hadn’t experienced one in a long, long time but his Alpha had felt insulted in almost every way. His pride was wounded because another Alpha hadn’t seen him as a threat. His love was insulted as another Alpha held his future Mate in his arms as if he was special. He hated Todoroki, he hated this stupid Sports Festival and most of all he hated the gold medal they forced on him. He didn’t earn his first place standing so it didn’t mean shit to him! How was he supposed to feel like the number one MMA Fighter when his dumb Beta track athlete crush was more of a threat than him. This was telling his Alpha that he was not only deserving of number one, or respect but he wasn’t even worthy of Deku himself. And he fucking hated.

To Katsuki’s utter humiliation they had to tie him to a pole and muzzle him. Alpha muzzles were things you gave recently presented pups during the first rut so they wouldn’t start biting things or people. It was also given to misbehaving Alphas, and Katsuki felt like he was being made fun of which hurt his Alpha even more. It was a hellish positive feedback loop and he hated every single second of his medal ceremony.

Even worse was watching Todoroki accept his medal calmly right beside him, a direct contrast to Katsuki. This would make everyone who watched this stupid event compare him to the cool collected little bastard. Katsuki would be the example parents would tell their kids not to be an Alpha, feral, angry and overly aggressive. Nobody cared to know why he was upset and just left him to scream on in Rage on his own.

Katsuki wonders how long this stupid Rage will last, but once its over he’s not gonna fucking talk to anyone ever again.

Yet, when Deku approaches him after it is all over he feels himself relax a little. He was still tied to the pole until he seemed to be less aggressive, but he’d have to wear the stupid muzzle until the next day.

“Hey, Kacchan. You were great out there.” Deku told him sweetly, hugging him and nuzzling and his sweat gland as if the Alpha wasn’t even in a feral Rage.

Deku’s scent has always been calming to Katsuki even when he was a pup. Nothing could calm him down like just a whiff of his scent. Matcha, lemon, vanilla, and freshly cut grass. The scents weren’t too strong but they were fresh and just slightly sweet. Katsuki loved basking in it, and he would never pass up the opportunity to scent him no matter how angry he was.

Despite this, Katsuki is amazed to realize that his fangs had already retracted. Just a few seconds ago, he had been wondering how much longer his Rage would last but simply scenting the Beta had brought him back.

Katsuki tried to speak, but all he could let out was an embarrassing rumble in his throat.

Deku didn’t seem to mind though, instead running his fingers through Katsuki’s hair in the way he knew Katsuki liked. “Yeah? Don’t worry about it. The thing with Todoroki sucks, but you were still the best Alpha out there today.” Deku tells him seriously, before scratching nicely behind his ear.

Katsuki found himself preening the compliment, even if he didn’t fully believe it himself. Still, hearing those words from his future Mate was blessedly reassuring and Katsuki found himself making satisfied noises to express his happiness.

“Now let’s get you out of these chains. The muzzle will have to wait till tomorrow, so you’ll have to be patient. But we have fun plans for tomorrow so that can also be your reward for being such a good Alpha.” Deku reassured, as he unwound the chains. He had the key in one hand as he unlocked Kastuki from his personal prison and then continued to unwind the chains around Katsuki’s body.

Still unable to form words, Katsuki turned his head to the side letting out a curious noise somewhere in between a purr and a growl.

“What? You’re not telling me you forgot what day it is tomorrow...Kacchan, really?” Deku asks in disappointment. Katsuki does not like that tone coming from his future Mate.

When Katsuki doesn’t respond, Deku stops fiddling with the chains to cup Katsuki’s face in his hands.

“Kacchan, tomorrow's your birthday you big baby. I’ve been organizing some things all month for this so you better not let me down.” Deku sighs, and Kasuki blinks in shock.

Huh. So caught up in the Sports Festival he had forgotten about that. Katsuki wasn’t really that big on birthdays, but now that he and Deku were on close terms again he wouldn’t mind just spending the day with him.

Right now, though he’s a little distracted by the fact that Deku had called him baby . Perhaps it wasn’t in the context that he wanted, but it was close enough tha Katsuki could almost taste it.

When Deku finally unwraps Kacchan from the chains, Katsuki launches himself at Deku hugging the boy tightly to him. Scents Deku all over trying to get rid of Todoroki’s awful overbearing scent of myrrh. Deku doesn’t stop him at all, instead giggling at Katsuki’s possessive behaviour pleasing Katsuki’s Alpha greatly.

Perfect Mate. his Alpha supplied.

God, Kastuki had it bad. He was so fucked.

---

Katsuki is an early riser, but he is not a morning person. He’s cranky when he wakes up, cranky throughout the day and even more cranky if he can’t go to bed at his usual bedtime.

He still wakes up early despite this. In his own home, the early hours of the morning is when things were the most peaceful. His mother and father were still asleep, as were the neighbors. The only sounds that could be heard would be the sof chirping of birds and rustles of the leaves.

Katsuki used to wake early, make his protein shake in blessed silence. His breakfast consisted of anything that maintained his high-protein, low-carb diet. Katsuki treated his body like a temple, a vessel. He refused to eat or do anything that could even slightly keep him off his A game.

After this, he would go on his daily run around the neighborhood with some earbuds in place. He loved the solitude, just him and his thoughts. It was in these quiet mornings that Katsuki had regrouped, and found the most peace within himself. He cherished it dearly.

Then, of course he got into U.A. Which meant he’d be living in dorms, and interacting with a bunch of people his age. They were all athletes though, so he had assumed that things would be okay.

What he hadn’t anticipated was noisy mornings, there were people who actually woke up around the same time as him. Though they attempted to be quiet, they never were and Katsuki’s mornings of peace were no longer.

But there were some days, especially the weekends where everyone would want to sleep in. This meant that Katsuki could get his moment of peace - which were less frequent than they used to be - but he figured it was a small price to pay for being able to get into U.A.

Today was one such moment of peace. Everyone had exhausted themselves in the Sports Festival yesterday, which meant they would be taking time to recuperate.

Which gave Katsuki ample time to himself, maybe he could even go out for a jog. He needed to rethink all of yesterday’s events and he was just so done honestly -

Unfortunately, the universe doesn’t seem to care at all about what Katsuki wants because after brushing his teeth in the communal bathroom he hears quiet murmurs and clumsy footfalls coming from the kitchen.

Goddamn it! What sad motherfucker was tinkering in the kitchen already the day right after the Sports Festival?! Didn’t they have anything better to do?

When Katsuki turns the corner, ready to yell at the dumbass who ruined his morning already, he’s surprised to see Deku fiddling around in the kitchen.

He’s set a few bowls out, preparing an entire full course meal which is not something Katsuki has ever known for him to do. There’s some pans and various utensils in the sink, and the dumb All Might apron he’s adorned makes him look frustratingly adorable.

Katsuki finds all previous irritation melt out of his body, as Deku continues to hum his body currently turned away from Katsuki.

“Deku? What are you doing?” Katsuki demands, watching Deku startle at the unexpected voice and turn around.

Katsuki’s heart stutters as he watches his childhood friend’s expression shift. His surprise quickly turns to joy, his eyes sparkling and a large smile threatening to split his face in half.

“Good morning, Kacchan! Happy Birthday!” Deku giggles, all bright and cheery this early in the morning. Honestly, Kacchan hated people who could bounce around as soon as they woke up full of energy and optimism. Just his luck that the love of his life was exactly that type. It made Katsuki want to crush something.

Katsuki blinks. Wait, a minute. His birthday? Right! Deku had said he was planning on doing something for today, but did that mean..

“I knew you wake up early every day, so I had to wake up even earlier to prepare for this. Satou-kun helped me meal prep yesterday - did you know that he can bake too? This class is full of surprises, everyone’s so interesting! Anyway, he helped freeze some things yesterday so I could surprise you with breakfast - but I’m not really sure if it’s good. Kacchan likes spicy food but you also have that strict diet thing, but it also had to be breakfast food, so I was a bit stressed but I wanted to do something nice for Kacchan since Kacchan works so hard all the time, and you’re really amazing but I’m not sure how to express that enough and I don’t know if my cooking is any good and -” Deku rambled, working himself into a nervous wreck as he always did.

Usually, Katsuki found his anxiety induced rants a bit exhausting but today it only warmed his cheeks and his heart. As far as Katsuki knew, Deku wasn’t someone who cooked often - if it at all. For him to go out of his way to do all this for Katsuki after how tired he was yesterday meant a lot.

So, Katsuki sucks up whatever resentment he felt about the Sports Festival for Deku’s sake. Fuck, this only made Katsuki wonder what living together would be like. Would he wake up early to make Katsuki breakfast every day? And then, when Deku was off to work - whatever it is he’d decide on - would Katsuki greet him with a kiss and dinner ready on the table for his return.

All thoughts of the Sports Festival, his unearned win and Todoroki disappear in wake for the warmth of a bright future in sight. IcyHot can go fuck himself, Deku was making him breakfast. Beat that!

“Deku, it’s fine!” Katsuki interrupts, manoeuvring around the kitchen island to bring the Beta close to him to scent him thoroughly. “If you’re dumb ass made itt for me, that I’ll enjoy regadless. Even if it tastes like trash. I appreciate your effort.”

Katsuki’s Alpha preens as Deku melts in his arms, scenting him back just as much. No Alpha would dare touch the Beta with how heavily scented he was.

The desire to scent again had reared its ugly head when Deku started making friends. Back at Aldera, there wasn’t anyone who spent excessive amounts of time around the Beta for such a thing to happen. On top of that, there certainly was someone who touched him. Katsuki had made sure that if he couldn’t get close to Deku nobody else got that privilege either. He initially hadn’t felt bad about it. Deku had acquaintances from Track so he wasn’t isolated.

But then after the robber incident, when Katsuki had discovered that Deku ate his lunches alone underneath the stairs...his heart ached to see how lonely and sad his Beta was.

That’s why when Deku came to U.A, Katsuki tried to let him make his own friends. And boy, did he ever. Katsuki was honestly surprised at how popular Deku had quickly become. He was always so shy and anxious in middle school that Katsuki hadn’t anticipated that.

In U.A though, it seemed like everyone liked or loved him. They were able to see the things Katsuki saw, how genuinely kind and thoughtful the Beta was. How smart and slightly nerdy, and cute, and athletic and attractive he was. It made Katsuki unbearably jealous both of him and for him. Other people were interested in Deku now, he was no longer just Katsuki’s to appreciate.

Round Cheeks - or Uraraka - had been the first under his spell. Katsuki could smell his interest in the boy and it bothered him to no end. This continued even more when she had stolen Katsuki’s nickname and changed it. Still, Katsuki could see she was good for Deku so he tried to hold back.

Then was Four Eyes and Katsuki had hated him on sight. He had a ten foot pole stuck up his ass and the annoying Alpha screamed pretentious elitist goody two shoes. This too slightly lessened when he saw the genuine concern the Alpha had over Deku. This and the fact that he never seemed romantically interested made Katsuki leave him alone for a bit.

The next one was complicated. Kirishima, who he actually respected and somewhat cared for. At first, he seemed like a dumb Beta who was determined to befriend Deku for whatever reason. But the Beta was levelheaded and kind and incredibly hardworking. It was very, very difficult to dislike someone like that and after they had fought for their lives together at U.S.J Katsuki saw him as a respectable ally. Out of everyone in their class, it was only Kirishima whom he felt he could address by name. This was because with everyone else - he didn’t feel them worthy to have the right. And with Deku, he felt like he didn’t have the right.

Then the motherfucker let Deku kiss him and Katsuki saw red. Well, more than usual because Shitty Hair had red hair and eyes and when he blushed as he was kissed his face had turned a complicated shade of red as well. Worst still was that it was what Deku considered his first kiss.

Katsuki had wanted to be his first. But he supposed he didn't earn that right, considering all that he had put Deku through.

The only reason Katsuki had said he had been kissed was because when they were four years old, he had. Deku had kissed him right on the mouth and promised they’d get married one day.

Katsuki had treasured this memory for years and years. When Deku had been hospitalized, this was the memory that had strengthened him the most. Looks like Deku didn’t remember it.

Still, he couldn’t blame Kirishima for that, though he still quietly resented it. It was only after Kirishima’s explanation that Deku had only done it to help him out - to make Pinky jealous - that the Alpha in Katsuki’s chest quieted. That meant Kirishima had an Alpha and was not a threat to Katsuki and that was good enough for him.

But that also meant that Deku had ‘sacrificed’ his first kiss for someone else’s sake. Because of course he would. This meant that anyone who liked the boy, Deku would probably just let it happen. Like he was giving out his kisses and affections for free. Which upset and angered Katsuki to no end.

And that’s why Katsuki had suggested scenting again. Using the excuse that they had done it as pups, Katsuki was thankful that Deku could be so oblivious. This way he could keep potential suitors away and easily start courting his chosen Mate. This worked like a charm.

Uraraka had backed off, Kirishima definitely noticed and even the stupid IcyHot had kept his space.

Until he didn’t but Katsuki didn’t want to think about any of that right now.

He had Deku right where he wanted him right now, by Katsuki’s side. The Beta was rambling on about all the cool fights yesterday, and Katsuki ate the breakfast his love had for him in silence letting his words wash over.

Despite how annoying Deku’s rambling could be, if you actually listened to what he had to say it was always interesting. The boy could analyze fighting styles and thought patterns real time, which is what had actually made Deku challenging to fight against when he still did MMA. Katsuki often had to just overwhelm with brute force. That was the only way Katsuki had been able to win against Deku.

Now, he was rambling on Tokoyami’s technique. Katsuki noticed that he had stayed clear from talking about his fight against Todoroki, and just Todoroki in general. Katsuki couldn’t say he didn’t appreciate it, but it didn't settle the unease he felt in his gut.

“Tokoyami-kun is an excellent strategist and he’s a master of his craft. He was really incredible, and honestly I think he could’ve even been second to you i he hadn’t been paired against you so early in the game. Your raw strength overwhelms him, but it wasn’t the only thing that guaranteed you victory. By doing MMA you have a more versatile range than Tokoyami-kun who’s only ever focused on one. It was only the combination of your superior physical strength and the freestyle nature of your fighting that could have secured a victory like that.” Deku concluded, happily beaming as he watched Katsuki eat like a proud mother. “Do you like the food, Kacchan?”

Katsuki found himself smiling, putting his chopsticks down to ruffle his friend’s hair.

“Yeah, nerd. It’s pretty good, the spicy chicken was a nice touch.” he complimented, to the best of his ability. Katsuki always felt the praise left his lips awkwardly unless he phrased it in a backhanded manner. He was honestly tiring, but even Katsuki flinched at the weird wording.

Deku, of course, didn't seem to mind at all.

“I’m so glad! Kacchan always liked spicy food, but I wanted to still make you a filling breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day after all! If you liked this, then you’ll definitely love the bento I packed for lunch-” Deku beamed, happy to get any sign of approval from Katsuki.

Katsuki’s eyes widened. Deku’s breakfast is already composed of various items. White rice, fried tofu and wakame miso soup. Then there was fried chicken with curry spices. Finally, he had organized very neatly the Japanese mustard spinach, egg and daikon with soy and what tasted like vinegar. All of that on top of a bento would have been a lot of work. No wonder he had needed help.

Katsuki felt his face flush. Deku was constantly going above and beyond for him. He’d saved his life when Katsuki had been the worst to him, had forgiven him even when Katsuki hadn't formally apologized, calmed him when he would get angry and cared for Katsuki no matter how much Deku got hurt because of it.

This is why Katsuki felt it hard to confess. It always seemed like he was the one messing up, getting Deku hurt but Deku was always there to clean up the mess. There never seemed to be a limit to what Deku would do for him, or for anyone. It terrified Katsuki that if he did ask him out, the boy would just go along with it even if he didn’t feel the same. Just because Katsuki had asked.

Katsuki was fully aware that Deku would go along with whatever Katsuki wanted, and would do whatever he asked. Regardless of what he himself felt.

Katsuki was determined to get the boy to like him, fall in love with him. Right now, Deku was treating him as he had always treated him. Probably how he would’ve treated Katsuki for the last few years if Katsuki hadn’t pushed him away.

It wasn’t a bad start, but so far it didn’t look like he was romantically invested. Katsuki was aware that Deku probably loved him to some capacity but he was dense to people’s non-platonic interests.

He needed to find a way to show Deku his interest without demanding anything in return. After everything they had been through it would be best if Deku made the first move. Katsuki was done taking from him, demanding from him.

“Why did you need to pack the bentos?” Katsuki asks instead.

Deku brightens instantly, he was almost vibrating with excitement.

“We’re going out for your birthday! I already spoke to Aizawa-sensei and our parents in advance and go the okay to go ahead.” Deku informed, happily bouncing in his seat.

Katsuki paused, his heart beating loudly in his chest.

“So we’re going out together? Just you and me?” Katsuki wonders, feeling the corners of his lips quirk up but trying to stifle the extreme amount of euphoria he is feeling.

Deku suddenly gets shy, his own face flushing as he shrinks into his loose long sleeved shirt. He brings the cuffs of his sleeve over his knuckles, like little sweater paws, and starts nervously fumbling with his hands. He’s no longer looking at Kasuki as he mumbles something under his breath.

God, Deku’s fucking perfect. Cooking for him, taking him out on what would basically be a date, acting so fucking cute, making spicy food just because he knows that exactly what Katsuki likes. Deku’s basically spoiling and he will not stand to see him this anxious any longer.

Katsuki sets aside his empty bowl of miso soup to grip Deku’s chin and have him look into his eyes.

“Oi, nerd. Look at me. There’s no need to overthink it. You wanna spend time with me one on one for my birthday, pay for all the expenses it definitely cost you to do it? Fine by me. You’re taking me out free, there’s no way I’d mind spending time with you after all that. So don’t break down over this, okay?” Katsuki consoles, softly letting his scent gland on his wrist rub against the scent gland on Deku’s neck.

Deku looks up at him with slightly water eyes, as if there’s something he desperately wants to confess to him. The Beta’s scent is a little stronger than usual, the vanilla notes are especially noticeable.

Katsuki sighs as he watches Deku swallow down whatever it is he was going to tell him. Instead, he gets up smiling at Katsuki though it looks a bit painful.

“O-Okay. Thanks, Kacchan. I-I’m, we should, uh go change or we’ll miss the train.” Deku mumbles.

Katsuki stares after him, chewing on his lip in contemplation. They kept dancing around each other, trying not to step onto each other’s toes now that they were friends again. Katsuki knew he wasn’t usually like this, but he also wanted to take his time with this. He only wanted Deku, and he needed to prove that to him. Katsuki always went for what he wanted, but he also was the best at everything he put his mind to. And right now, that would mean slowly courting the nerd as he had been trying too.

They were already on their way. They mutually scent marked each other on an almost daily basis, Deku clearly liked spending time with Katsuki alone which covered going out on dates.

As Katsuki put his dishes away, he wondered what more he could do to make his intentions clear.

Next came, what? They already hugged and stuff a lot. Even cuddled occasionally. Maybe holding hands in public? They hadn’t done that yet.

Then...there was kissing. Katsuki knew the only way they could get that far was if they became proper boyfriends first. But, for that to happen the stupid Beta needed to realize that Katsuki was trying to court him.

---

Katsuki was confused when he received a text from Deku telling him to wear something for long walks.

Were they going to the park? What the fuck did that even mean? That was real fucking and vague and kind sketchy too.

In any case, Katsuki decided on his hiking outfit. A lightweight fleece pullover, polyester pants. He contemplates his boots with better grip light-weight trail running shoes, and settles on the boots. Better safe than sorry. Katsuki takes a bit more effort in fluffing up his hair, trying to see if there was anything he could do to tame it. Actually, no, that was a horrible idea. He doesn't know why he even thought that. Either Deku was already attracted to him to some degree or he wasn’t, no use trying to change himself for someone else. God, he was acting like one of those angst-y teenage girls from the soap operas his dam likes to watch.

He still had to wear his dumb muzzle went out though, which sucked. No matter how good he might’ve looked the stupid muzzle would be in the way until at least lunch today. That’s what Recovery Girl had instructed anyway.

As he finds Deku, he finds his heart beating quickly once again. Katsuki’s surprised to see him dressed similarly. Deku sure was putting in a lot of effort for him if he was forgoing his classic red shoes, and ‘T-Shirt’ t-shirts. He was still wearing his bright yellow backpack, Katsuki noted. Perhaps for their lunch amongst other things.

They leave the grounds together in relative silence, happy to just be in each other’s presence. Katsuki is pretty content all things considered. The weather was nice, the sun out and bright warming Katsuki’s skin. There was a light breeze, a little chilly but overall Katsuki could enjoy it serenely.

Deku looked tired, Katsuki noted. Probably from working late into last night and early into the morning, cooking. As he watched the shorter boy pay for the train fare, Katsuki felt guilty the more Deku slouched.

Katsuki decided to intervene, grabbing Deku by the wrist until they found a place to sit. Deku didn’t comment when Katsuki refused to let go of his hand. Katsuki was definitely considering this a win.

He watched the stupid nerd try to fight to stay awake. It was kind of cute to watch but Katsuki couldn’t help the small bubble of guilt building in his throat.

“Just go to sleep, nerd. I’ll wake you up when we reach our stop.” Katsuki promised, squeezing Deku’s hand as he said it.

“Are you sure?” Deku asks, searching Katsuki’s face for a sign of disapproval. Katsuki nods, as Deku frowned - pulling his hand away (!!!) - only to readjust his position and lace his fingers with Katsuki’s again.

“Mm, kay. That’s our stop, Kacchan. Wake me up when we get there?” Deku asks sweetly, looking at Katsuki through his lashes. Katsuki nods again, rubbing his thumb against Deku’s knuckles from their connected hands. Goddamn it, all this cute shit was making Katsuki wish he could just forget the whole courting thing he wanted to do earlier.

Instead, he follows Deku’s finger on the map and his eyes widen.

There was no way they were going there! Katsuki had only told Deku about it once offhandedly, while they were half-asleep. There was no way he had remembered that...right?

Before Katsuki can ask him about it, he feels a weight on his shoulder. Tilting his head, he finds the nerd already passed out on his shoulder. He must’ve been really tired.

Katsuki tried to resist the urge to kiss the top of Deku’s head but he really couldn’t. He presses a soft skin to his scalp, letting the soft curls of his hair tickle his chin. He can smell the conditioner Deku used, something fresh and gentle like him. Tea tree oil and basil, simple but pleasant.

---

When they arrive near their stop, he shakes the nerd awake. Deku makes a noise of protest, opening his eyes bleary and about to start complaining when he realizes where they are.He freezes at the realization looking out the window and at the ‘Next Stop’ notice on the screen before sighing in relief.

“Sorry for sleeping on you, Kacchan. Guess I was more tired than I thought.” Deku laughed awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

Katsuki wants to tease him, make a comment about sleeping with him next time but can’t bring himself to say the words. Deku looks a lot better now, and he isn’t about to ruin the comfortable mood they're both in.

“Don’t worry about it, dweeb. Just don’t slow me down when we get going and we should be good.” he smirked, instead as he pulled the boy to his feet.

When the train finally pulled up to their stop, Katsuki found himself dragging out the door pulling the other boy along with him. Deku had apparently found the energy to start rambling again, and Katsuki rolled his eyes but listened to the boy anyway.

Then it’s Deku’s turn to drag Katsuki along, and when they arrive at their location Katsuki lets out a breath.

“You...you remembered?” Katsuki asks softly, still in shock that the boy even remembered such a thing.

Deku laughs at him, a little more breathless than usual.

Deku had brought him for a hike up Mt. Fuji. It was a trip he had been begging his parents to go on for ages, but he never quite got the chance. His parents weren't big on nature and hikes or anything else that was actually worth doing in this world. Katsuki had complained to Deku that first night since they got their dorms. Which meant he had been thinking about this, about Katsuki for that long.

“Of course. I remember everything Kacchan tells me.” he tells him, squeezing their still interwoven hands as he pulls Katsuki along. The words are meant to be sweet, but the guilt comes back. The time he had told Deku his scent was repulsive, the time he had suggested he leave and die. All these awful things he’d said because he couldn’t contain his Alpha. Couldn’t fully accept a strong scent because at the time his Alpha wanted more than Katsuki could handle.

And here Deku was. Always so thoughtful, trying to find the good in people. Trying to find the good in Katsuki, even if he isn’t deserving of it. Katsuki doesn’t know how he can repay him for everything he’s done for Katsuki. Deku keeps on giving, and never takes. Katsuki hopes he can change that.

He can’t tell Deku all of that yet, so all he says in response is “Thanks.”

Which seems to be more than enough for Deku, who smiles brightly and continues along.

Deku leaves the customary 1000¥ donation and they’re off. Katsuki had fought him to go Dutch at the very least, but Deku hadn’t been amused in the slightest, claiming that it was Katsuki’s birthday and he deserved to be spoiled.

Privately, his Alpha was very conflicted in his chest. On one hand, it was very nice being cared for by his Beta Mate to this degree it meant that the interest must be at least somewhat mutual. On the other hand, his Alpha demanded that he provide for his Mate in return and Katsuki didn’t know what he could do about that right now.

So, for the moment he made sure to keep his grip on Deku’s hand firm.

They treck energetically, bantering back and forth about various things. The latest superhero movie that had been released, an All Might comic controversy and finally some of the fights yesterday. Deku gave him an in depth play by play of his battle with Shinsou, and if Katsuki was honest he was kind of disappointed in the other guy. If he had to stoop so low on a combat round, did he really expect to get into the Athletics department.

Deku argued that perhaps it was because he probably had some other sport he was passionate about, and that if he made it that far beating out other people who were in the Athletics department he certainly deserves a chance. He then went on to contrast the guy to the tiny pervert kid that got expelled.

Katsuki couldn’t really argue with that. Anyone was better than a useless pervert kid.

As they continued talking about various other opponents from the previous day, Katsuki couldn’t help but want to say the one thing that had been on his mind all this time.

“Why did Todoroki go all out on you and not me?” Katsuki blurted, unable to resist. He knew bringing up the elephant in the room was a bad idea, knew he could possibly go into Rage again but that’s what the stupid muzzle was for anyway. With Deku around he wouldn’t go too crazed, and the desire to bite would be obstructed. So, really there was no hellish repercussion besides torturing himself in his jealousy.

Deku surprises him when he only shrugs. “I don’t actually know. You’ll have to ask him.”

This causes Katsuki to pause, unable to comprehend that at all. “Then how the fuck did you get him to release his scent?”

Deku looks a little thoughtful and their conversation stills as they continue on their hike, hands still swinging between them. Katsuki takes the time to observe Deku’s features, which had been the alternative, which had been to yell at him for taking too long to answer.

His hair looked a little darker today, more black than dark green. The lighting made it seem that way- what with Katsuki blocking the source of sunlight from his face. Katsuki noticed that his eyelashes were pretty long for a Beta and for some reason that set about another wave of questions for Katsuki.

A lot of things about Deku didn’t make sense. His heightened sense of scent, the way he responded to Katsuki’s scent marking without fully knowing what he was doing. Katsuki didn’t have a sure explanation for this, and it wasn’t that obscure but it made Katsuki feel like there was something missing. Katsuki had a feeling that Deku didn’t know what it was either.

“Well, I’m not entirely sure about this but I think I was just at the right time. From a logical opponent-to-opponent standpoint I’m already weaker than Todoroki. Everyone knows that, and on top of that I’m sensitive to strong smells. I don’t know how to handle them. If Todoroki uses his scent, I have everything to lose and Todoroki has everything to gain. For a person like that to tell him to go full out, that he would never be like his father because he didn’t want to hurt others, and that it is because he is better than that he should use that advantage. I told him if he used that advantage to do good, he’d be different from his father anyway, so he shouldn’t let being similar to someone who shared his blood let him stop him from who he was meant to be.” Deku explained, looking at Katsuki meaningfully.

Oh. Damn.

“Then why didn’t he fight me like that. Shouldn’t he keep fighting like that, then?” Katsuki asks him, genuinely curious though his anger is still bubbling beneath the surface.

Deku stops walking then, and takes Katsuki’s hands into his face. Katsuki’s Alpha whines for Deku to kiss him right now, to forget the stupid Alpha that respected his Mate more than him.

“Kacchan, I’m sure he wanted to. But even after what I said may have given him a change of heart, his entire world view isn’t going to perfectly shift in a day. He still needs time to adjust to the new information, and change with it. I’m sure once he’s figured it out, the two of you can have a rematch or something, okay?” Deku promises, searching Katsuki’s face again.

Katsuki’s Alpha lets out an annoyed growl as he puts his hands on Deku’s waist and brings him closer to his future Mate. The Alpha irritation seems to detonate with the proximity of Deku’s body heat against his own and he begins to scent the Beta to get his fill.

Deku indulges him, surprising Katsuki by exposing his neck in a way that almost looks like Omega. Katsuki’s Alpha does not question it though and melts into Deku’s fresh but sweet scent.

Katsuki could stay here forever, fuck this was perfect. Deku was perfect.

“This would be a good time to eat lunch, huh? We’re almost at the top anyway so we might as well eat now.” Deku suggests, and Katsuki agrees easily very content to eat the food Deku cooked for him, on the trip he planned for him.

Deku had brought a tarp to cover the rocky ground, keep their knees and bottoms dirty. He then places two bentos, a thermos and two sets of chopsticks onto the ground before pulling something else out of his bright coloured backpack.

Katsuki finds himself a little too impatient to eat, and opens the bento box to see what Deku has made for him.

Goddamn, this green eyed, freckled face idiot was going to be the death of him. Katsuki’s mouth was watering, holy shit. It was both incredibly pretty and cute.

Deku had made spicy tofu, onigiri with little faces drawn on, tiny octopus-shaped sausages and freshly cut vegetables and fruit.

“Deku, this is…” Katsuki looks up and at that very moment, Deku snaps a picture. Somehow, the nerd had acquired a Polaroid from his backpack and there was a shit eating grin spread across his face. Katsuki didn’t know what kind of expression he was making when Deku had taken the picture but he sure didn’t want to find out.

What ever soft moment could have occurred was forgotten, instead Katsuki chased the stupid asshole around for a few minutes before tackling him. Katsuki demanded that Deku not show anyone that picture, and Deku eventually gives in, promising only to put the picture on his bulletin board.

The idea of Deku cherishing a picture of him enough to put it up on his bulletin-board to see everyday is more than enough to get Katsuki to back off.

Deku carefully takes Katsuki’s muzzle off, rubbing the angry pink skin on the back of Katsuki’s neck where the muzzle had been secured before placing the thing on his lap. Though he hates the muzzle, Katsuki can’t help but find the intimate action of having Deku’s fingers tenderly stroking his face and neck well worth the irritation the contraption caused him.

They quickly get to eating after that, eating with vigour. Despite what he had said earlier, Katsuki found himself taking a picture of the bento before eating more than happy to indulge in the soft emotion once again.

Deku had made handmade octopus-shaped sausages for him. He’d even made little faces on them, it was cute as shit even if Katsuki couldn’t actually tell him that.

Once they had finished their meal, they had the trail again. The remainder of their journey was filled with soft banter, conversations that were neither here nor there but somehow still gave him the warm feeling Katsuki could never tire of when he was around Deku.

When they had finally reached the top, they took a second to just appreciate the view together. Katsuki once again found himself impossibly grateful for Deku. He had thought so carefully about Katsuki, cherished him as if he was worth everything to him.

Today has been perfect. This was exactly what he wanted, no, needed wrapped up into one day.

To step away from the bus world of pro-MMA Fighters, ungrateful rivals and noisy extras.

Just Deku and Katsuki, going through their lives with nobody but each other by their sides. And Katsuki is overwhelmed with the amount of affection he has for this boy, who looks at him with stars in his eyes. Who’s smile rivaled the sun, and who Katsuki could never truly stay away from.

Even when he tried so hard to ignore him, back in middle school Deku could never become an extra. Could never be just some loser Katsuki could forget. No, he would always be Deku.

Who’s very presence left him feeling breathless, made him feel weak in the knees, made Katsuki feel useless because he felt like he could never say the right thing around him.

There’s words at the very tip of his tongue. Words that make him feel weak, and breathless and useless in wake of Deku’s gorgeous smile but he wants to say them anyway.

“Deku,” he says, turning to face the boy at hand. “I just wanted to say thanks. For today, I...I had a lot of fun.”

Deku, still holding Katsuki’s hands, pulls him closer. If this were a dream, Deku would be pulling him close to kiss and they would stay like that until the sun sets.

Unfortunately, it’s only late afternoon and Deku isn’t kissing him. Katsuki supposed that he wouldn’t win Deku’s affections that easily.. After all, today Deku had done all this for him. Made Katsuki feel happy and special because that’s what he did best.

“I’m really happy to hear that.” Deku says instead, looking up at Katsuki with that glimmery sheen he had whenever he fed that fire of hope in his heart. Katsuki loved seeing him like this, loved the way Deku looked right now.

“Since today was your birthday, I was wondering for a while what I could do for you. You’re not someone who likes a lot of things though. You’re more of an experience kind of guy, but it was hard to find something good enough that I could offer you.” Deku tells him quietly, burying his face in Katsuki’s chest. Katsuki is sure the boy can hear his rapid heartbeat from this position, but if he does hear it he doesn’t comment on it.

Katsuki wished to tell him that anything Deku would give him, or could give him would be cherished dearly. But, Deku continues robbing Katsuki the chance.

“B-Because Kacchan is amazing, I really didn’t know what to do. What I could give you, or show you that could fully express my feelings.” Deku tells him, and the pounding in his chest gets louder.

Holy shit, is Deku going to confess? Will Katsuki get to kiss him as the sun sets as he had imagined? Was such a dream really within reach?

Deku moves away from his chest and holds Katsuki’s face again. Katsuki feels his heart beating quickly, his Alpha waiting patiently and even the other extras voices fade into the background. All Katsuki can see Deku.

“K-Kacchan, you probably know this already but you are the most important person to me. Besides Toshinori-sensei you’re the one I admire most. In saying that, when you pushed me away it hurt me that much more. I need you to know that all that time apart I really-” Deku lets out choked sobs and Katsuki’s heart breaks. He brings Deku into his arms and cradles him close. Rubbing his hand up and down his spine he lets Deku sob into him and Katsuki feels his own heart break a bit.

When Deku finally quiets his cries, Katsuki brushes the tears from his face as he’s done since they were pups. It’s a familiar feeling, but now a little bittersweet. He’s always happy to be the one who comforts his Beta, but it pains him to know that he is the source of the pain.

“S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to cry, or, um, ruin your birthday like this I just-”

“Deku, stop. Don’t apologize. You didn’t ruin anything, just tell me what it is you’ve been wanting to say.” Katsuki interrupts, not wanting to hear Deku say anything along those lines ever again.

Deku looks back up at him, startled before in nodding.

“R-Right, well what I wanted to say before was that...I had a lot of fun today too. I like being with Kacchan like this and I was wondering if we can do something like this again, even if it isn’t a birthday thing.” Deku explains.

The words on the tip of Katsuki’s tongue right now is: like a date?

But after seeing Deku cry like that, Katsuki doesn’t want to take any chances to see today go south. He wants to remember this perfect day for what it was. The time would come for him to ask something like that, but for now…

“What was it you wanted to tell me before?” Katsuki asks, hands playing with curls on the nape of Deku’s neck.

The boy bites his lip, and it takes every ounce of self restraint in his body not to touch them.

“I wanted to say that I...I missed you.” Deku tells him, finally. Those aren’t the words that Katsuki was hoping to hear, but Katsuki hears the longing in his voice and recollects his own. He wants to comfort him, wants to take his pain away.

Katsuki isn’t all that great with words, he’s more of a man of action.

This is how he justifies himself by leaning down to press a kiss into Deku’s forehead. Deku is shocked, but doesn’t look repulsed, though his face does redden prettily.

“I missed you too.” Katsuki tells him solemnly. This sparks a reaction and Deku looks up at him with big water eyes and asks him so sweetly “Can I kiss you like that too?”

When Katsuki nods, he doesn’t expect a flurry of attacks. Over his forehead, his cheeks, chin and eyelids. All except the one place he longs for it most.

It isn’t Katsuki’s kiss during the sunset, but for now it’ll have to do.

It’s a small victory, but Katsuki liked winning all the same.

Katsuki pinches Deku’s cheeks in retaliation to which he whines and the two of them laugh. They keep their hands joined even as they begin to walk away when a young woman poke’s Deku on the back if the ‘cute couple would like a picture’.

Neither of them correct the woman when she takes the picture of Deku on his tiptoes kissing Katsuki’s cheek. One for Katsuki’s phone and one for Deku’s Polaroid.

When they walk back down, then on to the train it’s almost dusk. Katsuki watches the sunset, and Deku’s head rests on Katsuki’s shoulder once again though he doesn't sleep. Their hands are still joined together, but this time they bask in the quiet happiness they’ve acquired on their trip.

By the time they get to their stop, Deku has fallen asleep again and this time Katsuki wakes him with a kiss to his forehead. Deku awaken quickly, face flushing and in the light of the setting sun through the train window Katsuki supposes he got his sunset kiss after all.

When they enter the dorms together, the lights are all off. The turn on with a start and the entire class yelling “Surprise!”

Apparently Deku had let his plans slip to Kirishima, who had then told the entire class. They had wanted an excuse to party, they had said when Katsuki asked how much trouble they went through.

Despite this Katsuki notes all the extra additions they have made to make the event enjoyable for him. The spicy chips and the fact they had made tantanmen. There’s spicy curry and Katsuki favourite kind of cake, and it’s only after bothering Kaminari that he discovers that Deku and Kirishima had set this all up behind his back.

Katsuki scolds Deku for doing too much work for him, but the idiot just says ‘Kacchan’s happiness is my happiness’ and doesn’t say much more than that. Kirishima reassures that this part of the day had only been planned by Deku as he had already so much on his plate.

The class seems to take note of the fact they had walked in hand-in-hand. Ashido bugs Katsuki for details on his ‘date’ and once she figures its off no use, she goes to bother Deku.

Katsuki is a little unused to people putting in so much effort for him, and also all this loud attention all at once in contrast to the peaceful time he’d spent with Deku in the mountains.

But when they turn off all the lights to sing him ‘Happy Birthday’ Katsuki finds that he can’t complain. The people at U.A are all good, and in the Athletics department they are talented and hardworking.

It’s not so bad to be surrounded by people like this.

This was the first time in years that he had celebrated his birthday with Deku. The first birthday that made Katsuki feel special and loved in a way he had not felt in a long time. He just hoped that this time next year he could kiss the boy he loved most on the mouth and pray that the boy knows Katsuki loves him just as much.

And when Ashiso, Kaminari and Kirishima goad Deku into feeding Katsuki a piece of cake he finds that maybe life isn’t so bad at all. He’s happy where he is right now, and incredibly thankful that despite everything else that went wrong, with Deku in his sight he knows things will turn alright.

Notes:

HAPPY KACCHAN DAY
this ended being,, my longest chapter which was mainly MEANT to be fluff but then...

the fic just wrote itself on his own and i ended up bringing some ideas into the picture faster than i expected but it was needed

hoped you guys like katsuki's pov...this is making me think i should write this more, what do you guys think?
more katsuki chapters? or is every once in awhile better? let me know and thanks for reading <3

Chapter 28: licorice

Summary:

get ready for cop killer stain

Izuku wakes up that morning still reeling about the previous day’s events. Kacchan’s birthday had ended more perfectly than he had hoped. When he had discussed his ideas with Kirishima, the redhead seemed of the opinion that Izuku’s plans looked like a poorly veiled date. Izuku had denied it forcefully but as Izuku recollected each sweet moment of the day before he could see what his friend had meant.

It was quite honestly a subconscious thing, he hadn’t intended for the experience to feel so intimate. But after everything they’d talked about and how far they’d traveled by the time they saw that gorgeous view hand in hand. Izuku found words spilling out of his mouth unknowingly, mouth moving faster than his brain could handle. There was just this warmth that was running through his body demanding that he say something, demanding he should confess and then when the words ‘I love you’ almost fall out of his lips he clams up.

Not now.

His heart begged.

It’s too soon. The time will come.

At that point, Izuku hadn't had a clue as to what was going on but he was thankful for it. Izuku still wasn’t strong enough to say those words and be okay enough afterwards to handle a possible rejection. He needed more time to build himself up, to feel strong on his own even with the risk of Kacchan’s rejection to be able to get those words out.

Besides, the words he had said instead had been more than enough. His ‘I miss you’ was not only more than enough to earn an ‘I miss you too’ in return but kisses. They were platonic kisses, but they were kisses all the same and Izuku cherished them very, very much.

Izuku woke up that morning, cheerful and brighter than ever.

---

When they walk into class that day Izuku is surprised to find that Aizawa-sensei’s bandages had been removed and that the man had made an extremely quick recovery.

As Izuku moves into his seat, he can’t help the goofy joyous smile that plays at his lips when he sees Kacchan already looking at him with a smirk on his face.

“What’s got you all happy?” Kacchan asks teasingly as he turns in his desk to speak to him.

Something in Izuku’s gut is telling him to flirt with the blonde, but the louder, more insecure part of him beats that voice into submission.

“N-Nothing! It’s just...yesterday was a really good day.” Izuku says instead, shrugging shyly, his face flushing with his foul-mouthed childhood friend’s eyes on him.

Kacchan’s eyes soften at the admittance and the corner of his lips curl up like a ghost of a smile. Izuku really loved it when Kacchan smiled at him. Yesterday, in the privacy of their trail he seemed full of them, perhaps unknowingly. It felt surreal to be in direct sight of Kacchan’s smiles, like a forbidden fruit that wasn’t meant to be eaten by Izuku.

Still, Izuku couldn’t deny Kacchans affections were almost out of character yesterday. Kacchan didn’t usually treat most people like that so carefully, so sweetly. It was such a contrast to what Kacchan had been like in middle school. He was distant, indifferent and cold to Izuku and when he wasn’t he was angry, almost vengeful.

Izuku had been sure at some point that maybe Katsuki had hated. No, that wasn’t right hate was a strong word and for everything that Kacchan had told him he had never used the word hate.

At the very least, Kacchan had been repulsed by him for so long and now here he was holding hands with Izuku, scenting Izuku almost daily and kissing Izuku’s head! It was almost like they were pups again, running around in the woods and Izuku’s heart was so full.

Izuku couldn’t help but sigh dopily, lost in thought.

“Midoriya, MIDORIYA could you repeat what I just told the class?

Izuku jumps in his seat, to see Aizawa-sensei looking disappointed as Izuku shakes his head. The entire class is staring at him in silence before they break out into giggles at Aizawa-sensei’s sigh.

“Please refrain from day dreaming in my class, Midoriya. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Your work study offers from the Sports Festival are all in. If you would all look at the screen, I’d like to show you how the offers are spread, and if you haven’t gotten many what factors could have been at play not how to improve for next time.” Aizawa-sensi explains gesturing to the SmartBoard.

Sure enough a bar graph with all the students' names have been displayed to demonstrate their impact from the previous day’s work.

As Izuku could have predicted, Todoroki and Kacchan had the most votes by a landslide. It was a bit curious that Kacchan had won the Sports Festival but had received less offers than Todoroki. His feral Rage had probably kept potential employers from offering him a position. It was most definitely seen as childish, immature and repulsive for an Alpha in high school to be acting that way. Izuku felt bad but there wasn’t much that could be done. It had happened, and for better or for worse it held consequence.

“Dang, Bakugou’s Rage really had a lasting impact, huh?” Izuku heard Sero mutter, reflecting his thoughts.

Izuku could see the sudden tension in Kacchan’s shoulders, and quickly placed the sweat gland on his wrist by Kacchan’s neck. It had an almost instantaneous result and Izuku was thankful for it.

“Whatever. If those losers couldn’t handle the heat then I don’t want to work with them anyway.” Kacchan scowled, looking unamused but no longer resentful.

“I’m sure most of my offers are because of my father’s influence anyway. It is of a little meaning.” Todoroki muttered, seemingly equally as unimpressed.

“Well, I’m excited! Yaomomo look at how many offers we got!” Uraraka cheered excitably.

Izuku scanned the graph for his own name, a little disappointed he wasn’t as high up or noticeable as Kacchan’s or Todoroki’s but h supposed it made sense. He had only made the second round of the combat battles...but still! He thought he had done fairly well all considering, and his Triathlon win was nothing to laugh at! Izuku had trained his ass off, and he had really hoped that he could have done something right because he had worked hard, but he couldn’t even find his name and-

“Oh. I got one offer.” Izuku said aloud, his eyes blank. He really didn’t want to believe it. He had worked so hard for the Sports Festival, he had done everything he could, tried to make a name for himself as Toshinori-sensei had encouraged him to do all for what? To not even get a 10th of the amount of offers as his fellow classmates did? He was pathetic! A useless, stupid, good for nothing Deku and-

“No way!” Kaminari yelled. “How did I get more points than Midoriya?! I wasn’t half as cool as him!”

“Yes, it does seem rather strange. Midoriya made it farther than I did as well, yet he only has a single offer. This doesn’t look right.” Yaomomo agreed, looking at the screen with distaste.

While Izuku was thankful for his classmates' support, it didn’t change anything. Even if they didn’t feel like they had performed as well as him, they were more interesting and clearly more noticeable than himself. Izuku had always known that he was plain, but he hadn’t thought it would affect something like this.

It could be a significant factor though. Attractive people, like Kacchan, Todoroki and Yaomomo would naturally gain more attention and stick in the minds of more people. And people like Kaminari, who was both cute and funny gave the Festival a cooler vibe. He had been able to show more of his personality, while Izuku just looked like a useless tryhard. Izuku should have thought of an image or something, now he was both useless and faceless. Izuku had never felt more pathetic in his life.

“I have to say I do agree. Midoriya, don’t beat yourself up too much. You performed extremely well at the Sports Festival, far beyond my expectations. I had been under the impression that you weren’t much of a fighter, but you were able to hold out in a fight with Todoroki who is well versed in MMA. You should be proud of your achievements, even if others aren’t able to recognize it.” Aizawa-sensei agreed with a tired sigh.

Izuku felt his cheeks warm at his teacher’s praise. Aizawa-sensei wasn’t someone who complimented students often, so when he did it felt important.

“And that goes for many of you. I know that there are many of you who aren’t happy with your performance at the Sports Festival, but you all have plenty of time to improve and prove yourself still. You have two more years at U.A, and your training has just begun so don’t get discouraged yet. If any of you don’t want to take up any offers, or search for places to work and study on your own, feel free to train under me. I’ll be working with a student from General Studies in the meantime, and you are all welcome to join.” Aizawa-sensei explained, eyeing his class meaningfully.

For a guy who pretended he didn’t care too much, Aizawa-sensei sure was a bit of a sap.

As Ojirou questioned Aizawa-sensei about the whereabouts of the General Studies kid - Shinsou Hitsoshi - and the process of entering the Athletics branch and changing branches in general, Izuku felt someone poke him in the ribs.

“Oi, Deku. Don’t mind the offers, it’s all full of shit anyway. If those assholes didn’t see how incredible you were back there, they don’t deserve you anyway.” Kacchan told him seriously, leaning over Izuku’s desk as if to make sure Izuku understood the sentiment.

Izuku let out a soft sigh, before looking up at Kacchan again.

“You’re right, but it still sucks.” Izuku agreed reluctantly as the blonde ruffled his hair. Izuku let out a giggle at the action more than enamored with this sweet playful side of Kacchan. It was really nice.

Strangely, Aizawa-sensei gives them the rest of the class to slack off and just talk. The man slunk back into his sleeping bag, and rolled under his desk out of sight.
The rest of that class was spent talking and goofing off, Kaminari announcing all at once what their superhero names would be. Yaomomo seemed strangely invested in the idea, passing out whiteboards to each of them to decide on what they’d like.

It was nice having the class playing around with an activity like this, even Todoroki seemed compelled to join when before he would’ve gone out of his way to avoid the other students. It was nice to see Todoroki warm to all the other students, and it seemed the icy lonely look in his eyes was receding bit by bit. On top of all this, it seemed that Todoroki was no longer trying to suppress his scent on the daily and the soft scent of spearmint and white musk seemed to permeate the air.

Kacchan's shoulder checked him out of his thoughts, motioning to his board.

On it was written “Lord Explosion Murder” and Izuku couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It looked exactly as it had when they were kids, fantasizing about their cool superhero powers and what their costumes and superhero names would be.

Apparently interested in what Izuku had been laughing about, Ashido and Kaminari had made their way over and then proceeded to laugh as well.

Someone scolded Kacchan for making his superhero name sound so villainous and so the explosive blonde erased the board only to replace it with “King Explosion Murder” making everyone laugh even harder.

One by one, everyone showed each their boards going on to say what their personal powers would be.

Tsuyu was the first to go, stating that her power would be like a Frog and her hero name would be Froppy.

After her was Uraraka who revealed her power would be something like Zero Gravity - which Izuku thought was super cool - and her name would be a play on that, Uravity.

Strangely it was the weird french kid that goes next - stating his name would be ‘Can’t Stop Twinkling’ and he would have a navel laser beam that would shoot out of his bellybutton. Nobody had known how to respond to that, and the rest of the class moved on.

Kirishima comes forward after this, dispelling the awkward air by going on a tangent about Crimson Riot - who was his inspiration in life! Though he went on to say that he’d be called “Red Riot” and his power would be to ‘harden his body’. This got a lot of laughs from the class but Izuku couldn’t help but compare Kirishima’s love for Crimson Riot to his own love for All Might. He and Kirishima were more similar than he thought.

Mezo Shoji chooses “Tenacole", saying that his power would be to have multiple limbs. Izuku got the vibe that this guy was slightly into tentacle porn, but Izuku refused to comment on this aloud.

Then there was Sero, who commented he liked Spiderman as a kid. He replaced the spider part with tape - saying it was more practical and less likely weird to be part spider - and moved on calling himself “Cellophane”.

Ojirou says he would like to use his martial arts skills and decides it would be cool to have a tail. Hence, “Tailman”.

Sato says he likes to bake but worries about getting fat, so it would be cool if he could transform all his sugar intake into muscle directly (like that Spinach Strong Man comic that Izuku’s mom used to read).

Ashido decides on the name “Pinky” because of her hair and how quickly she blushes, though it has no relation to her power. Her power would be to make acid and destroy things in her path. This idea even sparked the interest of Kacchan who actually appeared to be paying attention again. He hadn’t since Kirishima had spoken, so Izuku took this as a sign of Kacchan actually making friends.

Apparently Yaomomo explains there could be a deeper connection between the pink and her power might actually work out. If her body had to produce acid, acidic properties would mean that the pigmentation of her skin would turn slightly pink similar to a shrimp or flamingo.

Everyone pauses then, slightly impressed and in awe of Yamomo’s knowledge.

“Yaomomo-san, maybe then your quirk would be to create things by knowing their chemical composition.
It always seems like you have the right things when we need them, too so I think it suits you!” Izuku tells her excitedly, and the girl seems to contemplate it.

“I like the idea, but the Conservation of Mass states that mass must remain consistent and cannot be created or restored, than again...it is as fantastical as a superpower so if I had to say anything...maybe I’d change my body lipids into matter that I chose so long as I know its chemical composition?” the girl rambles to herself.

“Isn’t that kind of like pooping?” Sero laughs, causing Kaminari to join. Kyoka seems unimpressed, slapping the black haired boy demanding he apologize to Yaomomo right away.

“I’ll be Earphone Jack! My power would be to transfer and modulate sound waves using the earphones coming out of my ears!” Kyoyka adds, pretty impressed with herself. This seems to interest Kaminari, and the two discuss the implications of a power like that.

“I think I’d like a power that makes electricity! I could zap people and charge my phone at the same time! Maybe I’d be something like...Chargebolt?” Kaminari grins, as Kyoka mutters that the power is strangely powerful and cool for a guy that’s pretty dumb. Kaminari shrieks in defense, bantering with her to defend himself.

 

Deciding to quickly move on before the bell rings, Hagakure motions to her board that simply said “Invisible Girl” which was self-explanatory and required no further comment from the girl.

Interestingly, Tokoyami says his power would be like a dark bird shadow that he could call upon by will which would expand in darkness but retract in light. Sero comments that it’s a barely concealed fursona, which Tokoyami takes offense to before going to show his board with the hero name; Tsukuyomi. A really cool power and name for a really cool dude.

Then, the usually shy Koda reveals his board which reads “Anima” as he quietly explains that his power would be to communicate and control animals. Izuku should’ve guessed the guy had a soft spot for animals, he had seen the boy’s animal themed phone case and stationary set.

It’s only then Izuku realizes that the only ones in the room who hadn’t said or done anything would be him and Todoroki. Which wasn’t right since Iida hadn’t gone! Then, with a start Izuku realized Iida hadn’t been there all class, and wasn’t present at the dorms this morning either.

“Midoriya! Todoroki! You guys haven’t gone yet, please hurry!” Kirishima informs, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

Like Kirishima, Izuku wanted his power to be like All Might since he admired those comics so much. Yet, if he did that he couldn’t use the name ‘Small Might Jr’ as he had planned as a kid. It would be overkill, and on top of that such a name would be embarrassing now that he was a teenager and he actually knew Toshinori-sensei.

But, then what would his name be?

“Deku, hurry up!” Kacchan grumbled, looking at Izuku’s blank board.

Oh. That’s it!

As Izuku quickly scribbles on his board Izuku hears Todoroki speak about his idea for his power.

“Since my hair splits right down the middle like my parents, I think my power should similarly be half and half on each side. My left would be my fire side, and my right would be ice. This way, I can always regulate my body temperature and never face too much of one.” Todoroki explains, showing them a diagram of how the ice and fire would project from his body.

“Huh? You could chose more than one power? I didn’t know we could do that!” Hagakure whines.

“Doesn’t fucking matter to me. I only have explosions but I can do as much as I want with it, that it doesn’t matter how many powers I have!” Kacchan exclaimed, his face suddenly changing. “Which means I’d beat you in a fight with my power without holding back IcyHot bastard. Think you can do that, even with two?”

“I have my board done!” Izuku interrupts, standing up to draw Kacchan’s attention away from Todoroki. It seems to work, because Kacchan turns to him, eyeing his board critically before his face stills in shock.

“I’d be hero, Deku! Saving everyone with a smile, like All Might!” Izuku cheers happily, glad he could vent a bit of his fanboy musings normally to his class. “My superpower would be like his, super strength! Since I’m not the strongest in the class right now, a power like that would be super helpful.” Izuku explains, with a smile.

Kacchan looks at him meaningfully as Izuku sits down and everyone begins chattering now that their little activity is over. With everyone distracted, the blonde seemed more inclined to touch him, putting his arm around Izuku’s shoulders.

His childhood friend opens his mouth, as if about to say something when the bell rings.

Izuku moves to pack his things, carefully placing his binders and notebook back into his backpack. It is at that moment when Izuku’s phone lights up with a notification in the latest news. And Izuku is shocked at what he sees.

“BREAKING NEWS: SON OF WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN AND DETECTIVE OF HOSU POLICE TENSEI IIDA SEVERELY INJURED BY INFAMOUS COP KILLER STAIN”

Izuku’s heart sinks.

Notes:

sorry for the later update today,, yesterday's update got me behind on my workload outside of fanfic and i got sidetracked... hope you enjoy anyway!

thanks for reading <3

Chapter 29: tonka bean

Summary:

what is up with alphas and being unable to express their emotions?

Izuku had called Iida almost ten times, had texted him even more but was left with no response. He had read the article, skimming to assess his friend’s brothers injuries. It wasn’t looking too good, and Izuku felt his worry increase indescribably. He wasn’t responding and he was leaving Izuku on read. This coming from the person who had always made it a point to respond to emails and texts as soon as he could.

This was concerning Izuku all the more, clearly Iida hadn’t been taking the news well.

As Izuku makes his way to the cafeteria with Uraraka and inexplicably Todoroki, Toshinori-sensei calls for him asking to speak with Izuku privately.

“I’ll be right back.” Izuku mutters, ignoring the pointed look Todoroki was giving him in favour of following after his teacher.

Had Izuku done something wrong? Oh, dear. The last time Toshinori-sensei had called him to the teacher’s lounge was because he wanted Izuku to make a name for himself. Seeing that Izuku had only gotten a single offer would have him disappointed in Izuku’s abilities no doubt. Would he regret helping Izuku all this while, only to fail Toshinori-sensei when it counted most?

This wasn’t the way he had wanted things to go, but he allowed himself to follow his teacher silently, guilt sitting the back of his throat.

“I apologize for pulling you away from your friends again, but I have an urgent matter I wanted to discuss with you in regards to your offers for internships.” Toshinori-sensei told him, cutting to the chase immediately.

Izuku felt his heart lurch in his throat.

“I’m so sorry, sensei. You must be so disappointed. I did take your words to heart, but I still didn’t manage to make a name for myself and -” Izuku sighed, unable to look his mentor in the eye.

“On the contrary, young Midoriya. You’ve made me very proud! You blew everyone out of the water with your performance in the first round, and your match with Todoroki has been the talk of the town even amongst us teachers.” Toshinori-sensei laughed, thumping Izuku on the back with a loud thud.

“No, it’s not your performance I wish to discuss. As you may have noticed the amount of offers you have received is exceedingly disproprainate with your performance and I am partially at fault. I may have written about you to a previous mentor of mine...and apparently you’ve peaked his interest. In any case, to prevent you from seeking other opportunities he’s hacked our system and gotten rid of all your other offers. I’d like to apologize on his behalf.” Toshinori-sensei reveals, getting up as if about to bow.

When Izuku realizes that man is in fact about to bow to him, he stops Toshinori-sensei quickly.

“T-Toshinori-sensei, there’s no need for that! Besides, what did you write for him to get so, um, invested in me?” Izuku asks, trying to change the subject in hopes his teacher would forget the whole bowing thing.

Toshinori-sensei does seem to temporarily forget as his face slightly flushes, and he rubs his neck in embarrassment.

“I-It’s nothing too personal or anything! I just mentioned how your quick thinking and keen scent had helped me in the U.S.J incident and after your performance at the Sports Festival...he seems very determined to meet with you.” his teacher finishes, a little awkwardly.

Izuku’s eyes sparkle with excitement.

“Toshinori-sensei’s mentor wants to meet with me?! That would be an honour!” Izuku exclaims, bowing as deeply as his body will allow him.

His mentor smiles warmly at him as he stands back up.

“I’m glad you think so. Again, I apologize for his actions. He shouldn't have done that but he is one...strangely determined person is all I can really tell you.” Toshinori-sensei informs, causing Izuku to return his own warm grin.

“All the best people are, so I’m sure it’ll be an invaluable experience.” Izuku replies easily, hoping his teacher could understand his interest.

Toshinori-sensei’s smile dims, if only a bit before he sighs.

“So, I take it that you’ll be accepting his offer?”

Izuku nods, as Toshinori-sensei puts his head in his hands almost groaning. For someone who realized his sponsor was going to get trained by his own mentor, Toshinori-sensei did not seem to be happy about it.

“Uh, Toshinori-sensei? Is there something wrong with that? Do you not want me to meet him?” Izuku asks softly, trying to read his teacher’s face. Despite being a big celebrity, Toshinori-sensei was probably one of the humblest, kindest people he’s met. It was surreal to Izuku, still, that he was getting mentored by his idol.

“No, no. Nothing like that, it's just Gran Torino has a very eccentric personality and he wants to involve you in something that I don’t quite agree on. In any case, I’ll give you his contact information and let you off.” Toshinori-sensei sighed, scribbling down an address, phone number and email address for Izuku to use.

“Involve me in something I shouldn’t? What do you mean?” Izuku frowns, eyes widening at the implications of such a statement.

Toshinori-sensei sighs again, as if he’s aging many years through this conversation alone.

“I can’t tell you too much since its sensitive information but..my old mentor used to work in the police force. He’s been working on something right now that he thinks he could use your help with. But, I urge you to take much caution, young Midoiya. Working under him will be no easy task.” Toshinori-sensei explains, looking tired and concerned.

Like a dad.

Izuku quickly dismisses the thought and smiles at his teacher with optimism he truly feels.

“Well, if he thinks I’m good for the job, I’ll do my best to make you proud!” Izuku grins happily, trying to keep his mentor’s spirits up.

For so much of his life, without the man in the evening knowing it, Toshinori had been a symbol of peace. Proof that in this weird world where the power dynamics amongst secondary genders were all skewed and flawed there was hope still to live in a harmonious world. In everything that man had done, he inspired Izuku. Pushed him to walk a path he wouldn’t have been able to see without his existence. Izuku felt like he would forever be indebted to a man so great and good.

The least Izuku could do was continue the path his mentor had laid out for him. To be a symbol of his legacy, and one day perhaps be a Symbol of Hope to inspire many others. It was this harmonious legacy that Izuku hoped to carry as well.

In order to do that, Izuku would have to make himself deal with difficult and potentially dangerous situations. But, that’s what heroes did. They did the right thing even if it was hard. Especially if it is hard.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. You’ve only ever made me proud, young Midoriya.” Toshinori-sensei tells him.

And with that Izuku parts with his head held high, and hope burning in his chest. He refused to let Toshinori-sensei down. He’d be an incredible detective, just he wait!

---

Izuku noticed that after lunch, Iida had joined their classes again. This probably meant good news for Tensei Iida, because Izuku was sure he wouldn’t leave his brother’s side otherwise.

It was plain for everyone to see that Iida was very close with his brother. The same way Izuku idolized All Might and Toshinori-sensei, Iida felt that same loyalty, devotion and utmost respect for his brother.

Izuku had recalled when Iida had told Izuku he wanted to be a police officer just like his brother. Izuku found it both strange but exciting that their similar but different starting points were leading them down the same paths.

In full honesty, Izuku still wasn’t 100% sold on the idea of becoming a detective. He wasn’t as confident in his abilities as those around him seemed to be. Izuku honestly just thought that he had a pretty good nose and happened to be at the right place at the right time.

What it all came down to in the end seemed to be luck.

Even in Tensei Iida’s situation. Cop Killer Stain, Izuku had read all about him before. He had been all over the news before, a serial killer that killed supposed ‘corrupt cops’. He believed that the justice system was flawed, when he attended university he had hoped to go into criminal law. Allegedly, as he saw people in the field work he thought the justice system was skewed and of a little substance.

Lawyers that would defend their client, would make up whatever as long as the pay was good to keep actual criminals on the street. Protecting the guilty even if it meant keeping people’s abusers, rapists and murderers safe and throwing and accusing other innocents behind bars.

Cops that would shoot first and think later. Cops that would turn a blind eye if you bribed them enough when they were meant to be keepers of justice. Cops that used their positions of power for their own selfish gain, these were the people that Stain wanted to rid of.

His purpose, as written on various platforms across the internet, was to purge the justice system of false defenders of peace.

As opposed to most serial killers, he stirred the most controversy. There were many that said what he was doing was good. He was removing other awful and bad people from causing further harm and disruption in society. And for that he was good.

Then there were others that disagreed. In senseless killing, he was only as bad as the people he was blaming. That by killing these cops what he was doing was still evil and wrong, even if his intentions were good. If he wanted to change society, there were other means of doing it.

Izuku personally could not sympathize with the criminal. Though his intentions were fair compared to someone like Shigaraki - who only wanted the downfall of another for the sake of personal happiness. At least Stain’s visions were to better an entire society. Izuku could understand that desire and the need for bad people to be exposed, especially those that disguised themselves as white knights when there was something far more sinister behind their gaze.

That being said killing others - even for the sake of ‘benefiting society’ - was wrong. It was fair to want consequence for those who had not obeyed the law and those that harm others for their own benefit.
Those kinds of people shouldn’t be able to get away with it without consequence, Izuku truly believed that.

But, Izuku also believed that people could change.

No man who walked on Earth was either bad or good. Each person lived in a shade of grey, some darker and some lighter. A large part of this could be circumstance. Not everyone was blessed enough to be brought up in a loving, wealthy home. Not everyone got to realize and work towards their desires. Some were just barely surviving.

Izuku knew that better than anybody. His mother didn’t speak of it, but he knew that when he was very small before his parents had properly separated it was very difficult for his mother. She had picked up many shifts as a nurse, overworking herself to the bone.

Back then, Izuku hadn’t known why he suddenly had so many sleepovers with Kacchan. He hadn’t known his father, could barely recollect his face. But his mother worked very hard just so the two of them could lead a healthy life.

By the time his parents had finalized the divorce and his father was forced to pay child support, his mother had done all that she could. They were fine after that but Izuku could still understand.

Sometimes before you could stand on your own two feet to be strong, you had to do everything that you could to survive.

The things people did out of desperation, those different circumstances, the different contexts all played a part in how morally ‘good’ or ‘bad’ you are.

It wasn’t fair for Cop Killer: Stain to be playing God. Picking and choses who was deemed worthy to live and those seemed worthy to die. It was quite hypocritical for a serial killer to decide how was good or bad enough to deserve their position or to live.

Izuku truly believed that every human being had the capacity to be good. To do good. It wasn’t fair to rob that of another person, it wasn’t fair that the entire family of a cop or lawyer would have to suffer for the mistakes of their loved one. It wasn’t fair that this man was out on the loose, killing more and more people as he pleased just because he could.

Quite frankly, Izuku couldn’t stand that.

Right now, the most noble rule-abiding and lawful good Izuku had ever known was suffering at the hands of the Cop Killer’s actions. This man that simply looked up to his brother who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasn’t fair for them to be suffering in this way. And Izuku prayed to God that the Cop Killer would pay.

When Izuku finally gets to approach Iida when the bell rings for the end of the day, his friend is stiffer and more formal than usual.

Which was saying a lot, since Iida was already a stiff and formal person.

“Ah, Midoriya-kun. I apologize for not returning your calls or messages. I’ve been….distracted. I don’t know what else to say.” Iida admitted softly as they walked out of class together side by side.

“It’s alright Iida-kun. You don’t have to apologize. I can’t imagine how difficult this must’ve been for you. You look up to your brother a lot.” Izuku replies gently. Izuku can feel the discomfort and quiet grief coming off of his friend in waves. He really wasn’t doing well and was trying to keep a strong appearance for Izuku’s sake.

When Iida doesn’t respond, Izuku walks in front of him to stop him, a bit disappointed.

“Iida-kun, you don’t have to pretend nothing is bothering you. Before everything else, I’m your friend first. Friends are there to support you and help you when you need them. Don’t be afraid to rely on me when things get tough.” Izuku tells him sincerely.

Izuku’s lips curl up happily when he notices the shift in his friend’s scent. The scent of decaying parchment slowly changed to that of candied pecans and thyme growing stronger. It was sweet and a little soft, like bits of affection and gratitude.

Iida seems stunned for a second, before a small smile graces his lips.

“I appreciate that Midoriya-kun. I really do but,” Iida pauses, voice thick with emotion “I don’t...I don’t really know how I feel right now. All I ask is that you give me some time and I promise to come to you about my mental well-being. I know you’ve already had so much on your plate and I just...need more time.” he explains softly.

Izuku looks at his friend carefully, trying to figure out what was going on inside his head. Iida had abruptly stifled his scent, so Izuku couldn’t really get a clue for what was going on with him. And if Izuku was going to be honest, it was pretty suspicious. This was a major red flag for a guy who just promised he’d talk to Izuku about his emotions.

He’s heard that one before and fell for it like a sucker every time.

Then again, it seemed like Alphas tended to be emotionally constipated so Izuku wasn’t too sure why he was surprised.

Still, Izuku didn’t want to push the boy. Iida was his friend and he wanted to respect his privacy.
But if that were true, why did Izuku get such a bad feeling about this?

Notes:

this chapter was really fun to write! y'all got a lot of fluff to make up the incoming storm...

the hero killer arc is one of my favorites!!

morality and omegaverse dynamics are gonna make an interesting combo ;)

for the most part i wanted to keep this fic lighthearted as most of my writing tends to go the 'longing/soft angst' route but i have some ideas hehehe

what do you guys want to see more of? any favorite chapters so far? what did you like most and what can i improve?

a reminder that i LIVE AND FUNCTION off of all your lovely comments so if you can please leave one! adios for today <3

Chapter 30: chili

Summary:

uh oh here we go

The day they leave for their internships Iida is just as distant as he had been the last they had talked. Izuku and Uraraka had done everything they could think of to include him in conversations, giving him hints to confide in them, but it’s all for naught. Uraraka in particular seems especially frustrated, as Iida leaves for him with a little more than a goodbye.

Izuku had tried to talk to Iida, he wanted to know what was going on with his friend. But, every attempt he had made was met with either cold indifference or Iida brushing him off. He had barely told Izuku anything about his internship. All Izuku knew was that he was working with the police force in Hosu.

“That idiot! Gosh, he’s so stupid for someone who’s supposed to be one of the smartest kids in our class.” Uraraka huffs, clearly put off by Iida’s recent behaviour,

“Being book smart and being street smart are two seperate things.’ Izuku chides as they make their way through the station. Aizawa-sensi is mumbling the last few words to the students still loitering around, and Izuku searches through the students in hopes of seeing a familiar face before they part.

“Guess you’re right.” Uraraka sighs before looking up at Izuku’s face. A small knowing smile worms it’s way across her face. “Looking for your precious Kacchan?”

Izuku’s face flushes though he doesn’t deny the statement.

“I just want to say goodbye.” Izuku mumbles, a touch more dramatic than he means it but he can’t find it in himself to take the words back.

“Hey, you should say bye to the people right in front of you first!” she demands, sounding a lot like a spoiled little kid but Izuku knows she’s right.

Ah, was he really so bad at this? Kacchan had always been his world, even if Izuku had to stay away. Izuku had kept his eyes only on Kacchan, and there had been very little else that had mattered, that was worth his time.

Yet, here was Uraraka. His first very friend at U.A, who helped him to his feet when he stumbled on his feet. The person who would support him when nobody else would. Uraraka who had been Izuku's first true friend, without the messy feelings and the complicated past. A friend who deserved his attention and should be cherished the way a real friend should be.

Izuku quickly gathers his friend in a hug, feeling saddened at his own behaviour.

“I’m sorry, Uraraka. I hadn't meant it like that.” Izuku tells her sincerely, as the girl easily returns the hug rubbing his back as they hold each other.

“Aw, Deku-kun. Don’t worry about it, I get it. Your Kacchan’s special, I know. Just don’t forget you have other people who care for you as well.” Uraraka reminded sternly, as they seperated.

Izuku flushes feeling both weirdly pleased and shy about hearing ‘your Kacchan’ as if Kacchan could ever be his any capacity. That guy wouldn’t allow himself to be tied down to anything. Despite this, he appreciates Uraraka’s sentiment.

For someone who kept telling himself that he had to have a life outside of just admiring and worshiping Kacchan it seemed that's all he kept doing.

But, here in the new Izuku knew his path was different. He wouldn’t be following after someone else’s dreams anymore. He was finding his calling today, and even if the paths they walked were different the destination would always be the same.

“I’ll remember Uraraka. That’s your ride right?” Izuku pointed towards the train that had pulled up with the number Uraraka had muttered about for the last ten minutes.

Uraraka startles looking at the train, the note in her hand, then the train again before picking up her suitcase and rushing over to the train.

“See ya soon, Dekun-kun!” his friend called over her shoulder, brown eyes sparkling with mirth hand waving frantically as she struggled to get into the train with her luggage.

Izuku stifled a giggle at his friend’s enthusiasm. “See you soon, Uraraka!”

He watched his friend until she got into the train safely and pressed her face against the window, making strange faces as her train parted.

Izuku felt a soft smile grace his own lips as he searched for his own train. It would arrive soon, so it would be best if he got a move on early. Better a little early than too late.

Even as he says this his eyes search for Kacchan. He knew he’d be interning at Best Jeanist’s a friend of his father and a rather popular agency for many young athletes. It seemed rather strange to Izuku that such a regal and ‘proper’ celebrity would take on Kacchan - especially considering his Alpha Rage - and Izuku had a feeling that Kacchan would probably regret the decision later. Kacchan had only chosen Best Jeanist because he was the best agency to have given him an offer but Izuku had a feeling it would be more than what Kacchan had bargained for.

Izuku’s disappointed to have not found his childhood friend, but there was no time left. His train was here and he had to go.

---

This place was very weird for a retired police officer to be living in. This entire situation was kind of sketchy and Izuku had half the mind to call Toshinori-sensei and ask if this entire thing was some elaborate prank to make Izuku feel better about not getting any offers.

Even if that wasn’t the case, Izuku supposed that he had already made the trip he might as well go for it.

Izuku knocked on the door once.

No answer.

Izuku was getting so many red flags from this place. The area wasn’t well-lit, the buildings unnervingly tall and morose, and on top of all that Izuku swore he saw a black cat covered in a mysterious red substance. Not good vibes at all.

Izuku knocked on the door again, a little harder this time.

No luck.

Izuku was about to give up and go home when he tried turning the knob...only to open the door.

What kind of self-respecting police officer kept his door unlocked? Was he just that strong and fearless that he didn’t fear any kind of retribution?

“Hello?” Izuku called into the empty house. The house is rather lived in, and decently well-kept compared to the outside so someone was definitely living in the house.

That’s when Izuku saw it. A short old man, lying in a pool of blood on the floor. A plate of sausages was left askew on the floor

Izuku rushed to the man in horror, taking out his phone ready to call an ambulance when the old man sprung up onto his feet and yelled “Sike!”

His voice shocked Izuku and he jumped, running away to the other side of the room.

This was the most bizzare dream Izuku has ever had.

“E-Excuse me?! Are you, um, Mister Gran Torino-san?” Izuku asked, trying to be polite but so out of his depth he didn’t really know what he could possibly say.

“That’s right! And you are?” the old man asks, suddenly full of energy bouncing up and down. He looked a little kid, but Izuku couldn’t pinpoint what he found strangest about this man.

“Um, I’m Izuku Midoriya, sir. Toshinori-sensei’s pupil? The one who talked about in the letter he wrote you?” Izuku informs, hoping it would jog Gran Torino’s memory.

“All right, Izumi, it's good to know, but I don’t care. Let’s cut to the chase. I called you here to help me out, but I need to see if you’re ready first. If your smell is so good why did you rush to me like I was dead?” Gran Torinio demands, pushing into Izuku’s personal space and intimidating him further.

“Because it looked like you were dead, lying in a pool of your own blood?” Izuku asks, hoping that honesty was the best possibility.

“WRONG. That is the last thing you should’ve done. If your scent was so good you would’ve realized it wasn’t real blood.” Gran Torino sniffs, very evidently unimpressed by Izuku’s performance.

Yikes, did that mean he had failed some kind of pret-test? Did this mean Izuku was to go home now?

“I’ll give you another chance. From over there, I want you to sniff out this room without moving. Identify the red liquid with nothing but it’s scent.” Gran Torino grouched.

For some reason, despite being very strange Izuku felt like he had a similar demeanour to Recover Girl. Veiled wisdom that Izuku would never truly possess until he himself aged.

Izuku inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and then covering his ears. By dulling his other senses he could better concentrate on just smelling, trying to do as the old man had asked of him.

The first scent Izuku could soak in was Gran Torinio’s. The Beta smelled of toffee, pumpkin and something softer like thyme. Moving past that,, the house itself possessed very little of the occupant’s scent - which meant he didn’t spend too much time here. The house could be either a safehouse, or somewhere he only crashed for the night so the most potent of his scent would be trapped in his bedroom. In full honesty, his house smelled kind of stale like dried biscuits and mothballs.

Izuku then focused more in the room he occupied, trying to ignore scents from the other hall. There was something slightly sweet in the kitchen that contained red bean paste but there was something else. Something that invaded his nose with more spice than he would’ve expected. Originally, he would’ve said ketchup there was definitely some tomato based substance in there but the chilli peppers...vinegar maybe as well? How had he not noticed before?!

“It’s sriracha, sir.” Izuku announces, blinking his eyes open again to see Gran Torino looking down at him as if scrutinizing his every move.

“Hmph, not bad kid. Not going to lie, I was just messing with ya. I trust Toshinori’s judgement for the most part, and I’ve already talked to his friend Naomasa. They both seem to have a decent amount of faith in you, so let’s get this show on the road.” Gran Torino grinned, swiping a plate of what looked like taiyaki off the counter to move into the living room.

Izuku remained on the floor, still too stunned by the change in atmosphere to move.

“Oi, kid. You gonna sit there forever? Come sit on the couch, I don’t bite. Let me introduce you to this case, though I’m sure you heard something about it lately.”

Izuku quietly got up from his position on the floor to follow the old man into the living room. It was rather cozy looking, if a bit off a mess, with crumpled up ramen cups and blankets piled in a corner.

The couch didn’t appear to have any questionable stains so Izuku decided he could take a chance.

“Hm, help yourself kid. This is gonna be dinner for tonight and if all goes well we’ll be going on a patrol soon.” Gran Torino explained, moving over a stack of files of the table to place the plate of taiyaki down.

Izuku decided not to question any more of Gran Torinio’s decisions anymore. It was too much for him. He hesitantly reached for the fish-shaped bread and nibbled on it slightly.

It was colder on the inside than Izuku had anticipated. Looks like the guy didn’t know how to use a microwave.

The two sat in silence for a bit, Gran Torinio typing away at his computer and pouring over files. Izuku kind of wanted to take a look but he didn’t want to be rude...yet his curiosity grew. Gran Torino was a retired cop, so why was he working again? What was so important that he had come back from retirement to get involved.

“G-Gran Torino-san, not to be rude or anything but I was just wondering...if you’re a retired cop why are you working on a case?” Izuku asked after a few moments of silence, having finally worked up the courage to ask.

The man stopped his humming to look at Izuku carefully before sighing.

“This case is...a peculiar one. The man is considered a vigilante but he isn’t a threat to the general public. I’m in a unique situation where I have the ability to help, and the fact that I have officially retired is of great benefit. But I’m still involved with most of the non-physical stuff. I’m not in my prime anymore, but I have experience and for cases like this...it’s pretty useful to know what I know.” Gran Torino explains.

Izuku feels like he’s having the unique experience of getting details but understanding nothing concrete at all. This guy wasn’t going to be giving Izuku the answers he wanted easily.

“Why...why is this a peculiar case? Why is this case so sensitive, and why is my sense of scent going to be helpful?” Izuku asked in quick succession. At first, Izuku had attempted to word his questions carefully but now he found he didn’t care. If he was going to be involved with this case, he needed to be informed of the situation? How was he supposed to help if he was flying in blind?

Gran Torino seemed to realize this as well as he sighed heavily.

“You’re one stubborn kid, huh? Won’t let this go, will you?” Gran Torino sighs, putting his head in his hands for a few moments before looking back at Izuku.

“All right, kid. Tell me everything you know about Cop Killer Stain.”

Izuku froze. No way. He would be working on the case of a serial killer? Who targeted and has already killed multiple cops? How was he supposed to help out with that?

Instead of voicing these thoughts, Izuku takes a deep breath before telling the retired cop everything that he knew.

“Chizome Akaguro, or Cop Killer Stain, was a college student who had planned on pursuing criminal justice and eventually the Police Academy to become a cop himself. During this time, he saw people who wanted to pursue this path with less honourable and justice-oriented intentions than his own and was deeply upset by this. For a long time, he had taken to Social Media and writing books. To this day, his Manifesto circulates amongst common people who feel the same. Cops that won’t protect people for the right reasons. This seed of doubt he’s planted in society was no longer enough for him. Though there were those who agreed with his words no action was being taken. So, he sought out to bring justice by killing the fakes.” Izuku explained, slightly wincing at his own words.

There had been a time where Izuku had somewhat sympathized with the man’s sentiments but once he started killing others...Izuku couldn’t stand it.

Now, it may Izuku churn with so much guilt. That he had once agreed with a now serial killer that had almost killed his friend’s brother.

“Not bad, kid. That’s more than what I expected for a kid your age to know. In any case, your job is going to be to try and identify what kind of stuff his weapons are coated with. He’s suspected to be heading to Hosu soon, so we’ll be heading there and -”

Hosu. That's where Iida was interning. The same Iida who's brother was recently critically injured by Cop Killer Stain. Iida who worshiped his brother the way Izuku worshiped Toshinori-sensei. That did not happen by coincidence, Izuku is not naive enough to believe that. With an entire family involved with the police force it was no wonder how Iida could have come about that information. Even then, this seemed like the perfect opportunity for Iida to do something reckless, when someone he loved and admired was hurt one would turn to desperation and do some awful things because of it. Izuku knew deep in his heart that if such a thing had happened to Toshinori-sensei he would've done the same. He'd need friends to hold him back. Izuku was done being a complacent friend, he'd stop Iida. He'd save his friend from himself.

Notes:

short chapters after that birthday chapter makes me wish i could write more in a day....
whenever i finish this, i'm gonna rework the chapters so they have nice consistent lengths

Chapter 31: sawdust

Summary:

COP KILLER STAIN ARC pt.1

Izuku feels queasy holding the weapon in his hand. This was the same weapon the serial killer had left in his friend’s brother;s body to prove a point. To leave a mark. It was a message written loud and clear to all the officers than had ever known him. He could’ve finished Tensei Iida off if he so chose, but believed he had potential or the ability to change still and let him live.

He didn’t have to, but it was a sign of mercy from the murderer. Tensei Iida’s injuries were due to actions that made him seem as though we were going to walk down the wrong path. And Cop Killer Stain had to put him in his place.

The knife itself wasn’t anything too special. This was most likely due to the fact that the guy allegedly had dozens of these weapons. Multiple knives, a katana and daggers too. The exact number of these weapons was unknown, but he only had one katana.

At least, that all anyone who had survived his attacks described him. It was said that everyone that had seen him and lived to tell the tale couldn’t provide much details to the interaction. The only thing that remained consistent was that every victim had been injured by Stain’s blade and drawn blood, every victim had been successfully Ordered by the Alpha, regardless of if the victim was Alpha themselves - which raised red flags but could be explained. Not only this but they were almost always found passed out on the floor when they were found. Anyone with Stain’s reputation could instill that much fear and intimidation yet…there was definitely something fishy about the statement.

The Orders had been relatively predictable instructions - drop your weapons, stay still, don’t move.

But, Izuku had fought off an Alpha’s orders before. He knew first hand such a feat wasn’t impossible. There was something very sketchy about having every victim being unable to fight it off. Especially cops.

In any case, using his regular method of smelling there wasn’t much to consider. It smelled faintly of iron, a little stronger than most blades Izuku had used for cooking since it had drawn blood. Yet, when Izuku closed his eyes, pressed in earplugs into his ears (the ones he had to pack knowing he’d have to do this), Izuku brought the blade up to his nose and inhaled.

It smelled...faintly of alcohol. Though Izuku wasn’t too sure why.

Gran Torino taped his back, trying to gain Izuku’s attention. He points at his own ear before motioning towards Izuku.

Understanding his intention, Izuku quickly removes the ear plug from his left ear.

“Well, what does it smell like?” Gran Torino asks curiously, eyes inquisitive like a small child. Izuku noticed that for an old man - he sure was nosy and whiny. It was kind of endearing in that elderly person way.

“Uh.. to begin with I can confirm that this knife has drawn blood. Not enough to stab, since the entire blade doesn’t have a thicker iron scent. This knife seemed to be used specifically to slice through skin, a more shallow wound since the knife isn’t submerged with that scent.” Izuku explains, rambling to get all his thoughts out at once.

“Impressive, kid. Knew Toshinori would be right about you.” Gran Torino grinned, smiling to himself.

Izuku brought the blade closer to his nose again, concentrating on the smell harder than before since he had left his left ear unplugged.

He moved the position of the blade and sure enough the smell of alcohol still continued.

“This blade seems to be submerged in a strange scent though. It seems like Stain’s coated this entire thing with alcohol.” Izuku explains finally, satisfied with his conclusion.

Ugh, Izuku wasn’t too familiar with alcoholic scents, but he really didn’t like them much. The only two he could really pick out were red wine and champagne, since the two were common at dinner parties his mom was invited too. He’d also recognized the scent of rubbing alcohol since he was a clumsy kid that got into fights when he was young. But, other than that Izuku wasn’t too familiar. Maybe if his father was still around he’d be more familiar with beer, perhaps whiskey but for now their scents weren’t distinct to Izuku. He simply hadn’t been exposed to it enough.

“Alcohol? That’s strange...I should ask the doctors if they’d run any blood tests, maybe a urine sample. Why would he coat his weapon in alcohol of all things? What does that accomplish?” Gran Torino mumbles, moving to his notepad and his phone most likely to update others on the news.

Izuku gently places the knife in the case Gran Torino had shown him earlier, they’d probably get a few tests done to check Izuku’s findings.

He tried to think of this a bit harder.

Stain never did things by accident, he was meticulous in every action that he took. So this situation wasn’t as if the blade was accidently submerged in alcohol from a drunken night out at the bar.

 

What actual reason could possibly be behind that? Izuku tried to think of alcoholic properties that would aid in getting people to get paralyzed or forget things. That didn’t sound like something alcohol alone could accomplish with just some skin slashes.

No...being slightly paralyzed and forgetting things sounded like…information he had heard long ago. During a sexual education class that had expanded on something Izuku had actually paid attention to.

“A date rape drug.” Izuku said aloud, just to get the thought out of his head.

Gran Torino’s face turned solemn as he stared at Izuku, his eyes growing larger. “Can you say that again, kid?”

“A date rape drug. It shouldn’t be too hard to get his hands on and that’s usually what people use to tranquilize them. That’s how he gets people to obey him completely, he paralyzes them from the get go and Orders come to him easier. That’s what Alphas with date rape drugs do.” Izuku explained, though not entirely sure of his conclusion.

“That’s a better lead than anything we’ve gotten for him so far...kid, you’re really something else.” Gran Torino tells him before furiously dialing someone’s phone number before moving into another room, gesturing to Izuku that he’d be back soon.

Izuku smiles at him, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Iida was going to go after him. Iida was going to get drugged and then crippled by this serial killer with some sort of vengeance and might even get himself killed. Izuku didn’t know what to think, but he knew what he had to do.

---

Izuku is surprised to find that as soon as Gran Torino’s conversation is done, the man is packing up some things and getting Izuku to move with him.

“We’re going to Hosu straight away, kid. Apparently someone’s already reported sightings of him in the area, and it would be best for all of us to work on this together. Get your stuff and let’s get going, kid!”

Izuku follows after him like a lost puppy. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to unpack his suitcase yet, so it wasn’t like this was much of a big deal. Izuku tried to ease the queasy feeling in his stomach.

Gran Torino wasn’t planning on fighting or even confronting the serial killer. They were just the brains of the operation, that’s why old Torino had retired and been given this position in the first place.

This didn’t settle Izuku’s nerves at all.

That wasn’t the issue. The real issue was Iida who was running head first into danger, not thinking about the consequences and selfishly pursuing a very well-known cop killer.

A cop killer who was very clearly aware of his family, who had gone after his brother and dealt him some serious damage. Iida, who couldn’t even fight the way the MMA Fighters in their class could was going after a wanted criminal without a thought but getting even.

It was that kind of single minded thinking that would be a source of Iida’s downfall. His friend was loyal to fault and would do anything for his brother. This wasn’t problematic on it’s own but with this situation...there would be dire consequences and none of them would be pretty.

Izuku found himself, blindly following Gran Torino as the man began rambling about annoying teenagers getting distracted by their phones.

What could Izuku do to help his friend? To get him to stop?

It was very evident that the guy wasn’t really paying attention to anything anymore, and he had been ignoring Izuku’s calls and messages since the incident. Now, he didn’t even open them.

It looks like talking to Iida would bear nothing fruitful, so Izuku was going to have to do something.

But do what? What could he do for Iida right now?

First things first, Iida would probably abandon whatever police patrolling he was supposed to be doing in Hose, in search for the Cop Killer himself. If that were the case and Izuku was going to stop him...he’d have to find the Cop Killer too. Preferably before Iida so he could scope for Iida from afar and slap some sense into him. Preferably literally, if he could.

This also meant that Izuku needed to prepare himself for an actual fight. If the two were already engaged in some kind of altercation - which is most likely since Izuku wasn’t even in Hosu yet - Izuku would be forced to fight to some capacity as well.

That wouldn’t end up well either, the killer had numerous weapons to use to defend himself and attack them. If Izuku was lucky, Iida would remember to steal a gun so they weren’t completely defenseless.

Speaking of weapons, the Cop Killer’s were designed for close combat. If Izuku could get his hands on a gun himself he could draw the serial killer away from a distance without worrying too much about Iida.

The problem with that however is where the Cop Killer did his game. His territory was always narrow alleyways where he could draw police officers from patrol and deal with them quietly, before anyone could notice. Iida, trapped in his own quiet range wouldn’t care about any of that and let himself into the trap like a moth to a flame.

On top of all this, the Cop Killer was most definitely more qualified for fighting. Well, maybe Izuku would be able to fare a bit better with raw combat alone but it was pretty clear that the serial killer didn’t care for just raw combat.

He had weapons, he had drugs, he was an Alpha and he had a point to prove, dominance that he wanted to use for his ideals. This made for a very dark and frankly terrifying mix, because such a person would be capable of a lot of chaos. Many had already suffered under his hands, what would a couple of kids be in comparison?

Actually...that could be to their advantage. Cop Killer Stain was well-known and somewhat liked because he only after actual cops. Not civilians.

This would be a grey area though, because Iida and Izuku were both planning on becoming cops. Stain would be aware of that for Iida, but he had no way to know that about Izuku. Which Izuku could definitely use to his advantage. He’d present himself as a regular civilian who happened to be friends with Iida and was worried about his decision. He could shield Iida from the man and then physically drag him away or something.

Seemed unlikely but plausible.

“Oi, kid. You’ve been awful quiet since you smelled that knife. You having second thoughts on this crime fighting business?” Gran Torino asks, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts.

Izuku realized that they were already on the train heading to Hosu. He hadn’t been aware of his surroundings at all, too caught up in his own thoughts to have noticed anything.

Izuku feels kind of bad, honestly. This man had taken interest in him and wanted to train him - simply because Toshinori-sensi mentioned him in a letter - because he believed in Izuku’s ability and wanted to help him to such an extent that he had hacked into U.A to make sure it happened.

And here Izuku was planning his escape as to how best to ditch him to go help his friend.

Izuku’s honestly just thankful he had already done his job for Gran Torino so at the very least he had done what he had been asked to do.

“Um, maybe a little bit? I feel like I got too confident, I bit off more than I could chew.” Izuku tells him - surprising himself as to how honest it turned out.

Gran Torino chuckles softly, looking away as he rubs his neck.

“Yeah, I get it. I’ve involved you in something a lot more extreme than I should’ve. But really, don’t give up on this law enforcement stuff, kid. You’d be great, you already are and I’m sure with time -”

Izuku would never know what he was going to say next, because at that moment the train halted to a stop and a gigantic Beast tore into the train like it was made of paper mache.

There were horrified screams and gasps, debris already falling onto people as they struggled to understand what was happening and what they were looking at.

Izuku already knew, though he was shocked nonetheless. He knew that Tomura Shigaraki had plans to come back with more Nomus to fight Toshinori. Izuku had assumed that it would have taken longer, but now it was starting to look like they had many on standby.

But why? Why would they just release these into the public, harming regular civilians when the person they sought to destroy was Toshinori?

They were ciminals, Izuku remembered. They don’t always need an excuse like Cop Killer Stain. Some criminals just wanted to watch the world burn around them as they watched from afar.

This was most probably a ploy to single the pro-fighter out. The ‘Ideal Alpha’ would no doubt be horrified by the mess he was causing.

But now was a good time for Izuku to escape. This was his chance! He could tell Gran Torino later that he had panicked and fled the situation and explain himself later.

Izuku ran, without thinking twice and praying things turned out alright as he always did. Too bad he hadn’t got his hands on a gun.

Notes:

HEHEHEHE hope y'all are on your toes

PLEASE YELL AT ME ON TWITTER HERE

i don't have a lot of bkdk friends and y'all are so sweet and i'd love to interact with you guys better there <3

Chapter 32: whiskey

Summary:

COP KILLER STAIN ARC CONTINUED

He really should think about his choices more before acting. He hadn’t a clue of where exactly he was, but the situation now was even worse than it had first appeared. He could hear the distinct yelling, and glimpse at the bright flames licking up the city.

Izuku felt guilt crawl up his throat a bit. He'd abandoned his current boss to deal with the Nomus in a panic striken city to search for his friend. His friend that Izuku hadn't the slightest clue about it. Iida hadn't let slip any of his whereabouts. His location, intention, nothing. Izuku had nothing but a few vague details and a gut instinct to go off of here and he felt more than lost.

Iida had stopped texting him back altogether awhile ago, and every text he sent him stating 'where are you' was left on delivered. Typical.

The smell of smoke was acidic in Izuku’s nostrils, and the general scent of fear, panic and confusion was doing very little to quell Izuku’s already crippling anxiety. Even still, Izuku was determined to push all these factors in the back of his mind.

Iida was out there somewhere, fighting a serial killer on his own. Izuku had to do something, and do it now.

With no other idea as to what to do, Izuku followed the sounds of chaos until he could see it for himself.

To be honest, the view in front of him was like something out of an apocalyptic, dystopian novel. More concerning than the fires that seemed to grow larger by the second were the numerous amounts of Nomus that seemed to be running around everywhere.

This was the most nightmare inducing scenario Izuku had ever seen.

Luckily, it seemed that there was personnel already on it. Police officers trying to take down the Nomus, guns in hand. Ambulance taking the injured away from the scene. Firemen trying their very best to put out the fires and prevent falling debris from crushing innocent civilians.

Unfortunately, it was also at this moment that Izuku heard the cries of a police officer.

“Iida! Iida where are you?! Oh my god, your parents are going to kill me!” a police officer cried, looking panicked as he attempted to hear a group of terrified elderly.

Izuku felt his heart sink. The city was under attack right now and Iida had gone to confront the Cop Killer.

“Excuse me, sir! I'm a friend of Iida’s, and I’m already looking for him. I have an idea of where he might be, could you quickly give me your contact information so I can notify you as soon as possible?” Izuku asked, jogging alongside the cop to rectify the poor man’s worry. He pulled out his phone, hoping the stranger would trust him

The man looked at him confused but complied anyway before thanking him and returning to his task.

With the number saved to his phone, Izuku pocketed his device and scanned the area. Iida only would’ve left like that if he had spotted the Cop Killer nearby. And if that were the case, he’d need to find one of those narrow alleyways.

Izuku jogged by one and entered the filthy alley, straining his nose in hopes of perhaps detecting Iida’s scent. It would be almost impossible to detect, scents in heavily inhabited areas always were. And in condensed narrow areas it was even worse.

Still, Izuku had to make an attempt. He closed his eyes and covered his ears, trying to focus on Iida’s distinct Alpha scent. He tried to remember it’s nuanced properties, soy heart note and something headier as its base note like parchment paper -

And Izuku walked into a very strong version of it. The scent was so potent which didn’t make sense to Izuku because when he opened his eyes the Alpha was nowhere to be seen. This was really strange, Iida did have a strong scent naturally but for it to be lasting in the air so harshly was almost as if he was marking his territory? Which still didn’t make sense, because of all the Alpha’s Izuku had met, Iida seemed the least possessive and aggressive next to Toshinori-sensei so far it to be this bad...what could it mean?

He’d never smelled something this strong besides Kacchan’s meltdown after the Sports Festival.

Izuku closed his eyes again, following the scent blindly. For his scent to be this strong, he must be in a completely different mindset, it was almost as if…

...as if he were in a feral Rage. Holy shit.

Iida was going to confront Cop Killer Stain in an Alpha rage. That was a recipe for disaster.

Izuku moved as quickly as he could, running to chase the Alpha scent and sure enough he could hear the distinct growling of an Alpha in a Rage.

Izuku had to hold his breath, as he heard the distinct sounds of a gunshot, the scraping of metal and more Alpha growls.

His heart was beating loudly in his chest, unsure of how to make a move. He currently had no weapon, and the Alphas were already engaged in battle. Any reinforcements nearby were already occupied trying to settle the Nomu issue and would not be able to arrive any time soon.

Which also probably meant that Cop Killer Stain and the League of Criminals - as Izuku had chosen to call them in his head - were somehow related.

No! He didn’t have the time to be thinking about that possible connection. Iida was in no state of mind to be functionally properly or rationally right now, and he was fighting against a serial killer that carried multiple weapons some of which were immersed in some kind of drug.

First things first, Izuku sent a message with his location to the number he had been given earlier. Then, in hopes someone in his class was nearby or could help him, Izuku sent his location to the class group chat as well.

Alright, now that he had informed a third party of his whereabouts and location, Izuku would have to focus on the situation at hand.

Before Izuku could really think more on this, a scream was heard - Iida’s! - the horrifying scent of thick iron had permeated the air.

In Izuku’s panic he had allowed his friend to get hurt. God, why was he so useless?

Without even thinking about it, Izuku entered the scene with no thought left in his head. His body was moving before he could think. It looked like Stain was ready to deliver a finishing blow, but shocked by Izuku’s appearance was instead punched in the gut moving him away from a frozen Iida away from the main threat.

“Iida, what on Earth were you thinking running after a serial killer in this situation! Ugh, we have no time to argue. Let’s get out of here, if we move to a more open area we can get help and evade any more attacks.” Izuku scolded, feeling a righteous fury in his own bones.

Iida seemed to be shocked out of his Rage. It made sense, he’d just been stabbed - which would be enough to put anyone out of any mindset.

“I-I can’t move. I think he Ordered me or something? I-I’m not really sure.” Iida admitted, looking more scared than vengeful now that the full situation still dawned on him.

Izuku paled, realizing what that meant.

“Iida, it’s not just the Order. His weapons are submerged with some kind of paralyzing drug. You can try fighting it off, but your nervous system is going to be weak to it regardless.” Izuku exclaimed, moving to cover his frozen friend. It’s then that Izuku trips over another police officer’s leg. Probably the one Stain initially hoped to finish off. Luckily, it looked like the guy was still alive but it was clear to Izuku that the man was in a fully frozen state.

“Fuck, there’s another guy here?! I can’t just leave with you over my shoulder then. I’ll have to fight until one of you can snap out of it.” Izuku muttered, trying to get in a defensive stance in front of the two paralyzed men.

There was no way the drug worked instantaneously, even if it had been introduced to the bloodstream which meant that Iida’s frozen state was primarily due to the Order, though the injury was definitely holding him back. The police officer on the floor seemed to be out of commission completely, which meant the drug had taken its course.

“I-It’s - hic - o-okay. Just leave me here, save yourselves.” the police officer spoke hoarsely.

Izuku frowned. “What? No way. I can’t just leave you here to die, that wouldn’t be right. What kind of person would I be if I just left you here to die on your own?”

Iida flinched.

Cop Killer’s stance suddenly shifted, even his thick iron scent seemed to subside unreasonably pleased.

“Oh wow, would you look like that. Out of the three of you it’s this shortstack that would make the best cop. Protecting the weak, no matter the cost. Selfless and willing to take the risk to save the lives of others. That’s what a real defender of justice does. A high ranking police officer and a legacy child are nothing compared to you, kid.” Stain praised, his smile sharp and intimidating despite his compliments.

“Sorry, but I don’t want to hear something like that from a serial killer . If you mean what you say, respect my efforts and leave them alone!” Izuku yelled, trying not to bristle in fear.

Even after the U.S.J incident, Izuku has never feared for his life more. Those criminals were just delinquents compared to this. This guy, he was the real deal. He had a motive, had intention beyond senseless violence or wanting to prove a meaningless point. Stain not only had a desire, a dream that he truly believed would be the greater good of society but he also had the power, the means and the intelligence to back it up. He was unparalleled to anyone Izuku had fought before, and now this serial killer’s energy and blood lust were all focused on him. It made Izuku want to puke.

Even Tomura Shigaraki, who had been scary in his own right was nothing compared to this. Shigaraki kind of just gave off the vibe that he hated all of a society - much like an angsty teen - that just wanted to see the world burn. Just to see if he could do it, like a child trying to push the limits to see how far they were allowed to go.

But, Stain was an entirely different breed. Being up close to his blood lust like this made Izuku hyper aware. From his scent alone, Izuku could taste his conviction. This was a man living to his ideals to the very extreme. He was not only willing to die for them, but he was fine with sacrificing his own morals, and doing the dirty work to see his own ideals become reality. People loved him for it, were enraptured by him and before it had come to killing others Izuku understood it too.

Dirty cops should be exposed for their wrong doings, they should be held accountable and they should face consequences for their actions. But nobody deserved to die for that. People could still change, there could still be good inside them and it was wrong to take that potential away from them.

Izuku would need to make sure his own conviction was just as strong as Stain or he would succumb to his scent and his ideals. Izuku couldn't afford to waver.

Stain makes the first move, rushing at Izuku with unexpected speed. He attempts to slash Izuku with his knife from his free hand. Izuku quickly moves in between Stain’s legs evading the hit just nearly. The Cop Killer quickly counters this using his katana, swiping behind him in order to slice through Izuku’s flesh.

Luckily, Izuku is able to evade this too by jumping above him. From above, Izuku delivers a powerful punch to the Cop Killer’s temple causing the man to stumble back from the blow. This kind of movement was a bit foregin to Izuku, but in his head Izuku could visualize Kacchan’s movements and how he would react to every attack. This was the only thing keeping Izuku brave, knowing what Kacchan would do in his place - because Kacchan was amazing and Izuku knew that no matter the situation he would be able to take it. Envisioning Kacchan in his mind always gave Izuku strength and he would use it.

“Midoriya-kun, you don’t have to do this! This is my fight, please just leave.” Iida begs somewhere, limping as he struggles to move closer to the fight.

“Shut up, Iida!” Izuku called, irritated by the notion and stressed by the situation.

The Cop Killer recovered quickly and grins before pointing to his blade, and sure enough there was just a drop of blood that graced the blade.

Shoot! Somehow the man had managed to graze him. No matter for whatever reason Stain had not Ordered Izuku and the drugs had not been in effect yet. Izuku still had time, though he didn’t know for how much longer.

“Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. First you manage to figure out that drug bit, then you try to save a stranger and now you’re proving you’re not just talk. You have a good head on your shoulders, you could make a good cop one day.” Stain grinned, wiping the blood of his blade. “It’s too bad those guys couldn’t follow your lead. This is your chance, kid. Get out of here, call reinforcements if you want. But I’ve got unfinished business to attend to, and if you continue to stay in my way I’ll have to start hurting you for real.” Stain explained casually twirling a knife in his hand.

“Never.” Izuku grits, baring his teeth and placing his feet firm in the guard.

Stan frowns, but instead of fighting Izuku he turns quickly to stalk towards Iida ready to deal his final blow when out of nowhere a warning bullet is shot into the dark just nearly missing Stain’s head.

And as if appearing out of thin air, Shoto Todoroki looked like one of those cool badass cops from movies Kacchan used to watch. The ones that drove motorcycles and wore leather jackets with a cold jaded look in their eyes. His bi-coloured hair and eyes made him even more striking in the night, as if he existed from a parallel universe and he could easily whisk all of Izuku's troubles away.

It sure felt like it right now.

He made for a really interesting lead, Izuku decided. If this were a movie or something, Todoroki would be the insanely attractive Alpha lead ready to save the day and come to Izuku's rescue. With an MMA Fighter like him, and the addition of a gun - a long distance weapon - they actually stood a chance against Cop Killer Stain. In fact, with the two of them they could easily take each paralyzed man and carry them to safety. With Todoroki around, Izuku didn't have to worry so much anymore.

“Midoriya, you really need to learn how to text properly. If I knew how urgent this situation was, I would've gotten here sooner.”

Notes:

y'all i'm boutta intoduce something that isn't typical an abo that i have no idea if y'all are ready for...get ready >:)

Chapter 33: turmeric

Summary:

FINAL COP KILLER ARC

"Don’t move, Midoriya.” Stain orders. With his blood drawn, the Order completed and Izuku successfully intimidated, Izuku didn't stand a chance.

Izuku’s unsure of what to do in this particular situation.

Todoroki had no such qualms, shooting again and again. Not enough to injure the serial killer but enough to make Stain step back further away from the two crippled men on the floor. The more Stain moved back, the closer he was getting to Izuku and the man would be trapped in between the two of them.

“It took me a while to decode your message, but I suppose I got here in time regardless. Don’t look so worried, Midoriya. I’ve already called reinforcements, they’ll be on their way soon. In the meantime,” Todoroki glared at the serial killer as if he was his own father. “I won’t just stand by and let my friends get killed by the likes of you.”

Wow, Izuku was more than a little impressed. Izuku could catch a whiff of Todoroki's own distinct scent to intimidate Stain further. Todoroki really was changing right before Izuku’s eyes, and he couldn’t help the pride swelling in his chest.

This wasn’t the time to say sappy things like that though.

“Todoroki-kun! This guy has some sort of drug coated on his blades, please avoid getting cut by them!” Izuku yells instead, deciding he had to move. If they could pressure and intimidate Stain while he was still startled, they’d have a better chance at escaping.

 

Todoroki takes this at face value and keeps his distance, but then the killer throws a knife at him. He manages to evade it for the most part, though the knife still grazes his cheek enough to draw a bit of blood.

Damnit! Izuku hadn’t known that he could throw blades, much less with that much accuracy. This guy was clearly playing with them now, if he had wanted them dead they already would be.

Stain rushes at Todoroki only to be rained down with bullets. Stain manages to shield himself by ducking just in time and blocking himself with twin blades. Todoroki appears to stop, just for a second when Stain tosses his katana into the air - as a distraction no doubt - and it nearly works.

Todoroki manages to evade another cut to the face just in time, kicking the man in the gut before aiming the gun to his face. Stain grins sharply despite the powerful kick, and grabs his katana instead that strange grin plastered over his face again.

During this time Izuku finds strength, bit by bit. The Order was wearing off, and by focusing his mind to the pain in his body he’s able to shock himself out of it bit by bit.

“Impressive. You’re strong and came here to save the others, if the situation doesn’t involve you. You’d make a fine policeman yourself, son of Endeavour.” Stain states gleefully, eyes going a little crazed with peaked interest. Izuku saw his friend’s nostrils flare, clearly unappreciative of such a comment and his scent was abruptly stifled.

Ixuku closes his eyes, and finds that strength is slowly returning to his arms and legs. He should be able to move soon. But, if that were the case, why couldn’t Iida snap out of it anymore?

“Todoroki-kun, you shouldn’t have to do this! It’s my fault, and Stain hurt my brother. It’s my duty carrying on the Ingenium legacy to defeat the Cop Killer once and for all!” Iida declared, clearly still heavily injured and somewhat paralyzed but attempting to break out anyway.

Surprisingly, Todoroki growls - a very feral move for a typically aloof, regal Alpha.

“Is that really all you can think about right now? Revenge? Midoriya came here to risk his life for you, is that really what you should be thinking about in this situation? You’re clearly outclassed, paralyzed too by the looks by it. What kind of Class President are you?” Todoroki scolds, though his eyes never stray from Stain’s movements.

It’s during this spiel that Stain throws a throwing knife at his left side, causing him to stagger. Stain is just about to jump, attempting to stab him from above when Izuku grabs him and tackles the serial killer to the ground.

“Stay still Todoroki. Don’t move.” Stain Ordered.

Todoroki stares at him in shock. Izuku can see his friend struggling to fight it, as an Alpha it was usually easier to do so. If he could focus on his pain, he could slowly recover though it would take some time. Izuku watches as he fights it, fangs protruding as he does so. Todoroki was softly muttering. “The Order must have a time limit..”

The police officer on the ground shakes his head. “He was the last person to be Ordered. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be unable to move right now.”

“He’s right.” Izuku announces as the serial killer pushes him to the ground. “It probably has more to do with the amount of blood exposed to his knives coated with his drug. Since I’ve only been scratched, there’s a relatively minor dosage in my body. On top of that, it’s had less time to be absorbed into my body.” Izuku explains, evading another swing from the Cop Killer’s katana.

Stain grins. “So you’ve understood the strategy. Still off about the mechanics, but considering the information available at this time, not a bad explanation.”

Izuku wonders what that really means but now was not the time to analyze Stain’s musings. Izuku would have to distract the serial killer while Todoroki would have to support him from behind. If what Stain had said was true, his injuries would mean he could no longer fight hand-to-hand combat. He still had the gun in hand, though and it wouldn’t take as much effort to shoot. The recoil would be difficult to handle, but Todoroki was strong. Izuku could only hope his friend could handle it.

Izuku rushes the serial killer performing an axe kick on his arm, getting rid of the katana in his hand. Izuku kicks to the blade as far as he can quickly before jumping away from the man and creating some distance again, not within range for a quick slash.

“You really don’t give up, kid.” Stain grinned, pulling twin daggers from the back of his criminal costume. “You should’ve just let those two die on their own and been on your way.”

“I’ll never let anyone just die on their own.” Izuku grits, feeling his own scent flaring.

“I stick by Midoriya as well.” Todoroki announces, despite being mostly paralyzed. “I had a bad feeling about Iida ever since his brother got injured. I know what it feels like wanting to fight for the sake of vengeance and resentment. It makes you feel powerful in the moment, but it keeps you from being the person you truly are. You are more than your Rage, Iida. You are more than your anger or even your Alpha. None of those things should define you.”

During this time Stain had reacquired his katana, while Izuku had been distracted. He rushed him, and while Izuku was decent at fighting, his body was smaller and he was not strong enough to withstand the serial killer’s attacks. A full grown man was no match for s child.

Easily overpowering Izuku, Stain cuts open his leg and once again opens his mouth to Order him still.

“Don’t move, Midoriya”.

Todoroki shoots as Stain, but his attempts at not hurting Izuku from his angle prevent him from performing any real damage. This in addition to the recoil and fighting through the Order with his injuries seem to be visibly taking a toll on him.

“Please, stop Todoroki! Midoriya! The both of you are getting hurt because of me, please stop!” Iida pleads his voice desperate and hoarse.

Todoroki grimpses, his scent flaring deep and intense. The mix of myrrh and spearmint is strangely alluring because his righteous fury is no longer filled with only quiet, deadly rage. Instead, it’s filled with a kind of warmth and sweetness found in very specific emotion. Hope. Endurance.

Despite his pain, Todoroki fires shot after shot without even flinching.

“T-Todoroki-kun. Please leave. It’s my fault, please let me take responsibility.” Iida begs, pleading for them to stop. Izuku knows without a doubt that with Todoroki in this state of mind, such a feat would be impossible.

“No, Iida I won’t leave. I won’t abandon my friends, you can’t ask that of me. If you really want to take responsibility, stand up. Fight the Order, and look at who you want to become!” Todoroki yells, his voice almost echoing in the desolate alleyway.

At that moment, Stain disarms Todoroki, the gun clattering to the ground. Izuku sucks in breath, trying his best to get up and fight the Order.

Then like some kind of miracle, Iida gets up to move his hand extending. Izuku watches, almost in slow motion as Stain moves to slash Todoroki with his katana. Iida rushes at him and kicks his arm in a similar motion Izuku had previously.

Iida apologizes to them kindly, looking at Izuku in the eye. He helps Izuku up so he can lean on the wall instead of being stuck on the floor as he had been before.

Stain sneers, not impressed by Iida’s change of heart.

“As if a person’s priorities change that quickly. You are the scum that must be purged.” Stain yells, bloodlust permeating his scent so evidently that even Todoroki flinches back at the shift.

So far, they hadn’t fought against Stain with his actual bloodlust in play. Now they would, and it would be an entirely different game.

“You are right. Up until now, I haven’t upheld the honour and values that many great officers before me have exhibited. I agree that in essence, I am scum compared to that. But, I refuse to be such a person any more. I know talk is cheap, so I’ll have to prove it. My brother may be injured, but his legacy never will be. Not if I have something to say about it.” Iida announces, eyes resolute. Even his scent was warmer, the thyme and soy overwhelming in its presence.

Satin, uncaring of the development, but Todoroki had gotten the gun back in his hand. Iida interrupts the knife that had been thrown in Todoroki’s direction. During this time, Izuku had quietly regained more mobility. Iida and Izuku rush Stain at once with their overwhelming speed and the strength in their legs to scale the alleyway to strike the Cop Killer simultaneously.

Stain reels back at their combined efforts and tries to slash Iida. Iida evades the attack and kicks the criminal higher into the air where Todoroki can aim his gun and fire. This also distracts Stain enough to free up a path for the two track boys to fall down.

Apparently, Todoroki’s mindless shooting had finally affected the serial killer who was currently struggling on the ground.

“Quick, boys! Take my handcuffs and restrain him. I should have another gun in my pocket too, keep it close to threaten him should he awaken.” the police officer yells, apparently lucid enough to give them the proper protocol.

Iida restrains him easily, having seen his own family do it dozens of times. Todoroki is assigned to drag Stain with them as Iida took Izuku onto his back. Izuku’s leg would prevent him from moving properly. Native manages to limp, which makes Izuku’s head spin.

How did the man recover so quickly? Did the drugs run their course? Or was it because the OrderedAlpha at hand had passed out and it allowed him to move freer?

Izuku didn’t have enough brain cells left to properly contemplate this.

Out of nowhere, they run into Gran Torino who had apparently gotten their location from Endeavour.

Apparently they had arrived as soon as they could with more reinforcements, after finally neutralizing all the Nomus they could find. Gran Torino scolds Izuku for running off.

“What were you thinking? Couldn’t you think of sending me your location too?! I could’ve lost my job for your reckless behaviour.” Gran Torino scolded.

“Sorry. Wasn’t thinking. Thought you retired?” Izuku slurred, he was starting to feel really tired and at this point Gran Torino was looking at him with pity.

An officer had called for an ambulance which would be arriving any moment.

Iida attempted to clear his throat, putting a gentle hand on Izuku’s beck as well as Todoroki’s. Izuku was relatively sure he was going to apologize or something when Izuku felt like a carpet was pulled out under his feet.

Izuku looks up, only to see a Nomu with wings. He’s honestly sure he’s about to die, ready to pass out and for his life just to end when of all things - Cop Killer Stain - picks him out before the stupid Nomu got too far and back to safety.

The Cop Killer yells into the air about fake defenders of justice and peace who corrupt the entire justice system. His scent is malicious and as full of bloodlust as Izuku’s has ever been introduced to. Izuku feels a fear he never had before because an Alpha who was usually so calm and deadly all the same seemed to be slipping into a Rage of his own. His scent - something strangely alcoholic smelling - is so thick and terrifying that even Endeavour - Enji Todoroki - who had just arrived froze in shock.

It was just that terrifying.

And then, the man seemed to drop dead.

It was only fear and adrenaline that had kept Izuku awake for so long and he too passes out, though he smells a minty presence embracing him before he himself becomes all but dead to the world. The strong scents of the day, the energy dispensed, the stress all made Izuku more bone tired than he had ever felt before. When he slips into the peace of darkness he is grateful for it.

---

When Izuku comes to it, the head of the police department is scolding Todoroki and Iida for getting involved.

Izuku wishes he hadn't woken up when Todoroki’s righteous anger butts its ugly head, yelling back at the police officer demanding if abandoning helpless people would’ve been the best course of action.

He watches in amusement as the police officer expresses his gratitude for their actions in the end, expressing remorse for not being able to award the ‘young heroes’ for their efforts since under the eyes of the law they would be punished instead.

The two agree boys agree that it would be for the best to leave their names out of the news for the credit, instead they would only be mentioned for being involved with capturing the victim. It was that moment when the Head of Police called Izuku out.

“And Midoriya. You haven’t said anything until now, but your excellent work in tracking Cop Killer Stain down will be commended and awarded. Gran Torino told me what you sniffed off of the man’s blades and your efforts were vital to our interrogation.” the man said, making both Iida and Todoroki turn to look at him with curious gazes.

“Oh. The Orders and drugs thing? Thanks I guess, but I don’t think it was actually drugs. The scent that came out from Stain was the exact same as that from the knife. I think he scents his knives directly so his Orders become more effective when directly implanted into our bodies. This is how he overrides even Alphas.” Izuku explains, his voice hoarse and mind still whirling as he tries to straighten up.

The room goes blissfully silent at Izuku’s statement.

“H-How did you figure that? We just ran some tests to confirm...you’re right.”

“A few things. If the drug did actually exist, he wouldn’t have to dissolve in alcohol per say, water - which is a lot less distinct - would’ve been good enough to dissolve this. On top of this, he made it very evident that after every opportunity to draw our blood he would Order us instantly. The bigger the injury and the more contact the weapon had with our blood the harder it was for us to fight it off. The thing was - we could fight it off. The most obvious part was that the police officer that had gotten severely injured was able to move after Stain passed out. This tipped me off the most, if it were a drug someone would’ve had to carry him. But, he managed regardless which meant it really was the combination of his Orders and direct contact with his scent - which he probably bathed directly into his scent gland for it to work so well - that would’ve explained all of these.” Izuku explained finally, flopping onto his back into the cot.

“Midoriya, that was incredible. Guess that Gran Torino was right about your talent, kid. You’d be a great addition to the police force. I hope to work with you sometime in the near future, with hopefully better circumstances” The Head of Police responded after a long pause of silence.

Izuku feels his face flush but his body is exhausted beyond belief and his mind is still kind of spinning.

“It’s - uh - it was nothing. I just have a sensitive sense of smell.” Izuku shrugged bashfully, unable to look the man in the eye.

The man cleared his throat, snapping their attention back to the officer.

“Well, in any case. On behalf of the police force I would like to thank you - all of you - for your services. Have a good day.” the man concluded, before bowing out of the door.

Todoroki scowled, looking slightly embarrassed. “He should’ve just led with that.”

Iida chuckles before looking at Izuku curiously. “As always, Midoriya-kun never fails to amaze me. So your internship was involved with the Stain, then?”

Todoroki seems to shake off his own thoughts, turning to focus his attention on Izuku as well. “I must say, I’m curious too. Looks like you're destined for trouble, Midoriya.”

Izuku chuckles, resting his weight on his palms before wincing. His body was sore all over but the injuries he’s been sustaining on his arms these days was a bit unbelievable.

“You can say that again. Yeah, Gran Torino wanted me after hearing about my involvement with the U.S.J incident. I didn’t know exactly what I was involved with until I got there. Guess you could call it fate.” Izuku huffs, cuddling into his cot trying to rid himself of excess anxiety.

“You’re quite unique Midoriya. Your awareness of scent far surpasses that of anyone else I’ve ever met, including Alphas and stuff. I’ve never met anyone as attuned to scent as you.” Iida points out stretching his legs out on his own cot.

“Maybe. I’ve always been that way since I was a pup. I’m pretty good at noticing things too so that helps as well.” Izuku replies easily.

Todoroki smirked at that, looking a little mean. “For someone so perceptive, you seem incredibly oblivious to Bakugou’s attempts at courting you.”

Izuku’s face flushes, ready to argue when Izuku realizes something. He never said bye to Kacchan. He had promised he would call. Good, grief Kacchan would be pissed.

“Oh no, I forgot about Kacchan! I was supposed to call him, he’s gonna be so mad!” Izuku finds his phone and blanches looking at all the notifications. He would usually feel a bit flattered to be so popular and be at the receiving end of so much attention but he knew none of it would be good.

There were numerous alarmed texts from the group chat, then individually from a couple of his classmates.

Kirishima, Yaoyorozu, Uraraka and Tsuyu seemed to be the friends who had attempted to contact him. All of them third to his mother who would surely give him an earful.

Most concerning was that Kacchan - the guy who usually refused to text first and left people on read without batting an eye - had been attempting to call him a total of 52 times. Fuck.

Izuku heard Iida announce something about not getting his hand treated until he earned the Ingenium name, then heard Todoroki’s regret about being a ‘hand crusher - which Izuku couldn’t help but laugh at - as he dialled Kacchan’s number.

Kacchan responded on the first ring. Yikes.

“Deku, what the fuck?!” Kacchan yelled on the other side of the line, so loudly that Izuku had to reduce the volume of his own phone. “First, you leave without saying shit - you absolute ass - without scenting me at all - fuck you by the way - and then you send a sketchy location and fucking Todoroki’s telling me you went out and fought with Stain?! The fucking Cop Killer what the fuck were you thinking you absolute piece of shit?!”

Izuku pouts at the scolding, and he can hear Iida and Todoroki chuckle in amusement.

Alphas were complete jerks.

“I’m sorry, Kacchan! I swear I was looking for you everywhere, but I would’ve missed my train. I really wish I could’ve scented I could….I could really use it right now.” Izuku told him sincerely, praying Kacchan could hear his honesty through the phone.

The line is quiet for so long Izuku is sure his childhood friend has hung up when Kacchan finally speaks.

“Fuck, nerd. You scared me okay? Just..what the fuck. You’re constantly running head first into danger, and I get you want to be a hero. I know you’ve always wanted to do that, but if you’re constantly hurting yourslef and shit...fuck Deku, you’re giving me grey hairs.” Kacchan replied, voice strangely soft and tender. Izuku wished he could see his face right now, and could hold him right now. His entire being ached to be with him.

“I’m sorry, Kacchan. I wish I could be with you right now.” Izuku told him after another loaded moment of silence.

Izuku could hear Kacchan snort a bit on the other side before he responded.

“I do too, nerd. Just..just don’t get into anymore trouble today okay? Be safe. Come back to me in one piece. I’d be there with you if I could so just..call me whenever okay? My phone’s always on me and I’m losing my mind here.” Kacchan grumbled, and it was at that moment Izuku recalled that he was interning at Best Jeanist.

Izuku couldn’t help but giggle. “Are you okay there? Are the tight jeans killing you?” Izuku guessed, laughing a bit. It was a well-known fact that the agency had a look - an image that they tried to portray about handsome fit young men. It was very far away from the kind of thing Kacchan enjoyed, and Izuku had a feeling his childhood friend was more miserable than he let on.

“Don’t fucking say a word. While you get to be all cool and kick ass, I had to sit here and look pretty all day. What a waste.” Kacchan grumbled, and Izuku closed his eyes to imagine what it would be like. Kacchan in tight jeans would definitely be a nice sight for sore eyes, but Izuku had a feeling that wasn’t the best of it. He probably had to tame that mess of a head of hair he had, which was an impossible feat but Izuku knew that Best Jeanist would not give up so easily.

So basically, Kacchan’s biggest nightmare.

“Aww, I don’t think it’s all bad. Kacchan is really good at looking pretty.” Izuku jokes, though to be honest Izuku was only telling the truth.

Izuku can hear Kacchan almost choke on the other end before growling.

“Shut the fuck up idiot, I’ll show you pretty. As soon as we get back to the dorms we’re going to my room and I’ll show you pretty .” Kacchan growled, and Izuku felt himself getting a little warm at the implication of that.

“Kacchaan, don’t tease me like that! Do you know how that sounds?!” Izuku shrieks, hand clutching at the front of his own shirt, heart thudding loudly in his ribcage.

“Why? You being a perv, Deku? That’s your own fault. I only meant scenting , you shitty nerd. God, you’re fucking annoying! I’m hanging up now, since you’re clearly fine. Just come to my room as soon as you get to the dorms. Bye.” Kacchan yelled before waiting for Izuku to hang up.

“Kacchan, you said you’d hang up.” Izuku says after a while of silence, checking to see that he still hadn’t.

No response, but Izuku could hear Kacchan humming softly under his breath.

God, he was ridiculous. Izuku didn’t want to hang up either, it was like he was letting Kacchan win.

Then, another call came through - it was Uraraka - who was no doubt worried as well. Shoot, he knew he had to pick that up. He needed to remember what he told himself earlier. About Kacchan no longer being his only priority in life.

“Kacchan, I have to go but I…”

“But you….”

“Miss you. I miss you a lot Kacchan.”

“...tch. You’re such a sap. Just hang up already.”

“Kacchan.”

“...fine. I’ll miss you too, nerd. Get some rest.”

Notes:

owo y'all really ain't ready for what i have in store >:) GET READY

Chapter 34: apple spice

Summary:

deviating from canon owo?

Izuku’s been bored out of his mind for the last twenty minutes. Being stuck in the hospital sucked, Izuku had to make sure not to visit this place too often. If he kept getting hurt like this the longer these visits would become.

Todoroki had left the hospital the fastest. Apparently all his injuries were minor - which was great - but Izuku had hoped they could bond more. In the short time they had spent together Izuku already felt closer to the Alpha.

The three of them made for an interesting bunch. Iida and Todoroki would be the closest to what the 'Dream Alphas' would be considered, at least on a superficial level. They embodied the stuff of romance novels and movies, the kind that advertised on Valentine’s day or White Day chocolate ads. The two were everything the public wanted of Alphas. Proper, civil, rich and good looking. The entire package. They'd make great celebrities.

Yet, their dynamic was strange to witness. Izuku had always thought Iida was a bit of a square, though he had quickly gotten used to that. He seemed rather uptight and was a big stickler for the rules. Yet, it was plain to see that his loyalty could fault that image. That there was more to him than what meets the eye. If Izuku was going to be honest, he liked the Iida who had blazing eyes more than the one that kept up an appearance that wasn’t wholly true to himself.

That being said, Izuku really hoped IIda wouldn’t be going and picking any more fights with serial killers anytime soon.

Then there was Todoroki. He was truly a prince charming - if he was more aware of it. He held a rather dry-tone most of the time and seemed so distant and cold. The quiet resentment he carried silently for so long must have been such a huge burden to carry all on his own.

Now, Izuku sees quiet warmth in his eyes Whenever Izuku cracked a joke - usually at his own expense - Iida would laugh. Todoroki wouldn’t laugh but somehow the quiet smile, just barely an upturn of the lips was more than enough.

More importantly to Izuku however, was that it seemed he was no longer living with that quiet resentment in eyes that had plagued his entire life up until now - but replaced with softer warmer sparkle. The look of hope for the future.

It was very rewarding to see such a look in the boy’s eyes and Izuku was very grateful to see it.

Izuku is even more surprised when Todoroki taps on his back before leaving, a contemplative expression gracing his features.

“Midoriya...since we’re friends now, I was wondering if it would be alright to ask for a hug?” Todoroki asks quietly, his eyes more skittish than usual.

Izuku realizes with a start that the boy is being shy. He’s nervous. Izuku’s heart breaks a little, wondering if anyone had ever hugged the boy before.

“Of course!” Izuku replies easily, wrapping his hands around his friend’s waist.

Todoroki is stiff at first, probably unused to invading someone’s personal space like this. It simply just wasn’t something he did.

He relaxes after a beat, pressing his chin on top of Izuku’s head and melting into the hug more comfortably. Izuku could feel the steady scent of spearmint and myrrh and knew his friend was happy. It felt so nice to know Izuku was able to do this for a person. A person who had suffered so much that he probably never thought to ask for hugs before now.

“Oh.” Todoroki breathes as they seperate from the peaceful moment.

“Oh?” Izuku asks, tilting his head curiously.

“I - uh - I get why that helps Bakugou now. Your scent is very calming.” Todoroki informs, eyes looking a little far away.

The mention of Kacchan’s name from Todoroki’s lips makes Izuku unexpectedly embarrassed. Every single time he brought Kacchan up, it was always in relation to how peculiar their relationship was. It made Izuku fluster a bit more and more every time.

“Wow! Okay, Todoroki look at the time! Didn’t you say your sister was coming to pick you up? Would you look at that it’s time to get going!” Izuku rushed, pushing his friend out of the room.

“Huh?” Todoroki wondered, looking confused but he looked at his watch - and thank God - he seemed to get the memo. With a quick wave goodbye to Izuku and Iida the Alpha left.

Iida chuckled at the interaction from his cot.

“For someone who was groaning about how long you’d be stuck here without us, you seemed a little too relieved to see Todoroki go. Was it because he brought up Bakugou again?” Iida asked teasingly.

“No.” Izuku pouted, lying straight through his teeth.

“Trying saying that again, with more intention next time.” Iida laughed, as he moved on his cot to pat beside him. An invitation.

Izuku reluctantly sits beside his friend as Iida smiles at him.

“Look, Midoriya-kun I just wanted to say thank you. Properly. You didn’t...you didn’t have to do everything that you did for me. You probably shouldn’t have...but you’re always helping others. Todoroki basically said as much as well. So, I hope I can become someone like you one day. Someone who inspires hope and loyalty, wherever you may go. Until...until I can become that kind of person, a worthy defender of peace, I won’t be getting the surgery for my hand. Just, as a reminder. Until I can proudly call myself that kind of person.” Iida confesses, his eyes distant but focused. Staring at the image of himself that he hoped to become.

Izuku was flattered, he truly was but he wasn’t that amazing.

“Iida-kun...while I personally think you should get the surgery, I’ll respect your decision. But, please don’t put me on a pedestal! Everything everyone’s been saying about me and my smell and becoming a police officer...I appreciate it but I’m not so great and cool. I’m not like you, or Kacchan or even Todoroki. You guys look to the future, and know already the path you want to pursue. The goal you want and strive for everyday! You guys were...destined for it, I guess. But, I’m not the same.” Izuku sighed, looking at the opposite wall of the bed.

“You guys are so cool and talented and smart, and you guys live with this like drive, that I can’t fully understand. I used to think it was an Alpha thing, but I look at Uraraka’s dream of providing for her family and she has...she has an actual goal that she can and will work towards. And I just have...nothing.” Izuku frowns.

Iida looks at him for a bit as the silence stretches in between them. His eyes aren’t judging, aren’t demeaning only contemplative.

“Midoriya-kun, I understand your worries but in my eyes it makes you no less great. That means you do things, purely because you think it’s good and right. Rather than for some kind of award or recognition. You are gifted in ways I don’t think you fully understand so even if you say all that...you’re the type of person who doesn’t have to chase greatness. You already are. You don’t need to have a dream or anything complicated like that if you live as you are now. To me, it looks like there is a path that’s creating itself for you, without you even knowing. As long as there is something that you keep inside your heart, I think you can do anything that you want. Do you have something like that?” Iida tells him, smiling slightly.

Izuku thinks about that for a bit, tears welling in his eyes. It feels like everyone’s been showering him with nothing but light and he wonders if this is the universe’s way of apologizing for constantly getting him into trouble.

A desire, huh?

A wish? What does Izuku want out of life…

A lot. But, also nothing too extraordinary. He wants to keep all his friends and family safe, Izuku wants to be happy. All trivial small things, but things Izuku will make sure to maintain.

Izuku wanted Kacchan, but that wasn’t a want he could fully control. Sometimes that want became a need, and there was no way for him to just keep his childhood friend all to himself. That would be selfish, and also kind of impossible.

Above all of that, Izuku wanted to save people. Like All Might from his comics and like Toshinori-sensei did when he had trained him.

“A desire that I keep in my heart..would be something like wanting to save people. Wanting to help others as much as I can.” Izuku finally says, but when he turns around his friend is sleeping sitting up.

Izuku can’t help the smile that warms his face. Somehow, he feels that Iida - in his own way - had helped him too. This thought stays in his mind as he helps his friend into his cot, getting him under the blanket before whispering a soft ‘good night’.

---

For the next few days, Iida’s words are firmly planted in Izuku’s mind. A desire of the heart.

Izuku for as long as he’d known, had always wanted to be a hero. Like the ones he saw on TV, but sometimes heroes came in different forms.

Sometimes, they were the lawyers that won the case for a victim. Sometimes they were doctors who could heal physical ailments. Sometimes they were musicians or authors, who created art that seemed to soothe the soul. Firefighters were heroes too. As were the police. To many people, all of these people could be heroes simultaneously.

A real hero could come in any form, but it was their actions that made them what they are.

Izuku knew to an extent that if he put his mind to something he could figure it out. That realistically, if there was something he knew he wanted to do he could do it.

But, he didn’t want to just mindlessly stumble into what he wanted. Izuku wanted to be like Kacchan, who chased after him with intent and purpose and hard work.

But, Izuku had never been Kacchan. They lived different lives and just because he loved him, didn’t mean he had to be exactly like him. As it was, Izuku was less than impressed by Kacchan’s needlessly aggressive behaviour, so Izuku had to let that image go once and for all.

He didn’t need Kacchan in any aspect. But, that didn’t have to mean he couldn’t want him.

He wanted Kacchan more than anything.

No, what Izuku needed was to be a person of his own. To be able to admire himself, become something that others could look up to the way Izuku looked up to Toshinori-sensei. Turns out that was already happening, without him even realizing.

Maybe, just maybe Iida was right. Greatness didn’t have to be a destiny thing, it wasn’t as if it was something people were born with. It wasn’t even related to secondary genders at all. Toshinori-sensei was Alpha but so was Shigaraki. No, there was no recipe for success, and things like gender didn’t determine that at all.

Then why did Izuku feel that even with all these revelations, that there was something else he wasn’t getting?

---

It was only after the fourth day, when Iida leaves that the answers seem to come at him all at once.

“All right! Now that the other young men are all healthy and gone, I have something I wish to speak with you about personally, Midoriya.” the doctor tells him.

His mother had visited him again in the hospital today, Izuku's head lying in her lap. She had been tenderly running her fingers through Izuku’s hair murmuring softly to her son. It had been a long time since Izuku had allowed her to baby him to this extent so she had been enjoying it while it lasted.

Izuku sits up straight right away, a little concerned but otherwise ready to hear what the doctor had to say.

“Is there something wrong, is my Izuku okay?” Inko asks, eyes wide as she stands up as well.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that, I was just wondering about a few things that could help me understand your son’s condition better.” the doctor explains quickly, flipping through his clipboard and startling Izuku’s easily panicked mother further.

“Condition?! Is there something wrong with him?” Inko demands, looking like she was ready to fight or flee any second.

The doctor startles at her behaviour before blinking ready to reassure her.

“No, no! Nothing like that, I was just curious about your son’s keen nose. There is an abnormally increased signal between your son’s olfactory receptors and his olfactory cortex. Usually, this is common in Alphas or Omegas, but your son is Beta. Which is rather curious, because your son’s scent glands are abnormally larger than the average Beta’s as well.” the doctor explained, clicking his pen a couple of times.

Inko seemed to deflate a little, though there was a strange tension in her eyes.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Inko asks, looking less worried and more curious by the second.

“Nothing of too much concern but a couple of different things. To begin, I’d like to know a bit of ancestry if that’s okay. What secondary genders were your own parents as well as Midoiya’s sire?”

Izuku bristled at the mention of his non-existent father figure but otherwise did not interrupt.

“O-Oh. Well my own parents were both Omegas and had me through reciprocal in vitro fertilization. Izuku’s sire was a Beta as well born to an Omega-Beta coupling.” she explains softly, shocking Izuku.

All this time, he had assumed that there was a surrogate involved. Why hadn’t she told him?

The doctor however, seemed fascinated. “Incredible. Your parents were the first Omega-Omega to produce an offspring, correct? That’s amazing! They brought so much pride for everyone involved. It further encouraged so many progressive regulations and laws too for same sex marriage! Truly -”

His mother looked more and more embarrassed, trying not to explode from mortification.

Oh, perhaps this was why.

“Ah, so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Ahem, anyway! The reason I asked was because due to a very unique combination of recessive Omega genes - which has never happened before - your son seems to have inherited many Omega characteristics. In fact, I’m surprised that neither of you are Omegas! It’s quite remarkable. If I didn’t have this information, I’d say Midoriya over here was just a late bloomer.” the doctor explains, jotting a few things down as he speaks.

His mother is strangely quiet, pursing her lips at this.

“Is there still a possibility?” she asks, her face solemn.

The doctor nods looking back up at Izuku’s mothers. “Yes, there is. Knowing his family history now, I’d say it’s likely he’d present as an Omega, though I am a little less inclined to believe he will. Seeing as both you and Izuku’s sire were Beta, it is very unlikely. But still possible. In any case, what we tell people with your nose condition - hyperosmia - to do is to take these pills on off heat/rut days if you can. Seeing as you are Beta, you’re free to consume these when you please so long as you don’t surpass 3 pills per day. I’m surprised you haven’t complained of any pain or discomfort earlier. Usually young Omegas or Alphas need them if it gets as bad as yours. They can cause migraines and usually makes you more sensitive to pain as well.”

“Oh. I just ignored it. I thought since it was some kind of ability it was just normal.” Izuku explains, waving off his mother’s concern.

The doctor laughs at that. “Well, it seems you have some control over it so you’ll be fine. The pills are just in case you need them. In any case, though I did say it was unlikely please stay vigilant and aware. It is still possible for you to be a late bloomer so keep an eye out. I’d also recommend telling any personal doctors you may have, even a close friend you see everyday. They might notice some signs before you do.”

Izuku nods along, a little stunned but watches his mother ask a few more questions, his mind whirling a bit. How? It seemed surreal to even think about. All the Omegas Izuku knew were cool, elegant, refined and gorgeous in an almost ethereal way.

Yaomomo, Midnight and even Katsuki’s father. They were all refined, cool people who Izuku sometimes couldn’t even believe was real.

Izuku personally believed such a thing to be impossible. Omegas were also naturally gifted at taking care of things, of being organized and proper and Izuku was very far away from any of those qualities. He could barely take care of himself!

He personally thought that he suited Beta just fine. Plain, pretty boring and typical nothing to look back at twice. This was a lot to process, and Izuku wasn’t quite sure he really believed it.

This day of information overload was far from over.

Notes:

this was a long time coming,, but also izuku's denial of not being 'elegant' TvT
also i just want to let y'all know that i'm taking a/b/o in a different route than you typically expect
usually with a/b/o i've seen
a) lots of porn
b) oppressive society typically towards omegas
c) pregnancy stuff

while it's not like i won't touch on these topics i've seen it done a lot already and it's not the story i want to tell
this is gonna be self-discovery oriented - as i've touched on in this chapter - and obviously bkdk stuff.
i really just want more bkdk fluff in a/b/o that isn't necessarily pregnancy related (especially since they're teenagers still trying to figure stuff)

bUT in it's place i'm bringing in a ~new~ element. i've seen it more in hybrid stuff, but especially after the stain arc, i feel would serve this au pretty well ehehehehe

Chapter 35: copper

Summary:

blood, sweat and...tears?

Izuku decides to ignore all the possible Omega talk because it doesn’t seem likely. His mother, however, seems to be excited enough by the prospect for the both of them. She asks about heats, and suppressants, the pros and cons of Omega collars. She’s taking it far too seriously for Izuku’s liking but it’s honestly no skin off of Izuku’s back.

When the doctor finally excuses himself and leaves, Izuku let’s out a sigh of relief. His mother is happily chattering about getting Izuku soft blankets and pillows for nesting - just in case - and Izuku really doesn’t see the issue with a few extra soft sleeping materials so he doesn’t fight her chattering.

Inko seems unreasonably happy for someone who was told her son would be - very unlikely - an Omega and Izuku’s curiosity grows. This in addition to the new information about his mother being the child of two Omegas - by blood! - made Izuku more anxious to get answers.

“Mom, why didn’t you tell me about the in vitro fertilization thing?” Izuku asks in a break between his mother’s mutters.

His mother’s eyes go as round as saucers. She looks away, clearly a bit embarrassed as she plays with her fingers in silence. Izuku’s curiosity grows the longer his mother remains quiet. What was going on her head? Usually his mother was relatively frank with her thoughts, at least with her son. If she really didn’t like or approve of something Inko usually let him know.

For her to be so hesitant right now was of concern.

“It’s just...as a kid people used to make fun of me. At the time, it was a big deal. Two female omegas having their own kid was unheard of back then. It’s still super rare now. Back in your great grandparents days such things couldn’t even be spoken of! So, it was weird. I was considered a miracle baby but I didn’t like the attention. People would say all these things, know all these things about my parents and me and I...hated it. I hated the attention, hated being treated like I was some kind of freak of nature. So, I always kept a low profile. Eventually the attention did stop when I presented as Beta and I was no longer of interest. I prefer it that way, so I just never talked about it too much. And when you were born, I didn’t want anyone to treat you the way I was treated.” Inko explained softly, sitting next to Izuku on his cot.

Izuku’s heart ached for his mom. He hadn’t known. He hadn’t known she had felt like that, and Izuku almost felt sorry for even bringing it up.

“And presenting as Beta when I had to strong Omega mothers was tough. I wanted to be like them, fearless and graceful. Warriors and advocates of strength but it just...wasn’t meant to be. I felt like such a disappointment.” Inko confessed, teary eyed. Izuku held his mother’s hands in his and squeezed, his own eyes growing a little wet. He could sympathize with her too well. He really was his mother’s son.

“But, I came to terms with it! I really did. Not having so much media attention definitely helps, and there are perks in every dynamic. It doesn’t matter what your secondary gender is anymore. We now live in a society where we’re all held equally under the eyes of the law. So, I told myself it didn’t matter. Because it doesn’t.” Inko continues.

“But..?” Izuku pushes, knowing his mother’ s expression right now meant there were still words she had left stuck in her throat.

“But...sometimes I still wish I could be. So that’s why when the doctor said you could be I got a little…”

“Over enthusiastic?”

His mother looked at him and laughed, biting her lip to stop herself.

“I was going to say excited but that works too.”

The two giggled at the hands intertwined and eyes a little watery. Sometimes Izuku forgot how much he loved his mom. She was constantly supporting him, filling him with so much love and kindness. His mom had been through so much, what with a childhood like that, a husband who left her and a child to raise all on her own. A lot of people wouldn’t have been able to do what she had done and remained such a kind and warm person. Izuku cherished his mother in words he couldn’t fully express.

“Mom, I’m really proud of you.” Izuku told her sincerely, arms wrapping around his mother’s torso and head buried in her collarbone. Izuku reveled in her calming scent of eucalyptus and lavender and his mother’s comforting back rubs.

For some reason, his mother choked up at the declaration as if she were about to start sobbing. Which actually, was a rather common occurrence in the Midoriya household so maybe Izuku should’ve expected this much after all.

“I’m the one who should be telling you. Who’s the mom, here?” Inko demands, though her words come out more choppy and watery than she probably would’ve liked.

As they seperate Izuku wipes his mother’s tears with his thumbs before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“I think even mom’s need to hear that sometimes.” Izuku grinned as his mom gave him the sweetest smile Izuku had seen in a long time.

“Oh, Izuku. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Inko sobbed, pulling Izuku back into a bone crushing hug that left Izuku to get pummeled by surprisingly strong arms.

---

By the time his mother leaves, Izuku is about ready to get into bed when a knock at the door causes him to jump. That was suspicious. Izuku looks at the clock then the window to confirm. It’s ten at night, the doctors and/or nursers could come and go as they pleased. Visiting hours were over a long time ago, and usually Izuku was made aware of visitors beforehand.

Something wasn’t right and yet…

There were no weapons in this hospital room - go figure - and nothing but a stray magazine Izuku could even attempt to arm himself with. Izuku approached the door with caution, taking silent steps forwards until his back was pressed against the door.

The individual on the other side knocked again, this time a little more impatiently.

Izuku flipped his stance so now he's front was pressed against the door. He closes his eyes and covers his ears, before concentrating on the scent in hopes he could somewhat identify the person on the other side or at least their intentions and current mood.

The scent was woodsy, though it could’ve been the door itself but Izuku was very familiar with the scent.

Toshinori-sensei!

Izuku opened the door quickly, staring at his teacher in surprise. He was currently in his reduced Alpha state, looking like nothing more than skin and bones. His eyes were awfully haggard and even his scent was rather anxious.

“Toshinori-sensei, what are you doing here?” Izuku demanded, equal parts shocked and pleasantly surprised. While he would never complain about having his role model come visit him, it was rather questionable if a bit shady for this mentor to be meeting with him like this.

“Izuku, I’ll need you to close the door and speak quietly. I have an urgent matter to discuss with you and I’d really appreciate it if you could cooperate.” Toshinori-sensei informed him solemnly.

“Um, okay.” Izuku whispers softly, as he shuts the door firmly after Toshinori-sensei enters. This was getting stranger and stranger by the minute.

Izuku goes to sit at his cot while Toshinori-sensei moves to sit on the cot across from him. It had been the cot Iida had slept on, but his friend had long been discharged.

“To begin with, I want to apologize. Since seeing you rescue your friend, I’ve had my eyes on you. This entire time, I’ve been quietly training you and testing you without your full knowledge. Izuku, have you noticed that my training for the summer was of another level that what you needed for not only the Entrance Exam but also your day to day training at U.A?” Toshinori asked, biting the bullet right from the get go.

Izuku bites his lips and nods. He had thought that the day of the Entrance Exam. Toshinori-sensei had almost over trained him in comparison to what the school actually demanded of him.

“Good. Alright, I’m glad that will make this much easier. As you know, All For One my arch nemesis has now acquired a group that is trying to actively destroy me and all those who support my ideals. While on the surface they look like some random criminal group trying to vy for public attention it is much more serious than that.” Toshinori-sensei sighs, looking strangely defeated.

It was such a foreign look on his mentor that Izuku kind of wanted to laugh.

“More serious?” Izuku repeats, a little stunned at the reveal.

“Yes. And in doing so, I’ve unfortunately involved you without your knowledge and for that I am truly in your debt. Which is why I have a proposal. But, before this I must inform you of a few matters.” his mentor explains his eyes growing distant.

Izuku nods as the atmosphere seems to get thicker with tension. So thick, he wouldn’t even be able to cut it with a knife. He had never seen his idol look so solemn before, not in any interviews or any matches. It was truly a sight to behold.

“All For One is more than just a man. It’s an archaic organization. It’s been said that the original leader was the first Prime Alpha known to man.” Toshinori begins, as Izuku listens to his mentor’s tale with bated breath.

“As you probably have already heard of, society has functioned with Alphas, Betas and Omegas for as long as we’ve known. Alphas and Omegas used to be a lot more common back in the day, though Omegas have always been fewer in number due to their recessive alleles. That being said, the original packs usually consisted of a Pack Alpha and a Pack Omega. Then there would be other Omegas, Alphas, and Betas that would compromise a Pack. These Packs acted as families, though not all members of a Pack were blood related.” Toshinori-sensei explains.

Izuku nods. So far, none of this information was things he hadn’t known before.

“In these Packs, it was common for everyone to scent each other since they were all family. As you know, sweat holds our distinct odors and is what helps us identify each other. Back in the day, this also helped understanding of ally and enemy. Someone that smells good or calming is someone you're either familiar or compatible with. Meanwhile, scents that are repulsive are usually foreign or incompatible scents.”

Izuku nods again. Thus far, this was all common knowledge. Izuku wondered where Toshinori-sensei was going with this.

“Scenting is a common practice that boils down to exchange of sweat. It’s a signal of being close with someone, and if done enough can even be enough to imprint. But, when people Claim a potential mate the exchange of sweat and blood occurs in one of the most vulnerable areas for both the accumulation of sweat and blood. That is why Claiming is such an intimate act. Do you know why I’m telling you all this now, Izuku?” his mentor asks.

Izuku tries to reflect. This speech was all things Izuku had already known. Why would Toshinori-sensei be telling him all this now? He had ended it off with Claiming which was the exchange of sweat and blood which usually permanently tied someone to another. A Mark was a more shallow version of this which was less intense and while did mix the Scents of two people did not change your very being.

Why would Toshinori-sensei talk about the exchange of sweat and blood now?

Scent and blood...scent and blood!

Stain! Stain had used his scent to coat his weapons because mixing blood with scent would make his Orders more powerful. The reason they worked that way was because it acted as a false Mark!

Toshinori-sensei grinned at him, though the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“That’s right, Izuku. You’ve always been rather sharp. Yes, I brought this up due to your discovery. The reason I bring this up is because this manipulation of blood and scent is not common knowledge. If more criminals - especially Alphas - are aware of this we will see crime getting worse and worse. Especially violence against vulnerable populations. This kind of information is extremely classified and there are only a limited amount of people who know about it because it involves further issues. Do you understand why I’m telling you this, Izuku?” Toshinori asks him gravelly.

Izuku gulps. “Because I figured it out, told Todoroki and Iida and could’ve accidentally let this kind of information slip again.”

Toshinori offers him a half smile.

“Close but that's not entirely it. The police and I have already made sure that those two keep that information confidential, though I don’t think they fully grasp why. That is for the adults to take care of, so I don’t need you to be concerned about that. This is where I’ll soon be getting to my proposal. The reason why this matter gets into dangerous water is because of Blood Oaths and Blood Pacts. Have you heard of these before?”

Izuku’s hands go cold.

“I-I’ve only heard whispers of it on sketchy websites on the Internet before. Nothing conclusive. Most people say it’s not real but…”

Toshinori-sensei nods solemnly.

“They are very much real. So, remember what I said about All For One being an organization? They’re an Alpha Supremacist group that has been alive long before you and I were born. The original Prime Alpha that started this organization using Blood Pacts. In exchange for various things, such as money, increased strength, or power All For One binds you to a Blood Pact. You can basically ask for whatever you want and in exchange, you’ll have to swear loyalty to All For One. When the time comes, you must do whatever it is he asks of you but until then you are free to do as you please.” he explains his eyes and voice growing more distant the longer he speaks.

Izuku lets that information sink in. The implications of that were horrifying. If they were an Alpha supremacist group it meant they wanted to reinvent the New World order. Things had finally been looking up for Omegas again! They were equal in the eyes of the law, because now people held Alphas accountable. They could no longer do as they pleased and controlled what they wanted.

This was partly due to the advancement of science that made suppressants of all sorts, that mitigated and almost got rid of most physically oriented tasks. There was no need for superior Alpha strength in the world anymore. Not when things like effort, intelligence and conscience were of more value.

But this also meant less privileges for Alphas that they had previously enjoyed in full. There were many resentful Alpha families that went on for generations that could make easy success for just having an Alpha offspring. This had upset plenty.

So knowing that an organization that held that much resentment had that kind of monopoly of an unknown population and demographic was terrifying.

Instead of voicing any of these concerns - because Izuku had a feeling Toshinori already knew what he was thinking - he asks another question.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Toshinori-sensei pulls out something from his pocket. A folded parchment and a thumbtack.

What is happening?

“Not all hope is lost, Izuku. All For One had a young Omega brother who was very sickly that he took pity on. His promise was protection against unwanted Alpha Orders. Nobody could forcefully make his younger brother do anything. Now the thing about a Blood Oath is that if the person conducting the Oath never asks for any repayment, this debt and boon will be passed down to the last person whose blood has been infused with his own.” Toshinori explains, as he unravels the parchment paper.

Izuku’s breath catches in his throat.

“So you’re saying that…”

“What I’m here to tell you, Izuku is that for just as long as All For One’s organization has existed this boon has been passed down from generation to generation. My own mentor has passed the ability on to me, and it has resulted in this mark on my stomach.” as Toshinori lifts up his shirt Izuku sees it.

A black mark was shaped around the injury on his stomach. The circle had arrows that pointed towards the center. In the center of the circle was the number “8”.

Izuku’s eyes widened.

“It is time for me to find a successor, Izuku. And I’ve been watching you, training you and somehow you ended up being involved in all of this all on your own. You are more than worthy of becoming my successor. However, this ability is as much of a curse as it is a blessing. If you choose to accept the conditions will be that you will dedicate your life to destroying All For One.” Toshinori declared.

Izuku sat in stunned silence, looking at the parchment with the conditions and then the thumbtack. Just the last few days, he’d been complaining about constantly getting into trouble. If he did this, he’d been a signing up for a lifetime’s worth of it.

“Okay!” Izuku grinned, picking up the thumbtack and observing the sheen of the metal. “Do I get a mark on my stomach too?”

Toshinroi gapes at him and laughs, a full belly kind of chuckle that made Izuku think that in another life he would’ve made a great father.

“Wow, that quite possibly the most anti-climatic acceptance I have ever heard of in my life!” he chuckled, reaching over the space in between them to ruffle Izuku’s hair. “And no, the mark changes depending on the person. It’s quite common for people with scarring to have a mark that grows from there. That’s what happened to me.”

“Oh, okay. It’ll be somewhere on my arms, then?”

“Quite possibly.”

“Neat!”

Notes:

WOOOOO me deviating from canon plot and worldbuilding for things beyond a/b/o and bkdk??
more likely than you would think ;)

how y'all feeling about this? let me know in the comments!
love you guys <3

Chapter 36: rosemary

Summary:

a sealed oath in blood & a confession in tears

Izuku took the document from Toshinori-sensei’s hands, feeling shaky. The ambiance at that moment was a little frightening. The sun had long gone, with nothing but moon light illuminating the desolate hospital room.

Toshinori-sensei’s face was gaunt and sunken compared to normal, a far away look embedded in his eyes. Izuku wondered what kind of burden this legacy would bear, and if he could even live up to the expectations placed upon him.

Yet, if his mentor believed Izuku was the right person for this...he’d do it.

Izuku kept his eyes on the thumbtack, as it slowly rose in Toshinori-sensi’s right hand and watched as the shiny silver metal nipped at Toshinori sensi’s skin on his pinky. A bead of crimson red blood bloomed from his skin, trickling down his pinky in little drops.

Izuku scans the document once again, before placing the paper by his bedside and taking the thumbtack for himself.

This seemed kind of unsanitary.

In any case, Izuku pricks his finger - the pinky - as he too lets the blood trickle down his hand. Then he approaches Toshinori-sensei and places their fingers side by side.

“Alright Izuku, you’ll have to repeat after me.” Toshinori-sensei tells him, eyes looking worn but focused.

“Yes, sir.” Izuku nods, mirroring his mentor’s solemn gaze.

Toshinori takes a deep breath, before placing the document right underneath their joined fingers. Izuku feels a shiver pass down his spine, as he tries to regulate his own breathing. This was like something out of a horror movie.

But, just a few days ago he’d been searching for his purpose. Searching for what role he was meant to fulfill and here Toshinori-sensei was ready to sculpt him into someone who could save their society. This was Izuku’s opportunity to become a hero. He couldn’t pass this up, not for anything.

Toshinori-sensei inhales sarply before he begins.

“I swear by the blood in my veins.”

“I swear by the blood in my veins.” Izuku repeats, as their pinkies twist together. A strange sensation passes through Izuku’s pinky up his arm and down his body.

“And this heart that keeps it flowing.” Toshinori-sensei continues, voice deeper and more resolute than Izuku’s ever heard before.

“And this heart that keeps it flowing.” Izuku murmurs in equal fervor, trying to give as much energy as he was taking.

“And by my name, my dreams and my purpose.”

“And by my name, my dreams and my purpose.” Izuku agrees, and then the feeling that had passed down his body before seems to cage around his heart. It thumps loudly in sync with Izuku’s own but the sound echoes with his own rib cage as if it were a shadow of something - or someone else.

“To dedicate my life to destroying All For One.” Toshinori goes on, completely ignorant of Izuku’s mental breakdown.

“T-To dedicate my life to destroying All For One.” Izuku stutters, feeling less and less sure about this promise.

“And if I break my word may the Earth drink my blood!” Toshinori-sensei concludes with flare,, his voice rising enough to bounce off the walls.

Izuku had some idea of what he had been signing up for. Yet, his mind was screaming with voices that simply were not his and it was driving Izuku insane.

These voices were demanding if he was worthy of such a legacy. If he was strong enough to bare the weight of the entire world upon his shoulders. Izuku’s lungs ached as if he was holding his breath and for a split second Izuku wondered if he was about to die.

“And if I break my word may the Earth drink my blood!” Izuku repeated and then the two of them squeezed their pinkies together and slowly watched as a drop of their blood dropped onto the parchment and onto the floor.

As Izuku’s promise rang through the air, Izuku stumbled with a startled gasp.

Izuku’s sight went dark and in place of Toshinori’s concerned blue eyes was a vision. Two men, the first was a man with close cropped white hair and a heavy build. He had strong biceps, and a traditionally attractive Alpha stature. His very presence oozed with archaic Alpha aggression, yet in this moment his eyes seemed tender as he gazed at the man crumpled below him.

The second man must be the brother - Izuku guessed - the sickly Omega. He was on his knees in front of his brother, his head bowed down, refusing to make eye contact with his brother. Izuku could tell the man was far from his prime, little more than bone and skin. His hair was longer - as was traditionally done for Omegas back in the day. His hair too was white, though wispy and somewhat ethereal as it fell to his shoulders.

Their hands were joined too, mirroring Izuku’s own experience.

Izuku watched as the older brother bent down to speak to the younger in his ear. Izuku couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but Izuku knew it was nothing good. The slight smirk that was growing on the older brother’’s face proved that much.

The man laughed before leaving his brother on the floor by himself.

“So, you’re the ninth.” the sickly brother called, startling Izuku from his thoughts. His voice was startlingly soothing and kind, and Izuku found himself approaching the man without much thought.

Izuku’s heart stops, and his hand moves on it’s own. Their pinkies intertwined and the two look each other in the eye.

Despite his malnourished appearance, his eyes - and conviction - are resolute. He smiles at Izuku so warmly, Izuku feels his terror slowly melt into the foreground as he awaits the man’s next words.

“Do not worry, young one. You are not alone.”

And with that, Izuku awakes with a start. It’s a new day when Izuku opens his eyes and Toshinori-sensei is long gone. Izuku is almost convinced the entire ordeal was a dream if it wasn’t for the mark he finds on his arms.

Izuku’s only scars have been the ones on his palms up until now, from when he had destroyed the Nomu device. It seemed as though those marks had only grown darker, though if Izuku flipped to the inside of his palm the number ‘9’ seemed to extend from one of the lines of his palms. Much smaller than Toshinori-sensi’s barely there if you weren’t looking for it.

Without further thought Izuku goes back to bed.

---

On the last day of their official internships, Izuku is luckily able to leave the hospital and spend some time with his ‘boss’.

It begins with Gran Torino scolding him for recklessly getting into trouble, for leaving his boss when he should’ve stayed and getting his teaching license revoked. The man’s twitching of the mouth and goofy expression tell Izuku all that he really needs to know though. The man is secretly impressed by his performance but refuses to say so outright.

“Ah, what the heck. I only needed that license to get you to track down Stain. Which you easily accomplished and more. How’s that Blood Oath working out for ya?” Gran Torino asks casually.

This shocks Izuku so much he nearly falls, eyes going wide and face going white.

“H-How did you?!” Izuku stutters, unable to formulate proper words.

Gran Torino leans back, eyes looking out into the sky as if to look for Izuku’s answers there.

“I was your mentor’s mentor’s friend. A close one of her’s actually. Her name was Nana Shimura and she had all the same optimism and idealism that you love about Toshinori. You would’ve liked her.” Gran Torino admits, smiling softly with nostalgia.

“Was?” Izuku asks, fighting between his curiosity and the need to be respectful. Izuku was always one who wanted to know more, who wanted to learn as much as he could. Respect was only second to that thirst for knowledge.

“Yes. She died fighting for All For One. It’s a tragic life she lived. Her husband died at it’s hands too, and she was so terrified of what they had done that she sent her only child to an orphanage to keep him safe. I’m sure that yesterday’s events were enough to show you that this isn’t something to take lightly, kid. And honestly, you’re the youngest person I know who’s involved with this. You’ve got an entire lifetime ahead of you, and this battle has spanned generations. It won’t be easy.” Gran Torino tells him seriously, looking at him with a worn look across his eyes. As if he’d aged far more from these experiences than normal time would allow.

Izuku takes it in and closes his eyes.

He thinks of his mother who struggled all her life, first at the attention and scrutiny of the world as a ‘miracle child’ and then as a single mother of a child who constantly got into fights he could not win. Then he thought of Kacchan, how all his life he had struggled to stand by him to feel worthy enough to look into his eyes. Then he thought of the merciless training he had been put under to get into U.A. And finally he thought of saving Todoroki at the price of losing the fight.

“Nothing good in life comes easy. I don’t mind suffering a bit if the outcome is better for everyone.” Izuku finally replies as he opens his eyes.

Gran Torino grins at him, whacking him in the head with affection.

“Now, that’s what I like to hear! You’ll make a great successor of One For All. I’m sure of it.” his boss grins.

Izuku looks back at the man curiously. “How is it that you know all this if you aren’t bound to the Oath yourself?”

Gran Torino rolls his eyes. “Just because we don’t sign a blood contract doesn’t mean there aren’t other people who are willing to support the cause. There are quite a few people who are aware of both All For One’s and One For All’s existence. Some of the U.A Staff and even members of the police force support the cause. Some of them are fully aware of the Blood Pacts, others just think we’re fighting a powerful underground Alpha Supremacist group. Who you chose to tell is up to you, but it must remain a secret. I’m sure Toshinori already told you, but this cannot become knowledge. You must choose your allies wisely. Sometimes your trust in them cannot be enough. They must be strong enough to handle the truth.”

Izuku nods and lets the information stew in his mind.

Strong enough to handle the truth? There was only one person Izuku could think of like that.

---

Izuku finds himself overwhelmed with attention as soon as he sets foot into the dorms. Uraraka is nervously hovering over him, Yaomomo is scolding him for once again managing to get injured and even Kirishima is ruffling his hair.

He really appreciates their concerns, he truly does but it’s making Izuku more than a little claustrophobic.
The events of the last few days have been getting to him, and he really wasn’t in the mood to play nice right now.

He honestly isn’t in the mood to deal with people right now and what he really, really needs right now is -

“Where's' Kacchan?” are the first words off his lips. Yaomomo sighs, Uraraka rolls her eyes and Kirishima grins.

“I got ya, Midoriya! Let's head over to his dorm, he’s been waiting for you.”

Uraraka makes a v with her fingers pointing to her eyes, and then points to Izuku’s eyes before turning on her heel ready to go talk to Tsuyu.

Yaomomo just smiles and shakes her head fondly.

“If you must see him now, I won’t stop you. But please, do make some time to have tea with me Midoriya-kun. I’m worried about you.” she tells him softly, and Izuku immediately feels guilty for trying to push her away right now.

“I promise I will, Yaomomo!” Izuku tells her before leaving with Kirishima at his side.

“Dude! I was really worried about you. I saw your ‘SOS’ on the groupchat and started calling you, and when you didn’t pick up I almost had a heart attack! Luckily, the news said you weren’t really injured so it was fine...but next time don’t do things on your own okay?” Kirishima scolds, his voice so sincere and caring that Izuku stops on the stairs to give his friend a hug.

“I-I’m sorry, Kirishima-kun. I didn’t mean to worry you, it's just things escalated so quickly and I-” Izuku tried to defend but Kirishima only shakes his head.

“No, I get it! I really do but...like everyone keeps saying. Every time something happens, it’s always you getting hurt. Even during the Sports Festival, and it’s kind of crazy! If you can...if you can afford to please rely on your friends a little Midoriya. You’re not alone.” Kirishima tells him sweetly, and somehow it’s these words that bring up all the emotions Izuku had locked up in his heart for appearance's sake.

Izuku starts sobbing right there on the stairs, feeling the burden placed on him for generations on his shoulders. An accumulation of stress, doubts and worries hit Izuku all at once. He attempts to cut the crying short, he truly does but all the words he cannot say clog up his throat and prevent him from formulating any thought and putting into words. So he cries instead, cries for all the pain he cannot show or truly explain and instead lets the tears reveal the anxious energy he cannot convert. His mumbling cries are apparently too incoherent for even Kirishima to decode, and Izuku finds himself pushed into Kacchan’s arms before he knows it.

He feels Kacchan’s deep rumbling more than hears it over his own pathetic cries and the words seem to be something along the lines of ‘what the fuck did you say to him’. Kirishima must say something to relieve him because Kacchan’s initial protective pheromones had eased to a sweeter and softer scent - most likely for Izuku’s sake as the blonde quietly thanks the redhead and then pushes Izuku onto his lap.

Kacchan makes soft crooning sounds of comfort to ease Izuku’s tears and Izuku soo finds his tears drying. They quietly scent for sometime in silence, Izuku sitting comfortably on Kacchan’s lap as he nuzzles into the blonde’s sweat gland.

Izuku plays with the hairs on the nape of Kacchan’s neck, as his childhood friend’s hands rub up and down Izuku’s spine. When Izuku’s tiny gasps finally cease to fill the air completely is when Kacchan finally speaks.

“So, you gonna tell me what the fuck that was about?” he asks, though his voice is less aggressive and more neutral than Izuku is used to.

Izuku pulls away, and Kacchan instantly steadies his hands on Izuku’s waist to prevent him from moving too far. Izuku only cups his friend’s face for a minute, scanning his eyes only to see the usual fierce determination in Kacchan’s eyes.

“I’ve got a lot of explaining to do, so this might take awhile.”

Notes:

it's been more than a month of constant updates! i'm pretty proud of myself ngl, this is turning out better than i had anticipated

how are y'all finding this so far? anything you're looking forward too/or scared for? which arc are you anticipating most?
for me it has to be the school festival arc!! but that's a little far away from now ╥﹏╥

Chapter 37: saltwater

Summary:

confessions and an ultimatum

“We’ve got time.” Kacchan points out leaning back on the bed as Izuku curls further into his lap. Much like a cat, Izuku fights the urge to almost purr - which was weird - and basked a bit in the warmth Kacchan’s body heat provided.

"Before that.. Kacchan, your hair!" Izuku exclaims giddily, just now noticing the difference. Apparently his time with Best Jeanist had meant a change in his look - which wasn't too surprising considering the agency's image. Izuku played around with Kacchan's unnaturally smooth and straight hair with fascination. It was so spiky Izuku couldn't believe it was possible to tame the hair. But, running his fingers through it now, Izuku could see why. There was a nasty amount of gel and hairspray used to keep it down, and the chemical grape scent was clogging up Izuku's nose. Luckily, all his messing around had turned Kacchan's hair back to normal. So, that was a plus.

"Yeah, yeah I already know. Now stop being a wishy washy piece of shit and talk to me!" Kacchan grunted, pulling Izuku hands away from his hair. He hadn't complained though, so that made Izuku believe that he must've enjoyed the experience to some extent.

“Ugh, where do I even start?” Izuku groans, taking his childhood friend’s hands casually as he starts playing with his fingers. Kacchan had bigger hands than him, and they were rough and calloused. His fingers were strangely graceful, long almost dainty in comparison to Izuku’s scarred ugly hands.

“Todoroki already updated me with the entire Stain situation. Four-Eyes running after a goddamned serial killer for revenge and then you following after him like the dumbass you are. It’s a good thing Endeavour saved your asses, I don’t want to think about how fucked you would’ve been otherwise.” Kacchan grumbled, seemingly neutral about Izuku playing with his hands.

Oh, so that was their cover story. Sounded convincing enough. In all honesty, Izuku felt like the whole Cop Killer thing paled in comparison to the other events that had taken place.

“Oh, so it’s Todoroki now?” Izuku asks instead, wanting to stall for as long as he could. He didn’t even know how to fully express what he was feeling about all the information he had acquired.

Besides, Kacchan seemed a little too familiar with Todoroki now. That spelled trouble for Izuku. The two of them were pretty aggressive Alphas when they wanted to be, but for them to band together about anything would mean a world of pain to whoever their opponent may be. Izuku really hoped he'd never have to fight the two of them at once at any point in time.

Kacchan rolled his eyes, his hands clamping down on Izuku’s own to prevent Izuku from distracting him.

“Don’t try to change the subject! So what if IcyHot can actually be useful once and awhile. Tell me what’s going on, nerd. You’ve been smelling kind off ever since you came in.” his friend argued, not looking amused in the slightest.

Izuku took a deep breath to quell the rise of anxiety that was filling his lungs. He could do this, it was just Kacchan. Izuku wasn’t very good at keeping secrets from him, even when they were kids.

“So, we all got injured right? So we were all at the hospital and stuff and my mom came for a bit and the doctor there talked to us about the possibilities behind my sensitive nose.” Izuku sighed, nuzzling into Kacchan’s chest as to avoid eye contact. This was really difficult for him to actually admit aloud.

His friend only grunted, nosing on the curls on Izuku’s head. Wanting Izuku to continue on his own.

“So, apparently - mom didn’t tell me this before - but she was born directly from her two Omega parents. Through reciprocal in vitro fertilization, which was the first of it's kind for two Omegas. The doctor said that it was weird that since both her biological parents are Omegas that she and me are Beta. His first theory is that so much Omega genes resulted in me getting a super sensitive nose or something.” Izuku explains quietly into Kacchan’s shoulder.

It takes a minute for the information to sink in but Kacchan nods, not really reacting to the information.

“Okay, so you got some Omega in you. What’s the other theory?” Kacchan asks, as Izuku stills heart lurching in his throat.

This was the part Izuku still found so hard to believe. He had spent all his life a plain Beta - he had made peace with that! And now, he was going to just Present all of a sudden? It made no sense. If he was going to be an Omega, he should’ve Presented by now!

“Deku!” Kacchan calls, shaking Izuku out of his thoughts.

“Sorry.” Izuku replied, closing his eyes as he continued. “The other possibility is that I’m a ‘late bloomer’ and I’m supposed to present as an Omega eventually. Initially, he had said I could present as an Alpha too but after hearing that I didn’t have any Alpha ancestry he seemed to be convinced that if I presented it would be as an Omega.” Izuku grumbled, looking slightly put off.

Kacchan stills at the information too, observing Izuku’s expression for a quiet moment before speaking.

“And you’re not happy about it. What’s wrong with being Omega?” Kacchan asked, his voice low and strangely melancholic. It was strange to hear it, since he was usually the upfront aggressive type. This was like the low threatening timbre Izuku had only ever heard from Todoroki before. It was a little more terrifying than Izuku would like to admit.

“I-Its’s not like that, Kacchan. There’s nothing wrong with being Omega...it’s just not me? Like when you see Midnight or Yaoyorozu, they’re so...elegant? And graceful and they have this almost ethereal presence I can’t feel explain. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, and honestly I think they’re super cool! But, no matter how much I try I feel like I can never be that. I’m not special or unique and I don’t have that same...quiet strength, I guess?” Izuku explains, “It’s hard to explain, I probably sound sp dumb right now, I know it’s just -”

Kacchan covers his mouth, leaving Izuku unable to finish his sentence. Kacchan could be really annoying sometimes. He was trying to explain things because Kacchan asked, and now he was interrupting him? Izuku pouts, and licks Kacchan’ palm to get him to stop as he curses Izuku out, wiping the saliva on Izuku’s shirt.

“You’re so fucking gross! Why do you do shit like that?” Kacchan demands as he wipes his hand all over Izuku’s shirt.

“Because you were being mean!” Izuku whines, pouting up at the blonde.

“No, you were being mean to yourself all on your own this time. Quit it with the whole ‘I’m so plain’ and ‘I ain’t special’ bullshit. Beta or Omega, you’re still shitty Deku to me. So stop thinking like that. Alright?” Kacchan tells him seriously, patting Izuku’s head the way he’s always liked.

"It's hard to just stop doing something just because you tell me too." Izuku notes, not looking Kacchan in the eye. He bites his lip, not entirely convinced but happy to indulge in Kacchan’s affections. Kacchan wraps his arms around Izuku’s torso, his chest rumbling with something warm and protective.

Kacchan lifts his chin so then he's looking at Izuku in the face.

“Look, loser. I’m only gonna say this once, so listen well. Even for an Alpha or an Omega or whatever, I don’t know anyone like you. I’m an Alpha too, but you don’t see me decoding someone’s entire life story with just at whiff of a stranger’s scent. Yeah, you can smell better than most Betas but that’s only half of it. You notice things, you think about the details and analyze shit even if you don’t need to. That’s what makes you Deku, so even if your sensitive nose is due to some whack biology shit it’s still because of your own efforts, Deku. That’s all fucking you. The average Alpha and Omega can get a general mood of people’s scents from people they know well. And most Betas I know can only describe people’s scents as ‘nice’ or ‘bad’. Don’t sell your self short. nerd. You’re real fucking special, in your own way, whether you admit it or not. Whatever you present as doesn’t change any of that shit, you hear me?” Kacchan rants, his voice strangely more passionate than Izuku was expecting.

Izuku feels his heart warm as he tackles Kacchan into the bed, aggressively scent marking his friend as the two of them playfully rough house. They tumble together onto the bed, Izuku trying to escape the headlock his friend has placed him in, but Kacchan is too strong. His biceps are thick and corded, and compared to Izuku's arms were much stronger. Izuku didn't stand a chance as he gets pinned onto the bed, with Kacchan looming over him.

“Kacchan!” Izuku squeals as the blonde gains the upper hand, tickling Izuku’s sides without mercy. Izuku begs for mercy, trying to grasp at Kacchan’s wrists to get him to stop but laughing so hard tears start to well in his eyes.

When the two of them settle on the bed finally, Kacchan lays on his his back, arms wrapped around Izuku’s hips. Izuku lays on his chest peacefully, their legs tangled together as they soak in the blissful peace of being in each other’s space. Izuku is more than content to laze around in Kacchan's arms listening to the soothing sounds of Kacchan's heart beating and his quiet but deep breaths. These moments were so tender and precious, Izuku wouldn't trade them for the world.

“Kacchan really is amazing.” Izuku tells him sincerely as Kacchan rolls his eyes. His face comes impossibly closer to Izuku’s and for a split second Izuku thinks he’s about to kiss him. Izuku's eyes go wide and his heart stutters but he refuses to move an inch, anticipating his childhood friend's next movements. Kacchan bites his cheek instead. Izuku pouts at him, slightly annoyed as Kacchan releases his cheek with a toothy grin.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m the best I already know. Is there anything else you wanted to tell me, or can we just scent now?” Kacchan asks, nosing at Izuku’s curls again.

Izuku really wanted to just scent normally, but he knew he couldn’t. There was still so much Izuku had to say.

“Uh, yeah, actually. One last thing about the Omega part, I was told to have a close friend observe any odd pre-heat Omega behaviours. So, I’m telling you.” Izuku grumbled, hiding his face in Kacchan’s shoulder again feeling a little embarrassed.

Kacchan seemed to perk up at this - if he were a dog Izuku had a sneaking suspicion his tail would be wagging right about now.

“Oh? You’re not gonna ask Round Cheeks? Or Four-Eyes? Or Ponytail?” Kacchan grins, ego apparently stroked.

Izuku just shrugs, rubbing his face into Kacchan’s sweat gland. “They’re all good friends, but I trust Kacchan most.”

This sentiment seems to sober Kacchan up a bit, his face going from arrogantly prideful to something more tender and soft. Izuku feels his heart swell at the expression - it was stuff like this that made Izuku think he actually had a chance. That Kacchan might actually return his feelings one day, and it made Izuku ache all over.

Instead of confessing his feelings Izuku rushed to confess something else in its place.

“There’s other stuff though. My internship was with this retired cop, right? It was...involved with the Stain case and because I performed really well Toshinori-sensei offered me a proposal.” Izuku blurted, trying to change the subject.

Kacchan froze, eyebrows furrowing as he took in Izuku’s flushed slightly sweaty state.

“What kind of proposal?”

Shoot, Izuku really needed to word this carefully. Gran Torino said that there were plenty involved with stopping All For One without being completely aware of the Blood Pacts. For now, it was probably best to avoid telling Kacchan how that worked - because that would open a whole new can of worms.

“Okay, um, remember Shigaraki?” Kacchan nods, face darkening, “He said he wanted to fulfill the will of All For One, right? All For One isn’t just one person, Kacchan. It’s an entire organization. I think the League of Criminals or whatever is like a branch or something from that. There is an Alpha Supremacist group that wants to destroy the New World Order. Toshinori-sensei’s part of an organization that’s created to bring them down, but they've been around for generations. In exchange for being Toshinori’s successor I’m supposed to dedicate my life to take them down.” Izuku explains nervously, watching his friend’s expression shift from confusion to shock and then - unsurprisingly - anger.

Kacchan gets up abruptly, causing Izuku to fall onto the floor without prior warning.

“Deku, what the fuck?!” Kacchan demands angrily, walking back and forth looking more stressed than Izuku anticipated.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Izuku asks from his spot on the floor.

Kacchan groans, staring at Izuku in complete frustration before starting to yank at the hairs on his head.

“You said yes, didn’t you? Deku, what the fuck were you thinking?” Kacchan demands looking like he was seconds away from exploding the entire building.

Izuku pouted, feeling like a scolded child.

“Kacchan, Toshinori-sensei could’ve asked anyone. And our idol asked me. How was I supposed to say no to that?” Izuku demanded in return, getting up to cross his arms.

Of all people, Kacchan was supposed to understand him the most! If he was in Izuku’s place he would’ve done the exact same thing.

“Easy, you just say no!” Kacchan yelled, looking increasingly agitated.

Izuku didn't understand where this was coming from. Why wasn't Kacchan proud for him? Or at least, his usual tentative disguised support that was presented as insults. He was straight up telling Izuku to give up. Kacchan never told anyone to give up. That's not the kind of person he was. That's why Izuku liked Kacchan so much.

“But, Kacchan! He was the one who gave me the opportunity to work with the police in the first place. It was the least I could do to repay him. He’s the reason I even came to this school, and now I actually have a purpose. Kacchan, you have to understand! I actually have a goal that means something! I’m good at what I do - you said yourself - and I could actually be a real-life hero like I’ve always wanted to be!” Izuku exclaimed, trying to explain just how good this would be for him.

For some reason, this seemed to piss off Kacchan even further.

“That’s the fucking problem, Deku! Are you even listening to yourself? This isn’t like those shitty comics you liked to read. You’re not All Might! You’re not invincible! Getting involved with shit like this is dangerous, you idiot! And you’re always running head first into danger and getting hurt. You can’t do this, Deku. I won’t let you.” Kacchan growled, his voice angry and possessive and so very Alpha.

Izuku frowned, he didn’t like where this was going.

“Kacchan, even if you say all that, it’s too late. I already promised I would. He’s taking me on as his successor, and that’s final.” Izuku responded slowly, trying to hide his own aggravation. Just what was Kacchan’s problem? Was he jealous or something? There was no way...right?

“Just tell him you won’t do it! Deku, you’re already getting hurt all the time and getting into trouble. Can’t you just stop with your blind hero worship? You can’t be a fucking super hero, Deku. This is real life. Fucking, grow up!” Kacchan yelled, hackles raising and Izuku was honestly ready to fight.

“Kacchan, you said so yourself. I have a unique ability, and it’ll definitely help. This is what I want to do with my life! It’s for a cause that I actually believe in. How can you tell me just to give that up? How can you tell me to not even try?!” Izuku yelled right back. He wasn't going to be a pushover anymore. He wasn’t going to let Kacchan control his life anymore.

He had promised Uraraka that. He had promised himself that.

“Too bad, you’re not mature enough to handle that. You’re sixteen, for fucks sake. You shouldn’t have to deal with shit like that.” Kacchan frowned.

“And who are you to decide if I’m mature enough for this? Toshinori-sensei certainly seems to think so. I want to do this, Kacchan. Why can’t you see that?” Izuku pleaded, trying to get his childhood friend to listen to the voice of reason. He had trusted Kacchan with this because he had thought that of all people, he would understand.

Izuku was starting to see that it had been a mistake.

“Toshinori-sensei this, Toshinori that, fuck that Deku. You’re getting involved with shit you aren’t equipped to handle. Choose him or me, Deku. Who’s more important to you, hah?!” Kacchan demanded, stepping into Izuku’s personal space.

Izuku wanted to whimper, wanted to submit, wanted to run away. But that would only be proving his point even further. Izuku tried to respond but found his mouth glued shut. He didn’t want to choose between his idol and his love. It was like asking Izuku to choose between his dream and a successful future. Why couldn’t they be the same? Why couldn’t he have both?

“Choose between me or Toshinori-sensei, Deku. Who do you swear your loyalty to?” Kacchan Ordered, and Izuku felt his heart stop.

He couldn’t believe Kacchan was doing this to him. Ordering him against his will.

Against all odds, it looked like the Blood Pact would actually be working in his favour. But just because the Order didn’t work on him didn’t mean the sentiment behind Kacchan’s actions was gone.

He couldn’t believe Kacchan was doing this. He had trusted him, because Izuku thought that Kacchan was strong enough to understand.

He was wrong. Izuku should’ve known by now that all Kacchan ever seemed to do was hurt him.

“Toshinori-sensei.” Izuku admits, honestly feeling tears gathering in his eyes. He had sworn his life to the Oath, and Kacchan’s possessive display couldn’t change that.

Izuku takes one last look at Kacchan’s brokenhearted look - as if Izuku had slapped him in the face - and turns to leave the room.

He can hear Kacchan call after him, he even grasps at the back of Izuku’s shirt once determined to get Izuku to talk. But now, it was Izuku’s turn to create some distance between them.

No matter how enticingly sweet Kacchan’s scent was, nor how incredibly warm his embrace was, Izuku refused to give up on the one thing he had found for himself. He didn’t understand why Kacchan was acting so controlling about all of this. He wasn’t even Izuku’s Alpha! God, maybe it was better that Izuku hadn’t confessed yet.

Who knows how much that would’ve blown up in his face.

Despite his conviction, Izuku cries himself to sleep that night. He was supposed to confide in Kacchan because he was the only one that could ever understand. Kacchan was supposed to advise him, or comfort him or at the very least just listen to him. Izuku was supposed to scent Kacchan all night long, maybe even confess his feelings. It was supposed to be a night of confession and consolation but all Izuku got was...whatever that had been. All he had wanted was Kacchan's support, nothing more. He longs for Kacchan’s head pats and warm hugs. He wanted more than anything to feel the rumbling of his Alpha and the soft smile he’d send Izuku’s way. Instead he was spending the night by himself mourning the loss of a relationship that could’ve been. For now, it wouldn’t happen any time soon.

Notes:

this ended up being more angsty than i had originally intended oops

do not worry! the angst is temporary but this will reflect canon development in a lot of ways just so y'all remember not to get too comfortable hehe

don't be afraid to leave a comment on your thoughts about the fic so far. thanks for reading <3

Chapter 38: matcha

Summary:

tea time

The days pass blandly, and Izuku finds throwing himself into training and school work the only solution to his troubles. As soon as he gets to the dorms, he goes about his own workout routine meticulously, then moves on to finish up homework and study a bit to stay ahead of his classes. By the time it’s dinner, Izuku barely interacts with anyone though he does make it a point to sit between Uraraka and Todoroki for every meal.

Despite only needing to distance himself from Kacchan, Izuku finds himself barely talking with anyone. He’ll indulge Iida’s ramblings, and listen Tsuyu’s stories about sailors and monsters, but Izuku finds himself only silently listening along.

The stress was gtting to him. He couldn't actually talk about his situation and quite frankly with the way Kacchan had responded Izuku wasn't inclined to tell anyone else. Besides, the one person he trusted most had spit it right back into his face. Izuku couldn't deal with anything right now.

Without Kacchan’s scent, Izuku finds everything strangely muted and blank. The usual warmth that Izuku would carry around with him from his friend’s affections was really getting to him. He missed that intimacy so much his body physically ached for it. He felt horribly touch starved.

Instead of daydreaming about Kacchan’s surprisingly soft hair and piercing red eyes, Izuku forced himself to be occupied by other thoughts.

All his excess energy, the flighty feelings he got were dedicated to pushing himself to the limit physically everyday. In the mornings. He made sure to avoid Kacchan in the kitchen by going out on runs early on in the mornings, showering and then grabbing a quick breakfast on his way to school.

Lunches had always been spent a part, as Kacchan never did warm up to Iida as much as he had with Kirishima. Speaking of Kirishima, the poor guy was very obviously caught in the middle of this. He was Izuku’s friend first, but he was Kacchan’s only friend. The only person Kacchan had considered worthy to truly be his friend on a mutual basis. Izuku couldn’t take Kacchan’s only functioning friendship away from him, so Izuku found himself avoiding Kirishima too, which was even more painful.

Whenever Kirishima walked by, Izuku would avert his gaze and Izuku could almost feel the kicked-puppy look the redhead was sending him from afar.

Izuku tried not to think about it.

The only time spent in Kacchan's vicinity would be during class. This would be enough for Izuku to tide over his scent withdrawal. He wasn't required to interact with his childhood friend at all in any way, and Izuku could still soak in his presence and scent - even if it kind of hurt to be so close and being left unable to touch.

It all finally came to a head when they were made to do class evaluations on their given sport. Izuku, who had trained harder than ever knew he had made a lot of progress. He had a lot of pent up energy, stored in the recesses of his mind and he was more than ready to let it burst out of him.

Izuku finds himself placing first in more categories than he would have ever anticipated. He beats out Tenya in the 100m dash, successfully comes first in the 400m as well as the 800m. His thighs and calves ache, but the sore feeling made him feel more alive than ever.

That’s why Izuku loved running so much. Everything he felt, anything that happened or changed all around him would not take away the adrenaline that rushed through his veins when he was on the tracck. It couldn’t take away the breath of satisfaction he would release upon gazing at the distance he had crossed. Looking at the time it had taken him, and how those numbers would decrease every single time he just pushed a little harder.

But, pushing too hard had its drawbacks. Izuku meets these when he faceplants into a hurdle during his final event for the day. Hurdles, the event that had helped him get into U.A in the first place.Sero - who specializes in high jump - easily surpasses him and leaves Izuku in the dust. He comes in last for that event, but even though a few of his classmates had laughed at his mistake they clap him on the back for
his efforts.

Despite this, Izuku struggles to swallow back his disappointment. He had gotten cocky and that had prevented him from accomplishing something he should’ve been easily able to do. Nobody else seems to care, but Izuku does.

He finds his thoughts spiraling and even as Toshinori-sensei slaps him on the back, telling him he’s happy to see Izuku’s improvement all Izuku can manage is a grateful nod and a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Izuku doesn’t even understand why he’s acting like this. Nobody else was making a big deal of his screw ups! It wasn’t a big deal! Yet, this doesn’t stop the burning in Izuku’s eyes. He’s still at school though, and he has to wait. He has to wait until he’s in the privacy of his room before he cries. Nobody should have to watch him fall apart. There was nothing they could do.

He slowly and methodically goes through the rest of his day, watching every second pass with blank eyes. Izuku hadn’t been this far inside his own head since middle school, and all his responses to his friend’s concerns were in clipped answers.

By the time the day finally ends, Izuku goes into his room to sob into his bed. He’s never felt so alone in his life, despite middle school being such a trying time. Maybe it was because then he hadn’t had this taste of constantly being surrounded by people he knew cared about him and yet feeling so lonely his heart could shatter.

He couldn’t tell anyone his concerns. He couldn’t explain what had happened that day with Stain, couldn’t explain why he and Kacchan and he couldn’t even explain his own emotions or thoughts going on inside his own head.

Why did he have to carry this burden on his own? Who could he rely on? Could he even rely on anyone? Izuku didn’t know, and these questions made everything harder.

By the time Izuku’s done crying he exhausts himself so much, he falls asleep. Dead to the world for a few hours before he awakes with a start.

He had fallen asleep fully clothed in his uniform, and he hadn’t had dinner. His rumbling stomach woke up. Changing into sweats, Izuku tiptoes into the kitchen and prays that someone has leftovers in the fridge.

Izuku quietly rounds the corner into the kitchen, but there is already light flicked on in that direction. There is already a figure slouched over the island, waiting for the electric kettle to come to a boil.

“Midoriya-kun, there’s no use in just waiting there. I could smell you before you walked in here. Please come and eat, I know you must be starving.” Yaomomo’s kind voice calls, beckoning Izuku to come over in her direction.

Moving albeit reluctantly, Izuku follows her directions easily, her calming Omega scent floral and soothing as Izuku approaches the kitchen.

Surprisingly, the Omega makes no further comment as Izuku warms up some of the okonomiyaki someone had made. If there was no note specifying to whom the food belonged to, Izuku considered free real estate.

As he microwaves the food, Izuku watches as Yaomomo pulls out two teacups - instead of one - and pours water into each without another word. She had added a spoonful of honey and lemon juice as well, looking serene as she went about movements as if it were second nature.

“Come drink tea with me.” she says, a direction but not a command. Not a question, in which Izuku could say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but worded in such a way that Izuku could easily refuse all the same should he really want to.

Izuku didn’t see why not.

Once the microwave beeps, Izuku takes his dinner and brings it with him to the barstools where Yaomomo had already been seated with their tea. Izuku quietly pads over, snatching a pair of chopsticks as mutters a quiet “Thank you for the food!” before digging in.

The first few moments are filled with blessed silence, and Izuku found himself extremely grateful for Yaomomo’s quiet company. She had a very peaceful and gentle presence that Izuku was happy to bask in.

“So, Midoriya-kun. We’re finally having that tea session I’d been hoping to have with you all that time ago.” Yaomomo smiles softly.

“Yeah.” Izuku nods trying to swallow around the mouthful of a food he had shoved down his throat.

“How are you feeling Izuku?” Yaomomo asks her eyes curious but not probing, and Izuku stills. He kind of already knew where this could be going, but hearing those words clearly in this sort of atmosphere was different. She wasn’t grilling him, demanding that she had to be answered. At the same time she wasn’t just casually saying it just to pass the time, she was being sincere.

Izuku couldn’t possibly insult her efforts by being dishonest. Not right now, when he no longer had the energy or the will to deflect.

“I’ve been better.” Izuku sighs, knowing that his words were the biggest understatement of the century.

“Aoyama-kun said he could hear you crying in your room until you passed out.” Yaomomo kindly informed Izuku to flush in embarrassment.

He knew he should’ve stifled his crying with the pillow! He hadn’t been thinking straight. Izuku prayed that the entire hallway hadn’t heard his pathetic crying.

“Oh.” is all Izuku could think to say in response.

“What happened between you and Bakugou-kun?” Yaomomo asked bluntly, setting her teacup down, her eyes inspecting every inch of Izuku’s face.

Izuku’s immediate instinct is to deny the claim, to bashfully blush and change the subject. It’s no use, it was clear to everyone in their class. Him and Kacchan had gone from running off on their own to secretly scent - smelling like each other for long periods of time - to completely avoiding each other. Izuku had gone out of his way to even minimize his interactions with Kirishima arguably the nicest and kindest person in their class. Whom everyone knew Izuku was good friends with.

There was no real way for Izuku to deny it.

“Me and Kacchan...have a complicated relationship. He’s both the person I feel closest to, and the person the most far away from me.” Izuku begins, setting down his chopsticks in favour of sipping at the now lukewarm tea. He should drink it before it gets cold.

Yaomomo nods along in understanding, crossing her legs and leaning forwards apparently curious about Izuku’s rambling.

“What’s between is...is complicated to describe. I used to think he hated me once, because he can be quite cruel but it seems as though there are a lot of misunderstandings between us. Even so he’s the person I trust most, so that’s why it hurts when…” Izuku sighs, trailing off.

“It hurts when?” Yaomomo asks, looking all the more interested. She was sitting strangely on the barstool, legs tucked underneath her and hands balled into fists on her lap. She reminded Izuku of a little kid, being told an old fairy tale full of wondrous feats.

Izuku takes a deep breath, trying to formulate his thoughts properly.

“When you...when you care for someone very deeply, you give them some kind of power. It isn’t anything grand, but it’s this ability to not necessarily control you but influence you. Sometimes that care I feel for him overwhelms my own rational thoughts, my own wellbeing but he matters to me so much that it doesn’t matter.” Izuku explains softly, looking at his misshapen hands. Remembering the way Kacchan’s strong but gorgeous fingers would intertwine with his own, wishing he could feel that phantom memory once again.

Yaomomo looks enraptured, like there’s stars caught in her eyes. She nods for Izuku to continue.

“But, there needs to be a limit at which I’m still my own person. I exist as my own desires and wishes outside of Kacchan’s wellbeing too. I care for him greatly, but I need to care for myself too.” Izuku tells her feeling small and vulnerable exposing his feelings like this.

“Of course.” Yaomomo nods, eyebrows furrowing in concern. “What did he ask of you to force you to tears? You’re such a selfless person, I can’t imagine what he could possibly do to drive someone as loyal as you away.”

Izuku gulped, his eyes burning again remembering Kacchan’s words so vividly in his head.

“I-I can’t give you all the details. But, in essence he asked me to choose him or my dreams.” Izuku breathes, voice unsteady at the admittance.

Yaomomo gasps, her dainty hands covering her mouth.

“Why would he ask that of you? Why would he force you to choose between something like that?” Yaomomo asks, her lips curving into a deep frown.

Izuku shrugs. “He said my dream was too reckless and I wasn’t mature enough for it.”

Yaomomo seems to contemplate this, taking a sip of her tea in silence for a few seconds.

“Well, that is a valid concern given your nature. Bakugou-kun has always seemed extra attentive and protective of you. Though you haven’t given me all the details - and I respect that - maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he cares for you in his own way too, Midoriya-kun.” she tells him sincerely, eyes honest and kind.

God, but that’s what hurt the most, no wasn’t it? Izuku already knew that Kacchan had said all that in concern. But, Izuku had no choice and Kacchan still wouldn’t listen to him.

“Maybe he does, but Yaomomo-san he Ordered me to choose. It was like he was trying to test me, trying to control my decisions and I don’t appreciate that. I would never ask him to choose between me and his dream of becoming the number one pro MMA Fighter. This isn't about care, because I’ve always known somewhere deep in his heart he always has cared for me. This is about respect. Until I can see that he does respect me and my own choices, I don't think things can go back to being the same.” Izuku admits to her, feeling like he’s aged several years over the course of a few days.

“I see. I can understand that.” Yaomomo eyes darkened at the mention of an Order, those were not to be used just like that. For an Alpha to do such a thing was often considered disrespectful and crude - especially by those you weren’t related or mated to.

Izuku drains the tea from his teacup setting down on the counter. He finishes the last bits of his okonomiyaki, cleaning the plate as best as he can with the chopsticks in his shaky hands. As he’s about to rise, ready to wish Yaomomo a good night and quickly wash the dishes - when Yaomomo speaks.

“You love him, Midoriya-kun. I know Bakugou-kun can be difficult and I may not have known him as long as you have - but I think his heart is in the right place. You haven't given up on him yet, not even after his stunt at the Sports Festival. So, don’t give up on him now. If he was worthy of your care in the first place, I’m sure he’ll fight to keep it. He doesn’t strike me as someone who’ll let you go so easily.” Yaomomo informs him quietly, before rising as well to take the dishes from Izuku’s hands.

“I’ll take care of it, Midoriya-kun. Please go rest, it looks like you’ll need it.”

Izuku nods blankly, leaving the cutlery in her care as they bid each other goodnight. Izuku finds himself contemplating her words as he washes up that night.

Not giving up, huh? That’s what he had told Kacchan not to do, and now here he was giving up just because things were getting a little difficult between the two of them. Things had always been hard! Nothing in Izuku’s life had come easy, why would this be any different?

Kacchan was not the nicest person to deal with. This wasn’t news to him at all, and Yaomomo words rang true. His childhood friend would not hug him, hold him and scent him if he didn’t care for Izuku. He wouldn’t dry his tears and listen to his concerns if he didn’t want to care for him.

However, the bitter truth remained that Kacchan seemed to treat him like a little kid unable to make choices of his own.

Izuku wouldn’t back down from the fate he had made for himself. Izuku had a destiny he couldn’t run away from, no matter how scary or hard it may be.

He would have to do this, with or without Kacchan by his side. Though, he would very much love to have Kacchan’s support no matter where he went. Even if his affections wouldn’t be the way Izuku wanted them, any support he could get from Kacchan was good enough for him.

And, as much as he trusted Kacchan, Kacchan needed to trust him too. Izuku wasn’t going to make this easy for his childhood friend, because Kacchan seriously needed to put in some effort to apologize this time around. Izuku couldn’t let this be another one of the things that he allowed Kacchan to slip under the rug.

This was a matter of respect as he had told Yaomomo. The day he apologized would be the day Izuku would allow anything more to progress between them.

Until, then…..he wouldn’t avoid Kacchan any longer but he wouldn’t go out of his way for him either. He would be treated like Kacchan’s equal, or Izuku wouldn’t be his anything at all.

Notes:

hehe looks like they'll be forced to interact with each other sooner rather than later...in the mean time ig y'all will be getting that katsuki chapter next haha <3 did y'all miss it?

ALSO thoughts on who yaoyorozu and uraraka should end up with?
while i'm usually fine with todomomo and iidachako for this fic i want to go the
todoroki x inasa route (alpha x alpha! bc it's a very uncommon pairing - the alphaxalpha not the ship lol - and i really want to explore it a bit in this universe. any thoughts?)

Chapter 39: lime

Summary:

final exam arc begins!

Katsuki has never been this frustrated about something in his life. And that's saying something, because Katsuki’s temper was always sitting underneath his skin ready to consume and destroy everything in his path the moment anger stepped foot into his being.

But that anger was completely different whenever Deku was involved. Most of the time, Katsuki had a handle on what he said and did, no matter how furious he got Katsuki was in control. No matter how much his Alpha would beg some days to rip everything apart, Katsuki was still the one in control.

Never with Deku, though. As soon as that green-haired idiot was even mentioned Katsuki completely loses all rationality and all his energy is focused on him.

For as much as it seemed that Deku was unable to leave him completely alone, Katsuki wasn’t any better. Even those years spent distancing himself from the nerd was spent keeping an eye on him from afar. Like some kind of twisted obsession.

Whenever Deku is brought into anything, Katsukki’s Alpha begs for his mate to recognize him, to see him, to submit to him, but Deku was never one to simply give anything up easily.

Any attempts Katsuki had ever made to keep Deku safe, or to protect him were either ignored by the boy or made him feel offended.

Which was never his intention but it was the way things turned out. Nothing was just simple or easy with Izuku. This was the most frustrating part because it both pleased and annoyed Katsuki to no end.

He liked knowing his future mate would never back down, never give in, and work hard to make people worthy of his time and yet he hated that had to be directed towards him too.

Though Katsuki supposed it was time he woke up. He’d done a lot of shitty things to Deku at this point, and for whatever reason he was still stuck by Katsuki. He had indulged in the scenting process Katsuki knew Deku didn’t need as much as him. Deku always reached out to him, held him and as his entire birthday ordeal had gone down proved - Deku outright spoiled him. It made his Alpha preen to know Deku cared for him to that extent, but that's what had made their last argument all the more painful.

To Katsuki, it was just a fact of life that he was Deku’s most important person in life. Whether that was platonic or romantic was still to be seen, but something Katsuki had always been sure that he cared for Katsuki most.

He knew this in the way Deku’s eyes would light up when Katsuki spoke to him, the soft smile that would grace his features when they scented. The way that Deku had trusted him, with all his secrets. Secrets he hadn’t told Round Cheeks, or Four-Eyes or even Todoroki who had told Deku his entire life story.

And that entire spiel about taking All For One. The very idea made a cold sinking feeling through Katsuki’s body. He couldn’t quite believe that Deku had promised Toshinori-sensei to take them down.

Then, again he was probably the only person who would. It looked like Deku had only agreed to it since his idol had asked it of him, but Katsuki knew Deku better than that.

This was something he really did want to do. Deku wanted to get involved, wanted to take them down because that was the right thing to do. It was how he could actually be a real life hero, in his own way, and Katsuki of all people knew what it meant to want to chase down a dream.

But someone like Deku chasing a dream like that was a recipe for disaster.

He would stop at nothing to expose those Alpha idiots. He wouldn’t care about a single consequence and he’d go rushing in without thinking twice. Someone like that was bound to get hurt, and that would hurt everyone around him.

And it was that kind of thinking that drove Katsuki insane.

Deku would forget about himself, about his mother, about all the people that loved him and wanted him safe in favour of doing the ‘right thing’. Deku always gave it his best if it was for someone else’s sake.

This is what tore at Katsuki’s heart right from his chest. Deku was already a reckless, selfless idiot at the best of times. But if he was going to make a career of tiptoeing that line of bravery and recklessness Katsuki wasn’t sure how he was going to survive that. Knowing that at any given opportunity his mate was willing to just throw his life away for anything and anyone else.

It was too much for Katsuki to bear.

So, he had made his mate choose. In a cruel, awful way and time and place, and if he could reword it or express it better again. Without a lot of the stress and emotion of being dumped with the heaviest news he had ever received in a long, long time Katsuki wished he could try again.

He’d try again and ask instead “Why do you want to do this so bad? Why is it so important to you that you’d choose our teacher over me?”

Katsuki already knew the answer to this question of course. It was because this was the dream Deku had been waiting for a long time, the purpose he had found all on his own without Katsuki’s eyes on him. Someone like Deku, who was kind and selfless and smart and so, so driven was bound for a destiny as great as him.

It wasn’t fair for him to demand that Deku choose between that destiny and himself. Katsuki knew he cared for both.

But Izuku’s sense of duty had always been greater than loyalty. Loyalty that wasn’t Katsuki’s place to demand for, in any case. But loyalty that the stupid nerd seemed to carry in spades for Katsuki anyway.

And it sucked. It sucked not being able to scent his future mate everyday again, and lay with him in his bed. It sucked to not feel that same sense of peace and calm he was constantly enveloped by whenever Izuku was in his presence.

Deku had the strangest ability of being able to rile him up, but also be capable of making Katsuki see straight again.

This is why it hurts to see him avoid Katsuki, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Except it's worse, because Izuku’s avoiding all his other friend’s too.

Katsuki knows Round Face glares at him at any given chance, and he can hear Four Eyes worrying over their friend. It seems like everyone in their nosy class is somewhat aware of their fight - though they’d never know the details - and are quick to blame Katsuki because of course they are.

What could Mr.Almost-Class-Pres-But-I’m-Just-such-A-Nice-Guy-I’ll-Give-It-To-Four-Eyes
ever do wrong? Especially compared to feral Alpha Katsuki who acts like such a bully?

His entire class was full of a bunch of irrelevant extras that Katsuki didn’t give a damn about. So, it doesn’t matter what they say, Katsuki doesn’t give a single fuck.

Still, Katsuki hates that Deku won’t even look at him. Won’t even meet his gaze, and it’s just like middle school all over again. Except there’s actual tension between them and Katsuki worries that they won’t come back from it.

Surprisingly despite all that garbage, Katsuki thinks he’s actually made a friend.

Not like Deku, who continued to be all these vague things that Katsuki couldn’t put a name to. Who’s relationship was a lot more convulded, and difficult because Katsuki had too much pride and because Deku wasn’t confrontational about his own emotions.

Also different from his usual lackeys from middle school, that followed him around and worshiped the ground Katsuki walked on.

No, Kirishima was a friend. A real, actual, reliable friend with thick skin and a heart made of gold. In Katsuki’s mess of a personality, and explosive temperament Kirishima was the rock that could withstand all of Kasuki’s bullshit and for some reason - willingly stayed by him anyway.

In a lot of ways, Kirishima resembled Deku. A will of steel, refusing to go down without a fight. The big, dumb smile constantly plastered on his face and the ability to calm Katsuki down with his Beta scent.

It obviously wasn’t the same as it was with Deku. That was because Deku could rile him up, challenge and make Katsuki really think like nobody else could.

Yet, Kirishima was a good friend. Katsuki would even go as far as to say as perhaps his best friend. To the point that Kirishima willingly suffers being unable to talk to Deku - though Katsuki knows they're close too. Kirishima deals with all of it with a smile on his face, without pressuring Katsuki to fix his mess even if Katsuki knows he wants to say it.

But Kirishima never demands anything at all. They’ve both acknowledged that Katsuki needed to apologize or something, but Kirishima understood that he needed time to cool off.

So, instead the two of them push themselves into studying and training for their upcoming final exams. There were two components, the written component, which was what normal high schools had. And then their physical, to determine the progress of their athleticism over all.

The two of them had a steady schedule.

They’d spar together in the evenings and study before they went to sleep. Kirishima wasn’t the brightest person, but he usually made up for it with hard work and good work ethic. Well, the work ethic part Katsuki had to beat into him but it seems to work for the most part.

It’s nice, actually to have a friend to rely on. The two of them can spar to their heart's content, and Kirishima can and will take any punch Katsuki can throw at him. It feels good to let loose, to be himself and to work his hardest everyday.

This experience grounds Katsuki. This is why he wanted to come to this school in the first place. No matter how much Katsuki liked to complain about his classmates, they were all extremely talented, driven and hardworking students. It felt good to be in a room full of people with a similar mindset as him, who wanted to push themselves everyday both mentally and physically.

It was rewarding.

Katsuki felt fulfilled being able to study and train like this to his heart’s content, and somewhere along the way he had picked up a friend who could actually take Katsuki’s bullshit and care for him anyway.

It’s the day before the school releases the exam dates, and the two of them have stopped all pretenses of studying in Kirishima’s dorm room in favour of just hanging out.

The redhead has a punching bag the colour of his hair in the corner, which is secretly the reason Katsuki always insists on working in Kirishima’s room. He can go to town on the punching bag when he was growing frustrated and then go back to work with a clear head. It was perfect.

“Look, Bakugou can we talk about Midoriya?” Kirishima says after a few minutes of Katsuki’s aggressive punching.

Katsuki stiffens instantly, frowning at the change of tone.

“What’s there to talk about?” Katsuki huffs, punching the bag a little harder than strictly necessary.

Kirishima sighs. “Don’t start with this. You and I both know the guy’s been going out of his way of ignoring you. Ignoring us! I get that you guys fought or whatever, but this can’t go on forever. You’re my friend, Bakugou but he is too.”

Katsuki feels his irritation grow. Why the fuck did Kirishima had to start on this now? What was the point? And why did Katsuki suddenly feel jealous? How could Kirishima just call Deku his friend so easily, when, when -

“Fuck off.” is all Katsuki says instead, unable to actually come up with anything in response. He didn’t know how to deal with Deku, and he honestly doubted he ever would.

“Bakugou.” Kirishima repeated, this time sounding annoyed, placing his hands on his hips. He looked disappointed and for some reason this made Katsuki’s Alpha feel inexplicably upset.

Katsuki groaned, pulling his arms away from the punching bag to drop to the floor.

“What the fuck do you want me to do? He won’t talk to him. He won’t even look at me. What’s the point?” he grumbles, covering his face with his forearm as he stretches his limbs across the hardwood floor.

“So you’re just gonna let it go? Keep things the way there are? That’s the unmanliest thing I’ve ever heard you say, dude.” Kirishima points out joining him on the floor.

“Just...fuck him okay!? I’ll figure it out or whatever. Keep your nosy ass out of it, Shitty Hair!” Katsuki groans, putting his face in his hands.

Kirishima looks unimpressed. “Pretty sure it became my business when he started avoiding me too, Bakugou. I miss hanging out with him just as much as you do. You can’t just keep putting it off because it’s hard. I thought you weren’t a quitter?”

Katsuki’s hackles rise. “I’m fucking not! I just….goddamnit, I get it I’ll do something about it. Just...after exams, okay? Let’s just focus on this shit for now, and then we’ll figure it out.” Katsuki sighs, feeling more defeated than he liked.

Shitty Hair seems satisfied despite this, a smile stretching across his face.

“Now, that’s more like the manly Bakugou I know!” Kirishima grins.

---

Katsuki swears to God that there's somebody out to get him.

For whatever godforsaken reason, their physical exam has been altered to cater to their weaknesses. And guess what Katsuki has to do?

He has to cooperate with Deku to take down Toshinori-sensei in a fight. It’s the worst combination of things Katsuki had ever considered and he fucking hates with a passion.

It was one thing to make Deku fight against his role model, idol, saviour and whatever else the idiot worships the guy for. On top of this, Deku had given up fighting, because he didn’t like doing it unless he had to. And on top of that, he’d fully given it up to avoid Katsuki.

And now, here they were and Deku was still avoiding Katsuki by not fighting. One of the nicest, kindest people in their class who was generally flexible and amicable had gone out of his way to not even speak to Katsuki. And now, here they were.

This wasn’t even including Katsuki natural aggression, unwillingness to work with other people, and more importantly fight with other people on his side.

He was a one-on-one MMA Fighter! This was a disservice to his entire career, why would he need a track runt to help him take down the current number one MMA Fighter in the world?!

Look, Katsuki understood that he was best in the class especially at one-on-one combat, but to force him to fight a fully trained MMA Fighter, arguably the best in the world with the added burden of Hero Complex Deku was asking for a lot.

It was asking for a miracle, and Katsuki was running fresh out of those.

When Katsuki attempts to make eye contact with Deku his eyes timidly skim away.

Fuck.

Kirishima gives him a sympathetic look, but that doesn’t mean shit in wake of what Katsuki was going to have to deal with.

Fuck.

Katsuki barely pays attention to the rest of the class. It was a general athleticism test, so it was more than just fighting against various combative teachers. They had the option of running away to safety, without getting caught or even just using the handcuffs to immobilize their opponent for a moment.

As usual, it generally favoured all the physical combat kids but that didn’t mean the other athletes didn’t stand a chance. More strategic people, like Ponytail would easily be able outmaneuver any opponent that she would cross. In addition to Half-and-Half’s combat experience the two would make a fantastic team.

Why the fuck did these pairs seem so unfair?

Katsuki knew for a fact that there were tons of other people in the class, that Izuku could be paired up with. Literally anybody else, and he’d probably have an easy time outmaneuvering any teacher.

But he got Katsuki.

This had to have been done on purpose. The teachers must’ve noticed the weird tension between them, and this was supposed to be the weakness that they were exploiting from Katsuki.

His complicated relationship with Deku, go figure.

The objective was simple, fighting was simple but fighting Toshinori-sensei would be harder. Fighting Toshinori-sensei alongside Deku would be near impossible. Deku would probably do everything he could to avoid fighting his role model, Katsuki already knew. He’d want to escape and run away - something he was getting increasingly good at, running away from his problems.

They couldn’t afford to do that, and they needed to strategize. BuT Deku was still avoiding him and if they couldn’t communicate then they were definitely fucked. Which meant that Katsuki had to confront Deku sooner rather than later.

Katsuki catches Deku’s wrist before he leaves the room. He watches as Izuku stiffens, his shoulders tense and his scent wavering in the way it always does when he’s anxious. They hadn’t been this close in so long - too long.

Katsuki instinctually rubs his wrist against Deku to calm him down, and it works.

Deku actually turns around to face him, for the first time in forever. His eyes are resolute and unwavering so different than they had been the last time Katsuki had seen them.

They had been watery, and sad, and so heartbroken, because Katsuki had asked him for the impossible. And now, Katsuki was asking him to do it again.

“Deku, I -” Katsuki begins, trying to find the words. He’s never really been one to apologize, it just wasn't something that he didn’t do often if at all. But, Katsuki wasn’t a quitter more than that. If he had to appeal to Deku using soft words, he'd do it. For the sake of their grades and relationship.

“No, Kacchan it’s fine. We’ll win this. I won’t let you down.” Deku promises, squeezing his hand meaningfully before turning and leaving Katsuki to his thoughts. Katsuki stares after him stunned silence, trying to decode what that could possibly mean.

What the fuck is going on?

Notes:

the long-awaited katsuki chapter!
katsuki is very fun for me to write, I LOVE writing katsuki chapters. i always seem to write them the fastest too

so i think i've settled my ideas for momo but ochako is still up for debate

thanks for reading and don't be afraid to leave me your thoughts in the comments <3

Chapter 40: lemon

Summary:

insecurity & a resolution between friends

Izuku spends the following days as a nervous wreck. He’d have to fight alongside Kacchan against Toshinori-sensei whom he had also been avoiding. This entire situation was beyond complicated for Izuku seeing as he’d basically been forced to do the impossible now.

Fight against the person he admired most in the world, alongside someone he had a complicated relationship with. First was the issue that while Izuku could theoretically fight when push came to shove - like with Todoroki and the Stain incident Izuku genuinely disliked fighting people for the sake of fighting.

Izuku just wasn’t a violent person by nature. Despite loving comic books and movies filled with action and conflict, he was a pacifist by heart. He didn’t like fighting people without reason, or just for the sake of the art. The only fighting Izuku truly believed in was for self-defense or defending others.

Which was going to be an issue with someone as confrontational and hot blooded as Kacchan. Even without all this weird tension around them, this was going to be an issue. There was no way Izuku would willing fight anyone for the sake of it, and the opponent being Toshinori-sensei was an even larger issue.

Kacchan on the other hand would no doubt jump at the chance to test out Toshinori-sensei’s skill against his own. His dream was to surpass his role model after all, so it was only natural. Izuku never wanted to be someone who stopped Kacchan from reaching his full potential.

But, after recent events Izuku was having a few second thoughts.

Kacchan clearly cared for Izuku, but he was pushing Izuku away from them because he didn’t want to risk Izuku getting hurt. And though Izuku could appreciate the concern, it wasn’t Kacchan’s decision to make.

And then there was the small voice in Izuku’s brain that kept telling him that Kacchan may care for him but he’d never respect him. That’s why Kacchan kept treating him like a little kid, that’s why Kacchan didn’t want him taking on such a serious job.

Because he would always just be useless Deku in his eyes.

God, Izuku hated all this. Why couldn’t Kacchan just understand? What did Izuku have to prove that he was worthy of Kacchan’s respect? What did he have to do to be Kacchan’s equal?

He’d have to fight Toshinori-sensei, that’s what. He would have to choose, just like Kacchan had wanted him to do. Just like how Kacchan had forced him to.

It made Izuku’s skin crawl.

He’d have to basically give in to Kacchan - as he always did - and do as he wanted. To prove him wrong, and ‘earn’ his respect.

Which wasn’t fair at all. Uraraka and Kirishima hadn’t had to do anything to ‘earn’ Kacchan’s respect in that same regard. He simply respected them because they had gotten in to the same school as him, and just that was ‘enough’ in Kacchan’s eyes. Because they always gave their best.

Which Izuku had done too, which was what drove him mad.

Why did Izuku constantly have to fight for things with Kacchan? Why did he have to fight for an apology, fight for his respect, and fight to just have his voice heard from someone he had grown up with all his life?

These thoughts were driving Izku mad, but he knew what he had to do.

Izuku would have to fight Toshinori-sensei whether he liked it or not. Even if his body begged him to run, to run away from the situation Izuku could not allow it to happen. He’d show Kacchan just how capable he was! That he could protect himself, without being reckless.

That’s the only way Izuku could even try to repair their relationship while somewhat earning his childhood friend’s respect.

Still, overthinking the way he was now would be of little use. So Izuku threw himself into study dates with the so-called ‘Dekusquad’ which was a little on the nose, but Deku wouldn’t complain.

Iida had a very meticulous work ethic which pushed Izuku to do the same. Todoroki - who had taken to sitting with them at lunch - had been newly knighted as a member of said squad and that always made Izuku happy. He too studied diligently, and generally performed so well he was near the top of the class.

What Uraraka and Asui - no, Tsuyu - lacked in book smarts they made up for in hardwork and dedication. They were very cute those two. Uraraka was generally a hyperactive, energetic girl but with Tsuyu her playful, mischievous nature levelled out. Or perhaps it was Iida’s constant chiding, it could be both.

The atmosphere between his friends was very warm, and Izuku treasured it dearly. Izuku found himself a little curious about his friend’s love lives. Kirishima and Ashido seemed to be getting closer and closer by the day, though Kirishima still seemed a bit reluctant to put himself out there more.

Izuku should ask him about it soon. Now that he was no longer going out of his way to avoid Kacchan, it would be for the better. Kirishima didn’t deserve to be given the cold shoulder just because Izuku was having issues with Kacchan.

That wasn’t fair to Kirishima, he shouldn’t ever feel like he needed to pick a side.

Despite that, Izuku couldn’t help but feel a little jealous at how naturally comfortable the two were around each other. Kirishima could handle Kacchan a lot better than Izuku could, and sometimes, late at night Izuku wondered if there was more going on between the two..

Which - NO - he shouldn’t be thinking that way! Kirishima had made clear he had feelings for Ashido, and there was no way he’d suddenly like Kacchan, right? Then again, Kirishima liked manly things and Kacchan definitely a ‘manly’ person. So it wasn’t an impossible thought.

No way! Kirishima wouldn’t do that to him, right? Kirishima knew about Izuku’s feelings. He wouldn’t do that to him...would he? Well, if he did have those kind of feelings for Kacchan, it wasn’t like he was actively choosing too.

Izuku had never actively chosen to have feelings for Kacchan.

No, there was no way!

Right?

Ugh, there was no use thinking this way. Kirishima was Izuku’s friend and if he was concerned about it, he should confront him head on.

Which Izuku was currently not in the mindset to do. Not at all,because he was already stressed, a little insecure and his relationship with Kacchan right now was still shaky at best.

Besides it wasn’t really any of Izuku’s business anyway. He wasn’t entitled to Kacchan’s feelings nor Kirishima’s feelings and they were free to do whatever they wanted. And, at the end of the day if they were both happy it didn’t matter what Izuku wanted. He wouldn’t be selfish.

Not about that. Not about them.

So, Izuku still doesn’t talk to Kirishima but it seems that fate has other plans.

---

Izuku’s just trying to get to his table at lunch in the cafeteria when someone bumps into him from behind. There’s already an apology falling out of Izuku’s lips but when he turns around the guy is already sneering at him before Izuku can properly see his face.

“Well, look, if it isn’t 1A scum. Sorry I didn’t see you over your big-” Izuku turns around to come face to face with Neito Monoma, who startles upon seeing Izuku’s face.

“W-Wait a minute! You’re a dude?! The cheerleading outfit! W-What-” Monoma stuttered, face turning red pointing at Izuku with a shocked expression.

There’s a lot of unwanted attention on Izuku now as those milling about near them stop to stare at all the commotion..

Izuku doesn’t know how to defend himself - or even if he has to - when a surprisingly strong arm wraps around Izuku’s shoulders to tell Monoma off.

“Don’t be a close minded, ass Monoma. Leave Midobro alone and mind your own business!” Kirishima defends, giving Monoma a surprisingly stern glare as a girl from 1B - Kendo, whacks Monoma across the neck before apologizing on his behalf dragging the blonde away.

There’s still eyes on them and Izuku flushes with all the extra attention.

“T-Thanks Kirishima-kun.” Izuku stutters, unable to meet Kirishima’s gaze.

God, how could he ever resent this guy? He was constantly defending him, supporting him and helping Izuku all this time and what was Izuku doing?! Being jealous!

Why was Izuku being so petty? Did he even deserve to call himself Kirishima’s friend right now? What kind of person was he turning into?

“It’s no problem, Midoriya! Hey, do you mind talking to me for a sec? It’s been awhile.” Kirishima asks sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

Izuku instantly feels guilt rise to the back of his throat. They both know why. Izuku had been avoiding him just as much as he had been avoiding Kacchan. It just wasn’t fair.

“Yeah, sure.” Izuku nods, following Kirishima into a private hallway. Izuku stares at his feet, blindly following Kirishima’s croc clad feet. A smile worms it’s way onto his lips as the sight.

Izuku could never dislike this guy, even if he tried.

“Hey, are you mad at me?” Kirishima asks unexpectedly.

Izuku’s attention immediately snaps to Kirishima’s concerned face, eyebrows scrunching up in confusion.

Shaking his head violently, Izuku creates a huge ‘x’ across his chest with his arms to emphasize his next statement.

“No way! Why would you think that?” Izuku replies quickly, a little shocked.

Kirishima frowns, looking a little sad. “Well, I don’t know. You’ve been avoiding me ever since your fight with Bakubro.” he points out.

Izuku sighs, feeling even more guilt than before.

“A-Ah, sorry about that. It’s just you and Kacchan are always together so it kind of happened by accident.” Izuku tells him.

Kirishima nods looking less sad and more sympathetic.

“Okay! Yeah, I figured. I was just worried that you might’ve felt like I was taking sides or something....which I’m not by the way! Bakugou won’t really even tell me what your fight was about.” Kirishima reassures quickly, shaking Izuku to prove his point.

Izuku’s guilt reaches a max at his friend’s consideration, and he quickly finds himself hugging him and tearing up a little.

“Huh? Midoriya? Wait, are you crying?! Why are you crying?” Kirishima asks, though he rubs Izuku’s back as Izuku lets out a few sniffles.

“S-Sorry, Kirishima-kun. I-Its just... I should be honest since you were honest with me. I’ve been a little jealous since you and Kacchan get along so well...and hang out all the time...I’ve never really had that with Kacchan. He doesn’t respect me the way he does with you...so I just thought that maybe...” Izuku confesses, and Kirishima pushes Izuku’s face away from his shoulder to look him in the face.

“Me and Bakugou?! Midoriya, are you joking?! That guy calls me Shitty Hair! I’m dating Ashido, there’s no way we’d -”

“You’re dating Ashido? What?! WHEN?” Izuku squeals, his mouth opening wide in shock. He couldn’t believe it?! How did he miss something like this? Had he become such a self-absorbed hermit that he didn’t notice something like that?

“Shh! Keep it down!” Kirishima hushed, looking around for any eavesdroppers before lowering his voice. “She just asked me out this morning actually. It was so random, she was just like ‘you’re really cute, let's go out’ and that was it.” Kirishima confesses shyly.

Izuku instantly wraps him up in a hug, picking his friend up and twirling him around. Kirishima yelps in surprise but laughs as Izuku sets him down to crush him into a hug.

“Congratulations, Kirishima-kun!” Izuku giggles, squeezing the life out of Kirishima.

“HEY! Midoriya, you’re stronger than you look. Ah, let me breathe!” Kirishima exclaims, as Izuku nearly suffocates him.

Izuku instantly lets him go, but finds his hands squishing Kirishima’s face.

“I’m so proud of you Kirishima! You’ll make a great boyfriend, anyone would be lucky to date you.” Izuku tells him sincerely, the smile on his mouth nearly splitting his face in two.

Kirishima flushes, though he does seem to preen at the praise.

“T-Thanks, Midoriya. T-That’s really sweet of you to say.” he replies, his own soft grin worming its way onto his face.

Kirishima then continues to tell him about the newly minted ‘Bakusquad’ that had been created much to Kacchan’s behaviour. Apparently Kacchan wouldn’t recognize anyone but occasionally Kirishima as his friend but the group still consisted of Kirishima, Kaminari, Sero and Ashido.

The two of them had grown closer like that, as the entire group liked to work out together. Kacchan would usually go off somewhere on his own, and in that time Ashido and Kirishima had grown closer than before.

It made Izuku inexplicably happy to hear the fondness in Kirishima’s tone as he spoke of the girl. About how strong his girlfriend was, and how he still couldn’t believe someone so out of his league wanted anything to do with him.

Izuku elbowed Kirishima for that, not wanting to hear his friend’s self-deprecating comments.

“Hey, don’t say that! You’re definitely in her league. Besides, if I wasn’t in love with Kacchan I’d definitely have a huge crush on you by now.” Izuku informs him matter of factly and the redhead flushes upon hearing his words.

“Midoriya, you’ve got to stop saying stuff like that! Is that how you flirt with Bakugou too? With all that praise, it’s no wonder that guy’s got a big ego.” Kirishima complains, shoving lightly at Izuku in return.

Izuku pouts.

“I’m not flirting, I’m just telling the truth! Besides, you’re a taken man and I like Kacchan too much, so I wouldn’t do that. I just have a functioning pair of eyes, that’s all!” Izuku informs.

The two of them end up chatting and eating lunch together, away from their separate squads simply catching up after that.

---

The day of their exam is fast approaching, and Izuku discovers that the physical exams will be taken simultaneously. They would all be facing off against various teachers on various places across the campus and Izuku doesn’t even know what to think.

 

Izuku’s talk with Kirishima had cleared out a lot of Izuku’s doubts and insecurities but not all of them.

He had yet to have a proper conversation with Kacchan, and he kept putting it off because he didn’t even know what to say.

‘Sorry I avoided you for so long, I was irrationally jealous of your friendship with the first friend you seem to genuinely respect, it made me realize I’ll never be your equal’.

Or even better, ‘I feel like you secretly resent me for being close with Toshinori-sensei and I know you don’t take me seriously. I've been deeply in love with you since we were kids, but you’re so out of my league that I must be crazy for thinking I ever had a chance.’

The more Izuku tried to come up with something to tell the blonde, the more he’d freak out about it.

It was so stupid, but Izuku couldn’t bring himself to face him.

So instead, Izuku threw himself into sparring with Todoroki when he could. Izuku hated fighting, but proving Kacchan wrong was his biggest priority right now.

Kacchan always appreciated actions over meaningless words anyway. Izuku would have to earn his respect the hard way so that’s what he was going to do.

Todoroki definitely didn’t seem to mind, as his fight with Aizawa-sensei was of concern to him as well.

It was hard for Izuku though, and Todoroki seemed to notice. It was hard to fight the instinct to just run away, especially since the fight wasn’t for anything he actually believed in.

He had to keep reminding himself he was doing it for Kacchan’s respect, maybe even awe. If Izuku could prove his worth in words Kacchan understood best - a good brawl - perhaps they could come to an understanding.

Yet, the little voice of insecurity still sat in his mind.

Kacchan had seen him fight before, and was somewhat aware of what he was capable of. What more could Izuku possibly prove? And why was he always the one that had to put in so much effort to resolve things between them while Kacchan could do whatever he wanted?

Why was it that Izuku was the one who cared more?

Of course, Izuku already knew the answer to this. He cared more than Kacchan because he loved him, and Kacchan couldn’t possibly love him in turn.

Notes:

back in the day a lemon would be nsfw between two characters... those days have long gone, huh?

i recently finished banana fish and IT BROKE ME MY HEART IS SHATTERED if you know of any good fics please let me know!!
also gave me some info for some future angst hehe but we shall see

thanks for reading, hope you all had a wonderful weekend <3

Chapter 41: chives

Summary:

fight or flight?

Izuku waited nervously as he and Kacchan approached the Arena. Izuku had spent much of the previous days watching videos online regarding Toshinori-sensei’s fighting style. On the bright side of all of this, Izuku had a fair amount of notes on both Katsuki and Toshinori-sensei’s fighting techniques that theoretically, he should be well prepared for this.

Only problem was that Izuku wasn’t actually sure if he could counter his mentor’s moves. Toshinori-sensei was exceedingly stronger, bigger, taller and faster than them. His experience on the field was immeasurable and all in all this fight wasn’t looking too even for them.

Which was why Izuku was now stuck muttering to himself different tactics and strategies they could use to defeat Toshinori-sensei. Maybe one of them could go in first to distract him, while the other sneakily put the cuffs on? Or better yet, maybe Izuku could just leave Kacchan to fight against Toshinori-sensei on his own and Izuku could make a run for it.

The thought is immediately dismissed as Izuku physically shakes his head to get it out of his thoughts.

There’s no time for him to run away. Not today, today they’d fight.

But, when they get to the grounds all rationality leaves him. Izuku see the looming figure of Toshinori-sensei in the distance, and despite the distance between them, Izuku feels a sickening fear take root in his mind.

Whispers of blood brother probe Izuku’s mind unbidden.

What the fuck?

Kacchan doesn’t waste any time, running towards Toshinori-sensei with a quick “Keep up, Deku!”. Not turning around to check up on Izuku. Not even once. Kacchan always had his eyes on the prize, focusing solely on his goals, letting nothing else distract him...which would mean that Izuku himself could be one.

If Izuku really did act on his feelings...it would be selfish. Kacchan only wanted to achieve his dreams. He had no time for things like romance, or Izuku’s feelings.

And if that was the case, then Izuku shouldn’t be a burden.

If Kacchan could afford to run and not look back, Izuku would too. So instead of following after Kacchan’s back as he always had Izuku did what he was best at - he ran. He ran away.

His legs are moving without his permission. Wait, a minute. NO! He had planned on fighting Toshinori-sensei, and proving himself to Kacchan. Why wasn’t his body listening to him?

Izuku backtracked and was promptly hit in the face, Kacchan already yelling at him in anger.

“Was all you big talk just for show?! Didn’’t you say you were gonna fight? Get a grip, Deku!” Kacchan yells over his shoulder as Toshinori-sensei regroups.

Their mentor wasn’t even breaking a sweat, easily picking them both up and then crushing them against each other one hand easily picking up each of them.

Izuku struggles out of his grip, knocking at his wrists before Toshinori promptly gets kicked in the face by Kacchan. As they both drop, Kacchan is prepared to rush at their mentor again but the only thing going on Izuku mind is: ABORT MISSION. Unfortunately, they hit each other in their desperation to move, once closer to their target the other further that they fall.

Coming up against his mentor’s imposing figure was getting increasingly harder and harder to do, and Izuku was starting to lose sight of why he wanted to fight instead of flee anyway.

They were clearly outclassed in this regard, Toshinori-sensei would win when it came to just a brawl. It would be better - and easier - if that just left now.

While Izuku tries to fight himself what he actually wants to do, Kacchan recovers walking towards Toshinori-sensei once again. Izuku wants to stop him, but also doesn’t.

Why did they have to fight him? Why did they need to do this Katsuki’s way?

“Kacchan, please! Let’s not fight him, there’s got to be another-” Izuku begins to plead, only for Kacchan to scoff.

“You’re so full of shit, Deku. You talk real big, but you never confront anything unless you have to. You’re a coward. I don’t see how you expect to be a cop someday.” Kacchan sneers.

Izuku feels anger come to him unbidden. He’s having a breakdown trying to fight the instinct of wanting to please Kacchan and wanting to challenge Kacchan and all of this with Toshinori-sensei watching them was too much.

“We can still win if we run, there’s no harm in acknowledging a superior opponent and-”

“Deku, shut the fuck up. That kind of attitude is gonna get you nowhere. If you want to run away so badly, go do it on your own. Pass all on your own while I do all the work, I don’t care. But, I’m gonna be the best MMA Fighter one day. I’m gonna surpass even him, with or without you. I’m not leaving until I beat him in a fight.” Kacchan declares, with the kind of headstrong conviction that made Izuku love him so much in the first place.

With or without you, ah. That was right, Kacchan could easily live his life with Izuku, it mattered very little to the blonde if he was in the picture or not.

Middle school had only been a horrible time for Izuku after all, Kacchan apparently was unaffected.

God, Izuku was so stupid to think anything would change between them.

All of these thoughts distract Izuku from the current fight going on, and while Toshinori-sensei momentraily pushes Kacchan far back enough, he pins Izuku to the ground with a stray piece of debris.

“No running away now, young man!” his mentor grins, apparently ignoring Izuku’s crisis almost immediately. Izuku groans at the weight of the debris on him, and struggles to get out of it.

Izuku can only watch helplessly as Kacchan reacts too slowly for Toshinori-sensei’s quick and powerful movements. He sends Kacchan flying with a single punch and then - the poor Alpha - vomits violently into the corner from the impact.

Up until now there had been voices warring in his head that told him to fight or flight, screaming at his every muscle to go ahead and move. Izuku didn’t know what to do, because Kacchan didn’t seem to care about what he did or didn’t do anyway.

Now, though, Izuku's heart breaks seeing the huge gap in ability for himself.

He’s transported to a time long before middle school where the two of them were sitting side-by side watching another round of Pro-MMA Fighter Toshinori take down another opponent easily for the nth time. Kacchan’s eyes had been shining back then, hopeful and excited for a time where he too could be such a strong fighter. He used to say back then that what made Toshinori the coolest was that he always won, no matter how close he got to losing.

It was that very same quality that Izuku loved to see in Kacchan as well. And now, it was breaking his heart to watch him loose.

“You’re fighting rather recklessly, aren’t you Young Bakugou?” Toshinori-sensei asks as he approaches the fallen student. “Could it be that you're determined to prove your strength to someone? I haven’t seen you this riled up in awhile. I suppose you’ve always been different with Young Midoriya.”

Kacchan growls angrily, refusing to speak as he slowly gets up. Wiping his face with his wrist as he struggled to stand on his feet.

“There’s no need for this useless back and forth, you two. You’ve both got excellent strengths in your own rights, and if you worked together you’d easily surpass any opponent. Even me!” Toshinori reassured, in an attempt at placating Kacchan’s anger.

Kacchan looks even more furious than before at the suggestion, eyes nearly popping out of his skull at the suggestion.

“I’d rather lose than work with that Shitty Nerd!” Kacchan yelled, readying himself to fight Toshinori-sensei once again.

The voices in Izuku’s head quiet at that, all screaming for Izuku to do the same thing now.

Toshinori-sensei moves to finish him off, but Izuku has always been blessedly fast and agile. He punches Kacchan straight in the face moving him out of Toshinori-sensei’s vicinity.

Izuku feels tears well in his eyes unbidden. Not only was Kacchan saying that his dream would go untouched with or without Izuku’s presence in his life, he was also saying that he could never see Izuku as someone he could rely on. That hurt more than anything.

He’d never see Izuku as equal.

But, even if he said all that…

“Kacchan! Don’t you dare say you’d rather lose!” Izuku screams as he grabs Kacchan into a back alleyway, dodging some debris here and there. Kacchan is lighter than Izuku expected given the amount of muscle on his body, but the tension in Izuku’s body seems to make up for the weight. Today was even worse than he thought it would turn out.

Honestly, they’d be lucky if they even passed at this point.

“Deku, fuck, just put me down! What the fuck is going on with you?!” Kacchan demands, kicking and screaming in Izuku’s arms.

Izuku puts him down, and Kacchan’s face is flushed in anger - or embarrassment - Izuku doesn’t know, but the weight of his gaze is now too much for Izuku to bear. They just needed to pass this thing so Izuku could go to the dorms and never come out ever again.

Instead of crying like he wants to Izuku settles for glaring at Kacchan instead.

“Kacchan you can be a lot of things. But the last thing you’ve ever been is someone who gives up. You were always an amazing athlete, person and hero, to me because you would always win. You never give up! If you do it now, just because you're upset with me or something, I'll never forgive you for being a coward.” Izuku grits out, his eyes blazing and burning as he attempts to keep his tears from forming and flowing down his face.

Izuku thought back again, to another moment in their childhood where there had been bullies in their neighborhood kids who were older than they were. Kacchan had sent them packing, protecting their little band of friends and Izuku had never seen anyone cooler back then.

They weren’t those same little kids, though.

Kacchan yells in frustration, punching the wall near Izuku’s head. “Fine, fucking whatever. Just get your shit together so we can finish this shit.”

---

As Toshinori-sensei passes their alleyway Kacchan jumps out tackling upon sight to distract their mentor.

Izuku uses this time to gain an opening from behind, getting on Toshinori’s shoulders and attempting to choke the man out with his thighs.

Toshinori-sensei manages to throw him off, but Kacchan still on the ground delivers an uppercut upon Toshinori-sensei’s refooting. Izuku falls to the ground on his butt, yet is quick to respond as he delivers a blow of his own as well. For a moment, these parries with both students on either side of him seems to confuse their teacher, before he simply just picks them up.

“I’m impressed! The two of you seem to have resolved that lovers’ quarrel rather quickly then, huh?” Toshinori-sensei grins shocking them both into silence for a second.

Kacchan is the first to recover, kicking and screaming “What do you know, old man!”

Izuku chooses to ignore the comment to bite Toshinori-sensei’s hands, causing the man to yelp and let go of him as Kacchan also capitalizes on the distraction to escape as he mutters a soft ‘Gross, Deku, what the heck.’

Realizing there is no other option, the two of them run together trying to get out of Toshinori-sensei’s vicinity as quickly as possible.

Izuku is faster on his feet though, and Toshinori-sensei manages to catch up to Kacchan. He knees Kacchan into a nearby building and Izuku trips over his own feet to try and help his childhood friend.

This doesn’t work in Izuku’s favour as Toshinori-sensei grabs him instantly. Kacchan recovers and attempts to rush him but Izuku is slammed into the ground alongside Kacchan.

Kacchan groans, muttering something along the lines of ‘an immovable object and an unstoppable force’ and Izuku wants to ask which is which, but a resolute strange look passes over Kacchan’s eyes.

Kacchan inhales deeply, before squirming his hand out and punching Toshinori-sensei right in the face. He delivers quick consecutive punches remaining close to their mentor, but creating space from Izuku.

No, wait...creating space for Izuku.

Izuku runs at full blast, refusing to take back the opening his friend created for him.

Toshinori delivers a harsh blow to Kacchan’s stomach but the boy holds his ground. Izuku tries not to look back, quickly locating the winning exit sign for him to pass.

Kacchan was hard at working, he could hear the loud crashes and groans from his area. Kacchan had let Izuku run like he had wanted to, and Izuku was more than grateful for it.

Then he heard Kacchan say something along the lines of “Even if I can’t win, if that guy can still keep chasing his goals doesn’t really matter?”

Izuku knows that Kacchan wouldn’t say those words unless he was prepared to lose, and unless he believed Izuku was too far away to hear.

There’s no way Izuku could turn his back on Kacchan after hearing that.

He runs back to where the two had faced off, Toshinori-sensei still distracted by the limpless boy in his arms that gave it his all. Izuku refused to let his efforts go to waste, but there was no way Izuku would leave Kacchan behind.

Izuku’s dream was to save people, and for now Izuku would settle for saving Kacchan from failing his physical exam. He punches Toshinori right in the face, before snatching his friend out of his mentor’s hands running like the wind and praying that just taking Kacchan like this would be enough of a victory for the blonde.

---

They both pass.

They both pass but Kacchan’s still out if it - though it’s probably for the better - and Izuku still needs to come to terms with everything that has been said today.

What did Kacchan mean? What was he truly feeling? Izuku felt like he never knew the answers to these questions when it was about him.

Recovery Girl is scolding Toshinori-sensei about going too rough on his students, and Toshinori-sensei shyly tries to defend himself to no avail.

Izuku stares at his mentor and then at his childhood friend. Kacchan had told him to choose once, and he had said Toshinori-sensei’s name. But when it came down to it, he was willing to punch him for Katsuki’s sake. What would this mean for them, Izuku didn’t know.

Chapter 42: black pepper

Summary:

alphas seem to cause izuku all kinds of trouble

Notes:

please check the tags for tw warnings

With the final exams done and dealt with, Izuku listens to the failing students complain with much sympathy. Of those were Kirishima, Ashido, Kaminari and Sero alongside a few others. They all mutter to each other quietly, Kirishima slumped over Ashido’s lap as the girl affectionately runs her fingers through his hair.

Izuku’s got to admit that the two of them were extremely cute. They weren’t especially overt with their PDA. It was only on occasion that he would catch them holding hands or gazing at each other lost in thought, but other than that they weren’t the type of couple to suddenly start making out in class or anything.

It was the type of casual affection that Izuku craved, to simply reach for the hand of a loved one. To bask in their warm presence and to hold them dearly to your heart.

In a way, Izuku had that once. During that blissful period in between getting into U.A and then the internships. He used to be able to scent Kacchan everyday, cuddle him a little and just be in his space. It was the most wonderful thing Izuku could have ever imagined.

Now, it was like they were back in middle school.

It was Izuku’s own fault. He kept dodging every chance at confrontation because he still didn’t know his place in regard to Kacchan anymore.

Was he an acquaintance? Just another classmate? A rival, or even a friend?

Izuku didn’t know.

---

The next time they get into the classroom, everyone nervously awaits Aizawa’s arrival. The ‘Bakusquad’ is nervously consoling each other, saddened that they wouldn’t be joining the rest of the class for the summer camp.

Todoroki and Iida talk in hushed voices way behind him, and Kacchan reclined back on his chair looking more bored than ever.

Izuku desperately wants to speak to him, the blonde was cooped up in his room the entire weekend not even interacting much with Kirishima. Though that could be attributed to the fact that Kirishima and Ashido were somewhat attached to the hip.

Kacchan must be getting lonely.

“Good morning everyone, please take your seats.” Aizawa announces, startling Izuku out of his thoughts as everyone gets into place.

The class quiets immediately, as they all wait for further instructions. The summer camp had been vaguely mentioned to them in passing, but as far as they knew they were travelling somewhere. Most likely to train further and keep their bodies in best condition.

“Now, I have a few announcements to make. First, yes Kaminari, all of the students that have failed or not performed to their optimal capacity will be allowed to attend the summer camp regardless,” the class cheered, Izuku among them, happy to hear things would work for them. “However! This will not be your typical summer camp with camp counselors and campfires. This will be a training camp, and we will be pushing all of you to your limits this year.”

Izuku heard Hagakure groan.

Kacchan in complete contrast - like the ambitious good student he was - looked more interested then, taking his feet off of his desk to lean forward and gather the new information Aizawa-sensei was saying.

Aizawa-sensei goes on to list off a bunch of rules and regulations about the camp, passing each student a brochure to look through. There’s a lot of chattering, people noticing that they were missing things for the trip.

Kaminari declares that they should go shopping together as a class, many others nodding in agreement. Aizawa-sensei only shrugs, telling them that if they filled out the form to excuse themselves they were free to do as they pleased.

Izuku grinned when Kaminari bounced over to his friend group, Todoroki, Iida, Uraraka and Tsuyu all turning around to pay him attention.

“You guys are coming too, right?” he asked excitedly, eyes darting to each one of them in turn.

Uraraka nods enthusiastically, Tsuyu also grinning in agreement. Iida starts his tangent on his duty as the class president and everyone rolls their eyes at the familiar speech. Izuku also gives him a soft ‘yes’ but it’s Todoroki’s response that catches Izuku’s attention.

“I’m afraid I can’t this time. I’m going to visit my mother.” Todoroki explains, his eyes looking a bit softer than usual.

“Oh, that’s alright then! What about you, Bakubro?” Kaminari asks, as Izuku casually listens in.

“As if I’d want to waste time shopping with you extras.” Kacchan scoffs, rolling his eyes at the offer.

Izuku decides then that he’ll ask Kacchan to come. He’d apologize for being a coward up until their exam, but also make sure that Kacchan understood that he wouldn’t be giving up his dream just yet.

As the class resumes, Izuku finds himself staring at the back of Kacchan’s head with a new resolve.
Izuku was going to try.

---

“Absolutely not.” Kacchan denied instantly before Izuku could even open his mouth. His friend his leaning out from the door frame, looking slightly disgruntled in his classic skull black tee and sweatpants.

“Please, Kacchan. You didn’t even hear what I was going to say!” Izuku pouts

“I already know what’s going on in that dweeb head of yours. You’re here to beg me to come with you to the mall with the extras. I’m not about to waste time going into stores pretending to spend time with nobody. My answer’s still no. If I need something, I’ll get it myself.” Kacchan huffs, though he looks slightly amused for someone who was supposedly against it.

“And why not? Besides, you still have Kirishima, he’ll be there too.” Izuku points out, crossing his arms.

“Shitty Hair’s gonna mooning after Pinky now they’re together or whatever. I’m not interested in having to third wheel them.” Kacchan grumbles, looking annoyed.

Izuku can’t help but grin at that. Despite his tone of voice, he could tell that the blonde was secretly happy for his friend.

“Then, you don’t have to! Spend time with me instead, it’ll be fun.” Izuku tells, smiling a little nervously. “We haven’t really hung out together since your birthday so...it would be nice, don’t you think?”

Kacchan unexpectedly softens, seriously looking him in the face at that.

“Y-You want to? Even after...y’know.” Kacchan asks, voice strangely vulnerable. Izuku feels guilty at the look, he had put Kacchan in a difficult position before. Yaomomo was right, Kacchan had only been concerned for him and though he’d worded extremely poorly it was with good intention.

“Kacchan,” Izuku begins, watching as Kacchan’s body language changes to look at Izuku seriously. “The whole Order thing...you shouldn’t have done it but I get where you’re coming from. Kacchan was only worrying about me, right?” Izuku asks softly, taking the blonde’s hands to squeeze them softly.

Kacchan meets his gaze and sighs, tension bleeding out of his body as he squeezes back.

“I was. I get that I was being an ass, but I still stand by what I said.” Kacchan tells him, though his voice is more gentle than usual as he brings Izuku into his chest.

Izuku can’t fight the urge to scent Kacchan all over, giggling at the reaction it produces. Kacchan makes soft rumbling noises that sound suspiciously like purrs.

“Okay. I understand that, but you need to understand that I already swore to Toshinori-sensei that I would do it. I made an agreement that I can’t back out of, and no matter how much that upsets you it’s too late for me to take it back.” Izuku explains tiredly into Kacchan’s shoulder.

Kacchan frowns, looking like he was about to begin arguing but Izuku places a finger to his lips.

“But, that doesn’t mean I won’t be more careful for you. I promise, I will. I’ll do my best to stop being a coward like you say I am but in return I need you to trust me to make my own decisions. I..I care about you a lot, Kacchan. I don’t want things to be bad between us, because I like scenting you like this, I like cuddling you and I like y-” Izuku abruptly cuts himself realizing that his candor was reaching alarming heights.

Kacchan looks extremely pleased by the development though, his caramel/burnt sugar smell sweeter than ever.

“What was that last part? Do you want to repeat that again, nerd?” Kacchan grins, hands tightening around Izuku’s waist, a toothy grin spread across his face.

Izuku pouts, face turning red as he smacks Kacchan’s chest in embarrassment.

“Kacchan, just answer the question!” Izuku grumbles as he buries his face in Kacchan’s chest. Izuku’s more than a little surprised at how easy it was, actually telling Kacchan how he felt. He should do it more often, though that confessing part needed to wait.

Kacchan seems amused though as he nuzzles the top of Izuku’s head.

“What do you think, stupid? I’m scenting you now, aren’t I?” Kacchan teases, nipping at Izuku’s ears like an overgrown pup. Izuku’s entire face turns red as he struggles to escape Kacchan’s arms overwhelmed by his friend’s affection.

“Kacchan, I just told you exactly how I felt. The least you could do is say something back!” Izuku informs, trying to evade Kacchan’s cheek chopping. Alphas were so gross, why did he need to chew on Izuku like some kind of dog toy?

“Fine. You need to make your own stupid choices anyway. And as for the mall thing, I’m only coming if you promise to sleep in my room tonight.” Kacchan informs with a shit eating grin.

Izuku feels all the blood rush up to his face as he finally removes himself from Kacchan’s space to bang his face into the wall. “Kacchan!”

---

He does in fact promise to sleep in Kacchan’s room - not like that! - but his face is slightly flushed as soon as they get there.

Kacchan’s arm was slung across his shoulders as Izuku’s friend group and Kacchan’s friend group chattered around them. Ashido and Uraraka were giggling amongst themselves as Kaminari and Tsuyu discussed a new video game that had been released recently.

Iida was ahead of them, herding the class like they were a flock of sheep and instructing Kirishima to go find Hagakure from getting lost.

Upon seeing them - Izuku and Kacchan - huddled up together Aoyama had joked that the class old married couple had sorted their issues out again. Kirishima had looked thrilled, wrapping a hand around each of them and giving them a celebratory noogie. Izuku had attempted to explain that they were not actually a couple - no matter how much Izuku dreamt them to be - but his cries only fell on deaf ears.

Everyone seemed rather unconvinced, and Kacchan didn’t look like he cared much about their assumptions so Izuku supposed he shouldn’t either. They were childhood friends! It was only natural that they were close.

Another development had been the weird amount of attention they had gained.

As soon as they stepped foot into Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall, there was all kinds of attention on them. There were some people who had asked for autographs and pcitures, but Kacchan had kindly told them to fuck off so they hadn’t been bothered much after that.

Still, Izuku couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that someone was watching them.

“Hey, wait, we all need different things. We should probably split up and then meet up again later.” Sero pointed out, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts.

Jirou nodded in agreement, as well as Satou and Iida.

“It would be best if those who needed to buy similar appliances went with each other and then we can all meet up back here in three hours. Is that alright by everyone?” Iida asked as everyone chattered.

Izuku looked at his list and frowned. “I need to buy new shoes...what about you, Kacchan?”

“Damn, I need bug spray.” Kacchan sighed, looking slightly put out.

“I do too! We can go together, Bakubro. Don’t worry Midoriya, I’ll return him right back to ya after we’re done.” Kirishima promised as he linked arms with Kacchan to pull him away, throwing Izuku a wink as he left.

Izuku stared after them in confusion and decided to ignore Kirishima’s unexpected strangeness.

“Hey, Deku-kun! I can come along with you!” Uraraka informed cheerfully as Izuku turned around. The two of them scoured around pretty much window shopping - they were both kinda broke - when Izuku noticed the shoes he needed from another store.

Uraraka looked caught up at a store with scented candles, and while Izuku understood the appeal he couldn’t just wait.

“Uraraka-san! I see the shoes I need, I’ll come back in a second!” Izuku tells the girl, pointing to the store that he’d be headed too.

The girl looks up from the candle she was holding to look in the direction Izuku was pointing too before nodding. “Be back quick, Deku-kun.”

Izuku nods easily, ruffling his friend’s hair before moving on his way to get the shoes he needed.

He easily maneuvered around people until a certain scent has him freezing in his place. Izuku suddenly gets overwhelmed by a scent he didn’t think he would be confronting anytime soon. Moss, ozone, and something headier and scarier like the scent of decomposing flesh - though the last one was less prominent and most likely something he had picked off of something else. Or someone else.

This terrifying conclusion gives Izuku no comfort as he’s confronted with what could possibly be his arch-enemy all on his own.

Like something out of a horror movie, Tomura Shigaraki had pulled him into an alleyway gun pressed against his head and hand wrapped around his throat.

“Make a sound, and I’ll blow your brains out.”

Izuku refuses to whimper or show vulnerability, so he instead does nothing at all. Looks at the criminal blankly, pretending he doesn’t know what he knows.

Pretending like he wasn’t aware that the Alpha was likely involved with the Blood Pact of his own at the mercy - or the help - of All For One - the organization Izuku was meant to take down on his own.

Izuku doesn’t move and Shigaraki relaxes his grip.

“Good job, little Beta. You’re so obedient I might not even have to use Orders on you after all. Now, you’re gonna come sit with me and you’ll answer my questions like a good boy. If you try to make a scene, I’ll kill you and multiple innocent bystanders. You wouldn’t want to do that, now would you little hero?” Shigaraki goads, pressing the gun to Izuku’s temple firmly.

Izuku nods, completely spooked as he follows Shigaraki into the open again. The fact that he was in public was giving Izuku a false sense of security, as Izuku tried to assess the weapon Shigaraki was carrying.

Izuku looked at some odd lumps on his person, and the extremely loose black clothing he had worn. Shigaraki had been planning on ambushing him like this. Izuku didn’t know how many weapons this guy had, and even if he did Shigaraki wouldn’t mind just taking the lives of random people around him.

Izuku would have to comply, no matter what the man demanded from.

Instead of panicking, Izuku tried to fill in details of the man’s appearance and demeanor in his head for later. The guy had frail, light coloured hair that fell over his face and a pale complexion like he’d never see the sun. This meant he probably spent more time hiding in the dark in hideouts than actively participating in any killing on the daily. Izuku wanted more details, about approximate height and weight but they were sitting down now and Shigaraki’s clothes were too loose.

“Now, since you’re that smartass brat that discovered my plan I want your opinion on something. This is the one and only time I will interact with you without seriously attempting to murder you and so in exchange I want your honesty.” Shigaraki grinned sharply - somewhat reminiscent of Kacchan. It sent shivers down Izuku’s spine for different reasons. Was that action just an Alpha thing?

Izuku nods instead, accepting his fate but looking out for a familiar face in the crowd. Waiting for Uraraka, or Kacchan or maybe even Kirishima so he could make an excuse to escape and -

“It's so frustrating when people don’t pay attention to you.” Shigaraki heaves, bringing his hand to wrap around Izuku’s throat once again. His arm was positioned in the same way Kacchan had held him and this entire interaction was giving Izuku a very bad feeling that was getting worse and worse.

Izuku gulped.

“That damn Cop Killer. What a joke. I release all the Nomus to start the fires, I cause all the chaos in the city and what happens next? Some asshole who doesn’t even do shit but get beat up by Endeavour becomes the talk of the town. Why?! Why did that happen?!” Shigaraki demands, his eyes bulging out of his face, his pheromones growing thicker to the point Izuku fears the man will go into a Rage. If he really does, not even Izuku’s compliance would save him.

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!” Izuku gasps, struggling for air.

“Fine then,” Shigaraki relents, “What’s the difference between me and that criminal Stain? He kills what he doesn’t like and I kill what I don’t like. Why is everyone up his ass?”

Izuku frowns, trying to word this in a way that didn’t offend the criminal. Izuku wanted to be honest, but if he said the wrong thing he’d get his brains blown up for sure.

“W-Well, the main difference between the two of you that I can tell is intention.” Izuku explains, like he’s talking to a small child.

“Intention? Why does that matter? We’re just getting rid of what we hate. Isn’t it just that?” Shigaraki asks, sounding more and more like a little kid.

This is creeping Izuku out more than he’d like.

“It’s more complicated than that. With you, I find it harder to agree with what you want. You’ll destroy anything that doesn’t resemble your ideals of the ‘Perfect’ Alpha. I don't agree or understand the motivation behind that. I don’t agree with what you consider a ‘Perfect’ Alpha, and I don’t agree with you killing whoever you like. But, on top of that I can’t understand it either. Why do you care so much about the ‘Perfect’ Alpha? Even if you theortically accomplished having a society with only that, you’d still hate or dislike someone. It’s only natural. I don’t get your desire or what motivates you. It just looks strange and beyond my comprehension. All that anyone actually knows about you is that you want to kill Toshinori. Not many people know - or care - why.” Izuku explains, his lungs begging for air.

Apparently invested in Izuku’s advice, Shigaraki lessens his grip on Izuku's throat and allows him to continue speaking.

“With Cop Killer Stain, his ideals, his actions and his motivations have always been abundantly clear. He even has his own manifesto that outlines his thoughts and why he believes in his actions. He wants to kill who he considers ‘corrupt cops’ to get rid of them in society. He wants to discourage that kind of behaviour and while I don’t agree with his methods I can understand them. He truly wants to help society - in his own twisted way - by physically purging all the corrupt people in the legal system who abuse their powers for selfish reasons. Again, I can’t agree with killing people - I don’t think it’s right but I understand him. He wants to make the world a more fair and just place, and while I don’t agree with his actions to get there I can under the initial intention. That’s how a lot of people feel, and that’s why he’s more popular as well. People understand and some even agree with what he hopes to accomplish.” Izuku finishes, staring at Shigaraki dead in the eye in hopes of being released.

Shigaraki seems thoughtful for a few seconds before his grip on Izuku’s throat suddenly increases.

“I see, now little Beta. I need some pretty words to mask the dirty deeds, hmm? I feel like you’re pretty good at that. Isn’t that right, Deku? Maybe I can make the useless Beta useful after all!” Shigaraki grins, licking his chapped lips and looking down at Izuku as if he would swallow him whole. The man slides a hand down Izuku’s thigh and begins opening his mouth as if to give Izuku an Order. An Order Izuku would have to pretend to comply to instantly because nobody was supposed to know of Izuku's Blood Pact ability. He would have to go with whatever the Alpha asked of him.

Izuku’s heart pounds, wondering how he could possibly get out of this situation before a voice calls out to him. Izuku had to brave, if he didn't act right many people could get hurt. No matter what happened, he couldn't risk the lives of other people.

“Deku-kun? Are you okay?” Uraraka asks as Shigaraki instantly releases Izuku from his grip.

Izuku lets out a breath of relief as he swallows down the bile in his mouth. Uraraka had saved him.Izuku didn’t even want to think about where that could’ve gone, but she really had.

“I-It was nothing, Uraraka-san!” Izuku stutters, hoping the girl would take a hint.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had come with friends.” Shigaraki sighed, getting up and walking away leaving Izuku gasping for proper breath. The man suddenly turns around as Uraraka gathers Izuku in her arms from an oncoming panic attack.

“Till we meet again, Deku-kun.” Shigaraki grins.

Notes:

i'm sorry if this fic seems to be getting darker i promise it won't be too bad. but i also want to emphasize a difference between canon bnha league of villains and this 'league of criminals -> league of alphas' .

this organization believes in alpha supremacy. they want omegas locked away unless needed for heats or to be mated (a.k.a matchmaking houses) and betas to be complicit tools to be used.

the general public does NOT AGREE with these sentiments. it is a progressive time and the average person would see the league as 'archaic' and 'revolting' even conservatives in this universe would NOT AGREE WITH

the way shigaraki sees deku is also different than in canon. bc in canon, shigaraki sees izuku as all might and wants to destory him. here, he first views izuku as a meddling brat but now sees izuku as a tool he might need to break in first. it's difficult to swallow, ik and it's wrong but it won't get worse than it has here. but these will be things to think about.

Chapter 43: labdanum

Summary:

the calm in between a storm and a blazing hot fire

Izuku is more than aware that he is a rather emotional person. He acts on emotional impulse more often than not, even if he took just a second longer to just rationalize a decision, when it comes down to very important one’s he usually follows his heart instead of his head.

While this usually does bring him more trouble, Izuku rarely regrets it. If he’s following his desires, what his entire being calls for Izuku finds that he lives mostly without too much regret.

Now, he doesn’t feel anything at all. The past few weeks had been undeniably stressful in all aspects. Risking his life to save his friend, fighting a serial killer and fighting and then making up with the person he loved most. Even if there were many stumbles along the way, even if he’d undergone some discomfort or pain here or there he wouldn’t regret a single thing. It had all worked out in the end.

Now, Izuku can only numbly stand by as Uraraka calls the police and people rush by them to evacuate the building. Izuku can barely register the movement around him, all he can feel is the ghost of Shigaraki’s hands crawling up his thigh. The scent of decaying flesh permeating the air and the hungry look in his eyes. Like he was ready to break Izuku in like a vessel to be filled, a toy to play around with.

Izuku had never been at the receiving end of such a look. If Stain’s desire to draw blood had left Izuku shaken, Shigaraki’s desire to - use him - leaves him immobile. He was like prey under that gaze, and if this was what All For One was truly about, Izuku really had to think this through.

He felt so dirty under the weight of such a gaze, as if Shigaraki really had him wrapped around his finger already.

“Deku, what the fuck is going on?!” an achingly familiar voice demands. Izuku doesn’t respond right away, instead running into Kacchan’s arms - ignoring the wary stares of the people around - them and breathes in the Alpha’s scent to destroy the traces of burnt flesh in Izuku’s nostrils. Kacchan responds in kind, naturally wrapping his arms around Izuku to indulge him and get rid of the clear distress in Izuku's space.

Kacchan had been right all along. Maybe he shouldn’t have said yes so easily to Toshinori-sensei, but it had been the right thing to do at the time. But, the right thing didn’t always mean the best thing.

Just what had he signed up for?

“Kacchan...Tomura Shigaraki just threatened to kill me and other people nearby if I didn’t explain the differences between him and Stain.” Izuku informed him quietly, as he had told Uraraka earlier as Kacchan’s grip on his torso tightened.

“Did he have some kind of weapon? How did he threaten you? Did he touch-” Kacchan interrogated shooting question after question. Usually this kind of thing would irritate Izuku, just a bit but right now he’s thankful for Kacchan’s inquisitive nature. Just hearing his voice is enough for Izuku to gain strength.

“Yes.” is all Izuku’s says, and Kacchan pulls Izuku away to look him in the eye as if trying to assess him for injuries.

“Where?” Kacchan asks, strangely soft even as his eyes harden with something like righteous anger.

Izuku’s heart thumps. He really does feel gross, and can’t really bring himself to speak so he just gestures with his own hand in the same motion that Shigaraki had, from his knee to his thigh a slimy path that led to-

Kacchan’s nostrils flared, looking like he was about to kill a man. He grits his teeth together as if he had to bodily restrain himself from doing something rash and stupid - like punching a wall meanwhile the police made their way to the children.

Izuku once again recounted the events and was asked to come to the station for a more indepth report. Shigaraki had disappeared and the Police were left unable to find a trace.

He felt angry, as soon as the man had released him Izuku should’ve followed Shigaraki. He could’ve detected his scent on nearby potted plants or people he’d passed by but it was too late.

Izuku had been useless once again, too overwhelmed with the Alpha that threatened to kill innocents, to touch Izuku in ways that made his skin crawl.

What was done was done, but Izuku also found himself a little frustrated with the police too. So far, in almost every encounter with a criminal Izuku had to do all the work himself. He was sixteen years old, a high school student! How was he more competent in stopping crime than full-fledged adults how had supposedly trained all their lives for this?

Maybe Stain was on to something.

Kacchan gives Izuku’s hand a reassuring squeeze and Uraraka makes him promise to call them as soon as he leaves the station.

For the first time, Izuku rides the police car without anyone but Detective Naomasa but Izuku has no words for him. This wasn’t like last time, where Izuku got to play hero for a bit.

No, this time Izuku was a victim and the thought didn’t settle well with him. Why hadn’t he been stronger? Why did he have to always whilt like a flower without water whenever a strong scent passed him by? Was Shigaraki right about him? Was he really useless until he was used?

Then a darker thought possessed Izuku’s mind. Isn’t that what had happened with Toshinori-sensei? Izuku had been a fool ready to do anything his mentor had asked because of a blind Hero Complex and now he had aroused the attention of an awful man.

Izuku was starting to realize now more than ever that words carried a great deal of weight. His words especially. It had been his well timed speech that had opened Todoroki’s heart, and it had been his words that gave way for him to become Toshinori’s inheritor, it was only words that shaped an Order, it was words that made Shigaraki see him as a tool for his own plans and it was Shigaraki’s words that would haunt Izuku forever.

Words held power and strength Izuku had not realized before. It wasn’t reliant on secondary gender or anything of the like, but it was that power that could instill reassurance and hate and love and fear.

If Shigaraki could really get a hold of him and string him up like the puppet he needed Izuku to be, maybe he could give All For One that power too.

Izuku decided then that should it ever come to it, he’d kill himself before giving that nasty man the opportunity to use him.

His Blood Pact could only stand an Order of an Alpha. It could not stand psychological abuse and torture that Shigaraki’s eyes seemed to suggest.

He says none of this to the police force that asks for his statement. He tells them step by step the events of what occurred as if he were a third party but he doesn’t mention the phantom touch. There was no point in bringing attention to it, what had been done was done. He loosely describes the threat of ‘using him’ and though it stills the Detective for a second it earns him nothing more than a ‘be careful, young man’.

Izuku has to say that he’s a little surprised that his mother is waiting for him - just as she had when he had saved Kacchan. She swaddles him up in a warm hug that defleates the tension in Izuku’s chest, even if it was only a little.

I’ve failed you.

He lets his warm words of concern cool the balm of self-hatred as she worries over him. Inko Midoriya presses a soft kiss to her son’s head and apologizes for all the difficulties Izuku’s been facing.

‘My poor baby!’ she says, her voice tender and so vulnerable. Just like Izuku was, just like Izuku is.

It needs to stop. Cry baby Izuku needs to stop now, today because he can’t afford to live like that anymore. He had signed his life away for a cause he believed, as a warrior and soldier for justice.

This experience was a wakeup call. Izuku couldn’t afford to be a sixteen year old baby anymore. He wasn’t. He was on the cusp of adulthood and it was time he acted like it. Acted like the big boy he was supposed to be a long time ago.

Then, just as unexpectedly as he had the last time Toshinori-sensei appears reassuring his mother so Izuku doesn’t have to.

He promises his mother that Izuku’s - and all of the students - safety is the school’s top most concern and they’ll take care of anything. Izuku notices the words that Toshinori-sensei doesn’t say. He never tells his mom that this won’t happen again, he doesn’t tell Izuku’s mom what kind of danger he’s put her son in and if Toshinori-sensei isn’t going to tell her, Izuku isn’t either.

The less his mother knows the safer she’ll be. She thanks Toshinori-sensei for looking after her son, before Toshinori-sensei asks to have a private discussion with her son. His mother raises an eyebrow but compiles easily.

As soon as Izuku’s out of earshot he asks his mentor the question that’s burning in his mind all this time.

“Do you think Shigaraki knows? That I’m your…”

His mentor makes a face before shaking his head. “From how you explained the events, I don’t think so. If he’s decided he wants to target you to use you, it means he doesn’t realize your relation to me yet.”

Izuku frowns. “Does that mean Shigaraki is aware of…?”

“No. At least, I don’t think so. The current Boss of One For All doesn’t seem to trust him fully yet anyway.”

“How do you know this?” Izuku demands, feeling a little put out that there is still so much he doesn’t know with something he is now directly involved in. Never mind that Toshinori-sensei had been all but avoiding him ever since the Blood Pact.

Toshinori-sensei seems to soften and his eyes look sad. Izuku doesn’t want his sympathy, or his pity and he didn’t want to be coddled anymore. He wanted answers, and he needed them now.

“I know I haven’t advised you as I should have...and I apologize for that. You’ve already been through a lot for a kid you age, and putting this responsibility on a kid wasn’t my plan. You’re...the youngest successor of this y’know. I can’t help but feel like I’ve cursed you to a difficult life. I’m sorry for it.” Toshinori-sensei admits and Izuku sighs.

His role model really was a hero to the core.

“It’s...fine. It’s too late to regret anything now, anyway. So Shigaraki has put a target on my back, kinda figured he would since U.S.J anyway, big whoop. I would’ve been involved in this somehow anyway. At least we know that if he’s coming after me he’ll keep me alive. What’s our next move?” Izuku tells him sincerely as Toshinori-sensei blinks back at him in surprise.

“O-Oh. I didn’t expect you to be this...calm about this. Looks like I’ve underestimated you again! In any case, the police are now looking for the League’s base but it will take some time. We will not be making any moves until we gather more information. You’ve got your summer break ahead of you, Young Midoriya.” Toshinori replies kindly, ruffling his hair.

Izuku stiffens. “So...I just do nothing until further instruction? Really?”

Toshinori-sensei only grins back at him. “I wouldn’t say nothing. That training camp of yours is no walk in the park, but you should enjoy it. Be a kid while you still can, Young Midoriya. Or you’ll regret it when you can’t anymore.”

Swallowing the lump in Izuku’s throat, he nods understanding what his mentor was trying to get at. Okay, having fun during summer vacation sounds easy enough.

After an abnormally stressful school year, maybe this training camp would be just the distraction from reality that Izuku needed.

---

When Izuku gets back to the dorms for their final night of the semester together, Izuku’s surprised to see so many people still up.

Apparently his class felt extremely guilty that Izuku had to deal with the criminal all on his own. Iida calls him a magnet for trouble, but Izuku can tell from the tight hug his friend envelopes him in that he teases out of concern.

Kirishima dotes on him more than expected, demanding that Izuku stay up for movie night. Though Izuku is exhausted, he can’t help but revel in his classmate’s care. They had stayed up in concern for his well being, the very least Izuku could do is return the favour.

Besides, staying up to watch a movie didn’t seem so bad.

They had settled on a Studio Ghibli movie, Whisper of the Heart, and Izuku searches for Kacchan who had been drinking tea with Yaomomo.

The two of them watched Izuku with concerned eyes, but Izuku had a feeling Kacchan had already informed the vice-president of the events that had transpired that day. They look at him with a mix of sympathy and pity and it makes Izuku want to claw at his own skin.

Yaomomo doesn’t say anything to address though, only pursing her lips as she brought a cup of green tea to Izuku’s hands ushering him to drink it.

She whispers softly that she’s glad Izuku’s safe before leaving him with Kacchan.

Kacchan stares at him in silence for a few moments before opening his mouth.

“After you shower tonight, scent with me. If you want my door will be open tonight, so if you don’t want to sleep alone…” Kacchan offers an olive branch Izuku hadn’t expected him to extend.

Izuku drains the hot tea in one gulp before answering.

“I don’t really think I’m going to sleep tonight, but I’ll take you up on the scenting.” Izuku sighs, curling into himself. He feels the exhaustion of the day weigh down on him when he suddenly realizes something.

“Shoot, I didn’t even buy the shoes!” Izuku groans, startling laughter out of the blonde. All exhaustion and tension bleeds out of Izuku instantly at the sound. It’s such a rare and wonderful thing to hear, Izuku’s honestly surprised that he had managed to produce it without even trying.

“So, that’s your biggest concern? Damn, Deku you have weird priorities.” Kacchan chuckles, trying to stifle his joy but Izuku revels in it.

Maybe he could still be a normal teen after all.

---

When Izuku comes out of the shower, he’s pleased to find Kacchan waiting for him in his room throwing one of hoodies Izuku’s way.

Izuku raises an eyebrow, but happily pulls it over his head and pokes his arm through the sleeves. The black hoodie was rather plain but smelled faintly of burnt sugar and amber. It was rather big on him, the sleeves extending past his wrists and the bottom of the hoodie to almost mid thigh. If sleep shorts had been any shorter it would’ve looked like Izuku was wearing a dress.

“What’s the occasion?” Izuku asks as the two of them leave his room to the common room downstairs. Kacchan only shrugs, though his face is faintly pink as he looks away.

“Thought it’d help you relax, or whatever.” is all his friend says about it, but his blush remains high on his cheeks.

Izuku decided not to look too deeply into it and accept it for what it was.

The class is already done setting up the blankets and pillows over the couches, ushering for Izuku and Kacchan to hurry up. Shoji had already popped many bowls worth of popcorn, and Kaminari had brought out a huge bag of gummy worms while Ojirou the more traditional of them all had brought a small pack of Iwashi senbei.

Their efforts made Izuku extremely happy.

As Izuku settled into a space in between Kacchan and Kirishima, Izuku allowed himself to bask in the warmth of the environment. It was peaceful even if it was a bit chaotic. Sero and Ashido were laughing about something loudly to the left of him and by the sound of it looked like Iida was scolding Kaminari for nearly spilling water all over the floor.

Despite all this, the normalcy brought Izuku a gentle sense of security.

As the movie started, Izuku could feel Kacchan squirming beside him. The entire night, it had looked like the blonde had been wanting to ask him something but was holding back for some reason. That wasn’t at all like the Kacchan he knew, but he somewhat already knew what this could be about.

“Kacchan? Was there something you wanted to ask me?” Izuku asks, raising an eyebrow at his childhood friend’s unnaturally bashful behaviour.

Kacchan opened his mouth, growled, closed it and then looked away. Izuku waited another few moments and when nothing happened decided it was better not to push.

“I-Is it okay if I touch you? Since...y’know.” Kacchan whispers, looking unsure but kind all the same. Izuku feels a very warm feeling overwhelm him as he throws his entire body weight into Kacchan’s lap.

“Of course! I’m the one who clung to you, right? It’s fine. Really. I could use your head pats right now.” Izuku grins, nuzzling his face again into Kacchan’s chest.

Kacchan deflates from underneath him, patting Izuku’s head before running his fingers through Izuku’s hair sweetly. “You’re like a pup.” his friend huffs, though his eyes look fond as he says it.

Izuku says nothing, and lets himself be held by his childhood friend. The movie plays before him, and all of their friends surround him but at the moment Izuku is most comforted by the only constant in his life. Even if the world went to shit around him, Kacchan would always be the person Izuku could rely on.

Notes:

hehehe if izuku really thinks this peace will last for long he is in for a RUDE awakening

Chapter 44: neroli

Summary:

reassurance whispered in the dark.

The world was so much darker than Izuku remembered. Reality was so much harsher now that Izuku could see more clearly. It was a shock to face the cruelty of humanity and see it in his face for real. Villains weren't real, evil was only dramatically depicted in movies and comics so the heroes could shine brighter. That’s how Izuku had always seen it until now. A naive, innocent child he had been. Believing that people were inherently good.

If that were true then how could killers like Stain, and Shigaraki kill others without a second thought? How could they extinguish the lives of others without guilt or remorse? Was it because they didn’t see the lives of others important and irrelevant in the grand scheme of life? If they thought this way, what gave them the authority to take lives? Why did they think they had the ability to choose who lives or dies?

And...were they good? No, they couldn’t be good because they killed people and that was bad. Yet, Stain was trying to do good, in his own warped way. He didn’t just kill for the sake of killing. Which meant that he was capable of good. He had saved Izuku and spared his friend’s lives.

Then, what about Shigaraki? Was he ever good? Had he some empathy buried deep within the confines of his angry soul? Was it still accessible, or did it lie dormant because of a life of hardship?

There was no point in thinking like this - Izuku knew but these thoughts won't stop. It was his responsibility now, his duty to the Blood Pact. It was his duty to Toshinori-sensei and the generations before him and most importantly to society to help mitigate the League of Criminals. Maybe even one day eliminate them.

Did...did that mean Izuku would have to kill them one day? Would he have to extinguish a life in order to
preserve the society that had been built? Wouldn’t that make Izuku just as bad as the people he was fighting against?

Did that mean...that Izuku wasn’t good either? What about Toshinori-sensei? Or his mentor? Had they killed in an attempt to keep peace and order?

“Oi, shithead. You’re not gonna watch this movie at all, are you?” Kacchan murmured into his ear, causing Izuku to jump in his seat.

“Kacchan!” Izuku exclaimed, more than a little startled.

“SHH!” Iida scolded from another couch, glaring at the two of them for interrupting the movie.

“Sorry.” Izuku apologizes quickly, averting his gaze from their Class President and to the screen in front of him. Truth be told he hadn’t been paying attention to the movie at all, and while he felt a bit bad he had more pressing matters on his mind. “I think I’ll just go to bed.” Izuku muttered quietly, getting up from his seat and ready to hole himself in his bedroom until the next morning.

He didn’t dare turn back to look at Kacchan, not wanting him to worry about unnecessary matters.

Izuku dragged his feet until he stepped on to the balcony. A soft cool breeze ruffled his hair, like an old friend. There was a full moon tonight, and Izuku admired the way it illuminated the dark cityscape below him.

That’s right. Even in the real world, the bright and the good looked much more precious surrounded by the filth and darkness of the world around it. People like Toshinori-sensei and Kacchan shone so brilliantly because of how they could face off against the impossible and the powerful. They shone so brightly not only because they were good, but they could look cruelty in the eye and have their opponent whimpering in shame. They were born fighters.

The scope was different but the sentiment was the same. Kacchan fought bullies and Toshinori-sensei fought criminals.

What of Izuku, then? He was no hot-blooded warrior, itching for a fight. He wasn’t someone who was ready to fight at any given chance. He was a pacifist at heart.

That didn’t mean when push came to shove, he’d let people hurt him as they pleased. He’d fought those robbers, and he’d fought Stain.

Yet, in the face of Shigaraki he hadn’t done a thing. If he wasn’t the hero, and if he wasn’t the villain...was he the victim? He sure as hell didn’t want to be a victim, but most people rarely did.

Being at the receiving end of any kind of unsolicited violence was never really anyone’s cup of tea.

Izuku was so busy all this time, running and running, away from his own insecurities and overwhelming emotions he had lost sight of what he was running towards. He’d been running away all this while and now he’d have to pay the price for that kind of privilege.

 

He had signed himself up for a life of constant violence and chaos, with no clear end sight. How would he destroy the League of Criminals?

Destroying their base? Putting their leader in jail?

Ideologies can never really die, so long as there were people still willing to believe in them. The only way to permanently stop the reign would be to kill every single person involved with the League and All For One. Which wasn’t what a hero would do.

But, maybe that was the fate Izuku was meant for. He had thought the blindly following in his role model’s footsteps would be the best thing he could with his life.

“Deku. What are you doing out here?” Kacchan asks, his voice strangely quiet for him and shocking Izuku out of his socks.

In the moonlight, Kacchan looks ethereal. His hair looks platinum blonde, almost silver and his red eyes almost glow in the dark. Leaning over the balcony on this picturesque night, Izuku is almost overwhelmed by his beauty. Izuku was so accustomed to Kacchan’s usual scowling face that he didn’t usually get to appreciate just how good looking he was. Sometimes, Izuku couldn’t even believe someone like him was real. He was smart, talented, insanely good looking and had a heart of gold. Anyone would be lucky to have him.

His expression now is softer than usual, mellowed out from the events of the day. His mouth is slightly downturned, and his eyebrows are furrowed in thought. It’s a very nice difference from his usual countenance and it took Izuku’s breath away.

“Trying to find some peace, I guess.” Izuku answers truthfully, quickly averting his gaze so he isn’t caught staring too long. The view was gorgeous today, and it seemed to melt the melancholy that clung to him since his encounter with Shigaraki.

“You gonna tell me what’s going on in that big head of yours, or are we just going to pretend you only wanted a breath of fresh air?” Kacchan asks, tilting his head to meet Izuku’s eyes.

Izuku sighed, closing his eyes for a few seconds before looking up at the moon again.

“I was thinking...that you were right. About our fight. About everything as you always are. I’m really just a coward.” Deku begins, voice a little shaky as he pushes the words past his lips and out into the world.

“Deku, what happened today was not an example of-” Kacchan interrupted, sounding unusually defensive and inexplicably hurt by Izuku using his own words against him.

“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. The whole mess with League of Criminals and Shigaraki and All For One. I was stupid to just sign my life away without really thinking about the consequences.” Izuku replied resolutely. “I was stupid to think I could pretend to play a strong hero who can save the day like All Might. That’s not how the real world works, and if I’m not good enough I’m not the only one who has to pay the price.”

“Deku-”

“Let me finish, Kacchan! All these years, I ‘ve listened to you and what you wanted. I stayed away for your sake, because I care about you and I wanted to be someone who gave you what you wanted. Now, it’s my turn to talk. Please listen, and then say whatever it is you want.” Izuku yells, frustration bubbling underneath the surface.

“You were right, okay?! About me being too naive. About how I run away from everything because I’m a coward that can never confront any of my own issues. And now, I'm finally done being blind to my own faults and you’re trying to defend me?! What is there to defend? A reckless idiot that runs blindly into the future with looking back? While you were chasing success, I was running away from my failures.” Izuku rants, a burning ugly sound working its way up his throat.

“I-If I had messed up even a little today, people would have died because of me. It would’ve been my fault. I keep just, going with this gut instinct because it feels like the right thing to do but what if it isn’t right? Up until now, I didn’t care what happened to me because as long others were safe it was fine. But, I can’t...I can't do that anymore. I can’t be that anymore. Shigaraki made it abundantly clear that if he’s got his hands on me, he’ll…” and for the first time today Izuku found himself nearly choking on his words.

Strangely, he didn’t want to cry. He wasn’t sad about this, like he could easily be before.

He was scared. He was terrified.

This is why he’s shocked when Kacchan’s the one to hold him with tears running down his face. It’s almost as if Kacchan is crying for him.“Deku...please don’t…” his friend breathes, sounding more heartbroken that Izuku had ever wanted to hear him.

Izuku takes a deep breath, trying to clear his throat.

“I guess... I’ve never been afraid of dying since I wouldn’t have to face the consequences. It sounds selfish, probably because it is, but it’s true. But there are worse things than dying useless, Kacchan. It would be worse living as someone else’s tool.”

Kacchan makes a noise in between a yell and sob and presses him closer.

“S-Stop saying shit like that! I-I won’t let it happen. He won’t touch you again, I swear Deku I’ll-”

“Shigaraki is not your problem! He’s mine. You can’t promise that Kacchan, we’re destined to fight again. You shouldn’t be getting involved in any case, it has nothing to do with-” Izuku yelled, throat feeling raw before getting pushed away and then slapped in the face.

“Shut the fuck, you selfish bastard!” Kacchan roars, eyes shining with tears. Despite being overcome with anger and emotion Kacchan was so pretty. Even his weeping was lovely, moonlight reflecting off the tears caught on his eyelashes and dripping down his face.

“You don’t get to stand there and tell me I’m not involved, or I shouldn’t care! Your business is my business, your pain is mine pain. You keep bottling things up on your own as if the weight of the entire world is only on your own shoulders and it pisses me off! You’re not alone in this shitty world, Deku there’s a lot of people who care about you!” Kacchan shrieks, sounding more upset than even Deku himself.

“Kacchan, I-” Izuku begins, guilt curling up around his entire body and suffocating him like a vise.

“No, now it’s your turn to shut the fuck up! I’ve had it with you. You get into all these situations and you tell me all this shit, and then expect me to keep my mouth shut and do nothing about it? I’m done doing that! If you can trust me to tell me all that shit, can’t you just rely on me more? If there’s all this shit going on inside your head, just tell me damnit!” Kacchan hollers into his face, shaking his shoulders vigorously.

Izuku gapes at him in shock - and then relief. He pulls Kacchan into a hug and buries his face into his chest, scenting the Alpha all over. The action always seemed to calm his friend down, and as he watched the trembling subside from his friend’s shoulders he knew it was working.

“Okay. Okay, Kacchan I’ll rely on you more.” Izuku concedes softly, nuzzling at Kacchan’s jaw and collarbones enjoying the caramel scent thickening with his friend’s relief. Looks like there was a lot of emotion being bottled up in there as well.

They stand there in the balcony, with the full moon overhead and it feels like a promise.

---

The next morning, Izuku wakes up refreshed and smelling distinctly like Kacchan. They had slept together - platonically - all of last night and no matter how much Izuku scrubbed in the shower his scent wouldn’t completely leave. It left him feeling rather pleasant all throughout breakfast though, so he wasn’t complaining. It was weird, but also kind of nice.

Speaking of weird, Izuku couldn’t bring himself to return Kacchan’s hoodie at all. It was warm, it was nice, it smelled like him and it was super soft. It appealed to a very base part of Izuku he couldn’t quite understand.

Another weird thing! He had woken up that morning needing to pile his pillows and blankets like a play fort. It was fun and Izuku couldn’t quite place where or why he felt like he wanted to do it, but by the time he was done he had curled up with Kacchan’s sweater and hummed in appreciation.

This was, until someone rudely knocked on his door demanding Izuku's attention. Hiding Kacchan’s hoodie underneath his pillow Izuku approached the door with some caution.

Kaminari grinned at him brightly.

“Midoriya! A bunch of us asked if Aizawa-sensei would be willing to let us head to the pool. We kind of guilt tripped him by using your meeting with a criminal as an excuse, so you have to come!” Kaminari explains, looking a little embarrassed.

Izuku is both impressed and kind of surprised by Kaminari’s willingness to use other people’s trauma to his advantage. Alright, then! It would be nice to swim today, he was feeling rather hotter than usual.

“Okay! Let me bring my swimming trunks and I’ll be right with you.” Izuku agrees easily, laughing at Kaminari’s yell of delight.

It turns out that their entire class is there, not just a couple of the students. Though, Izuku isn’t complaining! It looks like even Todoroki had come, which brought a bright smile onto Izuku’s face.

It made Izuku immensely happy to see Todoroki interacting and hanging out with the rest of the class.

“Midoriya! I heard what happened yesterday, are you alright?” Todoroki asks in concern, his eyebrows pinched and eyes hardened.

A queasy feeling passes through Izuku’s stomach at the mention but Izuku laughs it off.

“I didn’t get hurt this time, so I consider that a win!” Izuku grins playfully. Todoroki doesn’t look completely convinced, but he drops the subject anyway.

The girls are playing volleyball in a separate pool while some of the guys are playing chicken. Tokoyami is sitting on top of Shoji and Ojirou on top of Satou.

Koda’s chatting softly with Hagakure and Sero is currently convincing Kaminari to race. This starts an entire spiel of people to get into the idea, Kacchan unsurprisingly at the forefront due to his competitive nature.

Izuku takes the time to silently admire the view. It wasn’t everyday Izuku got to revel in a shirtless Kacchan after all! While they did change into gym clothes rather close to each other, it wasn’t usually time Izuku dedicated to ogling his friend.

“Oi, Midoriya! Perving on the childhood friend, I see!” Kirishima grins, ruffling Izuku’s hair and snapping Izuku out of his thoughts.

Izuku flushes, attempting to deny the claim immediately. “Kirishima-kun, it isn’t...I’m not-”

Ashido pops out of nowhere grinning from ear to ear. “It’s no use denying it, don’t worry we won’t tell.” she grins wrapping an arm around Kirishima’s shoulders.

“Mina! Get off, you’re wet and cold don’t do that.” Kirishima whines, struggling to get out of his girlfriend’s grip.

“What’s that? You want a hug? That can be arranged any time you want, baby.” Ashido teases, wrapping Kirishima in a rather soaking hug.

Izuku watches them both in amusement, as they bickered and played around. The familiarity they had with each other was refreshing to watch. It felt like just yesterday when they were playing those stupid games in the common room. The longing glances Kirishima would send Ashido’s way. Or the jealous stare Izuku had received when he and Kirishima had kissed. It almost felt like an entire lifetime ago, but it had been just this past semester.

Time really flies.

“Hey, Deku! Get over here. All of us guys are gonna race, and you better get over here so I can beat your ass!” Kacchan calls, hands crossed as he glares at Todoroki.

Oh, boy. Izuku better fix that as soon as possible.

It was really fun, being able to compete against his fellow friends in a swimming competition. Izuku was doing rather well, though he was not surprised by this. After all, he had tried out for the Swim Team in his old school and made it, hadn’t he? At the time it was in hopes of perfecting the triathlon at the Sports Festival. That had been Izuku’s goal back then, and it was crazy to see how far he’d come.

The competition had narrowed down to only Kacchan, Todoroki and himself and just as they were about to dive into the cool water Aizawa-sensei interrupted them telling them to get back to the dorms as soon as possible.

Everyone groaned in disappointment, but Izuku couldn’t help the bubble of happiness that burst through him. Maybe things were going to be difficult, but with Kacchan’s reassurance and a full summer camp ahead Izuku decided he still had time to be a kid after all.

That’s why when Toshinori-sensei catches him alone, Izuku can’t help but groan - even if it’s just inside his own head.

“Did you want to speak to me, Toshinori-sensei?” Izuku asks tiredly of his mentor that had been trying to blend into the wall.

“Ah, yes! I’ve been wanting to speak with you privately for a while, and our time in the police station has been cut short. Care to take a walk with me?” Toshinori-sensei offers kindly.

Izuku follows quietly, a little surprised to see where his role model was leading him. Takoba Municipal Beach Park. Izuku hadn’t been here since before the Entrance Exam. It seemed as though many people came by now, with all the trash cleared. There were families and friends milling about, splashing in the water and building sandcastles.

To think Izuku had been able to make it all happen, without even knowing how much good he was going until after..was nothing short of amazing.

“I wanted to start talking to you first, with an apology.” Toshinori-sensei confessed, not meeting Izuku’s eyes. He was looking out into the horizon, watching the sunset with a worn expression sitting on his facial features.

“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Izuku replied quietly, sitting down on the sand so he could bury his hands into it.

Toshinrori-sensei sighed before sitting beside him on the ground. “I also didn’t do anything right, either. Besides trusting this with you, I mean.”

Izuku didn’t have anything to say to that.

“I think I’ve mentioned this before...but you’re the youngest inheritor of One For All’s will. You’ve got a target on your back, and you won’t really get live easily. It will be very hard for you, but as your mentor I promise you to not let you down anymore. You dealt with criminals thrice already, and Shigaraki is already interested in you without knowing all the details. Nothing about your life is going to get easier with this Blood Pact, but-” Toshinori looked up at the sky, blue eyes glinting brilliantly.

Despite how haggard Toshinori-sensei looked these days, his eyes always shone brilliantly. It never lost that determined sheen. Izuku hoped he’d be like that at his age.

“But, I don’t regret my choice. I don’t regret trusting you, Midoriya. You’ve got intelligence, and wit, and iron will that will not fail you. Your abilities will make you even more capable than those before you. And you are strong, young Midoriya. Far more than you give yourself credit for. All that’s left is to believe in yourself. Once you can trust yourself, there’s nothing much that could stop you.” Toshinori-sensei informs him sincerely.

Izuku opens his mouth, flustered at his idol’s trust in him, before closing his mouth and nodding. It took time to earn trust, even if it was with himself. For now, he’d believe in Toshinori-sensei’s trust in him and that had to be enough.

Notes:

is this getting more angsty than you expected of this fic? what do you think?

let me know in the comments! this was a really heartwreching/heartwarming chapter for me to write but from here on a lot of things will be harder for izuku to deal with :(( y'all know what's coming

Chapter 45: cyclamen

Summary:

rising before daybreak

Izuku wakes up that morning, feeling bright and very warm. There’s a soft tender feeling that seems to light up his chest to his thighs down to his toes. It feels good, like liquid honey - an energy that's gooey and sweet and makes Izuku feel grateful to wake up that morning.

He’s still half asleep when he showers and packs, pushing his suitcase along with him. There’s soft murmuring all around him, excited giggles and jokes about the camp they’ll go to together. For a lot of people, spending the summer with the same people you went to school with would be overkill. Most people would eventually tire of each other.

It wasn’t the case at all with Class 1A. They were closer than most homerooms were, never mind that they would be in the same class for the next few years. Perhaps life threatening situations and danger really could forge steel bonds of friendship and loyalty amongst people.

It was nice to see. How the world could be difficult and bleak and yet...there was still something very precious within all the cruelty. Things that were worth protecting and caring for despite everything around them.

Izuku watched fondly as Uraraka dragged Tsuyu by the wrist, chattering her ear off about all the fun things they could do. At the same time, he could see Yaoyorozu and Jirou whispering among themselves giggling like young children. Yaoyorozu and Jirou were some of the more serious girls in their class, but seeing them look so lighthearted and carefree was a blessing to watch.

Being in this very class...with some of the brightest and most energetic young people Izuku could think of. They were smart, hardworking and so talented. They would all be successful in their own rights, and Izuku couldn’t wait to see what life had in store for them.

That’s what Izuku was fighting for. Their freedom, their happiness and their safety. Making sure that their bright futures could still remain bright.

“Hey, Deku-kun! Don’t just stand there, get over here!” Uraraka exclaims, her voice shocking Izuku out of his thoughts.

“Coming!” Izuku replies, running up to catch up to them. He should’ve moved faster! A lot of his friends had already settled into the bus, Uraraka next to Tsuyu. Aoyama next to Todoroki. Kacchan next to...Tokoyami? How strange.

“What’s up with the…?” Izuku asked Uraraka, pointing towards some of the stranger matchups.

“Assigned seating, in accordance to me!” Iida announced out of nowhere, shocking Izuku completely. His voice was right next to Izuku’s ear, how hadn’t he noticed him?

“Where do I sit, then?” Izuku wonders, turning around only to be bombarded by Iida’s scent. Izuku hadn’t really noticed before, but Iida’s scenting could be very...alluring. Candied pecan and leather were a lot more enticing than Izuku as originally smelled, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. The usual soy was muted while bit’s of thyme were still present.

“Next to me, of course!” Iida grinned, as he took Izuku’s suitcase from him to put it in the overhead compartment. Iida was very muscular - Izuku noted - especially for a track kid. His shoulders were broad and even his arms were corded with muscle. Izuku supposed it was natural for a sprinter to have thicker muscles but it wasn’t something Izuku had really noticed until now.

It made Izuku want to curl into a ball. Instead, he just sat himself down and pressed his limbs to him closely.

“You smell rather happy Midoriya-kun.” Iida pointed, making Izuku waver.

His scent?! His scent? Izuku never really paid attention to his own scent much, mainly because he couldn’t fully discern something his body had always clung on to. In fact, he wasn’t entirely sure of what he did smell like. Perhaps something calming and simple, like his mom.

“What do I smell like?” Izuku asks curiously, tilting his head up at the Alpha.

Iida paused his scolding of Kacchan putting his feet on the seat in front of him to look at Izuku. He seemed to contemplate something, closing his eyes to concentrate on his scent before sitting down to join Izuku.

“Well usually, you smell calm. Fresh, maybe? It’s a very soothing Beta scent. Like vanilla and freshly mown grass. Today you smell kind of sweeter, a little more floral. Jasmine maybe? No..fruitier than that but...I’m not as on the nose as you with scents I’m afraid.” Iida apologizes, smiling at him softly.

Izuku laughs brightly. “Iida-kun, was that pun I just heard?”

Iida grins back at him. “Perhaps. At any rate, I figured it’s because you look happier than usual today. You’re almost glowing.”

Izuku pauses at that. It wasn’t a dramatic change of scent, that was for sure. In fact that only seemed like a usually suppressed note of his scent was more prominent today. It was normal for a close Alpha or Omega friend to be able to detect that kind of thing.

Still, Izuku isn’t used to that happening. Nobody had ever paid any attention to his scent - it wasn’t all that strong to begin with - before so for someone to comment on it seemed noteworthy.

Then again, Izuku hadn’t really had friends who were close enough to him to notice such a change.

“Huh. Thanks, Iida-kun. I don’t think anyone’s paid attention to my scent before.” Izuku tells him honestly, hands fumbling.

Iida just smiles before they go on to better topics of conversation. The both of them remain oblivious to the bright red eyes glaring at them from afar.

---

They spend a very long time on the bus. It’s nine in the morning when the bus finally stops, and Izuku is slightly on edge. For whatever reason they had stopped in the middle of nowhere and Aizawa-sensei’s slight smirk was concerning to look at.

They step out of the bus to take in the view. Miles and miles of forestry, made for a very pretty sight. The early morning sun was brilliant and shone across the landscape.

“Good morning, my U.A lovelies! Oh, look at all this fresh meat!” exclaimed a woman with bright blonde hair and blue eyes exclaims.

Izuku looks towards the direction of the voice and there is one of Japan’s greatest relay teams. They call themselves the Wild, Wild, Pussycats.

Izuku loved them.

“No way! Oh my god, I can’t believe you guys are training us! I saw you guys on TV during the cultural festival when I was 6 years old. You guys were amazing. I thought you might change your mind and become some kind of idol group but-” Izuku rambled eyes wide and bright.

There was Pixie-Bob, Mandalay. Ragdoll and Tiger. They were a very eccentric group of people, who often expressed themselves in colourful cat costumes for public appearances. It seemed like they were keeping up the persona even now.

Pixie-Bob grabs Izuku by the head and smooshes his cheeks together.

“Well aren’t you just a sweet little pup.Getting so excited at the smallest of things. Aren’t you a cutie? Yes, you are. Oh, yes you are. Look at your little freckles!” the woman cooes stretching Izuku’s cheeks and making Izuku increasingly more uncomfortable.

“Keep your paws to yourself, you crazy cougar!” Kacchan roars, pushing the woman away from Izuku with a nsaty glare.

“Isn’t kind of sad to be preying on kids that are younger than you?” Kaminari comments offhandedly, earning a glare from the woman at hand.

“Moving on, welcome to our training grounds! This little area is one we bought ourselves after retiring from the relay world. We’ve got a cozy lodge that we’ve built at the base of that mountainside, you see?” Mandalay points into the distance. As Izuku’s gaze follows his breath stops.

“Your first order of training is get there on your own. Test that athlete endurance, and have fun! Don’t wanna miss lunch now do you?” Ragdoll calls voice sounding a little far away and before any of them can move all the adults and the bus are gone.

“Noooo!” Sero screeches, looking from the bus to the lodge and then back again. Ashido groans loudly and Izuku can hear Kacchan swearing from beside him.

“Hey, guys look over here!” Jirou points out and there in the dirt was a makeshift slide.

“They really planned this out, huh?” Shoji groans looking weary already.

“There’s no point in fighting this anymore. Let’s get going!” Iida takes charge, pushing past a few of their classmates and diving into the slide right away.

Kirishima grins, eyes sparkling in mirth at their Class President’s sudden display. “You heard the Class Pres, let’s do this!” he cheered, following along right after.

Izuku grinned. It was good to have people like Kirishima and Kaminari around. Not a single moment was dull.

Izuku followed along easily, whooping just as loudly as his friend’s as they made it down. Yaoyorozu had apparently gotten a map from Aizawa-sensei before they’d left so if they could just find an obvious landmark they should be able to take it from there.

“Oi, Deku. Can’t you just sniff us in the right direction?” Kacchan suggest grumpily, arms crossed over his chest.

“Huh?” Izuku tilts his head. A curious idea, but maybe it could work. He hadn’t really familiarized himself with any of the Pussycat’s scents though. Even Pixie-Bob’s scent - that Izuku had caught Passionfruit, honey and fressia for - was not tangible at all in the soil or the air.

“Sorry, guys it looks like none of them have walked by here at all. They must’ve driven over some other way.” Izuku admits, sighing as he gets up.

They instead use Izuku like a dog to find the bush of peonies as their starting landmark. It takes them a long while to get there but when they do Izuku can’t help but smile. He takes his phone out to get a quick picture of the flowers before turning around to follow the rest of the class.

From there, Yaoyorozu takes the lead, giving them directions with Kacchan, Iida and Todoroki spearheading the searches.

Izuku finds himself walking side by side with Kacchan, their hands brushing. It’s a really good feeling. Maybe this finding the lodge thing would be fun, like a treasure hunt!

---

By the time they get to their destination though, Izuku is extremely tired. It’s basically dinner time, and none of them had really eaten any proper meals the entire day.

They groan by the time they reach the lodge, tired, aching and slightly annoyed.

“Welcome back, kids! Good job, you all arrived earlier than we anticipated!” Ragdoll grins, as Tiger laughs at the lot of them.

“And you four!” Pixie-Bob smiles, pointing at Iida, Todoroki, Kacchan and Izuku. “My, my what handsome and capable boys you have at U.A! Are any of you single by any chance?” the lady asks, batting her eyelashes and then getting into their personal space.

Todoroki swats her away, looking unamused as Iida nervously rejects her advances stating something along the lines of ‘focusing on school and then his career’.

For some reason this attention twists a dark and possessive part of Izuku that screams ‘get away from me and my Alpha’. Izuku refuses to say anything verbally but he links his fingers with Kacchan subtely, rubbing their wrists together for comfort.

Kacchan seems surprised by the action but doesn’t protest it, squeezing his hand in return.

Izuku looks back at the Pussycats when he notices a small boy hiding behind them looking put out. His face is scrunched up in a scowl - reminiscent of Kacchan - but the cold,world wary look in his eyes reminds Izuku of Todoroki. Of a young little boy who had his childhood snatched away from his hands by forces he couldn’t control.

It broke Izuku’s heart. Nobody deserves to feel like that.

“Who’s that over there?” Izuku asks, pointing at the mentioned boy to distract the thirsty woman who was trying to get at them.

The woman furrows her eyebrows before looking at Mandalay.

“Ah, this is my nephew Kota! He’s been living with us for awhile now.” Mandalay explains, softly.

Pup. Cute pup. Must help pup. Must protect pup.

Izuku approaches the young boy with his most approachable smile ready. He walks up to him until he’s only a few steps in front of the boy. Extending his arm to greet him, Izuku grins.

“Hi, Kota! I’m Izuku Midoriya, it’s nice to meet-”

And that’s when Izuku promptly gets kicked in the private area. Izuku groans at the impact of the kid’s foot. Kota kicked rather forcefully for a kid his age.

“Hey, why did you do that to Midoriya-kun? You should learn to respect your elders Kota-kun or-” Iida scolds, trying to defend Izuku’s honour but the child doesn’t even react and just simply walks away without another word.

Kacchan makes some kind of comment about the kid having spunk, to which Todoroki responds that the two bear uncanny resemblance together. Kacchan is quick to deny it, but Izuku finds himself fighting through the pain to smile at the comment.

“I thought so too! His demeanor is a lot like Kacchan’s but..his eyes remind me of yours Todoroki-kun. Well, your eyes before the Sports Festival that is. Like he’s troubled and won’t let anyone talk to him.” Izuku sighs, trying to not think about his aching body.

Kacchan frowns as he wraps his arm around Izuku as the three of them walk towards the dining hall.

“You’re thinking of confronting him, aren’t you?” Todoroki states more than asks, giving Izuku a pointed side eye.

“You and I know that pent up resentment and hatred are never good things to hold onto. I just want to see what I can do to ease his pain, y’know?” Izuku admits, looking at the back of the little kid sadly. “He’s just a pup.”

“He’s not your, pup so he’s none of your business. Can we eat now?” Kacchan grumbles, as they sit down to eat.

Izuku frowns at that. For some reason it hurt to be told that - which made no sense since Kacchan was right. This child wasn’t his pup, it wasn't his responsibility.

But that wasn’t true now, was it?

Just today, when he had looked out for his carefree friends he had made a promise to himself to protect them. To protect them and make sure they got the bright futures they deserved.

Didn’t this child deserve to have a shot at such a bright future too?

These thoughts are muted for a while as their group eats happily.

“Man, this food is as good as Lunch Rush!” Kaminari grins through a mouthful of chicken. Sero and Ashido make noises of agreement as Kirishima piles another plateful of food. Izuku amusedly watches as the two with the most carnivorous appetite appear to be Satou and Yaoyorozu.

Satou was to be expected since he was planning on becoming a bodybuilder. It was no surprise that his food intake was that high.

But seeing Yaoyorozu eating so much made Izuku happy. Again, it was a weird happiness but Izuku found himself practically feeding her dessert.

“Oh, please don’t Midoriya-kun. I’ll get really bloated at this rate!” she tries to explain, Izuku pouts but doesn’t complain deciding to take his sudden need to feed somewhere else.

His next victim is Kacchan, who rolls his eyes but allows him to feed a bit of shrimp tempura. Izuku finds himself perched on the table, placing more and more food into his childhood friend’s mouth before the blonde almost explodes.

“What is going on with you?! Trying to make me fat, nerd?!” Kacchan demands, grabbing Izuku’s wrists to keep the boy’s chopsticks away from him.

“I need to make sure that Kacchan’s eating well! If Kacchan’s supposed to be the number one MMA Pro Fighter he needs a lot more protein and you didn’t eat a lot today so-” Izuku rambles, pouting at the blonde.

“Deku, I’m not a pup. If you’re so determined to coddle someone, go find the brat!” Kacchan groans, shoving Izuku away.

Izuku is about to protest when he realizes it’s not a bad idea at all. He hadn’t seen the little pup, and that surely wasn’t going to be good for the boy. He was still growing, Kota shouldn’t be skipping meals.

“Wait, Deku that wasn’t a suggestion. Deku, wait. Deku, wait!” Kacchan scowled, but it was too late Izuku was ignoring him.

Taking another plate, Izuku made sure to fill it up with an appropriate amount of carbs, protein and vegetables.

“Excuse me, Mandalay-sensei. Do you know where Kota-kun could be?” he asks the woman respectfully, motioning to the plate of food in his hand.

“Oh, your sweet. Kota likes to sit up near that cliff by the training grounds. Did you see it on your way here?” the woman asks.

Izuku nods, bowing before looking for said cliff. It doesn’t take too long, but when he gets there he’s greeted with nothing but the wind.

Izuku frowns, giving the air a quick whiff when he realizes the small boy is only hiding from him. Probably too shy, and on top of that didn’t seem to like him much.

Deciding that today wasn’t the day Izuku quietly puts the food on the ground and goes back to his classmates.

---

When they get into the onsen, Kacchan becomes strangely protective. He stays near enough to Izuku that he traps him to the wall, but far away enough that they don’t touch each other.

Izuku tries to contain the warmth that seeps out of his skin by having Kacchan so close to him. His scent of caramel, musk and gunpowder are especially potent.

“You smell really different today.” Kacchan informs him quietly.

“Huh? Iida said that too...funny coincidence.” Izuku replies easily, trying to relax inside the comforting water.

“Deku, you and I know that it’s not a coincidence. You’ve gotten all strange, you can’t say you haven’t noticed. You’re all moony eyed over a pup, you wanted to feed me and Ponytail. Now your scent is changing, and you can’t tell me you don’t think it’s because of pre-he-” before Kacchan could finish, a yell pierced the air and Izuku watched Kota fall in slow motion.

Izuku doesn’t waste a second, leaping out of the air to catch the boy in his arms. Izuku doesn’t care if it gives the other guys in the room a view, as long as Kota is safe in his arms it doesn’t matter.

It looks like the boy’s fainted, though Izuku can’t really tell why.

“I’m taking him to Mandalay.” Izuku announces, not waiting for anyone’s response as he rushes to take the boy to his aunt. Izuku could feel Kacchan’s eyes on him, and Izuku tried to keep his childhood friend's words out of his mind.

It wouldn’t do him or Kota any good right now. If he could bring this boy back to Mandalay in one piece that would be good enough.

Notes:

due to personal issues updates may be more sporadic. i apologize for any inconvenience this may bring.

thank you for supporting me, i really appreciate all your kind comments <3

Chapter 46: freesia

Summary:

a soft day

“Thanks for looking out for him, Midoriya-kun. You’ll make a fine police officer someday.” Mandalay informed kindly as they put her nephew to bed.

Izuku bristles at the compliment, ripping his eyes away from the sleeping pup to stare at the woman. There wasn’t a huge resemblance between the two despite being related. Kota had spiky black hair and sharp eyes, while his aunt had shoulder length straight auburn hair and large warm brown eyes.

“How did you know about that?” Izuku asks warily, looking from the small pup to his aunt.

Mandalay shoots him a surprisingly sympathetic smile as she brushes her nephew’s hair back.

“Your teachers and staff care a lot about your wellbeing as students, you know? The reason you guys are training here as opposed to the usual stadium you would be training in was to assure your safety. All of the staff was worried about you getting targeted by those criminals, but that Aizawa-sensei of yours was proud to see you be so brave despite all of it. Even your Toshinori-sensei brags about your promising career as a Detective. We were all excited to see you up close, and it’s true. You’ll make a great police officer, but that’s why Kota-kun treats you so harshly.” Mandalay admits softly, as Izuku turns to face her.

Oh, so the kid didn’t like cops.

“Can I ask why he hates the police so much? He’s rather young to be angsty with establishment.” Izuku questions gently, curious but unwilling to disturb the child’s sleep.

“His parents were cops. They were a mated police duo, and they were very dedicated to their work but...they were killed in action. That’s why Kota stays with me. He hates the police for throwing away their lives all the time. He doesn’t see the police as people who save lives and try to uphold the law, but idiots who just pretend to throw their lives away for a cause he doesn’t understand.” Mandalay explains, eyes tired but pitying.

Izuku makes a noise of understanding, looking down at the boy with sympathy.

Now, the jaded look in his eyes made sense. He’d lost his parents to a job he didn’t understand. To him, their duty as police officers had robbed him of parents, of his childhood. He had every reason to dislike it, to dislike the profession for how it risked the lives of people he cared for.

That didn’t mean he should carry that hatred and let it overwhelm him. Let it define him. Letting your hatred and resentment consume you to the point of defining your very existence was a very dangerous thing to do. Often, people didn’t realize it.

Izuku knew this because love and hatred were two sides of the same coin, but they weren’t opposites.

Love and hatred had the passionate motivation that fuelled people to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Their adrenaline would take over, and that feeling would be something to chase after. It felt good to get that rush of energy, it felt good to have it and suddenly you were obssesively seeking it out. Slowly, you don’t even realize that your forgetting or losing other facets of your own life, of yourself and all you become is that obsession. Whether it was driven by love or hatred, it didn’t matter a point.

All your thoughts, all your actions become consumed with the need to center the object of interest as the only important thing in your life. Slowly, but surely you watch everything else you might’ve cared for slip away and once you lose that object of interest too, you become nothing but an empty shell.

Izuku knew this because his love and admiration for All Might and Kacchan had worked similarly. Anything that had either of them even mildly involved became Izuku’s only priority.

That kind of addictive love suddenly became the only thing you chased after, the only thing you needed in life.

But for Izuku to change happened when Toshinori-sensei took him under his wing. He’d gotten the respect and admiration he had desired from his role model, and perhaps some day his first love was soon to follow.

Yet, Izuku had people like Uraraka and Yaomomo and Iida who drove him away from his obsessions. Who grounded him and supported him, who he in turn grounded and supported as well.

This kid never opened up because nobody around him could relate to him or show him with actions what it meant to be set free. To be saved by the hatred and obsession that you had shackled yourself into.

Izuku knew from that moment that he wouldn’t let such a thing befall this child. If Izuku could help Todoorki, Izuku was determined to help Kota too.

---

When Izuku gets back to the boy’s dorms everyone is sleeping. Well, almost everyone.

Kacchan is awake - eyes watching him like a hawk - for some reason, and he’s lying all over Izuku’s sleeping bag. Izuku feels like he should feel annoyed by this, but he also notes how Kacchan has pushed their sleeping bags together reminiscent of the first time they had scented.

It made Izuku smile.

Izuku doesn’t say anything as he takes their sleeping bags and sets them up comfortably. He’s set pillows at the sides of their makeshift bed as well, not wanting their classmates to accidently sully their sacred space with their scents.

Not that they had repulsive scents! It just didn’t feel right. Kacchan’s scent was special in that it could soothe and attract Izuku in ways other scents paled in comparison.

Izuku spent a few minutes humming to himself and arrange their bedding, pulling out Kacchan’s hoodie from his backpack and pulling it over him before rolling around in their nest, trying to spread Kacchan’s scent around evenly.

“Do you realize that you’re acting like a nesting Omega, or are you still in denial?” Kacchan interrupts, making Izuku pause in his tracks.

Izuku pouts up at him as he sits up.

“I know that already. Don’t make fun of me.” Izuku glares through his bangs, trying to intimidate the Alpha across for him.

He already knew of course, even if he didn’t formally acknowledge. Kacchan was right, Izuku was in preheat and it would be only a matter of days before his full heat would kick in full swing. That didn’t mean he had to love it, he wasn’t going to make a big fuss about it. It wasn’t a big deal.

“I’m not, you dumbass. I’m concerned. Your a male Omega and first heats are supposed super painful and difficult. You shouldn’t have to deal with at training camp, you should be at home!” Kacchan grits, looking more invested than Izuku thought he would be.

Izuku drops the unaffected act then, deflating as he lays on his back.

“It’s not like I chose to get my heat now. It is what it is.” Izuku sighs, looking up at the ceiling. Kacchan joins him similarly on the floor.

They lay like that in silence for a few minutes, listening to Kaminari’s snores. It’s so silent Izuku can hear night owls and the rustling of the trees outside. Izuku finds solace in this peace and quiet, and Kacchan’s presence only made him relax more into his nest.

What a weird thing it was. Hoarding a bunch of comforting items and curling up into like a cat. It was a rather pleasant experience though, not one Izuku could complain too much about. Becoming an Omega might not have to change him too much after all.

“Deku...why are you letting me into your nest?” Kacchan asks softly, turning his face to look at Izuku with a strange look in his eyes. Like he was anticipating something. Like Izuku’s next words could make or break him.

Izuku gulps. He didn’t really know either. All these weird urges were just sporadically calling to him, and Izuku was someone that followed his gut. It hadn’t failed him yet.

“It felt right.” Izuku admits sincerely, looking back at his childhood friend with his heart pounding. He really couldn’t say more than that, wouldn’t say more than that. He wanted to be honest, but with everything going on right now he wasn’t ready to lay himself bare completely. Not yet.

Kacchan looks at him carefully, now turning his body so he was curling into Izuku’s side.

“Deku, what do you know about being Omega? Do you understand why you want me here?” Kacchan asks carefully, trying to access every change in Izuku’s expression.

“I don’t know a lot. I know Omegas have heats and can have children.” Izuku confesses, causing Kacchan to groan, bashing his head in with a pillow.

“Of fucking course.” Kacchan seethes, looking both frustrated and pleased at once.

“B-But I get that nesting is significant! A-And that only people who are really special to an Omega are allowed in their nest.” Izuku exclaims matter of factly. He remembered that one briefly from a sex-ed video once.

Kacchan pauses at this looking up at him curiously. He shifts closer to wrap Izuku in his arms, scenting along Izuku’s throat and jaw.

“And what does special mean to you? What do I do mean to you, nerd?” Kacchan asks huskily, voice strangely deeper and enticing than it usually was.

Izuku’s entire face flushed. There were so many things he could say to that. Kacchan was his best friend, his childhood friend, his rival and his crush. Kacchan was his classmate, but also his first love. These days, Kacchan’s understanding of him seemed to make Izuku feel like he was his soulmate.

He couldn’t possibly say any of that without breaking his own heart so instead Izuku says:

“Kacchan is...my symbol of victory. Whenever I’m scared, or I don't know what to do I think of you. About what you would do if you were in place. I’m always the most invincible or the strongest whenever I think of you. You’re the brightest person I know. The closest thing I had to a hero besides Toshinori-sensei, though to me you were closer than even him.” Izuku confesses softly, enjoying the way Kacchan’s cheeks flush.

“But, more than even that...you’re the most important person in my life. I don’t think...I don’t think I would be who I am if I hadn’t met you. I don’t think I want to know who I’d be if I hadn’t met you.” Izuku concludes, eyes tearing up as he basically pours his heart out.

Kacchan’s eyes are tearing up too as he buries Izuku in the warmest hug he’d ever received in his life. Kacchan’s caramel was the sweetest Izuku had ever had the pleasure of smelling.

“You’re such a fucking sap. What am I supposed to do with you?” Kacchan demands, nuzzling at Izuku’s chest and scenting Izuku all over.

Izuku grins running his fingers through Kacchan’s spiky blonde hair as Kacchan practically purrs. Izuku scratched at that part right behind Kacchan’s ears as the Alpha continued rumbling in his lap.

“Cheesy dweeb. Fucking hell, my teeth are rotting from how diabetes inducing that was. You’re the worst.” Kacchan grumbled, biting Izuku’s cheeks and resting his body atop of Izuku. His voice was rather fond for someone who pretended to be embarrassed.

Izuku laughs, kissing the top of Kacchan’s head.

“Whatever you say, Kacchan.”

---

The next day, Kacchan doesn’t leave his side. They aren’t actively scenting at all times, but their both almost always touching at breakfast.

They sit together side by side, eating and laughing. Izuku loved it a lot, being able to spend time with Kacchan like this. He didn’t always get time to spend time with each other like this.

Izuku pouted when the track kids got separated from the combat people. Kacchan rolled his eyes at Izuku’s sudden clinginess but scented him thoroughly before they parted all the same.

Aizawa-sensei spends his time with the track kids while the 1B teacher takes the others away.

Within the track kids they get seprated by general events. Running, jumping and throwing.
Izuku’s surprised that he, Iida, Sero and a few others are assigned to Tiger.

It blows Izuku’s mind still that the guy was so built but was only in relay. Apparently he had dabbled in a bit of combat as well, taking taekwondo when he was a teenager.

He drives them hard. They start with a relay activity, and Izuku’s hands are so sweaty by the time he reaches Iida’s hand to pass the baton and it slips from Izuku’s fingers.

For everytime this happens they are pushed even harder and Izuku is ready to pass out by the end of it.

When Izuku passes the combat area to get a drink of water it looks like things aren’t much easier for them. They had pulled out mats for them to fight on safely but everyone involved seemed bruised and worse for wear.

That’s when Izuku realized that they were fighting against the teachers. Damn, they had it rough.

Izuku felt bad about complaining now. Yikes.

Kirishima was laying on the grass looking like he was ten seconds away from passing out. Satou was right beside him banging his head on a tree.

The day is exhausting and it seems like it will never end. By the time the sky turns darker they are forced to make their own dinner. Everyone is exhausted but if they don’t want to starve they have to manage something.

Iida first rounded up those who could cook with a recipe or instruction which only included a very bare minimum amount of people. Kacchan, Satou, Tsuyu, Shoji and Hagakure.

From there he created teams of people who could cook with some instruction, Izuku, Uraraka, Aoyama and a few others.

And finally people who hadn’t a clue. Todoroki, most significantly from that group.

Funnily enough Izuku, Kacchan and Todoroki all ended up in the same group. Kacchan looked a little annoyed by the events, but upon seeing Izuku bounce over to him didn’t complain as much as he would’ve otherwise.

Izuku wrapped his arms from Kacchan’s back. He finds himself rubbing his face all over Kacchan’s back enjoying the way his childhood friend melts into his embrace.

“Oi, Deku. I know your more component than IcyHot at cooking so quit messing around.” Kacchan grumbles, though he doesn’t seem as strict as he could be.

Izuku pouts from behind him and tries to scratch behind Kacchan's ears. Izuku can hear his friend struggling to contain the desire to purr before he growls at Izuku - though it has no bite.

“Deku, stop being useless and go do something!” Kacchan scolds, slapping Izuku’s butt.

Izuku laughs but does as his friend says. Todoroki was really struggling with chopping the leaks so Izuku was definitely gonna have to take over.

The poor thing probably never had to cook in a day in his life. Rich people problems. He had also had a lot of older siblings so it was unlikely he ever had to worry about such things.

Izuku sighed as he wrapped around Todoroki’s back the way his mom did. Holding his wrist to properly adjust the knife in hands.

“Like this, Todoroki-kun.” Izuku explains as Todoroki’s face flushes.

Izuku moves away in concern, putting his hand on his friend’s forehead, looking at him in concern. Todoroki was looking at him wide-eyed, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.

“Deku, Todoroki get back to work!” Kacchan looked angrier than he had all day.

Izuku startles but doesn’t argue further. They work in silence for the most part after that, but noticing Kacchan’s change in mood Izuku sidles up to him bumping his hip with Kacchan’s. At first his childhood friend doesn’t look amused, but when Izuku scents him quickly he deflates.

A fulfilling day overall, and Izuku thinks he can get used to this.

Notes:

it gets worse from here ngl

Chapter 47: cayenne

Summary:

izuku's hit with his biggest nightmare, and it's only just started.

Notes:

tw: mentions of sexual assault. it never gets that far, but a criminal will keep implying things along those lines.

“I don’t get why Kota won’t listen to me. Not all cops are bad, I just want him to give me a chance!” Izuku complains one night, not particularly expecting a response when Todoroki looks at him curiously.

“Why does it matter what he thinks about the police? He’s not your pup, Midoriya. He isn’t your responsibility. Not everyone takes kindly to having people preach at you without any reason.” Todoroki points, a ghost of a smile lifting the corners of his lips.

Izuku’s eyes widen at the statement before he looks at his feet.

“Oh. I mean your right, but...I can’t just stand by and watch someone let their resentment take over. There’s still hope for those who really do want to do the right thing. Not all cops are bad, I just want to show him that!” Izuku explains softly.

Todoroki smiles at him.

“You’re rather nosy, Midoriya. But, I guess you wouldn’t be you if you weren’t. Right now, to Kota you’re this annoying guy who won’t leave him alone. If you really want him to understand you, you need to prove it with the right actions at the right time. He won’t want to listen to meaingless words right now.” his friend advises.

These words sit inside the back of Izuku’s head for the rest of their camp.

By the third night, they’ve fallen into a comfortable pattern. They work themselves to the bone all morning and afternoon, tiring the bodies to the max before regrouping for dinner and efficiently finishing their cooking process, in order to move on with their night.

And at night, Izuku gets to curl up in his makeshift nest alongside Kacchan. It seems that a few other boys have noticed Izuku’s odd behaviour but nobody has called Izuku out on it like Kacchan. After all, a good portion of the class had known them to cuddle together since the beginning of the year so it wasn’t particularly out of the ordinary.

What was, however, was Izuku suddenly needing to dote on others. He really did try to tone it down for the sake of not arousing suspicion but Izuku was starting to realize he might be in trouble. First heats for male Omegas were said to be incredibly painful, and on top of the physical stress they were putting their bodies in these days Izuku wasn’t sure how he was supposed to deal with it.

Should he tell a teacher? Kacchan would be able to help with it, so it was probably fine.

But, it wasn’t.

---

The people who had failed the exams had been forced to get extra lessons at night, which was pretty sad to watch. The most excitable people, Kaminari, Ashido and Kirishima were all forced to stay up even further into the night to catch up on material.

On top of this, Monoma from class 1B had taken to teasing their class about how many of their friends were failing when only one person from 1B had failed. Monoma himself. Izuku wasn’t quite sure what to make of the guy, but it didn’t sit well with him that he constantly badmouthed their pack.

It made Izuku bristle with the strange urge to protect his pack from an intruder.

Which didn’t make any sense at all so Izuku tried ignoring that.

That evening, Pixie-Bob announces that they’ll be doing a test of courage. Everyone seems pumped for it, but when Aizawa-sensei mentions that the remedial kids will be going to their extra class during this time their disappointment is palpable.

The test of courage pairs are selected at random but the entire thing gives Izuku weird vibes. There are weird vinegary scents that are drifting with the breeze from various places, but the issue with open spaces like these was that Izuku couldn’t always find the source of the scent.

That didn’t ease Izuku’s discomfort at all.

Kacchan seems to notice his jumpiness and approaches Izuku to hold him in his arms a bit. He rubs the top of his head against Izuku’s jaw, tickling Izuku’s nose with his hair causing Izuku to giggle.

“Kacchan! What are you doing?” Izuku laughs sweetly, running his fingers through his friend’s hair as Kacchan scowls up at him.

“You’re acting weirder than usual. Is it your heat? Do you think it’s coming soon?” he asks curiously.

Izuku opens his mouth and closes it, gaze hardening.

No, it most certainly wasn’t his heat but Izuku was getting really bad vibes. The strange scents, the silence and the sense of vague ‘calm’ before the storm was getting worse by the second. There was nothing concrete in his findings to be of major concern but…

“Not my heat, but something smells off today. Be careful.” Izuku informs, looking around their area. Nothing visibly seemed to be amiss.

Kacchan frowns but lets go of Izuku then.

“Don’t start overthinking now. It’s probably fine. You shouldn’t stress your body anymore than it’s already been, okay nerd? “ the blonde reassures, ruffling Izuku’s hair fondly.

“Okay, Kacchan. I’ll try.” Izuku promises, as Ragdoll calls for their attention, to separate them into pairs for the test.

Tsuyu gets paired up with Ochaco, and Kacchan with Todoroki.

These pairings are picking out all of Izuku’s friends one by one, and it was starting to look like Izuku might not have a partner at all.

Sure enough, Izuku was alone and it made him all the more anxious about the day. He was already feeling off, but if he was by himself again - like he was when they went shopping - what if something happened? What if he’ll have to feel trapped and alone and disgusting all by himself and -

No. There was no use in thinking like that. They had come to this training camp to heighten the security for Izuku. Aizawa-sensei was proud of him for dealing with all of this like a champ. He couldn’t afford to let fear override his senses.

Izuku waits sourly as pair by pair disappears for their test of courage.

Kacchan and Todoroki look at him before leaving, Todoroki giving him a reassuring look with Kacchan giving him a curious one. Did Kacchan believe him? Or was Izuku just making a big deal out of nothing?

It was probably fine.

.

.

.

It wasn’t. Izuku smelt the burning trees before he saw it. It was an awfully potent burning smell, like someone had dumped gasoline around and set the place on fire.

Izuku had been ready to notify an adult when suddenly large blue flames started to lick up some trees in the distance.

That’s when Izuku realized he wasn’t just smelling someone’s incompatible scent. No, someone was actively trying to set the forest on fire to hurt or kill them. If there was anyone that was actively seeking them out, it would be the League of Criminals.

Which meant that this was Izuku’s fault.

For a singular moment, Izuku’s brain shut off completely and went into panic mode but a single thought made Izuku freeze and then start running for the hills. Or in this case, by the cliff.

Kota was all by himself, when the forest was potentially on fire and a group of murderous criminals were ready to annihilate everything in their way.

Izuku’s entire being screamed only one thing, and for the first time Izuku didn’t care if it was a stray Omega instinct or his own. For the first time, Izuku could feel that this desire was one and the same.

Protect pup. Must protect pup.

It wasn’t only because it was the heroic thing to do, it was just the right thing to do. Those with the power and ability to help others should put them to good use.

Izuku’s running now faster than he ever has in his entire life. It was a good day to be a long distance runner, and Izuku thighs seemed to pump as quickly as Izuku’s own heartbeat.

He felt all his senses focused and sharpened to a degree he hadn’t anticipated. The adrenaline was normal, but Izuku felt slightly on edge. Like he was on the cusp of something. His eyesight seemed to improve in the dark forest, as he could make out small rocks and sticks that he hadn’t been able to before.

Or perhaps it was the lighting of the huge fire, who knew. It wasn’t the time to be thinking about these things.

Izuku climbs up the cliff side easily, already rather familiar with the area since he came here to drop Kota’s food off everyday. The kid never glanced at him as he did, but right now Izuku didn’t care how much he might’ve annoyed the small pup with his doting. Izuku refused to let him get hurt.

It’s funny that it’s as Izuku is climbing that his phone starts vibrating in his back pocket. A loud
announcement blares through his phone in the voice of Mandalay, shocking Izuku for a second.

“Everyone! Criminals have infiltrated the area, and there is likely more of them to come. Please remain vigilant!” Mandalay calls from his phone speaker. Huh, so they had taken their phones for the purpose of installing an ‘Emergency Notification’ application. Smart.

Izuku wasn’t going to waste any more time.

By the time Izuku reaches Kota’s hideout, there is a large looming figure standing over him as the poor child trembles underneath his shadow. Izuku’s usually overactive brain goes blissfully blank and all he sees is red, all he can think of is protect pup and Izuku’s body moves on it’s own.

Izuku swoops in and begins by creates distance between Kota and the criminal.

“Pup, run away now. I’ll take care of this.” Izuku seethes, barely able to formulate proper words. This man was a very familiar criminal. A mass murder that killed for sport, for the sake of it, because it was fun.

It was these kind of sick criminals, sick Alphas, that used their power over others to instill fear. To break people not only to remind them of their place, but because it brought them a twisted pleasure and satisfaction in addition to a fighter’s adrenaline.

To think this monster of a man would find that twisted pleasure in beating up a little kid brought Izuku a kind of fury he never felt before. His gums ached, and his hands were itching to stab this man. To destroy the threat to his pack, the threat to his pup.

Izuku was fighting his own rationality as he glared at the criminal. There was something deep within Izuku that told him to just succumb to his basest instincts to assure that this man would ever be a threat again.

No! Izuku whispered back. It will be hard to fight the criminal and protect Kota all at once. If I do that now, I won’t be able to safely evacuate him. Please wait unless I’m desperate. I’ll do it then.

Do what exactly, Izuku didn’t know. Giving into rage was never really a good idea, but Izuku had a feeling that if he let it overwhelm him now he wouldn’t be able to think clearly at all.

“Don’t worry, Kota. I’ll protect you. Keep your distance and please, run away.” Izuku tells the boy again before squaring up with the overly muscled Alpha in front of him.

The guy was extremely built, almost unnaturally so. His mask had fallen to the floor and his mouth was stretched into a huge grin as if he was impressed with something.

In some ways, this guy was probably what people thought Kacchan was like at the Sports Festival. A feral, base level Alpha that sought the thrill of fighting and winning and prioritized that above all else.

In some ways, perhaps the man might even resemble Kacchan. Muscular, with a nasty mouth and blonde spikey hair.

But that’s where the similarities ended.

Muscular - as Izuku decided he was going to call him inside his own head - had an ugly scar that extended past the left side of his face. He had one small and beady normal eye, it was dark and harsh like the colour of coal. The other was a prosthetic one, glinting silver and red.

As of right now both eyes were scanning him up and down before wolf whistling.

“Wow, what do we have here? An Omega? A male Omega? That’s not want Mr. Shigaraki told us. I’m supposed to take you alive so he can break you in, I didn’t think he’d mind if you were a little bloody and bruised. But, the rare male Omega huh? No wonder a pretty little thing like you caught his attention. I just might have to get a shot at breaking you in first, then.” the Alpha grinned, sending chills down Izuku’s spine.

Oh, dear.

Muscular attacks him, slamming him straight into a stone wall. His breath is hot against Izuku’s neck and his fangs glint under the moonlight. Izuku wants to shudder but he refuses to let this man see his fear.

“Gosh, you look like a plain one but look at that. You’ve got such an innocent face. Look at those freckles, those big green eyes. Everything about you - hah! Wanna wreck you little Omega. There’s no way a cute little thing like you could ever -”

Izuku punches him right in the face, fury and disgust welling up inside of him at the man’s words. Alphas could really be the worst. Izuku wanted to slam this guy’s face in, wanted to pull this guy’s other eyeball out as well in hopes he’d go blind for real, Izuk wanted to pierce this man with his nails and rip into him so he’d never say or do such awful things ever again.

Unfortunately it doesn’t deal much damage on the man, but it was enough to create some distance between the two of them. That was a win for Izuku.

“Ooooh, so the Omega’s a little feisty one, huh? No wonder Shigaraki likes you so much. Aren’t you fun? I’d have my way with you now but I gotta go get that Bakugou kid too. What a shame. I’m not even allowed to hurt that one, so guess I’ll have to go all out with you.” Muscular grins and the shock of that statement causes Izuku to freeze - and allows the Alpha to deal a rather harsh blow.

What would they want with Kacchan? They were going to kidnap him? Why? Izuku thought they only wanted him, but if they wanted Kacchan too he would never forgive the League of Criminals.

Then, why would Muscular say he couldn’t hurt Kacchan but he was allowed to do what he pleased with him? Though they’d both be taken alive, what was the difference?

That’s when Izuku realized it. Kacchan had seemed like their type of 'Alpha' during the Sports Festival. He had seemed very similar to Muscular in a stranger’s eyes. The League of Criminals mainly consisted of Alphas. Kacchan was an Alpha.

They wanted to use Izuku but they wanted to recruit Kacchan. That was why. They say Izuku’s abilities as something to use, something to exploit because they saw him as a resource not a person. Kacchan would be a prospective equal that could potentially help them get their way.

Good thing they didn’t know Kacchan at all.

Despite these thoughts, Muscular was very much overwhelming him on a physical level and Izuku wasn’t sure if he could quite take it anymore. Still, he had to fight with everything he had. He rather die here attempting to protect the pup then stay alive for the sole purpose of becoming someone else’s tool.

“Aw, what’s this? Brave little Omega can’t fight me can you? I usually hate people who make promises they can’t keep but I can’t fault you for this one. Alphas are just physically superior, that’s the way the world works. If it were up to me, pretty little Omegas like you would stay at home - round with my pups maybe cooking or cleaning if you’d like. You have no business going to school to be an athlete of all things. Leave the fighting to your Alpha, hm? You’ll be much better for it.” Muscular grins, once again looming further and further into Izuku’s face.

His fangs are out again, and Izuku is sure the man would Mark him if it weren’t for the stone that gets thrown to the man’s head.

Both Izuku and Muscular freeze, looking to the direction of where the stone had been thrown.

And there stood Kota, hands trembling as he glared at the criminal with a deep rooted anger and hatred. It paled so much in comparison to the mildly annoyed look Kota shot him every once and awhile that Izuku couldn’t quite believe he thought the pup had ever truly hated him.

“Is this what you did to my parents too? Torment them until they died? Being the world’s biggest asshole while my parent’s bleed out in front of you? Did you enjoy killing them?!” Kota demanded, screaming at the criminal until his voice cracked.

Muscular’s stance shifted.

“Ah, that’s why you smelled so familiar. I came this way because you reminded me of a scent I’ve been around before. It must be fate that I get to crush the son of the cops that took out my eye.” Muscular grinned.

“I-It’s because crazy people like you in this world is so awful. My parents are gone because of you!” Kota yelled in outrage and desperation, and Izuku ached to destroy the source of the pup’s sorrow and to succumb to his instincts. Still, it might still be too risky.

“It’s your parents own actions that got them killed. They tried to get in my way knowing they could die. That’s on them. The only real tragedy is when annoying fuckers like you don’t know your place.”

And when Muscular moves to Kota, Izuku sees absolute red.

Notes:

hey guys! so i'm going through a tough time irl so i apologize if updates are slower than usual.

hope things are becoming interesting and you guys are able to enjoy despite the oncoming angst
thanks for reading and as always don't be afraid to leave me your thoughts <3

Chapter 48: gasoline

Summary:

blood stained hands

Notes:

tw: slightly graphic descriptions of violence, non-canon compliant

The ability to think evades Izuku completely. The desire to defend, the desire to attack and rip into the threat of an aggravated threat to his pup has Izuku seething. What disgusting man, what a waste of air, and muscle, what a waste of an Alpha.

He would not forgive this Alpha for threatening the innocent pup. Izuku would not allow such a filthy man to touch such a precious child. Izuku would not rest until he drew this man’s blood, and made him suffer twice that of everything he put poor Kota through.

Izuku feels fury burn in his chest, moving through his body. Down his shoulders, down his arms and into hands and fingertips.

The desire to rip, the desire to shred, the desire to destroy made Izuku more than ready to kill if needed. Izuku’s gums ached ready to sink into flesh and muscle and if he was lucky bone.

”Stay away, pathetic Alpha. The only one who doesn’t know their place here is you.”

The Alpha looked at him hungrily then, but Izuku could no longer find reason to care for this Alpha’s cowardly words. He didn’t care for what this man wanted to say, wanted to do. He wasn’t backing down, he wasn’t fleeing. He wasn’t doing what the Omega wanted to do, and that meant this man was free game.

Izuku felt a manic grin ripping across his face, Izuku couldn’t wait to sink his claws into the man’s body and watch him bleed, watch him suffer.

The Omega moved first, pouncing on top of the Alpha and wrapping his thighs around his neck. Izuku couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the dilated pupils and the sweetening of this man’s initially vinegar-like scent spoke to Izuku better than any speech ever could.

This stupid, idiot, knothead Alpha wasn’t taking him seriously. He was too busy looking at Izuku like a four course meal and Izuku couldn’t wait to give him dessert.

Izuku slammed the man into the ground with force of his thighs and arms before stabbing his claws into the brachial plexus. Izuku felt a crazed sound bubble out of his mouth, but couldn’t find it in him to care. He further forced his claws into the area, waiting for it to hit the Alpha fully.

And sure enough, it worked like a charm. The shock flashed across his face before horror. His left hand was immobilized, and Izuku was gonna do this until the man either gave up or begged for mercy. Until then, Izuku wouldn’t stop.

Izuku couldn’t comprehend the words coming out of the Alpha’s mouth but the deep growl at the end was more than enough for the Omega to understand. The Alpha finally woke up from stupidity, and was recognizing Izuku as a worthy opponent.

A smaller more rational voice in Izuku’s brain reminded him that his Alpha still didn’t respect him as a person, but was only seeing him as an upset Omega who was fighting the Alpha to get out of his territory.

Which meant the guy was going to get serious now, too.

Izuku lets out a cry of fury before charging into the Alpha digging his sharp nails into the muscle fibers of the man’s shoulders and slamming him into the stone wall. Izuku lets out more guttural noises he’d never heard before in his life, but the need to put this unworthy Alpha in his place was much greater than anything else.

The force of it caused the man to slump forward, looking like he was about to pass out.

But then Izuku heard his pup scream and all his senses were focused on that. Kota appears to be slipping and right when he loses his grip Izuku snags the collar of the pup’s shirt with his mouth before hauling him over into his arms.

Izuku’s immediate instinct is to scent the pup all over, trying to assess any damage the child might’ve sustained. Izuku struggles to find his words, everything coming out of his mouth sounding like chirps and clicks incomprehensible to any person but himself.

Frustrated with the confusion in the pup’s gaze, Izuku finally finds a few words to check on the kid.

“Pup, safe? Pup, okay?”

The pup stares at him with slightly watering eyes before he surprises Izuku by scenting him back, nuzzling Izuku’s collarbone and making Izuku purr in joy at the pup’s actions.

“T-Thank you! Y-You didn’t have to save me, and now you’ve gone feral, I’m so sorry I-” Kota apologizes looking so small, so sad that Izuku feels his heart break.

“No. I am sorry for pup safety. My fault.”

“Well, well. What do we have here? Did you really think an Alpha like me would go down that easily? I’ll admit pretty Omega, I didn’t think you had it in you. You look a lot nicer, all bruised and bloodied like that. Maybe Shigaraki will thank me for delivering you on a silver platter, hm?” an annoying voice cooes, the condescending Alpha apparently recovered quickly.

Izuku liked it a lot better when he couldn’t understand him.

Izuku growls, picking up the pup and placing him on Izuku’s back. He would not allow any harm to fall upon the small child, not over his dead body.

Muscular attacks, but Izuku tries his best to evade him to slip away so he can make a run for it with the pup on his back. The Alpha throws punch after punch, but now that Izuku can pay attention better he realizes that the Alpha lacks the quality or the skill that actual MMA Fighters would possess.

This man was a fighter for the sake of fighting, rather than as a refined art. This meant he was used to combat that won against brute force more than anything else. Which Izuku could use to his advantage in a normal state.

However, the feral craze Izuku had been suspended in didn’t leave him with much ability to think and strategize. Besides, his first priority was keeping the pup on his back safe.

“Kota, you must go. Run away. Please.” Izuku begs, narrowly missing a punch to the face as he hops to evade it.

Kota doesn’t move or respond, clutching at Izuku’s back further. He was shaking, Izuku realized. The poor boy was scared out of his mind.

“Kota, please. You’re only a kid. Please go, stay safe.” Izuku tries again, hoping the boy can hear the desperation in his voice.

“W-What about you?! You’re a kid too!” Kota cries, fists trembling as he grips Izuku’s back.

The kid won’t leave him alone on his own. Out of terror or loyalty, Izuku didn’t know but right now Izuku couldn’t afford to care. He had to keep this pup safe above all else. Izuku dropped him at a safe space away before charging Muscular full throttle. Izuku extended his claws into the man’s shoulders keeping him away from the young boy.

“LEAVE Kota!” Izuku screamed before piercing the man’s flesh with his hands. The Alpha pushed him off, towering over Izuku and ready to finish him off.

He gritted his teeth trying to keep the Alpha away from the pup long enough for Kota to escape. If the boy was safe, Izuku would’ve done his job and everything would have gone okay.

And yet...there was no telling if he, Kota or anyone else would be safe with an Alpha like this on the loose. He’d come after the both of them as soon as he awoke. This man was a murderer who had no sympathy for the people he had killed.

Izuku could die here.

If he did, that would mean failing Toshinori-sensei. Failing Kacchan. Even if he let Kota run away now, there was no way to guarantee his safety. There were other criminals here, Mandalay had said as much. And Izuku still had to warn Kacchan as well.

He couldn’t die here.

The cruel desire from before reared its ugly head. How dare this stupid Alpha come here and threaten a pup. How dare this filthy piece of trash talk to Izuku as if he was below him, just because Izuku happened to be Omega.

Izuku didn’t care anymore! Not about his secondary gender, not about intentions, not about morals or anything else like that. All he could feel was the fierce desire to protect, to hold the people he cared for away from those that would destroy them.

In order to do that, Izuku would have to destroy those kinds of people first. Not even prison would be great enough punishment for people like Muscular. He deserved to suffer.

He deserved pain. This Alpha deserved to suffer for making so many others suffer instead. It was time he got a taste of his own medicine. Izuku was always ready for justice, always ready to make things fair. What would be more fair than to torture this lowlife Alpha the way he tortured innocent people?

The Omega experimentally gouges the Alpha’s eye out and he screams. Izuku hadn’t even taken out his prosthetic eye yet!

Izuku’s claws extend outwards, and Izuku watches with morbid fascination as blood drips from his fingers.

Was it okay to kill? Izuku didn’t know. But, if he didn’t he would be used for far worse. Izuku would have to do it.

So, he lets himself sink into the feral mentality and he claws at Muscular’s chest and ignores his cries of pain. Izuku sank his claws deeply into his body and picked out the man’s still beating heart and tried not to think too much about it.

Izuku cannot form words again, but the Alpha is disposed of at his feet.

At least Kota was safely running away from the crime scene. Izuku had killed a man. Could he even be allowed in anything related to law enforcement any more?

Izuku kicks the man off the cliff before looking for Kota. The boy hadn’t gotten far, and Izuku felt numb. It’s almost as though his own heartbeat had still as he had taken the life.

He didn’t like or sympathize with Muscular at all. He was the kind of person Izuku disliked most, he stood for something equally as awful as him.

That didn’t take away from the fact that Izuku had taken a life.

Was he a bad person? A monster?

Izuku didn’t know. For now he’d safely deliver the child to his aunt and go look for Kacchan. Whatever happened to him after that...Izuku would accept with grace. He didn’t care. He didn’t care what happened to him anymore, as long as everyone was safe.

The poor boy is crying in Izuku’s arms, and has no idea about what Izuku has done.

Nobody really would now, because Izuku had made it look like the man had fallen off the cliff. That’s what people would assume, because from the height that Izuku had pushed him off his body would be crushed enough to not make out much of his injuries.

Izuku felt sick with himself. Of what he was capable of. He didn’t just ‘happen’ to kill him. Izuku had actively wanted to hurt, wanted to kill wanted to shred to bits.

For the thrill of the fight.

Was he any better than the people he hated? The people Izuku had sworn to get rid of?

For now Izuku doesn’t allow himself to think, instead bringing Kota to safety trying to comfort the shaken boy with soft chirps and purrs but they don’t feel as sincere as they could.

Izuku doesn’t feel comfortable coddling anyone with what he’s done. The blood he’s drawn. Izuku couldn’t afford to think too deeply right now, there wasn’t enough time.

He’d have to hate himself later.

Right now he could make out the building the remedial kids had gone too. It should be a safe zone, given the teachers that would be there to protect them. Izuku prayed it would be enough to keep Kota safe.

That was all he could hope for.

---

Izuku catches Aizawa-sensei and drops Kota off with him. The man seemed to be scouring the forest with an intent look in his eyes, and Izuku knew that the man had already encountered a criminal today.

“Midoriya! Your injuries, that looks like - oh, dear. Your scent...are you in heat?” Aizawa demands, taking the pup from Izuku as his eyes scan Izuku all over.

“I think I’m supposed to be, but because I’ve been fighting I kind of just went feral.” Izuku explains bluntly, sounding foregin even to himself. Izuku’s eyes feel raw and his body feels numb, but he still has enough adrenaline to get to Kacchan. “I’m okay.”

Aizawa-sensei frowns like he’s going to argue but Kota interrupts.

“H-He saved my life.” Kota told his teacher, his eyes wide filled with awe. The way Izuku used to look at Toshinori-sensei.

The way Izuku didn’t deserve to be looked at.

“No, Kota. We saved each other. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you. But, I need to go find Kacchan Aizawa-sensei. They’re here to kidnap him.” Izuku informs, ruffling the pup's hair taking comfort in his innocent soft scent, before leveling Aizawa-sensei with a serious gaze.

Izuku wasn’t playing around, and judging by Aizawa-sensei’s sigh he must understand that.

“Midoriya, I know you mean well. But you’re a problem child, and those criminals are probably trying to get their hands on you too. Please be careful, and avoid too much more fighting. You’re in no condition too, and the only reason your body is moving without much pain right now is because you’re running on adrenaline. Go find Mandalay and she’ll pass along the message. But for the love of God, Midoriya please avoid any more combat unless you absolutely have to.” Aizawa sensei informs, eyes hard but concerned as he stared at Izuku.

“Sure.” Izuku agrees, ready to be on his way before Aizawa-sensei places a hand on his shoulder.

“I mean it. You’re reckless, you attract trouble but you’re smart. You are smart, and caring and incredibly good, Midoriya. There aren’t a lot of people like you out there. But, if you’re not careful you’re selflessness will be your greatest downfall.” Aizawa-sensei warns, and Izuku finds himself plastering the fakest smile he’s ever sported all his life.

“It’s okay, Aizawa-sensei. I’ll do my best to avoid any reckless behaviour.” he promises, turning away from both the teacher that cared for him and the child he had just saved.

What had he really done to deserve such admiration? Kill a man? Run head first into a decision that could affect their society as he knew it? Selling his soul away to the Blood Pact?

And for what? For him to become the exact sort of asshole he had convinced himself he hated all this time?

He couldn’t take it.

So, he ran. He ran looking for Mandalay as he looked over his shoulder and inhaled deeply. Were this a regular heat he would be falling to his knees his sweet scent curling all around him. Perhaps he curl into a ball and sleeps off the pain of having his body change so much within just a week.

But, it wasn’t.

Going into the feral state has driven the heat off, at least temporarily as his body was working overtime to keep him alive. He needs to be alive to save Kacchan, and in the future their society as they knew and yet…

Was he worthy of such a task when he was basically a murderer? When he took sick satisfaction in taking a life - the way a criminal or a villain would.

Besides, an Omega going feral was practically unheard of. There were only mentions of it, and usually they were only whispered ideas surrounding abusive relationships in which an Omega was pushed to that point and in very old stories there were Omegas who’d go feral to protect their pack…

...which was basically what Izuku had attempted to do, right?

Under the eyes of the law, would his actions be seen as self-defence? Izuku didn’t know.

Right now, he had to keep his eyes on the prize. There was still someone else Izuku had to protect with everything that he had. Despite knowing Kacchan wouldn’t be harmed, Izuku wouldn’t let that League of Criminals touch him.

Izuku refused to forcibly part with Kacchan in any way.

In any case, Izuku knew that his childhood friend would never agree to any kind of deal the League would attempt to strike with him. Kacchan was better than that, and he knew what they were capable of.

No, Aizawa-sensei. I’m not being selfless, not this time.

Nobody would be taking Kacchan away from him. They had been apart for so long, and now they were finally getting along. It looked like they were getting on the same page, and Izuku was happier than he’d ever been. He wasn’t going to let some disgusting criminals ruin that. Not if he had the ability to prevent it.

Chapter 49: durian

Summary:

a moment of reprieve

Izuku is constantly fighting his feral Omega from taking over completely. His feral counterpart is stronger than him, more conscious of slight changes in scent, sounds and movement. His Omega is willing to do anything to survive, and is the very epitome of Izuku’s every base desire.

And that’s the problem, isn’t it? That any slight urge, slight feeling and slight inclination that may usually pass through his brain and then leave is now magnified and acted on.

Izuku never wanted to kill a man. No matter how much he may have disliked Muscular, that isn’t the kind of person Izuku wanted to become.

Yet, deep in his heart he had wanted to hurt and slay the stupid Alpha the same way Muscular had killed Kota’s parents. He didn’t deserve any less.

Now, Izuku had blood in his hands. He had never wanted to be controlled and used by others, was terrified of the Alpha that seemed determined to taint his body in every way imaginable. So instead, Izuku had tainted his own soul in the process, and now he’d have to live with what he’d done.

Now he knew the awful things he was capable of.

There was no time for that now. He had to find Mandalay, inform her of what he’d learnt to notify everyone else and then he had to find Kacchan. He’d protect Kacchan and not kill anyone in the process.

Izuku was trying his best to not slip fully into his feral state.

Mandalay, please warn everyone that the criminals are targeting Kacchan to kidnap him.

Izuku repeated this in his mind, over and over again. He felt like he was losing grip with speech and rational thought. Relying on his feral state meant everything passed through his mind as a vague intuitive feeling rather than his usual formulated thoughts. He needed to repeat these important words and hope that Mandalay can pass on the message safely. He needed everyone to be wary.

His only goal was to protect right now, which his feral Omega was more than capable of handling. But words, planning and conscious analysis was harder to come by right now. His entire being was focusing on simply staying alive, it had no time for his usual overthinking.

Izuku finds Mandalay mid-combat and he finds his voice booming.

“Mandalay, the criminals are targeting a student named Kacchan to kidnap him! Please inform everyone.” Izuku yelled, hoping to God those few words were enough. There were many criminals nearby, all of them Alphas who’s scents were aggravating his feral Omega even more.

His Omega was seething at all these unworthy Alphas, in his space harming his pack.

How dare they come here. How dare they harm the Pack when this was meant to be a simple training camp. How dare they hurt mere children because their delicate Alpha egos were hurt when a useless ‘Beta’ had stopped their stupid Alpha leader. Shigaraki would pay for this.

“Midoriya-kun, I’ll let everyone know. Now, please return to the base! You’re in no state to be fighting, look at all those injuries!” Mandalay tells him, as she kicks a slimy lizard looking Alpha in the stomach.

Izuku’s Omega seethes, unhappy to be dismissed and told to abandon his Pack. Abandon his Alpha, his Kacchan.

Yeah, there was no way Izuku would let that happen.

“Sorry, Mandalay-sensei. I go find him.” Izuku replies before turning around to head into the forest. They had been attacked during the test of courage so Izuku would have to actually test himself. He needed to find Kacchan more than anything else.

Then an Alpha woman with a very strong jawline and huge arms stood in Izuku’s way.

“Bet it was that Muscular that told ya all that, huh kid? Guess he didn’t think to tell ya that we’d be taking you too, little….wait Omega? That’s not what Shigaraki-” Izuku punched her in the chest and ran as fast as he could without sparing her a single glance.

Izuku runs and runs for what feels like hours, trying to identify Kacchan’s scent in the thick scents of the forest but it was getting increasingly harder and harder. The smell of gasoline and some other funky smelling substance was really clogging up his nose, and making this much harder than it should’ve been.

On top of this, Izuku was still fighting the feral state and losing. His mind couldn’t think too much beyond find Kacchan.

Then an overwhelming scent was choking Izuku’s nose and making him heave. Out of nowhere, the thick scent of licorice and neroli was entering Izuku’s nostrils and frustrating Izuku further. He was then promptly attacked, by what originally appeared to be a shadow.

The scent wasn’t that of an enemy though. It smelled familiar, it smelled like Pack.

Tokoyami was in an Alpha rage, and he was fighting himself to not attack Izuku either.

Izuku was then scooped up in the arms of another person that smelled like Pack. Izuku’s Omega didn’t appear to feel threatened, so Izuku supposed that he’d be fine.

Shoji.

“Midoriya, what are you doing walking around here with all those injuries?! It’s dangerous out here!” the boy scolds, making Izuku’s Omega bristle with offence but without any violent or malicious intent.

Which confirmed Izuku’s theory. His Omega would only act on Izuku’s actual desires. He wasn’t a cold-blooded murder that would kill anyone who crossed his path.

“Find Kacchan.” Izuku replies easily, though he wishes he could speak properly. Staying in this state was making it harder and harder for Izuku to find his words.

Shoji rolls his eyes at the response as if he was expecting it, then shifts Izuku's weight in his arms. He winces at the movement and that’s when it catches the slight scent of iron in the air. Izuku looks at Shoji carefully and notices an injury on his torso.

A worried chirp escapes Izuku’s mouth unbidden, as he tears off a piece of his shirt to quickly cover the wound. He looks up at the Beta with concern frowning at the guilty look on his Packmate’s face.

“You, hurt. Why?” Izuku makes out, pushing the words out of his mouth with great effort.

“Me and Tokoyami were ambushed actually. I got hurt and I guess seeing blood or something set Tokoyami off. His Alpha just went crazy and started destroying everything in his path. He’s gone feral but I have no idea what to do.” Shoji explains, looking far more exhausted than he should be.

Then Izuku remembers something else.

“Bird boy scared of dark. I have plan.” Izuku informs resolutely, as he tries to tie the cloth around Shoji’s injury before tugging on his hand.

Shoji gives him a questioning look but follows along when Tokoyami confronts them both.

His fangs are fully out as well a snarling growl. The Alpha is definitely in a feral Rage, and with addition of seeing his friend get hurt and his fear of the dark, it only made sense that the boy was consumed in Rage. Fear had a way of overwhelming people far beyond comprehension.

“Midoriya! Shoji! Please go. I’ll hurt you both, I can’t let that happen.” Tokoyami pleads as he fights with his Alpha from attack mode.

“No, Bird Boy. You are good, you are good Alpha. No worry. You no hurt Pack. You help Pack.” Izuku reassured, taking a few steps closer to his friend.

“No, please Midoriya. Don’t come closer,” Tokoyami begs, "Go away!” the Alpha Orders.

Izuku pauses then, hearing Shoji move away and Izuku’s Omega contemplates the Order. If he stays away, he could go look for Kacchan, keep Shoji safe and potentially heal him and leave Tokoyami to deal with this all on his own.

That’s not what a Pack Omega does. That’s not what a hero does. He can’t just abandon his Pack, he can’t just abandon someone who needed saving. It wasn’t something he wanted to do.

”No. I no leave. You are Pack, I won’t leave you. I will help.” Izuku grits, standing his ground keeping a firm hand on Shoji’s shoulder to keep him from leaving. Izuku squeezes enough that his clawed hand slightly digs into his friend’s skin, snapping him out of the Order.

“Yes, Midoriya. You are right! My initial plan was to lead Tokoyami to the base and get someone to light a fire or something to get him back to normal. You’ll have to choose between saving Tokoyami or going after Bakugou. I won’t blame you for whatever you chose, but we don’t have much time left.” Shoji explains as they both gaze at Tokoyami’s breakdown.

Choosing between saving and following after Kacchan. Wasn’t that what his entire life had led up to until now? It was always one or the other. He always had to choose, he could always only say one.

What did he truly want? His Omega would know, that’s for sure.

“Both. Help both. I have plan.” Izuku replies, staring at Shoji meaningfully. The Beta shakes his head at him fondly, eyes scrunching up in the mirth.

“Of course, you do. All right Midoriya, tell me what you’ve got.”

They get to work quickly. Izuku starts by strengthening the sweetness of his scent, gaining the attention of Tokoyami’s Rage induced Alpha. His eyes softened at the scent of helpless Omega whom he’d already identified as Pack.

“Omega! Midoriya, Omega?” Tokoyami growls in confusion like a lost pup.

“Yes, Alpha. Omega, first heat. Please help, Alpha. Must nest.” Izuku tells him sweetly, doing his best to pout up at the Alpha and get him to focus on something else other than attacking.

Tokoyami seemed to freeze, assessing Izuku from head to toe before nodding.

“Omega hurt. Let’s go.” Tokoyami nods, starting to approach Izuku. And at that very moment, Shoji picks Izuku and starts running in the direction Izuku had caught the whiff of nitroglycerin Izuku had always identified as Kacchan mid battle.

Tokoyami’s Alpha was infuriated, as the Omega he had thought to protect was snatched away in front of his very eyes.

They ran like the wind as Izuku let his scent carry over. They had to run fast enough that Tokoyami wouldn’t catch up, but close enough that Tokoyami could still catch the scent of distressed Omega.

They run and run, until the scent of peppermint, gunpowder, white musk and burnt sugar overwhelms Izuku’s senses. They come face to face with Kacchan and Todoroki who were caught up with a rather powerful criminal.

It seemed this forgein Alpha was in a feral Rage of his own, though he seemed rather unhinged even for an Alpha reduced to that state.

“Midoriya, that’s the guy who attacked us!” Shoji informs as he looks over his shoulder to find Tokoyami still following after him.

“Good. Kacchan, Ice Prince move! Get out! Bird Boy fights bad Alpha. We go!” Izuku screamed at the two Alphas, gaining their attention.

“Deku, what the fuck are you-” Kacchan frowns, eyebrows creasing in concern.

“Midoriya is in some kind of feral Omega state, but please listen to him. Lets go, now!” Shoji explains pulling Todoroki into a tree as Kacchan approaches Izuku.

Izuku’s Omega begs for Izuku to keep his Alpha safe. Izuku has no complaints.

He brings Kacchan over to a nearby tree and hides him, hugging him close as Tokoyami attacks the other Alpha with no remorse. The sounds are grotesque as Izuku closes his eyes. Izuku buried his face in Kacchan’s neck, allowing his Omega to relax in the Alpha’s arms.

“Deku, you’re in heat but..what the fuck? What happened to you?” Kacchan asks softly as the two of them hear the criminal Alpha screaming.

Izuku feels his eyes water. He killed a man. He didn’t deserve comfort for that, it was too late. He’d just have to deal with that.

“Bad Alpha attacked pup. Deku protect pup. Deku need to fight.” Izuku explains in the most simple way he can, hoping Kacchan will just accept his words for what they were right now.

Kacchan frowns but doesn’t argue, scenting him softly, though his eyes are focused on Tokoyami’s fight with the criminal.

“You shouldn’t have to be fighting right now. First heats are always rough for male Omegas...but to think you had to go feral...I haven’t heard of feral Omegas in a long time. I feel bad for the fucker who fought you.” Kacchan sighs, running his fingers through Izuku’s sides.

“I don’t.” Izuku growls, and then pauses surprised by the amount of venom in his own voice. The man was dead, why was he acting like this?

Kacchan’s about to comment but then they hear an agonizing scream and both their attention is the crushed form of the criminal Alpha and the seething form of Tokoyami above him.

“Uh oh. Shoji!” Izuku screams, but his friend is already step ahead of him. Shoji picks him up on his back and runs in the direction of the forest fire. That would be enough to shock the Alpha out of his feral state of fear.

“On it, Midoriya!” Shoji yells, picking him up and placing Izuku on his back. Izuku turns around so he can smile at the three Alphas who watch on in confusion and shock.

“Catch me if you can, Alpha.” Izuku grins, smiling coyly in a way Izuku had once seen in a movie. Omegas could rile up Alphas in ways that nothing else would, and with both him and Tokoyami in their feral state and base instincts would lead them on the right path this time.

Izuku’s only a little surprised to see Todoroki and Kacchan following along as well when they finally reach close enough to the fire that Tokoyami could cool down.

The light source was close enough to put out the fear in Tokoyami’s heart and far away enough that they wouldn’t get burnt.

"Damn, this place looks like hell." Kacchan comments quietly under his breath, looking around the area. Portions of the forest were set ablaze, blue flames licking up the trees and consuming everything it's path. Fallen debris was everywhere, and Izuku could smell all kinds of questionable substances in the air. Smoke, gasoline from the fires. A strange chemically induced substance, some kind of gas perhaps. Then there was the strong scent of vinegar and something that smelled suspiciously of rotten eggs. There was also the distinct smell of death of decay that Izuku couldn't quite place a specific name too.

This area had quickly become hellish without a doubt. The problem was that the Alpha criminals Izuku wanted to call the devils weren't the ones who had actually taken a life from this forest. That had been Izuku.

Perhaps he was the greatest Devil in this Hell.

There wasn't time to be thinking like that though. Right now, Izuku had to focus on keeping the Pack together. To protect. That was his duty. Besides, the best defense was a good offense, right?

“Thank you for helping all of you. I’m sorry for allowing my Alpha Rage to take over like that. I promise I will not allow such a thing to harm any of you ever again.” Tokoyami promises, bowing deeply.

Everyone lets out a breath of relief and Izuku comes to stand in front of Tokoyami to comfort him. He opens his mouth to give him a few words of comfort but the only sound that comes out is a a chirp. Izuku starts getting frustrated and tries again but it comes out as a keening whine.

Izuku starts getting angrier, his agitation becoming more palpable to the people around him before Kacchan wraps an arm around his back and scents him quickly.

“Hey, don’t push yourself too much. You’re in no state to be messing around right now, we should get going.” Kacchan tells them, keeping Izuku close to him. Izuku takes comfort in his Alpha’s warmth and nearly purrs as they make their way back to the base.

But, Izuku starts growing paranoid when he remembers why he was so eager to find Kacchan again in the first place. The hellish landscape was more than enough of a reminder of what these criminals were capable of. Who knew how strong the rest of them were? Muscular and unhinged Alpha had been difficult enough, how would the rest of their classmates hold up? Would they be safe? Could they be okay? Would they make it out of here without any causalities? Izuku didn't know, but he seriously hoped they could. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if anyone in their Pack got killed.

“Pack!” Izuku says, causing the others to look at Izuku warily. “Bad Alphas want Kacchan. Pack protect Kacchan.” Izuku tells them sternly, looking fierce as his claws extended to affirm his conviction.

Kacchan bristles, apparently ready to argue but Todoroki beats him to it.

“Don’t worry, Midoriya. We know. But you’ve just Presented, so that means we’ll be protecting you as well, alright?” he tells him kindly, as Kacchan seems to deflate at the Alpha’s words.

“That’s right. These sick bastards will be after you too. Stay close, nerd.” Kacchan agrees, patting Izuku’s head in that way that always made Izuku feel safe and adored. He can’t really find it in himself to argue, he doesn’t want to be separated from Kacchan ever again.

“Kay.” Izuku agrees, purring under Kacchan's affections. He grins at Izuku's response, smiling in satsifaction to see the worry melt away from Izuku's eyes. He allows himself to bask in the moment a little, let his Omega take a second to breathe. He had been so busy trying to keep everyone safe tension had started to clench up all his musceles and his entire being. Izuku couldn't wait for this mess to be over. He wanted to scent Kacchan and cuddle like he had been every night until now. 

For now, they had to protect each other. So then that time would come again soon.

They form a singular line with Kacchan watching Izuku's back and Tokoyami watching Kacchan's. Shoji and Todoroki bring up the front, surveying the new land and Izuku can only pray that their classmates would make it out of this alright. Izuku swore to protect them, keep them all safe. He wouldn't forgive himself if anyone would be brought to harm. This was all Izuku's fault after all.

Notes:

the calm before the storm. i was planning on finishing the training camp faster than this, but then other details start becoming more important so we'll have to wait for the kidnapping next chapter. for now, enjoy soft bkdk for a bit <3

Chapter 50: tar

Summary:

the deconstruction of a soul.

Notes:

tw: suicidal thoughts, violent/intrusive thoughts

“Hey, Deku? What actually happened to you before you got here?” Kacchan asks quietly, trying to draw little attention from their fellow classmates in an attempt to give them privacy.

Izuku frowned, eyes going unfocused for a bit.

I killed a man out of pure hatred.
I’m no better than the savage Alphas we’re fighting against.

Saying those things didn’t explain the context behind what had happened. And trying to say those words now would be of little help. It was hard for Izuku to speak about normal things right now, much less explain his thought process proceeding manslaughter. Could Izuku really say anything?

“Deku protect pup. Bad Alpha try to hurt pup. Deku stop Bad Alpha.” Izuku says instead, giving his childhood friend the bare bones of what had happened. Technically everything he had said was true.

Kacchan looks at him evenly, pursing his lips before nodding like he knew that already. He ruffled Izuku’s hair before falling back into place.

“Deku did a good job.” Kacchan tells him as Izuku’s Omega preens at the Alpha’s praise. Izuku himself isn’t that impressed, and actually, he feels more frustrated than ever. His Omega didn’t do a good job, his Omega was disobedient and vile and dangerous.

“No, Deku bad Omega. Deku strong, but Deku bad. Izuku weak, but Izuku good.” Izuku mutters to himself angrily, ignoring the strange looks Kacchan and Todoroki are shooting him as his frustration grows further.

Deku meant useless and Izuku would only ever be a useless Omega. He wasn’t elegant like Midnight or graceful like Yaomomo. He was just Deku. He’d only ever be just Deku.

That’s when a sudden familiar scent catches Izuku’s attention.

“Uraraka and Tsuyu close. Go, now!” Izuku exclaims, running in the direction of where the two girls seemed to be. There was a concerning scent of iron or copper in the air - one Izuku now came to associate with blood. One or both of them could be injured, and Izuku needed to get to them, fast.

He wouldn’t let any Pack mates get hurt today, not if he could help it.

“Uraraka!” Izuku yells, tackling the girl and scenting her all over. For just a moment, Izuku's taking comfort from his first friend at this school. The one person who sought Izuku out as his friend, someone he could rely on to help him. To understand him. He was happy enough to indulge in her cherry blossom scent when the foreign scent of ambergris invades his nose. Izuku is completely set on edge, moving away from Uraraka to assess the threat. Right, someone had been injured and by the smell of it, it was likely Uraraka. There was a blonde Alpha girl in their vicinity who smelled more strongly of blood than both of them. This concerned Izuku greatly.

Izuku turns to the Alpha girl, hackles raised when she begins to giggle. That’s when Izuku notices the contraption on her. Needles and a device used to collect blood. Likely, Uraraka’s and Tsuyu’s. Izuku was too stupid and slow in this state to make much use of this information but Izuku knew blood was important.

His Blood Pact said as much.

“Aww, there’s too many of you now. I’ll have to but, wow! A cute little thing like you, an Omega? Aren’t you a sweet one. Shigaraki’s got his eyes on you pretty Omega. You Alphas better take good care of him, or we might just snatch him away, hm?” the blonde Alpha girl giggles before disappearing into the night.

Izuku frowns but turns to the girls.

“Join us, Pack. Pack protect Kacchan.” Izuku informs them seriously, hoping they would join them. He felt a lot better if he could have his eyes on every member of the Pack. The more people he could protect the better.

“Bakugou-kun? Where is he?” Tsuyu asks bluntly, and Izuku is about to roll his eyes and laugh but when Izuku turns around to point towards him Izuku freezes.

Kacchan was gone. As was Tokoyami.

Izuku startles into panic mode, his Omega growing too anxious to function. Alpha was gone, Izuku’s precious Alpha was gone when Izuku had meant to protect him. He really was a useless Deku, he couldn’t even protect the one person he cared for most.

Then an Alpha in a mask and trench coat makes himself visible, moving his hands out in a timely display.

“Looking for your little friends? That’s too bad. You’ve gone to many great lengths to keep your Alpha safe, haven’t you little Omega? Tell you what. In exchange for that Bird looking Alpha all we ask is for you to come with us willingly. We only need the blonde Alpha after all.” the man taunts, as Izuku’s dread grows.

If Izuku went with them...Tokoyami would be safe and unharmed. If Izuku went with them, he could keep an eye on Kacchan. Did it really matter what happened to Izuku, as long as he was with Kacchan? Did i matter how much they may use him and torture him? As long as Izuku could be with Kacchan, he would endure anything.

But before Izuku could respond, Shoji was restraining him from moving and Todoroki attempted to attack the man who easily jumped onto the branches of a tree.

“Oh, what a pity. I’ll be sure to invite you next time little Omega. One prize is good enough for today!” the flamboyant Alpha laughed cheerfully, before jumping from tree to tree. His escape was quick and elegant.

Izuku feels his entire body thrum with anxious energy, and Izuku had many times over in the past he used it to run. His legs were pumping faster than he ever had, but he refused to let go of Kacchan that easily. He was a little surprised to smell the familiar scents of his Pack trailing right behind him, but he supposed it was only natural for them to follow the Pack’s Omega.

The criminal Alpha appeared to be talking on the phone, which was slightly slowing him down and making it easier for Izuku to close the distance between him and the Alpha. Suddenly the man stilled, as if he was arguing with the person on the phone.

Izuku was almost completely past rational thought, determined to just rip into the Alpha for taking away Kacchan when he remembered a vague detail.

The Alpha was too high and too fast up in the trees for them to be able to catch up to them on the ground. They needed to get to him quickly to figure out where Kacchan and Tokoyami were captured.

Izuku stops in his tracks, looking at Tsuyu and Uraraka. He needed to use specific words now and he prayed to God that the annoying chirps and squawks wouldn’t escape his mouth this time.

“Girls. Ashido jump?” Izuku asks, hoping they understood what Izuku was talking about. There had been a time, during their cheerleading incident when Ashido had taught a couple of the girls how to launch someone into the air.

Stunting, it was called stunting in cheerleading terms.

Uraraka and Tsuyu exchanged a glance, before nodding.

“Alright, Shoji. We’re gonna need your help for this one.” Uraraka declared, getting into position. Tsuyu quickly instructed Shoji to become the back spot - the person in charge of grabbing the waist of the flyer - who would be Izuku as he was the smallest and the fastest.

Tsuyu and Uraraka quickly took their spots as the bases, all three of them in ‘Ready’ position as they bent their knees, facing each other. Their arms were close to their sides, elbows bent and hands holding onto Izuku’s foot. The main base - Tsuyu - had Izuku’s foot in her hand during the beginning of the two legged-stunt as Uraraka - the side base - would help her launch Izuku into the air.

Izuku stood with one leg on the ground and the other in Tsuyu’s hand. He wrapped his arms around each girl’s shoulders ready to launch his own body weight into the air by using the bases for support. While Izuku held up his body, his next foot fell into Uraraka’s hand and he pushed of the bases shoulders and stood up trying to balance his weight on both feet evenly before keeping his body tight and feet square.

Then, he was launched into the air soaring and tackling the criminal Alpha onto the floor. He used the man to soften the impact of his fall, and thus perhaps concussing the man but Izuku was in no position to care about the man’s injuries.

Todoroki joined him in pinning the Alpha down, Shoji running after them to immobilize the opponent.

At that moment a lot of things happen at once. Izuku senses the presence of multiple threatening Alphas and then gets pushed off the trench coat man. He gets pushed to the ground, Todoroki catching before he hits his head and when he gazes back Izuku truly feels like he’s looking into the pits of Hell.

The crazed blonde Alpha girl is back, now with the addition of a scarred Alpha who had burns all along his body playing with a lighter, the Alpha woman from earlier with the square jaw, and an Alpha that dressed up like an off brand Deadpool.

They were very clearly outnumbered.

Then hidden behind them was a shackled Kacchan who looked like he was paralyzed. Completely immobile except for his eyes and mouth as he was glaring at the people around him and scowling like he was a wet dog.

They kept him shackled in a way that was reminiscent of the Sports Festival, except this time it seemed discount Deadpool had him on a leash.

Izuku’s Omega was rioting. His vision blurred and all he could think was: Protect! Attack! Protect! Attack! Save Alpha, save Kacchan! Give him back, give him back, please give Kacchan back!

“Give him back! Give Kacchan back, or tell Shigaraki that I will never forgive him!” Izuku roared, gums aching to bite, claws extending to scratch, to rip, to destroy. This was nothing like the fury he had felt for Kota; this was much, much worse.

Izuku would raise Hell for Kacchan even if he went down with it.

He throws himself at trench coat Alpha and sees red , he scratches at him and sinks his claws into his body enjoying the way the man gasped. No more playing nice, no more Izuku the good guy Izuku let his Omega take over without a further care in the world.

“Don’t make me repeat myself, pathetic Alpha. Give him back, or perish.” Deku roared, no longer caring about how he was perceived, if he was a monster or not. He didn’t care if he was hated or looked at with disgust by his Pack anymore. All he cared about was Kacchan, his Kacchan, his Alpha.

Then Izuku felt a light tingling sensation that he hadn’t expected. His body had stopped throbbing with pain for a while now, as his nerves felt almost numb, all this while so the fact he was feeling something now was of concern.

That’s when Izuku realized his shoulder was on fire.

It was the work of the scarecrow lighter man, no doubt.

Someone pulled Izuku away from trench coat man - Shoji - as Todoroki got to work setting it off by making Izuku roll on the ground, but Izuku trashed in their grips trying to get back to his Alpha.

The trench coat man seemed to chuckle then, and the wind began to pick up howling as Izuku noticed a black object in the sky getting closer and closer.

A helicopter. Their getaway vehicle.

Izuku and his Pack were now severely outnumbered and outmatched and there was no way for them to win. The trench coat Alpha man started laughing, looking at Izuku with some sort of pity.

“I see why Shigaraki is so obsessed with you now. Fierce little Omega, aren’t ya? A feral male Omega, who would’ve thought. If we got our hands on you, we would be unstoppable. What a pity. Here, in exchange for your efforts we’ll let that Bird kid go. And as for your precious Kacchan...he’s not yours, now is he? He’s his own person. There’s no mating mark, so really he must be free game.” trench coat Alpha grinned, cackling at Izuku’s desperation.

Izuku’s Omega whimpered, the fury turning into despair. The helicopter was getting closer and the blonde Alpha girl released Tokoyami at Todoroki’s feet. Shoji was helping him up, hugging him close and whispering something against the Alpha’s ear.

Izuku’s Omega screamed at Izuku to move, to do something, to anything. The problem with going feral was that Izuku couldn’t think like he usually could. He had used the last of his functioning brain cells to tackle trench coat Alpha into the ground, and for what?

For them to get away with Kacchan anyway?

One by one, the criminal Alphas were getting into the helicopter. Izuku was being restrained by Todoroki and Shoji now, both of them pinning Izuku back, keeping him from doing something reckless.

Izuku was forced to watch as discount Deadpool handed the leash to the scarecrow burns and Izuku could see it in the man’s eyes. The cold Alpha cruelty that had shone in Muscular’s eyes, enjoying the show of torturing someone ‘weaker’ than him. What an ass all of them. Yet, somehow Izuku couldn’t help but think he looked a little like Todoroki with the facial burns and the turquoise sheen of a man so jaded by his past he couldn’t let go. Like his own desire in life was to inspire the same amount of suffering to those that had done him wrong.

Izuku hadn’t done any of these people wrong. In fact, the one person he had - Shigaraki - hadn’t even shown up here! The coward, what kind of criminal half-assed everything only to not participate in the only success in their entire criminal career.

“Give him back, please.” Izuku pleaded, energy zapping from his bones but as soon as the brunt man stepped onto the helicopter tugging Kacchan along like a doll, Izuku’s fury returned in full burning brighter than it had before.

Izuku dug his claws into both Todoroki’s and Shoji’s hands causing them to yelp away in pain instinctively as Izuku ran towards his Alpha trying to at least get onto the helicopter with him.

Izuku couldn’t bear to part from Kacchan, he wanted to be by his side always now that he had somewhat earned the right. He wouldn’t let Kacchan go for as long as he allowed Izuku by his side.

Izuku would save Kacchan or die trying. There was no other option. He could never leave him, never abandon him.

Izuku was ready to follow him, as he chased after Kacchan as he always had.

Even if Kacchan had not Marked or Claimed or Bonded with him, Izuku didn’t care. He was Kacchan even if Kacchan would never be his and he was okay with that. Izuku loved him more than anything else in the world, and he couldn’t stand to be forced apart from him.

Even if Kacchan never loved him back, even if Kacchan would never want him, Izuku’s soul was Kacchan’s. His entire heart, his entire being was Kacchan’s long before either of them had Presented or secondary genders had played with their biology. All of that didn’t matter, all of that faded into the background when Izuku would never be complete without a Kacchan in his life.

It didn’t matter if Kacchan saw him as his boyfriend, his best friend, a rival, an acquaintance or even an enemy.

Izuku would always be Kacchan’s, for as long as he allowed Izuku to be in his life.

That’s why it hurts all the more when Kacchan stares at him. It’s clear to Izuku that Kacchan is terrified, scared out of his mind even if his expression never fully showed it. No, it was only his eyes that betrayed his vulnerability as they always did. His eyes could never lie to Izuku, no matter how prideful and unaffected Kacchan may pretend to be.

It’s a slap across Izuku’s face when Kacchan opens his mouth, his eyes looking more scared than Izuku had ever seen them.

Was he scared of Izuku? The feral mess of a monster he had become? Of what Izuku was capable of doing when he was selfish and stupid? Or was he scared of being kidnapped? Of being in the lair of evil people only he and Izuku had any clear idea were capable of?

Or was he scared for Izuku? Knowing the pain his childhood friend was going through, since he knew Izuku better than anyone?

“Don’t come, Deku.” Kacchan Orders, causing both Izuku’s heart and body to stop. Izuku’s Omega was always weak to Kacchan. Both Deku and Izuku would always be weak to Kacchan.

Kacchan told him to stop. Kacchan didn’t want Izuku to follow him. Kacchan told Izuku to give up.

It broke Izuku’s heart but he listened. Because that’s what Kacchan wanted, and no matter how much it hurt him Izuku would always put Kacchan’s needs above his own.

Izuku was forced to still and watch as his childhood friend disappeared from Izuku’s grasp for the first time in his life. All this time, even in middle school, Izuku had always had Kacchan within his sights.

This is the first time Izuku had to let Kacchan go with no way to know if he’d ever even see him again.

Izuku’s vision goes wonky, and there’s some kind of noise escaping his throat. Perhaps, it’s a sob or a scream, Izuku doesn’t really know. All his anger, and fury, and rage, and desperation sets Izuku’s Omega for a new goal, a brand new desire.

Izuku had failed. He failed to do his duty for Toshinori-sensei as a good successor having already killed a man. He failed as a friend of Kacchan, unable to keep him safe. He failed as a hero, unable to save Kacchan from the villains.

And most despairingly, he failed as an Omega unable to protect his Alpha.

Izuku’s claws extended, Rage consuming him in a foreign way as his opponent was no longer an external force he sought to defeat.

No, Izuku’s greatest enemy was not Shigaraki but himself. He was such a failure, such a stupid, useless Omega. Even in his supposed strongest state, he was unable to save the person that had mattered most. He was only ever going to be a failure, a useless Deku all his life.

It didn’t matter if Izuku was Beta, or Omega, or even Alpha he would always be useless Deku.

Izuku moved to bring his own claws to his chest, ready to rip his heart out physically as well. Before he could so someone knocked Izuku out. His vision blanked out, and Izuku prayed he’d never have to open his eyes to a world without Kacchan by his side again.

Notes:

was that harder or easier to deal with then canon? this chapter was pretty difficult for me to right ngl, and usually i'm pretty unaffected by the angst i write.

feels bad for deku,, but it can only get better from here!

next chapter is not what you're gonna expect so keep an eye out for the next update

thanks for the support as always <3

Chapter 51: ambergris

Summary:

history repeats itself and it breaks katsuki's heart

Please, God. Keep him safe, don’t take him away from me. Bring him back, please.

Deku was only six years old. He was so small, so young it wasn’t fair that he had to be in a hospital bed for so long. The nurses all whispered amongst themselves about how tragic it was. Katsuki didn’t want to hear any of it.

When he had first learned that the bump to the head Izuku had received had put him in a coma, he wasn’t quite sure how to react. It didn’t feel fully real.

Deku was always bright-eyed and full of energy, even when he was nervous. His big eyes and huge smile practically radiated the high energy that seems to come off him in waves. It’s one of the reasons why Kastuki liked having Deku around.

Deku was bright in all the ways that word meant. He was bright in spirit, bright in mind and Katsuki could never fully bring himself to look away. To think a guy like that could ever be...lifeless was way beyond Katsuki’s comprehension.

Yet, he had seen it all happen, had he not? Watching Izuku tumble head first into the water only to smash his head on a rock. It was supposedly a miracle that he was alive, but watching Deku’s frail body now it was hard to believe that he was.

It was an out of body experience. The time in which he wasn’t allowed to visit the boy and the incident itself, Katsuki had been unable to wrap his head around what was going on.

His parents said that Deku was alive...but when he looked at his friend’s unconscious body it didn’t feel that way at all. There were all these tubes running through his mouth and nose, and arms and apparently all of this stuff is what was keeping him afloat.

Katsuki hadn’t cried properly since the incident. His mind had been plagued with thoughts of Deku, and sometimes his eyes would water if he thought too hard about it but he hadn’t cried.

It was seeing his body usually bursting with anxious energy, the frail eyelids that hid away his starry eyes. Katsuki liked Deku best for his big eyes. They always told Katsuki what the boy was thinking, they were too big, too soft and too sweet to lie. It’s what made Katsuki like him all the more.

Those eyes that grew bigger with excitement and shock, or scrunch up when overcome with emotion. The eyes that glared at him with little heat when Katsuki tickled him too hard and the same eyes that looked at him like...that looked at Katsuki like he was the coolest thing Deku had ever seen.

They had mainly become friends because they were the ones who loved watching All Might most. While all the other little boys and girls liked the comics and shows well enough, only Katsuki and Deku loved them passionately.

Katsuki loved talking about All Might with Deku. They’d grow more and more excited, feeding off of each other’s passion. Deku always came to Katsuki to yell about all things All Might and Katsuki was more than happy to welcome it.

Then suddenly, the excitement in Deku’s big eyes wasn’t reserved solely for All Might anymore. They were for Katsuki too. Every time Deku called him ‘Kacchan’, Katsuki was reminded that he was the only person other than All Might in the entire world that was looked at like that by Deku.

It made Katsuki feel invincible. It was the greatest feeling Katsuki had ever felt before. To be on the receiving end of such a warm gaze, made him think that maybe there were greater things than winning. It made Katsuki feel like he had won at life. If Deku only liked the best superhero ever like that then, Katsuki must be a really cool hero to him too.

To think those eyes wouldn’t look at him like that again made Katsuki feel ice cold.

So after the initial shock, came anger. Anger was the most comfortable emotion for him to fall back into, it kept him from looking weak even when he felt it and kept others away from him. Katsuki could live in just anger alone for months on end. Now though, the anger felt desperate and gross. It wasn’t anger that made him feel strong and unstoppable anymore, this felt like anger that made him feel helpless and weak. Sometimes, it felt like all the adults were acting as if Deku was already dead. Which he wasn’t! The doctor said that Deku was fighting hard to stay alive for them, and it felt like such an insult to hear that the parents were already giving up on him. Why couldn’t they see that they were disrespecting his efforts? Why were they so blind and useless?

Why did Katsuki feel so blind and useless?

Though, the more often Katsuki’s visits became the more his anger had subdued. The nurses had suggested that visitors should try to talk to him. He might not be able to respond to it, but he could hear it. They said it would help Deku fight better if they reminded him what he was fighting for.

It was really hard for Katsuki to start talking. He had tried, on multiple occasions but no words would fully come out of his mouth. Of course Katsuki wanted to encourage him, of course he wanted Deku to fight but he didn’t know what to say, even if he could.

The first time he had tried to speak, the only thing that escaped his mouth was a sob. He had excused himself from the room and cried in the boy’s washroom away from the pitying eyes of Deku’s mom and the nurses.

He had been frustrated with himself on the drive back home, eyes still red and throat still sore. What if Deku died that night and that would’ve been his last attempt to say something?

His next attempt was better, but no great. He couldn’t say what he wanted to, his mom’s eyes drilling a hole into Katsuki’s head and the pressure his mom was putting on him was really pissing him off.

“Say something to Izukkun, you brat! What kind of friend are you?”

Katsuki scowled at his overbearing mother, before looking at his friend on the hospital bed again. When Inko Midoriya spoke to him, Deku’s heart rate would noticeably pick up. This was a very good thing, the doctors said. It meant that Deku might be semi-conscious.

Half-awake, his father had translated for him later. He could maybe hear and accept external stimuli, but he wasn’t yet able to respond. Which was better than nothing at all.

“Something.” Katsuki repeats, grinning at his mom devilishly. His mom rolls his eyes at him, ready to reprimand him when something incredible happens. Izuku’s heart rate picks up, as predicted but then Izuku’s face starts scrunching up. For a blessed moment Katsuki thinks he might wake up.

He doesn’t, but his eyes flutter open. It’s only for a few seconds, but seeing those shiny green eyes lights hope in Katsuki’s heart.

Izuku had opened his eyes for him.

He had closed them moments later, but it was proof better than anything else. Izuku was still fighting, fighting for Katsuki too. Deku wanted to see him, wanted to see his Kacchan.

Katsuki starts talking a lot more to him after that. He tells him about the episodes of Kaumi Woods and Mount Lady he’s missing, and the classes that are boring without him. Katsuki isn’t someone who likes hearing his own voice so much, but when Deku’s eyes open for longer and longer periods of time Katsuki can’t bring himself to stop.

It stays stagnant for a while longer like that, Katsuki talking until his mouth goes dry just to see Deku’s eyes. Then slowly but surely another small miracle occurs.

This one starts with Katsuki’s help, but Izuku’s started making efforts to speak. Katsuki would watch in awe as his mouth moved, though without sound but reading the movements he knew what his friend wanted to say.

Kacchan. Not All Might, not Mom not even Katsudon. Deku wanted to say Kacchan every single time his mouth moved.

This is the moment that Katsuki fully realizes something. No matter how much pain he was in, no matter what else happened around him, Deku always put Katsuki first. It was like Katsuki was the most important person in Deku’s life.

A part of him already knew this, but it made Katsuki feel both warm and scared at once. He was more than happy to bask in Deku’s appreciation and love, he really was but if Deku kept doing that he’d get hurt.

He already was hurt, under Katsuki’s watchful eye.

Katsuki decided then that he would never allow Deku to get hurt like this again. If Deku kept doing this, Katsuki needed to be the responsible one. He would get stronger so Deku didn’t have to get hurt again, and Katsuki could be his number one hero for real.

Katsuki would do anything to keep Deku safe.

It takes almost three months, but by some miracle Deku wakes up. He gets pulled out of school for it, and at first Katsuki thinks the worst has happened.

That Deku’s gone and his parents want to break it to him as soon as possible. Yet, it doesn’t feel right. Katsuki knows that it can’t be it because nothing feels off, and yet there is a small bud of anxiety in his heart that is quick to be nipped.

His mother’s broad grin says it all. His parents whisk him away into the car, and Katsuki feels like he’s flying.

“Izukkun woke up this morning! He asked for you as soon as he did, so we thought it’d be better if you guys could see each other as soon as possible.” his father explains as they park, his mother bouncing in her seat.

Katsuki can’t help his own smile. He runs quickly into the room, and sure enough his friend is sitting up in his seat chatting with his mother before his head whips around to look at Katsuki.

“Kacchan, you came!” he grins, opening his arms wide for a hug and Katsuki practically launches himself into it scenting him all over the way his mom would when he was a pup.

“Of course I did, idiot Deku.” Katsuki grumbles, holding onto his friend in a deathly strong grip.

“Katsuki, give him room to breathe! The poor thing just recovered.” his mother screeches, her Alpha pheromones bristling as if to convince Katsuki to let go with her scent alone.

“He’s been sleeping all this time, he doesn’t need anymore rest!” Katsuki grumbles before focusing his attention on his childhood friend.

Deku’s mom mutters something about ‘giving them a moment’ and the adults leave the room for Izuku and Katsuki to talk privately.

“How are you feeling?” Deku asks softly, as the two of them seperate from the embrace.

Katsuki rolls his eyes, but smirks nonetheless sighing in exasperation.

“You’re the one who was in a coma for three months, idiot. You tell me.” Katsuki grumbles, ruffling the boy's hair as Deku laughs like the dummy he is.

“I’m doing okay! I still feel kinda weak, but once I get more solid food in me I should be good to go. But you were kinda right about me sleeping, y’know. I feel like you’ve suffered a lot more than me. Mom said you cried.” Deku admits quietly, playing with his fingers.

Katsuki looks at him for a while, at his bright eyes and the guilty twist of his mouth.

“Of course, I did. Deku, I thought you were going to die.” Katsuki tells him honestly, as Deku sucks in a gasp.

“No way! There’s no way I’d just leave Kacchan!” Deku promises, looking very upset at Katsuki for saying such a thing.

“Then never do something like this again, okay? I don’t know what I’d do if you died and just left like that…” Katsuki tells him softly, refusing to look Deku in the eye.

“I know, I know!” Deku told him seriously, his voice strangely happy for the circumstance. He took both of Katsuki’s hands in his as he smiled at him excitedly. “You’d be the best man at my funeral!”

Katsuki let out a sound in between a scoff and a laugh.

“Deku, do you know what a best man is?” Katsuki asked, genuinely curious as to what the idiot had to say next.

“Hmm..the best man is the person closest to you, right? They’re your best friend in the whole entire world, and they come to talk and help out because you trust them the most! The best man, ever!” Deku explains, letting go of Katsuki’s hands to gesture as he spoke, eyes blissfully bright and shiny.

Katsuki actually laughs then, ruffling Izuku’s hair. “You’re not wrong, dummy. But a best man is for a wedding not a funeral. A wedding is when two people who love each other get married. A funeral is when someone dies. I’m not going to your funeral even if you paid me, idiot.”

Deku’s mouth makes a little ‘o’ shape before nodding. “So then, Kacchan won’t be my best man. Kacchan would be...the bride? Since we love each other, right?”

Katsuki’s entire face turns an ugly shade of red as he hits the hospital patient, refusing to look the giggling idiot in the face. “If anyone would be the bride it would be you, stupid! I’m gonna be an Alpha like my mom.”

Deku won’t stop giggling as he nuzzles against Katsuki’s red cheeks, and Katsuki only grumbles a little as he wraps his arms around Izuku’s back. Katsuki is never going to let this boy get hurt ever again, and he’d stop at nothing to ensure it.

Katsuki never wanted to see Deku in a hospital bed again.

---

Please, God. Keep him safe, don’t take him away from me. Bring him back, please.

Katsuki thinks again, ten years later as he watches the one that he loves nearly rip his own heart out. Even the other Alphas in this blasted helicopter are muttering amongst themselves in shock.

He really doesn’t know what to think. These Alphas were a part of an Alpha Supremacist group, one Deku swore to take down. The same group that had promised to use Deku as a tool when was just a Beta.

Who knew what these entitled bastards wanted from him now that he had Presented as Omega.

Katsuki had been on edge ever since Deku had started nesting. The coddling of his fellow students, of Kota the random pup he had apparently saved, and of Katsuki himself made his worrying even worse.

But then, every night they would scent in Deku’s nest after a hard day of work and Katsuki’s guard would go down. He’d revel in the warmth of his Omega’s body and delicious new scent. Katsuki had Scent Marked him so thoroughly, and so often that he's practically imprinted on him. Though Katsuki had a sneaking suspicion he had already done so when they were pups.

Katsuki had been keeping a close eye on Deku, because he was supposed to Present soon but not yet. The stress of the situation and threats to what Deku perceived as his ‘territory’ and his Pack had no doubt forced him into a feral state.

Omegas in a feral state were stuff of legends. Katsuki had only heard passing mentions of it before, since they only happened when an Omega was in severe crisis mode. They were mentioned only in articles of Omegas in abusive relationships or life threatening situations but there weren’t a lot of details.

Namely because nobody who witnessed it would live long enough to tell the tale.

The main issue was that it took a lot of an Omega to get into the state. And Deku, who had been pushing himself for weeks on the cusps of pre-heat, working his body every day as an athlete on top of it didn’t have enough energy reserves to properly sustain such a state.

Katsuki could see the damage Deku had sustained on his arms fighting off whatever idiot that had dared threaten a feral Omega. Deku should’ve gotten to safety after that, but he had pushed himself again to make sure Katsuki wouldn’t get kidnapped.

And he had anyway.

Deku had somewhat of a hero complex to begin with, but Katsuki was more than aware of how much they meant to each other. Just how much Izuku was willing to push himself to keep Katsuki safe, and the same thing Katsuki would have done for him in return.

That’s why he had told him not to follow him, that’s why he Ordered his Omega against his will. Because he knew he was the only one that could stop him.

Even though Deku would have fought it off, the same way he’d fought off Shinsou Hitoshi he knew it wouldn’t work because at the end of the day Katsuki knew that Deku would do anything for him.

It was the curse of an Omega who loved an Alpha enough to completely and wholly give that power up willingly. Katsuki, up until now, didn’t know for sure if it would work, because he wasn’t sure that Deku loved him to that extent but…

He did. Deku loved Katsuki enough to put his needs before Deku’s even in a feral state. If that wasn’t the boldest display of unconditional love, Katsuki didn’t know what else was.

Then Deku did that heartbreaking thing, claws extending moving to pierce his own chest. Katsuki felt like that helpless pup watching his friend waste away on a hospital bed again. If it weren’t for Todoroki hitting him in the head as fast as he had, the Omega might’ve even gone through with it.

Katsuki didn’t know what he would’ve done if it had worked. But it hadn’t. That meant Katsuki would have to escape these fuckers in one piece, without falling into a Rage of his own.

Notes:

is this angst? i feel like this was better than last chapter hnnnng

ngl this chapter was hard for me to write. i had planted the river incident/deku coma a LONG TIME AGO and now someone ik irl is in a coma, and it's been difficult,, to write

but nothing is better than things written from personal experience ig hahaha

anyway! hope you enjoyed this katsuki chapter since it's been awhile since we've seen his perspective hmm

Chapter 52: anise

The last time Izuku remembers feeling like this way many, many years ago. He was swimming in and out of consciousness, feeling awful but unable to figure out why. Sometimes, Izuku swore he could make out voices of people who were desperately calling out to him.

Izuku always wanted to respond, but for some reason his mouth just wouldn’t move. He’d attempt to open his eyes, move his hand to scratch his nose or speak back to whoever was crying out to him but his body just wouldn’t listen.

He hated being trapped inside his own useless body, and the only thing that made it better was listening to his mother’s voice. Soft, sweet and soothing, all things his mother showered him in even if Izuku couldn’t return the favour.

Back then, more comforting than his mother’s voice had been Kacchan. Of course, it would. He spoke in a strangely soft-spoken manner those days, which had been unfamiliar for Izuku at first but hearing that tone of voice for the first time made his heart flutter right out of his ribcage.

Izuku very desperately wanted to see what Katsuki’s face looked like when he said those things. It made him all the more determined to see it for himself, and when he had Izuku never wanted to part from Kacchan again.

This time, Kacchan’s voice never came. His mother had come by a couple times, some friends had as well. Uraraka, Iida, Todoroki, Tsuyu and Kirishima. Kirishima in particular seemed to be taking it very badly, and Izuku wanted to know why they all sounded so sad. He wanted to help, wanted to see their faces.

But, Kacchan never came. Had Kacchan left Izuku? Why hadn’t he come? He wanted to ask someone but his body just wouldn’t cooperate.

A part of Izuku said it was too tiring, that he should stay like this forever. Life was too exhausting. Everyone would be better off if he just disappeared. Nobody would ever be in danger because of him again if he was gone.

Izuku wanted to succumb, but the sense of duty he felt kept him from doing so. Toshinori-sensei needed him to do his job, and he really couldn’t abandon his mentor just yet. Even if Kacchan wasn’t around, he would never be okay with Izuku just giving up. And besides, Izuku liked U.A and all his friends at the school. He loved his Pack. He couldn’t just give up now.

Alpha isn’t here. Must find Alpha for heat. Need Alpha, now.

He isn’t coming because we failed.

Try again. Must find Alpha, go find Alpha!

Izuku inhales and opens his eyes. He’s greeted with white pristine walls, an off white lightbulb overhead and the sterile scent of the hospital has his nose itching. He felt like he was frequenting hospital beds far too often, and it was becoming a bad habit.

“Midoriya? Oh, my god...guys, Midoriya’s awake!” someone called, a darkened figure right outside of his room. Sure enough, almost his entire class was piling into his tiny room. It was a little insane that so many people had wanted to visit and see him. It still blew his mind that so many people actually cared about him.

“Hi, guys. I’m awake again.” Izuku grinned nervously, eyes searching for the face he wanted to see most since his class had decided to show together all at once.

No, wait. It wasn’t his entire class. Hagakure, Yaomomo and Jirou hadn’t come - perhaps they were injured? - as well as Kacchan. He already knew Kacchan wouldn’t be here, but for some reason seeing it broke his heart even further.

Before he could cry about it in front of his entire class though, Izuku was enveloped in the warmest hug he’d ever received in his life. Kirishima, Uraraka, Iida, Tsuyu and even Todoroki all held him in a massive hug. Izuku felt like more and more people were joining the group hug, and Izuku was a little surprised to hear sniffling come from someone that wasn’t him.

It was Kirishima.

Izuku quickly held the Beta's forearms, keeping him from escaping to check over the boy’s well-being.

“Kirishima-kun, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Izuku asked in concern, bringing his wrist up to the boy’s own to calm the Beta down and soothe his cries.

“No! Midoriya, I really thought I lost both my best friends on the same day! What do you think?” he demanded, glaring at Izuku - or at least attempting to - before his gaze softened almost instantly upon seeing Izuku’s confused face before hugging him again.

Oh, Kacchan. Right, Kirishima was Kacchan’s closest friend, it was no wonder he was so heartbroken, though Izuku couldn’t imagine who the other person he was talking about was. Kirishima wasn’t that close to Jirou, Momo or Hagakure and everyone else was in the room.

“I’m sorry about Kacchan, that’s all my fault I should have protected him more but did something happen to Ashido? Or Kaminari? Are they okay, what happened to -” Izuku asked, trying to see over Kirishima’s spiky red hair to get a good look at the two.

“No, Deku! He’s talking about you!” Uraraka yelled, her voice cracking as her eyes grew slightly wet.

Huh?

Izuku frowns. While he’s honoured to be one of Kirishima’s closest friends he was fine for the most part. “What about me? I’m okay, see! I got into a fight with this one Alpha but I was just really tired. A good nap would’ve fixed it, but I guess it was good for me to take a quick trip to the hospital to -”

“Midoriya, do you seriously not remember your Rage?” Todoroki asked, his voice strangely rough and when Izuku looked at him closely he could see that his friend’s eyes were slightly red.

Holy shit, what had happened when Izuku was sleeping? Jeez, they were acting like -

“My what?” Izuku asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Midoriya, I stopped you from ripping your own heart out. After they took Bakugou, I had a bad feeling but I didn’t think you were going to...going to…” Todoroki looked away, as Uraraka let out a choked noise. “I-If I had been a second too late, we wouldn’t just be without Bakugou. At least we know he’s alive and unharmed, we just need to get him back. If you really had done it...we wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

Oh. Izuku didn’t realize he had tried to do that. He only really remembered being deeply upset, wanting to attack something - anything. He could never attack his own Pack, and all the threats had escaped on that stupid helicopter far out of Izuku’s reach. So, he had to tear into something and it was just easiest to -

“Sorry for worrying all of you. I-I wasn’t in my right mind, and I promise not to do that again. I was, um, in a feral state so it was hard to think rationally. Or think at all, actually. So sorry for concerning you.” Izuku apologizes, squeezing Kirishima’s hand before looking at Todoroki.

“Midoriya...even if you say that going into a feral state only makes you act out on your own desires. While it’s true you might’ve not done that otherwise, there’s no way we won’t be concerned still. You must’ve been suffering a lot to have done that.” Iida points out, voice less stern than it usually was.

The room is deathly quiet for a few moments, and Izuku closes his eyes trying to keep his own tears at bay.

“I-It’s not like I actively want to - um - kill myself or anything but I just...Kacchan’s the one person in the world that I can’t...I can’t live with out. I never want to be forced apart from him, because if I can’t know if he’s safe...I feel like I’ll really lose it. I wanted to be a cop all this time to keep people safe and do the right thing. I wanted to save people like a hero so that...we can make sure that things we see as precious and irreplaceable to us can be safe. So why is it that...I couldn’t save the one person who was the most precious to me? How pathetic is that?” Izuku rants, looking up at the ceiling blankly.

Kirishima moves to say something, but now that he’s started talking Izuku can’t stop.

Tears fill his vision but he can’t allow them to fall.

“My body wouldn’t move...it was all I could do to save Kota...I-I couldn’t save someone right in front of me. My hand wouldn’t reach.” Izuku chokes, body trembling with grief. How had he messed everything up? Kacchan wouldn’t have been targeted in the first place if Izuku hadn’t attracted the attention of Shigaraki, and on top of all his efforts Kacchan had still gotten kidnapped.

“Then, let’s save him this time.” Kirishima tells him, eyes resolute, looking at Izuku with all the dedication and love of a friend who’s loyalty knows no bounds.

The class gasps, and Izuku sees the conflict on Iida’s face as well as many others. Their scents are changing rapidly, from grief to shock, disbelief but also hope. Reassurance.

Ashido puts her hand on Kirishima’s shoulder, squeezing it before nodding as Kirishima and Todoroki exchange a glance.

“Actually, Todoroki and I were here yesterday, too.” Kirishima explains. “We couldn’t just stand by and wait around. It was strange but we were lingering in the lobby for a while, we didn’t know what to do.”

“It was hard to know how to feel. I still couldn’t believe what had happened.” Todoroki adds, sighing as Kirishima continued.

“On the way to your room we passed by Yaomomo’s, and she was speaking to a police officer and Toshinori-sensei. She said that she and this guy from 1B - Awase or something - attached some kind of tracking device on to one of the criminals.” Kirishima explains as their class gasps in shock.

“She has a device on hand that will determine the signal that the tracker emits. She offered the device to them for their investigation.” Todoroki continues, as their classmates gasp once again. Izuku can feel his classmate’s doubt and suspicion. Izuku knew where this was going, and he couldn’t quite believe it.

They’d have a way to find Kacchan!

“She feels the same way as us. Knowing that our classmate, our friend, someone a part of our Pack, is in danger isn’t easy for any of us to deal with. Yaomomo said she wished she could do more, just like us.” Kirishima tells him, eyes pleading.

“Does this mean you're going to have Yaoyorozu-san send you the location?” Iida asks, eyebrows pinched in concern. He didn’t look happy with this news at all.

The mood dropped even further, tension palpable between Todoroki’s cold gaze and Iida’s worried one. It looked like the class would have to pick sides. Both Iida’s and Todoroki’s intense intimidation scents flared causing everyone in the class to startle. Kirishima visibility flinched, unable to look Iida in the eye. The poor Beta looked trapped in between the two.

“What if it does?” Todoroki challenged, looking completely unbothered by Iida’s aggravation with the situation.

“Don’t you remember last time?! We could’ve gotten into so much trouble because we got into the affairs of adults. Leave it to the real cops! They’ll take care of it, why should we have to meddle?!” Iida demanded, his voice raising and eyes blazing. Uraraka, Tsuyu, Koda and Oijirou backed away from his almost lethal pheromones. Iida sure was getting worked up.

Surprisingly, it was Kirishima who yelled back. Izuku had almost never heard the Beta raise his voice, but the guy was moved by passion, desperation and unwavering loyalty. Ashido was very lucky to be dating a man like that.

“We know that!” Kirishima shrieks, “But I couldn’t do anything! One of my best friend’s got kidnapped and the other nearly killed himself! Am I supposed to just quietly sit back and watch?! After I heard Bakugou was getting targeted , I sat in a classroom and just waited. I couldn’t do anything to help, I didn’t do anything to help, while Midoriya nearly died trying too! If I don’t do anything now, I won’t be a good Beta or friend worth anything!” Kirishima screamed.

Ashido pulled Kirishima into her arms, holding him and scenting him softly as Kaminari scolded the redhead.

“Kirishima, we’re in a hospital. Calm down, you’ll disturb the other patients.” Kaminari reminded, putting a finger to his lips. “It’s fine to feel strongly about things, but this time -”

“Iida is right.” Tsuyu interrupts, as everyone turns to look at her.

Kirishima shakes in Ashido’s arms before turning around to face them. “Iida, all of you, you guys are right. I know that but….Midoriya! Your hand can still reach!” he tells Izuku earnestly. “We can still save him!”

Izuku can feel the weighty gazes of the people around him. Mostly of the two Alphas that were having a silent battle. Todoroki’s scent of white musk and myrrh vs Iida’s scent of worn leather and parchment paper. Their sweeter and more gentle scents, peppermint and candied pecans were all but muted. It was a little strange that all these people, including Alphas - one of which could be considered the Pack Alpha - was looking to him for his guidance and opinion.

Izuku takes a deep breath before nodding.

“Yeah, I agree with Kirishima. My hands are still broken so I can’t exactly reach for him myself, but I think that’s what we should do. I won’t ask any of you to tag along for my sake. Do it if you feel it’s right.” Izuku decides as Kirishima lets out a whoop of relief.

Izuku turns to look at Iida’s who looks disappointed but not surprised. “I think it should be pretty clear by now that I’ll do anything to have Kacchan back. I’m tired of the incompetence of adults pretending to have everything under control all this while. If I hadn’t acted on my own at USJ, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I don’t regret doing everything I can to help. I’ll never regret that but...I don’t want to be useless. And that’s what I would be if I just sat around in this hospital bed, waiting for someone to save Kacchan because of my failures.”

Izuku lays back down looking at the ceiling for some kind of answer. “ I’ve already failed him once, so I don’t plan to do it again. But everyone keeps promising me that me and the people I care about will be safe… now look what’s happened. For people like me to survive in this world, we’ve got to protect ourselves. If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. I won’t beg for anyone’s help. If you chose to do so on your own, it’s up to you. But Kirishima’s right...if I’m given the chance to save Kacchan, I’ll do it every single time.” Izuku decides, looking up at Kirishima as the boy hugs him warmly.

“You won’t fail him. You haven’t ever failed him. You did everything you could, and you're going to get him back. If you can't trust yourself, then please trust me and Kirishima for the time being.” Todoroki reassures, patting Izuku’s head.

Dang, for Todoroki to be giving so much physical affection must mean he really was worried.

“Well, if that’s the case, we’ve got to get moving soon. We have no idea how long they’ll keep Bakugou in one place, so we should move as soon as possible.” Todoroki explains, as Kirishima soothes the hair on top of Izuku’s head.

“Is it really okay to get Midoriya involved when he’s fighting off his heat?” Kirishima asks, looking at Todoroki questioningly.

Todoroki shrugged. “The doctors said that his Omega won’t allow it until he’s scented the Alpha who’s imprinted on him. The faster we get Bakugou back, the better Midoriya will feel.”

“Kacchan, what?!” Izuku asks, more than a little confused as Todoroki shakes his head in disbelief.

“Your Omega’s gotten used to daily scenting with your potential Alpha mate. Now that three days have passed without the comfortable nesting and scenting, your Omega is refusing to go into heat until you’ve scented him again.” Todoroki explains as Izuku’s eyes widen.

“Me and Kacchan aren’t courting, Todoroki-kun!” Izuku screeches as his class laughs at him. Why did everyone think that? Why?

At that moment a doctor came in and his classmates left one by one. Kirishima quickly whispers to meet them outside the hospital after dark. Iida shoots them a glare and even Tsuyu purses her lips before exiting his room.

Izuku is left wondering how they would manage to pull this off.

Chapter 53: tuberose

Summary:

a moment of reprieve

The rest of the day is a blur for Izuku until the sky grows plum and navy blue. The doctors tell him that he’s degraded the structure of his bones, muscle and ligaments and that if he ever sustains these kinds of injuries again his arms would become paralyzed. His body was beyond exhausted and fighting with someone in a feral state while somewhat in heat was way too much for his body to handle.

Being in a feral state for so long was damaging to his body, so he couldn’t just go fully into it whenever his life was at risk. The purpose of a feral state to begin with was for the purpose of survival in extreme conditions. It was not advised for him to fall into it again anytime soon.

Which was funny because it wasn’t as if Izuku had planned to go feral, it’s not even like he wanted to. The circumstances forced him to.

Izuku numbly lets the doctors chatter on, detailing some information they’d be sending to his mother, before leaving him with a note from Kota.

It’s a letter actually, one of gratitude and an apology for his first encounter with Izuku. He was feeling rather awful all day, especially left to his thoughts without anyone to really distract him.

Yet, the bratty pup’s warm words wash over Izuku like a balm. Despite everything else that had gone horribly wrong, Izuku was able to actually save a life, like a real hero for the first time in his entire life.

It was a weird feeling. He was happy to have done some good in this world, despite all else but at what cost? There were so many what ifs, if he had just taken the boy and ran avoiding an all out brawl with Muscular all together or if he could’ve gotten there faster before Muscular had even arrived.

There was no point to these meaningless thoughts, though. Izuku knew that better than anyone.

His mother calls after a while, worried about his Presentation, about the damage he had sustained in his feral state. She then asks if Izuku really should stay at U.A if it was putting him in this much danger.

How could he explain to her that it wasn’t U.A that was dangerous on it’s own, but Izuku’s presence at U.A that brought danger? His teachers and friends called hima trouble magnet and in full honesty it wasn’t inaccurate. It seemed like Izuku brought great misfortune wherever he went.

Saying all that would only alarm his mother more, so Izuku bites his lip and promises his mother he’ll be more careful from now on.

Then, when dusk falls Izuku makes his way out of the hospital - happily discharged - to meet with the rest of their crew. Izuku’s surprised to see Yamomo first, as the girl tackles him in a warm hug. Her scent is so comforting - it reminds Izuku of the night they drank tea together. That peaceful time seemed so far away now, and yet held her embrace, Izuku felt comforted in a way only his mother could make him. Like he’d be safe under Yaomomo’s gaze.

“Oh, Midoriya. I’m so sorry your Presentation turned out like this. It’s supposed to be a joyous occasion, but you’ve only suffered for it now, huh?” Yaomomo sighs, rubbing her hands in Izuku’s hair to comfort him.

Izuku looks up at her wide-eyed, mouth drawn in a soft ‘o’.

“It is?”

Yaomomo nods as she deattaches herself, bringing a device out of her pocket to hand over to Todoroki as he approaches.

“That’s right. When I Presented I got gifts from family and friends, and held a small party. Omegas get to dress up, eat lots of delicious food and the religious visit temples and the like. You should’ve been able to do that, and I’m sorry you had to part with your Mate instead.” Yaomomo explains softly.

Izuku wanted to ask more, very interested in finding out aspects of being an Omega he hadn’t thought of but Kirishima and Iida were coming closer.

Wait a minute, Iida?! Why was he here?

Todoroki’s stance shifted, eyes colder and more resolute than how he had been a second ago. Kirishima also froze in anticipation, knowing that they were going to hear a mouthful.

“Todoroki, Midoriya. I’m very disappointed in the both of you. After what happened in Hosu, don’t you guys realize that this is a big mistake? We can’t be playing like this anymore, please just take my own experience as an example. You shouldn’t do this.” Iida pleaded, his pheromones less aggressive and more desperate. “U.A’s reputation could really plummet if students get involved with stuff like this.”

Izuku knew this was because Iida cared for him, but he refused to be scolded by someone the same age as him for something he would not move on. There was nothing Iida could say that would change his mind.

He found his anger flaring, hackles rising.

How dare this incompetant Alpha keep us from our Mate!

“U.A’s reputation? You want me to care about something as stupid and meaningless as that?! What reputation?! U.A’s security has failed us multiple times by now! It is out of pure luck that nobody in our class has died, yet?! And what has U.A done? Nothing! One of its most promising young students just went missing! U.A’s reputation is already ruined, I didn’t have to do anything to move that along. I nearly died multiple times, do you think that’s something I’m going to be worried about? Something any of us should be worried about? We know that we’re taking a risk here, don’t you realize we know that already?! I don’t care anymore! What happens to U.A, what happens to me, all of it doesn’t matter. If I can’t save the most important person in my life, I have no desire to continue living at all!” Izuku yelled furiously, eyes watering with frustration. A long time ago, maybe Izuku would’ve understood Iida’s stance. Not now, not anymore. How could Iida still be so willing to listen to the rules in a situation like this.

Iida, of all people, should understand Izuku the most. Seeing a loved one hurt and out of reach.

And then, Izuku gets punched in the face. Izuku’s more than a little stunned, and Todoroki quickly moves Izuku out of harm’s way growling at Iida for hurting their Pack mate. Yaomomo puts a soothing palm on Izuku’s face. His skin’s a little raw from the impact, and Yaomomo’s cool hand is very soft and comforting.

“Iida, what the heck was that?” Kirishima demands, bristling at the Alpha as well.

“Midoriya, how can you talk like that! I get that you’re worried, and that you care for him a great deal. We care for Bakugou as well! But, we all care and worry for you as well. Your injuries, and what happened back at the camp...why are you so determined to throw your life away? Do you think that’s what Bakugou would’ve wanted? It’s not just about him, we know he’ll be kept alive but if you all get involved there’s no guarantee for yours. I’m tired of seeing you constantly getting hurt all the time, Midoriya. You always get the short end of the stick.” Iida explains, eyes tearing up with desperation.

It’s Iida's wilting scent that causes Todoroki to calm, as he looks at Izuku for a second more, turning to Iida.

“I can agree with you on that, you’re right. It is dangerous, but this won’t be like Hosu. We’re going to be covert about this and avoid direct confrontation unless absolutely necessary. We won’t let Izuku get hurt again.” Todoroki promises, eyes solemn as he stares at Iida for a response.

“In that case, I will join you as well.” Yaomomo informs them seriously. “I’m not the strongest in hand to hand combat, but I’ll be able to provide any disguises or materials needed. I have my credit card with me.”

Kirishima cracks a grin then, as the mood starts to lighten.

“It’s always a good day to be rich, huh?” the redhead laughs, slinging an arm around Izuku’s neck. Izuku finds himself grinning as well.

Iida looks at them for a while before sighing. “I suppose I have no choice but to join. As Class President, I’ll have to make sure you all keep your word.” he concedes, closing his eyes before letting out a sigh. He then turns to Izuku with remorse, ruffling Omega's hair affectionately.

“Sorry for hurting you, Midoriya. I just can’t stand it when you say things like that. You’re an invaluable friend to me, and seeing you becoming so reckless is disheartening. I just don’t want to see you getting into trouble.” Iida sighs as they move together to get out of the vicinity of the hospital.

“Why the sudden change of heart, Iida-san?” Yaomomo asks curiously.

“It’s not that I’ve changed my mind on the matter, but they’ll clearly do what they want regardless. The best that I can do is make sure they don’t break out in physical combat.” Iida groans as Yaomomo nods in understanding.

“I get what you mean.” Yaomomo nods. “It’s a compromise. As Class Reps, we should take so much responsibility. Besides, this plan seems rather impractical so far. I’m sure once they’ll see how unreasonable it is to find him, we’ll be able to come back home and say I told you so.” Yaomomo laughs, as Iida cracks a tired grin.

Izuku chooses to ignore that in favour of getting a piggyback ride from Kirishima on the way to the train station. Izuku takes comfort in the Beta’s sandalwood scent, willing himself to relax into his back.

For a minute, he can almost fool himself into thinking this was just a regular outing. That they were just normal students - friends - going to pick up Kacchan before going home. It’s a nice thought and keeps Izuku sane.

Together they board the bullet train in the direction of Kamino Ward, the area where the tracked criminal was residing for the last day or so. The criminals were probably trying to keep a low profile, as to keep any unwanted attention at bay.

“If we want to go after Kacchan without fighting we can’t afford to be recognized by the criminals.” Izuku points out sitting side by side with Todoroki as the Alpha beside him nods.

“Shouldn’t we stop by a store? Get some kind of disguise?” Yaomomo suggests, raising an eyebrow at Izuku’s statement.

“If you’re willing to pay, I’m all for it. Kinda blew all my money on night vision goggles for tonight.” Kirishima admits sheepishly.

“It’s a good idea, but it won’t be enough.” Izuku sighs. “Those guys have been actively targeting me, and now also know that I’ve Presented. They know mine and Todoroki’s scents for sure so if we’re anywhere near them, they’ll find us immediately. I have a solution but I don’t know how you guys will feel about it.” Izuku admits, pulling out a bottle of what appeared to be ointment or hand cream of some sort.

His friends still.

“Those are...scent blockers. How did you get your hands on that?” Iida asks, eyes wide.

Izuku shrugs. “I might’ve told the doctor that I’m uncomfortable with my new scent and needed time to get used to it. Anyway, there should be more than enough for us to put on our wrist and necks glands. Hopefully that will be enough.”

Kirishima gapes at him, but takes the container from him.

“Here’s the location of the criminal. It’s kind of weird, they haven’t moved at all in the last few days. You’d think a person would want to go out once and awhile.” Yaomomo adds, showing them the red dot that wasn’t moving at all from it’s position as Todoroki rubs the substance into his wrists.

“They must be acting cautiously, especially since the police are already investigating.” Iida points out, staring out the window.

“Maybe, but there might be more to it. There’s a chance the criminal might’ve been a Nomu as well. We can’t guarantee that everyone involved with the League of Criminals are at one precise location. Even if they were, I doubt the Nomus and the League are located in the same building.” Izuku frowns, tapping his fingers on his knee without a particular rhythm.

Keeping his mind busy on their mission kept him from freaking out about Kacchan.

Knowing that every move they made would be to save him or at the very least, bring them closer to having another puzzle piece to this entire situation.

They make their way to the nearest thrift shop. Yaomomo looks like she’s having a little bit too much fun at the place. If it hadn't been clear already that she was well off, her strange interest in dollar scrunchies surely did.

Even Todoroki and Iida seemed surprised at the layout, but they were nowhere near as obvious as her.

By the time they got out, Izuku felt like he had just played the most intense version of dress up ever. He couldn’t even recognize himself in the huge blazer and sunglasses but it worked perfectly. Yaomomo was dressed in a fancy dress, looking gorgeous as always. Todoroki’s wig looked moderately uncomfortable, though the guy seemed to take no issue with it. Kirishima looked really cute with his hair down, and Izuku kind of wished he’d do it more often.

They were about to head to the location when a broadcast caught their attention.

“Midoriya, look!” Kirishima points, shaking Izuku and turning him around. There was a huge crowd grouped around a rather large screen, displaying a press conference. Not just any press conference, but one featuring U.A high, one of the most renowned high schools in the country. Yet, it was starting to look like U.A was losing their favour.

Aizawa-sensei, Nedzu - their principal - and the 1B teacher were all made to announce a public apology, for allowing their students to come to so much harm.

Izuku wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about it. On one hand, it sucked that Izuku felt like he couldn’t really trust them to keep everyone safe but on the other it wasn’t entirely their fault either.

Who’s really anticipating for a high school to keep getting by some rowdy criminals? It must be difficult even for them.

The general public doesn’t seem to agree. The media keeps asking pointed rhetorical questions, purposefully not allowing any of the staff to answer in effort to make U.A look bad.

So this is what Iida meant.

This was excessive, and as someone who was directly affected by the ‘lack of proper security’ even Izuku would admit that this kind of public shame wasn’t appropriate.

They weren’t addressing the proper issue. Why was this happening? Why were these high schoolers getting targeted? How could the general public help?

No, this was reality. It was easier for everyone to dodge any of the blame, and simply point fingers at everything that was wrong about the world without trying to do anything to change it.

The crowd starts badmouthing the school, talking about how useless it was to have so much prestige and money to fund an overrated school, only to fail on the areas that actually mattered.

Izuku could understand the sentiment, but it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair to be blaming the staff for something they couldn’t control. How were they supposed to know that their students would be kidnapped? How were they supposed to anticipate such a thing?

Then, with a start Izuku realized something. He’d been blaming himself, the adults and everyone else for circumstances they could not control. It wasn’t his fault or theirs. It was the League of Criminals who kidnapped Kacchan, and they would pay for it soon.

Notes:

this chapter is the 0 to tomorrow's update that will be a full 100

how am i going to play with the coming chapters? not even i know lol!

hope y'all are enjoying so far but it's time for me to start thinking about where this fic will end. originally i planned to finish this around kacchan vs deku 2 but the overhaul arc would be very cool in this verse...so we shall see

Chapter 54: cloves

The press conference is still underway, and Izuku can’t help the chill of foreboding that runs down his spine. The staff look so tired, so exhausted with everything going on at once. Izuku wonders if they’ll even get a proper chance to speak.

Until suddenly, a rather knowledgeable reporter asks about why their training location had changed from its usual place. Aizawa-sensei then gets the opportunity to explain that due to threats that were directed at some of U.A’s students - Izuku - they had changed the location as a preemptive security measure. Of course, this didn’t seem to matter as much in the end, but perhaps the situation could’ve been worse if it was at their more accessible location. There’s a possibility that more civilians would’ve been in harm's way.

Another reporter takes to the stage, a lot more blunt than those before them. They claim that Bakugou was already a violent and aggressive Alpha, as displayed during his victory at the Sports Festival. If the criminals targeted him, it was probably to offer him a position in their ranks. The reporter then goes on to say that Bakugou would fit right in with the criminals as a feral, aggressive Alpha and proof of the archaic and backward Alpha ideals that still infested modern society still.

There’s a large pause here, as many people mutter to themselves in agreement and Izuku really wants to fight. None of these people knew Kacchan at all, and they couldn’t take one isolated event as evidence of Kacchan potentially being a criminal. They weren’t aware of the circumstances or if Kaccan’s ideals even lined up with that of the League of Criminals.

Which they didn’t! These assholes wouldn’t know that.

Luckily, Aizawa-sensei defends Kacchan’s honour for Izuku.

He begins by apologizing for being unable to ‘tame’ Kacchan’s aggression - which really didn’t sit well with Izuku - and that as a teacher that was a failure on his part. However, he goes on to say that Bakugou wasn’t feral by nature and only sought a strong desire to be the best. That Bakugou had strong ideals and principles, and that as a teacher Aizawa-sensei truly believed that the boy would be a fine Alpha so long as he had tried to control that temper of his. He believed Kacchan would resist the offers of the League as long as he could.

Izuku let out a sigh of relief at the admission. Aizawa-sensei truly was looking out for them, to the best of his ability. Izuku really couldn’t fault him for that.

“Midoriya, we need to get a move on. Now.” Yaomomo whispers, tugging Izuku’s arm to catch his attention. The girl pulls out her device as she leads Todoroki, Iida, Kirishima and himself towards closer to the location. And hopefully, closer to Kacchan.

---

“That Midoriya kid you liked isn’t what you think he is, Shigaraki. He’s an Omega.” the burnt fucker - Dabi - told his crusty Alpha boss.

Shigaraki and Katsuki both stiffen at the reveal. Shoot, what more would these fuckers say? Would that trenchcoat Alpha tell him what happened? How would they even explain that? Even Katsuki himself couldn’t say for sure what they were to each other. Only vague adjectives could explain it. Words like important, someone who I can’t live without.

“Really? A guy like that - an Omega? What a pity. Well, he’ll be easier to control, then.” Shigaraki sighs, cracking his fingers. Katsuki desperately wants to fight the guy - but if he did he’d only be proving them right about the assumptions of being an Alpha like them.

Which he wasn’t!

On top of that, it would be for the best if these fuckers remained oblivious to how he and Deku were related. It would be better to change the subject - maybe divert their attention.

“I don’t know about that, Shigaraki. He was feral when we met with him. I have reason to believe he might’ve killed Muscular. I still haven’t heard back from his yet, and the kid vaguely smelled like him. If he saw Muscular as a threat to his Pack then...it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe that…” trenchcoat Alpha reveals, looking extremely on edge.

Everyone in the room freezes. An Omega in a feral state was not to be messed with. Katsuki wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or a little terrified. Was Deku really capable of killing a man? And what circumstance would have pushed him to do that?

That’s when Katsuki remembered what Deku had told him, about protecting Kota. Whoever this Muscular guy was - he sure was stupid. To attack an Omega who felt like their Pack or pup was threatened was practically a death wish.

Shigaraki seemed to have drawn the same in conclusion.

“Perhaps I’ll need to revise my plans for him, then. In any case, we mustn’t ignore our guest here. So Bakugou, what’d you say? I’m sure you must be tired of playing good house pet Alpha for so long. Didn’t that Rage feel liberating? Didn’t feel good? Set yourself free of these shackles! Our society has been oppressing us. Forcing us to treat Omegas and Betas as equals. Don’t you like winning? Isn’t that your entire deal? Why are you resisting?” Shigaraki demands, making Katsuki more frustrated than ever.

He couldn’t afford to play their games.

“I already know I’m a great Alpha. I don’t need you fuckers, or anyone else tell me what I can and can’t do. The greatest Alpha I know is Toshinroi Yagi and he had no issue with how things are done, and neither am I. If you can’t treat others as equals, it only proves how weak you are.” Katsuki seethes, glaring at all the lowlife Alpha criminals standing around him.

“Hmm, is that what you think? I don’t think that's what everyone else thinks of you. Twice, turn on the TV.” Shigaraki demands, strangely calm for an Alpha that supposedly lived on Rage. Just what was this guy’s deal?

The weird Deadpool guy grumbled but moved to turn on the TV. Sure enough, the broadcast was of U.A’s press conference.

A reporter was mouthing off about Katsuki lining up with the ideals of the League of Criminals - as if! - and Katsuki was pleasantly surprised to see Aizawa-sensei not only defending him, but explaining Katsuki’s own take perfectly.

“Heh, wasn’t expecting that. Guess I need to give that old man Aizawa-sensei more credit. I’ll never join you guys, fuck that. I’m clearly too important for any of you guys to kill so I’m gonna get out of here after taking you idiots down a notch.” Katsuki yells, before bursting out of his restraints completely done playing the helpless hostage now that he knew for sure what they wanted.

“Damn, for a highschooler he sure is powerful.” the Alpha girl with the square jaw grits, balling her fists and ready to attack Katsuki.

“No, don’t do anything. Don’t touch him. With a little convincing we can use him. He’d be the perfect image for the League. He’s the ideal Prime Alpha I’ve been looking for so we can’t afford to give him reason to resent us. Sensei, I’ll need your help.” Shigaraki as everyone freezes.

Sensei?! Katsuki had been under the impression that Shigaraki was the Pack Alpha or leader of this group. Who the fuck could he be calling for? Katsuki had a feeling Deku had told him something about this, but he couldn’t figure just what it could be. For now, he had to keep it together and find a plan of action.

---

None of them were particularly sneaky. The only thing they could really rely on was the Scent Blockers Izuku had forced them to wear and the disguises. Now that he thought about it though, the only person who would actually be recognized would be him - by the criminals since Muscular and trenchcoat Alpha were able to identify him easily. Then there was Todoroki as well, whose father was well-known and whose appearance was too distinct to not recognize. Yaoyorozu and Iida were rather well off, so there could be people who knew them or their families.

The person least likely to be recognized would be Kirishima. Izuku would have to use that to their advantage somehow.

They sneak around the back of the building, and attempt to get a good look inside. At this point Izuku can tell something is off. It smelled foul, really foul. It was a rather layered, metallic but somewhat vinegary. These tells were pretty consistent for Izuku to identify the kind of people in this building. Angry perhaps in some kind of Rage, Alphas trapped in a small building.

Sounded like a recipe for disaster.

This Rage smell was extremely strange though. It smelled differently from normal Rages, more painful and more forced. These Alphas kind of smelled like they were in pain and...Izuku kind of hoped Kacchan wasn’t here.

Kirishima asks Iida to stand on his shoulders and get a good view inside the building windows. Iida crouches so Kirishima can get on, standing up slowly but surely. Iida gets up shakily as Kirishima attempts to get a good look.

Yaomomo leans forward whispering something into Todoroki’s ear, trying to strategize.

Then, Kirishima gasps and Izuku snaps to attention immediately. His friend looks like he’s seen ghost eyes wide, and facing getting paler.

“Midoriya, you might want to see this.” Kirishima tells him quietly. Todoroki crouches to help Izuku get on his back, lifting him above the wall to get a good view of the same window.

Kirishima passes him the night vision goggles, trying to see what had Kirishima so shaken. That’s when he saw it. Nomus, many, many nomus.

It looked like some kind of Nomu Farm, and it freaked Izuku out more than he could say. These creatures were suspended in some kind of substance in containers fitting of their respective sizes. It looked like Shigaraki - or perhaps all of All For One were attempting to create some kind of small army.

It was awful to look at. As far as Izuku was aware of, it took multiple people, multiple Alphas to create these things. Which meant there were many, many people used to create these monsters.

How many of these Alphas were willing? How were they selected to be a part of this?

Then, like a shit ton of bricks hit him in the face Izuku was able to come to a conclusion. Toshinori-sensei had told him that All For One conducted Blood Oaths. In exchange for power, money, or anything else people could ask All For One would ask for something - some kind of secret service not even Toshinori-sensei didn’t actually know of.

This must be it. For every favour All For One did, they’d be forced to either join their ranks or become a Nomu. That must be it. This was very, very bad news.

Is this what would become of Kacchan if he refused? Who could tell about this? This involved information that he couldn’t tell any of the people present about.

Izuku was sweating as he got off Todoroki’s back.

---

Shigaraki asks a weird looking Alpha to go the helicopter again and Katsuki is immediately put on edge.

What the fuck was happening? Before he can move, Katsuki is Ordered to stop moving. The voice sounded tinny - like it was coming out of a phone - but somehow it worked. The Alpha’s voice sounded like he was some kind chainsmoker.

Katsuki couldn’t move - again! - and he was then promptly blindfolded and manhandled. At that exact moment there was a knock at the door. Someone had ordered pizza - in this situation? - someone else went to open the door and then many gunshots were heard. Katsuki froze, but that a lackey of Shigarakai's - trench coat, maybe? - opened something, a window? And then Katsuki was manhandled once again.

Shigaraki was yelling at his Pack mates, telling them to get down or into the helicopter and - holy shit - someone just pushed him out the window, Katsuki could feel the breeze and the sounds of the helicopter.

Katsuki was inside the helicopter now - he could recognize the way the footsteps sounded inside the vehicle. Shigaraki had also safely made it inside the vehicle, his stupid moss scent strangely gentle as he helped his friends get in.

Out of nowhere, someone else - a Beta (?) - hijacked the helicopter and they were moving. A police officer was demanding they comply or he'd get his buddies to shoot them down. The criminals had no choice but to comply, they had been ambushed. it looked like the criminals hadn’t brought any weapons on them, either.

Katsuki would be fine, he was in safe hands. He just had to pray Deku was safe as well.

---

“This is bad.” Izuku admits, eyes wide and terrified. “This is really bad. I think we’re in some kind of Nomu Farm or lab, because by the looks of it this is where the League of Criminals make their Nomus.”

Yaomomo gasped, as Iida stared at them in shock. Even Todoroki looked shaken, trying to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

At that moment, a distinct noise catches their attention. The loud and somewhat familiar noise of - helicopter wings! - broke through Izuku’s thoughts and they all watched in complete shock as a bunch of people jumped out. The police had come, probably to scout the area but they started shooting randomly, and Izuku just couldn’t understand why. They had brought in an incredible amount of reinforcements as the sirens of police cars coming from the distance came through. What was going on? They surely didn't need this many people now...did they?

At that exact same moment, another helicopter came by, this one more familiar. Why had the League of Criminals come here? What was going on? Izuku was in for a greater shock as everything happened all at once then.

The helicopter has been hijacked by the guy who inspired Kaumi Woods, Shinji Nishiya. He worked with the Public Security Intelligence Agency alongside Yu Takeyama - Mount Lady - who had just come out of the police helicopter.

The shooting ceased from the other end when they saw Kacchan - who looked unharmed! - began to exit the vehicle. Following him was Shigaraki, trench coat and someone Izuku didn't care to remember.

Then a man appeared - almost out of nowhere - with a huge black mask on. He wore a suit and the hooded figure stretched his arms out before announcing something that made Izuku’s blood run cold.

“I am the current leader and boss of Shigaraki and his League of Criminals. If you wish to get this young man back - Katsuki Bakugou, was it? - I ask that Yagi Toshinori make his presence known now. If he wins a one-on-one battle against me, you may have the boy back.” the man announces. His smell is abnormally potent but what bothers Izuku most is that he can’t quite make out any individual scents. It was just strong the way AXE cologne on a teenage boy was. It felt largely unpleasant and was extremely difficult for Izuku to describe even if he could pick out a single scent.

This was no ordinary man. If he was demanding to see Toshinori-sensei and he claimed to be Shigaraki’s boss that would have to mean -

“Who are you?!” Takeyama demands, crossing her arms over her chest. “Who are you to demand for Yagi Toshinori?”

At that moment, Izuku’s most beloved mentor and role model stepped out. He looked just like he did in the movies. Strong, invincible, fearless. But, Izuku knew this man well now and for as perfect Alpha hero that he seemed, he was just that - a man. A man who had sustained many injuries facing off against the one force he was forced to defeat. Izuku didn’t know what to make of this situation anymore.

“That would be All For One, Takeyama-san. Don’t worry, I’ll take take care of this. Do not fear everyone, because I am here.”

Chapter 55: cardamom

Izuku watched with bated breath as their teacher moved closer to the other man. The two Alphas seemed to face off each other, their pheromones thick nearly clogging up the place with their putrid aggressive scents.

“If I win, you must never fight or harm anyone ever again.” Toshinori-sensei Ordered, his voice booming across the area. Izuku wasn’t too sure what the man did but he could trace the faint scent of copper and knew exactly what was happening.

He couldn’t quite believe it.

“Will that Order really work on a guy like that?” Kirishima asks, his voice cracking at every syllable.

“It’s not just any Order…” Izuku muttered to himself, straining his ears to figure out what was happening.

“I agree to these terms.” All For One agrees, as the scent of copper is doubled and the two men shake on it. With their blood intertwined is such a way, there would be no going back from this.

All For One must be extremely confident in his abilities now, for a man that had lost against Toshinori so spectacularly before. This man must have some kind of trick up his sleeve.

Izuku, Iida, Todoroki, Yaomomo and Kirishima hide behind the wall in fear trying not to make a sound. There is a bit of a commotion until the Alpha Orders something. This time it was All For One.

“Kurogiri, release the Nomus.” All For One announces, and then more noise roars through the air. Feral growls and screeches are released by the Nomus, and Izuku hears more shooting, gunshots overpowering all dialogue that they could’ve barely heard anything.

---

Katsuki doesn’t precisely remember what Izuku said about All For One - up until now he had assumed it was just an organization, not a person. There was something sketchy going on, the deal they made as they were both bleeding in order to sanctify it.

Toshinori-sensei

It made no sense, but it did. Some kind of...blood contract? Did Deku know about this? He must’ve...actually, that day after the whole Stain incident Deku had alluded to some shady stuff. In fact, that entire interaction with him was out of character for Deku. And...Deku had said something about making a promise to Toshinori-sensei...hadn’t he? Was this...was this it? Did he swear his life on something? But...what?

In any case, they’ve moved on. Toshinori-sensei and All For One moved away from each other, preparing for battle when All For One spoke again.

“Kurogiri, release the Nomus.” All For One announces, and at that moment everything goes to shit. The Nomus come out of nowhere - a third helicopter? - and they were raging havoc on everyone without remorse.

These Nomus were more stupid than the one Toshinori-sensei had to fight back at U.S.J. They also didn’t have the advantage of having Deku around to destroy the controlling device. They didn’t have Deku, Katsuki didn’t have Deku right now.

So he’d have to figure out how to get out of this on his own.

The police had attempted to shoot them down, but it looked like the skin of the Nomus were thickened enough to deflect them for the most part. It still created some damage though, and if someone were to perhaps...dig through their skin to properly injure him.

It was an entire mess.

Yet, strangely enough they all stayed a safe distance away from All For One and Toshinori-sensei. Giving them more than enough breadth to fight.

Speaking of which, All For One was rather powerful. His pheromones were stronger than that of any person Katsuki’s ever met. Usually the stronger or more potent the scent, the more physically fit the person.

Some kind of strange relation between the amount a person would sweat would also help their scent glands swell, grow larger and emit a stronger scent.

In fact, All For One had the strongest scent that Katsuki had ever smelled apart from someone like Toshinori-sensei who was literally one of the strongest Alphas in the world.

Toshinori sensei announces that All For One is his greatest rival, and that their rivalry would end here. He would defeat him here and lock him up for good. He makes the first move, rushing All For One with all his strength. They really weren’t here to play games, were they? Katsuki felt like there was more on the line here than just him, though he couldn’t say for sure what exactly that was.

All For One stops the movement easily, both hands on each shoulder of his opponent. Easily restraining him, like it was nothing. This criminal boss was tough, no doubt about it.

“Tomura, take that Bakugou kid of yours out of here out of harm's way. You want him in one peace don’t you?” All For One yells, and to be honest Katsuki’s a little surprised that the guy was able to multitask at a time like this.

Was this guy for real?

This forced the police officers to stop shooting in their direction as Shigaraki got Mr. Trenchcoat guy to escort him to a safer area. Toshinori-sensei looked at them helplessly, still engaged in battle with All For One unable to save Katsuki the way he had probably hoped too.

Katsuki felt awful. He was being a burden right now, he was a liability. In fact, in all essence he was practically a damsel in distress.

Still, he couldn’t afford to go into Rage and just hope for the best. He couldn’t just do whatever he wanted just because he didn’t know how to deal with the situation.

He needed to be smart about this. Katsuki needed to find an opening, a chance for him to escape without proving all those bastards right about him being similar to them. That’s when a familiar scent caught his attention and Katsuki saw red.

---

Everyone is scared out of their minds. There was no way they wouldn’t be. All For One and Toshinori sensei were midbattle and the Nomus were creating mayhem everywhere alongside the criminals. The police and Toshinori-sensei had their hands full trying to contain the situation but Kacchan was still in harm's way.

Izuku’s Omega was screaming at him to get his hands on his Alpha and run for the hills. But he couldn’t do that. Not with his Pack here, and not with those Nomus running around everywhere. It was too dangerous and Izuku couldn’t afford to be reckless. Not in this situation.

Izuku had luck on his side for a while now, but he couldn’t rely on that alone.

He would have to work with what he had. Okay, what did he have? Two track kids, two MMA fighters and a tennis player. They could potentially fight if needed but as Iida had mentioned over and over again - they could not afford to fight against full grown adults who outnumbered them greatly. This wasn’t to mention the police were shooting left and right. A single stray bullet and they would be screwed.

What could they use? What did they have to their advantage?

Izuku took stock of the environments and tools around them.

A major advantage for them right now was that nobody was aware of their presence. With their scents blocked and their figures still hidden, nobody was aware of them yet. Which would mean a sneak attack would be the most effective. That split second of shock would be crucial.

Alright, so their entrance would have to be quick and unexpected. What was the actual plan? They had to get to Kacchan somehow, but they’d have to bulldoze through the Nomus and police alike. How could they do that, how would they achieve that?

It would’ve been nice to commandeer the helicopter and make away with Kacchan like they were something in some kind of action movie. That would be cool but it wasn’t realistic, none of them knew how to fly one so that would be a bad idea but... a getaway vehicle wasn’t a bad idea.

Not at all.

There were stray police cars here and there, and those would be better since they were bulletproof but there wouldn’t be enough space for them - wait - there was a police van! Good, they’d be able to fit all six of them in there. This would have to work.

“Do any of you know how to drive, by any chance?” Izuku asks, looking at his friend’s faces.

They looked back to him confused, trying to figure where he was going with this.

“I do, I haven’t gotten my driver’s license yet but -” Iida admits, looking perplexed at Izuku’s question.

“Great, it’s time to hijack a van!” Izuku grins, pulling him along.

His friends follow him silently, though Izuku can see the disappointed look in Iida's eyes.

“What? You only said not to go around picking fights. I’m doing what you want, I didn’t say anything about breaking any laws.” Izuku whispered to the Alpha as the others grumbled along behind him.

They managed to get into the van drawing any attention with the police and criminals attention sufficiently occupied.

“Alright, here goes nothing. Iida and Todoroki, I need you guys to sit up front. Iida to drive and Todoroki to get him to actually do it. Iida, whenever you honk, that will be the signal for being in the right spot to get Kacchan. Kirishima, you’ll have to sit at the left compartment, and you’ll have to open the back door to get Kacchan in when I give you the go ahead. Yaomomo, I’ll need you to throw objects out of the window, and if necessary shoot with a gun if I can get my hands on one.” Izuku explains quickly as everyone stares at him.

“Oh, I get it. You’re pretty smart, Midoriya!” Kirishima grins, patting him on the back as Todoroki shoves Iida into the driver’s seat.

“Midoriya-kun, driving like this is already illegal but using a gun now is going too far. Are you determined to break every law you can here?” Yaomomo scolds, though she goes into the third compartment regardless.

Izuku pouts at her before rolling his eyes. “Fine, no gun then but don’t be afraid to throw things like I said if necessary. We don’t want anyone following after us.”

“Okay, come now Kirishima into the back compartment you go.” Izuku motions, opening the latch at the back to shove the boy inside. Izuku adjusted the rear view camera and stepped back.

“Iida, can you see what I’m doing from here?” Izuku asks, holding up a peace sign.

“Yes, I can Midoriya-kun.” Iida yells back, as Izuku grins.

 

“Alright it’s time to save Kacchan!” Izuku declares before running back to Kirishima and closing the door behind him.

Izuku gets closer to the boy before rubbing off the scent blocker from his neck.

“Oi, Midoriya, what’re you doing that for?” Kirishima asks eyes wide at Izuku’s actions.

“I’m wiping off your scent blockers so there’s no doubt to Kacchan it’s you. This way when you open the door to pull him in, he won’t hesitate to take your hand.” Izuku explains as he removes the nasty substance. The consistency was rather sticky and difficult to take off. He supposed that’s why this brand was good quality.

“Midoriya...why aren’t you doing this yourself? Shouldn’t your Omega be screaming for him by now? Isn’t he what’s preventing you from your heat right now?” Kirishima asks quietly as Izuku sighs.

Of course. Of course I miss him. But more important than that is…

“I-I’d like to of course, but we can’t afford to lose a single second right now. The only advantage we have right now is the element of surprise, but if they detect my scent it’ll be over for us. They want me too, and on top of that they can probably recognize my scent and my face. If I see Kacchan first, I can’t guarantee his safety. I might even go feral again, who knows. Right now, I’m unstable and can’t be fully trusted to act. Kacchan trusts you, Kirishima. Out of everyone in our class, you’re the only one who’s earned his respect to the point where he sees you as an equal. I have no doubt we’ll get him back safely, if you’re the one reaching out for him.” Izuku admits tiredly.

Kirishima looks up at him with tears in his eyes.

“You really...you really trust me that much?” Kirishima questions earnestly.

“I do.” Izuku grins, hugging the redhead before the van jumps, and their legs flying from underneath him.

“IIDA DID YOU JUST RUN SOMEONE OVER!?” Yamomo yelled from across the van.

“IT WAS TODOROKI, I SWEAR!” Iida yelled back, as Kirishima burst to a fit of laughter.

“Iida’s in denial about his driving skills. Don’t worry, it was only a Nomu.” Todoroki bluntly states as Kirishima’s laughter increased exponentially.

Izuku would laugh but Iida’s honk interrupts him. That was the go ahead! They ran over something again, but now they were practically flying in the air.

“Kirishima, open the door now! You know what to do!” Izuku screamed as he opened the door and Kirishima reached out his hand.

“Bakugou, come with me!” Kirishima announced as Izuku hid out of view. The Beta pulled him in by the wrist and Izuku closed the door quickly behind them as Kacchan breathed heavily inside the van.

Iida accelerated quickly, and they were off. They exited the crime scene quickly and effectively. There was the potential for the criminals to follow them, but Izuku seriously doubted it. The police were keeping them too occupied, and the fight had progressed past the point where the League of Criminals were worried for potential members of their group.

For now, Izuku tackled his Alpha in a hug scenting him all over. He wanted to just take solace in the fact that Kacchan was in his arms again, safe and sound. That was all that he could ask for.

Notes:

which arc should i end this with?

overhaul? kacchan vs deku 2?

hmm, we shall see

Chapter 56: mace

The first few moments of scenting Kacchan are absolute bliss. Izuku tucks his into the blonde’s chest and rubs his scent all over his face. He loves it, and he missed the warmth of Kacchan’s arms and the aroma that would envelope him. Kacchan had the most perfect smell. His scent was generally on the smoky, spicy side. Cinnamon and gunpowder, with hints of amber as well when he was particularly riled up.

But whenever Izuku got to indulge in scenting him, it got sweeter almost on impact. He smelled nicer, like caramel or burnt sugar and in combination with the cinnamon and amber really made Izuku feel all gooey and soft all over. His gunpowder scent was always most muted when Izuku hugged him like this, and he revelled in the kind of effect he seemed to have on the Alpha. It almost made him feel like his feelings were mutual.

Out of nowhere, Kacchan growls after a few minutes of scenting and Izuku stills. His Omega doesn’t understand what the Alpha is upset about, but when Izuku opens his mouth only a sad chirp escapes his lips.

Shoot, he was regressing into complete Omega again. This meant his heat would hit at any minute.

“Deku, why can’t I smell you?” Kacchan demands looking very unimpressed. Kirishima laughs from behind him, explaining what their plan had been as Izuku scrubbed off the scent blocker from his neck and then wrists determined to keep the Alpha from getting more upset.

As soon as he does, Izuku’s scent becomes unbearably potent, his scent clogging up the entire compartment. Kacchan stills , eyes dilating fully as even Kirishima lets out a whimper at its strength.

Izuku’s scent had shifted from the simple vanilla, freshly mown grass and eucalyptus scent - to something much richer and complex. He had retained the vanilla as his base, but everything else had changed. There was something crisp and fruity - apple - as well as a honey top note. But there was an earthier and slightly spicier note of nutmeg as the heart note.

“D-Deku, holy shit. Y-You’re -” Kacchan opened and closed his mouth.

“O-Okay, maybe you should keep that scent blocker on you. I-I’ll go get the scent blocker from Yaomomo when we get out but for now please don’t eat each other’s faces off while I’m still in here.” Kirishima begged, sitting in between the two of them to defuse the situation.

Kacchan growled in annoyance muttering something along the lines of ‘cockblock’ though Izuku couldn’t be sure.

Izuku wanted to protest too, but he was getting kind of sleepy. Kirishima and Kacchan’s scent were super calming together. Izuku trusted these two, he could finally bring his guard down. Kacchan was finally safe, they would be returning to the dorms there was no more life threatening situations for his to deal with but at that moment -

Pain started to flare in his lower abdomen, and Izuku’s scent withered with it. His scent took a more unpleasant tone going from fresh and sweet to stale and almost repulsive. His scent altered to that of apples - to rotting fruit and the nutmeg overpowered the vanilla and honey scents at a very alarming rate.

“Deku, what the fuck?” Kacchan exclaims, pushing Kirishima to cradle Izuku in his arms quickly. Kacchan was warm, really warm, but Izuku’s body temperature was getting hotter and hotter. Still, Kacchan’s scent was a comforting balm and Izuku found himself melting into the Alpha anyway.

“Midoriya, what’s going on?” Kirishima demands, putting a hand on his forehead before quickly snatching his hand away.

Izuku tries to explain the pain flaring down his abdomen and hips, as well as this strangely tender feeling in his chest but opening his mouth only awards him more useless chirps and yelps. He hates this! The doctor had mentioned mild discomfort for female Omegas during their first heats and a bit of pain for male Omegas.

This was more than a bit of pain. His lower stomach hurt so much, what the heck! Nobody told him it would be like this. Izuku’s body ached, but when Kacchan held him protectively like this it eased the pain a bit.

Without saying more, Izuku brought Kacchan’s warm hand to cup his lower stomach and he instantly melted against the Alpha. Kacchan gasped at the movement, his facing flushing at Izuku’s bold movements but then seeing Izuku’s expression must’ve realized something.

“Oh, he’s going through his first heat now. Fuck, these really suck for male Omegas. No wonder he smelled like that. Does having my hand here help you, nerd? Does it make you feel better?” asks quietly, pressing his hand more firmly against his lower stomach.

Kacchan was like a personal heating pad! Izuku purred in agreement, nuzzling against the Alpha’s jaw as the guy chuckled at him. The pain dulled slightly, but it was enough for his scent to return to a more pleasant state.

“You’re doing good, nerd. You’re a good Omega, okay? You don’t have to worry anymore, you worked so hard. Such a good Pack Omega you are. Beat up that asshole who hurt the pup, didn’t you? Came up with all these crazy plans all on your own. The smartest and strongest Omega I know. You were so good for me Deku, made me so proud. Made your Toshinori-sensei proud too, I’m sure.” Kacchan reassured, as Izuku went boneless against him. Kacchan pulled him into his lap, letting Izuku curl up like a cat. Izuku wrapped his legs around Kacchan’s torso and buried his face into his chest.

“I don’t know if this is cute or kinda gross.” Kirishima mutters eyes wide as Kacchan glares at him to shut up.

Izuku’s just about to fall asleep when the police van and Kirishima opens the door quickly to get the scent blockers from Yaomomo.

Izuku lets Kacchan carry him out of the van as Yaomomo slaps the substance on his neck with little resistance, feeling exhausted.

“Please allow us to take care of you, Midoriya-kun.” Yaomomo smiles as Izuku takes in her calm scent. Jasmine was so appropriate for the female Omega, Izuku liked it a lot.

“I’d hate to break a peaceful moment, but you guys should take a look at this.” Todoroki interrupts, his scent of myrrh heavy with anxiety.

Izuku’s Omega is instantly set on edge, wondering who else could possibly threaten his Pack. He’s about to growl out in frustration when he looks up at the broadcast and his heart sinks.

How could he forget? Toshinori-sensei was facing off with the boss of All For One. Izuku should’ve known better than to relax! His poor mentor was fighting this overpowered Alpha all on his own and -

No. This wasn’t his poor mentor Toshinori-sensei. This was Yagi Toshinori, the best MMA Fighter in the country, and the leader of One For All. He was a real life superhero, and the good guys always won in the end.

Izuku takes a glance at Kacchan’s eyes who seemed to be thinking the same. The Alpha was still holding him in his arms, Izuku’s legs still wrapped around his torso. They should get closer to the screen, and see this fight through till the end. If they couldn’t help Toshinori-sensei physically, the least they could do is give him their support now.

 

“K-Kacchan.” Izuku said, voice kind of shaky but somehow able to get the name out of his mouth. Kacchan’s expression changes as they communicate with their eyes. After knowing each other so long, sometimes they didn’t need to speak with words to understand each other.

Izuku stepped down from Kacchan’s hold and instead took his hand to lead him and his friends to the screen. He was still in pain but with Kacchan by his side everything felt more manageable.

Still, things weren’t looking good for Toshinori-sensei. This wasn’t like his typical fights on screen like the MMA fighter he was. Those fights weren’t to the death, but this fight was starting to look like it was going to be.

Toshinori-sensei had been reduced to his more frail and weaker form, his Alpha looking like it was on the verge of collapse. Izuku couldn’t remember a time his mentor had ever looked like this.

“Should we have stayed back?” Kirishima muttered, looking increasingly more worried.

“No.” Kacchan grits, his hands clenching in frustration. “Toshinori-sensei was forced to hold back because of me. If we hadn’t left he would be in much worse shape.” he admits looking more and more pained.

Izuku tries to squeeze his hand reassuringly.

“K-Kacchan…” he tries to reassure but he really can’t form any word besides this. Kacchan seems to understand him regardless of scoffing a little.

“Don’t look at me like that. While you got to play hero, I had to be the damsel in distress. The hostage. I was a burden to him and now he’s, he’s -” Kacchan’s mouth opened to say more, but Izuku didn’t want to hear any more of this.

“No! Bad Alpha not Kacchan. Never.” Izuku tells him seriously, headbutting him lightly before pouting up at the blonde.

“Midoriya’s right you know. None of this is your fault, you didn’t ask to be kidnapped. Besides if you had fought back who knows what could’ve happened to you.” Todoroki points out and Izuku is then reminded of what he had seen with Nomus.

Kacchan could’ve...he could’ve!

Izuku’s expression must shift a lot then, because Kacchan brushes his wrist against Izuku’s to calm him down, but it only calms him down a bit.

“Guess we shouldn’t talk about stuff like that right now, huh Midoriya? You want us to support Toshinori-sensei, don’t ya?” Kirishima asks him sweetly.

Izuku nods vigorously before looking at the screen again.

Toshinori-sensei had gotten up from the floor and everyone around them was screaming for him to get up. Everyone was screaming around him, Kacchan, Kirishima, Todoroki and even Yaomomo and Iida.

Izuku recalled everything that had led up to this point. Toshinori-sensei had to shoulder the burden of being the leader for One For All for many years. He had given Izuku a chance, groomed him for it even. Did he get trained for that moment as well? Had he been forced into it? How much did Izuku even know about the implications of the organization?

Nothing, basically. He only knew it existed, he didn’t know of any other members. He didn’t know who exactly was on their side.

What kind of burden did Toshinori hold all these years? How difficult had it been? Izuku hadn’t even had the chance to ask.

No he was getting slammed into the ground, repeatedly in his reduced state just taking the abuse almost passively.

Was he giving up because he had a successor already? Was he done now, would he really allow himself to die for Izuku to clean up his mess?

No, he wouldn’t do that. Izuku refused to believe that Toshinori-sensei would give up. He wasn’t like that, or All Might from the comics wouldn’t have been based on him.

He was strong because he believed in people, he wanted to save people and he always won.

That was the Yagi Toshinori he knew. That’s the mentor and role model he believed in.

Don’t give up now, Toshinori-sensei. I need you. We all need you. Izuku begged with all his being.

Almost as if Toshinori-sensei could hear his thoughts, his mentor’s eyes shifted. There was a steely determination in his eyes, the way he always did whenever Toshinori was going to pull a move nobody expected.

And to Izuku’s utter shock, his mentor uses a flying triangle choke and Izuku and watches in awe as the tides turn. There is new grit in his teacher’s face and Izuku knows that somehow his message has gotten through. Izuku knew at that moment, that there was no way Toshinori-sensei would lose.

Chapter 57: rose

Summary:

a rose by any other name is just as sweet

Izuku’s mind goes somewhat hazy after the flying triangle choke, but his mentor is killing it. Izuku feels unbearably sleepy and tired, he just wants to curl up in a ball and sleep for hours on end.

Toshinori-sensei is still fighting his hardest. It looks like he’s actually at the verge of going feral himself, using up the last reserves of his energy but determined to survive and get through it. Izuku couldn’t be more proud of his mentor.

The favour is most definitely on Toshinori’s side despite all else, and Izuku watches in awe as his role model delivers a finishing blow that has All For One unable to move.

Toshinori-sensei raises his fist into the air and everyone watches with bated breath as the Alpha heaves a few breaths in his weakened state before opening his mouth to say something.

His mentor points towards a camera, his eyes shining. Toshinori-sensei’s tone is even but not as warm as it usually was. It alerted Izuku immediately, because the seriousness of his gaze was not one Izuku had seen since their discussion on Blood Oaths.

“Now, it’s your turn.” Toshinori-sensei declares, with the crumpled form of All For One underneath him. For a second, there was only silence around them as everyone revelled in the man’s words. Everyone was clapping and cheering, though the real fight was far from over.

Shigaraki and his friends had escaped while the police had been busy taking down the Nomus. They won the battle, but they hadn’t yet won the war.

It was Izuku who would have to handle it next. This was the sign of Toshinori-sensei officially stepping down from his position, and handing the torch to Izuku to carry out their legacy.

That reminder of his promise ran through his veins everyday, and Izuku finds himself overcome with emotion and pain. He would be next. It would be Izuku’s turn to take on the mantle as the hero of their lands. He’d killed a man already! He was just a sixteen-year old Omega! How could he ever handle a situation like that?

His lower abdomen throbbed once again, and the tears poured out of Izuku’s eyes before he could think to stop them. Izuku openly sobbed, crying into his fists trying to stifle the sound amongst the cheers all around him.

Then Izuku was wrapped up in familiarly warm arms. Kacchan. Alpha. Izuku’s Alpha. Izuku buries his face in his chest, uncaring of the world around him as he takes solace in his friend’s pheromones. He felt so comforted, like he had finally returned home after an exhausting day.

 

With Toshinori-sensei’s warning ringing through his ears, Izuku huddles into Kacchan’s embrace letting his friend ruffle his hair kindly.

---

Izuku’s made to go home for his first heat. He doesn’t really remember how he got home, swimming in and out of consciousness because his body forced him to sleep.

The first few days are unbearably painful. He can’t really think through coherent thought and he’s just so tired all the time. He was awoken only for meals that his mother would force-feed him and to go to the washroom to relieve himself and washup.

Then both he and his mother find that if his mother just holds him, he feels a lot better. Izuku can’t really think too hard about why but he feels good. His mother runs her fingers through his hair and hums songs he can’t remember the name to.

His mother speaks to someone on the phone for a bit - but continues the physical affection - it tides Izuku over like nothing else. It sounds like the person on the other end of the phone is gentle, Izuku hears the name ‘Masaru-san’ and eases. Bakugou’s Omega father seemed to be the only man in the world who could help him right now.

Inko Midoriya leaves for a bit and Izuku’s discomfort grows again. He presses his body solidly against the heating pad on the bed and Izuku tries to huddle into it like he would Kacchan or his mom.

And Kacchan. He misses Kacchan terribly, the ache in his chest is almost tangible. He wants to curl up against Kacchan and never move. He longed to smell his sweet and spicy scent, and just breathe him in. Nothing less, and not a lot more. Sometimes, his mind would play a few fantasies he’s had before.

Holding onto Kacchan’s shoulders and kissing him softly. It would be nice to cup Kacchan’s face and absolutely shower his Alpha in the affection he had tried to keep under lock and key for so long.

These days, it seemed as if Kacchan was returning the physical affection.

Whether those actions were beyond romantic, Izuku didn’t know. He wasn’t all that familiar with romance, seeing as the majority of his life was spent with a father figure he barely saw overseas and the typical married couple interactions he’d see was only associated with something mystical from the movies or brief glimpses of interactions between Masaru and Mitsuki Bakugou once and awhile.

So, romance was an awkward thing for Izuku to fully understand. He wasn’t sure if Kacchan would even see him in that way, and even if he did it’s not like Izuku would be able to tell.

Even for himself, all Izuku really knew was that he never wanted to part from Kacchan’s side for long. That’s all he really knew for sure.

His mother had returned, with a mouthwatering scent that left Izuku breathless. It smelled like Kacchan, everything warm and sweet and smoky. Burnt sugar, amber, cinnamon and the slightest hints of gunpowder. Izuku cherished this scent very much.
\
Kacchan’s clothes. Alpha’s clothes for scenting. Mate is thinking of you.

Izuku flushes, burying his face into the black hoodie and putting on. He rolled around in his bed happily, it felt like he was bathing in sunlight. His mother had come back with food as well, and Izuku felt like he had gained enough strength to eat it himself.

The food suddenly feels much more rich and tasty, even if it’s only natto and rice. Izuku feels a kind of contentment he hasn’t felt in a very long time.

It was like all was finally right with the world. Like he’d figured out every single mystery of life and now he was enlightened.

Heat was so much more different than he had expected. When he had originally searched up ‘Omega Heat’ all he had received were very intense porn links between Alpha/Omega pairs. On top of those, he had received weird pop ups for searching it and the entire experience left him so scared he hadn’t bothered to try again or look into it more.

Izuku hadn’t suddenly turned into sex obssesed fiend, or indescribably horny At least, not the way those porn videos had made it seem. Like he couldn’t think clearly until he was properly bred and/or penetrated. He did feel warmer than usual, and there was an Alpha he was thinking about a little more than usual but that was the extent of it.

As the days went by it got easier and easier to handle. He started going about his day as he usually would if it was a weekend. With the help of slick absorbers and scent blockers it was almost as if nothing changed at all.

By the sixth day of his heat, he really only had to remember to change out his slick absorbers and reapply the scent blockers. It wasn’t all too bad when he got used to it. There was still some discomfort in between his legs and lower abdomen.

Having Kacchan’s scented clothing around was a lot more helpful than Izuku would’ve guessed. Whenever Izuku felt growing anxiety his friend’s scent would always tide him over.

The only complaint Izuku really had was the changes in his physical appearance. He hadn’t noticed it during the initial couple of days, but now he could. His body had become slightly more slender, though his muscles hadn’t lost significant definition.

In addition to this, he was a bit more bottom heavy than he was before. As it was, as a track athlete most of his muscle was located in his lower body. His calves were strong, but his thighs were stronger.

It was more than a little embarrassing that his pants wouldn’t fit properly over his thighs or butt anymore. Izuku had taken to wearing baggy athletic shorts around the house, and he’d have to go shopping for new pants.

The class group chat had gone insane during the time they’d been away. Apparently Aizawa-sensei had threatened to expel the entire class sans Kacchan, Jirou and Hagakure that hadn’t been there to witness their plan take place.

Thankfully, in wake of the seriousness of the event, Izuku’s experience with police and some talking with Toshinori-sensei they had been pardoned for the time being.

Izuku wondered what Toshinori-sensei had told him to get him off their backs, but in any case Izuku couldn’t bring himself to care too much. There was no way Izuku wouldn’t have gone to find Kacchan. He didn’t care if he got punished for it, there was nothing he would change. He’d never regret saving someone.

Especially if it was someone as precious as Kacchan.

Currently, they were discussing plans for the Coming of Age party thing Yaomomo had mentioned before. He’d tried to tell them it would be a little excessive, and they didn’t need to do such things but secretly Izuku was looking forward to it.

On a separate private chat, Kacchan had texted him nearly everyday. He was checking up on him, and Izuku really loved the attention he was giving him. It was stuff like this that made Izuku think that maybe Kacchan was actually interested in him like that. What with being imprinted and all that, it was like Kacchan was bathing him in special care.

Or was he just trying to make up for middle school? Trying to make up for lost time?

Izuku would accept whatever kind of affection he could from the blonde, platonic or otherwise. It was enough for Deku to be on the receiving end of any kind of love from him whether it was familial in nature or not yet…

His greatest desire was to be Kacchan’s and for Kacchan to be his in return. Could they really be boyfriends? Would Kacchan even be interested in romance at all? He wasn’t one to get too distracted from his goals.

Then again, Izuku wasn’t really like that either. It wasn’t romance in general, it was Kacchan specifically.

Izuku would only ever have eyes for Kacchan.

Being an Omega, how would this change things? He could potentially have kids, which was one thing Izuku hadn’t given much thought of before.

Pups..like Kota. He liked kids a lot, and definitely wanted to have kids of his own. Yet, he couldn’t really fit the idea of him being able to birth another human being. It just didn’t add up in his own brain.

Omega’s had this elegance that just commanded respect. Different from Alphas that demanded obedience. Izuku’s biggest issue was that he couldn’t understand how he could ever be that.

Even looking through his clothes, they were all athletic wear and comfort clothes.

Meanwhile there were people like Midnight who was known for leather skirts and spandex. Or Omegas like Yaomomo, that wore velvet and silk. That kind of elegance and grace wasn’t suitable for someone as awkward and stiff like Izuku.

Male Omegas were rare. He couldn’t fully comprehend an image for it. For the most stereotypical in conjured ideas of men crossdressing or in drag, but it wasn’t like that for ever male Omega either. Kacchan’s Omega father always dressed in polo shirts and khaki shorts despite being a top fashion designer.

Would Izuku have to change his image? His aesthetic and all that now? He never really cared for clothes that much before, happy to indulge in All Might merch and sweats.

Yet, he didn’t want to be...a plain Omega. Especially since he felt rather plain most of the time anyway.

Before coming to U.A, Izuku had felt like he was the most boring person on the planet. He was just this jock-type fanboy that didn’t know what he was doing half the time.

Yet, suddenly...suddenly he was the successor to Toshinori-sensei of One For All, a prospective detective and a friend to many. A hero to Kota.

He couldn’t quite believe how things had turned out.

He wanted to be able to live up to this new person who was no longer ‘useless’ Deku. He wanted to feel good and confident in his skin like the ‘I can do it!’ Deku he was always meant to be.

Was it okay for him to change it up a bit? What if he was too Omega? Or to masucline?

Did it matter? He should just live like how he felt - that’s what Kacchan would tell him anyway.

He really needed that tea time with Yaomomo now more than ever. It would be more than welcome to talk to someone who probably understood - at least somewhat - how he felt.

Izuku wanted to feel comfortable in his new Omega skin.

Clothes wouldn’t be a bad start, though he really doubted he’d ever be the kind of beautiful Omegas he’d seen on TV and magazines.

Izuku wasn’t soft and unblemished. He had a smattering of freckles across his face and other areas of his body, as well as a number of scars and bruises from all his exploits. The number of scars he would earn over time would only increase.

He’s never looked like that. Was it okay to be an Omega like that? Izuku wasn’t gorgeous or anything, he knew that but he wasn’t ugly...right?

Being attractive wasn’t something he gave much thought about before this. He certainly never felt attractive. He sometimes felt good - confident even - during a fight or after a good workout. It felt to push his body to the max, feel the blood in his veins and the air escaping his lungs.

He felt unstoppable, sometimes invincible then.

Attractive, though? Never. It would be nice to feel like that sometime…

...well, that time he wore a skirt felt good. He felt liberated and lighthearted in the cheerleading outfit after putting it on. The extra attention could be difficult but it felt nice to show off the body he had worked very hard to build.

Though he could feel ashamed of it sometimes as well.

He wanted to feel good as an Omega, like he could actually be worthy of the title.

Izuku approached his mother’s clothes, trying to look for something he could maybe try out.

No, there wasn’t anything he particularly liked to try. His mother’s skirts and blouses were all loose and plain, with very little colour and none were that flattering for him.

Izuku moved on looking at his mother’s jewelry and makeup.

Oh.

That looked like fun...just a little bit of eyeliner wouldn’t hurt anyone, now would it?

Notes:

guess you could say he couldn't handle the heat

Chapter 58: lily of the valley

Summary:

metamorphosis

Notes:

i’m back! better than ever! things are looking better for me irl but my computer still broke 😭 updates will come again though they will be slow pls forgive me

As it would turn out, a little eyeliner could hurt. Izuku has poked himself in the eye too many times to count, and after a while gave up all together.

There were many tiny items placed inside the little bag. Izuku honestly couldn’t identify all the items in hand.

Pulling up make up tutorials on his phone, Izuku found himself falling down a rabbit hole real quick.

Izuku managed to line his eyes alright following the natural crease at the corners of his eyelids. Crow’s feet - they made the corners of his eyes all scrunched up, but lining it with eyeliner made his eyes striking instead of just soft and plain.

He quite liked it.

Next was the mascara which he had initially struggled understanding. Yet, watching the way his lashes seemed to extend was an almost magical experience.

He kind looked like a fairy!

The there was the concealer...usually he had slight under eye-bags. Izuku was the type that liked staying up late and waking up early. It was a very rare combination, but it came at a price.

Yet, his heat had forced him to catch up on a good amount of sleep and eat lots. It’s strange that a heat of all things would force him to take care of himself.

No, now the only imperfection on his face were his freckles.

Izuku really didn’t know how to feel about that. In some of the tutorials he had seen, there were people that would draw freckles on saying they were cute.

Did Izuku still want to look cute? This entire heat thing was a sign that he was growing older, more mature and refined.

He need to start looking and acting the part.

As it was people saw him as a cute over enthusiastic little kid, who obsessed over superheroes and got excited too quickly.

It was endearing when he was a kid, but after all this Izuku was forced to become mature.

He needed to be. This boyish image was just one of many things that wold prevent people from taking him seriously.

He brought the concealer to the apples of his cheeks, applying it as they had shown him in the tutorials. Izuku then blended the concealer into his skin using his fingertips determined to see what he’d look like without them.

Izuku stepped back to assess the results in the reflection of his bathroom mirror.

It was weird. Izuku’s eyes looked extra large from the eyeliner and mascara and without the freckles he kind of looked like a doll. If his hair was a bit longer, and his body a bit skinnier he would look like an effeminate young man. Like a true Omega.

But, it didn’t look like Izuku. Not at all.

A sharp ring interrupts Izuku’s thoughts as Izuku jumps before picking up his phone. It was Uraraka.

“Deku-kun, hi! I wasn’t sure if you’d pick up but I heard from Aizawa-sensei that you’d come back soon. We’ve all missed you tons!” Uraraka informs him brightly.

“Oh! Um, yeah I should be back tomorrow, actually.” Izuku replies, a little embarrassed to hear such words. He still couldn’t completely believe that he had friends who cared about him so much.

“Oh, that’s great! Yaomomo and the rest have planned a little Presenting Party thing for you, it’s gonna be so fun! I can’t wait to see you again.” Uraraka tells him cheerfully.

Izuku puts down the concealer and hums, shifting his phone more so the makeup won't rub off on the screen.

“A Presenting Party, huh? She’s mentioned something like that to me before, what’s it about?” Izuku asks curiously. “Please tell her it’s not necessary to go through too much trouble for me. I appreciate the thought but-“

Uraraka giggles then, making Izuku a little suspicious. “No way, Deku! She’s planned it perfectly already. There’s no way she’ll cancel it now.”

“Can you at least tell me what you guys are planning?” Izuku asks, pouting a little.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that Deku-kun. You’ll have to come and find out!”

“Why can’t you just tell me, Uraraka! You’re supposed to be on my side.” Izuku whines, as the girl only laughs at him on the other end of the line.

“Nope! I’ve been sworn to secrecy! Now, what have you been up to?” Uraraka asks, changing the subject completely.

Izuku huffs a little embarrassed.

“Uh, well...I’m — uh, I’m trying to do some Omega stuff to kind of...get the vibe of it, I guess. I’m messing around with makeup right now, and it’s actually pretty fun but —” Izuku explains before Uraraka excitedly squeals cutting Izuku off.

“Deku-kun, send me pictures right now! Let me see! That’s so cute Deku, when you come back here maybe me and the girls could do a makeover type thing, that would be so fun!” Uraraka cheers happily.

Izuku feels himself flush, a little embarrassed at the prospect of being so vulnerable and naive in front of his classmates. Then again, the girls in his class were some of the least judgemental people Izuku knew. It would be the best place for Izuku to get more developed in the whole Omega appeal area anyway.

“Y-Yeah, that would be nice but —” Izuku began only to get cut off again.

“Sorry, Deku but I need to inform Yaomomo right away! We’ve got tons of ideas now, I’ll talk to you soon!” Uraraka yells before hanging up.

Izuku wonders to himself what exactly he’d gotten himself into.

---

This Presenting Party was a lot more difficult than Izuku had originally anticipated.

He had initially assumed the event would be a casual affair, but then he had received a text from Yaomomo that he was to wear a male kimono and he was immediately put on edge.

It wasn’t even a yukata, which meant this was a more formal event for sure. This put Izuku on edge.

His kimono wasn’t all that interesting, just a traditional kimono and a moss green haori. His obi was plain white, and the hakama was the same colour as the haori and the skirt-like appearance of it made Izuku feel — graceful. He hadn’t worn a kimono in a long time, usually opting for the more casual yukata and being able to drink himself in like this was a lovely experience.

In addition, the haori covered the nastiest of his scars. Which meant the only ones that could be seen would be the ones on his palms, but even that was softened by his overall appearance right now.

Izuku had lined his eyes very lightly with eyeliner but forgone the concealer today. Uraraka has hated the concealer saying the freckles on Izuku’s face were charming and should be hidden.

He was gonna take her word for it.

When Izuku had been ready to leave the house, Izuku was going to call a quick goodbye to his mother when she suddenly hugged him.

“Mom? Are you okay?” Izuku asks, quickly enveloping his mother in his arms.

“Oh, Izuku. You’ve grown too quickly!” Inks scolds wiping the tears from her face before pulling something out of a cloth bag.

In her hand was a delicate kazhashi pin, a small white one with a delicate looking peony at the end. The one his mother had worn on her wedding.

“Mom, are you sure? This is — ” Izuku gasped, cradling the ornament in his palm.

“Yes, of course Izuku. My mother had given this heirloom to me, and it is only right that I pass it on to you. You would’ve made them so proud, Izuku.” his mother admitted as they held each other.

And now, Uraraka had finally finished straightening his hair with Tsuyu’s hair straightener. She left a few curls that frames his eyes loose, but the rest was pulled taunt and pressed into a firm bun at the back of his head.

The finishing touch of the ensemble was the pretty pin piercing his bun back.

“There, all done! Now can you get up and spin for us, Deku-kun?” Uraraka asks sweetly, eyes sparkling.

Tsuyu nodded beside her, clapping her hands together in excitement.

Izuku sighed but complied, turning around for their viewing pleasure.

The two girls let out squeals of happiness at his antics and Izuku resisted the urge to laugh. These two were too easy to please.

Izuku turns to face the mirror again and pouts. The only issue now was that Yaomomo has taken his obi, stating that Izuku’s kimono was too plain.

Izuku had wanted to feel insulted but compared to female furisodes he was more than aware that his outfit pales in comparison.

It kinda sucked in that regard, because even if he was okay with wearing one he couldn’t get his hands on one that would fit in such short notice.

Yaomomo had intervened though, stating that at the very least Izuku could borrow an obj of her’s. She had assumed they had similar waist sizes.

Izuku wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not.

A knock at the door startles Izuku out of his thoughts, making Izuku trip over his hakama and feet attempting to open the door.

“Midoriya, here you go!” Yaomomo grinned, shoving a folded cream coloured obi into Izuku’s hand.

“Thanks, Yaomomo. You really didn’t have to do that.” Izuku tells her sincerely, before unfolding it and gasping softly.

It was a gorgeous silk obi, woven with various dragons across the fabric. The dragons were woven with gold, light blue and only slight hints of red.

“Y-Yaomomo, I can’t possibly take this. This is a mid-twentieth century obi, and it looks far too expensive for someone like me to – ” Izuku argues, trying to fold the obi back again when Yaomomo shushes him.

“It’s really not a big deal, Midoriya-kun. I’ve got many of these, and you’re only to wear it for this event. Please do not worry, and treat this as an extra gift for your Presentation.”

Uraraka mutters something about wanting to eat the rich but Izuku is still too stunned by the admission.

“Y-You want me to keep this?” Izuku stutters, flustering at such a luxurious item in his hands.

“Yes, unless it’s not to your liking! In which case, just follow me to my room and you can choose something else.” Yaomomo informs him, ready to step outside when Izuku stops her.

“No, no! This is gorgeous, don’t worry. Thanks Yaomomo. For everything.” Izuku tells her sincerely as the girl grins.

“In that case, let’s get going Izuku!” and with that the lot of them get going to the common room where everyone was waiting for them.

Everyone else had dressed up a bit, though nowhere near as formally as Izuku. The guys were dressed in button ups and slacks, while the girls wore summer dresses and the like.

Izuku felt oddly shy as he followed behind Yaomomo, and the rest of the girls who welcome Izuku in with open arms.

They all coo at Izuku’s attire, admiring the lines eyes and the change in hair style. Jiro cracks a joke about finally seeing Izuku’s forehead for the first time and everyone laughs.

“Midoriya-kun, you look so good! Your kimono really suits you.” Ashido informs, playfully smacking Izuku’s arm. The girls continue chattering about Izuku’s straightened hair and Uraraka complains all the while about how uncooperative Izuku’s curls could be.

“Midoriya, over here! Congratulations on your successful Presentation!” Iida calls from on the other side of the room. He, Todoroki, Kirishima and Kacchan seemed to be deep in conversation.

Kacchan.

Izuku’s face warmed just seeing the boy’s bright red eyes stare right back at him. He had spent a lot of time thinking about Kacchan during his heat, and his childhood friend had sent him some clothing to scent.

Had it been in a platonic way, in which close members of a pack would give their friend a comforting item to sent….or was it really a courting gesture?

Everyone else seemed to believe that Kacchan had been courting Izuku long before he had Presented. That wasn’t true.

As pups, they used to scent a lot. Especially after the ‘River Incident’, Kacchan has become undeniably more protective and affectionate with Izuku after that. It was comforting for him after a difficult experience.

That was Izuku’s perfectly platonic explanation of their relationship.

Besides, it’s not like Kacchan ever hinted towards romantic interest.

Still as he approached his friends, Izuku couldn’t stop his cheeks from reddening.

“Midoriya, you look very lovely today. Congratulations on your Presentation.” Todoroki bows, head almost reaching the floor before Izuku stopped urging the boy to stand back up immediately.

“D-Don’t go doing stuff like that! I’m the same Midoriya as always y’know. No need to be too polite, it’s just me.” Izuku panicked as Todoroki finally got back up and smirked at him.

“That’s true, but we want today to be special for you! Even Aizawa-sensei agreed. It’s hard enough for male Omegas to deal with the first heats but in the middle of the crisis like that?! You did a lot despite everything, so let us spoil you just this once!” Kirishima explains as Izuku gapes at the lot of them.

Well, they were right but it was kind of embarrassing to have them all make such a big fuss about it….

“And in addition to that, it’s nice to finally celebrate something after everything our class has been through. This kind of event is just what we need to boost the mood!” Iida added, as Izuku sighed.

No, he couldn’t really argue with that.

Kirishima and Iida launch into a full on conversation then, talking about the various team building activities they had planned before classes started up again. Todoroki wandered off to get his hands on something sweet and Izuku was becoming more and more aware of the red eyes drilling into his skull.

Turning to face him, Izuku took a minute to admire Kacchan’s appearance. He had actually made an effort today, dress in a black button up and similarly coloured slacks. The outfit made his eyes and hair stand out even more in contrast, bright red sparkling like liquid amber and blonde eyelashes so light they shone platinum in the fluorescent lighting.

Kacchan had been staring at Izuku intently since he’d entered the room, but he couldn’t quite identify the heated emotion on Kacchan’s face. He looked really focused, like he was during a fight but the look was directed at Izuku.

Izuku wondered what exactly was going on inside his head.

“Kacchan...hi.” Izuku greeted sheepishly, heart pounding a little. Most of the time he could manage his feelings for the blonde by pretending it was just admiration. Now, after all that heat fantasizing it became more difficult to believe.

Up until now, Izuku thought he’d be satisfied just being a part of Kacchan’s life at all. It had bee more than enough for him.

Besides the day Kacchan told him his scent stank was a good enough indicator that he would never be attracted to Izuku. Not like that.

Things were different now. Izuku’s scent had changed - so there was a possibility for him! - and Kacchan was better to him.

Izuku could still vividly remember Kacchan’s birthday. It was one of the best day’s of his life, getting to spend quality time with Kacchan like that. Kacchan had kissed his forehead! They held hands! It had been a dream date come true.

Except it wasn’t a date.

“Nerd. I need to talk to you about something, can we go to your room?” Kacchan asks seriously, and instantly Izuku’s daydreaming stops.

There’s a serious look in his eyes, and Izuku knows immediately that it’s about something serious. Most likely related to Toshinori-sensei’s parting words.

Izuku nods, eyes hardening and the two of them are about to leave together when Iida stops them.

“No! Whatever you may wish to discuss cannot be done in the privacy of either of your rooms. Aizawa-sensei made sure to remind me that now that Izuku’s Presented as an Omega, no Alphas are permitted in his room. Similarly, you shouldn’t be going to an Omega’s room either.” Iida informs him, causing both boys to freeze.

Izuku flushes in embarrassment. Right. There was now the possibility that they could...but Izuku knew such a thing wouldn’t happen any time soon. If they had been mutually attracted to each other, they would’ve already done something by now. Which they hadn’t, so why was this necessary?

Kacchan on the other hand deflated completely and sighs, running fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Fine, whatever. We’ll be in the kitchen, but you need to fuck off.” Kacchan growled, pulling Izuku by the arm, exiting the room before the man could argue.

Izuku finds himself pinned against the counter, heart beating out of his chest. Kacchan comes closer and closer to him, and Izuku is both alarmed and excited all at once.

Yet, Kacchan only scents him and Izuku does his best to keep his disappointment from reach his face.

Kacchan’s hands are on Izuku’s waist, fingers sliding against the silk obi and nose pressed against the scent gland at Izuku’s throat.

“You smell really good. Did you use my clothes?” Kacchan asks, his breath fanning over Izuku’s neck and causing him to shiver.

Izuku nods, slowly wrapping his own arms around the blonde. He scratches behind the blonde’s ear humming in agreement.

Kacchan likes my scent.

Kacchan likes MY scent!

“Yeah, it really helped. Thanks for doing that by the way I...I really like your scent too.” Izuku confesses, biting his lip softly.

Kacchan’s expression brightens considerably, pulling Izuku further against him to indulge in their combined scents.

“Good. So you’re doing okay, then? Your heat wasn’t too bad?” Kacchan asks, nosing at a very ticklish spot on Izuku’s neck.

Shoving Kacchan away and giggling, Izuku nods once again.

“Yeah it was okay. The first few days were painful but I got used to it after that. It got better when I realized hugging my mom through it would help.” Izuku admits.

Kacchan nods in understanding.

“Yeah, by your second heat you should be able to attend school and stuff unless it gets worse. My dad says the first few days are always the worst, but with slick pads and all that stuff it’s fine after that.” the blonde explains pushing a loose curl behind Izuku’s ear.

Izuku opens his mouth, then closes it. Kacchan never fails to surprise him, of course he would be considerate and knowledgeable about Omega biology.

“But that also means you’ll be more physically affectionate then, huh? I don’t know what we’ll do with our scenting situation now that we can’t go into each other’s rooms. We’ll have to figure something out.” Kacchan points out as Izuku frowns.

“Oh, right. Can’t you just give me your scented clothes again?” Izuku pouts, a little disheartened by the new rules piled against them.

Kacchan looks at him evenly then, his eyes pointedly warm but also fierce with intent.

“What, you gonna wear it all day? Gonna walk around smelling like me for everyone to notice? Do you realize what people are gonna think? What do you think they’ll say if you smell like me all the time?” Kacchan demanded, getting more and more into Izuku’s personal space. His face was only a breath away from Izuku’s at this point.

“Huh?” Izuku replies, not understanding where exactly the blonde was going with this.

“For a nerd, you sure are stupid.” Kacchan sneers. “You sure you want rumours floating around the school about the only male Omega in the school belonging to a feral Alpha? Because that’s how people are gonna see it. They’ll think your mine. Are you really okay with that, Omega?”

Izuku watches his friend’s pupils dilate in real time, his scent becoming thicker and richer. Izuku would say he seemed angry, but that wasn’t fully correct either. He seemed frustrated, but his scent was still slightly sweet - so he was frustrated in a pleasurable sort of way.

Izuku didn’t quite understand it, so he did the one thing he knew. He pressed his sweat gland next to Kacchan’s this one a bit more intimate than usual.

He had placed his neck into the crook of Kacchan’s own, which meant their noses would brush and they could both get a full and immediate inhale of their combined scents.

This calmed down Kacchan considerably, so Izuku went back to scratching the blonde’s scalp before responding.

“If you mean people will think we’re involved like...that, then I don’t mind as long as you don’t. But let’s make one thing clear, if I’m yours then you are mine. If I’m being honest, I don’t like the idea of belonging to anyone but if it’s you then…” Izuku trailed off.

Kacchan gripped his chin, forcing Izuku to look him in the eye.

“Then?” Kacchan asks, eyes wide.

Izuku opens his mouth to confess, the words on the top of his tongue. His heart is pounding so loudly against his ribcage, Kacchan could probably feel it. He’s ready, it’s now or never.

Before he gets the chance Todoroki walks into the room causing the two boys to fly apart.

Todoroki raises an eyebrow at their antics but doesn’t otherwise comment on it.

“I was told to drag you guys out of here so we can all eat.” Todoroki states before turning on his heels and leaving the room.

Having lost his nerve and the intimate moment, Izuku sighs before tugging on the blonde’s sleeve.

“A-Anyway, don’t worry about it. People can think and say whatever they want to, y’know? They’re just extras right? All that matters is you and me, what we think so I don’t care what other people have to say about us.” Izuku explains instead, still remaining truthful, but once again leaving out his desires.

Kacchan gives him a small smile then and sighs before balling his fists inside his pockets and rolling his eyes.

“Guess I can’t argue with that. There’s still shit we need to talk about, but it can wait.” his childhood friend grumbles following Izuku along to the common room.

Everyone was enthusiastic as they entered the room, laughing and talking loudly. You never would’ve guessed that these were the same kids that got attacked by criminals again and again.

Izuku sat beside Kacchan and Kirishima, indulging in their conversation on the best MMA fights, interjecting here and there to point out his own two cents.

After everyone was filled to the brim with food, Izuku was surprised to find people bringing out gift bags and other wrapped goods.

Izuku wanted to reject the gifts but couldn’t figure out a polite way to do it, and ended up reviewing the gifts regardless.

The things that stuck out were obviously things from his closest friends.

Uraraka had gotten him a new All Might phone case - which she really shouldn’t have. Izuku knew the girl struggled with money but she only laughed at his concern, saying that Tsuyu had pitched in as well.

Kirishima has gotten him fingerless gloves - knowing Izuku had mentioned it once, having been insecure about his now slightly crooked and scarred hands.

Then was Iida who had bought him a comprehensive book on the history of MMA and various types of fighting styles.

Todoroki has gotten him a pretty choker. Omega collars were usually put in place for those unclaimed Omegas. Who’s functionally, it was a rather good gift it also slightly felt like something a responsible older brother would do. As if Todoroki was protecting Izuku’s innocence or something which really made no sense.

Todoroki was a lot more oblivious and naive to these types of things than him. He didn’t even realize that half the female population of their school were infatuated with his killer good looks.

In any case, the Omega collar was a pretty one. A simple black collar with a cute little green bunny charm at the front.

This kind of gift also kind of made Izuku feel like a little kid. Still, he appreciated it all the same. It must’ve been expensive but once again, his friend had no issue spending a pretty penny. Especially since he had used his dad’s credit card.

Which made Izuku feel a lot better.

Yaomomo had actually gotten him a gift superset from the obi. It was an entire box full of various teas. A lot of them. The girl explained that each compartment had tea for various situations. One that would calm you, one that was meant to revitalize, one for good health so on and so forth.

Finally, the last gift had been Kacchan’s.

By now many people had left for bed, though most of Izuku’s and Kacchan’s close friends had stayed to see what the blonde boy had gotten the Omega.

It was a small little gift bag, but when inside were two little boxes.

Izuku opened the first one and gasped.

They were earrings. Jade earrings, and they were very pretty. They were only stud earrings, but they glinted prettily.

“K-Kacchan, these are gorgeous but I can’t – ” Izuku stammered, thumbing his earlobes. His ears weren’t pierced.

Suddenly Jirou appeared with a needle and an ice cube grinning from ear to ear.

“We can take care of that!” Uraraka laughed. Izuku gaped at them, but grinned readily.

Holy shit, this was happening!

Iida tried to talk them out of it, saying it would be better to get a professional to handle these things but Jirou was quick to shoot him down saying she had pierced her own ears herself.

To further convince him, Yaomomo went on a tangent about how piercing the ears of an Omega was like a right of passage for them. And then even Kacchan had butted in, saying his own Omega father had his ears pierced.

This fascinated Izuku as well. Besides, if he decided he didn’t like it they would close up on their own. It would be fine.

Jirou got to work sterilizing the needle with rubbing alcohol before readying the needle and once cube.

Izuku closed his eyes and allowed her to do her thing. The pain hadn’t been too bad, all things considered.

Uraraka passed him cotton balls and paper towel to clean up the blood and quickly after Jirou placed the green studs against his ears.

Everyone grinned at him and Izuku couldn’t help but grin back. His friends showered him in compliments, and Izuku felt himself more at peace than he had been in a long time.

Yaomomo passed around some tea as the night grew older and Izuku found himself cuddled up against Ashido and Kirishima.

Ashido was telling him a story about how she had saved Kirishima’s butt in elementary school as Kirishima pouted up at her.

The girl laughed at him but quickly rectified the pouting with a kiss to the cheek.

Izuku then realized he was third wheeling. He felt a pang of jealousy as he watched the two flirt with one another. Ugh, they had gotten together so quickly! Ashido sure knew how to be assertive.

Meanwhile, Izuku was still struggling to catch Kacchan’s attention.

Well, maybe not. Kacchan’s eyes hadn’t really left him all night, though perhaps that was because he was still getting used to Omega Izuku.

Which was fair, Izuku was still getting used to Omega Izuku too. Before, it was hard for him to really see himself as a worthy Omega. He’s always seen Omegas as classy, elegant and respectable.

Looking at himself right now, perhaps he didn’t have the same finesse as other Omegas but he could definitely learn. He was already respectable, he had earned it from all his classmates and his mentors. Now all that was left was to truly respect himself.

That was harder now more than ever. So much had changed over the course of a few weeks.

He could respect himself maybe, but accepting himself was harder.

Izuku was now a male Omega, with a keen sense of smell and the successor to One For All. He wanted to be a hero, someone who saved lives and inspired hope.

And now, he had killed a man in feral Omega fury. Where was that balance? Where was the sweet spot between feral, protective Omega and elegant and refined Omega.

Because right now it was looking like only one of those came naturally to Izuku, and that wasn’t the type of person he had wanted to become at all

Notes:

hehe was this chapter a good apology for my sudden departure?? I hope so! also what did y’all think of this cute lil coming of age ceremony?

I wish I could draw so I could give you guys fanart if what I envision deku to look like in his kimono...maybe one day i’ll try to draw we shall see

also this chapter is double the usual length to make up for the updates I missed TvT

Chapter 59: ylang-ylang

Izuku’s standing on the edge of a cliff in between Hell and reality. He’s back at Kota’s hideout, staring into the night.

There are flames licking up the trees by the dozen, the screams of people his age begging for mercy. For someone to save them.

And Izuku watches from above, unable to aid those suffering in the fires because of the presence at his back.

Izuku turns back to face the monster he would rather pretend to forget. Muscular stares back at him, though both his eyeballs have been gouged out. There’s a bloody hole in the space where the man’s heart is supposed to be, but for some reason the man is standing before him. Alive and well.

“Thought you could get rid of me so easily, little Omega? How cute.” the crazed man grinned, stepping forward into Izuku’s personal space.

Izuku is quick to keep his space, unable to really take it.

He should be dead.

This monster of a man - an Alpha - should be gone, completely rid of this world! Why wasn’t he gone?!

“Aren’t you supposed to be a Detective? You are slow Omega, can’t believe I let a pretty little thing like you put me down. What a joke. In any case, why don’t you think about it for a second. You saw those nasty Nomu things didn’t you? Didn’t you get what would happen if you killed me?” Muscular grinned, his smile toothless and rueful. His mouth was filled with blood as well, and Izuku couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling crawling up his body.

“What are you trying to say?” Izuku asked slowly, curling his fingernails were extending.

“Need me to spell everything out for you? God, you really are a Deku aren’t you. Can’t even solve simple things yourself.” the bloody smile shifted, now the blonde hair growing spiked and his face too familiar.

Izuku gasped.

The man has shifted from Muscular to Kacchan. Izuku’s Kacchan.

The injuries on Musuclar had shifted onto Kacchan as well. The bloody hole in his heart, the gruesome smile. The only thing that had changed were the eyes.

“For every person you take down from All For One, each one of them will be made to serve their purpose. In life and in death, there’s no escaping the inevitable.” Kacchan explains coolly, further moving into Izuku’s space pinning Izuku to the ground.

Izuku lets him, stunned at the words tumbling down the blonde’s lips. This didn’t sound like Kacchan at all.

He begins to touch him, but Kacchan glares at him pinning his wrists on either side of his body.

“You did this to me, Deku. You do this every time. You rip my heart out, steal it for your own. And no matter what I do, you just won’t give it back. What do you do with the hearts you steal, Deku?” Kacchan demanded, looking incredibly tired and worn. As if he’d just fought a war that would never end.

“I-I don’t –” Izuku began opening his mouth only for Kacchan to howl despairingly from above him.

“Don’t lie! You can make up all this bullshit to everyone else, but not to me Deku. You can’t lie to me anymore, and you can’t keep lying to yourself either. Don’t you trust me?” Kacchan demands, fisting the fabric of Izuku’s shirt, shaking him to the core.

Izuku reaches up to cup Kacchan’s face in his hands.

“Yes. More than anyone else.” Izuku breathes softly brushing his hands through Kacchan’s hair tenderly, staring right into the bright red eyes he loved so much.

“Then why did you kill me, Omega? Why do you hurt me like this?” a voice screeches, a mix of Muscular and Kacchan’s voices interwoven, begging for release. Izuku can’t bare to look at the sight of the Alpha’s images superimposed on top of each other.

To have the courage to kill the man he hated and yet be too cowardly to kiss the man he loved.

Perhaps he was a useless Omega.

“Let me go, Deku!” Kacchan’s voice yelled, sounding far away but painful.

Izuku opened his eyes again, but this time he was holding on to Kacchan’s arm. Keeping him from falling off the cliff.

His hand trembled as he struggled to pull Kacchan up over the cliff. The blonde was purposely being difficult, kicking and screaming. Like a toddler throwing a tantrum, his Alpha was trying desperately to shake Izuku off. Izuku noticed that despite Kacchan’s efforts to make the situation difficult for Izuku, he never let him go either.

“Deku. Let go, it’s too dangerous. You can’t save everyone, but you should save yourself at least.” Kacchan told him, trying to unlace their hands.

Izuku wouldn’t let him go. Not if he had the choice to stay with him. Izuku never wanted to leave Kacchan’s side ever again.

Izuku does let go, of the cliff but not Kacchan’s hands . He holds the Alpha tightly to himself, and allows himself to fall to his death alongside his love. He wouldn’t let this man go, not for anything.

Izuku wakes up with a terrified cry, panting heavily as he takes stock of the room around him. It was still dark out, the sky a dark navy blue. Izuku studied his figurines, the posters on his wall and he slowly eases back into his bed with a sigh. The familiar environment helped ease his anxious mind but there was still much to contemplate.

He hadn’t thought about Muscular much at all since having slain him. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant thought, but there had been too much going on until now for him to actually think about it.

He really wished he hadn’t.

Izuku wasn’t sure if he regretted it or not. On one hand, it wasn’t like Izuku had planned on murdering the criminal. In the moment, it had simply felt right. He hadn’t exactly had full control of his instincts and he was too far into his feral state to think clearly.

All he had known was that this man would’ve killed Kota, would’ve tortured Izuku and and perhaps taken Kacchan as well. He was a direct threat to his life so...it was considered self defence right? If anyone asked, Izuku could just say that.

It wasn’t like there was anyone to witness what he had done that would argue.

Still, it felt wrong. He had taken a life, robbed someone of the potential of redemption. This was something that unsettled Izuku greatly. He did believe in a rehabilitation over persecution, but there should be punishments right? Things like karma and justice existed in this world, did it not?

Not always. Izuku knew that, Enji Todoroki was proof of that. Sometimes people didn’t get punished for their actions in a way that would be truly deserved but at least it seemed his children resented him. Wasn’t that punishment enough?

But then, what punishment was enough? Who was allowed to do the punishing? Isn’t that what Stain has attempted to do?

Isn’t that what Izuku had done?

Killed someone because he believed the world would be better for it. The very things he said he despised about Stain seemed to be the very same things he was now doing himself.

The vision of Muscular’s gruesome face, the life he had taken and the heart he had stolen wouldn’t leave Izuku’s mind no matter how much he tried to will the image away.

Izuku Midoriya; the Omega that would steal your heart.

What an ugly, cruel joke Izuku had become. He still couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. He had killed a man. That made him closer to a criminal than a cop or hero. Izuku was revolting.

He felt kind of sick and disgusting. His hands would forever be stained with blood, and no matter how much he scrubbed he’d never be able to fully wipe his hands clean.

Then there was the entire ordeal with Kacchan. He didn’t fully understand everything the Alpha had been saying, there were double meanings he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Kacchan riled Izuku up like nobody else. He made Izuku’s blood boil in many different ways, but now Izuku was dangerous. Who knew what could set him off into a feral state? Izuku hadn't ever heard of an Omega as violent as him.

Though, was it really that much of a surprise that Izuku was a freak of nature in all regards.

Izuku really needed a distraction. And he needed one now. A huge part of him wanted to go home and bury himself in his mother’s embrace but he had to settle for something else.

Izuku got up from his bed, slipping on his slippers to quickly go to the washroom to freshen up and get going. He clearly wasn’t going to go back to bed anytime soon, so he might as well just start his day a bit earlier than usual.

It was very early into the morning, and nobody would be awake at this hour.

Well, all except one person.

Kacchan.

Izuku tiredly collected himself, praying the Alpha was truly awake.

He wanted to just hold the blonde for awhile and forget the stupid thought in his head.

Everything that had happened was said and done, there was no point overthinking everything now. In the eyes of the law, an Omega fighting in self defence in their feral state was seen as not guilty because it often did result in homicide.

However it only occurred in life threatening situations, usually only once in an Omega’s life. Though for Izuku, this possibility would be increased since he would be actively seeking out danger as a member of the police.

How many more times could Izuku kill? In what situations?

He really didn’t want to know.

Instead, Izuku pushes him to self to go up the elevator and find Kacchan as soon as possible.

Turns out, he hadn’t had to look for him too hard. Izuku had quite literally bumped into him in his efforts to get into the boy’s washrooms and Kacchan was staring right at him.

Izuku doesn’t even think twice, hugging Kacchan firmly and scenting him upon impact. His hands flew aroun the blonde’s torso, squeezing the life out of the Alpha.

“Oi! What the fuck are you doing this early in the morning, nerd?” Kacchan asks surprisingly softly, wrapping his own arms around Izuku’s waist to
scent him in return.

He’s tempted to tell Kacchan he just felt like getting up early today, or something along those lines but he can’t lie to him. He’d never been good at hiding things from the Alpha.

“Nightmares.” is all Izuku will allow himself to admit, not wanting to rehash everything he’d been desperately trying to avoid thinking about by coming here in the first place.

Kacchan must seem to understand somewhat, because he purses his lips before nodding and peacefully accepting Izuku’s answer.

The Alpha runs his fingers through Izuku’s curls, as Izuku moves to place his ear to Kacchan’s ear — just to reasssure himself his friend was safe for real.

Hearing the blonde’s heartbeat was inexplicably comforting, and Izuku liked resting his cheek against the guy’s pectorals. They were very firm but soft, like the perfect pillow for Izuku to rest his head.

“Figures. You’ve had it pretty rough these days.” Kacchan murmurs when they finally move, threading his fingers with Izuku as they move to brush their teeth together.

They brush their teeth in silence, as Izuku watches his Alpha vigorously brush his teeth.

It comforts him to see Kacchan safe and sane, acting the same as always. Izuku is very thankful the League never touched him.

Despite everything that hadn’t gone his way, they were very lucky indeed.

---

Izuku found himself at Takoba beach again, where everything had all started.

It appeared as though the area had now become a popular spot for young couples to go on dates. It was nice to see the general public enjoy something Izuku helped make possible.

That’s what his purpose as the next leader of One For All would be as well, wouldn’t it? To protect their society and its values from the effects of a close minded backwards thinking group.

The League of Criminals. That’s who Izuku was up against, now that Toshinori-sensei has put that old guy behind bars.

Izuku’s destiny was to defeat the legacy of All For One - through Tomura Shigaraki.

He still didn’t know what to make of him. Izuku had outsmarted him once, but that was only because the man hadn’t been aware of what he was capable of.

By now, there wasn’t a doubt that the man was keeping an eye on him from afar.

And Izuku wasn’t entirely aware of everything Tomura was capable of either.

It was overwhelming to think about how these past few months had gone down. To think it all started because Izuku had chased after Toshinori like a rabid fanboy...was this the price of his curiosity?

“Young Midoriya, what a surprise to see you here!” a familiar voice called, snapping Izuku back to attention.

It was Toshinori-sensei! He had his arm wrapped in bandages as well as parts of his neck.

“Toshinori-sensei! Are you okay? What are you —” Izuku interogatted.

“Woah, one question at a time! I understand your concern, but an old man like me can only keep up for so long.” Toshinori-sensei admit tiredly, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“Sorry, Toshinori-sensei. But you’re not that old, don’t say that!” Izuku apologizes, frowning at hearing his mentor insulting himself like that.

“No, no I really I am. With that fight with All For One, I could barely hold out against him. They guy I fought so long ago. I was very close to losing and I was barely able to push through until…” Toshinori-sensei explains sitting down next to Izuku in the sand.

“Until?” Izuku asked curiously, heart beating loudly in his chest. It hurt a lot to think his role model had been so close to giving up, and he was very desperate to learn what made his mentor push through.

“Until I thought about you, Young Midoriya.” Toshinori-sensei admits, smiling a little wistfully. “You, who was mid-heat and likely much pain from your previous injuries would do anything to keep that friend of yours safe. You went above and beyond to make sure it happened.”

Izuku stares at his mentor blankly, unable to believe his ears.

“No matter what seems to happen, you always do your best. You’ve been doing your best for me, trying to handle everything on your own. Sometimes, I feel as though I am unworthy to be your teacher.” Toshinori-sensei laughs, as Izuku’s ability to process information completely leaves his body.

“T-Toshinori-sensei, that’s — that’s not true at all!” Izuku gasps, eyes wide at such a statement.

Toshinori-sensei shakes his head, smiling fondly at Izuku before ruffling his hair.

“Oh, but it is. Me, your teachers, your school have continuously failed Class 1A. One of the most prestigious schools in the city, and for what? We can’t even keep our students safe in any of the events that have recently transpired. And of all the people, you’ve been failed the most – which I am partically responsible for – and for that you have both my deepest apologies and sincerest gratitude.” Toshinori-sensei informs, before bowing in front of Izuku.

He nearly has a panic attack, forcing his mentor to straighten up. There was just no way he was going to let his role model praise him like that.

“Toshinori-sensei, it’s really not necessary! I really appreciate it, but I’m not —” Izuku refutes.

Toshinori-sensei puts a hand up, silencing Izuku in an instant.

“Please, Young Midoriya. Let me finish. I also apologize for not telling you more about the details concerning the matter of the Blood Pact you participated in. And if you allow me to, I will do so now.” Toshinori-sensei explains.

Izuku nods easily, eyes wide.

“All right. All For One — like I told you before — is an Alpha Supermacist that has been around for generations. I’ve already told you it’s history concerning to the two brothers, so I now will tell you what I know of it’s present and plans they may have for the future.” Toshinori-sensei begins as they stare off into the horizon.

It’s dusk again.

“As it would appear Tomura Shigaraki is the heir to All For One, though I am unsure if they’ve completed the Blood Pact. In any case, that League of Criminals will be taking action again sooner or later. Up until now, the previous leaders of All For One were content to stay hidden in the shadows. They’d manipulate and monopolizes business and trading from a far, but they haven’t created any outright violence in years. This year marks a new period and era in history, Young Midoriya. This crisis won’t be pretty. I can’t say I know what they’re next plan of action is, but all I can say is that it’s clear to me that we shouldn’t let our guard down now that the man is imprisoned. There are still many more people who share his ideals, and the League of Criminals all managed to escape.” Toshinori-sensei informs.

Izuku inhales sharply. “We’ve won the battle, but have yet to win the war.”

Toshinori-sensei nods at him sadly.

“Yes, that’s right. And though I intend to support and mentor you until that war is over, I can no longer play the game. As I’m sure you know, I’ve retired from MMA. I’ve sustained too many injuries and before you, I thought the day I couldn’t fight anymore would be th day that I died. I had nothing else to live for, but then…” Toshinori-sensei grinned at Izuku fondly.

“I met you. And I knew I couldn’t give up, because until these Blood Pacts are put to rest this war will continue. Until those ideals of the past are put to rest, we still have something to fight for.” Toshinori-sensei explains at Izuku contemplates the man’s words.

“But...ideals can never really die, can they? So how am I supposed to…?How are we supposed to fight against this?” Izuku asks, feeling more anxious about the future now more than ever. “How could we possibly ever hope to win this war?”

Toshinori-sensei looks at him for a long time then, moments of silence becoming so long Izuku is almost sure the man has fallen asleep.

“This isn’t a war that can be won easily. In fact, we don’t even have to formally win so long as they don’t either.” Toshinori replies after a few more moments.

Izuku turns to give his mentor a questioning stare.

“What I mean is, so long as there are more people who believe in what we do, that’s how we win. Their side profits off of despair, desperation and fear. It is that fear that paralyzes and confuses them into believing that they would be more successful or happier if the world was written to this rules.” Toshinori-sensei confesses, his eyes far away.

“So, you’re saying that…due to their own unfortunate circumstances they chose to blame society’s regulations because it no longer benefits them?” Izuku asks, trying to grasp what exactly his mentor was trying to say here.

“Young Midoriya, what you must understand here is that while what we view as backward and difficult way of thinking, these people who cling to All For One are loyal to it for a reason. Take societies most desperate, the homeless orphans, those who suffer from substance abuse and mental illnesses and have no access to the resources they need to survive. It’s those people, so desperate to survive in this difficult world that seek people like All For One out.” Toshinori-sensei explains as Izuku listens carefully.

“To them, All For One is their saviour. All For One saves their lives. All For One gives them purpose. They are bound to follow in the organizations teachings blindly, because they are given the things they haven’t had all their lives. So they are more than loyal to the cause. They are willing to die for it.” Toshinori-sensei finally admits, staring up at the now star filled sky.

Izuku gulps.

Oh.

“So you must not misunderstand the situation Midoriya. These people have difficult lives are given a purpose and chance they never could’ve dreamed of, so they care little for consequences. Using our current regulations and stances of secondary genders being on equal footing - their hate towards this concept is what bonds them. It’s the scapegoat, and the simple excuse they use for the why of these situations. After all, seeing many more violent Alphas in prison makes this issue that much easier for them to believe. That their society is built and stacked against them, and their government has rejected them. They are only responding in the best way they know how.” Toshinori-sensei concludes sadly.

Izuku closes his eyes and tries to imagine his own life like that. An orphan, with no access to food no family to care for him. Presenting as an Alpha all on his own. And how easy it was for him to go feral, how easy it was to kill a man when he hadn’t meant to. His instincts had take over, but he was protected but the law - because he was Omega.

Since, historically Omegas were viewed as weaker their one outburst of self defence was seen as socially acceptable.

Whereas, the violent Alpha that had once been predator to lesser species and killed for food, for sport, and for protection were now viewed as volatile.

For someone who had nothing, who needed to steal to eat had just happened to Present as Alpha – those crimes were treated more severely because Alphas weren’t meant to be victims nor meant to coddled.

While an Omega in a similar position would see less of a punishment.

He could see how unfair that was. How in another life, that kind of injustice might be something Izuku could’ve fought against. One he hated.

Yes, there were awful Alphas that did follow the stereotype of falling for brawls and fights, destruction and bloodlust. Alphas like Muscular.

But Izuku knew better than anyone what it was like to fight those kind of angry oppressive instincts. It wasn’t fair, because even if he wasn’t like that by nature certain situations can force you to act like you normally wouldn’t.

This war was not one Izuku could take lightly. And for once, Izuku wished he could understand Tomura Shigaraki’s personal pereslective and experiences a little more.

What was the new leader of All For One fighting for? And what would that mean for Izuku?

He didn’t yet know.

Notes:

this chapter was really just world building,, but I hope this clears up any ideas you have about how this fic is going to be like!!

Chapter 60: salted caramel

Summary:

izuku’s confession

Izuku took a deep breath with Toshinori-sensei by his side. It was high time they had confronted his mother on what exactly Izuku was involved with.

He knew that they should have done this a long time ago, but there had been so much going on. Telling his mother what he had signed up for hadn’t even crossed his mind.

Izuku knocked on the door, sterling himself for this interaction with his mother.

They couldn’t tell her all the details, it would put her at risk. Nonetheless, they couldn’t avoid telling her any longer.

Into Midoriya opened the door with much gusto - smiling as she brought Izuku into a bear hug. She was dressed in her usual pink cardigan and navy blue skirt.

“Oh, Izuku! I’m glad you came before classes started up again. You should really visit me more often!” his mother suggests warmly.

He nods before turning to reveal his mentor behind him.

“This is no ordinary visit, Mom. We have some important things to discuss with you.” Izuku tells her, trying to keep his time even.

How could he even begin to explain this to her? That Toshinori-sensei hadn’t been simply training him since she last saw them. He had been almost grooming him to become his successor.

Which he had successfully done, in a way. In the eyes of a parent, this would be extremely difficult to explain.

Signing up your kid to work with a sketchy organization to take down an even sketchier one.

An extremely powerful sketchy organization that could potentially harm zuku and anyone he cared about.

Any loved one would be concerned. And Inko Midoriya was a protective mother, seeing as she raised Izuku all on her own.

His mother was very strong, cheerfully looking after him all his life. Not once bringing up or resenting Izuku’s missing father figure.

This would be a difficult task indeed.

“Well, that sounds ominous. Toshinori-san, please come in. I’ll go make some tea, so please take a seat.” Inko smiled, though the look didn’t quite reach her eyes.

She knew something was up.

Izuku took his shoes off, indicating to his teacher to do the same. Izuku led him to the kitchen, where his mother fussed over the kettle and tea cups.

“You have a very lovely home, Midoriya-san.” Toshinori-sensei notes, smiling slightly at some of the All Might comics Izuku had left on the coffee table.

Izuku stifles the urge to panic, and calmly slides the comics underneath a coffee coaster.

To be honest, now sitting in the apartment again without the heat obscuring his mind made Izuku realize a few things.

The space was pretty small, and felt rather cramped compared to the dorms. Izuku hadn’t realized he had outgrown his home so quickly.

For some reason, the thought made him a little homesick. Even though he was home, which didn’t make sense and yet…

Home wasn’t really a space, was it? This apartment had never been home, it was his mom that made the space feel that way.

Now, home belonged somewhere else. It belonged in red eyes and a smoky scent, or in the bright browns and a cheerful smile. It belonged in robotic gestures of the hands, and the gentle though slightly reserved voice of their resident ice prince.

That was home now, too.

“So what was it that the both of you have been wanting to tell me? Is this regarding Izuku’s training?” Inko wonders, placing two teacups on the table. One for Izuku and the other for his mentor.

The scent of the tea calmed Izuku’s growing anxiety about this conversation. One sip could ease all the tension in his body, and Izuku is reminded of Yaomomo. How she could keep Izuku level headed, a little more practical but still more sure of himself.

Izuku wonders if tea has healing properties, untangling the threads of pain in his heart. A soothing balm over his burns, and a solace in times of desperation and regret.

“Yes and no. I wanted to let you know, officially, that Izuku’s training was not only for his benefit. After all these events, I’ve chosen Izuku to be my successor.” Toshinori-sensei begins to explain.

“Y-You want Izuku to...be your what? I know Izuku would be thrilled about that but...he looks burdened. What does becoming your successor entail Toshinori-san? Is my son in danger?” Inko frowns, hands tightening on her own tea cup.

Oh wow, he hadn’t realized his face was so easy to read. He needed to work on that.

Toshinori-sensei grimaces, looking a little disgruntled.

“Well, to be frank – yes, he will be involved in dangerous situations. Though no more than he has been already. Let me explain from the beginning, Midoriya-san. I’m sure you’ve heard by now from the news about the League of Criminals. They exist as a branch from All For One – a powerful group of Alpha Supremacists. They are all criminals and underground thugs, but over the years they’ve amassed a large amount of power. There exists a separate organization to prevent or counter their actions of this organization One For All. I am the current leader of this group, and have been involved with both the police and secret services to prevent these Alphas from causing harm. For each generation, the leader must choose a worthy protégé to one day take their place. And for this, I have chosen your son.” Toshinori-sensei reveals, fingers crossed under the table, praying for a favourable response.

Inko Midoriya stares at them blankly for a few moments, not even reacting to the information overload.

They sit in silence for a few moments, and Izuku is about to break the silence hoping to alleviate the tension in the air when his mother beats him to it.

“I can’t agree with this.” his mother states, eyes resolute and steely. “If this puts my son in harm’s way, I cannot agree with this. As it is, he’s dealt with too many life threatening situations. I’ve only just warmed up to the idea of him being a police officer but if this means he’ll be targeted and singled out by extremely dangerous criminals. I can’t just sit back and watch! And on top of that, if they’re Alpha supermaists they’ll treat Izuku even worse! He’s a male Omega! This is a recipe for disaster, I can’t – ” Inko Midoriya rants, her eyes watering and voice shaking in fear.

“I’m not weak.” Izuku interrupts, his voice a little more cutting than he had anticipated. “Just because I’m an Omega now doesn’t automatically mean I’m some victim in this situation. I agreed to this, I consented to this. Mom, I’ve always wanted to be a hero like in the comics. A hero like Toshinori-sensei. This is my chance to prove it for real, don’t you believe in me?”

His mom looks like she’d been slapped in the face, her eyes growing wide at Izuku’s words.

“Izuku, you know I didn’t mean it like that! It’s not that I don’t believe in you, but who’s going to protect you? Who’ll save you? You’ve always worshipped Toshinori and you’ve always wanted to go to U.A. I never wanted to stop or discourage you because it was your dream, but Izuku you need to look at reality! That dream school of yours has failed to protect you many times now. How can I trust that? How can I trust him to keep you safe? This isn’t a game Izuku, someday it will be kill or be killed and as your mother I don’t want it to have to come to that.” his mother explains, her voice raw and hurt.

Izuku tried to level his temper - biting back the words that it’s too late for that, his hands are already stained. That he’s not the innocent little of that need protecting anymore, he was the one doing the protecting.

He gets up calmly, staring right back into his mother’s eyes.

“Mom, I get it. I really do, but if you can’t trust U.A then trust in me. I’ve been able to handle a lot of difficult situations already, and with more training I’ll only get better. I’m good at saving people, I’m sure that this is what I was born to do. Let me just get something as proof – ” Izuku replies, quickly looking through his backpack for the letter Kota had written him.

“Look at this, read this! I’ve already saved someone Mom. You say that you’re worried since I’m an Omega and I’ll get hurt more by these guys. That it’s the worst possible combination, but you're wrong! Everytime I fight back against them, do something that completely threatens their very idea of Alpha Superiority, I’m bringing us closer to victory. I’m living proof of an Omega’s strength if I continue like this, and that’s the kind of representation Omegas deserve. If anything, I think there’s no better person to prove that to them. Because I’m already a hero, Mom. And if I can stop these guys then the entire country is better for it! I can’t just give up because it’s hard, you know I’ll never do that. If there’s even a chance, I want to prove it. Wouldn’t Grandma want that?” Izuku heaves, his speech the most passionate he’s ever been.

In finally putting his thoughts into words, Izuku believes in them now too. He believes in himself too, and if he can even fool himself there was no way his mother could deny him either.

Both his mother and his mentor stare at him for a bit, likely stunned by his outburst.

His mother looks over the letter, then to Toshinori and finally Izuku like she can’t quite believe what was happening around her.

“Midoriya-san, I understand your concern over your son. I was thinking the same thing, back with that fight against All For One. I was ready to lay my life down to take that man with me...but then I thought of your son and I couldn’t bare it. He’s worked so hard for me all this while, despite the heavy burden I’ve placed on him. Time and time again, he’s been put into danger and every time he never ceases to amaze me with how well he deals with each circumstance thrown his way. It is for this reason that I swear to you and your son, that I will dedicate the rest of my life to teach and help him along this difficult path. I’ve already chosen to retire, but I swear to you that for as long as I live I won’t let Izuku die on my watch.” Toshinori-Sensei announced, before kneeling on the floor and performing a full body bow.

Both Izuku and his mother are quick to get up and help the man back to his feet, slightly aghast that such an incredible figure would ever bow like thy in front of them.

“I-I, oh my goodness! There’s no need to go to those lengths! Please, live a long fulfilling life as you watch over my son. He’s been a fan of yours ever since he was young, so I’d hate to see you go too soon.” Inko reassures him as she pulls the man back to his seat.

“Well, the two of you sure are dedicated. I’ll give you that. Guess I really don’t have much of a choice here, do I?” his mother sighs, smiling slightly despite herself.

Izuku looks at his mom, anticipation building in his stomach the longer the silence between them stretches on.

“Very well, then. You have my blessing, but Izuku you can’t be reckless about this. You’re so stubborn and obstinate sometimes, you can’t ever let things go. I need you to start picking your battles, because not all of them are yours to fight. The weight of the entire world doesn’t rest on your shoulders, and you need to remember that okay?” Inko warns, eyebrows drawn together in concern.

Izuku nods. “Okay, Mom. I’ll do my best to make you proud.”

His mother’s concern washes away at that, pulling her son into another hug.

“Oh, Izuku. You always make me proud, never forget that.” his mother admits, before letting Izuku go.

“Now, the two of you must be hungry. Let me warm something up!”

---

Izuku came back to the dorms feeling accomplished and proud. The conversation with his mom had gone a lot better than expected, though he had been scared his mother would’ve pulled him out of U.A for a second there.

There was a lot of negative press on the school, and it was honestly a bit surprising to hear that none of the students of Class 1A had decided to leave despite being the class that was targeted the most.

Things were seriously looking up for Izuku despite all the strange circumstances.

His mom supported him, his role model was looking out for him, he was attending his dream school. He got to do what he loved everyday with people who pushed him to be his best. Above all else in his own way he had managed to become a hero.

Not to mention the incredibly incredible class he had, whom he felt truly connected to. This was the first time he truly felt like he belonged somewhere, and he couldn’t wait to see how the future would unfold for them.

The only thing that would make this better would
finally confessing to Kacchan. Izuku had debated this thought for a while, since it seems that the blonde was starting to really dote on him. It was rather unusual behaviour for his childhood friend, so Izuku hoped that he could take this as a sign of him being...special to Kacchan.

Though in some ways, he supposed he had always been ‘special’ to Kacchan. Just not necessarily in the way that he hoped.

Izuku did want to confess, but he wasn’t too sure about how he could go about it. They were no longer allowed intimate time in each other’s rooms now that Izuku had Presented as Omega. That was really the only time the two of them were alone with each other.

Every other passing second was spent amongst other classmates and Izuku couldn’t bring himself to dramatically scream his feelings in front of an audience.

Even if Kacchan rejected him, Izuku wanted that moment to be between them, alone together.

Izuku is brought back from his musings by a tap on his shoulder.

He turns around to face a rather tense looking Uraraka, wringing her hands together.

“Uraraka-san? What’s going on?” Izuku asks, looking back at the group behind her. All of them looked equally as awkward.

“Um, we all wanted a private moment to talk through something.” Uraraka admits, eyes refusing to meet Izuku’s.

She was acting rather strangely, but deciding not to keep them waiting any longer Izuku followed them outside the dorms.

Waiting for them there is Tsuyu who looks like she’s near tears.

Behind Izuku is Kirishima, Iida, Yaomomo and reluctant looking Todoroki.

Wait a minute.

Izuku had a bad feeling about this.

Kirishima and Yaomomo immediately flock to the saddened girl, hands brushing away tears and soothing her hair.

“I-I wanted to confront you guys here since Midoriya-kun is finally back and things have finally settled but I have some things to say.” Tsuyu confesses quietly as the leaves rustle softly in the wind.

Izuku nods in understanding as the girl continues.

“Midoriya, you weren’t there when it happened because of your heat but we all got scolded for your actions. Going into that situation, recklessly going after Bakugou wasn’t smart. We all would’ve been expelled if Toshinori-sensei hadn’t taken the blame.” Tsuyu explains, voice choking back a sob.

“All of you could’ve gotten seriously hurt or even killed being involved with something like that. And I couldn’t help but think – acting on your own like that, breaking the rules, stealing a car. It’s almost like you were no better than criminals.” Tsuyu goes on and Izuku’s mind goes blank.

Everyone else continues to console the girl – all except Izuku and Todoroki. The Alpha was standoffish by nature, and didn’t talk much to begin with but Izuku didn’t have those excuses.

Izuku was usually kind, empathetic and understanding. But right now, after everything he’d been through and hearing what Toshinori has to say about the Alphas from the League of Criminals he found himself at a loss as to what to say.

They were apologizing for worrying her, but Izuku right now could not understand why. Izuku had done what he needed to survive, he had dealt with things he had never planned on dealing with. He didn’t ask for any of this, it just kept happening. Why should he apologize for doing what was right? So, maybe he was a good criminal. Maybe he’d rot in Hell.

But he wouldn’t apologize for doing what he believed to be the right thing. He wouldn’t apologize for saving someone precious to him no matter the cost. Everyone who had agreed to take part in their decision knew their lives were at stake. They knew the consequences and knew they were risking something and did it anyway.

He couldn’t apologize for that but…

“Midoriya? Aren’t you gonna say anything?” Kirishima asked curiously. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”

The attention is all on Izuku now, and the words criminal and murderer were running around through his head. Pounding him into the ground, demanding how he could possibly call himself a hero when he had murdered someone like a villain.

Maybe he was just a criminal fighting on the other side. Izuku didn’t know what to make of that.

“I won’t apologize for my actions.” Izuku slips, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he can process them. “I did what I believed was right at the time, even if it was with unsavoury methods. I’m sorry if my actions caused you grief, or hurting your feelings. That wasn’t my intention.”

Izuku turns around then, refusing to look any of them in the eyes.

“But if I’m a criminal for trying to protect those I care for, then I’ll be a criminal. If you want to hate or dislike me, then go ahead. In fact, if that aspect of me bothers you I’ll urge you to stay away from me. I’m sorry if it causes you pain, so I ask that you stay away for your own good. I’m not a good influence, so maybe it’s best to keep away from me.” Izuku tells the group, looking over his shoulder before staring up at the moon.

“If I only cause you grief and worry, it’s in your best interest to forget about caring about me. There’s no need to be friends with a criminal.” Izuku finishes, before walking away heart thudding in his chest.

How could he forget? How could he forget so easily? He wasn’t so different from the Alpha Supremacists on the other side.

They both killed if necessary for what they believed was right.

There were more peaceful methods to end things, but Izuku hadn’t. He had succumbed to the feral Omega inside of him, and destroyed everything in his wake.

What would happen if that feral beast awoke and destroyed someone he cared about? All because he got upset?

Was he a monster? Was it better to keep everyone away?

What was good? Was he good? Even if he killed someone? Even he liked killing that person? Even if he had enjoyed killing that person and the sick satisfaction it brought him to get rid of the threat?

Izuku didn’t know. Izuku was ready to storm off into his room when Uraraka cornered him, pinning him to the nearest wall.

Her eyes look slightly red and her face slightly flushed. Izuku can't tell if she had been laughing or crying but the look on her face now was all screwed up.

“Deku, what’s going on with you? You’ve been off ever since you came back from your heat, maybe even before then. Why did you say all that weird stuff before storming off?” the Beta demands her cherry blossom scent turning a bit sour.

“I’m just being honest, that’s all. Please let me go to my room, Uraraka. I need to get some sleep, it’s been a long day.” Izuku argues, trying to free himself without hurting the girl.

“No, stop running away! Gosh, all this fuss over what? Running blindly after your Kacchan, again? Look, Deku I get that he’s important to you but why do you go so far? Why are you always going the extra length for him?” Uraraka demands, looking frustrated beyond words.

“Because I love him!” Izuku roars, his voice sounding foreign even to his own ears. Uraraka gasps slightly, freeing Izuku’s hands before staring at him as if he’d grown three heads.

Izuku is very thankful that there’s nobody else around. He’d smell their scent if they had been, but at least his outburst had only happened in front of one person.

“I-I knew you cared for Bakugou. But since you were Beta for so long...and thought we could.. I thought you...gosh, I’m so stupid for not realizing sooner. That makes everything – ugh!” Uraraka mutters looking like she was going to start crying herself.

“Why does it matter anyway?” Izuku asks petulantly, feeling more than a little self conscious now that he was at his most raw and vulnerable form.

“Because I like you! O-Or liked you, I guess. Until I realized you only have eyes for Bakugou and you’d probably never let it go, even if he hated you.” Uraraka groans, looking away from Izuku.

Izuku feels more than a little stunned. This is not how he thought this conversation would go.

Uraraka liked him? Izuku Midoriya? The guy she called Deku? The plain looking one? Is she okay?

“B-But what? W-When did you?” Izuku stutters face flushing at the sudden confession – because what? This seemed so sudden.

Izuku was sure she had never expressed any non platonic interest in him before.

“I-It honestly doesn’t matter, since it’s clear you probably don’t like me like that. Which is fine, but I’d rather not hear you talk all this nonsense about staying away from you for our own good. If you’re gonna do what you want, we can as well.” Uraraka points out, crossing her arms in irritation.

Not knowing how to address the girl’s feelings Izuku nods.

“Yeah, it’s up to you. I’m just not good news, is all I’m saying.” Izuku sighs, feeling more exhausted than ever.

“Oh shut up! You’re the kindest most selfless person I’ve ever met. I don’t know anyone who would do half the crazy stuff you pull off. Anyway, I just wanted to say you’re stupid of you think anyone is going to stop being friends with you for rescuing someone you care about. What people will stay away from you for is hiding how you’re feeling all the time. Nobody really thinks your a criminal, Deku-kun. And if you did do something illegal, it would be with good intentions.” Uraraka grins as Izuku’s eyes widen.

“There’s a reason people go to you during a crisis. You’re a great person, you really are. You’re only acting like this because you’re scared, I can see that. I wish you could rely on me and open up, but it looks like there’s only one person you’ll see as a worthy of such a privilege. It hurts to think that you won’t confide in me like that, but at the very least talk to him. I can live with you liking someone else and being happy, but if you’re gonna be acting all miserable like this too I’ll really stop being friends with you for real.” Uraraka threatens, though her eyes look far too kind and understanding for her to really mean it.

Izuku’s heart breaks for the girl. His first friend. If things had been different Izuku would’ve definitely liked her back romantically. But she was right, he only had eyes for Kacchan.

“Uraraka-san...thank you. I-I really appreciate you and cherish you. You’re also someone very precious to me...so even if it’s not in the way that you hoped please know that I’ll confide in you when I can. I’m not nearly as amazing as you make me out to be, and if we’re talking about kindness and selflessness you also have them in abundance. But as for romance...I’m sorry that we both appear to be in the same situation. I still care for you greatly…just not like that. We can still be friends...right?” Izuku admits, hoping he could convey how sincere his words felt in his heart.

Uraraka just grins at him, ruffling his hair.

“Silly, Omega. Of course, we are. As long as you stop pretending like your some kind of villain, we’ll have no issues. Now go to bed, you look like you need it.” Uraraka urged.

Together they leave for their respective rooms as the events of the day stir in Izuku’s brain until his exhaustion catches up with him. And thanks to some kind of luck, he manages to sleep without trouble.

Though there is a thought that continues to persist in his mind. Stain was on to something, not all cops had to be good.

Notes:

I apologize if some characters seem to act ooc but for me this fic’s time has shifted a lot from the anime.

there are no ‘heroes’ or ‘villains’ here.
izuku’s actions stand out a lot more, and hero worship isn’t as easily normalized. that’s why this fic might seem a lot more serious at times as well.

also in other news #BlackLivesMatter
despite writing about a story where cops are ‘good’ police brutality is a huge issue. as a non-black person, i don’t want to make it seem like I’m ever glorifying the profession when there is most definitely heavy racial bias in law enforcement and the actions of the people who claim to uphold peace create more issues than they solve. there is systemic injustice that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. as someone who’s work is being read I feel like I should use my platform somewhere and do what I can too.

Chapter 61: paprika

The first day back at school ends up being a lot more underwhelming than Izuku originally thought it would be.

Classes feel more or less the same, though the security had definitely tightened. The cellphones of every student had an ‘Emergency Track’ placed on their phones, the security cameras placed in the school had doubled. On top of this, there were bodyguards patrolling the area at all times. It was a little disorienting at first, but given everything they had been through Izuku figures these additions were better than nothing.

Another slight difference was the atmosphere of the class. Everyone seemed closer to one another, the initial cliques that had seemed apparent before were all but dissolved. Tsuyu and Uraraka hung around Yaomomo a lot more now, and Tokoyami was happily conversing with Kacchan.

They felt like Pack. It made Izuku’s Omega very pleased to see the change but somehow…

He felt distant from the change occurring around him. On one hand, Izuku cared for all of his classmates and would do anything to keep them from harm’s way. But, on the other hand Izuku felt like he really was too dangerous to be getting close to people. He felt like he didn’t really deserve this, even after his conversation with Uraraka.

Especially after that conversation. Though they obviously still cared for one another, Izuku noticed how his friend kept pulling away. It was most likely to give herself some time to recover from the rejection...but still. The guilt gnawed at Izuku’s insides.

Well, it wasn’t like the girl had asked him out or anything. She had really only confessed her feelings, not really expecting anything in return. She seemed aware of the fact that Izuku couldn’t return those feelings already.

It made Izuku feel bad regardless. He’d been oblivious to her feelings all this while, flaunting his closeness to another by scenting him all the time.

Now that Izuku was Omega, such scenting was even more intense. No wonder she couldn’t bare it anymore, the poor girl had to move on with her life.

In some ways, liking someone like Uraraka was definitely much easier than liking Kacchan. Someone who was straightward, warm and sweet. Who thought and acted much similar to himself in regards to empathy and compassion.

Someone who was actually interested in him romantically.

Izuku couldn’t lie – objectively speaking a relationship with Uraraka was much less likely to end up in disaster. She was sweet, caring and had a heart of gold. And she was rather cute as well.

Uraraka was definitely someone anyone could fall in love with. It would be easy to love her too.

Izuku never liked doing anything the easy way. Even if all those things were true, and he did decide to give up his feelings for Kacchan it wouldn’t be right.

He would constantly live in regret, wondering what it would’ve been like to be with the man he had always loved.

More than that, it wouldn’t be fair to Uraraka. She didn’t deserve to be someone’s second choice – whoever had the pleasure of loving Uraraka should make it their priority to shower her in the love she deserved everyday.

Izuku could never be that person. He had his eyes glued right in front of him, looking at the back of the one man he had hoped to reach for him all his life.

“Midoriya, class is over. The bell already rang a long time ago.” a monotone voice called, startling Izuku out of his thoughts.

Izuku snapped his attention to Todoroki, eyes wide with surprise as he scanned his surroundings.

His friend was right! Other than Kaminari and Jirou – who often lingered around to banter amongst themselves after class – everyone else had already left.

“O-Oh! S-Sorry, Todoroki. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” Izuku huffed, opening up his back quickly to dump his things in before slinging the bag over his back.

“You’ve been acting strange, Midoriya. I’ve been meaning to ask you about something.” Todoroki frowned, the air starting to get thick with tension.

Izuku didn’t like where this was going.

“Heh, have I? Guess I haven’t been really feeling myself lately. What’s wrong?” Izuku asked as they walked out of class together.

They walk in silence for a few moments, the rustling of the leaves the only sound filling the air for those quiet seconds between them.

“After what you said to Asui, I had wanted to talk with you but Uraraka seemed very intent to chase after you. I’ve been waiting a bit now, since I wanted to see if you would talk about it on your own but...you’ve been rather silent on the matter. For some so eager to meddle in the troubles of others, you don’t seem so keen to talk about your own.” Todoroki confesses, his voice calm but taking on an edge of concern as well.

Izuku stiffened, abruptly stilling, as Todoroki continued walking just a short few steps in front of him. Izuku really didn’t want to talk about things like this.

Todoroki stopped walking as well, turning around to look Izuku square in the eye.

“You’ve been looking very burdened, Midoriya. Like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. What you said back then, I won’t forget. I won’t forget how you nearly broke your own heart, either. I’ve already seen someone I care for hurting quietly as the world beat them to a pulp. I will not let you do the same. You are my friend, Midoriya. And friends can rely on each other.” Todoroki told him sincerely, his eyes shining with what could even be tears.

Izuku swallowed guiltily. He didn’t think he would concern anyone so much. Izuku had only been trying to keep away so his friends wouldn’t get hurt. It looked like Izuku had managed to do that anyway.

“Todoroki-kun…”

“The way you spoke, as if you were the criminal who kidnapped Bakugou yourself. I don’t get why you would ever think that. So you broke a couple of laws, many people have. Some for worse intentions than yours. If you’re a criminal, does it really mean the rest are too? Me, Kirishima. Yaoyorozu and Iida. We were all there right along side you. But I already know you’ll wave that a way. You seem to have a special talent for thinking everything that happens around you is your responsibility.” Todoroki continues, clenching his fists to his side before releasing a drawn out sigh.

The Alpha turns around, his back facing Izuku’s as he looks ahead of him.

“I know there are things you aren’t telling me. I don’t know if it’s because you can’t or because you won’t, but I am aware that there are things I’m not privy to regarding your life. That being said...you are special, Midoriya. I don’t think there’s anyone in this world quite like you. It’s not just your sense of smell, or your level of empathy, or even your intellect. You are strong, in a way unlike anyone else. In terms of raw physical strength, I would single out Bakugou or maybe even Iida and myself. That’s the way Alphas are, and that’s what that League of Criminals likes to think. But you are….even before you Presented as Omega, I knew you were strong without a doubt. That isn’t dependant on your gender, or any thing else. It’s just because you are Your sheer will has the potential to change the world, Midoriya. I truly believe that.” Todoroki admits, as the wind softly rustles his hair.

Hearing this was surreal. Izuku never imagined he would ever leave such an impression on anyone, much less the cool and level headed Todoroki. The pinnacle of the perfect Alpha.

To be acknowledged by someone like that felt undoubtedly invigorating.

“Todoroki-kun, why are you telling me all this?” Izuku asks, voice soft as to not break the atmosphere.

Todoroki turns to look at him once more, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“I don’t know. It seems like you need to hear it. You haven’t been acting like yourself, and you needed to be reminded of these things. I guess I wanted to return the favour. Sometimes hearing the right words and the right time can change someone’s life. I had a feeling if I didn’t interfere things would only get worse.” Todoroki shrugged as Izuku finally joined him to walk back to the dorms together.

“In any case, you need to stop moping about the past and look straight ahead of you. You were so busy inside your own head you probably didn’t even pay attention in class today. Did you know about the National Sports Tournament?”

And with that the two of them continued on their way.

Indeed, Izuku hadn’t payed attention at all. Apparently they would be competing against other schools in a national championship of sorts, though it was a little different than what Izuku had been expecting. The first round would be for individual competition, while a second one would be for group efforts. This way people could display general athletism as well as show off their in their individual events.

Sounded exciting! It had been a long time since Izuku had concerned himself with regular school activities. What with all the near death experiences and involvement with All For One, he has actually forgotten he still went to school.

Todoroki was right. There was no use in dwelling in the past, but it seemed that no matter how fast he ran thoughts of such things would only continue to plague him.

Yet...when all was said and done, there really was no objective purpose in torturing himself for his past actions. Muscular was dead and nobody cared. It wasn’t like a dead man could come back to life and reveal what Izuku had done to him. That secret could stay with Izuku until he died.

And for what it was worth, everything had worked out in the end. Kacchan was saved, All For One’s leaded was out away in jail.

Even still knowing the League was out there didn’t mean any serious harm yet. They had obviously sought Kacchan out to recruit him, and if the League still needed help getting people to join them it meant they weren’t strong enough to attack again or suffer another blow.

Those people wouldn’t make a move now when they had just been defeated. Which meant Izuku needed to get stronger in the meantime, which lines up with this festival thing perfectly.

He would push himself extremely hard when training started up again. Even that training camp had been an effort to help them hone the skills they had to complete this tournament.

It would also help Izuku build a name for himself.

Toshinori-Sensei has been a big shot athlete while keeping his organization on the down low. Perhaps even starting his own agency had been a guide for his activities – though that had quickly shut down when he and his then partner broke up. Some government official by the name of Sir Nighteye.

In order to do the same, Izuku would have to make a name for himself. Becoming a detective was a good goal for him to work towards, but he needed to amass some kind of following. Have some kind of influence over the general public.

In order to play his role as a supporter of the current society well, he’d need to get his name out there. U.A was the perfect place for him to do it, what with all the opportunities that came his way. He needed to figure out how he wanted to play this game though.

It was time he stopped moping over the past, trying to run away from failure when he could be chasing his brilliant future instead.

---

Izuku had finally found himself starting to be himself again after working out for the first time in a while.

Going to the gym really had a good effect on Izuku. Pushing his body to work harder, the tightness in his muscles and the soreness in his body always felt really good. He likes to keep fit with a modified rendition of the workout Toshinori-Sensei gave him all that while ago.

The thing about the gym however is that it caused a lot of sweat. Which meant people’s scents were a lot thicker and heavier than they usually were.

Iida and Sero were currently taking advantage of the treadmills, though Iida was predictably more intense about it than usual. Meanwhile Sero was jogging at a more leisure pace, looking a little spaced out.

Near the bench press Izuku’s eyes found Kacchan’s in a few seconds. The blonde was dressed in his typical black tank top, his biceps glistening with sweat. His gym shorts sat rather low on hips, as he stared Izuku down intently. His hair looked slightly slicker than usual, shiny underneath the fluorescent light. Kacchan was very attractive – something Izuku sometimes forgot with all the ugly expressions he would pull most times. Even his cocky grin sometimes held a malicious glint and while Izuku could recognize him to be conventionally attractive it didn’t hit him as full force as it did now.

When his face was concentrated like this, Izuku couldn’t quite let the expression go. He liked watching Kacchan’s MMA fights for this very reason. Seeing him so driven and ready to take on whatever challenge that faced him, that kind of thing really got to Izuku.

This was the Kacchan that had been a rival to Izuku once. The reason he had even bothered with MMA even after finding it too much for his liking. He liked the way Kacchan looked at him when they fought. In a brawl, Kacchan was much more suited to instinctive raw talent while Izuku liked to analyze his opponents to get them to concede. The two of them could fight for very long periods of time, and the kind of thrill and challenge that had kept Izuku from quitting MMA for a while.

Of course, this was all before they had fallen out but times had changed.

Seeing Kacchan staring at him like that again caused Izuku’s belly coil with a heat he couldn’t quite name.

Kirishima had to roughly taser the Alpha’s waist to get him out of that state. Kacchan irritability yelled at the thick skinned redhead, eyes drawn together in frustration and mouth pulled back into a familiar scowl.

Izuku laughed at the duo’s antics. They were very amusing to watch from a distance, those two. Kirishima was an outgoing, lighthearted guy who was generally so friendly and genuine that it was contagious. In contrast, there was Kacchan. He was pretty antisocial despite being somehow charming in his own convoluted way. Kacchan could sometimes take things too seriously, and calling him standoffish at the best of times was an understatement. That being said, Kacchan was just as genuine as Kirishima was. Even if it wasn’t in the nicest of ways, there were no pretences between either of them.

It was probably why they were such good friends.

There was a time when Izuku might’ve been slightly jealous of such a friendship. All Izuku’s life he had watched Kacchan order around a bunch of kids that were really not much but acquaintances he lugged around due to circumstance.

Now, he had an actual friendship with someone he saw as an equal.

It sometimes stung, to remember that Kacchan hadn’t thought of Izuku in that way. To be reminded that Izuku’s admiration of Kacchan wasn’t mutual.

And by extension, his love or care wouldn’t be either.

And yet...he could remember that any time Kacchan had cried, it would only be in his presence. The person who Kacchan had wanted to scent had always been Izuku.

And then, there were the gifts. The clothes he had sent for Izuku to scent while he was in heat.

Kacchan cared, Izuku knew that much.

Whether it was platonic or romantic, that was something Izuku was still trying to figure out.

“Hey, Midoriya-kun! Come join me on the treadmill!” Iida called from his spot on the treadmill. It looked Sero had finished up for the day.

“Coming!” Izuku called, scrambling to push his gym back and water bottle down. Izuku lifted up his sweatshirt, tugging it over his head to reveal his workout clothes underneath.

His own clothing wasn’t particularly stylish. On the best of days, Izuku remembered to detangle his curls – which was a process so any more time spent on his appearance matters very little to him.

Just a simple T-shirt with the words ‘Athletic Shirt’ printed across the chest and baggy blue basketball shorts.

He did however wear his signature red running shoes. Izuku refused to wear anything else.

Joining Iida on the treadmill he couldn’t help but feel eyes on his back as he pushed himself to outdo Iida.

Izuku started to warm up a bit before starting out slowly, trying to steadily increase his heart rate instead of going all out at once. Iida was a great running partner often acting as a personal trainer in regard to pacing, water in take and what kind of food to eat to optimize your body’s ability.

The entire time Izuku felt the weight of the blonde’s eyes on him.

What did Kacchan want with him?

Izuku was rather curious to know. He wanted to talk with him for awhile now, as they hadn’t really gotten a proper chance to since his Coming of Age ceremony.

He could smell the Alpha’s scent sweetening, and getting more potent by the second. The smoky scent seemed to fill up the room and slowly but surely Izuku noticed people leaving one by one all of a sudden.

Even Iida who had only moment before seemed very enthusiastic about continuing had suddenly gotten tired and was ready to go to bed.

Once Izuku was done it was only him and Kacchan left in the room.

Izuku noticed that Kacchan had been done a long time ago, having changed into a pie of sweatpants and a different shirt. Despite this, the heavy scent seemed to really permeate the air.

The man was leaning against the wall, water bottle in hand. He was assessing Izuku as if he were a meal he wanted to eat soon, which made Izuku’s face warmer than it should have been. Maybe he could just claim it was overheating from working out so hard.

“Kacchan...did you want to talk about something?” Izuku asked curiously, tilting his head slightly to peer into the Alpha’s eyes.

“Yeah, I do. But first, scent me.” Kacchan demanded, with no room for refusal. As if Izuku would. He was quick to hug Kacchan, pressing his nose into his scent sweat gland and ready to let the blonde do the same.

What Izuku hadn’t expected was for him to lick at it.

“Agh, Kacchan! What are you doing?” Izuku squeals, wiping off the salvia with his hand,

Kacchan only shrugged, snuggling into Izuku’s curls and breathing in deeply. Izuku honestly didn’t understand how the guy was doing that, he was sure his hair was damp from sweat. There was no way that was enjoyable.

And yet, Kacchan took in a deep inhale and happily sighed.

“Kacchan, you wanted to talk?” Izuku asks after a minute of simply basking in each other’s presence. Izuku watched as the boy’s gaze grew hard as he pulled away from Izuku.

“Yeah, I do. The entire thing with you almost ripping your heart out. What the fuck was that? Why did you...” Kacchan demands, hands grasping the fabric of Izuku’s shirt almost violently.

”Oh. I don’t actually know if I’m being honest. I was really feral, and when you got taken away from me..I couldn’t even think. I was just so upset, it didn’t even occur to me what I was doing. I wanted to hurt or rip into something to just...take out my anger I guess. But, I didn’t want to harm the Pack even as a feral Omega so I...yeah.” Izuku confessed looking away.

Kacchan looked like he wanted to say something more, looking both displeased and horrified when Aizawa-Sensei interrupts them. Kicking them out of the gym, and forcing them to shower. Making sure to remind them they shower in the farthest stalls from one another since Izuku was an Omega that was too attached to Kacchan’s Alpha apparently.

Kacchan casts him a final concerned glance before the separate once again, without saying everything they wanted to say.

Notes:

sorry for the short, kinda inconsistent updates. trying to get back on the ball!

Chapter 62: cherry

Summary:

the start of the tournament!

Izuku is left unable to talk to Kacchan much at all. They either get interrupted, since they weren’t exactly allowed to be in a room together or something else would get in the way.

To make matters worse, both of them were very driven and single minded. Once the tournament was announced all free hours of the day were dedicated to training or resting for training.

There was no time to have a heart to hearts and most certainly no time for confessions about unrequited love.

When the day finally comes, their entire class piles onto the bus and Izuku is a big pile of nerves.

First off, nobody had thought to tell him that he would be fighting the Mixed MMA matches. This is where any gender could compete against any other gender, a free for all.

Lots of combat got separated by secondary and primary gender, but to test one’s true strength was to fight in the free for all.

Izuku had no idea why anyone would possibly sign him for it, but when he confronted Aizawa-Sensei he seemed equally as confused at the situation.

It was only then that of all people that Midnight-Sensei - the pro-wrestler Omega that could kick butt! - informed them that it was a demand U.A was making.

Izuku hadn’t realized this, but following his Presentation he had quickly amassed a following.

To think an Omega could fight head-to-head with an Alpha like Todoroki was apparently something truly remarkable and amazing. People expected to be in the MMA division.

Even though Izuku hasn’t seriously fought anyone before the Sports Festival in a very, very long time.

He wasn’t even completely confident in the rules and regulations anymore!

And this was on top of his actual events! Izuku was very lucky that the track event would be occurring in the morning and the combat events during the evening.

Or, perhaps it was a curse since now he didn’t have a valid reason to get out of it.

On one hand, his classmates were very proud of him. Uraraka was squealing about she was best friends with a celebrity - while Iida argued that she was friends with Todoroki who was famous as well.

Yaomomo was ecstatic for him, cheering about how far Omega had come and what an excellent role model Izuku was for Omegas all over the world.

Izuku wasn’t sure if he wanted to cry or laugh.

Him? A role model? Funny joke.

Kacchan on the other hand looked a little upset, though Izuku couldn’t completely imagine why.

Hadn’t his friend wanted Izuku to fight again? Shouldn’t he be excited as well? Izuku couldn’t really understand.

The energy around him was pretty good regardless of his own anxieties. Everyone was pumped to be able to compete against people from other schools.

The prospect of worthy competition was better than any other feeling in the world.

Izuku wondered if they’d be able to make any friends today.

As they step out of the bus, Kacchan unexpectedly hip checks Izuku, causing him to stumble and almost fall if Iida hadn’t caught him in time.

“Hey, Kacchan! What was that for?” Izuku gripes, blinking his eyes in confusion as the blonde sneers at him.

He hadn’t done that in a long time, and it immediately put Izuku on edge.

Izuku had thought they were on good terms now...what had changed?

“When were you gonna tell me you were gonna fight again? Were you lying to me, asshole? Pretending to be a track star to catch me off guard? Think it was funny? Making me believe that you’d given up MMA, when all along you just wanted to show off how – ” Kacchan growled, his scent becoming smokier with his anger.

Izuku is a little too shocked by the quick change in demeanor to answer, but Aizawa-Sensei comes to his rescue.

“Midoriya had no idea he had been signed up for this event, Bakugou. There’s no need to get your Alpha pride hurt. Midoriya is very capable at combat, and Midnight recognized that. The only reason he’s doing the event in addition to his own events is because we told him to. Don’t jump to conclusions on your own.” Aizawa-Sensei warned, looking admittedly more scary than Izuku had ever realized their teacher ever was.

Kacchan stares at his teacher before scoffing.

“Whatever.” he grumbles, ignoring his teacher’s disappointment.

In contrast, Kirishima is bouncing on his feet looking around the Arena they were entering in amazement.

“So this is the National Takoba Stadium! This place is huge!” the redhead exclaimed excitedly.

“It has to be.” Iida informs, adjusting his glasses before continuing. “In order to house the tournament every year, they have multiple areas for games to occur simultaneously if necessary.”

“Damn, that’s real Plus Ultra of them.” Kaminari grins as Jirou elbows him in the gut, unamused by the blonde’s joke – though she appeared to be restraining a smile.

“Did someone say PLUS ULTRA!?” an obnoxiously loud voice demands, causing their entire class to turn to the source.

An extremely built and tall bound towards them like an overgrown puppy. The guy looked like he was built with muscle on top of muscle, with tanned skin and a bald head. If all of these characteristics didn’t scream Alpha, his potent pheromones certainly did. He smelled very pleasant both fresh and smoky at once.

He smelled of sturdy oak, of ozone and something a bit grittier like vevrier but also like a summer breeze - bright and airy with a hidden musk.

Izuku also noted that Todoroki’s scent had suddenly spiked. It was rather bizarre, especially for Todoroki that still perfected to stifle his scent unless it was for fights.

It happened rather quickly, but Izuku definitely took note of it. Todoroki’s peppermint was surprisingly much sweeter than usual.

It seemed that at that exact same time the mysterious hunk of man grinned at them.

Another built Alpha comes to stand beside the stranger, sighing and tugging the man bodily away from them.

“Yoarashi you can’t just intrude like that. Please uphold the prestige of our school and refrain from barging into other people’s conversations like that.” the other Alpha groans, trying to lug the bald guy out of there.

“Sorry, U.A! I just wanted to say that, just once! U.A’s the best after all, so I thought it would be fun to say it! Plus Ultra!” the Alpha – now identified as Yoarashi grins. He doesn’t seem to mind being manhandled by his classmate, and Izuku is left becoming even more curious about the guy.

“Huh, so that’s where he ended up. Yoarashi scored the best out of all the recommendation students, but he ended up rejecting the offer. Guess he decided to go to Shiketsu.” Aizawa-Sensei comments off- handedly as they continue to walk further into the building.

That guy….scored higher than Todoroki? How was that even possible?

Izuku turns to look at his friend, but he seems rather preoccupied staring at his shoes more intently than Izuku would’ve thought appropriate.

Deciding to leave his friend for now, Izuku turns to see what some commotion up ahead is about.

An Alpha male with dark hair was exclaiming something excitedly to the blonde Beta beside him for Izuku made eye contact with him.

At that very moment, the brunet ran up to him clasping both of Izuku’s palms in his.

“You must be Izuku Midoriya, right? The male Omega who fought off the Alpha Orders and won?” the man asked curiously, eyes sparkling.

“Uh, yes?” Izuku answered truthfully, looking at their joined hands and then the Alpha’s face in confusion.

“Wow, you’re even cuter in person! I’m Yo Shindou, pleasure to meet you.” Alpha grinned, taking Izuku's hand before kissing the back of it.

Izuku immediately flusters, completely thrown aback by the bold display. His cheeks warm considerably at the charming Alpha in front of him.

He had an earthy, woodsy scent. Like pine, patchouli and something slightly salty.

His hand is then slapped away by an annoyed looking Kacchan, his mouth pulled into a scowl as Izuku quickly retracts his own hand.

“Get your nasty Alpha hands off him.” Kacchan growled, looking more upset than Izuku would’ve imagined.

“Oh? Are you his Mate or something? Doesn’t look like it to me. There’s no Claim mark on his neck, and his scent doesn’t even smell like you. I don’t think you have any right to be upset, now do you?” Shindou laughs, riling up the blonde even further.

Kacchan looks like he’s about to punch the guy’s face in but Kirishima holds him back.

“Fuck off, slimy bastard!” Kacchan yells instead, looking completely unamused as the other Alpha turns to leave, not without sending him a taunting look over his shoulder.

“What is even going on?” Ashido wonders aloud, looking around at the amount of people staring at their class.

“Beats me.” Ojiro signs, hiding behind Hagakure.

Then, out of nowhere appears a turquoise haired woman. She launches herself at Aizawa-Sensei hugging him a little too hard to be considered normal.

“Shota-kun! Go out with me!” the random woman declared, causing everyone to pause. Ashido literally gasps aloud and even Kacchan looks a little curious.

“No, I won’t.” Aizawa-Sensei groans, like he’s done this a thousand times. The woman pouts at him, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She’s dressed brightly, looking very colouful next to Aizawa-Sensei who only ever wore black.

Their contrasting aesthetics were actually slightly appealing together.

The Beta woman laughs after a beat, clearly not even a bit put off by their teacher’s bluntness.

“Ha! Good one, Shota! You’ve always been pretty funny, don’t ya think?” she smiles, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

“Absolutely not.” Aizawa-Sensei states coolly, moving away from the woman to keep moving to their location.

The two bricked from for quite some time – the woman’s class trailing behind 1A. They all seemed unphased by their teacher’s antics and Izuku is left to wonder if this was normal for her.

By the time they get into their first arena, there are already many schools settled into various seats.

Izuku feels growing anxiety rise in his chest, looking at all the other schools around them.

There were just so many people here. People that could watch him fall and mess up.

It did not bode well with him at all.

Usually when he feels anxious, Izuku would go to Kacchan, Uraraka or even Yaomomo.

The issue was that Kacchan seemed upset with him, for whatever reason, and it looked like he had been bottling some pretty heavy emotions for some time now. Izuku would love nothing more than to help the blonde calm down, but they didn’t have the time or the privacy to get him to unwind comfortably. It would be for the best if Izuku just left him alone for now.

Then there was Uraraka, who had recently confessed to him. And Izuku had all but rejected her, and so it would be extremely unfair of him to seek her out during this time.

And Yaomomo was too far away from him to scent right now.

The panic started to build, and Izuku felt like he was a second away from a full blown meltdown when suddenly peppermint oozes from Izuku’s wrist down his forearm and cools Izuku down almost instantly.

Izuku looks up to see Todoroki smiling down at him, nothing too extravagant but a slight upturn of the lips. Still, the Alpha’s scent and presence is reassuring and steady. Izuku could always depend on Todoroki, who was reliable and kind hearted if a little dense.

For a moment, Izuku flirts with the idea of a relationship with Todoroki. Izuku knew that they were important to each other, more-so for Todoroki than himself, but Izuku considered him a precious friend all the same.

Todoroki definitely had some kind of soft spot for him — that could not be fully denied. It seemed that the Alpha could always detect Izuku’s distress, even when he tried hard to hide it. The Alpha was always looking out for him, and helped Izuku whenever he could. In turn, Izuku was likely one of Todoroki's first real friends. Someone who had helped the Alpha step away from his father’s shadow and embrace his own scent. They helped each other grow strong, and Izuku knew Todoroki saw him as the best version of himself.

As an Alpha, Todoroki was more than capable of providing for a Mate and he actually respected Izuku as an equal.

The same couldn’t always be said of Kacchan. Kacchan could be extremely emotionally volatile, more so if Izuku was involved. He wasn’t exactly sure why the hot tempered Alpha felt so strongly about him, nor did Izuku know in what particular way, but their relationship was complicated.

That being said...Izuku loved Kacchan. A lot. There was nothing in this world that could ever change that. He cared for the blonde deeply, so even if they did have the tendency of bringing out the worst in each other they also could bring out the best. Sometimes they’d yell and scream, and Izuku would wonder why he even liked the temperamental blonde but...he knew why.

It was because they could take each other’s worst that they could have each other’s best. Izuku didn’t have to put up any pretences with the blonde, and neither did he. They had an intimate knowledge of one another that could only come from growing with each for years. And they had this chemistry...this energy that Izuku didn’t ever feel with anyone else.

Izuku liked a lot of people, sure, and he was always willing to help anyone when he could. That was just the way he was.

With Kacchan, it was more intense. There was very little in this world that he wouldn’t do for Kacchan, and sometimes that thought was scary.

Yet...Izuku searched for red eyes and when he found them, Kacchan stared right back at him. Izuku found himself grinning broadly at the blonde, unable to hide his affection.

Kacchan only raised an eyebrow, though he looked a bit more amused than before. He sent Izuku a lopsided smirk, and Izuku couldn’t help the bubble of fondness that gushed through his chest.

There was no one else for him but Kacchan. There never really could be. So, even if there were people who were nicer or gentler with Izuku, he didn't care. He'd only ever want Kacchan.

Notes:

my situation is slowly getting better so i hope to start having my daily updates start back again soon!

on another note:
the end of this fic may be near. i initially wanted to end this near kacchan vs deku 2
(which comes shortly after this arc)

OR

the overhaul arc + cultural festival - which would end this off around where we are at with the anime
that would mean you'll get to meet secret agent!nighteye & mirio and an interesting twist to the cultural festival which i think would be enjoyable

tbh i don't want to end this so quickly TvT i'll miss updating sm
and at the same time, i'm trying to watch naruto these days but between irl stuff, school work, this and naruto i'm not able to manage my time as well...

actually, to be fair, i started watching naruto as a coping mechanism for the irl stuff so...heh

but like i said my situation is improving and i've been neglecting my duties! so please! look forward to it <3

thanks for reading and don't be afraid to kudos/bookmark/comment i'm always looking for feedback and improvement

Chapter 63: guaiac wood

As Izuku follows along with the rest of his class to the arena, he can’t help but stare at all the people around him. Everyone seems so large and imposing, it gives him a shiver down his spine.

At that moment, an unkempt looking man stands in the center of the arena. All the participants gather around as the man attempts to test the mic. It’s at these moments that Izuku realizes how useful Present Mic could be, his voice so loud and booming he never needed the device.

“Testing...testing. Alright, so I’m extremely tired and the Commission is woefully understaffed. So if all of you could listen carefully to begin with, I won’t have to answer any questions and we can get this show on the road. I’m Yokumiru Mera, and welcome to the National Sports Tournament.” the man introduces with zero enthusiasm.

A few people let out cheers — Kirishima, Yoarashi and a few other energetic types. Izuku grins, ready to join in and bring the energy up a bit when then man sends them a withering glare.

The smile instantly leaves their faces as they quiet down, looking chastised.

“For all you first timers, be sure to check with your teachers about your schedule. Every year we begin with track events, and then combat. After these events will be a break in which you may eat lunch, go to the washroom or whatever else you may need to do to revitalize yourselves. Finally, those of you who’ve performed well in prior events will be allowed to participate in a free for all dodgeball game. Any questions?” Mera states, looking more exhausted than even Aizawa-Sensei, which was really saying something.

“Looks like they changed the setup. Sorry Midoriya, but it looks like you’ll be fighting your first opponent almost right after your 400m event.” Aizawa-Sensei sighs, giving Izuku a pitying glance.

A supportive arm is thrown around Izuku’s shoulder as Kirishima cheers.

“Don’t worry about it, sensei! Mido-bro can handle anything you throw at him.” Kirishima grins, ruffling Izuku’s hair as he says it.

Izuku can’t help but laugh, moving to ruffle Kirishima’s hair back when he realizes the guy’s hair is stiff as a rock.

He moves his hand away, looking at the redhead in confusion.

“Kirishima, what happened to your hair?” Izuku frowns. He was aware that the guy liked to gel his hair up into spikes. He could detect the faint smell of it. Today it was really excessive.

“Shitty hair has a stupid idea that the more hairspray he puts into his hair, the better he’ll fight.” Kacchan notes, rolling his eyes as Kirishima whines.

“It’s not hairspray, it’s gel! I’m manly like that, no need to hate Bakubro.” Kirishima pouts, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

Izuku laughs at their antics before Aizawa-Sensei coughs, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Alright! All of you not participating in any of the track events, please make your way into the stands. Your classmates need to start stretching soon, so the rest of you better get moving.” he informs them.

Izuku stills.

Already? They were gonna start this thing now?

Todoroki, Kacchan, Kirishima, Satou, Ojirou, Tokoyami and a few others start to leave and Izuku really is about to panic when Iida places a warm hand on his shoulder.

“You have nothing to worry about Midoriya-kun. You’ll do great.” his friend reassures, the candied pecan part of his scent growing stronger to appease Izuku’s frazzled Omega.

“R-Right! You too, Iida-kun. You’re the best in our class when it comes to the 100m, you’ll do well for sure!” Izuku replies earnestly, before another cheerful voice interrupts their conversation.

“Hey, don’t forget about me! We’ll be fine, we’re U.A after all!” Uraraka points out, leaning on flushed looking Tsuyu.

Izuku smiles warmly at the two girls. Things had been a little awkward between them for a bit, the whole rescuing Kacchan thing putting a small rift in between the boys and the girls of their little ‘Dekusquad’.

Well, it was more Izuku becoming more distant with the two. But, it was a mutual thing. Iida seemed perfectly normal with the two, but they had different circumstances concerning the incident.

Tsuyu still saw Izuku’s actions as reckless and unnecessary, especially considering his forced heat. Iida and Uraraka had been inclined to agree, but Izuku really couldn’t be. When it came down to it, Izuku couldn’t apologize for running after Kacchan.

Still, now was an opportunity to rebuild and reinforce the bridge that Izuku had accidentally wrecked. He still considered them friends after all, just maybe not the ones who understood him best.

“Of course! Uraraka, Tsuyu-san. Let’s do our best today and show everyone why we’re PLUS ULTRA!” Izuku cheers as his friends happily echo the statement.

Iida starts stretching his legs as Izuku goes over a few warmups. They banter softly as Urarka flexes her arms, showing off brick like biceps. Tsuyu stares at them in curiosity, asking the Beta if she can touch them.

All of them looks at the girl strangely, but Uraraka nods thinking nothing of it.

Izuku stares at the interaction in confusion, wondering what exactly was going on in between those two. Iida looks at him with an equally puzzled expression, but then announcements start and Izuku lets all excess thoughts fly out of his mind.

As he starts walking to his given track, Izuku can’t help but search the crowd for a familiar face. He spots Kirishima and Kaminari easily, the two of them laughing loudly and then getting shut up by a rather embarrassed looking Kacchan.

Izuku is more than a little curious to figure out what had made his childhood friend so embarrassed, but when Izuku meets his eyes he can’t help but flush as well.

He hadn’t really paid attention to this before, but Kacchan had changed into his form fitting MMA tank. The one that fit him like a glove, leaving nothing to the imagination. The orange ‘x’ across his chest really brought attention to his pectorals which seemed to be crafted to perfection and Izuku would do anything to just –

No!

Izuku slapped his cheeks in embarrassment, refusing to meet the blonde’s gaze again as he made his way to his position.

Only to find the dark haired Alpha from before.

Yo Shindo seemed less charming when he wasn’t chatting someone up. He was currently stretching his arms, then cracking his neck as he softly chanted something to himself.

Izuku found himself watching from afar, assessing the man’s figure. He knew for a fact that his thighs were better built than Shindo’s. Both from the sheer amount of squats he liked to do, and his natural Omega figure helped with that.

However, Shindo had thicker calves than him. His build was more top heavy, which wasn’t particularly suited for their running track events.

“Oh! So the pretty male Omega does the 400m, huh? I assumed you were an MMA kid, what with that fight against that Todoroki kid, I could’ve sworn you were.” Shindo exclaimed, looking rather intimidating compared to before. His gaze was sharper than last time, a strange glint in his eyes.

Izuku didn’t trust him.

“Well you were wrong. I’m not a one trick pony.” Izuku found himself almost growling, not liking the way the Alpha was looking down on him.

“Now, now. No need to get so worked up, I was only making small talk. I’m a little impressed, guess your legs aren’t just for show.”

Izuku felt slightly irked but decided not dignify the Alpha with a response to that. The Alpha almost looked disappointed by the reaction, before his eyes suddenly lit up.

“Also, I wanted to know! That blonde Alpha – Bakugou? The guy who won the Sports Festival, right? He hasn’t claimed you, and you don’t have any other scents on you so I was wondering if –”

“No.” Izuku cut off, completely unamused by the Alpha’s behaviour. He tries to muster the coldest glare that he can, not at all impressed by the guy’s behaviour.

Luckily, by then more people had started showing up and Izuku was no longer obligated to speak with awful Alpha again.

Deciding to keep to himself after that, Izuku goes through a few final stretches when a man in a bright red pinny jogs up to them.

“Okay, these are your groups.” the man explains pointing towards a board with given names. Group 1 was a bunch of people Izuku didn’t recognize and Aoyama. Group 2 was Izuku, some guy named Nagisa and...Shindo.

Izuku couldn’t help the shit eating grin that was worming it’s way onto his face, somewhat reminiscent of Kacchan himself. He couldn’t wait to put the other Alpha in his place!

The idiotic Alpha mouthed off about Izuku being an Omega, and the Nagisa guy looking like a girl, but once the whistiled sounded Izuku left the Alpha in the dust.

He refused to even look Shindo in the eye, a little displeased that the Nagisa kid came last instead of the Alpha.

Guess he couldn’t have everything.

Like this they continued, until the top two of each group completed against each other.

This time, Izuku was against Aoyama. He didn’t get the privilege of beating the Alpha a second time here, as Shindo was placed in a different group but Izuku found himself coming in first again.

Perhaps the pent up aggression he was feeling because of the Alpha was becoming a good thing.

Unfortunately, the Alpha comes in first in his next group. But that only means that Izuku gets to beat properly in the finals.

By the time it happens, Izuku places his feet firmly into the ground. Making sure that the balls of his best were making the most contact with the floor and his breathing was steady. His looks over his shoulder to see the Alpha behind him grinning, as if he had won already.

Izuku scowls.

When the whistles sound for the final time, Izuku runs as if the ghost of Musuclar was chasing him. Izuku pumps his legs and hands as fast as he can, sprinting towards the finishing line without looking back.

In his peripheral vision, he can spot the dark hair of the Alpha tailing right behind him attempting to close the gap with the male Omega.

Izuku refused to even give him the chance.

Pumping his legs at double the speed he had been earlier, Izuku sprints to the finish line and wins.

As he passes, Izuku can hear the distant cheers of his classmates in the stands.

He leans over his knees, ready to crumple to the ground when he forces himself to look to the stands again. Izuku is panting heavily, wiping the back of his hand across his forehead to collect all the sweat when he finally meets red eyes across the arena.

Kacchan’s grinning at him, red eyes shining with mirth as he throws Izuku a subtle thumbs up. Kirishima and Kaminari are screaming loudly at him as well, showing their support very vocally.

Izuku grins at them broadly, before throwing himself to the ground. The floor is cooler than his skin, and Izuku would even roll around in it if he weren’t in a public place right now.

He allows himself to catch his breath for a few seconds before he slowly gets up. Legs trembling a bit, as he gets back up to his feet.

Izuku sighs in satisfaction as he looks back at the board, pleased to see his name circled in the final bracket as the victor.

“You’re pretty good, Midoriya.” a voice calls, startling Izuku from his thoughts. It’s Shindo again - man couldn’t that guy take a hint - but for some reason Izuku can’t bring himself to care. He had already won, it didn’t matter what this guy said.

As Kacchan would say - he’s nothing but an extra.

“You could get better.” Izuku tells him, not allowing himself to smirk as he walks away to join his friends in the stands.

He could really use some water right about now.

Soon he would have to do actual combat fighting, which he had not trained for properly in a long time. Hopefully, he would be able to observe a few matches before his own to jog his memory.

If not, he always had his notebook. The only issue was that while the notebook had started out as a general knowledge thing - with notes on various styles and strategy - once Izuku had given it up the only notes that remained were those of Toshinori-sensei’s fights and Kacchan.

And while the two were very strong fighters, it narrowed the fighting technique a bit too much. Kacchan took lots of inspiration from Toshinori-sensei as well, even if it was more subconscious than Izuku which left him with more punches than kicks.

Ever since he started, his old self-defense teacher had always emphasized the use of Izuku’s legs. He built muscle there much easier, and they were more flexible than his upper body.

The flying triangle choke he had used that one time had been somewhat of a fluke - it was more of an instinctual reaction than a planned strategy.

It was starting to look like that would be the only way Izuku could make it through these combat rounds. He could only hope that his opponent was dumber than him, or he was screwed.

Notes:

me back on my daily updating game? looks like it might just happen!

so far we got two in a row for the first time in a WHILE so i'm glad to actually be back now
also these will be interesting,, that is all i can say for sure

also you will definitely get an inasa vs todoroki fight in a few updates so look forward to that!

Chapter 64: oak

Summary:

a crippling doubt

There are a few fights before Izuku. The most important ones being a fight for Tokoyami - the third best combat fighter in their class - and Kacchan’s. Observing their fights would do Izuku a world of good.

True to the mixed gender nature of the tournament, Tokoyami’s first opponent was a female Beta named Tatami Nakagame. Izuku watches in shock as he recognizes her as the female that had accompanied Shindo. As it would appear, they attended Ketsubetsu Academy a rather prestigious school in it’s own right.

Despite being Beta, the woman had a very strong stature. She had a very curvaceous and muscular figure, her shoulders rather broad in imposing. Next to Shindo, she had looked friendly enough but now she clearly had her game face on. The woman slightly reminded Izuku of Kirishima - a large muscular build, with spiky hair and teeth. The only difference was that this was a woman and she was blonde instead.

Her outfit made Izuku feel inclined to believe she wasn’t one to intimidate her opponents beforehand. A lot of individuals in combat type tournaments liked to dress in ways meant to throw opponents off their guard or make them feel insecure. At least, at the high school level.

In mixed combat, where all gender participated as equals, this would be made more apparent. Even Alpha males were allowed to wear whatever they so choose - even if they were in MMA.

Nakagame was not one to win on pure intimidation alone. Despite her cut figure, she dressed in an aquamarine seamless workout tank and muay thai shorts. Her handwraps and and shoes were both a pretty light pink and overall gave her the appearance of a sweet girl.

Her eyes however, were clever and assessing. This woman definitely meant business.

She looked to be a rather strong opponent. On build alone, she looked like she could beat Tokoyami up easily.

But looks could be deceiving.

Usually, the stronger opponent would hold back for a bit and let the other attempt the first move to lower their guard and then go in for the kill. This seemed to be the tactic that Nakagame was opting for allowing Tokoyami to open with a swift uppercut - using his right hand. This was how Tokoyami typically started, a subconscious thing but it cost him the beginning advantage.

Predicting the punch, Nakagame dodged slipping past it easily. Her stance changes then, moving her left foot slightly forward, extending her left arm as she moves. Her right arm was kept close to her body, keeping her glove near her chin.

So, this woman appeared to be a boxer.

Izuku watched as the woman remained on the defensive, letting Tokoyami jab as he pleased. She blocked and slipped past each, no matter how quickly Tokoyami dealt the blows.

The man was going to need to change tactics.

Tokoyami switched it up, performing a spinning back fist. His left arm was shaped like a hook then flung backwards, and delivered only after whipping his body around. The power of such a move only occurred after a fast rotation, the arm unwinding from the body.

This move was particularly devastating - and if done in a circumstance where the move did not land would leave the striker more vulnerable.

If it were anyone but Tokoyami dealing the blow it would have been a large gamble.

But Tokoyami never took chances he did not believe in.

The result was instantaneous, the sound of the blow was dealt directly to the woman’s stomach - causing her to startle backwards - the loud slap echoing across the stadium.

Nakagame heaved, wincing at the blow, clutching at her stomach. She clenched her teeth, eyes sharpening further.

She wasn’t done fighting just yet.

Tokoyami moved again, this time to perform a power jab. The woman anticipated this move, blocking it with her forearm once again. So far, the Beta had remained on the defensive letting the Alpha do as he pleased.

Just what was her game?

Right now, it seemed to Izuku that the woman was simplifying toying with the Alpha. Getting him to bust all his moves now, and perhaps tire him out. Then, just as Tokoyami would start getting desperate or tired, she would finally make a move of her own.

Still, it would mean that she wasn’t too strong offensively if she hoped to draw it out like this.

Tokoyami should be able to make quick work of her.

The issue here was that the woman had her defense down to a t. Her footwork was simple but effective, responding to Tokoyami’s movements before the man had fully committed to them. She side-stepped, pivoted, parried and slipped at all the appropriate times.

How would Tokoyami get out of this?

Then, Izuku watched with wide eyes as the blackhaired Alpha made a normal jab with his left hand, and then dealt an up jab with his right. The initial punch was made solely to distract his opponent, keeping her eyes on the immediate threat. The quick and sudden use of his right hand had not been anticipated, and even if she had was too fast to not land. The best Nakagame could’ve done was redirect the hit to a less painful area.

She was too late.

It was the same area that Tokoyami had dealt his spinning back fist, and it was starting to look like the blow had been worse than the woman had appeared to shrug off before.

Despite the up jab not being the strongest - the woman doubled over - forced back to the edge of the ring. From that point, the tides had certainly turned. Tokoyami dealt blow after blow, showing no remorse as he continued to pressure the woman into a corner of the ring.

One more punch to the stomach had the woman keeling over, and Tokoyami dealt one final hammer fist and the game was over.

The woman’s just laying on the ring face first as the ref calls Tokoyami’s victory. The teacher from Nakagame’s school moved to collect her as the girl groaned looking exhausted.

Her classmates cheer for her regardless, clapping her on the back for her bravery to fight an Alpha. The Beta seems unamused by the comment but sends her friends a tired smile anyway.

Tokoyami approaches the girl and her friends quiet down. Nakagame stills looking at Tokoyami suspiciously before the Alpha extends a hand - acknowledging her efforts. He mouths something that seems to look like a ‘good game’ with a slight smile and the girl seems happy at the gesture. She extends her hand as well, shaking it firmly before her classmates cheer for her again, and her teacher whisks her away from the ring.

Izuku looks on at the two in awe. That match had seemed rather unfair, but Tokoyami’s actions made Izuku feel a little proud.

Despite the dicks at that school it looked like U.A could teach those other schools a thing or two in more ways than one.

Iida sighed from beside him looking somewhat relieved.

“What’s up?” Izuku asks, looking at the tired Alpha beside him. Iida had come second in his event and he had been rather dejected about it. It looked like there was something bothering the boy ever since - looking disappointed was not a good look on his friend.

“Ah, it’s nothing of immediate concern. I was just worried if that Beta would get hurt further. It seemed to me that she should have given up earlier on.” Iida points out, looking uncomfortable. Izuku frowned, the comment somehow rubbing him the wrong way.

“Why would she do that? That Nakagame girl looked really strong. She looked like she didn’t want to give up just because she had a tough opponent.” Izuku argued, watching as Kacchan made his way to his match from the stands.

“Midoriya, I get that. I really do, but there comes a time when you must choose between your health and your pride. Which one can you afford to lose?” Iida asks sternly as Izuku’s frown deepens.

What was up with all the Alphas getting on his nerves today?

“Neither.” Izuku decides, scowling at his friend slightly. He didn’t like where this was going.

Iida clicks his tongue - sounding much like a disappointed parent. “No, Midoriya. That’s wrong, you must understand. Your pride can suffer a bit, but constantly abusing your body will help nobody.”

Izuku looks at his friend with no amusement.

“I feel like we’re not talking about this match anymore.” Izuku groans - already anticipating the verbal tongue lashing.

Instead Iida only laughs, and that only makes Izuku feel worse.

“You have a point. It’s true you know. I know that you are a genuine person, Midoriya, and that you only wish to help people. But, in order to do so you must be able-bodied enough to spare your strength for others.” he tells Izuku sincerely.

The warmth in his tone is what causes Izuku’s stance to ease, knowing his friend didn’t mean any harm - unlike the other Alpha today. Iida had his best interests in mind - but still he couldn’t help but feel like he was getting looked down upon.

He wasn’t a clueless, naive child or Omega. He had taken a life, for pete’s sake! He wasn’t a small child that needed to be protected or looked after.

He could take care of himself, thank you very much.

“I am able-bodied enough. There’s no need for your concern, Iida. I’m fine and it’s not like I’m looking to get into trouble or anything. I’m just doing what I can. I’m just doing what’s right.” Izuku explains, unable to feel like he wasn’t being attacked.

“You are attempting to do what you believe is right. There is a difference between what is morally correct and what is lawfully correct.” Iida points out and Izuku almost snaps.

“Isn’t that a problem? Don’t you think it is? If what’s morally correct and what’s lawfully correct isn’t the same what’s the point of some stupid laws? If these laws don’t benefit our morals, what purpose do they really serve?” Izuku argues, feeling his own anger growing.

Iida looks at him completely aghast, as if what Izuku has said was alien and forgein. When just a few months ago, this man had been determined to abandon his post and search for his brother’s attacker in search of revenge.

For a justice he believed wasn’t fully served.

Wasn’t what Izuku had done better? He actually had a valid excuse, separate from his own pride. If anything, out of the two of them Iida was the more prideful one. Hung up on things as overrated as honour.

“Midoriya, that is not something an upcoming police officer should say! With an attitude like that it would be best to stay clear of law enforcement.” Iida sighed, looking away from Izuku’s face.

“Or maybe we should change the law.” Izuku grumbled, shooting his friend a withering look.

He hadn’t meant to start a fight with Iida as well, it was starting to look as though the gap between his first friends and himself were widening. It’s not something he liked, but these were things he was starting to feel more and more.

The world around him seemed to be changing before his very eyes, and of course his own views and stances would change along with it. It wasn’t his fault that people around him weren’t getting with the program!

Still...the thought unsettled him.

Was he the one at fault here? Was he being too rigid, too forceful of his own thoughts and beliefs? It wasn’t realistic to expect his friends to have the same perspective as him but…

This wasn’t about opinions! This was about respect and the more he looked at, the more it was starting to seem like he was outgrowing his peers.

Not that he thought he was better than them, but it was more that…Izuku really wasn’t the same as him anymore.

Izuku Midoriya couldn’t be some happy go lucky kid, naive to the world around him. He knew what is meant to take a life, and to see his peers hurt and be taken from his very grasps.

He’d looked a murderer in the eyes and survived, and he would be doing this over and over again.

Iida worshiped his police officer brother - determined to be an upright and ideal Alpha of society. The ones that thought it was too harsh to fight a female or an Omega as equals.

And in some ways, even Muscular had accepted Izuku as that in their final fight.

People kept believing in this system that was starting to look more and more flawed that he thought about it. Instead of addressing All For One in public, One For All was a secret organization meant to keep people from panicking and these ideas from getting into the wrong hands.

The only issue was these problems were already in the wrong hands! It was so hypocritical! And this system that protected Omegas still seemed to view them as weak beings that needed Alphas to be locked up instead of properly educated.

It was all so messed up. And Izuku got to see with his own eyes a female Beta and a male Alpha fight and it had been a good one! Even if people said Alphas were more naturally inclined to combat nobody watching could possibly say that the Beta was by any means weak.

And yet, his own Alpha friend thought the girl should’ve just given up. Is this what Iida secretly thought of him as well? Even if it had been Izuku who had saved him from Stain - well Todoroki, an Alpha, had to help as well but…

Actually now that he thought about it, the only time he had truly bested an Alpha had been when he had killed one - which nobody but Izuku was truly aware of. Even his fight with Shinsou at the Sports Festival could be explained by Izuku simply having more knowledge in combat, so perhaps Izuku wasn’t as strong as he had made himself out to be.

He really didn’t like that thought one bit. Was Shindo and Iida right about him?

Iida frowns looking like he wanted to say something more but then Kacchan’s fight is up and Izuku ignores all else around him.

It was Kacchan’s time to shine, and Izuku couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Right now, he wanted to forget all thoughts of weakness and strength and just simply admire the reigning ‘Symbol of Victory’ in his heart.

Chapter 65: pine

The two Alphas begin their fight long before they truly start. They posture in that ring, circling around each other trying to seize one another up.

Kacchan’s got a devilish smile on his face, like he can already taste victory.

The other Alpha before him is one Izuku does recognize. He had been the Alpha friend of that bald guy Yoarashi. This man was very muscular, broad shoulders and hips. Huge arms, biceps built with muscle on top of muscle.

Unlike Kacchan, who was openly seizing him this man - Seiji Shishikura - had a very elite air about him. His entire get up was black, save for his muted purple hair. It seemed he carried the pride of his school in high regard - even his shorts carried the school symbol.

This guy almost screamed pretentious Alpha - Kacchan was going to hate him.

“Guys like you...Alphas like you, I really hate.” Shishikura stated, eyes looking annoyed. The disgust was extremely apparent in his tone, and now Izuku knew for sure that he wasn’t going to like this guy either.

“Oh, ya? Why do I scare you?” Kacchan answers with equal venom, not looking insulted in the slightest.

“Alphas that go around showing off your brute strength, because you have little else. To be honest, I don’t care whether I win or lose this tournament in the grand scheme of things. As someone who’s a year older to you, let me just say that your arrogant Alpha attitude is nothing to boast about.” the man seethed, slowly wrapping his hands grey and red hand wraps.

The crowd was getting riled up, interested in the typical Alpha-like bantering of a combat match. Izuku on the other hand found himself seething. What was this asshole up to?

“Oh? With that kinda attitude, I’ll be sure to beat your ass. Better watch your mouth, senpai!” Kacchan grinned, stretching his arms as the crowd yelled in excitement.

This match was already far different than the one before. Tokoyami’s match had gone at a much more sedate pace, with little to no words exchanged between the two opponents. It was a simple, objective match of simply which person had the better skill.

This had gotten personal real quick, both Alpha’s pride on the line.

As well as differing perspectives. Usually, Izuku could really get into fights like these. Fights with a cause, that meant something. That had a purpose.

But it was Kacchan fighting and that made Izuku all muddled up inside.

“You’re an overgrown brat, that’s what you are. If you went to a school as dignified as Shiketsu you wouldn’t act like this. Of course, everyone knows U.A’s gone to the dogs at this point, but you only make it that much more worse.” Shishikura sneered, flexing his own arms before each Alpha met at the center of the ring.

The tension between the two Alphas were palpable, and Izuku wondered how a fight like this would end up. If the Beta had taken that long to go down, these Alphas would no doubt refuse to give in easily either.

“Begin!” the Ref called as Kacchan spurred into action. Opening with his classic left hook, his opponent blocked before returning the gesture.

Izuku could hear Kacchan’s aggravated growls from where he was sitting.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, much more engaged in the current fight than they were the last. People were placing bets, deciding who was most likely to win - or why they thought a certain Alpha should win.

Izuku found himself thinking hard about the situation at hand. In a way, this fight almost mirrored Izuku’s own thoughts and ideologies fighting it out inside his own brain.

Wasn’t this the biggest question he had to face? What did it mean to be a ‘real’ or ‘ideal’ Alpha? What did it mean in their society? Was Izuku only so worked up about this now that he had presented as an Omega? Or was this something deeper, related to his own perspective in life?

All this while, he had more or less pretended to be blind to secondary genders. As a Beta, he didn’t care too much about it - it simply never affected him.

Now, it was. Suddenly, it was Izuku who was the victim Omega. He had become a person and then a delicate being to be protected.

Izuku didn’t like that one bit.

Even if it seemed like the entire world had shifted around him, as a person, as Izuku Midoriya he didn’t want to believe that a secondary gender could define him as a person.

Looking at Kacchan now, Izuku knew he wouldn’t love him any less no matter what gender he was. It wasn’t like a secondary gender was meant to limit a person’s potential nor restrict them in any way.

It was just there.

So, then, who made all these rules?

Omegas and Alphas were meant to roam the Earth alongside Betas. That was really the only fact, the only statement that could be made.

Alphas didn’t have to be aggressive or angry - Mina Ashido was a perfect example of this. That didn’t mean that they had to play the role of ‘knight in shining armour’ like Iida or Shishikura seemed to suggest.

There really was no ‘superior’ gender, each one had advantages of their own. Back in the days, Alphas were scavengers and fighters. Defending their land, hunting for food this was the old role they were meant to be played. These were the people for the future.

Then there were Omegas, who were homemakers and healers. More empathetic and sensitive in nature in order to help the next generation thrive. These people were resilient, able to calm an Alpha Rage, deal with their own heats and go back to business.

Then there were Betas. The middle ground and peacekeepers. In Packs, they helped deflate any conflict within the group able to navigate Omega’s overprotective nature and an Alpha’s overly demanding attitude.

These secondary genders were meant to coexist in harmony.

And yet...it would seem that nothing good was meant to last. For many years, Omegas had been looked down upon, and were seen as weak. Omegas had been forced to hide in their homes until they were ready to Mate.

This led to many problems. Slowly but surely, Omegas began to die out. Parents of Omegas would even go as far as killing or abandoning their children unable to deal with the shame of having such a weak, useless child.

At a point, the government intervened noticing the abnormally low rates of Omega Presentation. Soon there weren’t enough Omegas to level the Alphas and Betas were finding it harder and harder to contain the situation.

With some reform, laws were put in place to pay families to house Omegas. Since they had become so rare, Omegas were suddenly rare prizes to be kept.

Still hidden away in their Mate’s homes, but then they were occasionally shown off like precious jewelry.

Such a system didn’t last.Those who were oppressed, those whose voices had been silenced would not remain silent forever. There was a rebellion, many rebellions all over the world. Strikes, riots, and boycotts. Omegas shook the world to its core demanding rights on equal pay, rights to vote ect.

Now here they were, many years later. Omegas were now protected by many laws, and were - for the most part - seen as equal. Laws became much, much harsher on Alphas - and even more so for Alpha males.

Now a different group was becoming hurt. Alphas were rarely, if ever, seen as victims. They were violent, aggressive and physically stronger so it made sense that punishments would be equally as harsh.

It made sense to Izuku as a Beta, but not anymore.

He experienced an Omega Rage, Izuku knew how that felt like. He wasn’t himself, but the basest part of his secondary gender. He couldn’t think rationally, couldn’t think as clearly as he normally would and that was a problem. That was difficult.

In Izuku’s Omega Rage, he had killed a man. Even if he were a criminal, Izuku had still taken a life.

And gotten away with it.

He was just an Omega after all! If the Alpha was weak enough to become an Omega’s victim it was the Alpha’s fault. Omega Rage’s were so rare that they could be considered an extreme circumstance and everyone would just move along.

Yet, the same wouldn’t be said the other way around. Alpha Rages were similar to Omega Rages, and if an Alpha had killed an Omega in the way Izuku had he would be in jail. If he ever got out, people who scorn and isolate him.

Nobody would care that it was out of self defense, nobody would care that he had fallen to instincts that wouldn’t have followed logic.

The people around him would say -

“You shouldn’t be losing control like that. You’re an Alpha, you should know better! You are a shame to all Alphas. You don’t deserve to be an MMA Fighter when you act like a street thug!” Shishikura sneered looking unimpressed.

Kacchan grit his teeth and didn’t say a word, dodging the blow and then kicking the guy in the gut.

It would suckif you were an Alpha with mental illness, or base instincts you couldn’t handle. And what if you were unemployed, broke on the streets? Passing your ruts by yourself with no family to help you?

If you were an Alpha desperate for help, for salvation. For someone to see your struggles and accept you, and validate your experiences instead of putting you down. If you were so lonely, and desperate and hurt by a society that continued to shun you over circumstances you couldn’t control, what would you do then?

Izuku closed his eyes.

“You act like a criminal!” Izuku heard a loud slap echo across the air, and a familiar voice whimpering in pain.

“An Alpha like you is a disgrace to society! Here and now, I will beat you Katsuki Bakugou! There is no room for knothead Alphas in professional sport. You’re a joke to Toshinori and the MMA name!” Shishikura declared, as Izuku snapped his eyes opened.

He didn’t know how he had quite missed the development - perhaps he had been too deep into his own thoughts - but Shishikura had Kacchan underneath him in a chokehold, waiting for Kacchan to give up.

Izuku could hear his childhood friend struggling to breathe and goosebumps rose all over his skin.

That was Kacchan! His ‘Symbol of Victory’ keeled over like he was about to lose.

Izuku assessed his expression. Why was he just taking this? Izuku knew that usually his friend would be able to smack a guy like this across the face and then insult them in a second flat.

Had this extra’s words really had such a large effect on Kacchan?

Izuku could see it in his eyes clear as day. Kacchan had been off his game, distracted - by what, Izuku didn’t know.

To be fair, the guy had gone through a lot. He had been kidnapped by a bunch of crooked Alpha Supremacist criminals - and to have those words spit back on his face at a public event like this couldn’t have been easy.

If he acted like he usually would now, Kacchan would be proving this extra Alpha right.

Izuku could understand that conflict. Not wanting to succumb to the stereotypes of his secondary gender, but wanting to do what he believed he needed to do regardless.

And now with startling clarity, Izuku knows what he needs to do.

Izuku gets up from his seat, cupping his hands around his mouth to give his Kacchan a yell of encouragement.

“KACCHAN! Are you just gonna just sit there and let an extra take you down?! Where’s the Kacchan that wins no matter what?! Don’t lose, Kacchan!” Izuku screams loudly, his throat slightly raw at the amount of power he was releasing. He was cheering from his heart and Izuku sincerely hoped Kacchan would receive it with open arms.

Kacchan stops struggling suddenly, and for a minute Izuku really does think the Alpha is about to give up.

But then, Kacchan plants his feet into the ground in a bridge-like position. Arching his back off the ground, he traps Shishikura’s arms with his own crossed forearms and traps his legs with his feet.

Kacchan uses Shishikura’s surprise to his advantage, flipping their positions so Kacchan grasp his leg and arm and pulls backwards testing the Alpha’s flexibility.

“Heh, looks like the nerd is right. You wanna beg for mercy now, or should I continue, senpai?” Kacchan grins, as Kirishima and Kaminari holler loudly.

His friend continues to place all his body weight onto the other, grinning in satisfaction at the other Alpha’s suffering.

Finally, the man gives up and the victory goes to Kacchan.

Izuku barely registers the fact that Kirishima and Kaminari practically jump out of the stands to greet Kacchan with back slaps and congratulations.

Kacchan meets his gaze, eyes warm yet firm. Izuku gives him a soft smile, and to his shock the blonde sends him a small smile back.

Notes:

this fight ended up being more izuku inner monologue than actual action...oops

sorry not sorry for that but after yesterday's more play-by-play approach i wanted to switch it up

Chapter 66: bulrush

By the time it’s Izuku’s turn, he’s a big pile of nerves. Things were really starting to heat up, and Izuku wasn’t sure if he could take it.

As it was, this wasn’t Izuku’s area of expertise - not anymore. All of his life he had tried to run away, tried not to confront the things that made him feel weak. He didn’t like fighting because what it meant to him, to Izuku Midoriya the Beta.

Fighting had been something to prove one’s strength on physical force alone. They seemed like posturing contests, for Alphas to figuratively test who had the bigger knot. It was a matter of ego and pride for the competitors and a source of entertainment for the crowd.

It was cool in theory, but being in the ring himself made Izuku feel trapped.

Like he didn’t have a choice, and he’s either trample all over someone else or have someone else trample all over him.

But, as an Omega it was a bit different.

Maybe he didn’t need to fight for the sake of fighting but to prove his own strength. To prove the strength any Omega was capable of. He wasn’t fighting without a cause anymore.

If he could win this fight, against an Alpha, there would be no room for doubt. Not to him, not to his friends, not to Kacchan and not to anyone else watching.

Izuku was going to win this fight not in spite of being Omega, but because of it.

Izuku’s an opponent was an interesting Alpha girl - a student from Shiketsu High School - just like Kacchan’s opponent. Camie Utsushimi. She carried herself with an aura of authority, long brown hair going past her shoulders. She was intimidatingly attractive, an hourglass figure, big eyes and lips, and a gaze that could make anyone fall to her feet in an instant.

The woman grinned wolfishly at Izuku from across the ring, though her general demeanor seemed relatively relaxed. Unlike her peer, this woman made no effort to appear elegant or uppity and instead focused on stretching.

Unlike Tokoyami’s opponent however, this woman was dressed to kill. Her black bodysuit was skin tight - leaving very little to the imagination. Her body was curvy but definitely packed lean muscle. By looks alone, Izuku felt like he could take her easily.

Except it wasn’t about looks. There was glaze in her eyes that made Izuku feel exceedingly uncomfortable. It was like this woman could see right through him, though Izuku couldn’t quite explain why.

Izuku shrugged off his hoodie, taking a quick sip from his water bottle before moving to do his own stretches.

His own attire was a quick makeshift outfit using his own items and a borrowed pair of basketball shorts.

His own teal trisuit had been full of sweat from his track event. Izuku had barely had the time to rinse himself off in the boy’s locker rooms and eat lunch, much less wash his trisuit. Instead, he wore his gym shirt - the ugly blue and white U.A shirt - and Iida’s extra basketball shorts.

It wasn’t the most flattering outfit, but it would have to do.

“Good luck, Midoriya.” Utsushimi called over her shoulder, levelling Izuku with a calculating look.

On one hand, Izuku was very thankful this woman was nothing like the other Alphas Izuku had seen today. Not overly condescending, trying to demean him at every turn - like Shindo. Nor was she like her classmate Shishikura, who would likely ‘go easy’ on Izuku as a ‘refined gentlemen’.

No, this woman looked at Izuku like he was a worthy opponent. Like he could be her equal. That kind of gaze was one Izuku had longed to see from Kacchan once again, because it was a charged pointed look. To acknowledge the strength of another, but to simultaneously desire to contrast it to your own strength. It was this kind of fight that took Izuku’s breath away. The fight that meant something to both parties involved.

Izuku had no idea what he had done to earn this person’s respect, nor what was going on in her mind but Izuku refused to let her down.

Izuku was not going to lose this without a proper fight.

Once Izuku got the go ahead, he moved first. He wanted to set the tone for this match, regardless of whatever outcome would pass. Izuku refused to leave this place without having become someone memorable.

He started with what appeared to be a normal jab - which had quickly turned into a feint - and used his leg to kick the girl in the stomach.

The Alpha looked stunned for a moment, before the shock faded into a delighted grin

“Oh wow, you sure are fun! I thought so ever since I first saw you.” the girl laughed, and for a moment Izuku was distracted by the sound. The noise was distinct and shrill - Izuku almost felt like her face didn’t suit her voice at all. Her voice felt kind of familiar though he could not place where he had heard such a sound before.

This moment is enough for the Alpha to punch Izuku right in the stomach, causing Izuku to stumble backwards from the impact.

Damn, she could pack a punch.

Izuku dodged a few more jabs, trying to emulate what he had seen the Beta from the earlier match. The girl’s footwork had been stunning, and the ability to block, slip and dodge was a lot better than anyone Izuku had ever seen.

The woman tries to punch him in the stomach again - attempting to use Izuku’s feint against him - when Izuku quickly catches the right hand from dealing the damage it was about to do.

Izuku twists the woman’s arm in his grip, causing the woman to scream in response before Izuku moves away to create some distance between them.

He couldn’t afford to stay on the defensive forever, it hadn’t even worked for the Beta that had been better than Izuku. He needed to change this up, and change this up fast.

Sending a roundhouse kick to the woman’s forearm would be good but he needed to get within rage without taking any more punches.

Izuku moved to the left, feinting once again before pivoting quickly and kicking the woman in the arm as he had imagined.

The woman stumbled back before going at Izuku again, but Izuku performed quick successive front kicks. In usual circumstances an opponent would attempt to counter this by using a catch.

Using kicks in MMA were not usually recommended. Despite legs being one of the most powerful weapons of the human body, it was at a cost. In general, only roundhouse or front kicks were used, mainly because it didn’t leave the kicker too vulnerable. Committing to any fancier or flashier kicks was too risky. Getting caught wasn’t the only issue. Getting checked was also a problem, and if you were caught mid-spin kick it would mean a world of trouble.

This had always been an issue for Izuku. His legs had always been strong, and being unable to use them as he wished had also helped leave the MMA scene.

The flexibility in his legs was his greatest asset and being unable to use it in combat had really let Izuku down.

Right now though, his opponent looked overwhelmed. She hadn’t yet attempted to catch Izuku’s legs - too quick and swift for her to stop - and now she was put in the defensive.

Izuku had her cornered right where he wanted her, and he was ready to take her down. Pushed to the end of the ring, Izuku readied himself for one of his favourite kicks.

He set up his deadliest moves. A head kick combo. If he could land this properly he could finish this match and it would be over. There would be no dispute or debate about Omega or Alpha strength being greater.

It would be about Izuku fighting his damned best and winning! Just like Kacchan.

He began with setup no.1, a jab and a cross. Izuku watched the surprise in his opponent’s face with mirth. She probably hadn’t anticipated this change given Izuku’s barrage of kicks.

Good, this would further throw her off her game and guarantee Izuku’s victory.

Setup no.2 a side step, to avoid the counter punch his opponent would throw. Then with the opposite hand from earlier Izuku would perform setup no.3, a fake cross.

Utsushimi blocked her face off, trying to avoid any damage but she was falling further into Izuku’s clutches. Izuku turns his hand to grab his opponent’s head which finalizes setup no.4.

Finally, Izuku swung his left leg to perform the knockout. His leg moved to hit the woman straight in the head when suddenly, the woman grasped Izuku’s ankle with her own hand stopping the kick and using her other hand to hold his hip.

Izuku stares at her, stunned as she slams Izuku onto his back straddling him rather uncomfortably. She has Izuku’s arms pinned above his head, and Izuku really wants to go home. This was too much. Her breasts pressed up against Izuku’s body, a playful smirk gracing Utsushimi’s lips.

She smelled weirdly familiar. Like cherry cold, something sweet but in an overly artificial way. There was something else underneath it, though. Something metallic - like iron, maybe blood. It causes Izuku’s body to freeze as the girl keeps him on the ground.

Izuku feels fear, he feels dread. She reminds Izuku of that night, the night he wished he could forget. This woman reminds Izuku of Muscular - though it makes no sense as to why.

She smells like blood, and Izuku wants to keep her as far away as possible. In any case, this woman should know better. Izuku's arms were never a threat.

Izuku wraps his legs around her waist, before flipping their positions and cramming her body onto the floor without mercy.

He pushes her face into the floor without mercy, vision going hazy. All he knows is that he has to get rid of the blood smell, get rid of the threat and it takes the Ref patting Izuku’s back to indicate his victory to let the Alpha woman go.

That’s when Izuku is brought back to reality, listening to the roars of the crowd. Everyone is impressed by the male Omega’s absolute victory. They praised Izuku’s cruelty even when they had condemned Kacchan’s ambition.

This was so fucked up. He nearly killed this woman, if it hadn't been for the Ref…

Izuku could’ve…

Izuku would’ve...

There was no excuse for Izuku this time. This wasn’t in self defense, this wasn’t to protect anyone else. This was because Izuku was scared of a scent.

A very strong scent that would not leave Izuku alone.

He leaves the area, his ears ringing with the praise of his peers but his eyes are attached to the woman - Camie Utsushimi. There was something strange about her, because she wobbles when she gets up. Gasping for air because Izuku nearly suffocated her but she just grins at Izuku.

Izuku is brought back to the Training Camp from Hell. He remembers being alone for the Test of Courage, and having a very bad feeling.

He remembers the smell of burning wood, and chemicals he could not name but clogged his nose regardless.

Izuku remembers his concern for a pup all alone in the woods. He remembers the way that boy screamed, and remembers Alpha’s killing intent. Izuku remembers Muscular, the monster Alpha that was the star of all his nightmares if Tomura Shigaraki wasn’t.

Izuku could feel that same bubble of fear and desperation. The same crippling hate, the need to destroy, the need to rip into something or someone.

He had only wanted to protect someone precious. Izuku didn’t want that pup to get hurt, and Izuku couldn’t just let himself die. Izuku had only wanted to do the right thing.

Izuku had been all alone, trying to protect a pup that wasn’t his froma big bad Alpha who had wanted to destroy everything in his path.

He didn’t mean to! Izuku swore he wasn’t a killer or murderer. He didn’t want to harm people, that wasn’t the kind of person he was.

Izuku had been all alone, a victim of an Alpha’s bloodthirsty rage. The only way to survive that was to surpass his opponent’s desire. If he hadn't wished to destroy that Alpha more Izuku was sure he wouldn’t be alive.

Izuku had only killed to keep himself and others alive. He wasn’t a criminal. He was a good person, he had to be.

Then what was he doing now? What was the excuse for this poor woman, who hadn’t even done anything wrong? It was just a simple fight.

Was it because she was an Alpha? Was Izuku always going to respond to Alphas in this way?

No.

It wasn’t her secondary gender that scared Izuku, at all.

It was her scent.

Utsushimi’s eyes looked crazed, her scent bloodthirsty and Izuku’s desire to keep this woman away grew.

She wasn’t a regular person.

“You’re a very special Omega, Izuku Midoriya. A very special Omega indeed.”

This was someone Izuku had met before.

Camie Utushimi grins at Izuku readily, licking her lips before turning on her heels, dismissing the concerns of her classmates.

Izuku can’t help the shiver of disgust that haunts him, even as Kirishima claps his back in support and Iida admits Izuku’s ability. He doesn’t care for any of it, not at all because now he remembers why that scent is so familiar.

It smelled of that female Alpha Izuku had met at the Training Camp.

That thick putrid smell of blood.

Notes:

haha chapter 66...6? this chapter was...something.

Chapter 67: grapefruit

Summary:

deku's dilemma

Izuku rapantly searches for anyone resembling a responsible adult in the vicinity. He couldn’t find Aizawa-Sensei anywhere, and his heart was pounding the longer he couldn’t find someone. He needed to let someone know. If one of those awful criminals had invaded another innocent school activity again Izuku was going to scream.

It was like he could never escape them! No matter what he did, or where he went, these good for nothing criminals would be there to greet him. And he didn’t even know why! As far as these criminals knew, Izuku was nothing more than an average Omega who...had a keen sense of smell and figured out their plans with the Nomu but was that really enough to warrant this kind of stalking?

Or..or were they here for Kacchan?

If they were, Izuku wouldn’t ever forgive them. He was just about ready to throw hands at these assholes, law and civility be damned, but Izuku knew he couldn’t afford to act recklessly. There was too much on the line if he didn’t think his actions through.

Izuku needed to remember that he couldn’t just do what he wanted to anymore.

As Toshinori-Sensei had mentioned before, his role now was to be a figure of change. To take these guys down, Izuku would need to grow stronger and have enough influence to keep these Alphas at bay.

And to start doing that, he needed to have people who could help him get there.

After much wandering, and running around the arena like a headless chicken - Izuku finally found a security guard. Izuku immediately notified him of all the information he had. There was a suspicious smelling girl that Izuku recalled with his time at the Training Camp.

A girl with shoulder length brown hair, big brown eyes, wearing the Shiketsu uniform the last Izuku saw her. She went by the name Camie Utsushimi but he wasn’t entirely sure if that even was the woman’s real name. Izuku tells him that she last saw the girl exiting the school - which was the most suspicious thing of all - walking in the direction of a nearby alley.

The security guard surprisingly seemed to take Izuku seriously - stating he saw a new article about Izuku’s contributions to stopping the criminal attack at U.S.J. Izuku didn’t know how exactly to react to the information. He hadn’t been aware that his actions had been made public knowledge. Had there been an article written somewhere? Why did they leave Izuku’s name in?

What happened to basic privacy?

Instead of voicing these thoughts, Izuku goes back to the arena. The threat had left and was being dealt with - there was no need for added anxiety.

Despite this, Izuku couldn’t help but feel nervous. He had missed Todoroki’s match - though Iida had commented that the fight hadn’t been all the impressive - especially in comparison to Izuku’s match with the guy back during the Sports Festival.

He tries to hide his restlessness and smiles, nodding at the olive branch his friend was attempting to extend. Izuku couldn’t really bring himself to feel too sincere though, his emotions in complete disarray.

Trying to distract himself, Izuku looks to the next matchup : Yaoyorozu - who had also somehow managed to get forced into the combat when it was revealed that another school was short a person.

It surprised Izuku a bit, seeing as the woman hadn’t seemed all confident in her combat abilities before.

Yaomomo was dressed in a figure hugging red bodysuit. The woman paid a lot of attention and care to her body - often describing herself as someone who had to push themselves to perfection. She worked out a lot - Izuku would know as her occasional gym partner - and there wasn’t a day she’d skip out on her meal plan.

That being said, she carried a lot more muscle than what one would assume. Her posture was always flawless, and the way she carried herself was always with extreme grace. If Izuku was going to base a fight off of looks alone, Izuku would probably place his bet on the black haired girl.

Yet, her opponent was the most intimidating Omega Izuku had ever seen to date. A woman named Saiko Intelli - her entire persona seemed to exude a pretentious aura. She came from an all girl’s private school, Seiai. It seemed that she was the only person in her school who had attempted the combat matches.

She held herself with grace equal to that of Yaomomo. Even pushed into an elegant ponytail, her long lilac hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her ensemble was fit with all white mesh leggings and a dry fit t-shirt.

A majority of the fight was spent with the two girls circling each other, sporadically throwing jabs here and there. Overall, the two were on the defensive for the most part. Neither of them seemed as talented as the Beta from earlier when it came to footwork - Yaomomo in particular seemed to struggle blocking preferring to side step instead.

Yet, they seemed hesitant to get closer and really pull at each other’s hair.

Time was running out, and only when it hit the thirty second mark did anything to seem to change. Yamomo suddenly switched up the pace, using the roundhouse kick Izuku had used earlier to completely throw her opponent off guard.

Surprisingly, the woman had caught on and swiftly caught Yaomomo’s foot. Intelli attempts to twist her foot but Yaomomo punches the arm holding her foot and the two move away from each other.

Each woman assesses the other for a second, this time Intelli moves to do an inside crescent kick - a huge risk that she shouldn’t have taken - and Yaomomo throws her to the ground. The woman desperately tries to fight Yaomomo’s grip but it is too late. Intelli had lost the fight as soon as she had attempted the flashy kick.

It was a shame, actually. For someone who specializes in taekwondo or karate, combat could be particularly hard. Most of these ‘general combat’ fights had an unfair advantage for MMA Fighters - but that was the target demographic. Which really sucked for people who wanted to show off any skills they had developed. It seemed that this girl had probably realized she had spent too much time analyzing the fight - and not actually fighting. Yaomomo had also spent time doing the very same thing, she had only snapped out of it quicker.

By the time Intelli had woken up, it had been too late. Yaomomo had moved quicker, faster and better. Intelli might’ve been especially skilled in whatever martial art she practiced - and that was great! - but it didn’t translate in this match at all.

In a desperate attempt to prove her worth Intelli had attempted a flashy kick. And she had to pay for it in double. Unfortunate, but it was the reality of the situation. Intelli seemed to realize this too, accepting her defeat gracefully.

In fact, Yaomomo seemed to be in more disbelief about her victory than her opponent. Mouth wide open in shock, as she helped the other Omega to her feet.

The two respectfully bow before departing - Intelli looking a little lost and Yaomomo still in shock. Izuku was happy to greet his fellow Omega friend with a hug, more than excited about Yaomomo’s victory for the both of them.

Soon enough, the fights drew to a close and all the victors were welcome to join the free for all dodgeball game at the end of the day.

Izuku found himself wandering around the large room, searching for the yummy appetizers Uraraka had been raving about as soon as he had entered. Izuku takes this time alone to get a better grip on his surroundings.

He was still paranoid about Camie Utsushimi - or whatever her name was. The security guard hadn’t got back to him, though it didn’t seem like the woman would come back to the arena.

Still, the girl gave him a very bad feeling.

Izuku blankly takes a couple gyoza and a napkin when Sero and Kaminari bump into him. The impact and their undetected presences makes Izuku more wound up than usual. Making him stumble and causing his gyoza to get tossed into the air.

It is only thanks to Izuku’s fast reflexes that he’s able to save his food. He finds himself staring at his two classmates in disappointment before Kaminari finally collects his thoughts.

“Midoriya, you sly fox! We saw you getting up and personal with that hot Alpha babe! Man, that girl was just my type. Ugh, and to think you had her wrapped around your finger in no time. There’s no contest, I guess. You had her all pressed against you, and she was definitely into it. And don’t think I didn’t see you running after her! There’s no way you didn’t get her number. ” Kaminari grumbles, looking betrayed.

“Yeah, Midoriya. I didn’t think you had that much game. Your face makes you seem so innocent and cute, but you’re secretly a real perv aren’t you? It’s always the nice ones that are super kinky Kaminari, you shouldn’t have let it fool you.” Sero sighs in mock exasperation.

“W-What? N-NO! It isn’t like that, I was just looking for the security guard and -” Izuku denies with all his might trying to will away the blush that would make him seem even more incriminating.

“What’s this about Midobro being kinky?” Kirishima grinned, his sharp teeth glistening. The Beta seemed far too pleased by this conversation and Izuku didn’t like that one bit.

“I-I...that’s not! I’m not...it’s not like that, I swear! You guys can’t be saying that, you saw me having my first kiss with Kirishima I’ve never done anything like that!” Izuku tries to explain, not knowing how to handle this conversation at all.

This had been the very last thing he was thinking about.

He hadn’t been checking Camie out at all! He had been more concerned with much more important matters, like how he was going to defeat her. And how she was probably partly responsible for Kacchan’s kidnapping.

But he couldn’t just say such things in this environment. He couldn’t make them panic, they shouldn’t have to be. He didn’t want his Pack to deal with the stress and paranoia he was feeling. They shouldn’t have to, and they definitely didn’t deserve to.

At the same time, he could smell Kacchan’s angry scent from a mile away. It was smokier than usual with none of the lingering caramel that usually made his scent so pleasant. Which meant that he didn’t like this conversation and Izuku couldn’t agree more.

“You don’t have to lie to Midoriya. It’s only natural! You’re a cute male Omega and she’s a smoking hot female Alpha. That’s a match made in heaven if I’ve ever seen one and -” Sero grinned, and Izuku really couldn’t take this anymore.

Kacchan’s scent and his own frustration pushed the words out of his mouth before he had the time to think them through.

“I don’t like girls like that!” Izuku blurted as everyone around him froze. Kirishima didn’t look all too surprised, no visible reaction on his face. Kaminari opened his mouth in shock before closing it. He looked at Izuku strangely for a second before nodding, a small smile on his lips.

Sero only raised an eyebrow.

Izuku found himself even more flustered, Kacchan’s scent was sweetening - and Izuku decided not to think too much about that - and he swallowed trying to defend himself even though nobody seemed to care that much.

“I-It’s not that I don’t, uh, like girls. I’m not a misogynist, girls are nice! I just...um, I’m not romantically interested in...girls are cute and everything...you know what, I’m just going to - ” Izuku stuffed a gyoza into his mouth to prevent him from talking further.

He was really losing it! What was he even saying?

Of course, Izuku found both females and males objectively attractive. He would get flustered if anyone was in his personal space or had any kind of romantic or physical attraction to him. He wasn’t used to that kind of attention, so naturally, he would be shy about those things.

He just wasn’t interested in anyone but Kacchan. That was all there was to it. Girls, guys it didn’t matter. If Kacchan had been born a female he would've liked him all the same. If Kacchan was an Omega or Beta, he would’ve still liked him as much as he did now.

It had nothing to do with liking a certain gender - Izuku would only ever like this person. He could see how cute, or pretty, or beautiful other people were but it wasn’t the same.

Nobody quite riled him up like Kacchan. He was special to Izuku.

Izuku felt Kacchan’s scent nearing, and a warm arm wrapping around his shoulders. His face flushed in further embarrassment unable to take this conversation anymore.

“Hey, assholes you better fuck off. Clearly Deku doesn’t give two shits about that extra, and now you’re making him out himself to all these weirdos. Cut that shit out.” Kacchan growls, though his scent smells strangely sweet for someone who was attempting to defend him.

“W-Woah, I didn’t mean anything by it! It’s cool Midoriya, you like what you like. Though if you’re willing to give me your number -” Kaminari grins as Kacchan stiffens and Izuku barks out a laugh.

“T-Thanks for saying Kaminari-kun, but you don’t have to go so far. You didn’t mean to make me say anything, it’s not your fault. The number joke was pretty funny, though!” Izuku laughs, Sero joining in as well.

Kirishima and Kaminari stare at Izuku weirdly as Kacchan’s grip seems to tighten.

“You’re really something, bro.” Kirishima laughs, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Definitely still the oblivious cinnamon roll I knew you were from the start.” Kaminari grins, looking both slightly exasperated.

“Besides, don’t you have his number from that class group chat anyway? What are you even saying, idiot.” Sero rolls his eyes, playfully swatting at Kaminari’s arm.

“I’m not an idiot, idiot!” Kaminari whines, whacking Sero a little harder than necessary. Sero rises to the bait, a shit eating grin on his face when someone announces the beginning of the next game.

Izuku turns to tell Kacchan that they should be on the same team, when he notices that the blonde had been staring at him intently for a while now.

“Hey, Deku.” Kacchan says instead, getting Izuku to focus on him as their friends start moving to the exit.

“Kacchan?” Izuku asks curiously, tilting his head. Kacchan looks like he wants to say something else, but the announcement is repeated once again to hurry them further.

“That thing with you and Toshinori-Sensei...I know there’s something weird going on. I’m not gonna pressure you on whatever is going on or whatever because I trust you but...don’t go doing dumb things on your own.” Kacchan informs, before walking away and leaving Izuku to stare after him.

Fuck.

Notes:

this chapter was really fun to write! sometimes i need to force myself to go through some events in a bulletpoint fashion but...this chapter just flowed out of me nicely.

hope you guys are enjoying <3

i'm still contemplating where i want to end this. this honestly became a lot longer than i originally anticipated and a part of me wants to end it soon after they get together (which would be pretty soon, maybe a week or so worth of updates)

however!

i do see lots of potential in going through with the overhaul and cultural festival arc,, still don't know if i want it in this fic. it's already massive and i wouldn't mind finishing this up and considering a short sequel with those arcs included. what would you guys prefer? should i go until the cultural festival in this fic or make a separate fic for after they get together?

please leave me your thoughts in the comments!

Chapter 68: benzoin

Unlike the other events for the day, there was no preamble before their next activity. In the center of the room were various dodgeballs and the students were simply ushered into the room with little explanation.

What was even more surprising were some of the faces of the people still attending the match.

Somehow, it seemed that Yo Shindo had managed to find a spot here. Perhaps he, like Izuku, had participated in more than one event and had found better success there.

In any case, Izuku remained wary. He looked around his vicinity, his friends all milling about to go into position. Most of his class had moved on to this game, and Izuku was curious to see how it would play out.

Kirishima and Kaminari easily stuck by Kacchan’s side, the two of them chattering without a stop and Izuku could tell Kacchan would be rolling his eyes right about now.

“Hey, Midoriya-kun! What’s the plan?” Yaomomo calls, startling Izuku from his thoughts.

“Huh? Plan?” Izuku blinked, realizing much of his class had gathered around him. He didn’t know why they were asking him of all people. Iida and Yaomomo had the highest grades in the class, and even Kacchan was smarter than him. Why they would come to Izuku for directions hardly made sense to him. Izuku barely knew what he was doing himself.

“Yes, that would be wise. During every conflict or fight so far, you’ve managed to remain calm and implement rather useful strategies to defeat your opponents. I’d imagine it would translate well in sports - considering your best fights are usually won using your tactical knowledge.” Todoroki added, his lips quirking up slightly.

“Midoriya is rather resourceful as well, when he puts his mind into it.” Iida finishes, as many of their classmates murmur in agreement.

Izuku stares at them blankly for a moment before letting his face flush completely.

He didn’t deal with compliments well.

“Uh..well.” Izuku looked around, assessing what the people around them were doing. “Most people are going to stick with their own schools and classmates, since they know each other. That being said, having excessively large groups wouldn’t be beneficial in the long run. It would be better for us to seperate into groups of three to four and take down as many other schools as we can. During this time we can help each other take down the same opponents and should avoid hitting people from our own class. But when the groups get smaller it will start becoming ‘every man for themselves’ so there’s that.” Izuku explained, before his eyes strayed to the stands.

It was strange - the men with their clipboards were still here. The committee members hadn’t left, even though they had made this event seem like a fun activity used as a cool down for the athletes.

Yet...if that was the case, why did only the top athletes of the previous matches get to play?

What was up with that?

Seemed pretty suspicious to Izuku, but he didn’t have enough evidence to make a conclusion off of that information alone. All he could really confirm from this was that the committee hadn’t stopped evaluating them.

What they were still evaluating them for was beyond Izuku’s understanding.

Izuku’s classmates seemed satisfied with his little speech, but before they could leave Izuku found himself opening his mouth to speak again anyways.

“They’re still testing us!” Izuku blurted, eyes still glued to the committee still seated in the stands. Even Aizawa-sensei was actively paying attention - which meant this game did hold some kind of weight and this situation was something their teacher had been privy to but hadn’t notified them about. “Look at the stands.”

His classmates turn to find what Izuku was looking at and grumble, unhappy with the turn of events.

“What could they possibly be evaluating us for now?” Hagakure whines, sounding petulant.

Before anyone can say much more the round begins.

Izuku finds himself paired with Uraraka and Sero, a rather strange combination. If it were up to him, Izuku would be with Todoroki or Iida - as he had a better understanding of their movements and generally knew what to expect from them.

However it seemed that Todoroki was trying to branch out a bit more - which Izuku couldn’t bring himself to be upset about. For a long time the guy had isolated himself from the class - burdened by resentment and hatred for his teacher. Izuku couldn’t possibly fault him for looking to make more friends. This exercise was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Todoroki left with Tsuyu and Hagakure. Iida went along with Shoji and Aoyama, and Yaomomo joined forces with Ashido and Jirou.

The game quickly became chaotic.

Uraraka - who was rather familiar with throwing - was their main line of offense while Sero would sneakily pick balls from the ground to pass on to her. While doing this, Izuku would collect balls to deflect incoming hits or would catch a ball when appropriate.

They worked surprisingly well for a hodge-podge team - with Uraraka focused on attack, Izuku focusing on defending and Sero supplying them with ammunition as they went along.

Other groups were seeing a bit more difficulty. While Kacchan and Kirishima worked well together - in this different environment with the added variable of having Kaminari along it looked like they were struggling to find balance a bit.

Kacchan had incredibly strong arms, and in combat his accuracy was perfect. He practiced until he was absolutely flawless with every move in MMA - and this in addition to his natural talent for most activities helped succeed in any task he encountered. It was because of his ‘natural born genius’ that he came across as cocky and unbearable, and his attitude was more on the aggressive side. So working as a team wasn’t something he usually did.

Even in middle school P.E, Kacchan was always a ball hog unable to accept or offer help when necessary. This made him very awkward in team sports - but until now he never really had to worry about it. Their gym time had been focused on their own sports. Kacchan didn’t really need to think about it - and when he needed to be on any kind of team he’d rely on Kirishima.

Usually Kirishima could navigate and mitigate the situation. After interacting with Kacchan enough, he could easily move around what he needed. Whatever Kacchan didn’t anticipate he would cover easily.

The issue now was that this game was against people they didn’t know. People they couldn’t yet predict. On top of this and Kaminari slightly changed their dynamic, and this addition changed how they functioned together.

Luckily, they had managed to keep themselves afloat. Kirishima acted as defense, Kaminari would collect the balls from the floor and Kacchan was on offense. Kacchan was starting to get a little too riled up though, and Izuku could only hope it wouldn’t cause them too many problems.

It goes smoothly for a few more moments until it doesn’t.

A tall muscular man jumped from the stands and onto the gym floor. Everyone stood in shock, staring at the ripped shirtless man flexing in the middle of their game.

The man was wearing a weird array of wraps along his body, with numbers labelled at various areas.

The first area was at the center of his forehead, the number ‘1’ written in orange. It was almost like a headbanned if it weren’t for the orange numbering being made up of little LED lights.

The next area was where the man’s heart was located, a similarly written ‘2’ lighting up his chest.

The final area was where his stomach would be located.

As Izuku gazed at him further he realized just who he was looking at.

It was one of the top ten MMA Fighters, known as ‘Gang Orca’. The Alpha had a huge orca tattoo that started from the left pectoral and ended at his bicep. The tattoo was admittedly incredibly cool but the amount of ink on his body had subjected him to much controversy in tabloids and magazines for being unprofessional. He was voted as the most likely to engage in criminal behaviour for his for being a fierce Alpha and his tattoos alone.

“We would like to notify you that the rules to this game will now be altered. For every opponent you take down, you will be awarded five points. However, those of you who manage to hit Gang Orca in the areas shown, you will be awarded 50 points alone. Only those of you who are awarded with the most points will be awarded NCAA status.”

Izuku couldn’t believe his ears.

“NCAA? What is that?” Uraraka wondered, as the mood changed around them.

Izuku frowned, unable to fully comprehend the turn of events. “The NCAA is officially called the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It’s supposed to be a university level program - though it is unheard of for well-rounded high schoolers to take part as well. It gives you lots of perks, opportunities for international championships, potential scholarships and job opportunities etc. But, it’s weird to me that this assessment is happening like this. Why would they -” Izuku nearly gets hit right in the face.

That’s right. They didn’t have time to chit chat, the stakes were higher now that this wasn’t just a leisure game with nothing but pride on the line.

They actually had something to lose now.

People were getting more brutal by the second, and Izuku was starting to notice something interesting. MMA Alphas such as Todoroki and Kacchan were now attempting to go after Gang Orca right away.

While Izuku also wouldn’t mind going after the guy - 50 points would definitely give him an edge - he wouldn’t forsake his team just yet. Besides, some of these jerks are throwing a lot harder than necessary and Izuku wanted to put those guys in their place.

After systematically targeting the biggest jerks on the gym floor, Izuku could see that Uraraka was starting to seek Tsuyu out. Sero also seemed to be glancing at Kaminari a lot, seeing as Kirishima and him had just lost a member of their team.

Still wanting to go head to head with Gang Orca, Izuku made a quick decision.

“Guys, we can separate now if you’re ready.” Izuku notifies his teammates. Uraraka looks like she’s going to argue but Sero just shoots Izuku a grateful glance before running to Kaminari’s side.

Seeing Sero’s easy acceptance, Uraraka nods at Izuku happily before doing the same.

Izuku grins before his eyes catch a stray dodgeball coming his way. He ducks his head just in time as the ball bounces off the floor to hit someone else instead.

Izuku approaches Gang Orca - simply by the heady forgein scent Izuku hadn’t recognized when he realizes what he’s truly smelling.

It appeared as though Inasa Yoarashi from earlier wasn’t necessarily as happy go lucky as he first appeared. He and Todoroki were levelling particularly angry faces at each other, their faces just a hair’s breadth away from one another.

Neither of them looked like they were in any kind of Rage or Rut. But the heedy, intense scent of the two of them was quickly filling up the room.

Izuku noted the way other genders were reacting, pinching their noses and turning away from Gang Orca. Even Kacchan had stayed away, looking disgruntled and choosing to instead pick off more opponents from the field.

Despite that, even Kacchan seemed to be reacting the dominating scent - his own pheromones becoming stronger in response - his Alpha trying to display it’s own strength unwillingly.

Izuku could see his childhood friend struggling to reign his instincts. His eyes had sharpened - one of the easiest tells he had - but his hands were turning white from how hard he was clenching them.

His throws were growing harsher - unnecessarily so. Izuku had to help him, but...he looked at the two of the Alphas again.

They were arguing - about what Izuku didn’t know - but he rarely saw Todoroki lose his composure like this. His eyes were meaner than usual, and his face was glowing with fury.

The two Alphas were circling each other - as if to posture their strength like Alphas in the olden days. The situation was looking worse and worse and Izuku wasn’t sure how he could help.

Todoroki had started growling - making weird clicking noises and Izuku knew he had to interfere somehow.

He quickly produced his own worried scent - letting it out strongly so the attention from angry Alpha would lessen from the scent of distressed Omega.

It seemed to work for a moment - Todoroki’s gaze instantly snapped to him. His eyebrows furrowed and his scent changed with Izuku’s trying to be less smoky and intrusive and more soothing and sweet - the strong myrrh and incense sweetening into Todoroki’s usual peppermint.

“Midoriya? Are you okay?” Todoroki asked, his voice slightly hoarse from all the unusual growling he had been doing.

Izuku fights the urge to smile at his friend’s genuine concern. Todoroki was a really great friend to have, he was lucky to know him. But right now, his friend izuku would have to scold him.

Gang Orca seemed equally as surprised as the two Alphas and Izuku uses that moment of shock to whirl a dodgeball successfully onto location three.

“Keep your eyes on your goal! If you want to be a better person than your father, you can’t go picking fights now. Come on Todoroki, you’re a better Alpha than that!” Izuku scolded as he smelled the scents of the two Alphas softening further.

It seemed his actions had worked. The two Alphas levelled a very loaded look at each other before turning to face Gang Orca together.

Izuku hides his smile as he leaves the two Alphas to it - searching for any more points to grab.

From the corner of his eye, Izuku can see Kacchan getting more and more worked up. He wasn’t sure what was going on with the blonde but he seemed plenty worked up. Whipping the dodgeballs with force he really didn’t need to be using.

When Izuku looked up at the stands, he could see the distaste the committee members seemed to be expressing at the Alphas attitude.

At that moment, the end of the game was announced and Izuku was proud to see that both Todoroki and Yoarashi had scored 50 points each.

Still he looked back at the committee members on the stands. They didn’t look too happy, and Izuku worried that even with their quick cooperation the two would suffer some kind of consequence.

Izuku could only hope that things would turn out alright for his hot tempered friends.

Notes:

PLEASE READ:

i'm still contemplating where i want to end this. this honestly became a lot longer than i originally anticipated and a part of me wants to end it soon after they get together (which would be pretty soon, maybe a week or so worth of updates)

however!

i do see lots of potential in going through with the overhaul and cultural festival arc,, still don't know if i want it in this fic. it's already massive and i wouldn't mind finishing this up and considering a short sequel with those arcs included. what would you guys prefer? should i go until the cultural festival in this fic or make a separate fic for after they get together?

please leave me your thoughts in the comments! ILY <3

Chapter 69: osmanthus

As the remaining students gathered around the big screen for their results Izuku could see the anxiousness on everyone’s faces. For the most part it was pretty difficult to figure out how well you performed unless you seriously stood by and did nothing.

Izuku supposed he didn’t have to worry too much, but he couldn’t escape the sinking feeling that there was something more to the exercise. In full honesty, this kind of game wasn’t a great demonstration of athletic ability. Dodgeball wasn’t exactly a sport many people specialized in. Yet…

What had been the purpose of Gang Orca? Izuku didn’t quite understand. At this point, he was too tired to think that his body was seriously overheating. He had been pushing his body all day, and it was starting to take a toll on him.

Kirshima had fully sat on the ground uncaring of anything else and Izuku’s respect for the guy grew. The floor looked nice and cool, an easy remedy to Izuku’s sweaty limbs.

“Alright, kids! As you know, this process was actually meant to recognize which athletes would be allowed to become NCAA members. This is a huge privilege, only for those students who are the best of the best. The first round was to determine only the top from each event, and from there we ran this round. What this dodgeball game was meant to showcase was the amount of sportsmanship and team spirit each of you could have in high stress situations. You’ve been awarded and docked points according to how well you dealt with the situation. This was given more priority than the amount of points you were awarded for taking people out.” Gang Orca explained, causing people to whisper amongst themselves.

Izuku was instantly alarmed by the news, looking at Todoroki and Kacchan’s faces. Izuku’s childhood friend grit his teeth, looking unhappy with the new information and even Todoroki looked visibly shaken.

Yikes.

“With that in mind, please look to the screen for the results. If your name is listed you’ve made it!” the Alpha finishes, making Izuku snap back to reality.

He searches for his name desperately - unsure if his idea to take on Gang Orca by himself would be used against him. Slightly panicking, Izuku looks over the list of names before finally finding his own.

Midoriya, Izuku.

Izuku sighs in relief before looking for Kacchan and Todoroki names - worried about their prospects - and unable to find them, Izuku deflates.

Those two...Izuku turns to look at their faces but neither seemed all that surprised. The Mera Committee guy starts talking again but Izuku can’t bring himself to pay attention. Kacchan looks visibly distressed, and Izuku had to reach him.

Approaching his friend quietly, he can’t help but feel slightly guilty about not helping Kacchan when he could. Maybe if he had concentrated on Kacchan instead of attempting to deescalate the situation with Todoroki -

No, no. no. That wasn’t right, that wasn’t right either. If Izuku hadn’t intervened, then that fight could’ve gotten out of hand - could’ve caused a real Rage.

Izuku reaches out to gently touch Kacchan’s shoulder, taking in his friend’s saddened disposition.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Kacchan growls, shaking Izuku to the core. Kacchan hadn’t been that angry with him in a long time, and now it was coming back with an intent Izuku couldn’t understand. Kacchan turns from him, walking away in frustration.

Izuku moves his hand belatedly, staring after him sadly. Honestly, he’d prefer physical pain to this scathing look. Kacchan often looked pissed off, like he would rather die than talk to people but that was much different from his raw emotions.

The image of Kacchan’s retreating back….it made Izuku feel so empty. It was like the past few months hadn’t even happened. Those months filled with bliss, simply scenting Kacchan everyday. Laughing with him, talking with him, just soaking in his presence. It's like all of those events had never even occurred to begin with.

His angry facade was nothing of actual concern - he was just a grumpy old man trapped in the body of a teenager. And he was incredibly easy to rile up if you knew how to push the right buttons.

Right now, it seemed that Izuku had unknowingly pushed all the wrong ones. It’s been a long time since Izuku was on the receiving end of such hateful glare from the blonde.

When it came to the two of them, everything always became impossibly intense.

He didn’t fully understand why. Izuku could never get what he did to earn Kacchan genuine ire. Izuku had never hurt the blonde intentionally - he wanted whatever Kacchan wanted as well. Whatever made Kacchan happy was fine.

That’s why….that’s why the day Kacchan told him to stay out of his way he had done it. He just wanted Kacchan to be happy - if it wasn’t with him but Kacchan's side.

For a very long time Izuku had told himself that he was okay with it.

That even if his love was never reciprocated, and even Kacchan only ever pushed him away, Izuku could love him from afar. Izuku used to tell himself that he should be grateful to have known Kacchan at all.

That everything would be okay, because he held Kacchan in his own heart and that would have to be enough for him.

But...in truth he had never been strong enough for such a thing to be true. Time and time again, Izuku found himself becoming a victim of circumstance. A weak little boy running around in the world of adult’s pretending like he had done something worthwhile.

Had he?

Izuku could be the next leader of One For All, a strong Omega, and perhaps he could be a hero of some sort. But was that all he ever wanted to be? A distant image in someone’s heart? This being a hero thing was a lot more difficult in practice than it was in movies or books.

He was constantly paranoid, waiting for the other shoe to the drop. Unable to fully trust his environment or the people around him anymore, and barely able to still trust himself. It was like the entire world was shifting before his eyes and he was helpless to stop it.

And why was he doing it? Why did Izuku try so hard to be a worthy successor? Toshinori-sensei was a good guy, but he wasn’t as flawless or as untouchable as he had once used to be. There was no glamour or reward to this kind of lifestyle.

Only suffering. That’s what this was wasn’t it?

He had become the next body, the next weapon, the next weapon to defeat the tyrannical organization that was All For One. Who was supposed to be just a group of criminal lowlives who were inherently bad and deserved punishment.

Which wasn’t the case at all. These Alphas were just victims to circumstances - and though they went about their actions the wrong - the reality was hard to deal with.

Izuku had already taken the life of someone he had considered the scum of the Earth. There was nothing redeemable about a guy who killed for the fun of it, but even killing him had left it’s mark on the Omega.

If that had been hard, killing someone who had good intentions or righteous motives would be impossible. But, Izuku had avoided thinking about it because he had other good things in life.

Good things like Kacchan finally talking to him again. Like being in Kacchan’s arms.

Izuku had thought that...he had thought that even if it wasn’t in a romantic sense as he had he still had Kacchan’s support. He still had the Alpha by his side, someone who Izuku could be vulnerable with and whom Kacchan could be vulnerable with in return.

And yet, the look on his face right now reminded him too much of that day. The absolute disgust in Kacchan’s tone about Izuku’s scent and about how much he repulsed him. The day he had told Izuku to basically kill himself.

One of those incidents Izuku had known hadn’t been said with actual intent, but to know that he disgusted Kacchan that much was almost too much to bare.

The rest of the day was spent glumly, as he took the little card signifying his ‘NCAA’ membership. He forgets to send pictures to his mom and mentor, as he normally would have too caught up in his thoughts. It didn’t feel like a joyous occasion, not anymore.

The one guy Izuku cared about more than anyone....

Was it always going to be this way? Running circles trying to chase a guy who was always running away from him?

Izuku didn’t know anything anymore. He felt a lot more sullen than he had felt in a long, long time.

---

Katsuki felt a lot more sullen than he had felt in a long, long time. He didn’t know anything anymore.

He was constantly running around in circles, chasing after the guy that was running away from him. Was it always going to be this way?

The one guy Katsuki cared about more than anyone…

This wasn’t a joyous occasion. Not in the way he had hoped, not in the way he had expected. Katsuki Bakugou was supposed to be better than this, so why all of a sudden did this happen?

He was supposed to be the big cool Alpha that impressed Izuku with his strength, intelligence and sensibility. He was supposed to be strong. All his life, he was the ace, the genius. People looked at him in awe, because no matter what challenge Katsuki Bakugou faced, he always won. Katsuki didn’t win things in life by sitting on his ass and doing nothing. He spent most of his time trying to hone his skills, study when necessary. He was the best because he had only ever been the best.

And now, look how far he’d fallen. What was the point in being the best MMA Fighter in the class if he couldn’t even get something as dumb and inane as NCAA membership. In the grand scheme of things, sure he would be fine without it but that wasn’t the point.

People less capable than him had gotten there all because he was just...all because he couldn’t...fuck!

He didn’t like working with other people! In group projects and gym class, all the stupid extras would only weigh him down. Would only make Katsuki do all the work, and profit off of his efforts. He hated that mentality to bits, so most of the time he chose to work alone.

Of course, at U.A it was different. Working with Kirishima was different. Despite being a complete dumbass, Katsuki knew the guy would work hard to do what he could. Kirishima was earnest and honest, so it made it hard for Katsuki to say no to the guy.

The same reason he found it hard to say no to Deku sometimes as well.

And Kaminari was also a dumbass, less earnest than Kirishima but he had proven to pull his weight. Katsuki had thought he worked with his teammates better than he usually did but of course these asshole committee members didn’t know that.

They heard his swearing and angry attitude and decided he was an Alpha unfit for the privilege. This is what ticked him off the most.

To make matters worse, the entire day had pissed him off. Stupid Yo Shindo, belittling Deku at every turn but also making every possible excuse to get into his personal space.

Speaking of Deku, the little shit seemed to be alarmingly good at attracting dangerous Alphas to him. Which pissed Katsuki off even more, because he wasn’t the same as those assholes!

Fucking Camie Utsushimi pressed up against him. It made Katsuki want to tear his hair out, he hadn’t really gotten the chance to scent Deku all day and seeing that female Alpha all over him nearly sent Katsuki out of the stands.

So Katsuki had tried controlling himself. He was controlling himself all day, because they were in public and the press didn’t need more excuses to condemn Katsuki for being an unsavoury Alpha like the criminals that had kidnapped him.

Which pissed him off even more!

It was like his fury was bubbling up underneath his skin, and he wanted to just fight something or someone. He hated feeling like this, like he wasn’t in control of himself. It made him feel weak, like he had never been strong to begin with.

He felt so raw and useless and then there was fucking Deku. Deku who basically had everything Katsuki could ever want in life. Toshinori-sensei’s approval, NCAA certification and the missing piece of his heart.

It frustrates him sometimes, how easily the nerd got under his skin. Nobody could rile him up better, and there wasn’t a single second in the day that Katsuki wanted to be in his personal space or by his side. He wanted to hold him, kiss him, touch him or whatever else the Omega would allow.

So when Izuku closes in on him, trying to comfort him - obviously - trying to give him pity Katsuku didn't want in any manner. But having him touch him is both so tempting and a horrible idea. If he lets Izuku touch him, he'll be proving his own insecurtities right. Because he would either melt into the touch and scream into the Omega's shoulder in frustration or he would...lose himself in the idiot's intoxicating scent. He'd Claim him right then and there, regardless of the eyes watching them. In fact, it would spur Katsuki on even more. All the idiots would back off he did.

But he couldn't succumb to his instincts like that. Not here, because that make the Committee correct on their assumptions on what kind of Alpha Katsuki was. And Katsuki wouldn't ever allow them to think that they were right about him or their decision. 

No matter how much he wished to bury himself in the Omega's scent he couldn't do that here. He couldn't be so weak in front of all these people but...he could be weak in front of Izuku. Because Izuku would always be the only person strong enough and good enough to get to see it.

But it still stung. To push Izuku away like that, again. It reminded Katsuki of more difficult times, when he couldn't sort out his own emotions. He wasn't like that anymore but... what use was Katsuki to a strong Omega like that?

Izuku didn't protection, didn't need Katsuki to deal with life for him. He was more than capable of handling those things on his own, but that didn't mean Katsuki didn't which the Omega would just rely on him more. Trust him a bit more.

He wouldn’t even tell Katsuki what was bothering him - probably worried about burdening Katsuki or something dumb like that. Which also pissed Katsuki off. He had a feeling he knew what was going on with the Omega. Something related to that sketchy organization he had mentioned to take down All For One. But that was a different issue altogether. What was annoying was the fact that Izuku wouldn't trust him. That even Toshinori-Sensei had skirted around the issue when he had visited his house that one time. 

Since when was Katsuki someone who needed to be protected? By Izuku of all people? He could take care of himself, and he was more than capable of taking care of Izuku too. Katsuki only wished the idiot would let him.

But how could he complain? Now that he couldn’t even get a shiny piece of plastic to prove his worth.

Which wasn’t fair. He was strong and he was responsible and Izuku knew that too. He was tired of second guessing. Katsuki was tired of seeing Izuku walking around like the entire weight of the universe was on his shoulders alone. Katsuki was tired of being powerless to help him.

Katsuki was going to fight the stupid shit head if that was the last thing he did. To let off some steam in any way that would manifest. He needed to know what that would feel like for real. And if it worked out - maybe confess. Maybe kiss him for good measure if he was going to do the whole ‘admitting his feelings’ thing. Might as well go all in, since Izuku clearly wasn't going to.

Katsuki wasn't going to let Izuku run away from him anymore.

Chapter 70

Izuku’s exhausted. He’s tired of all the conflict, all the fighting, all the waiting for things to get better. Just as it seemed as one aspect of Izuku’s life had been resolved, it seemed a different issue would open up for Izuku to address.

God, Izuku was tired of it all.

Was this how the rest of his life would be? Constantly fighting every damn thing that happened in his life? Had he signed away any chance for him to have a peaceful, happy, future?

Maybe distance from Kacchan would be better after all.

That way his childhood friend could avoid any suffering Izuku’s presence would surely bring. Katsuki was better off worrying about someone else. Someone who didn’t have all the baggage that Izuku did.

Still, Izuku’s heart ached at the thought.

Would Izuku ever truly be ready to let Kacchan go? To selflessly detangle himself from Kacchan’s life to bring him some kind of sanity?

Izuku didn’t know. But everything sucked right now. He was having conflicts with his friends, who’s naive ideologies grated on his nerves - he had no actual idea where this whole Blood Pact situation was going to take him. He didn’t know how strong he was - or had to be in order to be a worthy successor to Toshinori-Sensei.

Despite supposedly having more support than he’d ever had in his life, Izuku had never felt more alone.

And it sucked.

On top of everything, now that he and Kacchan no longer seemed to be on good terms again it was unlikely they would scent again any time soon. And that made Izuku even more anxious than anything else.

It had been a pretty long time since he’d gone without Kacchan’s scent. The last time being when Kacchan had been forcibly taken away from him.

And now, Kacchan had voluntarily taken himself away from Izuku.

This really sucked.

Izuku kept to himself for the most part. On the bus ride back he’d been notified that Camie Utsushimi had been found unconscious on the way to the arena. Some kind of Alpha had attacked the original person, and dressed in her clothing in her place.

This made Izuku even more anxious. That blonde bloodthirsty Alpha girl he had met during the training camp. It had to be her, and it seemed that the police was taking the incident seriously due to Izuku’s worries.

Well looks like they could do their jobs.

Everything was too much right now, and Izuku just couldn’t deal with it anymore. He wanted to distract himself, runaway from all the bullshit that seemed to compromise his existence from the moment he had accepted becoming Toshinori-Sensei’s successor.

Right now, that entire mess was starting to feel like a mistake. Was he really capable enough to take Toshinori-sensei’s place in society? It seemed like an unlikely miracle, at the very least.

He was just a naive kid that thought he could play hero. Perhaps he wasn’t as strong as he thought after all.

Shaking his head, Izuku turns in the direction to their bedrooms. Izuku had enough of being awake, only the sweet release of a dreamless sleep could help him now.

“Deku.” a bristingly deep voice called, jarring Izuku from his thoughts with rapid vigour. Izuku turns on his heel, coming face to face with a rather sullen looking Kacchan.

His eyes are intensely focused though - completely contradicting his posture. That gaze, and that scent were very pointed. Kacchan only ever looked like that when -

“Meet me at the front of the dorms. Once everyone’s asleep. Wear something easy to move around in, and don’t be late.” Kacchan announced sternly, waiting for Izuku’s response.

Kacchan only ever looked like that when he was ready to fight. Ready to hunt someone down. Usually, that kind of look made Izuku a bit excited.

It meant that Kacchan was ready to completely destroy his opponent. Once upon a time, Kacchan always looked at him like that when they had sparred. It made Izuku happy to know that his friend saw him as an equal worthy enough to fight him. Perhaps even win against him.

Kacchan hadn’t looked at him like that in a long time, but now it gave Izuku only dread.

There was no way they’d be physically fighting after curfew, right? They’d get in so much trouble - not to mention the whole Alpha and Omega shouldn’t be alone together thing.

Besides, Kacchan had been sullen all day. He had refused to let Izuku near him - much less scent him. This wasn’t a good development not in the least.

Yet, Izuku could never really say no to Kacchan. Especially if he was asking Izuku so earnestly.

“Okay. I’ll do it.” Izuku nods, finally looking the Alpha in the eye.

Kacchan only grunts in acknowledgement, turning on his heels and walking off to his own room.

Izuku could only watch him morosely, as his childhood friend walked further and further away from him. His entire being ached to watch Kacchan leave him like this, to see how much things had changed between them.

For so long, Izuku had to keep his distance from Kacchan. It had been unfair, but Izuku had tried to understand it. Sometimes there were things Izuku couldn’t control and if his own scent - something he couldn’t control - disgusted Kacchan so much it was better to keep that distance.

But then, U.A happened and Izuku had really thought that things could go back to normal. That they could be best friends again, at the very least.

What a fool he had been.

Izuku’s mind stays restless, even as the sky darkens and all his classmates have retreated into their respective rooms. It was just Izuku and the moon out tonight, and soon Kacchan would join him.

Perhaps they could finally sort all their feelings out, once and for all.

“I know that your relationship with Toshinori-Sensei isn’t normal.” Kacchan declared, making Izuku’s entire body tense.

Todoroki had said something along those lines once, and then it had been laughable. Now, it was too close for comfort. Izuku didn’t know what to say.

“You chose him over me, don’t think I’ll forget. You chose a skinny old man on the brink of retirement over your ‘most precious person’. I didn’t get it. I knew you admired him and all that, but I thought you valued our relationship more than that. Yet, you chose him. I couldn’t believe it. That I really did mean nothing to you, even after everything we’ve been through.” Kacchan told him quietly, his voice so soft even the breeze only lightly rustling the leaves could have muffled it.

Izuku stared at him sadly, recalling that argument like it had happened yesterday.

“Toshinori-sensei this, Toshinori that. Fuck that Deku! You’re getting involved with shit you aren’t equipped to handle. Choose him or me, Deku. Who’s more important to you, hah?!” Kacchan demanded, stepping into Izuku’s personal space.

Izuku wanted to whimper, wanted to submit, wanted to run away. But that would only be proving his point even further. Izuku tried to respond but found his mouth glued shut. He didn’t want to choose between his idol and his love. It was like asking Izuku to choose between his dream and a successful future. Why couldn’t they be the same? Why couldn’t he have both?

“Choose between me or Toshinori-sensei, Deku. Who do you swear your loyalty to?” Kacchan Ordered, and Izuku felt his heart stop.

He couldn’t believe Kacchan was doing this to him. Ordering him against his will.

Against all odds, it looked like the Blood Pact would actually be working in his favour. But just because the Order didn’t work on him didn’t mean the sentiment behind Kacchan’s actions was gone.

He couldn’t believe Kacchan was doing this. He had trusted him, because Izuku thought that Kacchan was strong enough to understand.
He was wrong. Izuku should’ve known by now that all Kacchan ever seemed to do was hurt him.

"Toshinori-sensei.” Izuku admits, honestly feeling tears gathering in his eyes. He had sworn his life to the Oath, and Kacchan’s possessive display couldn’t change that.

“Kacchan...that was...it’s not like I wanted to hurt you, I just -” Izuku tries to explain, putting his hands up in mock surrender.

“Save it, nerd. I’ve got it all figured out. There've been a bunch of things that've been adding up for me. The reason you care so much about All For One. The reason Toshinori-Sensei pays attention to you, unlike everyone else. But I overheard some shit with the League of Criminals, and I think I’m starting to get it now. Despite how much you worship Toshinori-Sensei, I know I’m the most important person in your life. You wouldn’t choose him over me for no reason. The same way you wouldn’t cry over Toshinori-Sensei saying ‘You’re next’. That secret organization you were talking about is the opposite of All For One, isn’t it? It exists to take them down, but that means it’s been around for as long as their old boss has been alive. I overhead something once, but I only really need to confirm. The reason you’re so worried over All For One now, and the thing between you and Toshinori-Sensei. It’s a Blood Oath, isn’t it?” Kacchan asks, levelling Izuku with a cool gaze.

Izuku's heart beats loudly in his chest, unable to believe his own ears. How did Kacchan? Izuku had made sure to never even mention such a thing to the Alpha, there was no way.

“So, I’m going to take your silence as confirmation. You really accepted a Blood Pact to destroy All For One, then.” Kacchan states, eyes hard and unreadable.

There was no point in trying to hide this from him anymore. Izuku was never that great at keeping secrets from him anyway.

“If that’s the case...if Toshinori-Sensei’s really recognized you to that degree. Fight me. Show me what the successor of the great Toshinori is all about!” Kacchan declared, scent flaring as he got into a fighting stance.

Izuku frowned, trying to step away from the angry Alpha.

“L-Look, Kacchan, we really shouldn’t be caught fighting after dark. W-We could get into serious trouble and -” Izuku tried to negotiate, stepping back from the Alpha’s offensive glare.

“Miss me with that bullshit. You had no problem getting involved with criminals and cases you had no business taking part in. A detention won’t kill you, but getting involved with All For One will.” Kacchan grits, eyes almost blazing. “Now stop pretending to be a good boy, and fight me asshole! Or are you gonna run away again, like you always do?”

This causes Izuku to tense. That had really hit a nerve. He really knew he was a coward. Izuku knew he was a coward that had only survived on luck alone. That he’d only made horrible decisions up until now, but it was what he believed to be the right thing. He wanted to fight for that. He didn’t want to back down, and Izuku certainly didn’t want to prove Kacchan right in any regard.

Apparently seeing Izuku regain his resolve, Kacchan opens with a right hook. Believing it to be a feint, Izuku gets hit straight in the face, leaving Izuku’s face red.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Always sticking your nose into everybody’s business. Always trying to get involved. Aren’t you tired of being an annoying bastard? Can’t you see that you can’t be playing hero anymore?” Kacchan demands, charging again.

This time anticipating Alpha's move, Izuku throws Kacchan to the ground.
If this fight was about saying what was on their minds, about being raw, and honest, and vulnerable Izuku would have to say what was on his mind too.

This was Kacchan’s way of getting them to actually open up to each other, and Izuku had to meet him half way.

“Maybe I am fucked up. Maybe I am sticking my nose into everyone’s business and getting involved too much. You’re right, that I’m being an annoying bastard too. You’re always good at being right, Kacchan. It’s part of what makes you untouchable and amazing.” Izuku admits, a voice a little more bitter than he had intended it being.

Izuku moves to help him up, but Kacchan slaps his hand away. He looks like he wants to say something, but now it was Izuku’s turn to talk.

“But you’re wrong about one thing. I’ve stopped playing hero since the Stain incident. I don’t care about being a hero, or a role model or someone to admire. None of that stuff matters to me, not anymore.” Izuku seethes, feeling tears of fury rise in his eyes.

“You’re right, I’m not a good boy. I’m not even a good person. I’m not naive enough to think I can fix the world by myself anymore. I’m probably one of the people who needs fixing but this -” Izuku heaves, pointing at himself in disgust. “This entire thing, the Blood Pact and all that shit, it’s greater than me. It’s greater than you. It’s just about doing the right thing. Or at least, me trying to do the right thing.”

Kacchan gets up, eyes glazing over, taking stock of Izuku’s appearance. Maybe he can see Izuku’s eyebags from constant sleepless nights. Maybe he can see the wrinkles that would surely form in between his eyebrows. Or perhaps Izuku’s nastily bitten nails, another product of Izuku’s constant anxiety.

“What the fuck are you trying to say?” Kacchan demands, as he slowly gets into his fighting stance again.

“I’m saying that it’s too late for you to be getting worried about me. You can be right about everything, but it doesn’t change what’s already happened. It can’t be undone.” Izuku breathes, closing his eyes as he allows Kacchan to kick him right in the stomach.

Izuku feels less inclined to fight back now. He has nothing to prove. Not anymore.

“Then...why?” Kacchan asks, voice strangely vulnerable. “Why do you get to be Toshinori-Sensei’s successor when I’m also...I’m also strong! Just because I didn’t get that stupid piece of plastic, I -”

Izuku frowns, looking back at his childhood friend again.

“Kacchan...nobody said you weren’t. Nobody blames you for -” Izuku tried to refute, as Kacchan’s scent got more sour.

“No, you don’t get it! As soon as we get here, everyone’s always fawning over you. Because you’re so strong and nice, and everyone wants to be around you and they get to easily when all this time i had to watch from afar. Because I was weak. I was always too weak to my instincts, weak to you, weak enough that I got kidnapped by those damn criminals and so weak that Toshinori-Sensei needed to retire!” Kacchan admits, tears in his eyes.

Izuku feels his heart break, moving to touch the Alpha but then remembering what they came here for. What Kacchan needed from him right now.

Release. Comfort. Someone who listened to him. Someone who cared for him. Someone who Kacchan wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable in front of.

There’s tears in his eyes as Kacchan screams out the building frustration that a boy like him hadn’t needed to deal with. The fight itself may be meaningless, the kind of fight the Izuku of the past would’ve hated. But that was because Izuku was the only person who could accept Kacchan’s feelings.

He was the only person strong enough to withstand him.

“You aren’t weak Kacchan. You can’t always be strong, but that doesn’t make you weak. That makes you human. If it’s a fight you need, it’s a fight you’ll get Kacchan. I’ve been meaning to get some better practice in.” Izuku declares, rushing the blonde.

It seems to suffice.

Kacchan attacks again, causing Izuku to stop thinking too hard. He was always over analyzing, but Kacchan’s moves were too fast and too strong to allow him to overthink anymore.

“Save those words for yourself, dumbass. You have such weird double standards. Everyone else is allowed to do whatever they want but you. You’re always feeling bad for other people, empathizing and shit. Get your head out of your ass and spare some for yourself. You might run away from your own problems, but you’re pretty stubborn for the sake of anyone else. It’s annoying as fuck.” Kacchan sneers, though his words are well meaning.

Izuku almost laughs.

“If I wasn’t a bit stubborn, I don’t think we’d like each other much.” Izuku points out, grinning at his friend.

He feels suddenly pumped, the adrenaline rush giving him renewed energy. This combined with Kacchan’s now sweeter scent was more than enough to lift Izuku’s spirits. It looks like they were starting on the same page, for once.

Izuku kicks through Kacchan’s guard, catching Kacchan’s foot and causing him to trip. Izuku finds his movements to be quicker and more powerful than before. The two of them exchange blow after blow at an equal pace, both parties grinning.

“Y’know, Kacchan you always accuse me of running away from my problems but that wasn’t fair. I wasn’t trying to run away, I was trying to chase after you. The Kacchan that worked so hard to go after his dreams was closer to me than even Toshinori-Sensei. I want to be as strong and amazing as you, so that one day I can be your equal. So that one day I can be strong enough that you, and Toshinori-Sensei, and mom and everyone doesn’t have to worry about me anymore. I wasn’t trying to run away from anything, I only wanted to chase after you, because you were so amazing to me. I’ve only had eyes for you.” Izuku admits, before landing a surprise punch. By constantly focusing on kicks up until now, he had made sure to keep his opponent on his toes. “I want to be a Deku that’s good enough to stand by your side.”

It looked like Izuku’s trick had worked, he had landed the punch successfully.

Suddenly, Kacchan counters Izuku’s punch. He flips Izuku to the ground, pinning Izuku to the ground and claiming victory. Despite losing, Izuku’s entire body is on fire. The Alpha’s touching him seemingly everywhere. He’s straddling Izuku’s hips, left knee pressed against his side. Right foot placed on Izuku’s forearm, and hand grasping Izuku’s face.

“You’re an idiot.” Kacchan declares, face uncomfortably close to Izuku’s face. This causes Izuku to pout, and Kacchan’s face softens a little. “You’re already my equal, in every way. You’ve been chasing me for so long, you’ve forgotten that I’ve been running by your side all this time. I’ve only ever had eyes for you too, nerd.” and before Izuku can even register anything, Kacchan’s soft chapped lips meet his own.

The kiss only lasts a few beats, but Izuku is too stunned to react. He couldn’t quite believe the turn of events. It’s over in a matter of seconds, nothing more than a quick peck on the lips.

Still, it’s enough that Izuku’s entire body is frozen.

Kacchan’s hand is still on his face, his thumb caressing Izuku’s cheek. Izuku stares up at the Alpha’s face which was glowing with amusement. His own Omega was ready to start purring at the affection. He has so much to say, but Izuku’s speechless right now. Unable to string a single word together.

What just happened? Was this a dream?

Izuku’s entire body feels warm, his scent thickening in response to Kacchan’s delectable combination of caramel, cinnamon and musk permeating the air.

“Young Midoriya, Young Bakugou. I heard fighting from my office, what’s going on?” Toshinori-Sensei demands, as both Izuku and Kacchan stiffen.

The Alpha moves off of Izuku like he had been burnt, both of their faces flushing as they stand up. If their mentor had come a moment sooner he would’ve seen them…

“Kacchan’s found out about the Blood Oath. I think it’s best if we told him everything.” Izuku says instead, distracting both Alphas from their thoughts.

Toshinori-Sensei frowns. “Oh dear, I see. I suppose this fight was a long time coming, hm? Ever since I saw the two of you fight back during the Capture the Flag, I knew you’d make good rivals. In any case, it's no wonder Young Bakugou was so worried about you. The two of you are close friends and Blood Oaths are so secretive, it probably caused some tension. All this, including your involvement with All For One...I suppose it's fine.”

Izuku and Kacchan exchange a glance.

“In any case, please walk with me for a bit and let me explain. We’ll discuss what punishment is most suitable for the two of you with Aizawa later. For now, let me tell you about the origin of All For One…” as their mentor continued to ramble, he misses Izuku intertwining his hand with Kacchan and the soft smirk the boy receives in return.

Chapter 71: gourmand

Kacchan practically drags his feet as they walk into Aizawa-Sensei’s office. They were really in for it today, weren’t they? Fighting like that after school hours was definitely violating more than a few rules. Breaking curfew, physical altercation, and the most important was having an Alpha and Omega alone after dark with each other. Perhaps because they were out in the open they could get away with that one, but overall some kind of punishment was inevitable.

Izuku couldn’t bring himself to regret it, though. His lips still tingled from the warmth of Kacchan’s mouth. The light, fluttery feeling in his chest was lighting his entire body on fire.

“Well, if it isn’t the problem children. I received a security alert that two of my students had left the dorm buildings to fight like a bunch of five year olds. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say neither of you worked hard enough at the tournament today if you have so much energy. Now, would you two care to explain why on Earth you would do something like this?” Aizawa-Sensei lectured, looking more haggard than usual.

“A-Actually, Aizawa-san I have some responsibility. I’ve caused some tension between Young Midoriya and Young Bakugou, so if you could excuse their actions or at least -” Toshinori-Sensei began, eyes remorseful and earnest.

“I started it.” Kacchan readily admits, interrupting their selfless mentor. “I’m the one who forced Deku to come out, and I also threw the first punch.”

Izuku opens his mouth to defend the blonde but his teacher motions with his hand for Izuku to stop. Not liking where this direction was going, Izuku clenches his fists staring Aizawa-Sensei down intently.

Aizawa-Sensei raised an eyebrow, but otherwise didn’t look too surprised. He breathed out a long sigh before looking at Izuku and then Kacchan respectively.

“I can’t say I’m too surprised. Though it takes two to fight, and I see that Midoriya landed a few hits as well. The both of you are responsible for your own actions, but I will consider that. Bakugou, you’ve always had a quick temper and Midoriya’s become quite the troublemaker these days. Isn’t that right, Midoriya?” Aizawa-Sensei asks pointedly.

All the Alphas in the room stare down at him, and Izuku resists the urge to pout.

“It’s not like I’m looking for trouble, trouble’s looking for me.” Izuku groans, putting his head in his hands.

Aizawa-Sensei stifles a snicker before his face grows more serious.

“In any case some action needs to be taken. Now what would be a suitable punishment. Overall, you two are good students who strive to be the best...so missing a few classes ought to teach the two of you a lesson. I don’t usually like leaving an Alpha and Omega alone together, but considering the situation it’s a given no funny business will be occurring. Very well then. Midoriya, you will be on house arrest for two school days, and Bakugou for three. You are to clean all the dorms thoroughly these days to serve as punishment for your insolent behavior. Understood?” Aizawa-Sensei asks warily, exchanging a glance with Toshinori-Sensei.

Izuku’s mouth opens and then closes in shock.

They were going to leave Izuku alone with Kacchan in the dorms. For two whole days, without anyone interrupting them. An Omega and an Alpha. After they had kissed.

Wow.

Okay.

This was more than a little hard to believe, but Izuku wasn't going to question his luck. Looking at Kacchan, it seemed that he had come to the same conclusion.

“Yes, sensei.” Izuku nods, hoping he’s not too obvious about how happy he is with the turn of events. After all, this was supposed to be a punishment.

He should at least try to look remorseful.

“Yeah, whatever.” Kacchan grunts nonchalantly, though Izuku could read the secretly pleased look in his eyes.

“Alright then, get to bed. If I ever hear you two doing something like this again, there will be harsher consequences.” Aizawa-Sensei warns as the two of them bow before making their exit.

Izuku can’t help the happy grin on his face as Kacchan grabs for his hand. No, this likely wouldn’t be much of a punishment at all.

As they walk together in silence, a few questions dance around in Izuku’s mind. Kacchan had kissed him because he liked him...right? People didn’t just randomly kiss others unless they felt something.

But, they hadn’t really discussed their feelings.

Well, okay, no they had expressed their feelings about each other. Just not their current feelings for each other.

Izuku was sick of second guessing, and waiting, and wishing for something to happen. All this while he had struggled to keep his own feelings in check in fear of ruining his friendship with Kacchan.

Clearly, the Alpha wasn’t like that. If he wanted something he would go after it. And Izuku wanted to be like that too. No, he was like that. If he wanted something Izuku would and could chase after it. It was only his own insecurities stopping it.

Kacchan had taken a chance, and now it was Izuku’s turn to meet him halfway.

“Kay, I’m going to bed. See you tomorrow, Deku.” Kacchan tells him, smirking over his shoulder and ready to walk away from Izuku. The Omega grabs the blonde’s wrist, stopping him from moving forward without him.

“Kacchan, wait.” Izuku states, heart thumping loudly in his ribcage.
The night was quiet save for the rustling of the leaves. There was a full moon out today, a bright pearlescent light illuminating Kacchan’s gorgeous face.

He was very attractive when he wasn’t scowling. Perfect skin, light blonde hair and passionate red eyes. Kacchan held this magnetism that he had inherited from his mother. Everything about him was captivating.

Despite being loud and sometimes even obnoxious - for the most part Kacchan was a pretty chill person. He had a heart made of gold, and a moral code set in stone. Kacchan could be stubborn and aggressive, but that was because there was not a single thing he didn’t do with his full heart and effort. It’s what made Izuku wish to reach him, wish to cherish him.
Kacchan was both perfect and flawed, but it only drew Izuku closer like a moth to a flame.

Izuku had known him all his life. He had seen the ugliest shades of Katsuki Bakugou. When his eyes used to scorch with disdain - hellfire itself. When his mouth would pull into feral scowl and his entire demeanour changed.

At those times, he wasn’t the cool Katsuki Bakugou admired - but the prideful friend that could not find peace and instead put down the people around him. Because he couldn’t understand himself, and back then Izuku hadn’t understood it fully either.
It’s only after surviving and accepting moments like those that Izuku knew he loved him.

The line between like and love had been clear as day for him.

You could be attracted to someone, physically or emotionally because a good quality or feature of that person could appeal to you. You could like them, or even crush on them because of these favourable attributes. You could think of them and smile because your image of them was rose-tinted and pure - just as a simple crush often was.

Love was not like that - Izuku had come to realize. Love wasn’t always like that at all. In fact, Izuku had only fully realized he was in love with Kacchan - as opposed to just being attracted to him - that day in middle school when Kacchan had pushed him away. When he told him he stank.

It was a cruel time to come to such a realization but it had been too late.

It hurt so dearly to be scorned by the one person Izuku admired most. He missed him more than anything - and it was that constant ache in his chest that made him realize what it was. That even if Kacchan cursed him and refuted him, he would always want him happy. Would always want Kacchan whole. He could only ever wish Kacchan well - even if some days he wanted to kick the Alpha into the next week.

Love could be wonderful. It could be the euphoric moment when Kacchan would wipe his tears, or Izuku was allowed to run his fingers through his hair. It could be like Kacchan’s birthday, so warm and soft it was like heaven on Earth. Like Izuku was being bathed in sunlight.

But sometimes the warmth was consuming. Sometimes love could be destructive. It could make two impassioned people scream at each other things they don’t fully mean, even if they only wanted what was best of each other. It was crying himself to sleep some nights wondering if Kacchan would ever even look at him again. It was being lost because you cared about someone so much you didn’t know what to do with yourself.

Love could be unfair. So admitting to that deep, complicated kind of love was hard. It was why he had avoided saying it before, because if he made himself vulnerable enough to say those words aloud, it would be like giving Kacchan the perfect time to stab him in the back and leave him to bleed.

Now, though he had no excuse. He knew Kacchan wouldn’t do that.

He trusted him. Izuku trusted Kacchan more than anyone else.

“Deku? What did you want to say?” Kacchan asks, bringing Izuku out of his own thoughts.
Shaking his head to dispel all stray thoughts, Izuku laces his fingers with Kacchan’s bringing their joined hands to his own chest.

“I just wanted to say that…” Izuku gulped, licking his suddenly dry lips. He doesn’t miss the way Kacchan’s eyes follow the movement.

How long had Kacchan been looking at him like that? He could hardly believe a guy as nonplussed and driven as Katsuki Bakugou would have anything on his mind related to romance.

To Izuku he had only ever seemed to care that much about his dreams. About the future.

“That?” Kacchan urges, voice strangely patient. In fact, he seemed way too at ease ever since they had eased. Like all his burning energy had been calmed. Izuku didn’t quite understand why, but he was glad he had a relaxing effect on the Alpha.

“Back the...during your birthday when we were standing like this. I was trying to work up the courage to tell you something. Do you remember what it was?” Izuku asks softly, trying to gauge his childhood friend’s expression.

Kacchan’s eyebrows furrowed, thinking back to the day’s events.

“My birthday..you confessed…? Why the fuck would that... oh. Yeah, I remember. You dumbass was getting all worked up to say you missed me. Idiot. You said that as if I ever really left you anyway.” Kacchan complained, and his tone sounded suspiciously fond.

Izuku smiled up at the Alpha softly, memorizing the gentle upturn of his mouth.

“What I was trying to tell you back then...I’m going to tell you now. I’m assuming since we’ve kissed and everything that we’re officially mutually interested in each other so -” Izuku begins nervously, twisting the fabric of his shirt as Kacchan drops their hands.

“Deku, are you fucking kidding me right now?” Kacchan growls, causing all of Izuku’s hair to stand on end.

“W-wait, am I wrong? B-But I thought - ” Izuku frowned trying to figure out what was going on. If Kacchan wasn’t actually interested in him, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get over the mortification of -

“I’ve been trying to court you for months now! What do you mean ‘officially mutually interested’ I’ve been trying to get you to be my Mate since before you Presented, dipshit!” Kacchan exclaims, nearly pulling his hair in frustration.
Izuku takes a few steps back staring at him stunned.

What.

What?

What?!

Kacchan had been courting him? When? How? Why? Izuku scrambled to think of what the courting process even looked like, he wasn’t too sure. He’d heard about it in movies and novels, but surely he would’ve noticed if Kacchan had been courting him...right?

“You’re so stupid! I’m attracted the most dense, idiotic Omega in the country. Why do you think I’ve been scent marking you so often? Or giving you my clothes for your heat? Or giving you special gifts?” Kacchan demands, looking more exasperated than Izuku had ever seen him look before.
Izuku blinked, uncomprehendingly.

“Maybe because you were being nice?” Izuku asks, though it sounds like a weak excuse even to his own ears.
Kacchan stares at him incredulously.

“Or maybe not.” Izuku frowns, feeling ridiculously stupid considering the situation. If what Kacchan was saying was true - and it probably was because the Alpha was the most honest person he knew - that meant Kacchan had first attempted to court him close to the beginning of the year. And Izuku had been reciprocating his advances - albeit unknowingly - this whole time. Kacchan already knew Izuku was somewhat interested in him.

Oh dear, Kacchan had given him clothes to scent for his heat.

In a romantic, Mate-like way.

And Izuku had been oblivious to all these advances, accepting everything the Alpha was doing but not giving him much in return.

“You’re so…! Agh, whatever we’re past that point anyway. We kissed, you like me and I like you, so it’s fine. What is it you wanted to tell me?” Kacchan demands, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t just like you!” Izuku blurts, as Kacchan’s eyes widen in akin to fear. Realizing his mistake instantly, Izuku is quick to rectify the statement.

“I love you! T-That’s what I wanted to tell you back then. And what I still feel about you now. How I’ve always felt about you.” Izuku admits, face flushing in a way it never had before. All the blood in his body was rushing up to his face. This was a lot more embarrassing to say out loud than he thought.

Kacchan stares at him, eyes growing wide. His red irises glimmer in the moonlight, shining like garnet. Like ruby, like the most precious thing Izuku had ever seen.

And then, Izuku is pulled into a hug. The arms wrapped around Izuku’s body tighten so strongly he’s barely able to breathe. Patting Kacchan violently on his bicep, he’s finally slightly relieved from the deathgrip as Kacchan buries his face into Izuku’s hair.

“I know.” Kacchan states gruffly. The response infuriates Izuku - unable to believe that in a serious and tender moment like this, the asshole was really going to say something like that.

Izuku whacks him upside the head, unhappy by that reply.

“Really?! That’s all you have to say? Gosh, you really are the absolute worst, you emotionally constipated -” Izuku rants, before being silenced with another kiss.

Izuku feels all the blood rush into his head again, and every coherent thought leaves his body once again.
Getting kissed twice in one night. Well, Kacchan was a man of action. He always did find it hard to express himself in words, better at showing how he felt than telling.

“I love you too, idiot.” Kacchan mumbles, looking more flustered than Izuku had ever seen him before. “I’m not gonna say it again, so you better have been listening properly the first time.”

Izuku stared up at him in awe, unable to believe that this was real life. He tried pinching himself, and upon feeling the slight sting of pain stared again at
Kacchan’s face.

Unable to speak anymore, Izuku kissed Kacchan this time. This one, with more intent. He tried to translate all his longing, all his fears and all his love into a single kiss. To show Kacchan everything that he had felt all this while, and praying the Alpha would be able to understand him.

When Kacchan kisses him back with equal fervor, Izuku is unable to stop himself from smiling. Their teeth clack together, and Kacchan grunts from the impact. They don’t stop, even with the slight interruption, even with noses bumping and awkward kissing. Because Izuku melts right into Kacchan.

Kissing Kacchan feels both foreign and familiar. It’s like coming home after years of being apart, and Izuku is so grateful for the opportunity to relearn the Alpha, as not his friend, or his rival, or a simple childhood acquaintance but as a lover.

“Hey, am I that bad? Why are you crying? I didn’t accidentally bite your tongue or something, did I?” Kacchan asks, as their mouths separate.
Izuku hadn’t even realized he had been crying until Kacchan wipes them away, eyes warm and smile heartbreakingly pure.

“N-No! I-I’m just happy. Really happy. To be with you.” Izuku tells him softly, resting his forehead against the Alpha’s. “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to cry. I’m just really - ”

“Overwhelmed.” Kacchan surmises, his eyes so sweet and gentle that Izuku really can’t believe that this was happening. “Look, you might be a bit of a crybaby. But if it’s only happy tears when you’re with me, then I’m all for it.” the Alpha grins, almost wolfishly. “I’m sure there’s plenty of time for me to make you cry out in pleasure later.”

Izuku shuts him up with another kiss.

Notes:

next chapter will be the last one for this fic...wow!

i can't believe how long this fic became i did not orginally think i would take it this far...yet here we are

i'll write a more sentimental note in the final chapter but for now tell me this:

what was your favourite part of this fic? what was more memorable?
what did you like and dislike?
would you consider reading more of my work?

thanks for all your support. its your comments/kudos/bookmarks that have kept me motivated so i thank you all for that <3

Chapter 72: nutmeg

Summary:

a strong scent means...

Despite his two day house arrest, Izuku felt like this had become more of a blessing than a punishment. The two of them had the dorms all to themselves. With everything cleared up between the two of them, Izuku and Kacchan had made full use of the newfound privacy.

They had been forced to wake up early in the day, even before their classmates. This however, gave them the freedom to sleep together in the night and wake up early enough to not fear getting caught.

That night, Kacchan had followed Izuku into his room. He had gifted Izuku a few of his own things to help him refurbish his nest. His bed now resembled something like an extravagant blanket fort.

The two of them liked to work on the nest in between break sessions of their assigned cleaning activities. They had taken some tent poles to drape various blankets and tapestries over top. These poles were lined with twinkling little fairy lights. The bottom of the nest was cushioned by Izuku’s mattress and various quilts.

Izuku had also carefully placed his All Might plushies to the corner, accompanied by a few pillows as well. It brought comfort only nostalgia could provide. When Izuku was small, he liked making little beds for his plushies. It looked like that habit had carried over into adulthood.

In addition to all of these, Kacchan had provided him with a scented quilt for his mattress. When they slept together, Izuku felt like he could finally rest at complete ease.

It made waking up in the morning pretty hard.

Izuku always rose when the sun illuminated his face, bright and early in the morning. Even with the blankets in the way, the sunlight still filtered through, and the sound of birds chirping was usually enough to pull Izuku away from his slumber and start the day anew.

But with Kacchan’s warm body spooning him from behind, and their delicious mixed scents permeating the air it became too tempting to just lay in bed all day with his Mate. Izuku couldn’t pry himself away from the Alpha now even if he tried.

So instead, he forced himself to turn to face the sleeping blonde. Determined to wake him up, so they could face the day together. He was willing to get up if Kacchan would come with him.

Yet, when he found his childhood friend’s blissful sleeping face he all coherent thought was forgetten.

Kacchan was overwhelmingly pretty in the morning. Not attractive, or good looking, or hot.

He was pretty.

The gold eyelashes that kissed his perfect cheeks, the long and elegant slope of his nose. The soft part of his lips.
When his face wasn’t pulled into an ugly scowl he seemed so perfect. And in sleep, this effect was only tripled. There was no tension in between his eyebrows, no piercing glare and intimidating stance.

There was only peace and contentment.

For so long, Izuku believed he only had the ability to rile Kacchan up. He had believed the only thing he could do was bring out the worst version of Kacchan. That he couldn’t possibly provide him anything more.

Yesterday was proof that all those thoughts had been false. That these insecurities of his were built off of preconceived notions rather than truth.

In his own way, Kacchan had always looked out for him.

He appreciated Izuku in his own way, and didn’t always express that sentiment in a manner that would be considered ‘normal’. Despite all this, his actions had always been with Izuku’s best interest in mind.

Izuku truly wished he didn’t have to disturb his lover’s peace - but, if there was one thing Izuku had a talent for it was this.

Being the only person in the world to evoke Kacchan’s wrath and still continue seeking him out eagerly.

Deciding that he had wasted enough time already, Izuku got to work on ‘Operation: Awaken the Alpha’.

Izuku leaned over Kacchan, taking another second to appreciate his face before peppering the Alpha’s face with kisses. He began at Kacchan’s closed eyelids and moved on to his cheeks, forehead and chin. Izuku watched as his Mate’s face twitched, eyes slowly opening to stare at Izuku blearily.

“You missed a spot, shitty nerd.” Kacchan groaned, staring at Izuku’s mouth with obvious intent. Izuku raised an eyebrow, playing the oblivious. He pushed away from the blonde, smiling warmly at his Mate.

“Good morning, Kacchan! We need to get up soon, or someone will come looking for us.” Izuku grins brightly.

Izuku’s about to leave the bed himself, but Kacchan snakes his arms around his waist too quickly. Izuku pouts, finding it more and more difficult to escape the Alpha’s warm embrace.

“Gimme a kiss and we can go.” Kacchan demanded, tightening his grip on the Omega.

On one hand, Izuku found this behaviour incredibly endearing. Kacchan could be surprisingly affectionate behind closed doors. Or even when the doors were wide open, now that Izuku thought about it. Kacchan wasn’t someone who cared too much about PDA. If he wanted something, he was going to go for it. But on the other hand, if Izuku started kissing him now they really wouldn’t end up getting anywhere in time.

Izuku brought his face closer to Alpha's face, and watched Kacchan’s eyes close in anticipation. Izuku grinned before quickly pressing a kiss to the Alpha’s nose, and using the extra second that the Alpha had used to release him, Izuku jumped out of his arms and stood up.

Kacchan glared at him, looking extremely unamused. It had no effect, seeing the Blonde in nothing but his soft pyjamas surrounded by all the plushies and blankets made it very hard for any intimidation tactic to work.

“If you want more, you’re gonna have to chase me, Alpha.” Izuku grinned, before dashing out of his bedroom.

“Get back here, Shitty Deku!” Kacchan called, before loud thumps followed Izuku into the hallway.

---

The majority of their first day of house arrest was spent cleaning and stealing kisses. As they vacuumed, Kacchan gave Izuku a run down of the improvements and drawbacks of Izuku’s fighting style.

Before this the class had teased them about their endless arguing. Most seemed unaware of any positive development between the two.

Ashido joked about them having their usual "Lover’s Spat" blowing out of proportion. Kaminari wondered if they had cleared some of the sexual tension and was immediately awarded with an elbow to the ribs - courtesy of Jirou - reminding him to worry about his own love life.

Everyone seemed none the wiser about the slight shift in Izuku’s dynamic with the Alpha.

This was probably good news, since now it seemed nobody was too worried about an Alpha and Omega spending too much time together alone. They had most likely viewed the interaction to be something that further distanced Izuku from Kacchan.

It surprised Izuku that nobody seemed to find a difference in their scents or anything. Then again, he supposed that in general the two of them often smelled of each other. This in combination with their fight yesterday probably didn’t alter their scent too much from usual.

Only Kirishima and Todoroki seemed suspicious, but neither of them were the kind of people that would rat Izuku or Kacchan out.

Besides, Todoroki was the kind of person who respectfully held back unless something was seriously bothering him. And seeing as Izuku and Kacchan hadn’t done anything too awful since their fight, was probably opting to hold back on his questions for now.

Though all in all, from the outside looking in there seemed to be no visible difference in the way they were behaving.

Kacchan yelled at Izuku for ‘missing a spot’ again, when Sero pointed out an area that hadn’t been dusted. The double meaning didn’t go unnoticed, and the vindictive gaze in the Alpha’s eyes only made it more obvious. Izuku sighed, before complying to Kacchan’s ridiculous antics.

Before all their classmates left, Kirishima pulled Izuku aside. His gaze was strangely solemn for the easygoing redhead. He was usually so cheerful and sweet, that such a serious face seemed foreign.

“Hey, Midoriya. What ever happened between you and Bakugou...are you guys okay, now? Or..?” Kirishima trailed off, looking slightly saddened.

Izuku resists the urge to spill everything. Kirishima had been a rock and pillar of support for Izuku all this while. Of all his friends, this guy genuinely wanted to help in any way he could all the time. The least Izuku could do was notify him of the recent developments but...he wanted to be selfish. He had only one more day with Kacchan all to himself, and to be honest other than all the kissing they hadn’t really discussed how their relationship would go from there.

He smiled softly at the Beta, nodding his head.

“Don’t worry, Kirishima-kun. Things are better than okay.” Izuku replies, placing a hand on Kirishima’s shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Kirishima looks at Izuku seriously, then his eyes drift to Kacchan who was busy plugging in his vacuum cleaner to a different electrical outlet. The two of them had been relatively tame all morning, there was no reason for Kirishima to worry too much.

“Alright, Midobro. Let me know if anything changes!” Kirishima grins, slapping Izuku on the back before proceeding to give Kacchan a quick goodbye as well.

Izuku watches the redhead run off to catch up with the rest of his classmates with a fond grin on his lips.

“So are we not telling anyone or what? Are you ashamed or something?” Kacchan asks quietly, pretending to be nonchalant but Izuku could see right through the act. If the slight souring of his scent wasn’t telling, the sudden tension in his shoulders definitely was.

Izuku sets his own vacuum cleaner against the wall, approaching his Alpha to sweetly hold and scent him.

“I’d never be ashamed of you, Kacchan. You should know that by now. I’m nothing but proud of you.” Izuku tells him sincerely, as the blonde slowly eased into his embrace.

“Then why didn’t you tell Shitty Hair that we...y’know.” Kaccham grumbles in embarrassment, unable to put the right words together.

Izuku cups his Mate’s face, smiling at Kacchan sweetly.

“It’s because I want to be selfish. I want to be alone with you for tomorrow as well. To catch up on all the time we’ve missed. Just for these two days, I want to keep everything between us, if that’s okay. If anyone catches wind of it already, they’ll separate us for sure.” Izuku explains softly, scratching behind Kacchan’s ears.

Kacchan started to purr, but quickly stifled the sound by nibbling at Izuku’s collarbone. Izuku gasps, the sensation strangely pleasant. All the heat in Izuku’s pools to his lower belly, and he knows that if the Alpha continues he won’t be able to think properly.

“So, you’re being a possessive little shit? Can’t say I’m too surprised, but I get it. But...we’re boyfriends now, right? When this is over, all these extras in this place aren’t gonna forget that you're mine.” Kacchan seethes, eyes strangely intent.

Izuku flushes, pulling away slightly. Kacchan’s hot breath all over his face was really making him forget himself.

“Y-Yeah, whatever you want Kacchan. You can even Claim me tomorrow if you want.” Izuku gulps, his mouth suddenly dry.

Perhaps there was too much chemistry between them.

Kacchan stiffens at that, completely taken aback. His eyes go wide, and his mouth hangs open. He grabs Izuku by the shoulders, apparently too speechless to formulate words.

“W-What? Why are you looking at me like that? You don’t have to if you don’t want to, of course, I - ” Izuku frowned, feeling a little panicked by the Alpha’s reaction.

“Of course I want to, shitty nerd! Are you stupid!?” Kacchan yelled, his mouth was drawn in the largest grin Izuku had ever seen on him. His smile was large and warm, and the occurrence of such a miracle made Izuku feel truly blessed.

He couldn’t believe he was on the receiving end of such a gorgeous sight.

The blonde suddenly looked away, cheeks flushing as if he’d been caught in some heinous act.

“Are you sure, though? Isn’t that too quick? You’d have to wear an Omega collar and stuff to hide it and -” Kacchan frowned, looking too burdened for Izuku’s liking. “My mom’s gonna kill me for acting too soon, and what if - ”

“Hey, snap out of it Kacchan! This isn’t like you.” Izuku points out, shaking the blonde slightly. “And it’s not too quick at all. I’ve been basically waiting all my life to be your Mate. Besides, it’s not like we’ll be Bonded yet. As long as you bite me, and I don’t bite back it won’t be permanent yet.”

Kacchan stares at him for a bit, assessing all his features for a bit before grinning.

“Yet, huh? You’re really that serious about this...about us.” Kacchan sighed, almost blissfully. He cupped Izuku’s face in his hands, before leaning in to give Izuku an eskimo’s kiss.

Izuku nodded, nuzzling into the Alpha’s warmth.

“Of course. We don’t do anything half-assed, do we?” Izuku grinned, earning him a nip to the earlobe. Kacchan smelled incredibly sweet, the caramel notes of his scent overpowering all else. Izuku enjoyed the scent of his Mate’s happiness more than he could describe.

“Guess you’re right for once, nerd.” Kacchan chuckles, before pulling away to grab his vacuum cleaner. “Now get back to work before I Claim you here and now.”

Izuku grins happily and complies.

---

By the end of the second day, Izuku’s proudly strutting around with a fresh Claim mark on his neck. He hadn’t yet gotten the chance to really show it off since his classmates hadn’t come back yet but the euphoria of the experience hadn’t left him.

He’d have to wear an Omega collar tomorrow, without a doubt. The pretty collar Todoroki had gotten him for his ‘Presenting Party’ was very lovely. A plain black collar with a cute jade bunny charm at the centre. Even Kacchan had thought it was nice.

As Izuku hauled the trash bag in his hands, too occupied with thoughts of mating and Kacchan and collars and Kacchan, Izuku suddenly realized he didn’t know where the garbage was supposed to go.

Sighing, Izuku was about to go back to the dorms when an unfamiliar voice called out to him.

“So, you’re the troublemaker Omega everyone’s been talking about!” the voice called, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

Out of thin air appeared a blonde haired Alpha with bright blue eyes. He kind of reminded Izuku of Toshinori-sensei, what with his bright presence and his kind smile.

“Who are you?” Izuku asks in shock, he hadn’t noticed any particular scents just moments ago. Meaning this guy had been actively hiding and going as far as to stifle his scent to watch Izuku from afar.

“You’ll find out soon enough. The garbage chute is to your left by the way. It was nice meeting you, Izuku Midoriya!” the Alpha grins brightly before vanishing into thin air, scent nullified along with him.

Izuku frowned.

What a weird guy.

Izuku walked back into the dorms with multiple eyes staring in shock. The scent wafting off of him was too distinct to go unnoticed. His classmates were completely stunned, unable to believe the turn of events.

"When did this - " Yaomomo began.

"How did this - " Iida demanded, looking a mix between relieved and agonized. It was quite the expression.

"Midobro! Congratulations!" Kirishima cheered, running Izuku over in a huge hug. It seemed that the redhead's actions had started a wave of emotional support. Kaminari was the next to join the hug, followed by Satou, then Uraraka until eventually the entire class held each other in rather large group hug. Izuku struggled to breathe under the weight of their love.

"Fucking extras. Get off of my Mate!" Kacchan roared, and instantly Izuku was released allowed to inhale sweet oxygen once again. Nobody wanted to deal with a possessive Alpha boyfriend. It was bad enough when the Alpha had just been just an overprotective friend. Who knew how much worse this could get?

"Bakubro! I'm so proud of you guys. Finally, finally! I was starting to think the two of you would never get it together. I've been listening to both of you pine for so long. I thought I was going to die of old age before you guys got together." Kirishima confessed, eyes starting to water with happiness.

"Shut the fuck up, Shitty Hair. You aren't that much better. It's only cause Raccoon Eyes has bigger balls than you that you got anywhere!" Kacchan shot back, not pleased by the redhead's antics in the slightest.

Izuku's classmates rushed him with questions - seeing as Kacchan was unwilling to spare any details. Despite being slightly overwhelmed, Izuku did his best to answer them. Most of it was along the lines of when they had gotten together, when Izuku had started liking Kacchan, who asked who out.

Even if the interrogation was slightly overbearing, Izuku couldn't help but smile at everyone's support. Back in middle school, he wouldn't have imagined such a thing.

Satou got to work with a quick celebratory cake, with the help of Yaomomo and Koda.

As everyone bustled around him, Izuku couldn't help the smile of relief that played on his lips. Everyone was just so positive and kind, despite everything they had gone through. He couldn't be more grateful to these people.

"Didn't think everyone would make such a fuss, did ya nerd?" Kacchan called, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts. The Alpha slung an arm around Izuku's back, fingers lightly caressing the Claim mark on Izuku's neck.

Izuku grins slightly, but blushes when he hears Ashido and Hagakure squeal from the other side of the room. He ducks his head into Kacchan's shoulder but that only earns him louder squealing.

Kacchan chuckles but doesn't comment further until Izuku responds.

"I didn't think everyone would make such a big deal...I don't get why they always do these things for me." Izuku tells his Mate softly.

Kacchan only rolls his eyes, a slight smile gracing his lips.

"Of course you wouldn't you oblivious idiot. It's because you're the Pack Omega, it's only natural." Kacchan explains, ruffling Izuku's hair.

Izuku eyes widen, unable to believe the Alpha's words.

"But isn't Yaomomo...? Since, she's vice president and...?" Izuku asks, completely taken aback.

Kacchan looks at him for a long moment of silence before speaking again. His smile is strangely soft - though he had been particularly calm and gentle since the Claim. It was almost as if Kacchan had finally started attending the anger management sessions his mom had threatened to send him to once. 

"Deku. I don't know if you remember this, but when I Presented do you remember how worked up I got?" Kacchan questions, eyes far away.

Izuku stiffened before nodding. Yes, he remembered that moment very vividly.

"Back then, I was so overwhelmed by you. People say that someone's scent is a reflection of each person's soul. That one's unique fragrance is directly related to the core of their very being. That's why some scents more are more pleasant to us than others. Even when you were just a Beta, your scent was strong and overpowering to me. I wanted to Claim you right then." Kacchan confesses, the far away look refusing to leave his face.

Izuku inhales sharply. All this time, he had truly believed that there was some part of Kacchan that was truly disgusted with him. Repulsed by how weak and useless he was. Now, he was saying all this.

"And usually, the better you are at smelling others the better you smell as well. To be able to identify scents that well, your own scent must reflect that strength. Do you get what I'm trying to say, nerd?" Kacchan asks, as Izuku stares at him uncomprehendingly. 

"No." Izuku replies, honestly. He wasn't sure where this entire spiel is going, and Kacchan only shakes his head fondly before mumbling a soft 'idiot'.

"I'm saying that the you have a strong scent. A strong spirit. And people tend to be attracted to powerful things, and powerful people. But the nicer, the kinder and the sweeter the scent the more likely people are to be drawn to you. Forgetting just regular attraction, that kind of strength brings people together. You bring people together. So, even if you're not the class leader or anything like that - you have something like a gravitational pull that makes people what to believe in you. That makes people want to work with you, instead of against you. And that's what being a Pack Omega is all about." Kacchan explains, strangely patient today.

Izuku stares at him, before glancing at the class. He tries to let those words sink in. While there was a lot of ideas there that resonated with him, Izuku didn't quite get where Kacchan was getting at.

"What are you trying to say? And if I'm Pack Omega, does that make you Pack Alpha?" Izuku wonders, still confused about the matter.

Kacchan only tilts his head, taking Izuku scarred hand into his own. His red eyes are pointed, but warm as he stares right into Izuku's soul. It's a feeling akin to being burnt alive - the kind of warmth Kacchan always inspires inside him - but it's a pleasant and pleasurable feeling. A gaze he hopes to hold with his Mate for as long as he can.

"I'm not really trying to get at anything in particular but what I'm saying is that you're more powerful and capable than you know. There's a reason why Toshinori-sensei believes you'll be fit as the heir of One For All. And I believe it to. All this time, you've been worrying about that One For All stuff all on your own. That Blood Oath is serious as shit, but like you said before you're not one to half-ass anything. And more importantly, you believe in others and do everything in your power to help them. There's not a lot of people like that in this world, but you have the strength to do that every time a crisis has occurred. That's what makes everyone - not just this class - but everyone that meets you so fond of you. You're gonna do some damn great stuff, shitty nerd. I believe that. I believe you're capable of doing that, but not all on your own." Kacchan tells him sincerely, as Izuku's eyes begin to water.

"This Pack of ours cares about you so much, because you've constantly shown them how much you care about them. That's how you earn loyalty, and affection and all that mushy shit. But that mushy shit is what you're best at in inspiring others, me included. It keeps us going, and gives us the strength to endure whatever comes our way. So, when the time comes for all this All For One shit to hit the fan, rely on your Pack Izuku, just as we've relied on you." Kacchans tells him sincerely. 

Izuku grips Kacchan's palms, feeling like he had been liberated for the first time Toshinori-sensei had drawn his blood.

"Rely on your Pack, and rely on me. Stop doing things all on your own. I'm your Alpha now, and your my Omega. No matter what else happens, we're stronger together." Kacchan finishes, as Izuku stares up at his Alpha in awe.

Izuku tackled Kacchan in a hug, unwillingly to let him go. He felt more blessed now than he ever had before. Izuku had a Pack who supported him and a Mate who loved him. Izuku felt invincible like this, that there was nothing in this world he couldn't face with the hope and affection of these people he cared about him. And there was nothing he wouldn't do to protect them in return.

Come hell or high water, Izuku would only become stronger. They would become stronger. 

Together.

Notes:

AND THATS THE FINAL CHAPTER!!!

I'm sorry I took this long to update last chapter, especially if you guys were anticipating this a lot.

ngl, i'm actually pretty satisfied where this ended. i could've dragged this into the overhaul and cultural festival arc but for the purpose and intent of this specific fic, i'm glad we could move on.

this fic WAS SO MUCH LONGER THAN I HAD INTENDED i started some time in march and i was like 'haha lets write one chapter EVERY DAY of quarantine' and now look where i ended up...lmao wow 72 chapters is a lot.

this was very fun to write but in addition to some personal circumstances, it ended up being dragged on loner and i do feel that there are chapters that lack the quality i wish it could have had.

that being said, considering the whole - one update a day schedule - i shouldn't be surprised. it got a bit tiring for me some days so i apologize the weird hiatus and breaks i went on.

but this is the end for this fic and I AM SUPER GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT READ THIS WOW! there's many typos and some inconsistencies due to everything that happened, and i'm very glad that despite these flaws you guys were able to read/enjoy this regardless.

if/when i write a sequel the updates will probably not be so consistent. i need more time for actual, quality chapters that i can actually edit properly at a more reasonable pace. thank you again for bearing with me, and for sticking around so long!

i love you guys so much, and your comments/kudos/bookmarks made this entire experience worth it. this is definitely my longest/most successful work. in the future i hope my quality of writing improves and i hope you can enjoy content i create in the future.

follow me on twitter to talk/chat all things anime and bkdk <3

thank you again and i hope to write more for all of you some time soon