Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Dynamight!” it wasn’t unusual for Katsuki to hear a small child calling for him. He knew that he was a role model, he knew that he was a favorite. At least half of being number one was a popularity contest. And no matter what else he was, Katsuki was also popular. Even when he was being an asshole, he was popular.

He lifted a hand and waved, listening to the excited squeal of the children. Damn this patrol, he thought. Of course they had him go right past a school. Of course it was during recess. At least it probably made those kids safer he thought to himself. It would be a lot harder to go into a school to cause mayhem when you knew that the number one pro was patrolling.

He’d done it, Katsuki thought to himself as he glanced around, his head on a swivel like always. He’d achieved what he set out to do, to be the best and make sure that everyone else knew it. And he’d done it by the time he was twenty two. But even then, the hollow feeling inside of Katsuki had not resolved the way he hoped.

Certainly it was quieter. There wasn’t as much of the nagging sensation, of course. Now it was mainly in quiet hours, when he was alone in his den, or approaching rut. There was something inside of him that chewed away at the corners of his mind there was something inside of him that reminded him that he was missing something and he’d never know true peace unless he was able to figure out what that was.

Nothing seemed to quiet it. Not the glasses of dark alcohol he poured late at night, looking out the window at city lights. Not the fights that he engaged the villains in, fists pummeling against bare flesh. Not the omegas and betas he would take back to his den, make a mess of and then send home in the morning.

Katsuki told himself he could ignore it. But the longer he ignored it, the louder the sense of loss screamed. His inner Alpha felt like a caged animal, pacing and rattling at the bars of the cage. It was terrifying, Katsuki thought. He thought more training would help, give him that outlet. But after a few all nighters in the gym at his agency, when Shitty Hair had dragged him out and forced him into the shower, he was sure that wasn’t the answer either.

His ruts had become downright dangerous if he was being honest. He had gone to the heat houses, found someone willing and warned them he was rough. Even he hadn’t known how rough. The bruises were deep, and he had growled and howled behind his muzzle. The omega had been understanding and even into it.

Still, though, he thought. It made his ruts much shorter and less painful if he fucked through it. But he was afraid he was going to have to be sedated next time. Unless he figured something out. Unless he knew what all this was about.

It was dark that night, like all nights. Katsuki felt like his skin was crawling. He couldn’t stay inside, he couldn’t stand to be still. He grabbed his sunglasses, his ball cap, his thick jacket. The night wasn’t particularly chilly, but he liked being able to stuff his hands in his pockets, shrug his shoulders up towards his ears.

Adding in a medical mask, and Katsuki could nearly pass for anyone else. Maybe someone would know that he was a hero, he thought. He was so big, so bulky. His whole body screamed ‘Alpha’ from the width of his shoulders to the stance he took when being still.

His body seemed to know where it was going, and he was able to turn off his thoughts and let his legs carry him. He walked, dodging and ducking any extras that he happened to be passing by. He found himself back by the school, slowing his walk, letting the restless thoughts tumble around in his mind.

Katsuki froze when he saw a small figure standing by the playground. The little figure had long, light colored hair. Their little fingers were holding the chain link fence with one hand, and the other hand was holding a wrinkled paper sack.

“Oi!” he said. The person startled and turned to stare at him, ruby eyes glinting in the streetlight. Her mouth worked and she turned to scamper away. It wasn’t hard for Katsuki catch up to her. It was a kid, he knew that. A little girl. Something sparked in his, something that made his inner alpha sit up straight.

Get the girl, he thought. Pup is in trouble, and pup needs help. He put his hands on her shoulders and spun her around. Her whole body trembled, and he wanted to grab the kid, pull her into him. He wanted to rumble to her, give her a reason to settle down. But that wasn’t his brand, and now wasn’t the time.

“Don’t hurt me!” she squeaked her tiny knees knocking together, and he swore he could hear it. Katsuki pulled down his surgical mask, squatting down to get on her level.

“I ain’t gonna hurt you. But there are other people lurking around at night, and they would love to slurp up a cute little pup like you.” she gave the tiniest giggle, some of the tension between them breaking.
“What are you doing out so late? Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

“I um… I have an errand for my–my sire.” she held up the bag. “And I just stopped to look at the playground.”

“Mmhmm.” he didn’t quite believe her, although it wasn’t for him to say. “Well, you got two choices. You can come with me to the police and they can take you to your sire, or you can take me on your errand.”

Because anyone who was sending a little kid out on errands at night, especially ones that required little paper bags, surely was involved in something nefarious. And he was going to have to get that sorted out. What kind of asshole, he thought, would send a little girl out alone at night?

“I guess… you’d…” she looked down at her shoes. Katsuki sighed and held out a hand. The girl looked from his extended hand to him. “You’re a stranger.”

“I guess I am.” it was funny that a girl walking around in the dark like this would have that much preservation. He wanted to put his hand on her head and tell her it was okay. He wanted to squeeze the back of her neck, a gesture that all pups and omegas enjoyed. But that would be stepping across a boundary that he wasn’t sure how to cross.
“The choice is yours.”

The girl still looked suspicious. And well she should, Katsuki thought. He wondered what he could do. Glancing around, he aimed at a small patch of weeds growing in a crack in the sidewalk. He set off a blast, watching her eyes go wide.

“Are you Dynamight!?” she asked, sounding thrilled.

“I sure am,” he winked and pulled up his mask. She seemed to relax, sliding her hand into his.

“‘Zuku says that you’re the best hero, he says you’re safe. I can show you. I’m not supposed to show anyone, but I can show you because you’re a hero and you want to help.” she chattered as she started marching them off.

Who the hell was ‘Zuku? Why did he think that Katsuki was the best? Of course he was, he thought while he puffed out his chest a bit, always loving praise. Good thing no one had ever figured out that a little bit of praise would make him do almost anything. That was a secret he was going to have to make sure he kept to himself.

It wasn’t far until they got to an alley. The little girl stopped, hugging Katsuki’s thigh. He gave in to his alpha instincts then, reached for the back of ehr neck and gave a little squeeze. She whimpered burying her face in his clothes.

“What’s here?” he asked softly.

“The man who wants the bag. He gives me another bag and then I take it all back home.” she mumbled, shaking again.
“‘Zuku usually does it, but Kai said I was old enough. He didn’t want me to go, ‘Zuku said he’d go…” she was babbling with anxiety. Katsuki gave another little squeeze and rubbed.

“You’re so brave to tell me.” he praised. “Can you be my big brave sidekick? I need you to stay right here. I’ll go deal with the man with the bag, okay?”

“But he’s dangerous!” she hissed. “Izuku told me when I left. He said to follow all the rules but…” she bit her lip. “You’re Dynamight, so I should listen to you. Izuku made me promise, but he wouldn’t be mad if it was you.”

“That’s right,” he agreed. He gently separated himself and took the bag. “What’s your name, sidekick?”

“Eri,” she gave a shy smile. “But that wouldn’t be my hero name.”

“What would that be?”

“Chronos,” she said eagerly. Katsuki looked at her over the rim of his sunglasses. “From a book Izuku reads to me and Kota every night.”

“Right,” that begged more questions than answers, but many now wasn’t the time for him to probe too far. “Well, Chronos, you stay here. If I shout run, you need to run as far and as fast as you can. And not home.” he wanted. “You’re going to run to the nearest convenience store and tell them that Dynamight told you to call police.”

“They won’t believe me.”

“Yes, they will.” he said firmly. He took the bag and pressed his finger to his lips, a gesture meant to silence. The girl went quiet, wringing her hands. Even though she seemed to have no small amount of blind faith in him, this was making her nervous. Which, honestly, made Katsuki anxious too.

But there was something happening here, and he needed to figure it out. He took slow, careful steps. There was a rustling sound, and a figure came out. There were certain people, Katsuki thought, that seemed to drip evil like oil. And this was one of those people, with his crooked smile and the gleam in his eye that made the hero supremely grateful that he hadn’t let the girl come down here.

“You’re not the omega.” the man’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re not the girl. I guess it doesn’t matter.” he held out his hand, complete with filth under the nails and tattered skin. “Don’t make me wait for that bag.”

“What’s in it that you want so bad?” the man was a beta, and even if Katsuki wasn’t a pro hero, he was sure that he could overtake him.

“You know what’s in it.”

“I wanna hear you say it.” the man growled and lunged towards him. Katsuki caught him easily, throwing him to the ground. He twisted his arm behind his back, straddling him. It was too easy, he thought. But then again this type of filth always thought that they were stronger than they really were. These bullies always needed someone to put them in their place, just once. He reached for his phone, dialing with one hand. He rattled off his location, dropped his voice and described Eri and the possibility of needing a rescue.

When he looked into the bag, it didn’t surprise him to see more little baggies of white powder. He looked and saw the girl peering at him, seemingly surprised that he had managed to take the man down.

“You’re just like ‘Zuku said.” she called down, clearly thrilled. “Are you going to save him?”

Before Katsuki could respond, the sirens sounded and she jumped a mile. She whined, clamping her hands to her ears. He wanted to leap up to her, crush her to his chest, croon to her that everything was fine. He wanted to promise to save Izuku, whoever that was.

“Dynamight! Dynamight!” people were shouting, and several officers were there to take the druggie. As soon as he could, Katsuki ran to the little girl. The social worker was there, a kind omega who reached her hands out to her. One of the officers stepped in front of Katsuki, ready for his statement.

“We’ll talk later.” Katsuki said through gritted teeth. “This job ain’t over yet.”

Chapter Text

“I will only go with Dynamight.” the little girl frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. “Because I’m his side kick and I need help.”

“But darling,” the social worker cooed. “Dynamight can send me and the police. We’re more than happy to help you!” she was kind enough, Katsuki supposed, if you were into that kind of thing. He couldn’t blame the girl, he thought. If he had such a difficult time with such a dangerous person, he probably wouldn’t be very open either.

“Chronos,” he said softly. Her head jolted up and a mixture of relief and joy. She brushed by the social worker and raced to him, throwing her arms around his legs again. He froze for a moment, his hand slowly going down to rest on her head.
“Are you causing trouble?”

“Won’t go without you.” her voice was muffled in his pants.

“The police and the social worker can help you.” he assured her. “That’s their job.”

“Izuku won’t go with anyone. He’s too scared to.” she pulled back and looked up at him with those big bright eyes. How did pups always manage to do that, Katsuki wondered. Was it some trick of biology to make him more likely to want to help?

“All right, all right.” he sighed. “We’ll go in an unmarked car, and I will go with you.”

She relaxed then, her small hand wrapping around his index finger as she followed the social worker to a car. He sat in the back with her, and couldn’t have said out loud why he was the one reaching to make sure her seat belt was buckled. She gave quiet directions, guiding them deeper and deeper into the seedy part of town.

Should get more patrol out here, Katsuki thought. He didn’t like the idea that something had happened, that there was a villain who apparently had kidnapped a child and someone else. And no one seemed to know. Why wasn’t this girl even on the missing person’s list? He got one texted to him at the beginning and end of every shift. All the heroes did.

“Here!” she pointed at a house. There was the requisite overgrown lawn, the broken windows, not all of them patched with cardboard. She glanced at Katsuki, who reached over and unclicked her seatbelt.
“You’ll go in with me?”

“Yes.” he assured her, voice lacking any venom or sarcasm.

He was surprised when she didn’t take him to the front door. Instead, she walked around the back. Katsuki wondered what kinds of bugs or other animals were waiting in the long grass to injure her.

Doesn’t matter, he told himself. It’s not for long. The backdoor seemed to be hanging onto the hinges with good intentions. One strong wind, he thought. One heavy storm. But Eri wasn’t bothered, and he told himself, again, that this wasn’t going to be her permanent home.

He followed her in, grimacing at the buckling floor, the holes in the walls that seemed to have been placed there with fists. She picked her way easily through the debris on the floor to a nondescript door. She tapped on it, a pattern that tickled at the back of Katsuki’s brain. How did he know that simple tune? Where was it from?

“Eri!” a gentle voice whispered as the door swung open. And there stood the most beautiful omega that Katsuki had ever laid eyes on. His hair, short and green with soft looking girls. Big green eyes that were drinking in the pup. A constellation of freckles that Katsuki wanted to trace with his fingertips.
“I was so worried!” he pulled her to him, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head, scenting her.

“‘Zuku,” she began. And then the omega looked up, eyes narrowing. He hissed, lips pulled back to bare his little omega fangs.

Katsuki was charmed. He wanted to rumble, he wanted to reach for the omega. If he pulled him in close, flooded his scent with alpha pheromones, he was sure he could calm him. Especially if he bit at the back of his neck.

The omega snatched the pup, shoving her behind him. He had dropped into a crouch, hissing again. His fingers were crooked into claws. He smelled divine, Katsuki thought. It was a fresh, minty smell. He wanted more. Of course, right now, the scent was laced with fear, and anger.

“Easy,” Katsuki hummed. “Easy, omega. I won’t hurt her.”

“Eri!” another high pitched voice. Katsuki craned his neck and saw another pup. He was small and thin, too, like the girl. He snatched her hand and pulled her to a corner of the room. It was dark, but Katsuki could just make out a nest. It was made with ragged blankets and torn pillows. His heart ached.

The omega should have silk and satin, he thought. Soft, warm blankets. Pillows he scented himself. And those pups he frowned, they needed to be bathed and fed. It was late, and they needed tucked in to sleep.

“Get back!” the omega growled. The pups went quiet, eyes wide.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Katsuki said, showing his empty hands. “Stay calm, darling.” the term of endearment had fallen out of his mouth easily. Erin was struggling away from the other pup. She scurried towards Izuku, grabbed his hand.

“Show him who you are.” she demanded, eyes on Katsuki. Izuku had snatched her, pulled her to his chest, her face buried. He continued to glare at Katsuki, the threat clear. Katsuki paused. Showing his quirk could be shown as a threat.

Still, though. If they weren’t careful they’d have to sedate the omega. And then he’d never be able to get him to trust him. He pursed his lips and shot off a small explosion. Izuku’s eyes went wide, and his grip on the girl loosened.

“He’s safe, Izuku, I promise.” Eri said sweetly. “I knew you’d want to meet him.”

Katsuki let his hand stay out, palm up. This was the traditional, formal way of greeting between alphas and omegas. Izuku crept forwards, taking the hand. His fingers were rough, Katsuki thought, his nails broken. He should have soft hands. He pictured himself rubbing oil and lotion into the flesh.

Izuku gave his wrist a few sniffs. His pupils weren’t so big, and he seemed calmer. He held out his own hand, and Katsuki was able to get a closer smell of that minty scent. He felt tension oozing from his body.

“Dynamight,” Izuku said faintly.

“Right.” he wanted to stay close, but took a step back. “I found Eri. She said she needed help.”

“I’m his sidekick!” she piped up.

“There’s a car…” he trailed off. Izuku glanced back at the boy and reached for him. He kissed both the pups on top of their heads and stepped away.

“Take them.” he said.

“I’m not–.”

“He’ll be back soon.” Izuku looked over his shoulder. “And he’s dangerous, and there’s not much time.”

“I’m a pro hero, whoever you’re scared of I’m sure I can…”

“I won’t go without you!” the boy cried, wrapping himself around the omega’s arm. “Please, let’s all go.”

“If time is as short as you think, then we should go now.” Katsuki got the idea that Izuku was trying to spare the pups from seeing something. He swallowed and took the omegas free hand, pulling him out of the room.

All four of them rushed back to the car. The pups climbed into the backseat, and Katsuki buckled both of them in. He caught Izuku’s eye, saw the surprise on the omegas face. He didn’t comment, but managed to squish in. The omega was running his hand through the little boy’s hair, calming him.

“We have to get them gone now. I don’t know who could be watching.” Katsuki said grimly. The car started and they were speeding away. Izuku leaned against the carseat, breathing hard, hands shaking.

“We’re free.”

“Yes.” Katsuki agreed. The omega was still scenting fear, looking at the pups again and again. “We have to get to a hospital.”

“No!” Eri was clinging to Katsuki’s side. “Please, no? Izuku doesn’t like doctors.”

“He’s right.” Izuku managed. He was pale, with such big dark marks under his eyes they could have been mistaken for bruising. He reached over to Eri, squeezed the back of her neck until she went still.
“And I won’t leave either one of you. Everything is going to be just fine.” he soothed. “Everything is fine.”

His voice, Katsuki thought. He could make it so calm and so soothing. Even Katsuki felt the adrenaline seeping from his body. He wanted to close his eyes, he wanted to hear Izuku talking for the rest of time. Not now, he told himself. Be patient. Wait.

The ride to the hospital was short, and he watched the omega coaxing out the pups. They clung to him, refusing to meet anyone in the eye.

This was going to be a long night, Katsuki thought.

Chapter Text

Izuku was split between the two pups. He had begged and pleaded with the nurse, a kind beta with silvering hair at the temples and crinkles by her eyes, to let them all be roomed together. She hesitated, and Katsuki knew that she should have said no. But there was something about the way they were clinging to the omega’s arms, and the way he was looking at her with his own eyes.

So two beds were in the small hospital room there in the ER. Izuku was going from one to the other. He’d run his hands through Kota’s hair, then dart over to Eri, scenting her. He looked worn right through.

“I should go.” Katsuki said, although the words stung on his tongue as soon as he said them. They were the correct words, the proper ones. The expected words to say here. But Eri sat up, shaking her head.

“Stay, Dynamight!” she begged. “Please, stay with me.”

“Lovey, he’s a very busy hero.” Izuku broke in. “He has a lot of work to do, and we’re safe now.” but the way those green eyes were looking at him, the way that Katsuki felt his heart dropping into his soul when Izuku looked at him, he knew that the omega wanted him to stay, too.

“I can stay.” he said in spite of himself.

And it was a good thing, too. He was able to distract Kota during a blood draw, telling him all kinds of stories about the times that he swept in and saved the day. Kota could almost recite along with him, a fact that made his eyebrows raise.

“Someone’s a fan.” he murmured. Izuku was in the other bed, his arms around Eri as she got a draw herself. But Katsuki was able to see the blush that rose on his cheeks, and the way he carefully looked everywhere but at Katsuki.

“It’s Izuku’s specialty.” Kota chirped.

“Me?” Katsuki felt his inner alpha preening. Of course omega liked him, he thought. Because they were supposed to be together. In his mind, he was picking out the materials he’d offer for a nest. He’d scent them all, of course, he thought. But only the softest silks, the smoothest satins. And what was that shop that had those mattresses that you could tuck into the corner?

“Heroes,” Kota smiled. “But he likes you the most. I don’t see why, but that’s okay.”

“Wow, what a brat.” Katsuki rolled his eyes as Izuku made a frantic, embarrassed kind of sound.

“Kota,” he scolded gently. “That’s not nice.”

It didn’t take long for the kids to fall asleep. Kota was curled on his bed, clutching a pillow. Eri was asleep in her bed, laying against Izuku’s chest. The omega himself was asleep leaning against the wall, sitting up, head back.

He could have left then. It was very late, and he had things to do the next day. But even as the thought rose, the alpha squashed it. He couldn’t leave this omega and these pups anymore than he could have cut off his arm. The doctor was in quickly, and Katsuki bit back a growl.

Don’t disturb omega, don’t wake the pups. The doctor glanced around and looked satisfied, approaching the hero.

“They’re all a little anemic and a bit malnourished. It’s nothing that some good meals and a few days out in the sun won’t help. Keep those pups running around, get some spring in their step.” he glanced at the tablet in his hand.
“Any idea where we’re discharging them?”

The alpha thought back to the shelters he knew of. It would be hard to keep all three of them together, since they were an adopted pack and not a biological one. But one look at the way that Izuku’s arm was around the girl and he knew he’d never be able to pitch that. Izuku was more likely to grab them and flee, and he couldn’t blame him.

“To me.” he said impulsively, ignoring the way the doctor froze. He wasn’t exactly lauded for his warm personality. Didn’t matter, he told himself. This would be different than any of those other extras.
“They’re all coming home with me.”

***

“And as soon as I get a job and an after school club, we’ll all be out of your hair.” Izuku was babbling as he flitted around the kitchen, gathering the few plastic tumblers Katsuki had and placing them at the table.

His apartment was tastefully decorated, all chrome and glass and white couches. It made Izuku clench when he saw it. How was he supposed to keep two pups from getting the place filthy? They had spent so much of their lives afraid, and now that they were finally free, he was going to have to keep them on a tight leash.

“Don’t worry about it.” the alpha grunted, sitting at his table, watching. He grabbed the milk and poured glasses. The milk was fresh, and Izuku couldn’t pretend he wasn’t glad to give something so nutritious to the kids.

“Izu!” Eri came scampering into the kitchen.

“Don’t run, baby.” he knelt down, holding out his arms. Eri ran into them. She already looked a little bit peppier since leaving. And just knowing that they weren’t going to have to be locked in one filthy, dark room. She was able to move and stretch.

Kota was a little more reserved, sticking to the couch but not really watching the television. His eyes stayed on Katsuki for far longer than they should have. It made the alpha uncomfortable, although it was amusing to watch the child try and pose himself in a protective stance in front of Eri and Izuku.

Must be an alpha, he thought. Must think he has to protect his pack. It gave him an amount of pride, though. He could raise a strong alpha, show him how best to protect his nest mate and dam–.

Katsuki shook his head, frowning down at his cup. Izuku froze, hand reaching into the fridge. Of course he’d be on high alert. He went to move away from the fridge, keeping Eri closed to his chest. Katsuki carefully schooled his face into something calm.

“I can order whatever the kids want to eat.”

“That’s not necessary.” Izuku gave a shy smile. “I can cook, I can make them something delicious with all these fresh ingredients.” honestly, he hadn’t been shopping in about a week. He was down to his bare bones, but considering where he’d found them, it probably looked like a feast.

“Chicken nuggets?” Eri perked up. “Wait, Zuzu, wait!”

“You like chicken nuggets?” he turned himself towards the girl, warming a bit. He gave her a smile, and Izuku told himself that he certainly did not find that attractive and didn’t want to see it again. “I will get my sidekick some nuggets.”

“His sidekick?” Izuku looked at the girl in his arms. “Are you abandoning me, darling?”

“Never!” she proclaimed. “But you can be our support.”

“Flattered.” he pecked her cheek and set her down. “Go ask Kota if he wants nuggets.”

Chapter Text

The pups ate like they were starving, Katsuki noted. He also noted that Izuku didn’t seem to want to eat until he was sure that the pups were happy. He wondered how many meals the omega had skipped in favor of the kids eating. He frowned, subtly shifting a cheeseburger towards Izuku.

“Don’t gobble, love.” Izuku told the little boy, smoothing down his hair. “There’s plenty.”

“And if you’re still hungry, I will get you more.” Katsuki piped up. Izuku’s eyes went to him quickly, his shoulders tensing. Knee jerk reaction, Katsuki thought. He’s afraid of alpha voices. Katsuki reminded himself not to move too fast as he reached into a paper bag and pulled out another cardboard box of nuggets.

“You’re the best, Dynamight!” Eri cheered. He clearly had a fan, he thought as he smiled at her, with her ruby eyes. Their eyes were red he thought, and he was sure that if he walked down the street with her, anyone would think this was his pup.

He liked that thought.

It was getting late, and Kota was rubbing his eyes. Izuku held out his arms, having not eaten as much as Katsuki wished he had. He was too skinny, he thought. He wondered if he had become so thin, he didn’t have heats anymore.

“Where do we sleep?” he asked in a soft voice. Katsuki stood up, jerking his head in a motion to be followed. The three of them trailed along behind him, making him feel like a mother duck.

“Here,” he opened a door to one of the spare rooms. While Izuku was getting the kids bathed, he’d gathered every pillow and blanket he could, piling them up in the center. The omega’s eyes gleamed, and he wanted to preen. Izuku’s hands twitched, and he could just tell he was aching to go and make a nest.
“Is this enough?”

“Oh, yes.” he snapped out of his reverie, giving Katsuki a sheepish smile. “Thank you. You’ve gone to an awful lot of trouble for us. There was no need.”

“Yes there was.” he grumbled, without elaborating. Izuku gave him a curious look, his head tilted ever so slightly, his eyes focused on him. And even though Katsuki wanted to be the focus of that gaze, even though he ached to have Izuku’s attention on him, this felt a little different. This felt a little uncomfortable.

Katsuki was so used to people looking at him with hero worship, fear, or disdain. He wasn’t used to people looking at him like they wanted to open up his skin, crawl inside of his body and try and figure out what he was thinking. Although, if he was being honest, he had the feeling this omega already knew what he was thinking.

It made his face feel warm.

“This room doesn’t have a lock.” he blurted. Izuku looked a little chagrined.

“I see,”

“But you can move the dresser.” he gestured to the piece of furniture. It wasn’t overly heavy, one of those cheap pressed sawdust pieces that he had picked up from the giant chain store. He and Kirishima had put it together one afternoon, between beers and swearing and accusing each other of sitting on the hex key.

But it was better than nothing, and that was enough.

When you had so little, anything was better. The thought did not make Katsuki feel better about anything.

“Well, babies, lets get faces washed and teeth brushed.” Izuku said, herding the pups towards the bathroom. Katsuki wanted to follow along. He wanted to help put toothpaste on the brushes. He wanted to pick a bedtime story. He wanted to sink into the nest, the kids on either side of him as he read.

No, he told himself. They’re not yours. He’s not yours.

Not yet, anyway.

***

Izuku held Eri’s chin in his hand, making sure to wipe the last smears of ketchup off her cheeks. She was such a messy eater, he thought fondly. How did she manage to spread everything so far? He herded the kids back to the room, noticing the way they were yawning and rubbing their eyes.

“Zuzu?” Kota asked softly as the omega grabbed some of the fabrics around and began to construct a nest. It was so kind of the alpha, he thought. He was a little surprised that he had so many nesting things.

Did he have an omega? Where were they? Well, surely not. Izuku would have smelled them walking into the apartment. He’d been off suppressants for so long, his nose was well attuned. While he had hated it on his capture, he had grown to appreciate it. It let him know if anyone near them was angry, filled with rage, ready to hurt his pups.

Maybe there had been an omega at one point. But no more. He didn’t like the thought of using things that had belonged to someone else. Especially such intimate items like nesting materials. Then again, he thought, he didn’t have much of a choice right now. The main goal was to keep the pups safe, get them to sleep, and then figure out what was going to happen to them in the morning.

“Izuku,” Eri giggled. “You’re muttering!”

“Sorry!” he gave a sheepish little smile. “What do you need, Kota, my love?”

“How long are we staying here?”

“I guess I don’t know.” he confessed. “I will figure it out. I will keep you safe, just like I always have.” he promised. The nest was done, and he got both the pups laid down. Just like always, the two of them reached for each other, wrapping themselves up in a blanket, huddled close, a pile of arms and legs.

Relief spread through him, as it always did at the end of every day. He’d kept them alive another day, he’d kept them safe. It made his inner omega feel calmer. He wanted in the nest himself, he wanted to throw his arm over the both of them. He wanted to scent them, press his face to the tops of their heads and take in their milky pup scent.

They wouldn’t get their scents until they presented. For now, he was able to enjoy the way they smelled like babies.

There was work to do, first. Like there always was. Only this time he didn’t have to face those cruel people who had kept them for so long. He didn’t have to offer things that he didn’t want to, things that he had been told since he was young were sacred and should only be given to people who would cherish them. People who could cherish him.

Izuku felt bad as he pushed the dresser in front of the door. He knew that Dynamight could still break through the door if he really wanted to. And maybe he would, if there was an emergency. He was a powerful alpha, a pro hero. And Izuku was only a quirkless omega.

But it made him feel better, he thought as he put his hands on his hips, looking at the door. It made him feel like he really was doing everything he could to keep the two pups safe. And maybe that was all that could be asked of him.

Chapter Text

“They’re social workers.” Izuku explained, his hands on top of their heads. “They aren’t going to hurt you.”

“No,” Kota buried his face in Izuku’s hip. His arms were tight around the person he had decided was his dam, and he wasn’t going to let go. Izuku sighed and gave the back of his neck a squeeze, clearly hoping to calm him down a little bit.

“I promise, puppy.” he said it in a low, sweet voice, one Katsuki hadn’t heard him use before. “And has Zuzu ever broken a promise?” the boy gave a tiny head shake.

“If anything happens.” Katsuki broke in. “I will come and get you.” Kota pried his face away to look at the hero. He chewed his lower lip.

“And you promise to make sure that nothing happens to Eri or Zuzu?” he narrowed his little eyes. Katsuki gave him a very serious nod.

Kota swiped at his eyes and gave a sniffle. Izuku reached over to snatch a tissue from a box on the desk next to them. He wiped at Kota’s nose and smiled.

“And Dynamight is–?”

“The best hero.” Eri and Kota said in unison. The tips of Izuku’s ears were pink, and he was very careful not to look at Katsuki. The alpha couldn’t help but puff his chest a little bit, and he knew that in spite of himself a pleased scent was oozing from his scent glands.

It only made it better to note that the pups seemed to settle down a little bit. Izuku looked pleased, kissing them both on the forehead as the social workers took their hands. Once the kids had left the room, he collapsed into a chair.

“Smart kids.” Katsuki grunted. Izuku gave him a smile, so bright and clear it almost took his breath away. And then his beautiful face crumbled, and tears were pouring down his face. Katsuki startled, staring, uncertain what else to say.

“I tried,” she sobbed. “I tried so hard! I wanted to keep them safe, they were just babies, they didn’t know any better.”

“I know that…” he trailed off.

“I begged him not to send Eri out, I said I’d do anything, I’d be anything he wanted.” he was near hyperventilating. “But he said–.”

“Stop,” Katsuki did not like using an alpha command. He did not like having to control an omega that wasn’t his. “Take a breath, omega.” Izuku drew in a shaky breath.
“That’s good, that’s so good.” he was kneeling down in front of Izuku’s chair. He took his hands, giving them a squeeze.
“I just wanted them to be safe. They were taken for me.”

“What do you mean?” another social worker stepped in. Izuku sucked in a breath, his eyes going wide. He was so pale, Katsuki thought.
“Why were they taken for you?”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” he babbled. “I didn’t want it to happen. I never asked. They did it themselves. I know now it was a trap but–.” he was talking a mile a minute, and Katuski was having trouble capturing all the words to work out the meaning.

“Slow down!” the worker snapped, grabbing her clipboard. “Dynamight, sir, we need you to leave the room.”

“He can’t.” Izuku blurted.

“Of course he can.”

“No, I can’t.” the hero said through clenched teeth. “Because I promised one of the pups that I would watch and make sure nothing happened to the omega and the little girl. And I ain’t someone who breaks promises.”

“But I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.”

“No one will.” Katsuki gave his hand a squeeze. He pointed to the worker and then pointed to a seat in the corner. She sank into it, getting the message that she was supposed to be unobtrusive. Katsuki gave him a sneer, enough for the worker to shrink in on herself. He wasn’t sure where that came from, but he was happy it worked.

Katsuki slowly, carefully turned up Izuku’s wrists. He let his first two fingers rub on the tender undersides of his wrists. He hoped that stimulating them would calm him. It would be even better if he reached for the back of Izuku’s neck, but that was far too intimate a gesture.

It worked, though. His inner alpha was thrilled, and whispering to him that it was working so well because Izuku obviously liked him. He wanted him. He didn’t know it yet, but he wanted him. He’d have to figure out a way to court him. Now wasn’t the time, he thought tightly. Get omega and pups through this, get them home to nest.

“Why were Eri and Kota with you?” he asked gently. Izuku pursed his lips, taking in a shaky breath. His focused his gaze on where the Alpha was touching his skin.

“I was sold when I was really young. I’m quirkless, and that made me useless.” he said it without emotion, like he had been taught it from a young age. “So they gave me worth. But it was so lonely there. And there were so many dark rooms. And when I got my heat…” he trailed off.

“What happened?” Katsuki hummed, even though he was pretty sure he had a good idea.

There were sometimes that omegas had a very high drive to nurture and care. Historically, this could be tempered with a younger sibling, likely an old evolutionary trick to keep the pack safe. Nowadays, there was often a pet purchased. It was very common for an omega to have a puppy, or a kitty, once in a while it might be a bunny.

“They brought me Kota. And he was teeny tiny, just barely out of diapers, and he wanted his mother. But there was only me.” he sniffled himself. “So I took care of him. I made sure he was fed, I would tell him stories.”

“I know you took good care of him.”

“It was only when they wanted me to that he was left alone. And I taught him to stay in the nest and not speak to anyone. But Kai thought that he was getting spoiled because he had all my attention. So he brought Eri.”

“None of that was ever your fault.” Katsuki said fiercely. Izuku just shrugged and shook his head, clearly not believing that statement.

“Eri had such a powerful quirk, and I knew he wanted to use it. He wanted to hurt her. So I threw myself into distracting him. I tried to eat up all his time. That way he wouldn’t be so interested in her. Or Kota.” he closed his eyes, and Katsuki wondered what place he was going to inside his head.

He wanted it to be a beautiful place. A magical escape. He was hoping that Izuku’s brain could give him someplace wonderful when the rest of the world didn’t seem
interested in giving him that. His heart twisted inside of him when he thought about the omega tucking in the pups, shuffling to go and see people who never should have been allowed to lay eyes on him, let alone touch him.

“When he said she had to go, I told her to find help. And she was scared. She had reasons to be. I told her to find a hero.” he caught Katsuki’s eye. “I wanted her to find you. You’re my favorite hero.”

“You’ve got wonderful taste.” he smirked. It broke some of the tension, and the green haired man giggled, a watery sound. But there was hope there, Katsuki thought. There was at least a little bit of hope in that sound.

Katsuki looked over at the social worker. She was canning her clipboard. She gave one short nod and stood up, exiting the room quietly. Izuku was still in the chair, Katsuki on his knees before him. He reached for the box of tissues and held it to Izuku’s nose.

“Blow.” the omega listened without question. “You don’t want to be crying when Eri and Kota come in, do you?” Izuku shook his head. “No, of course not. Because you’re such a strong omega, you’ve taken such good care of your pups.”

It seemed to settle him. Katsuki stood up, arms crossed. He heard someone else coming towards the door. Without even thinking about it, he stepped in front of Izuku. Anyone going near the omega was going to have to go through him.

“Izuku?” Eri’s light little voice. The two of them relaxed, and Katsuki stepped to the side, letting the little girl clamber into his lap. They both seemed happier when she was pressed against his chest, his cheek resting on top of her head.
“Where are we going to go?”

“I don’t know, but it’ll be somewhere safe. You don’t have to worry, baby.” he soothed her, speaking with such a calm tone it surprised Katsuki. Kota came scurrying back in shortly after. He stopped to take in the scene, his nest mate and his dam both unharmed, the new Alpha standing by them.

The scene must have pleased him because he came in to sit with Izuku, too. A tapping at the door revealed another social worker. Katsuki half listened wondering instead if he should order a few things for them. Bubble bath, he thought, kids like bubble bath. And some fun towels. He didn’t know about characters, since he didn’t know who the kids liked but—.

“No!” Izuku squeaked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Mr. Midoriya,” the social worker said calmly. “This is standard procedure.”

“They’re mine! I can take care of them!”

“I understand that, and no one doubts that. But right now, you need to work on being able to take care of yourself. We have many programs and shelters. But the children
are not biologically or legally yours, and you don’t have a home, a plan, or an alpha.”

“They come with me.” Katsuki growled. The social worker stared at him. “They come with me, to my home. And I know that no one would ever dare dream that I wasn’t keeping a place safe for them.”

“Uh, that’s unusual… I’ll have to talk to my supervisor…” she scrambled through her papers for a moment. She stood and hurried out of the room, overwhelmed by the scent of distressed Omega and pissed off Alpha.

But when Katsuki saw the way that Izuku was looking at him, he knew that it was worth it.

Chapter Text

“Anything?” Eri asked, her eyes wide. The toy store was brightly lit, full of so many colors and toys that lit up and made sounds. Katsuki was a little surprised that the pups weren’t overwhelmed. Although Kota was a little more subdued, keeping close to Izuku and Eri. When he was sure the pro hero wasn’t watching, he kept eyeing him up and down.

“Anything,” Katsuki said again in a neutral voice. The pups both looked at Izuku. Obviously, Katsuki thought with a barely concealed snort. They want to get their dam’s approval. It made Katsuki want to rumble, knowing that his omega would take care of his pups.

None of these people are yours, a small voice in his head said. You’re supposed to keep them safe while they get stable. And then they’ll go on to live the rest of their lives. Katsuki did not like that voice in his head, and he did not think he should listen to it.

It was true that the agency in charge of their case had said something like that. Both the social workers who had spoken to the pups said that they were clearly attached to one another and Izuku. They didn’t recommend splitting them up. And all three of them obviously thought that Katsuki was going to keep them safe even if Izuku’s adult words didn’t express that.

Eri was skipping ahead in the toy store. He shouldn’t have been surprised that she headed for the plushies. He was fairly certain she was going to be an omega, and of course an omega loved soft things.

“Mama!” she called over her shoulder. “Mama, come look.”

Mama? Katsuki raised a brow and looked at the green haired omega, who had the most attractive blush on under his freckles. Katsuki’s fingers twitched, and he ached to reach out and touch that blush, see if there was any heat there.

“I’m coming, darling. No need to shout.” he hurried to the racks and racks of plush animals. His gentle murmur had a pleased tone to it, though, obviously enjoying that his pup was so happy. He had one hand on her head, idly scenting her as she talked about this one and that one.

Kota had lingered at the edge of them. But his eyes kept darting to another aisle, the one with all the action figures. His eyes kept going from his family to the toys. Katsuki watched for a moment, wondering what to do. Finally, he strolled up to him.

“You can go and look.”

“No,” Kota set his mouth in a stubborn line. “Can’t leave them.”

“Yes, you can.” he put his hand on top of the boy’s head. The pup seemed to settle down and look up at him. The gaze made Katsuki ache, it was so full of suspicion and little glimmers of hope. He never should have known that kind of suspicion. His heart twisted in anger at the person who made him look this way.
“I’ll stand here,” he walked to a place where he could see both aisles. “And you look there, and I will watch Mama and Eri.” the term of affection came out easily, and he wanted to kick himself. But the kid didn’t seem to notice, or care if he did. Instead, he glanced at the pair and then nodded, hurrying to the plastic figures.

Eri came back with a few stuffed animals. A bear, of course, firm and sitting up with a happy embroidered smile. A stuffed cat with long fluff. And a big floppy tiger. Katsuki watched as she played them all in the cart. Kota came up a few moments later with a handful of the plastic figurines. There were heroes and generic villains, and Katsuki had no small amount of pride to realize there was a figure of him in that pile.

“Ready?” he asked the two. He realized that Izuku was still at the plushes. “Stay here, do not go anywhere. Watch your sister.” he said as he went to the omega. He placed a hand on his shoulder. Izuku jumped a mile.
“Sorry,” he grumbled.

“I didn’t know you were there, Kacchan.”

“Kacchan?” he repeated. Izuku stammered, clearly trying to figure out something to say. Katsuki wondered if terms of endearment were particularly important to him. It would be even better if they weren’t, he thought. Then he would know that he should give one to the omega to reciprocate.

“I’m sorry, I won’t call you that again. It just slipped out. I didn’t mean to upset you.” he was babbling, mouth moving so quickly Katsuki almost couldn’t keep up.

“Shut it,” he said as calmly as he could. Izuku quickly shut up. “I was just coming to tell you that the pups are ready to go and see if you were done.” Izuku nodded, but glanced back at the shelf. Katsuki narrowed his eyes and followed his gaze.

There was a rack of hero bears, because of course there was. Katsuki remembered the day one was presented to him as merch. He had been more interested in the Dynamight shoes, so had simply nodded the bear away. But here it was, with gauntlets and headpiece and everything. They had even given it red eyes and a scowl to match his own.

“You want that?”

“You’re here for Eri and Kota, not me.”

“What kind of alpha do you think I am? Are you trying to imply that I can’t afford the bear?”

“That’s not what I said–.”

“Don’t be a deku about it.” he snorted, snatching the bear and marching back to the kids, who were nudging one another and giving looks that Katsuki couldn’t sort out. He grabbed the basket of toys and went to the counter, paying without looking at any of them.

It wasn’t until they were back at the car, Izuku buckling in the kids that he looked back. Izuku was giving him looks through his eyelashes that made him want to drop to his knees. He wanted to drop down and promise to buy him a thousand bears, buy him whatever he wanted as long as he stayed there, as long as he never left his side.

“What do we say to Mr. Bakugo, babies?”

“Thank you!” both the kids chorused. Katsuki realized there was some begrudging respect in the eyes of Kota, and was satisfied. Izuku came to sit in the front seat, although he spent most of the ride home with his head turned, looking at the children. They chatted about their grocery order, what they wanted for dinner.

Eri hadn’t been able to wait. She had the stuffed bear in her lap, her fingers tangled in his fur as she spoke. It was all so warm and domestic that if it had been anyone else, Katsuki would have thought that it was disgusting.

He did not want to think too hard about the fact that this was not disgusting to him.

He tried to put it out of his mind again when the grocery order came, and he handed the bottle of bubble bath to the kids. Eri squealed, bouncing on her toes. She looked at Katsuki with the same hero worship he had noticed on the street, only now it seemed so much deeper. He had never had anyone look at him like that before, like the words written in the book of his life were worth reading, and not just the hero chapter.

Chapter Text

It was two nights later when Katsuki woke up, hearing the screams. It took him a few moments to understand that this was not a nightmare. These were not the screams of someone he had been meant to save and failed. This was not his own mind reminding him again and again of his failures.

He threw the sheets back and was running down the hall in seconds. It was one of the pups, he could tell. His heart was racing, and sweat was forming at the back of his neck. Which one? Why? His mind was a tumble of thoughts. The door was locked, nothing should have been able to hurt them.

He growled to himself, frustrated that he could not pinpoint which of the pups was in distress. He was at the door in moments, pounding on it. He heard Izuku inside, trying to hush whoever it was.

“I’m here, I’m here, Mama’s here.” he was saying frantically. “I need you to calm down, Kota, baby.”

Ah, the little boy. He pounded again, aware of the scent of distress coming from the omega. Need to get in there, he thought. Need to protect pup and omega. His inner alpha was raging, rattling the bars of the mental cage he kept it in.

“Open the door.” he said unaware of the inflection of his voice.

“No!” Eri said. She was awake now, too? Something must be terribly wrong. He had to get in there. He had to do something! Anything!

“Eri,” he snapped in an Alpha command. “Unlock the door and let me in.”

Kota’s screams were now mixed with the sobs of Eri as he listened to her shuffling towards the door. Izuku was trying to soothe both of them, and the smell of fear was almost suffocating. But the door opened and Katsuki came in, wide eyed and afraid.

“He’s having a nightmare.” Izuku said quickly. “It happens. I’m sorry, I’m trying.”

“Oh,” of course it was a mundane explanation. There was no one tapping at the windows. There was no villain in the shadows reaching for his pack. His pack? He shook his head. He had to stop thinking like that.
“Well, take him to the living room.”

“But—,” Izuku looked at Eri, who was fisting at her eyes, her hair messy from sleep, her pajamas askew. But Kota was howling, and Izuku was obviously overwhelmed. He stood and left with the pup in his arms.

“Hey,” Katsuki went down on one knee, at Eri’s level. She shrank away from him, and he couldn’t say he blamed her.
“I’m not mad at you, Eri.”

“I don’t like Alpha commands.” she sniffled.

“I wouldn’t either, if I were you.” the two of them stared at one another. His fingers were itching, and there was something in the air. A need between the two of them. But Katsuki had never found himself in this position, and was ashamed to admit that he could not put a name to this need.

“Don’t you yell at Zuzu.” she said, little eyes narrowing.

“I promise that I will not yell at Mama.” he recalled a gesture from his childhood and made a crossing gesture over his heart. Who knew if she understood what that meant, though. Katsuki could not say what these kids had and had not been exposed to.

Need to call the therapists, he said. Need to get this sorted out.

“And not Kota?”

“Never Kota,” he said. He ended up sitting criss cross on the floor. He didn’t want to get too close to the nest, not having been invited by the omega. Eri looked at him seriously for a few moments, deciding whether or not to trust his word. Even though he’d only been kind to her, he could not find fault in the little girl. She had likely never known this sort of kindness, and of course she would have to assume that it came with strings.
“I’m so sorry I used an Alpha command, Eri. I did it because I was afraid that something was happening to you pups or to Izuku.”

“You were scared?”

“Yes,” he wanted to say no. He wanted to huff and tell her that he was never afraid of anything at all. But that would have been a lie, and more importantly, it was not what the child needed to hear.

“Oh,” she took that in, turning the thought in her mind. Eri wore her emotions on her face, Katsuki thought. She yawned then, rubbing her eyes. Wordlessly, she walked over to him and threw her arms around his neck.

Katsuki was frozen for a moment. Her face was buried against his scent gland, and she was taking deep inhales. Slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around her. He let the underside of his wrist rub in her hair scenting her back. She was calmer then, he could hear it in her heartbeat, he could feel it as the tension left her.

“Can you go back to sleep? Mama will be in as soon as he can.” she nodded and climbed into the nest, cuddling close to her bear. Katsuki left the door cracked, wanting to be able to get to her quickly if it came to that.

The screaming had stopped from the living room. When he crept in, he saw Izuku on the couch, rocking back and forth with the pale little boy in his arms. He kissed his forehead, whispering in his ears. The two of them froze when they saw Katsuki.

The alpha hated that, he realized. He hated that someone had done something to these two that they could not trust him on sight. And even more, he hated whatever had been done to them. He knew it couldn’t be good for a pup and an omega to go against their natural inclinations of seeing the alpha as protection.

“It was a nightmare, he has them, I’m so he woke you up.” Izuku babbled, clutching Kota tightly. The little boy peered at Katsuki with fearful eyes, burrowing closer to his dam. “Don’t be mad at him, be angry with me.”

“I’m not angry.”

“We’re working on it, I’ll make sure he doesn’t wake you up again.” Katsuki took a step closer, and Izuku, to his shock, hissed. It was a small hiss, and the omega seemed surprised that he had done it.

“Okay, I get it. I won’t come closer.” he stopped walking. “I laid Eri back down, you can sit out here with Kota, or go back to your nest.”

Izuku looked embarrassed, but turned to the sniffling child he was holding. He was trying to pump out those calming pheromones, which would have been stronger if he had given birth himself.

Katsuki was surprised that he was feeling a little calmer himself. He sighed thinking of all the ways that he had wished he had an omega in his life and didn’t. As he passed the room Izuku shared with the kids, he peeked in. Eri was asleep, still holding her bear.

He saw the Dynamight bear sitting outside the nest. On silent feet, he walked to pick it up. He pulled the blanket around Eri, assuring himself that she was safe and warm. He went to sit quietly in the hall, his back to the door. When there was silence in the living room, he went back out, holding the bear.

“I didn’t mean to hiss.” Izuku said as soon as he saw him. “I just…”

“You were protecting your pup. It means you’re a good omega.” Izuku went quiet at that, his eyes wide. Kota was asleep on the couch, one of Katsuki’s throw blankets over him. Katsuki thrust out the bear like a peace offering. Izuku reached out slowly and took it, like he was expecting to be smacked.

Probably was, the alpha thought.

“Eri is asleep.” he said for want of anything else to say. Izuku nodded, and Katsuki turned to go to bed for want of anything else to do.

Going to his own bed felt criminal.

Chapter Text

“No!” Kota screamed, his fingers clinging to Izuku’s shirt.

“Baby, it’s for an hour. I will come right out and you will come right out, and so will Eri. And then we go home.” Izuku was trying his best to untangle those fingers. He couldn’t blame the pup, he thought. Everything had been so much, and there had been so much change. And Kota always thought that it was his job to protect Izuku and Eri.

My little alpha, he thought fondly. He tried his best to pump out calming pheromones, even though his scent glands were aching, and he was exhausted. Eri had gone easily enough to her therapy appointment, although she had given a few uncertain looks to her dam and nest mate.

“I won’t leave you, you’ll get hurt, I know you will.” Kota’s face was wet with tears. Was he really afraid for Izuku, or was he afraid for himself? Either one made plenty of sense, honestly. He sighed, feeling helpless.

When they had been together with those evil, evil men, it was easier for Izuku to put on a happy face. He did everything he could every moment to keep the pups safe. And he knew that them being upset would only set off the alphas and betas who imprisoned them. The scent of unhappy pups would trigger a response, even though they wouldn’t use that response to protect any of them. They would use the aggression.

And sometimes, Izuku was the target of that aggression.

“No, no, no!” Kota chanted. He kicked out at the staff that was trying to coax him away from his dam. Izuku closed his eyes, overwhelmed. His therapist was in the room, giving him sympathetic looks.

Maybe this was better than Izuku having to say all that had happened himself.

“He had a bad night.” Izuku said sheepishly, trying to excuse the pup’s behavior.

“Oi,” a familiar voice in the doorway. Both of them looked to see Dynamight standing there, arms crossed.
“What are you doing?”

“Dynamight!” Kota relaxed a little. “Tell them that I can’t leave Mama alone. Tell them!”

“Why can’t you leave Mama alone?” Izuku felt his face going hot. But he never could bring himself to tell the pups not to call him Mama, not if that was what made them comfortable. But he did see the way that others would look at him.

“Because something will happen to him.” he said it with so much irritation, a child angry that no one seemed to understand what he was saying. “And then I won’t have anybody. And I’ll have to take care of Eri all by myself.”

“No, that wouldn’t happen.” Izuku put his hand on the back of his neck, gave a little squeeze and rubbed. But the pup didn’t really settle, instead rubbing his face in Izuku’s shirt. “Kota, baby, everything is fine.”

“What if,” Dynamight said slowly, commanding attention without even trying. It was something that made Izuku’s heart skip a beat in his chest.
“What if I sat outside the hall?”

“With me or Izuku?”

“With you. You go into your appointment, I’ll wait in the hallway, and I can hear anything that happens to Izuku OR Eri. And if anything does happen, I’ll knock twice, and you’ll know to come out.” Kota looked at him thoughtfully.

“You promise?”

“I’m a hero. I always keep my promises.” Kota’s grip relaxed, and his therapist held out her hand, walking her to the hall. Dynamight followed along, his shoes making a faint thump. The collar of his hero garb kept Izuku from examining his face. It was something that always frightened him, he’d gotten so good at using expressions to determine if someone was going to him or the kids or not.

Dynamight could hurt them. He could hurt them in a heartbeat without even thinking. But he didn’t want to, Izuku told himself. He didn’t want to hurt them. It was still strange to Izuku, and it was something that he did tell the therapist.

There was a lot to talk about. The events, the imprisonment, everything that he had done to keep the pups safe. His guilt at the pups being there at all. His lack of skills, his lack of knowing what would happen next.

The therapy was good for all three of them, he knew that. But it was still painful, tearing scabs off wounds. These wounds that were infected, deep down, the infection that would slowly poison him. Izuku had told all these things, a long stream of words that he didn’t even stop to breathe for.

She had gifted him with a journal and pen. You need something just for you, she’d told him. Somewhere that all those thoughts tumbling around in your mind, a bloodletting for that poison inside of you.

Izuku wasn’t sure if it would work, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He didn’t know the last time someone gave him a gift without strings. He had forgotten that it was possible to accept something with no one demanding something filthy in return.

That evening, he asked Eri to watch television. He had put on one of those princess movies, the ones that were brightly colored and full of singing and pretty dresses. Eri was captivated by them, remembering the stories he told about princesses, fairy tales he had dusted off from corners of his memory.

“Kota,” Izuku sat at the dining room table, having pulled another chair to face his. He held the pup’s hands.
“You cannot act like that at therapy.”

“I don’t see why they have to separate us.” he pouted. “Why can’t we all just–?”

“Because therapy is for us all separately. I know that’s hard for you because it’s been the three of us since you can remember.” of course this was confusing for the pup, it was confusing for him, too. He reached out and cupped the pup’s cheek.
“And Dynamight can’t always miss his shifts to come out and sit in the hallway with you.”

“What if I want to?” a voice said, making the two of them startle. Dynamight, in his civilian clothes instead of that hero garb. Izuku was startled to realize he thought he preferred the pro hero this way. He kept his hands on Kota’s.
“But, your dam is right.” he said it so easily, it made Izuku’s heart flutter. “You have to behave when you’re at therapy. Because I know you can.” Kota seemed to draw himself up taller.

“Yes, Dynamight.”

“You all might as well start calling me Katsuki.” he grunted. “Since I think you’ll be here for awhile.”

“We will?”

“Mmm,” he hummed and shrugged. “Looks like. Why don’t you two go and wash up for dinner and I’ll start cooking. We can eat in the living room, as long as you promise to be careful.” he pointed to Kota.
“Eri is sucked into that movie, and she’ll never eat if we take her away from it now.”

Chapter Text

“And we can play anywhere here?” Kota asked eyes narrowed. Izuku nodded, sitting on the bench with the bag that Katsuki had bought for him, filled with sand toys and jump ropes and chalks. All kinds of beautiful play things that he would have loved to be able to give Kota and Eri. Katuski had bought them, thrust them at him and muttered that the kids might like them.

“But…” Eri paused, clinging to Izuku’s shirt. He put a hand at the back of her neck and gave a little squeeze.
“But won’t we get in trouble?”

“No, darling. There’s no one here to get us in trouble.” he said softly. Izuku knew that he had drilled the fear of trouble into the pups. But he had been so afraid that if they pissed someone off and did so just by being children, they’d get killed. And Izuku was never going to be able to tolerate that.

“How do we play with this?” Kota demanded, holding up one of the jump ropes. He was so naturally curious, Izuku thought fondly. He wouldn’t let Eri go through something if he didn’t think it was safe.

“I can show you–.” Izuku began. He wondered if he really would be able to. Had he forgotten how to do those things? He could tie one end to a tree. He could show them how to jump when holding the handles yourself.

“A jump rope!” a girl said with excitement.”Can we play?” Kota and Eri froze, looking at each other and then to Izuku, terrified. Eri looked intrigued, never having been able to play with another little girl before.

“We don’t know you.” Kota said bluntly. Izuku cringed, hearing the meanness at the edges of those words. That was his defense mechanism. He stepped closer, keeping Eri behind him. Such a little Alpha.

But to their shock, the girl giggled.

“You’re so silly. This is how we get to know each other. Hey, you have chalk, too! We can play hopscotch.”

“What’s that?” Eri asked.

“Let me show you!” she was bouncing on her toes. The two kids glanced at him and he gave a small nod and watched as they went a small distance away. The girl called over a few other friends.

The therapist said that he had to let them be children. She had said that she could tell how much Izuku loved them, and how much he had sacrificed and done so that he could keep them safe. But they were, more than anything, children and they deserved the chance to continue to be children.

No, they would never be like the other kids on the playground. Their young years would always have a shadow. But Izuku had managed to keep them alive! This was not a failure for all that he had not given them. This was a triumph in what he had managed to do for them.

Izuku was trying very hard to pretend that he didn’t want to leap from the bench. He was trying to pretend that he didn’t want to run to the kids and sweep them up and hold them tightly against him, breathing in the scent of them, assuring himself that they were safe. They could only be safe if he could see, if he kept them in his arms, away from anyone that might have wanted to hurt them.

But the whole world didn’t want to hurt them. He was going to have to let them be children, even though it was hard and even though he didn’t seem to want to. He reasoned that if the kids were happy, and if he was happy keeping them safe, what was the harm?

There had been a lot of talk of codependency and stifling. He didn’t like admitting that the therapist was right. He liked even less when she said that he needed to form his own life, too. He needed to discover himself outside of being Kota and Eri’s guardian. He needed to find a life outside of being the Omega that syndicate abused.

How could he even start to do that? Izuku’s thoughts tumbled around his head as he sat on the bench. He watched as the girls drew boxes on the ground, watched as they taught Eri the right way to toss the pebble. Watched as another girl was teaching Kota how to turn the rope.

A life that they had always deserved. His heart twisted. How had he not been able to give this before? How had he not figured this out before?

“Everything fine?” Izuku jumped, nearly climbing out of his skin. His growled and turned, his fingers crooked like claws. His face went hot when he saw that it was Katsuki, looking at him through sunglasses.

“You scared me.” it was an accusation and an apology.

“Sorry?” he shrugged. He glanced at the kids and the tension in his shoulders released. He watched them play for a moment.

“You take good care of them.” he mumbled. Izuku’s heart soared. He wanted to preen at the praise. Instead, he smiled bashfully looking down at his shoes. Katsuki glanced in the bag and sighed.
“Should have made sure that you had juice and snacks, too, all that shit that kids like. We’ll have to make a grocery list.”

“I can do it.” Izuku said quickly.

“You ain’t gotta. Back to work,” Katsuki grunted and turned and walked away, leaving them.

***

“Can we go to the park again tomorrow?” Eri asked, as they were heading home and she had waved good bye to her new friends. “The other girls are there every day after lunch.”

The thought made him want to gasp. Another outing? He’d spent this one afraid, his eyes darting here and there. He was afraid that someone would sneak in, someone would try and come and snatch one of them. All of them. And all that they had known and enjoyed was going to disappear, dissolve in front of them.

There had been so much, Izuku thought, so much that he had not told the children about. Because how was he going to explain that there were so many things they couldn’t see or enjoy. Hopscotch was such a common thing, played without thought. And to them, it had seemed magical. It made the little games they had played with the paper cups they were given seem so pale in comparison.

“I don’t know, Eri.” he said gently. “Maybe we’ll find something else to do.” he unlocked the door to Katsuki’s, locking it again carefully. He loved the security here, loved knowing that there was nothing that could get to them without him knowing.

“I like the park.” Kota declared.

Izuku smiled, helping them take their shoes off. They were rehashing the whole visit and giggling over the unfunny jokes that children often say amongst themselves. They were so bubbly and bright, Izuku sat and let himself enjoy it for a little while.

When the door opened, he froze. He bolted upright and looked to see Katsuki, looking at the kids. They glanced at the hero, beaming. But they hadn’t been quiet and he hadn’t cleaned. He should run over before someone got–.

“Fun time at the park? I’ll start dinner.” the alpha said calmly. He ruffled Kota’s hair and gave Eri’s neck a little squeeze. Izuku stared.
“The hell is wrong with you, nerd?”

“I just.. Nothing.” he sank back to the couch. “Welcome home.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki found himself standing at the produce section. He knew that Izuku and the pups were still ordering things off the apps. He understood why, understood that grocery stores were overwhelming to people recovering from their trauma.

Hell, even Katsuki could find it to be too much. So many people, so many voices, the sheer amount of people that were there. Something had tugged to him, something had beckoned for him to stop, even though he couldn’t think of anything they really needed.

He found himself grabbing the bottles of chocolate milk that had added protein and calories. The doctors had encouraged him and Izuku to keep weight on the children. They were still growing, and they knew that there was the chance for deficits to pop up with those growth spurts. He also paused at the baked goods and grabbed a plastic container of fresh cookies. He could make some himself that would probably be better, but he’d been busy.

And now he was standing in front of the produce. The containers of strawberries beckoned to him, perfectly ripe and sweet, the exact dark color at their tips that everyone loved, fading to a lighter blush towards the top of the fruit.

The first of the season. His mouth watered, although he didn’t care for them in particular. He needed them, though. Had to have them. Katsuki picked up each container and inspected them carefully. He wouldn’t take anything that was too close to being overripe. He wouldn’t tale any that had too many tiny ones, or ones that didn’t have that amazing smell to them.

Once Katsuki was certain he had two perfect containers, he went to the register, the need inside of him satisfied. He carried the bag home, opening the door, ready to shout his arrival. But the house was quiet, a certain amount of peace that made Katsuki want to be quiet.

This was the kind of peace that needed to be protected. This was the kind of peace you could search for your whole life. He carefully took off his shoes and carried the bag in his fist so it wouldn’t crinkle.

In the living room, all three of them were in a heap on the floor. There was paper and crayons, nearly brand new, scattered across the coffee table. There were pillows and blankets, too, a makeshift little nest. Should get more pillows, Katsuki thought. These decorative ones aren’t very comfy.

Izuku had one pup on either side of him. Katsuki glanced at the clock, wondering if he should wake them or not. The omegas chest rose and fell in a soft rhythm. Eri’s fingers were resting on Izuku’s pec, and Kota had his hand knotted up in the omega’s shirt.

Katsuki reached over, ready to peel away those tiny fingers. Even though, if he was being honest, a larger part of him wanted to lay down, too. He wanted to spoon up behind Kota, sling his arm around his waist, his arm across Izuku and resting on Eri. He knew that they would all be more comfortable, all be safer if he was there tangled up with him.

His arms went around Eri. Izuku’s arm around her tightened before he could even really come awake. A tiny growl came from the back of his throat. Katsuki froze. He didn’t like that sound. He had been growled at before, but he hated knowing that this omega was growling at him, because of him.

“Shh,” he whispered. “It’s only me.”

“Alpha,” Izuku muttered, still mostly asleep. Katsuki hummed, allowing himself a moment to preen.

“Yeah, it’s alpha. Lemme get the pups somewhere more comfortable.”

“Mine,” he opened his eyes to slits. He smelled differently, Katsuki noted. Was this a problem? Was he sick? Scared? What was happening that he could help him with? Katsuki wasn’t sure, but he did know Izuku smelled delicious. He wanted to press his face into his scent glands and drink in big gulps.

“Yours,” Katsuki agreed. “Let alpha make everyone comfortable. You’ll be sore if you sleep on the floor.”

Although, if he was being honest, he’d likely have slept in worse places. This was paradise, and that was so sad. Someone like Izuku should have found much better comforts than someone’s clean floor and some mass produced pillows.

Izuku sat up then, rubbing his eyes. He seemed to be coming back to life, really. It was beautiful, Katsuki thought. It was one of the most beautiful things that he had ever seen. He loved watching the light come into Izuku’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but picture rolling over in the mornings, seeing that face as it lit up, joined the living. Katsuki wanted to be the one to see his face light up. He wanted to be the reason his face lit up.

“I’ll get them up for dinner. We had a long night.”

“Is anything wrong?”

“Uh…” Izuku trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. Katsuki sneered, although it lacked the usual venom, since he had a sleeping pup in each arm. “Nothing, it’s all fine.” that wasn’t the truth, but now wasn’t the time.

Katsuki took the pups to the nest and laid them down. Without opening their eyes, the two of them seemed to seek each other out. They snuggled together, safe and content to sleep in their surrogate dam’s nest.

Izuku was in the kitchen, emptying the plastic bag. When he lifted out the strawberries, his mouth began to water. He brought the container to his nose, inhaling deeply. Katsuki chuckled, making the omega jump, just a little embarrassed.

“I was thinking about these. What made you grab them?”

“They were on sale.” the lie didn’t feel good to tell, but Izuku didn’t seem to notice the difference one way or the other. He just nodded and opened the little plastic bin, ignoring the loud crackle it made.

He lifted the most perfect strawberry, the very best piece of fruit, and bit into it. Katsuki watched his teeth peirce the flesh, saw the meerest bit of strawberry juice cling to the corner of his lip. The tip of his precious pink tongue darted out and licked it away.

Katsuki’s knees felt weak. He was very grateful for his scent patches, knowing that he had to be oozing arousal. The omega glanced at him, all big eyes and gratitude and something else that he could not name.

But he wanted to see more of it.

“Thank you,”

“Whatever,” he scoffed. “Let me get started cooking and you go wake the kids.”

“Yeah,” Izuku agreed, putting down the fruit. He eyed the little bin longingly. Katsuki paused and took the other one from the bag, taking it to the fridge.

“There, a little stash since I know you’ll give those little crumb snatchers the best pieces. Gotta fatten you up, too. Everyone will think I don’t know how to take care of some omega and their pups, and I can’t have that on my reputation.” he washed his hands and reached for a knife.

Katsuki pretended that he could not feel Izuku staring at him.

Chapter Text

When Izuku awoke, he knew what was happening. His body burned, his abdomen ached. He whimpered softly, extracting himself from the arms and legs of the pups around him. Izuku headed for the bathroom, determined to take a cold shower. He told himself that he was walking quietly, carefully.

He stumbled in the hallway, leaning against the wall. His hands slipped, wet with sweat. And even though he didn’t want to disturb anyone, having been taught from a young age that he wasn’t meant to, Izuku whined. It was that pitiful little sound that omegas could make when they were distressed.

“The hell?” Katsuki came out of his room, smelling rich and heavy and so very alpha that it made Izuku’s mouth water. He turned to the alpha, having dropped to his knees. He reached his arms out. Katsuki stared.
“Oh no.”

“Please, Kacchan.” he whined. “I need…”

“Oh yeah, I know that you need.” he said grimly “But I am not going to give it to you.”

“Why?” Izuku frowned, his voice so heartbroken that Katsuki nearly fell to his knees. He would have promised the omega anything in that moment to get that look away from him. He steeled himself and pulled his shirt over his nose, hoping to block some of the fantastic scent coming from the other.

“Because now is not the time.” he went over and lifted Izuku, surprised at how light he was, how well he fit in his arms. He carried him easily to the room Izuku shared with the pups. For his part, the green haired man had his arms around his neck, trying to nuzzle into his scent glands, muttering about how nice this was.

“Mama?” Kota yawned, sitting up.

“Mama’s not feeling good right now.” Katsuki said softly. “Will you and Eri go to the kitchen and sit down? I’ll get your breakfast.”

“No! No no!” Izuku could have jumped from those arms if they hadn’t been holding onto him so well.
“They stay, they stay.”

“Not here,” Katsuki shook his head and set him in the nest. “They’re safe here, even if they’re not right next to you. Nothing will happen to them.” his voice, still rough from sleep and confused, was nonetheless soft and gentle. A gravelly tone that could relax even the most wound up, desperate little omega.

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Katsuki nodded. Izuku slid down from his perch and knelt on the floor, opening his arms. Eri and Kota were there immediately, still at the age where their dam’s word was law, might as well have come from the mouth of God.

Izuku scented them both and then reluctantly gave them a little gesture to leave. They shuffled out, although Kota stopped to give Katsuki a long look. Izuku crawled into the nest, curling into a ball.

“Tell me what you need.”

“Strawberries. Ice water.” he hesitated, wiping at his forehead.

“What else?”

“It’s embarrassing.” he moaned, cheeks turning the most fetching shade of pink underneath his freckles. Katsuki steeled himself. Now was not the time, he reminded himself. Don’t think about that.

“Tell me,” he demanded, so close to an alpha command, it could make almost any omega’s knees quiver. Izuku swallowed hard.

“A shirt or a blanket of yours.”

“You need–?”

“Your scent.” Izuku blurted. “Yeah, I do. I know, I know, it’s just–.”

“I said whatever.” he turned sharply and hurried to his room. Katsuki snatched his favorite blanket, warm and thick and sinfully soft, and rushed back to the nest room. Without meeting his eye, he shoved it at Izuku.

The omega reached out slowly and took it. He brought it to his face and inhaled deeply. His entire body relaxed, and Katsuki had to tamp down his urge to chuff. Instead, he marched to the kitchen and grabbed the strawberries and ice water. He carried them back to Izuku, who accepted them wordlessly.

“How long?”

“About three days.” Izuku cracked the water open and guzzled it, looking much better after some. Katsuki nodded and left. He sent a few quick texts. He didn’t have any back up care for the kids, and he wasn’t sure that removing them would be good for Izuku in his precarious state.

The pups were eyeing the door. Eri seemed to be more settled than Kota did. Katsuki made sure to run his hand through both of their hair as he put down plates of breakfast. He told himself that it was so they could stay calm, but there was that urge inside of him to scent them as Izuku had.

“Kacchan?” Eri piped as she sipped her tea.

“Yeah?”

“Who is gonna watch us if Mama isn’t well?”

“Me,” he said smoothly. Kota’s eyes went wide. Eri beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

***

As it turned out, watching the pups wasn’t too bad. He had snacks, they had coloring books and crayons that Izuku had bought. Some of that goo kids played with, the soft clay type stuff. He didn’t want it in his carpet, but it kept them occupied. If he turned on the television with cartoons, they were quiet and content.

They were always quiet, Katsuki thought. He knew Izuku probably taught them to be like that on purpose. It was supposed to keep them safe. He hated that the three of them had been in that position.

The pups should be running around, shouting, making messes. Instead, they sat together and seemed able to have entire conversations with their eyes. It was fascinating and upsetting. But worst of all was the fact that Katsuki could hear Izuku.

Even when he tried to ignore it, even when he tried to focus on anything else, he could hear. The moans and groans muffled by the fabric in the nest. There was the faintest trace of sweet scent, what had to be slick. Izuku’s slick. It made Katsuki’s mouth water.

He wanted to be in there, he thought. He wanted to shove Izuku’s stupid thighs apart and bury his face between them. He wanted to lap up every drop, then pound into him until he cried. That was going to be the only thing that satisfied the omega, Katsuki could tell. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

And it made him want. It made him want so terribly, his knees trembled.

“Where are we gonna sleep?” Kota asked after dinner. Katsuki paused. He hadn’t considered that.

“My room.” he said.

“In your big bed?” Eri asked, eyes gleaming. “With the big pillows?”

“Yeah,” he shrugged. She actually clapped her hands, and Katsuki felt something warm tugging in his chest. It made him want to freeze. He wanted to press his palm to his chest. He wanted to rush to the girl and sweep her into a hug. He wanted to turn and run away.
“And I’ll let you guys watch a movie to fall asleep to.”

Now this made both of them perk up. Izuku said he didn’t like them watching TV to sleep. He said he felt like it disrupted their sleep patterns and caused nightmares. Even Kota was looking at Katsuki with something very close to respect.

It was easy to get the two of them to get cleaned up and put on pajamas. Katsuki was struck, not for the first time, how adorable they were. Eri with her hair brushed and Kota with his face still damp. The still new pajamas, the precious smell of happy pups. He ushered them into his room and let them pick a movie, another something animated with singing.

Katsuki grabbed his favorite pillow and another blanket. He meant to go to the couch, he really did. But his feet didn’t move past Izuku’s door. He plopped down to the floor, telling himself it was just for a little bit. Just in case the kids needed anything, they wouldn’t bother Izuku. He pressed his pillow to the door and leaned against it. Katsuki wouldn’t let himself breathe too deeply. He didn’t want to alert the omega he was so close.

And anyway, Izuku was asleep. He could tell by the quiet coming from the room.

So it would be fine, he thought. To just rest here for a little while.

Chapter Text

Katsuki could hear him in that room. He felt a sweat beading up on his own forehead as he clenched his fists, his nails biting into the flesh of his palms. He focused on breathing, acting like he couldn’t catch whiffs of fertile omega, like he wasn’t going to choke on the barest hint of need and desperation.

“Kachaaaaaan,” came the whine from inside the room.

“I’m here, Deku.” he cleared his throat, hoping he sounded much more stoic than he felt inside. “I’m right here.”

“Not next to me.”

“I can’t…” he trailed off. He could, he thought. He wanted to. More than he could even verbalize, he wanted to go in. He sucked in a breath and blew it out through pursed lips.
“I can’t go in there.”

“But I want you to.” he sounded so needy, it was all Katsuki could do not to break down the door. Izuku whined, and the alpha could hear the rumpling of the nest. The scent was getting stronger, and the omega must have been coming towards the door.

“I can’t,” Katsuki said again, a little desperate himself. He was losing sight of exactly why he couldn’t go in there. After all, sharing a heat wasn’t unheard of. Katsuki was sure he had a muzzle somewhere. His mouth watered at the very thought of biting the other man, though. Digging his teeth into his flesh, his mating gland bursting. He’d be marked forever, and no one would ever go near what belonged to Katsuki.

“But I want you.” he repeated, sounding so heartbroken, it made Katsuki believe that people really could die of sadness.

“I have to take care of the pups.”

“My babies…”

“Yes,” the alpha nodded, even though he couldn’t be seen. “I have to take care of your babies. I have to get them fed and ready for bed.”

“Oh,” he understood, even if he sounded a little upset about it. It was always the way to a good omega’s heart, make sure they knew that their pups were in good hands. There was more movement, a slight creak in the floorboards. He was standing up. Katsuki wanted to scream, he wanted to unlock the door, he wanted to call someone else to come get the kids, he wanted to clamp a hand to Izuku’s mouth as he helped him with his heat.
“Alpha is taking care of my pups.”

“I am,” he moved reluctantly away from the door.

In the kitchen, it was easy for Katsuki to move without thinking. He went from fridge to stove to sink. He moved with grace that, an ease that seemed to captivate Eri. Her eyes were wide as she tracked his every move.

Should get her a stool, a voice in his head said. Should have her help cook. That would make her closer. That would make her trust alpha even more. And then Izuku would like that even more. It was a perfect plan, everyone was happy.

Everyone except for the little boy. His eyes kept wandering to where Izuku was holed up. He looked like he wanted to be the one guarding the door. He was looking with narrowed eyes at Katsuki, like he didn’t quite trust him.

“Mama would like you to eat it all.” Katsuki prompted as he set down the plates. Eri needed no more instruction, picking up her fork and setting to. Kota poked at dinner and looked towards the door.

“What is Mama going to eat?”

“I will make sure that he gets fed.” he promised. The young man seemed okay with that at least for the time being. He ate his meal, listening to Eri chatter about something she had watched on television.

“I didn’t know theme parks were real.” she breathed.

“Well yeah,” Katsuki blinked. “Maybe after Mama’s heat, the three of you can go.”

“Really?” her eyes went so wide, so hopefully, it made Katsuki’s heart stop in his chest. If he spoke, his voice would break. He nodded instead, focusing on his plate, like none of this mattered. Like this conversation was just something passing through his mind.

In his mind, he saw the day. Eri on his shoulders. Kota holding Izuku’s hand. Watching the kids on the carousel, buying them sweets, and winning giant prizes of over priced stuffed animals.

He saw them in the car on the way home. He imagined the pups asleep, leaning against each other, arms around those silly stuffed toys. He could see Izuku, leaned in the passenger seat, head against the headrest, eyes mostly closed. He’d only open them to give Katsuki that look of hero worship that he had so disdained when it came from other people.

He could carry both the kids in, come back for his omega. And then they could go to the nest that Izuku would build in his room, and the omega could show him just how grateful he was. It was going to be the most perfect day, he thought happily.

“Can we say good night to Mama?”

“I don’t think he’s feeling the best right now.” Katsuki side stepped. “Go brush your teeth and wash your faces.” he gathered empty plates. Both the kids trotted off and returned quickly in pajamas, with damp faces.

“I really wanna say goodnight.” Eri hovered at the door. Katsuki could hear the omega, knew he was hurrying to the door.

“I’m fine, babies.” he said brightly, even though Katsuki could hear the tension, could smell the want. The pups could not, for which he was grateful.
“Did you eat dinner?”

“Yes,” both of them chorused.

“And your teeth are brushed?”

“We did, Mama, we did.” Eri was bouncing on her toes. “Mama, guess what Katsuki said?”

“What, my love?”

“When you’re better, we can go to the theme park!” she was nearly vibrating. Izuku made an impressed sound, told them he loved them, and the alpha ushered them to his room.

It was a huge bed, and Eri and Kota looked tiny as they lay. Eri was arranging the pillows, making herself a little nest. Kota had latched onto what was usually one of Katsuki’s favorites. But he didn’t think he cared at all when he saw it in the pup’s arms, and his eyes were already getting heavy.

Katsuki pulled the blankets up over them and then chose a movie to play. Eri yawned and nestled down. He reached out slowly and carefully, let his wrist rub through her hair. He reached too for Kota, making sure he was scented as well. Satisfied, he left the door mostly closed and resumed his post at the door.

“Has my Kacchan returned?” a hopeful voice called.

“Yeah, nerd, I’m here.” he plopped on the floor. It wasn’t the best, he thought. He still wanted to be in that room with Izuku. But the omega was safe and mostly comfortable. And the pups were secure in his bed.

If only he could open the door. He wanted to bury his face in Izuku’s neck. He wanted to pull deep breaths of his scent. He wanted to push him down into the nest and yank his hips up until he was in presentation. He wanted, more than anything, to be with Izuku.

But that was not to be.

Chapter Text

“Kacchan,” the soft whine woke him from his sleep. Katsuki swore he’d been dreaming about the omega. His eyes, his hands, the way that those freckles would taste once Katsuki had taken him apart, and he was crying from satisfaction.

He had thought the voice was part of his dream at first.

“Huh?” he snapped. Katsuki had fallen asleep leaning against the door, his knees pulled up. There was a crick in his neck, but the hero knew that was going to be the least of his body aches. Already his cock was stirring in his lounge pants.

“Kacchan, come in.” the omega begged so prettily. It felt like a crime to say no.

“Can’t, nerd.”

“But I want you, I want you so much.” he whimpered. Katsuki felt like it might have been easier to slice out his own heart.

“Can’t, I said.” he didn’t mean to snap, but it did make the other man fall quiet, so maybe it was okay. He took in a shaky breath.

“The kids are asleep, aren’t they?” Izuku asked, anxiety chewing at the edges of his words even when he was in heat.

“Yes, they’re fine.” he assured. “But I still ain’t coming in.”

“Am I not a good omega?”

“You’re a wonderful omega.” he spoke from clenched teeth. “And it’s because you’re so wonderful that I am staying out here.”

“But you could make me feel better.” he wheedled. “It’s so hot, Kacchan, and it aches. It aches so deep inside of me. I just want it to feel better. You could make that happen!”

“Shhh,” he hushed. If he was in the room, he could have touched Izuku. He could have rubbed the back of his neck, caressed the small of his back. Doing those in tandem with pushing out some calming scent, he might have soothed the omega to sleep.

Katsuki couldn’t trust himself. He knew if he went in there, if he got one full whiff of that delicious man, there would be no turning back. He would bite. He would breed. He would claim. And even though something inside of him was howling for that, he couldn’t. Not now.

It would feel like he was a predator. Izuku was in a vulnerable state. Of course he’d do some imprinting on Katsuki. After all, he had come in and rescued him and his pups. He was keeping them all housed and fed. This was simple gratitude and biology. Katsuki couldn’t be sure that this was genuine.

“I want,” Izuku sounded desperate. He was sitting in front of the door on the other side. Never before in his life had the alpha hated a door so much.

“I know you do, so do I. But if you don’t stop asking, things are going to be difficult.” he warned. He swore he could smell the way the omega was pouting. He knew he could hear the thrumming of his heart, and marveled at the way his own was starting to beat in time to it.
“Can’t you–help yourself?”

“Want you instead.” he sulked.

“But I’m right here.” it wasn’t exactly ideal, but maybe it would take the edge off for the both of them. His dick was painful in his pants, and even if Izuku said no, he’d have to do something. A cold shower didn’t sound appealing this late at night.

“Kacchan will stay?”

“Right outside the door.” he promised. There was a rustle of fabric, and even though it was faint, there was the smell of arousal, of desperation, of heat. Katsuki bit his lip, focusing on the stinging sensation to distract himself from saying to hell with propriety.

Katsuki eased down his pants, letting the waistband sit just behind his balls. He felt curiously sensitive. Wrapping his hand around his shaft was almost painful. His body tensed as he made a loose fist and jerked a few times. His whole body was hot, and he knew he smelled like sex.

“You’ll touch me next heat.” Izuku said in a very decided way.

“Oh yeah, omega? Is that what you decided? You weren’t even going to ask me?”

“Don’t need to. You weren’t going to say no to me.” he nearly purred. He sounded so intense, so certain. It was one of the sexiest things Katsuki had ever witnessed. His cock throbbed in his hand, and he gave it a few pumps. Precum beaded at the tip of him, easily swiped downward.

“How do you feel, ‘Zuku?”

“Your fingers are longer and thicker than mine. I noticed. And you could reach all the spots better.” Izuku groaned, and there was the slick sound of his fingers touching him internally. Katsuki’s mouth watered. He wanted to be there, he wanted to take those fingers and suck them clean. He wanted to bury his face between Izuku’s thighs. He wondered if the freckles were only on his cheeks, or were they all over?

“You noticed my fingers?”

“How could I not? You’re the best alpha I’ve ever seen.”

“I forget you haven’t seen much.”

“Shhh,” Izuku’s turn to hush him. He was jerking himself, rougher and faster than he really wanted. But there was no holding this one off. There was no way he could make it to the shower.
“Kacchan is the best alpha. Kacchan takes care of us.” he sounded a little breathless. The sounds were wetter, and Katsuki just knew that he was gushing slick. He was there, and it was making the omega’s body respond. He puffed himself up with pride.

“I’m doing what anyone would do.”

“You’re not. Maybe you haven’t seen all that you think you have.” Izuku teased. But then quiet wrapped around them, and Katsuki could hear when his heart sped up. He was close, they both were. Katsuki longed to taste Izuku’s orgasm on his tongue.

Next time, he told himself. Next time. He’d court him, sweep him off his feet. He’d make sure Izuku wouldn’t dream of saying anything other than yes. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling their hearts beat in sync.

Could Izuku feel this, too?

He could hear when Izuku came. He could hear the choked gasp, the smell of slick filling the hallway, along with the whiffs of satisfied omega. It was all he needed to tip over the edge himself, cum spurting over his hand. Katsuki wiped it again the blanket he was using, slumped against the door, breathing hard.

Izuku was still there on the other side. There was something inside of Katsuki that ached, that burned. He needed to be near Izuku. He wanted to be knotted. He wanted to pull him down in the nest, lick at his mating gland and be scented again and again.

“Need my nest.” Izuku said softly.

“Go then,”

“But Kacchan will stay? Right behind the door?”

“Right behind the door.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki felt it before he opened up his eyes. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end. He wanted to growl, but something caught in his chest, something made him pause. What was that? Who was that?

A tiny sniffle. Katsuki cracked his eye open. Peering through his eyelashes, he saw Eri standing there, rubbing at her eyes. She looked at Izuku’s door with a quivering lower lip.

“Mama,” she said softly. Slowly, carefully, like he had just woken, Katsuki yawned and stretched. He rolled towards her, seeing the goosebumps that had risen on her little legs. Katsuki had turned up the air conditioning for Izuku, but he hadn’t considered the pups would be cold.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in a neutral tone. Eri glanced at him, shrinking back a little. Katsuki forced himself to stay still, to scent neutral. He hated to think that the place that they’d been had made her have that reaction.

“I want Mama.” she said plaintively.

“I know, but he’s resting.” Katsuki sat up. The pup nodded, not meeting his eye. She turned to go back to the room, but Katsuki stopped her.
“You can sit here with me, you need.”

“I can?” she sounded so cautious, like it was something that she couldn’t believe would actually be okay. He shrugged and adjusted himself against the door. Eri sat down at the edge of the blanket that he had spread on the floor.

Katsuki was glad that after he was sure Izuku was asleep, he’d darted to clean up and get clean clothes. Eri fidgeted a little, picking at her nightgown. The alpha forced himself to settle, wanting to give off those calming pheromones.

He wasn’t her sire, he knew that. He wasn’t her alpha. But his heart still ached to see her upset, and knowing that he couldn’t wake up Izuku. The omega was exhausted, and he needed rest, and seeing him in this state? There was no way that he could tolerate that.

Eri scooted closer to him, moving like she was being tugged by an invisible string. He smirked a bit, not wanting to look at her. It took a few minutes, more heartbeats than Katsuki was willing to name out loud. He would never admit that he had been counting.

Her little head listed against his bicep. He wouldn’t let himself rumble, not now. The alpha didn’t want to overwhelm her, didn’t want to spook her. The quiet spread across the house again, and Katsuki felt–strangely content. He marveled at the feeling. Of course it wasn’t perfect. Kota wasn’t here. Izuku was a room away.

Carefully, Katsuki moved his arm, the little girl leaning into his chest. He wrapped an arm around her, feeling the soft weight of her against his body. He wanted to rumble, he wanted to pull her into his lap. If pup could sleep happily with him, then he’d sleep better, and so would omega. Everyone would be happy!

But it wasn’t time for that. All he could do, he decided, was keep her against him now. He closed his eyes, his fingers going to play in her hair, scenting her just a little bit. He would have liked to ask Izuku first, would have liked it if Eri had asked to be scented. He didn’t want her to get mad, or for Izuku to get pissed off.

Eri seemed to snuggle closer to him, her milky pup scent laced with calm. There, Katsuki thought triumphantly. Alpha helped the pup, everything is fine. He allowed his own eyes to close again.

It shouldn’t have surprised him when he heard the pattering of feet from someone who didn’t want to be heard. Have to teach him better ways to sneak, Katsuki thought. Or maybe not. Don’t want to give everything away.

Kota sank down onto the blanket, leaning into Katsuki’s other side. He smirked a bit, carefully lifting his arm to drape over Kota. He could have preened, he was so proud. It was even closer to perfect, maybe a kind of perfect that Katsuki had never let himself imagine could ever exist.

That type of life wasn’t for people like him. Not alphas who had poured everything into being a hero, and not being a good mate. He wasn’t sure he would ever want to stop being a hero, but how could he have a family when that was his job?

Even as these thoughts were tumbling, at some point he had slumped down to the blanket. An arm around either pup. And when Izuku cracked the door, his skin throbbing and the weakness of heat surrounding him, he watched them for a moment.

Katsuki’s head was turned towards Eri. His arm was wrapped around Kota, keeping him pressed to his side. The little boy’s head jerked up, and he seemed relieved when he laid eyes on Izuku.

Poor baby, the omega thought. He knew too much about everything. I wish I could take all of that away from him. I wish I could have gotten us out sooner. I wish I had made life different for both of them.

“Mama!”

“Shhh, love. What are you doing sleeping here?” he asked in a whisper, ignoring the sweat that was beading on his body.

“We slept in Dynamight’s bed. But when I woke up in the night, Eri was gone, So I had to look for her. And she was asleep here, and I was tired, Mama, I was sleepy and Dynamight–.” he didn’t finish, but Izuku could guess.

“Get Eri and go wash your faces, brush teeth, and get dressed. Kacchan will be along soon to get breakfast ready.” he nodded and reached over to shake away the girl. She glanced at Izuku, beamed, and then they headed for the bathroom.

“Get back in the room.” Katsuki’s voice cut through his thoughts. Izuku jumped and stepped back, tipping his chin up to expose his neck.

“You didn’t have to stay with them like that.”

“I did,” he wasn’t looking at Izuku. “I’ll drop your breakfast.”

“Thank you, Kacchan,” he purred. He had to admit that he did love seeing that sight. His pups safe and tired, protected by the alpha. The alpha who had guarded him all night, too.

And maybe it was just proximity, but Izuku wondered if this was what falling in love could have felt like.

Chapter Text

“Mama?” Eri asked after heat was over, and Izuku was making them something to eat. He smiled at the girl, dropping plates. It was so nice, he thought, to have access to the kitchen and fresh food. Kacchan was never going to let them go without anything. It was a thought that made his heart flutter in his chest.

“What, pup?”

“Are we staying here forever?”

“I..don’t know.” he confessed. She frowned, looking down at her plate. It wasn’t that she was irritated he didn’t know. Even before, in those days that Izuku tried to push away from himself and only examine when he was laying alone in darkness, he had to confess to the children he didn’t know everything and couldn’t always answer their questions.
“Is something wrong here?”

“No,” she shook her head. “Everything here is good. Kota and I are safe and fed, and there’s no one weird, and no one is trying to make us do anything. No one is hurting you. You’re happy here, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he said carefully, sitting down with his own plate. “I am happy here.”

“So we should be able to stay.”

“We can’t,” Kota cut in, in the blunt way that he had that often bordered on cruel if you wern’t careful. “We can only stay if Dynamight wants us to.”

“I think he wants us to.” she said in a decided way, clearly calmer now.

“Well, how do you know?”

“Because he sat outside Mama’s room when he was in heat. And he didn’t smell angry and he wasn’t trying to hurt him.”

“So?” he scowled. Eri glared, and Izuku knew he was going to have to soothe things over before there was a real fight.

“Enough,” he said softly. “Be nice, you two, or I will have to separate you.” they hated that. They all hated that. The three of them had been so close, and the place they had been was so dangerous, they had found safety in one another.

It was dangerous, and Izuku knew it at the time. He knew that it could make him brood, it could make them dangerous and over protective. Especially because there wasn’t a head alpha to soothe things or scent them. Not to mention Izuku spent so much time with those horrible alphas, keeping them safe, and it was stressful and–.

It didn’t matter now, he thought. They were safe. They weren’t there anymore.

The pups still didn’t like being separated.

“We should ask!” Eri asked.

“No,” Izuku shook his head. “We can’t do that. But I don’t want you to worry one way or the other. I won’t let anyone take you away from me. We’re all safe together, all right?”

***

When Katsuki was done with his shift, the house was quiet. There was a plate for him in the fridge. He smiled as he saw it, putting it in the microwave. He should tell the omega not to worry about it, he thought, arms crossed as he watched it spinning.

“Katsuki?” a sleepy voice said. He turned and raised his eyebrows, seeing the little girl there, rubbing her eye with her fist. In bare feet, he thought with a frown. She was shivering a little bit, too.

“What’s wrong? Where’s Izuku?”

“Sleeping. But I was up waiting.”

“Oh? I don’t think Mama likes that.” he said mildly. She looked at least a little embarrassed and squirmed a bit. Katsuki knew that he didn’t really have it in his heart to scold her, though. And was it even his place?

“But I have to ask you something.” she went and wrapped her hand in his shirt. He reached out without thinking, put his hand on her head. She leaned into the touch.

“What?”

“Can we stay here?” the question hung heavy between them, and her eyes were big and bright, pleading. Katsuki stared, uncertain what he should say.
“Because Kota says we can’t stay unless you ask us. And Mama doesn’t want to ask you to ask us. But I want to stay here. And so does Kota and Izuku! I just know they do, even if they didn’t really say it.They’re just scared.”

She must have gotten the babbling habit from Deku, he thought fondly. He had seen the omega prattling on and muttering under his breath. Katsuki felt like it was another point in the column for nurture over nature.

“They're scared,” he said finally. And even though it wasn’t a question, the girl nodded.

“They’re very scared. Because things were hard, and they’re afraid we’ll have to go back to a place like that again.”

“Eri,” he put his hands on her shoulders and crouched down until he was at her eye level. “You are never going back to a place like that again.”

“You can’t know.” her voice had taken on a fearful tone. Sure, the pro hero thought barely keeping back a snort. The other two were scared. She wasn’t scared at all. “I don’t think we were supposed to be in a place like that in the first place. The
therapist said we weren’t.”

“And she was right.” he nodded, giving her shoulders a squeeze. “Eri, you will not be put back in that position. You will not go back to a place like that.”

“How can you be sure?” her voice was so desperate. It was painful. She wanted to believe him, Katsuki could tell. She needed to be able to believe someone. She bit her lower lip, and Katsuki gave her shoulders a little squeeze.

“Because I will not let that happen to you.” he said firmly. He put just a little bit of alpha into his tone, knowing that it would make it hard for her to question it.
“Even if you’re not here, I will never let that happen to you ever again. I’m sorry it happened in the first place.”

“Mama and Kota, too?”

“Mama and Kota, too.” he agreed. “It will never happen to any of you again. Even if you’re not here with me, I will keep you safe. Ain’t I the top hero?”

“Well… yeah.”

“You seen me beat all kinds of villains?”

“Yes,” she agreed.

“All right then.” and even though his food was done, and he knew she was perfectly capable of going to bed on her own, he still lifted her up. The girl rested her head on his shoulder. He carried her towards the room that the three of them liked to share.

But on the way, he stopped by the thermostat. He’d gotten so used to leaving it down when he was gone. But he couldn’t let the pups get chilled, he couldn’t let Izuku be cold. Eri was calm and quiet against him, a sweet, warm weight. He had both arms around her, rubbing her back as he continued down the hall.

“Eri?” Izuku’s quiet voice was laced with worry when Katsuki opened the door. “Where were you? Are you okay?”

“She’s fine.” Katsuki said softly, not to wake Kota. “Here,” he laid her in the nest there. Izuku looked up at him with a look Katsuki couldn’t decipher, but it made him feel squirmy on the inside.
“Good night,” he said in a clipped tone, turning to leave as quickly as he dared.

Chapter Text

“Out? Alone?” Izuku stared at his therapist. She nodded and pushed her glasses up her nose, a little wrinkle forming on the bridge of her nose. It was a curious habit she had, one Izuku had clocked immediately. He wondered if her mate thought it cute.

“You’ve spent so long in survival mode. You were protecting yourself, you were protecting the children. And you’ve done an amazing job. You kept everyone alive.”

“But I—.” he began.

“Izuku, we talked about this.” she scolded gently. “You did the best job anyone could have done in that situation with the tools you have.” there was a pause. “You all came out of it alive, and that’s more than anyone has the right to ask of you.” tears stung his eyes, and he focused on his hands.
“Tell me what you’re feeling.” she coaxed gently.

“I feel embarrassed. I feel unworthy. Because if I was doing a really good job, I would have made sure nothing at all happened to Kota and Eri. Because that’s part of being their dam, making sure they’re always safe.”

“In ordinary circumstances, there is a very tiny grain of truth to that. You were in extraordinary circumstances, yes?” he nodded slowly. “So can we apply those standards to that situation?”

“No,” he admitted in a sullen voice. He hated it when someone was so gently taking off all the heavy guilt armor he had built around himself. She smiled and noted something on her pad. They were quiet for a second. Izuku appreciated that about her, that she’d give him time to work through things in his head before he spoke.

“I don’t want to go out alone. The last time I was out alone–.”

“That makes perfect sense.” she agreed. “What would make you feel safe?”

“Kacchan,” he said without thinking. “Er, I mean, Katsuki. Dynamight.”

“Dynamight,” she repeated. “How is it going, living with him?”

“He takes good care of the pups,” Izuku couldn’t have known the way that he lit up. “He carried Eri to bed. He turned up the thermostat. We’re never hungry. We’re safe. We’re happy.”

“Do you like him?”

“Like him…” he trailed off. “It’s hard not to like someone who is so strong and powerful.”

“And a good alpha?”

“Maybe,” he confessed with a blush.

“I want you to be careful and mindful of how you feel, Izuku. Neither one of you are at fault for the situation, or your biology. What you are at fault for is your actions. We don’t control our environments, we control our reactions.”

“I know,” he slouched in the seat.

“So maybe you could ask Dynamight if he’d like to go out somewhere with you. No, no, not as a date!” she said quickly when Izuku’s eyes went wide. Sometimes it shocked him what she could know without saying it out loud.
“Just two people, going out of the house.”

“I don’t want to tell him it’s because I’m scared.”

“Why not?”

“Kacchan doesn’t want an omega who is weak and needy. Kacchan wants an omega who is strong and as fierce as he is.”

“I don’t think we should figure out what other people want. Mr. Bakugo is allowed to make his own decisions, and all you need to worry about is healing yourself, keeping the pups safe, and moving forward.”

“What if he’s part of moving forward?” Izuku said boldly, feeling his heart flutter as soon as he said it. Was it the fact that he was being a little bit sassy towards the therapist? Or was it the fact that he was talking about Katsuki and the fact he seemed to be so vital to moving forward.

“We’ll see what happens when the time comes.” the therapist glanced at the clock. “Same time next week?”

***

“Out?” Eri said, squirming in her seat. “Out where?”

“Just out,” Izuku said casually.

“So Dynamight is staying with us?” Kota’s eyes narrowed. It was hard for him not to sigh, but Izuku understood that it was part of how he made himself feel safe. It was difficult, though, difficult for him to manage.

No one said pups were easy.

“No,” he said gently. “He’s coming with me.” Eri looked excited and turned her head quickly to Kota. Kota slid his eyes to her, and something passed between the two of them. Izuku usually found that so helpful and charming, loved that they were so close they could communicate like that.

Right now he felt like an outsider. He looked down at his empty plate. He didn’t want to say anything, didn’t want to try and decipher what they were talking about. They were allowed to have space for the two of them, he reminded himself. And it was healthy for everyone if it wasn’t always the three of them enmeshed with each other.

“But who will stay with us?” Kota asked.

“Dynamight has a friend, Red Riot?”

“Really!?” Eri squealed. “Oh wow! We get to meet Red Riot. Did you hear, Kota, did you hear!?”

“I’m sitting right here.” he snapped.

“Hey,” Izuku said gently. “We don’t talk to each other like that. Remember, we’re–.”

“All we have.” Kota finished. “But not you.”

“What do you mean, baby?” he was confused.

“I’m not a baby!” he said, voice raised. Izuku leaned against the table, pushing out some calming pheromones. It usually worked, but Kota pushed himself away, an action that he didn’t seem aware he was doing.
“Don’t treat me like a baby.”

“Okay, I’m sorry,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re going to forget us. You’re like every other omega. You’re going to find some alpha and push us aside, and where do we go?” he stood up, palms flat on the table. Eri and Izuku stared, uncertain what to say.

“Kota, I could never forget you.”

“Yes you could. Because we’re not actually your pups. We’re just kids you took care of because you had to.”

“No,” Izuku shook his head. “You don’t have to be from my body for me to love you. I love you both because I wanted to love you both.”

“But you won’t need to once you get an alpha. You’ll have pups with them and they’ll be your real pups, and we’ll just be a reminder of everything that was wrong with your life.”

“Kota!” he gasped. “Puppy, no. Never ever. Not in fifty million years. If I have a hundred babies, and no one said I was going to, I will still love you and Eri with all my heart.”

“No you won’t,” he snorted. “That’s not how love works.”

“It is how love works, and you’ve never had to see it.” Everything was happening too fast, he wasn’t sure what to say. Izuku felt like his ears were ringing, and then the door opened.

“What the hell?” Dynamight was standing there in civilian clothes, a paper grocery sack in each arm. He smelled the confusion, the anger, the sadness. He looked between the three of them. Kota was obviously upset, Eri looked scared, and Izuku looked heartbroken. All of them looked at him, and he slowly, carefully went and put the bags down.

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. He put away the groceries and turned, all of them looking at him. Tears were sparkling in Eri’s eyes, and that broke Katsuki’s heart. Izuku was obviously devastated and scenting that anxiety. And Kota
was a ball of confusing feelings. It was overwhelming. Katsuki wasn’t sure who to help first.

“Kota?” he said, turning to the boy. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“No!” he shouted, shoving himself away from the table. “I won’t! Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to any of you!”

“Kota!” Izuku spoke the tone that made any misbehaving pup shut up and listen. “That is not how we speak to anyone. I understand you are upset, but I don’t understand how to help you right now.”

“I already told you. Leave me alone.” he snapped, storming out of the room. Izuku called after him and stood up. The door to the bathroom was slammed shut. Izuku looked helpless, and Eri burst into tears.

“Puppy, it’s okay.” Izuku reached for her. She backed away, brushing at her eyes.

“What the hell happened?” Dynamight asked. Izuku dropped into his seat, strings cut.

“I just…” he put his face in his hands, rested his elbows on the table. “I don’t know what to do right now.”

Katsuki wasn’t sure what to do, either. Who did he help? He wasn’t sure what to say until someone was tugging on his shirt. He glanced down at Eri, at her big, troubled eyes. He bent down and picked her up.

How was this more stressful than fighting a villain?

Chapter Text

Kota seemed withdrawn the next few days. He scowled at Katsuki when he thought the alpha couldn’t see. He mumbled responses to Izuku. He only spoke clearly to Eri. Katsuki could hear them one day, when they were in the living room and he was in the kitchen.

“But we WANT Mama to be mated. No one can hurt him anymore if that happens.”

“Sure, dingus, but we want him to be mated to a beta, or some alpha whose kids are already grown. We don’t want there to be new pups.”

“Why not?” Eri shrugged. “I like babies. I would love to help Mama take care of any pups.”

“You aren’t thinking.” Kota huffed. “Because if he has new babies, babies that he gave birth to, he won’t like us anymore.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” Eri sounded uncertain. Katsuki’s heart clenched in his chest. Pups? Babies? Were they really thinking about that? Did they think Izuku was, or had he told them something about it?

The day after Kota had stormed away from the table, Izuku had approached him after the kids had bathed and were settled down to look at books. Katsuki was impressed with how well they could read. Izuku had made mention that sometimes there wasn’t much to do, and so he taught them to read, to write, to count. Whatever he could.

He knew it wasn’t enough. But still, it had been better than nothing and he ahd done his best and—

Katsuki cut him off, said he’d done enough. No one had any right to ask him for anything more than he could actually give. As soon as the words left his mouth, Izuku had frozen. His hand came to rest on his heart, and he stared at the alpha. Scent leaked through, Izuku’s sweet omega scent laced with happiness.

Katsuki liked that smell coming from Izuku.

“Can we go out somewhere?” the omega blurted. Katsuki stared at him, and realized this was one of the few times in his life he was uncertain what to say. How was it that this one, single person always left him feel tongue tied and awkward?

“The hell? You can’t just ask like that!”

“Sorry, sorry.” Izuku stammered. “I meant… my therapist thinks it’s time for me to leave the house to do more than just appointments and grocery shopping.” he swallowed hard. “And I wouldn’t feel safe if I went alone.”

“Clearly not.” there was a blush that rose on the omega’s cheeks, and Katsuki felt a little ashamed of himself. He didn’t mean to speak quite so harshly.

“Right,” he rubbed the back of his neck, and then his wrists, a self soothing gesture. “But um, I would–I mean–you–can–I–you’re a pro and safety–.” he stammered and muttered, tripping up on his words. The alpha grunted, finally taking pity on him.

“Yeah, I’ll take you somewhere. Where you wanna go?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” Izuku admitted sheepishly. He hadn’t thought that this alpha was going to say yes. Izuku wasn’t stupid, he had seen the gossip blogs on the phone Katsuki gave him, he had seen some of the clips on television.

And, if he was being honest with himself, this alpha was hot. His eyes, the curve of his lip, his hands. Izuku could see the roughness in his hands, the consequences of his hard work. He was attractive, he was what an alpha should be.

Even more attractive, at least to Izuku, was what wasn’t shown. Yes, the heroics and rescues were heart stopping. But what made him feel a little thrill, what made his knees go weak, was watching him with Eri and Kota.

Izuku remembered seeing them curled up with him when he was in heat. He thought about how he felt when Eri was crying and the way Katsuki picked her up. His hand had gone to the back of her head, coaxing her onto his shoulder. He had swayed back and forth with her,

“Hey, shush, it’s okay.” he told her. And even though Izuku had seen he could be so gruff, he had no problems shouting at reports or civilians to get out of his way. He could call people names, even as he was rescuing them. He had been so kind to Eri, he had been so sweet. He had spoken to her the way an alpha would speak with their pup.
“I know, that was upsetting, everyone is upset. But you’re okay. It’s all right, Eri.”

He had carried the girl to the room they shared and set her in Izuku’s nest. The omega didn’t know what was said between them, but he did know that once he finally talked Kota out of the bathroom and towards the nest, Eri was happy to be playing with some of the toys she had, and there was no crying.

“Um, for coffee?

“You don’t drink coffee,” Katsuki snorted. “We can get a crepe, I know a little stand. It’s not too far away. We can’t take you too far, make you panic.” he stood up from the couch and stretched, his arms high above his head. The t shirt he was wearing pulled up, just a little, and Izuku was treated to the sight of Katsuki’s waist, and the muscles that were there. His fingers itched for him to reach out and touch.

How warm was the alpha? Did he like to be touched? Izuku knew some alphas could not stand the thought of being touched, said they felt it made them feel less dominant. They were all rough fingers and cruel gestures. Izuku didn’t think Katsuki was like that, although there was no way that he could be sure.

It wasn’t his place. He didn’t belong to Katsuki. He was there out of pity, and he knew it.

“That sounds great.” he blurted. “I need to find someone to watch the kids…”

“Got it covered, Kirishima is happy to. He said he’d be on call for us, and he’s eager to meet the kids..” Katsuki grunted as headed down the hall towards his room.

“Okay,” Izuku blew out a breath. “Okay.”

Chapter Text

“So you’re Red Riot.” the way Kota was looking at Eijiro made him uncomfortable. He loved his fans, and he especially adored children. He was used to them running up to them, fawning all over him.

And indeed, Eri had been thrilled to see him. She had run over and and asked if he was Red Riot, and did he liked working with Katsuki, and what was it like to go to UA? SHe said maybe someday she’d want to go to UA.

Kota had stood, glared at Eijiro. He was tracking his every move from his spot on the couch, from when he took his shoes off to hanging up his coat. He had answered all of Eri’s questions smoothly, waving off izuku when he gently tried to cut in and tell her to let him get settled.

“I am,” he grinned at the point, displaying his sharp teeth. It was a look that was easily terrifying to the wrong person. Eijiro always made it a point to try and look friendly when it came to children.

“Hm,” Kota looked away. Izuku looked embarrassed, but before he could say a whole lot, Katsuki was walking into the room.

“You’re finally here.” he grunted. Eijiro paused to look at the blond. He remembered the days at UA, remembered when Katsuki had been the head alpha of their Ado-Pack. He remembered the way his own heart had fluttered whenever he snarled at them, or whenever he watched him working out.

There was a time, Eijro thought, that this might have been the life he was going to have. And even though that time was passed, he could not help but perk up as he locked eyes with Katsuki. He rubbed his palms against his thighs, a nervous habit he had never quite grown out of.

“Thanks for coming, Shitty Hair.” he grumbled. Eijro laughed.

“How could I not? When I heard you had pups living with you, well, I had to see for myself!” Eri froze at that. She seemed to shrink a little back from the hero. She glanced towards Izuku, who caught her eye and frowned.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly, behind down so she could speak in his ear. But the girl only shook her head and pasted on a brave smile. Izuku knew it was fake, he could tell when both of his kids were hiding something.

“Baby?” he tucked her hair behind her ears.

“She’ll be fine.” Kota said proudly from the couch. “Because I will look after her.”

“Right…” Izuku still looked uncertain. He felt the weight of her eyes as he put on his own jacket. He had gone so long without one, he had been shocked when Katsuki brought it home in a careless paper bag. It was warm and thick and fitted perfectly.

Had the alpha been taking his measurements? How had he done so? Was it simply with his eyes? It gave Izuku a little thrill to consider that the alpha had been watching him so closely. He was just worried about someone under his care, he told himself. He just wanted to make sure that everyone was taken care of, because it would look bad on him.

“So go on you two, have fun! I have your cell phone, Bakubro. Text as much as you want to!”

“We’ll be back in an hour or so.” Izuku flitted over to smooth Kota’s hair. He patted the omega away with a blush, although Izuku knew that he secretly liked it. Eri was giving him very uncertain looks, something that made him pause at the door.

“Kacchan? Maybe–.”

“Your therapist said it was a good idea. Their therapists said it was a good idea. You can’t stay in this house with your eyes on them forever.” the blond was taking his elbow. Eijiro noticed the gesture and looked away.

Even though it had been so long ago. Even though he knew that Katsuki had said they made better friends, and he was right, it still stung a little. Katsuki had said the problem wasn’t Eijiro himself, it was that he didn’t want another alpha. He wanted only an omega, and hek new that the chances of him finding the right omega were slim.

“I love you, pups.” Izuku said. “I will come back.”

“Are you sure?” Eri asked in a tiny voice.

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“But–,” she began.

“Oi,” Katsuki said in his low, smooth voice. “I promise you that he’ll come back. And I have never broken a promise to you. And I’m the top hero. Even if someone did want to hurt him, I would never let them. Get it?” Eri gave a small nod, but her eyes didn’t leave them as they walked out.

Izuku thought his heart was going to pound right out of his chest. His knees were quaking as Katsuki walked him away from the door, down the steps and away from the home. Before they even touched the sidewalk, the omega turned to clutch his arm.

“No, this is wrong, take me back.” he begged.

“Hey,” Katsuki frowned. “Stop that.”

“I can’t, because I know I need to go back in there. Please, Katsuki, I changed my mind. My therapist is wrong, and I’m not ready.”

“You are never going to be ready in your head.” Katsuki said in the blunt way of his that was close to being smacked in the face, but somehow refreshing at the same time. Izuku had noticed it a time or two, and he envied the ability. He was never able to be so blunt.

Once he was, he thought. When he was first with Kai. He would practically spit in the man’s face, tell him of all the things he was doing wrong. He would tell him that when someone found out, and they would find out, he was going to face hell.

But the days had worn into weeks, and the weeks had flipped to months, which slowly sank into years. That fire inside of Izuku, the one he had tried so hard to keep alive when he first arrived was slowly going out. He didn’t think he was likely to survive, and for awhile he thought that was for the best. If there was no other way to be free, dying would provide an out.

And then Kota had arrived.

“As fast as possible?” he asked the alpha in front of him, tipping his head back. It might have been a gesture of submission in another context.

“As fast as is safe.” he corrected. “Come, Izuku, one step.” he coaxed. The omega took one tiny step, then another and another. He felt the anchor of the pups beckoning to him, urging him back inside.

But he kept walking, taking those wooden steps, afraid bending his news would make him break apart. And if he smashed into a thousand pieces, something he’d spent years trying to avoid, he wasn’t sure he could ever be put back together again.

“Hey,” Katsuki’s low voice jolted him out of his thoughts. “What’s up?”

“Tell me,” he said slowly. “Tell me what kind of fillings I can get with my crepe.” it had been ages since he had one, and he found that his mouth was watering at the idea.

Chapter Text

Eijiro looked at the two children. The boy was backing away from him, a dark scowl on his face. The girl was looking at the door with big, teary eyes. Oh no, he thought. He could not stand the thought of a kid crying in front of him.

“Bakugo and Midoriya will be back really soon!” he said quickly. “Crepes are eaten really fast.”

“B-b-b-but how do you know?” the girl stammered.

“Yeah!” the boy added. “You don’t know Izuku, so you don’t know.”

“Izuku would never just leave us!” the girl was scandalized. “Not after everything. He always came back to us, he always wants to come back to us.” she swiped at her eyes with the back of her wrist.

“I thought that too,” he sounded grim. “But look! He went out without us and he didn’t tuck us into the nest and he didn’t hand us our bunnies and–.”

“He doesn’t need to now!” Eri cut in. “We’re safe, we’re safe. I know it because ‘Zuku said and ‘Zuku never lies.” both of the kids looked worked up. Eijiro blinked a few times, feeling himself panic.

“Tell me about Izuku.” he blurted. Sometimes even mentioning an omega was enough to get pups to calm down. Eri sniffled a few times while Kota sighed down at his slippers, arms crossed over his chest. He made it very clear he thought this was foolish.

“He’s so wonderful.” Eri gave a watery smile. “He loves us, and even if he got a thousand pups, he would still love us.”

“Pups?”

“Uh huh,” she nodded. “I hope he and Kacchan are going to have a lot of pups.”

“Ka–cchan?” Eijiro blinked heavily. This was all happening so fast!

“Yeah! Wouldn’t it be perfect? I can tell he likes Izuku, but I can’t say why I think that.” she shrugged. Eijiro looked at her for a moment, uncertain what he should think or say. Instead, he cleared his throat.

“Anyone want a snack? Bakugo told me that he left some cut up fruit in the fridge, and some cups with chocolate milk.” he waggled his eyebrows. Eri gasped in delight, and even Kota looked like he was interested.

“Chocolate milk!” she squealed as she scrambled into a seat at the table. Eijiro wondered if had been assigned to her, given that silky cushion that was resting there. It was decorated with pink bunnies. He saw that the boy had one, too, but this one had colorful dinosaurs on them.

Katsuki had brought them home one day for the kids. He noticed that they often sat at the table on their knees, easier to reach things. Izuku corrected them again and again in that soft, gentle way he had. He was able to couch a correction in such sweetness, always saying “...and if you got hurt, it would break my heart!”

He had said he was afraid of the children slipping and crashing down, banging their heads. He said he didn’t think he could tolerate taking the kids to the hospital again. Katsuki had grimaced at that, knowing it would be an ugly scene.

The next day, right after patrol, he was there holding two bags. Wordlessly, one was shoved at each child. Eri had beamed at him, thanked him, told him how cute it was. Kota even gave a respectful thank you, although Katsuki thought that the respect in his eyes was more fantastic.

Second only to the way Izuku looked at him. His eyes were so big and bright. His chin was tipped back just the tiniest bit. Katsuki thought he was going to fall to his knees. And if he fell to his knees, he was going to have to pull that omega close to his face and things that weren’t suitable for children would happen.

“Thank you, Kacchan.” Izuku said softly. Katsuki swooned internally, his inner alpha preening and begging to touch that soft green hair. Instead, he grunted and nodded. And if he was in the shower a little bit longer than usual, biting his lip to keep his groan in, no one needed to know.

“Do you like chocolate milk? It’s good for you, it’ll help you grow strong.” he handed out the cups with the lid and straw, the bowls of sliced fruit. He even thought to grab paper towels to use for napkins.

Even though the kids didn’t talk a whole lot, it was easy enough for him to keep up a stream of chatter. They did at least seem amused when he told a few stories of working with Bakugo on a mission together.

When the snacks were gone, and both kids had wiped their faces, Eijiro glanced at the clock. How long could a crepe date take!? Should he offer coloring? Watching the television? Were they allowed to watch television? He was woefully under prepared.

“Can we play a game?” Kota asked suddenly. Eijiro was a little surprised. The kid hadn’t seemed receptive at all, this seemed to come out of nowhere. But he was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“What game?”

“Hide and seek,” he didn’t even need to think. Well, he figured it was a small enough space. And where would they hide anyway? Eijiro nodded and gave a soft smile. Kota gave a tiny smile in return, one that looked almost painful.

“Of course!”

“Great! Me and Eri hide and you find us. No peeking,” he warned, pointing a finger directly at Eijiro’s nose. He chuckled and nodded, covering his eyes theatrically as he began to count out loud.

“One…. two…. Three…”

***

The menu was so colorful it almost looked garish. Izuku wondered if that was always the case, or if it had been that long since he’d gotten the chance to see. His heart was fluttering in his chest, and it was almost painful for him to walk away from home.

“Izuku…?” he jumped a mile and turned, seeing Katsuki standing there next to him. He had a concerned little frown on his face. His hand was lightly wrapped around Izuku’s bicep, and when the omega noticed, he gently shook him off.

“Sorry, I was just zoned out.” he swallowed hard. Zoning out was one name for it, and it was the one Izuku preferred. So what if his therapist said it was more like disassociating?

“What do you want?” it was such a simple record, but Izuku thought it might as well have been in Greek. He shook his head and shrugged. Katuski grunted and turned to the man inside the little stand.

He ordered one with strawberries and cream, and a creme brulee. They were handed out quickly, and Katsuki held out the strawberry one to Izuku. He remembered I like the berries, Izuku thought with no small amount of wonder.

Katsuki then briskly lead him to a little bench under a tree, providing enough shade that it was pleasant to sit and people watch. Izuku took tiny bites of his treat, letting the flavors melt on his tongue.

“It’s just a crepe,” Katsuki snorted.

“I can’t remember the last time I had one.” he shrugged. “I know I did. But I can’t remember.”

“Oh,” he didn’t seem to know what to say, but Izuku didn’t seem to care. He was so focused on his snack, and when he finally looked at the alpha, there was a little smear of cream on the tip of his nose.

“What?” he asked innocently.

If it had been anyone else in the world, Katsuki would accuse them of manipulation. But Izuku didn’t know, he thought. Izuku had no idea how cute he was, and this fact only made him even more fucking cute, which didn’t even seem possible.

“You’ve just–you’ve got–there’s a little um…” he cleared his throat. Izuku blinked, obviously confused. Katsuki sighed and reached out slowly and carefully, feeling like he was offering a hand to a feral cat.

Izuku froze when Katsuki’s hand made contact with his chin. He stared right at the alpha, whose eyes locked with his. Chills ran down Izuku’s body. He had forgotten it was even possible to enjoy an alpha touching you, or that one could touch you casually.

Katsuki’s thumb swiped at the little fleck of cream. Izuku’s lips parted. There was a moment when Katsuki knew it would have been simple to slip his thumb into the omega’s mouth, or lick his thumb himself. But they weren’t there yet, and he knew it, as much as he wanted to be there.

Maybe someday.

He wiped the thumb on his napkin.

“You had some cream there. You always such a messy eater?” he raised an eyebrow. And Izuku giggled, a small, nervous little giggle. It could have been a bird who was seeing if it was safe to sing.

“Thanks, Kacchan.” he turned back to his crepe, although he had the dusting of a blush on his cheeks and ears. It was so becoming, Katsuki thought. Did he even realize that?

“We better head back.” he said, realizing the omega was almost done eating, and so was he, he looked at the last bite of the treat in his hand and held it out ot the omega.
“Finish this.”

“Don’t you like it?” Izuku frowned.

“Yes, I mean, no, I–just eat it!” he snapped. Izuku gave another little giggle and ate the last bite, then finished his own. He swiped at his mouth with a napkin, then trotted to the trash. He hurried back to the alpha, and when they walked, he didn’t
even think before his arm was sliding into Katsuki’s, the alpha had his hands in his pockets.

“Um, are you okay? I’m sorry, I can stop.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.” Katsuki glared. Izuku nodded and looked down at the sidewalk, although he knew that he had a smug look on his face. It made his inner omega so happy be able to touch him, even just a little bit.

It was enough.

As they approached home, Izuku froze. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He dropped his arm from Katsuki and began to run. Katsuki shouted after her, demanding he come back and explain. Just as he reached the door, it swung open, Eri in Kirishima’s arms.

“What happened?” Izuku demanded, almost out of breath. Kirishima swallowed a few times, handed over the little girl to her dam.

“I can’t find Kota.”

Chapter Text

“What do you mean?” Izuku asked, his face pale. He seemed to wobble a bit, not even noticing when Katsuki put his hand to the small of his back.

“We were playing hide and seek, I was counting.” Kirishima admitted. “And they were so quiet…” Izuku had taught them how to stay quiet. He had taught them how to hide, because he was so afraid that when they were sent out someone on the outside would hurt them.

Izuku clutched Eri, his eyes wide with fear. He was scenting distress, and it was enough to make Kirishima and Katsuki uncomfortable.

“He doesn’t know where we are.” Izuku said, his hands shaking. “He doesn’t know how to get back here. I should have been teaching him the whole time, I should have been trying to make sure they knew how to get back here no matter what.”

“This is not your fault, Izuku.” Katsuki said firmly.

“I need him, I need him back, I need him now.” Izuku babbled. Kirishima took a step towards him. He growled, a low threat, clutching the girl closer to his chest. Everyone stopped to look at him.

“Mama?” Eri whimpered. He shook his head and nuzzled her hair.

“Everything is fine, darling, everything is fine. I’m going to find Kota, and he’ll be safe, and then we’ll all be able to be calm.”

“No,” Katsuki said. “I will find Kota.”

“You won’t be able to know how. I’m the only one who knows how to find him, Because he’s my pup!”

“You are hysterical. I will find him.”

“Don’t call me hysterical! You don’t get it because they’re not yours! We don’t belong to you, so you can’t know how badly this hurts.” Izuku’s words felt sharp, stabbing into Katsuki. Kirishima made a quiet sound, and Eri gasped. Tears were flowing down her face.

“Stop it!” there was an alpha command, one that made Eri and Izuku freeze. Eri sniffled, trying to stop crying. Katsuki reached out and took her, aware of the way that Izuku didn’t want to let her go.

“Bakugo–,” Kirishima sounded worried. But he was silenced with a glare. Katsuki let Eri nestle into his neck. He rubbed her back for a moment and then kissed the side of her head.

“I will get Kota, and will you be a hero for me and stay with Mama?” he asked quietly. She pulled back her head and wiped at her eyes. She gave a fierce nod.
“That’s my side kick, that’s my good girl.” he praised. The pup was handed back to her dam, who was staring at Katuski with an unreadable expression.

Kirishima was stuffing his feet into his shoes. He grabbed his jacket and made to leave. Katsuki knew he was going to look for the pup, but he stopped his friend with an arm across his chest.

“Huh?”

“I need someone to stay here with my omega and pup.” Kirishima nodded and stepped back, standing behind the omega.
“I will come back, Izuku. I will come back with Kota.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I am, and I am promising.” Izuku couldn’t help but think that it was such a rash decision. Still, he couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t giving him a little thrill. He wanted to put his shoes on, he wanted to race outside and scream for Kota.

“Yes, alpha.” was all he could think to say.

“So you will stay and you will keep my Eri safe.” his expression was different from when they were eating crepes. He didn’t look enamoured. He didn’t look like he was drinking in every motion that Izuku made, wasn’t trying to memorize every word he said.

This Katsuki was firmer. This was closer to what he looked like when he was wearing his hero garb, when he was ut in the world as Dynamight. Maybe that was what they needed right now, Izuku thought. Dynamite, and not Kacchan.

He watched as Katsuki left the house, reaching for his phone. He wondered who he’d call, if there was anyone who could provide assistance. Was he google to call in a favor from somewhere? It shocked Izuku to think that Katsuki would do that; would call in a favor for his pup.

“Mama,” Eri fussed. He cooed to her and carried her to the nest. The two of them sat in it, one of Kota’s blankets around Izuku’s shoulders, Kota’s favorite toy in Eri’s lap. He rocked back and forth, running his hand through Eri’s hair again and again.

“Kota is fine.” he said softly. “Kota will be just fine. Everything is fine.” he wasn’t sure if he was trying to assure her, or himself.

Kirishima sat outside the door, knowing better than to come into the nest space of an omega. Especially one as keyed up as Izuku. He kept his phone in his hand and his ears sharp.

After he had counted to twenty, he had searched for the children. It had taken him some time to find Eri, curled up impossibly small under a small mound of throw pillows on the couch.

She giggled, pleased he had to look for her. She had let him pick her up, spin her around, and then she trailed behind him while he looked for Kota. But Kota wasn’t in anyone’s room, he wasn’t under any tables, he wasn’t in any closets. He wasn’t anywhere. There wasn’t a trace.

“Okay, pal.” Kirishima had called. “You won! You got me. Come out now.” but there was only stillness.
“Kota, bud, this isn’t funny.”

“Kota!” Eri called. “Maybe if you come out we can have more chocolate milk!” she cupped her hands around her mouth to amplify the sound.

“I never said that.” Kirsihima blinked.

“Well, would you give it to us if it works?” she shrugged. Kirishima had to admit she was right, but it didn’t matter. Kota did not appear. He was just gathering the girl up to look around outside when the door opened and Izuku was there.

***

Katsuki wasn’t sure where to start. But he knew he had to look. He couldn’t sit still, not knowing that Izuku was so lost, knowing that he was hurting. And Katsuki could not pretend that he didn’t have that fear as well. He wanted to know where Kota was, he wanted to know that the pup was okay.

He walked down the street with firm steps, just this side of running. His eyes scanned the area, the same as he was when he was looking for someone who had tried to escape. He felt his heart aching inside of him.

Where was Kota? Was he okay? Why would he run away? Didn’t he like being with Katsuki? Had Shitty Hair upset him somehow? He was going to have to kick his ass if he upset his pup. And Eri, too, Eri was upset because Kota had gone. He’d kick Shitty Hair’s ass twice as hard.

He got to the small park, the same one that Izuku took the kids to. He saw someone sitting there, holding onto the swing chains, digging his toes into the dirt. Relief spread through him like ice water, then something like anger. Maybe fear? But it wasn’t the same fear he had known, in those moments where he was close to death.

This fear was something else. Something more visceral that he hadn’t known before. Something that made him almost drop in that moment. He ran across the silent playground, feeling the scant gravel crunching under his boots.

“Kota!” the boy looked up sharply and then seemed to curl into himself. He cringed, ready for the fall out Did he think he was going to get hurt? Did he think Katsuki was going to be the one to hurt him? And even though he was angry, he couldn’t picture hitting either of the pups.

“Katsuki,” Kota said softly. Katsuki stood in front of him, looking down at the boy. Neither spoke. Eventually, he reached down, slowly, carefully. He rested his hands on Kota’s shoulders. He looked up slowly into the pro hero’s eyes.
“I’m sorry!” he blurted.

“You can’t run off like that.” Katsuki focused on leaving his voice calm and stable.

“You only care because Izuku is upset.” he scowled, swiping his face against his shoulder.

“Mama is very upset,” he agreed. “And so is Eri. And so am I.”

“You are?” Kota asked, suspicious. “Because Mama is upset?”

“Because I don’t like coming home and seeing that you’re not safe. I want you, and Eri, and Mama to be safe.”

“Because you want to be with Mama, and then when you have a pup, you’ll get rid of us.” he muttered. Katsuki froze.

“I would never, ever get rid of you.” he went down on one knee so they were on eye level. “Not in a million years. Even if I ever was with Izuku, you would still be with us. He would never want to get rid of you, and neither would I.”

“Even though we’re not your pups?”

“You’re as much my pup as any other could be.” he stood up, grabbing the boy and scooping him up. Kota was crying, angry tears, frustrated and tired tears. He wound his arms around Katsuki’s neck and was silent as he was carrying, one arm under his bottom, the other around his back.

The house was quiet when he stepped in. Kirishima scrambled towards the door and looked at them wordlessly. Katsuki continued to the nest room. Izuku and Eri looked up. The girl was set gently aside as Izuku climbed out and rushed over, snatching the pup.

“Mama! Mama, Mama!” Kota cried, crying again. Izuku was crying, too, Katsuki noted. He was holding the pup to his chest, rocking back and forth, his face pressed to his hair. Kota was sobbing and babbling. Izuku sank to the floor, then held out his other arm until Eri squirmed in.

“Don’t run from me.” Izuku said, his heartbreak so clear.

“I’m sorry,” he whined. “I am, I am.”

“I can’t keep you safe if you run.”

Katsuki knew he should leave. He should step out and leave the dam and pups to calm down. Instead, he was walking closer. He knelt down near them, and forgot how to breathe when one of Izuku’s hands reached for him, pulling him in.

Where he belonged.

Chapter Text

Katsuki couldn’t bring himself to sleep in his den. He snarled to himself as he dragged his blankets and pillows back outside of the nest room. Izuku stared at him, raising his eyebrows. Kota was in his arms, and he was unwilling to set him down, unwilling to even let either of the children out of his sight.

“What are you doing?” he asked carefully. The alpha glanced up, going back to trying to arrange the blankets.

“Don’t worry about it. Get the pups settled.” he grunted. Izuku and the kids watched for a few more moments before walking closer.

“Come and hold Kota.” Katsuki stood and reached for the pup. If he thought that Kota was going to shy away from him, he was surprised. Small arms around wrapped his neck. He held the boy in one arm, his hand on the girl’s head. She leaned into his hip, glad to be near him. Katsuki marveled at the feeling in his heart of holding one pup, having the other want to be near him.

Izuku grabbed the blankets, arranging them neatly into a comfy looking little nest. He looked at it for a moment, and darted into the nest room, coming back with a few more pillows, and a few of the blankets he and the pups used.

“The hell is up with that?” Katsuki asked, amused.

“I thought…” Izuku was blushing, not meeting his eye. “I thought you might sleep better if you had something that smelled like us.” there was a pause.
“But if you don’t like it, I can take it out. It was silly. I’m sorry, Kacchan. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“I didn’t say that.” he cut into the babbling. “Leave ‘em,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “Good night or whatever.” he gave Kota a cuddle, rubbing his wrist against his hair and sending him back to the omega. He bent to kiss Eri on her forehead, smiling back at her when she beamed at him and went to her Mama.

“Good night, Kacchan.” Izuku said softly. They stared at each other until Eri yawned, leaning heavily against the omega. He smiled and ushered her into the nest room, not closing the door quite all the way.

Katsuki was surprised that it was hard for him to sleep that night. He laid, looking through the cracked door. In the nest, Izuku laid on his back. His arms were wrapped around both the pups. They left their heads on his chest, and he watched the rising and falling of the blankets, letting him know that they were breathing.

Katsuki had pretended not to notice the way Izuku put them to sleep. He pretended that he didn’t see the way Izuku ran his hands through their hair, the way he kissed them and cuddled them close to him, burrowing into the nest. There were faint words that he couldn’t quite catch, but the tone was clear.

Words of love.

Katsuki had to pretend that he didn’t ache inside to crawl into the nest. He had to pretend that he didn’t wish Izuku was speaking to him with words of love. He watched the three of them sleeping, reassuring himself that all of them were safe.

***

It had been so long, when Katsuki's emergency phone went off, he was as startled as the other three. He dove for it and scanned the text, already standing up and going to shove his feet into shoes, grab his jacket.

Everyone knew what was happening at home. It might have been bad for him to be called out. He cursed softly as he scrambled. Izuku stared at him. And to his shock, Eri burst into tears.

“No!” she cried out.

“It’s work,” Izuku said gently. “He has to, baby.”

“No! It’ll be dangerous.”

“He’s a hero–.” Izuku put his hands on her shoulders. She flung him off and ran for Katsuki, throwing her arms around his legs.

“Stay, please, stay.”

Katsuki had never realized his heart could break like that. He looked helplessly at Izuku. He wanted to promise her he’d stay, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen. The omega hurried over and peeled her hands off.

“Go, Kacchan,” he said. “I can calm her down.”

Katsuki hurried out, although her heartbroken sobs followed him as he hurried to his agency, ready to be a hero for the rest of the world.

And like always, Katsuki gave it everything he had. He couldn’t pretend that he didn’t like to kick ass, he couldn’t pretend that there wasn’t a thrill that he got from being so strong. Katsuki knew that he got a lot of his self worth from besting these villains, and even though that might not have been why other people were heroes, it was enough for him.

But today, as he blasted in the face of some two bit chump who had tried to kidnap some random women, alphas omegas and betas, all he could hear was Eri crying. As he helped untie the victims, all he could see was her devastated face, and the way that she had clung to him, begging him to stay.

He wanted to ask her why, he wanted to know what was bothering her. But there hadn’t been time.

Honestly, Katsuki had been bothered to be bothered. This was not the kind of emergency he was normally summoned for. But when the dust settled, it was explained to him that another hero who would have been on patrol was on paternity leave and–.

He brushed away the explanation. He grunted understanding and went to shower at his agency. After all, it hadn’t been so long ago that he relished in any chance to be out in the field. There had been a time when this was his life, when he was certain this was all that was going to give his life purpose, and he was happy with that.

His hair was still damp as he hurried home, almost missing the lock with his key. There was sobbing in the living room. He hadn’t been gone that long, of course, but he had been gone long enough that it made him frown.

“Oi,” he said as he stepped into the living room. Izuku was sitting on the floor with the girl in his lap, rocking back and forth. The room smelled thickly of the calming pheromones Izukue was trying to push out.
“I’m home.”

“Kacchan! Kacchan!” Eri’s eyes were painfully swollen, with pitiful tear tracks down her cheeks. He was going to be stern, he had thought, he was going to put his hands on his hips and tell her that she was being altogether too dramatic. She couldn’t
melt down every time he had to leave on an emergency.

But her heartbroken little face made him kneel down and open up his arms. She darted to him, and to his surprise, he began to rumble to her, feeling her press into the scent gland on his neck.

“Alpha, alpha.” she whispered. He hummed in response, rising slowly and going to sit on the couch. Izuku looked exhausted, and Kota was looking rather put out as well. But she wasn’t crying now. Izuku crawled onto the couch and sat near them.

“I told you he was coming back.” he said. “I told you Kacchan would return. You’ve been watching too many of those hero dramas where everything goes wrong.”

“Don’t scold her.” Katsuki said, even though he had planned on doing the same thing. Izuku gave him a strange, thoughtful look.
“She was scared.”

“Of course she was,” he said evenly. “She wanted her sire.”

“I–.” Katsuki jumped.

“Hush, she’s settling, and you’ll upset her again. I’ll get supper started. Kota, wanna come and be a big help to Mama?” he rose, offering his hand to the boy, who took it gratefully, and walked into the kitchen.

Chapter Text

Katsuki was not able to sleep unless his blankets were scented, primarily by Izuku. He would watch as the omega rubbed a blanket against his neck, pressing the material there to let the smell sink in. Izuku would then rub it against Eri’s neck, and let Kota rub it himself.

Katsuki would then take the blanket and lay down in bed, holding it against his face, breathing in all three of them. A few times, he had tried hard not to need the blanket. And those nights, he had tossed and turned, punching his pillows, fluffing them up, throwing them, kicking off his blankets and then drawing them back up. There was no comfort on those nights, there was no peace.

His inner Alpha raged. He had to be satisfied with the blankets, even though he knew his Alpha wanted to be in the nest. He wanted to be cuddled with Izuku. He wanted the pups to pile on him, nuzzle him, fall asleep in his arms while Izuku read to them.

But this was all he was entitled to. He wasn’t their alpha, and he knew that. Someday, he thought. Someday Izuku and the pups would leave. They would go to their own home. He would find another alpha. All the words he had said to Eri and Kota would fade away, no matter how true they had been when he said them, no matter how true they were for him now.

How true they’d always be.

It did help that he worked, he thought. It did help that he got the chance to take out his physical aggression on villains, people that he never had to see again. He was praised for his captures, praised for the way that he was keeping the whole world safe.

“Blasty, buddy.” Kirishima grunted one day, after an intense sparring match that ended with him on top of Kirishim, teeth bared, growl rumbling in his chest.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, but you have got to sort it out.”

“Nothing is wrong, shitty hair.” he grunted as he got off his friend. Kirishima stayed there, breathing hard, recounting the whole spar. He’d never had a chance. He took a deep breath, catching the faint whiffs of something under his natural scent.

“You been on your suppressants?”

“Shut up!” he snarled, throwing a towel at Kirishima. “Why the hell would I ever share that kind of information with you?”

“Because you smell like rut.” he said bluntly.

“Yes, idiot, I’m not completely brainless, unlike some other people I could mention.” he finally said, hands in fists. Kirishima sighed. This wasn’t entirely uncommon for Bakugo when he was nearing rut, he got even more moody than usual, although he was surprised that was even possible.

“I think you–.”

“Thinking? You? Must be painful.” Bakugo cut him off to stalk to the showers. Before he could reach the door though, alarms were going off. Bakugo rolled his eyes, and the two of them were racing to grab their uniforms, hurry out to the emergency.

***

Katsuki could not stop the way his fists were pummeling into the man’s face. He was a beta, a weakling who had always envied the physical power that an alpha could possess. He had been manufacturing a formula that would make him an alpha.

Part of Katsuki could understand that. Who hadn’t wished that their life could be different? Who hadn’t wanted more? If Katsuki was being honest, he could even admire the fact that the man was willing to reach out and take what he wanted.

What he could not admire, what he could not abide, was the fact that the man had been experimenting on omegas and pups. Some survived, some did not. It was the ones that had not enraged him. He could only imagine the fear on their faces, the desperation, the pain, the loneliness.

In his mind, Katuski saw Eri and Kota’s faces on each pup. He could hear their screams, their despair. In his mind, Katsuki saw Izuku on every omega, and he was reminded that it hadn’t been so long ago that all three of them were captive. And while he could be grateful they had not died, and while he was grateful that Izuku had shielded the pups from as much as he could, Katsuki could not forget that it had happened. And he could not pretend that Izuku had not had to do some terrible things in order to protect those pups.

“Dynamight!” Red Riot at his elbow, pulling at him. “That’s enough.”

“You saw what he did!” he roared.

“I know, and he’s a monster. But you’re not.” the gave him pause. But something inside of him was bubbling, and he shook off Red Riot. He wanted to lunge for the villain again, although by now others had slid in to drag him away.
“Calm down,” Kirishima said softly.

“I fucking can’t,” he managed, aware of how hot he felt, how his heart was thundering inside of his chest. His head felt foggy, and he showed Kirishima his teeth, making his friend back away, hands up.

“It’s okay, Baku,” he said gently. “Do you want to go home? You want Izuku, don’t you?”

“Don’t talk about him!” he snapped.

“Okay, I won’t, I won’t. But let’s get you to him, okay?” Kirishima was trying to shepherd him to the van. Katsuki’s hands shook, but he did take the cold bottle of water offered to him. It didn’t cool the burning inside of him, but it was something to distract him.

Now they only had to survive the car ride, Kirishima thought, as he watched his best friend fidgeting in the seat next to him.

“How far are we?” he asked the driver.

“Not very… are we going to the agency?”

“No,” he said, looking carefully at Katsuki. “Better drop us at his house.”

“I thought you liked to change before–.”

“He’s going into rut.” he blurted.

“I am not.” Katsuki insisted.

“Oh yes you are, I can smell it, and you can feel it, and if I don’t get you to Izuku, something terrible is going to happen.” he said grimly.

Chapter Text

“What’s wrong!?!” Izuku demanded when he saw Kirishima through the peep hole. His hands were trembling as he went to work the locks, trying to open the door. But when he finally got it open, he saw Katsuki standing there with him.

He inhaled, took in the most alluring scent of something. It was dark and thick, and it made Izuku want to grab for that smell, bury his face in it. He wanted to wind it around himself like a cloak, and find a place like home in that smell.

“I’m sorry.” Kirishima did look sheepish. “I didn’t know where else to take him. He usually has everything planned out. I don’t think he knew…” he trailed off. Izuku stepped out of the doorway, leaving it wide open for them to come in.

Katsuki was leaning hard on Kirishima. But as soon as he saw Izuku, he seemed to perk up. He threw Kirishima’s arm away from him and went towards the omega, arms open wide.

“Omega,” he breathed. Izuku nodded, giving the faintest smile.

“I’m here, Kacchan, I’m here. You must have been working so hard. My Kacchan always works so hard.” he praised. The alpha puffed himself up, nodded enthusiastically. He glanced and saw the pups, looking in weary uncertainty between the two of them.

“Pups,” he murmured. He reached for them, and Eri crept closer. She reached and wrapped her arms around his waist. He rumbled to her, rubbing his hands in her hair against the back of her neck. It was true that when an omega was preparing for heat, when they were nesting, they would reach for pups and want to get them scented and kept close.

Alphas could have the same urge, but only if they were in for a rough rut. Katsuki looked at Kota and extended an arm. Kota looked at Izuku who gave a reassuring nod, then walked to the alpha, who let an arm wrap around him, scenting his hair. Everyone stood still and calm for a few moments, as Katsuki satisfied some primal need inside of him.

“He needs a muzzle.” Kirishima said under his breath.

“I don’t know where–.”

“In his room. In the closet. Top shelf.” Izuku nodded and went to hurry towards the space. Katsuki growled, stepping towards him with both of the children. Kirishima made a soft noise.

“No, Blasty, he’ll be right back.”

“Omega stays with me.”

“He’s coming right back. He’s getting you what you need. He isn’t leaving. No one else is doing anything.” while Kirishima was talking, Izuku rushed to Katsuki’s den. His hand hesitated on the knob, because it felt so wrong to enter without express permission. It felt so wrong to enter without Katsuki.

But things were happening, and he didn’t have the time to really consider the moral implications. He opened the door and stepped into Katsuki’s room. The air was thick with the scent of Katsuki. Izuku’s eyes landed on his bed, with the thick comforter, the small blanket hat he and the pips scented nightly.

He wanted to climb into his bed. He wanted to roll around in the smell of the alpha. He wanted to stay amongst his pillows and blankets, he wanted Katsuki to come in and find him. He wanted to open the drawers and rummage through, find all of Katsuki’s secrets.

Izuku wanted to know Katsuki better than anyone else.

He went to the closet, with the clothes hung so carefully, and saw a box. He snatched it and opened it, tossing aside the cardboard lid. There was a muzzle, in fine black leather, saturated in the smell of Katsuki. He grabbed it, not pawing through the rest of the contents as badly as he wanted to.

“What about the kids?” Izuku asked as he handed the item to Kirishima.

“I will stay with them.” the red head assured. “You take him to his den.”

The omega nodded, reaching to carefully take the hands of his pups. Katsuki shook his head, wanting to pull them all in close, wanting them near him.

“No, Kacchan,” Izuku said smoothly. “Don’t you want to take me to your den? Don’t you want me to make you feel better?”

“Pups need to be safe.” he shook his head, trying to wrench himself away from Kirishima.

“If you can’t wear this, he can’t go into your den with you.” Kirishima said firmly. Katsuki showed his teeth, but was still while the muzzle was fitted and secured. He could still talk. Izuku could get a straw in, keep him hydrated. But he could not bite, and they could not kiss.

Izuku was surprised that it upset him that they could not kiss.

“Don’t lose my fucking kid again.” Katsuki warned as Izuku was trying to shepherd him towards his den.
“Don’t let one hair on their heads…”

“I know, I know.” he assured him. “I won’t.”

***

Izuku closed the door, locking it. He went to a lamp, knowing that it would give a soft, warm light. Not enough to hurt Kacchan’s eyes, he thought. But enough so that he could see. Katsuki’s eyes were glued to him, not missing a beat.

“Are you okay?” Izuku asked, even though he knew that it was a very silly question. Who could even define ‘okay’? Katsuki looked at the door and looked back at the omega.

“They should be in here.” it was something some alphas liked, to have their pups so close until their rut fully set in. Izuku shook his head and walked towards him, slow and careful, trying some of the natural appeasement gestures that all omega had ingrained in them.

“But they’re safe with Kirishima, and he’s your friend.”

“He lost my son!”

“Your son,” Izuku repeated. It made him want to purr, it made him relax, just a little bit. “He didn’t mean to, Kacchan, and that’s not important right now, is it?”

“No,” Katsuki muttered behind his muzzle. His arms shot out, grabbing Izuku and pulling him in close. He rubbed his nose against Izuku’s scent gland, and his whole body seemed to relax. Izuku let the alpha lean into him, breathe him in.

“No,” Izuku agreed. “Come and lay in your bed with me, Kacchan.”

Katsuki nodded and released him, darting to the bed. He frowned and reached under the bed, pulling out a container with more blankets and pillows. He presented it rather proudly to the omega.

“Oh? Did my Kacchan get all of this together so I would make a nest for him?” Katsuki nodded, looking thrilled. Izuku went to the bed and began to form a nest, twisting and weaving the blankets and pillows.

It wasn’t his best work. But this was Katsuki’s bed, not a nesting mattress. It would be nice to have some softer blankets for the bottom, and some thicker ones for the walls, since they’d stay better. He gave himself a shake; this was because it was a rut emergency, this was not because Katsuki really wanted him to be here.

“Lay down with me.” Katsuki demanded, ripping off his costume and leaving it on the floor.

Chapter Text

Izuku knew better than to fight with an alpha in rut. He took off his top, ignoring the blush that rose on his cheeks as he did so. He laid down in the nest, letting Katsuki pull him in close. He immediately set to scenting him, rubbing his wrist against his neck. He nuzzled the muzzle against Izuku’s sweat glands and growled softly.

“I know, I know.” he soothed. “But it’s just not time yet, okay?”

“Always time, time from the second I saw you. I should have done something then.” was he aware of what he was saying? Was this just rut talking? Izuku couldn’t be sure. What he could do was push out calming pheromones, start purring to the alpha tucked into his arms. Katsuki’s body relaxed, and Izuku marveled at the sensation of his muscles going loose.

“Hush, Kacchan. You’re going to need to rest.”

“Should have filled the fridge. Made sure the pups had everything. Made sure you had scented their blankets.”

“They’ll be safe in the nesting room, they’ll be calm. And your friend is watching over them. No one is going to get lost this time. All you have to worry about is being here with me.” Katsuki hummed agreement. The room smelled so good, like arousal and Izuku’s sweet omega and Katsuki’s alpha, and Izuku had never been so sure that this would be the type of thing he’d never get to experience in his life time.

Katsuki left his muzzled face in Izuku’s neck. The omega rubbed up and down his back, lulling him into rest. It was important that they both had some time to rest before rut. Rut could be so difficult on the omega, especially if they weren’t in sync with the alpha. And that wouldn’t happen, he mused, until they were mated.

He felt his face grow hot. How could he even think that? They hadn’t had a discussion. Whatever Katsuki was saying right now should be attributed to rut, not what he was really thinking. Izuku was no stranger to what an alpha could say when they
were in that mode. And being so close to one reminded him of all the things that he was genetically hardwired to think.

“Omega sleeps,” Katsuki grunted.

“Yes, Kacchan.”

***

When Izuku was awoken again, he felt hands on his hips. He gasped, surprised, feeling himself being flipped over. There was power in the motion, there was determination. But the person doing it didn’t want to hurt him. If he had wanted to hurt him, he would have been severely hurt, he knew that.

“All mine,” Katsuki sighed happily, pulling down the loose pajama pants Izuku had on. He was naked in front of the alpha, hands tracing up and down the backs of his thighs, moving to the delicate skin inside his thighs.
“I have the prettiest omega.”

“I’m not pretty.” Izuku mumbled.

“Are too. Who told you that you weren’t?” his eyes narrowed, and Izuku could just hear the anger in his voice at the very idea that someone said something about his omega. He was calmed with a few bursts of sweetened scent, Izuku trying to calm him and show his arousal. It wasn’t like he could have hidden it if he wanted to, though..

“It doesn’t matter, Kacchan. All that matters is I’m here with you. And we’re together in a nest I made just for you.” Katsuki was back to rumbling back to rubbing restlessly at Izuku’s thighs. He bent his head and bumped his muzzle against Izuku’s ass.
“Kacchan!”

“Wanna taste you, wanna know what your slick is like. I’ve been dreaming of it, baby. I dream about you sitting right on my face, letting me grip your thighs as you rock your hips. I think about it all the time.” Izuku could have melted into the floor,
although he wasn’t sure if it was arousal or embarrassment that was driving the feeling.

“Sl-slow down, he managed, his heart thumping in his chest.

“This ain’t about sex though.” he continued. “Well, ain’t just about sex. I see you with the pups, and they’re mine. You were all supposed to be mine, always. We’re all meant to be one pack together.”

He wormed his way up Izuku’s back, his hands went to his hole, already dripping wet. He groaned as his fingers touched the slick that was flowing, hot and welcoming. Izuku whimpered, pressing his face into the bottom of the nest.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner. I’m sorry that anything happened to you and them. But you did such a good job keeping them safe. My omega is clever, my omega did everything he could to keep everyone safe. And look how smart the pups are, look how well they’re doing.”

Izuku could have cried. He felt himself lifting his hips up even higher, widening his knees. Want spread through him. Was this a praise kink? Was it something else? Izuku didn’t know if he could focus enough to try and sort that out.

“C’mon, baby, it’s okay.” Katsuki said softly, pressing two fingers inside him. “I’m going to make sure that you’re ready. I’m desperate, but I won’t hurt you. Won’t hurt my Omega.”

“Kacchan, please.” he wasn’t sure what he was asking for. He was no virgin, but he had never before felt like he could want sex like this. When he was in heat, it felt a little bit different, like a physical drive. This had a physical element too, but it was something else, something with the throbbing feeling he was feeling in his chest.

“I know, honey, I’m right here. I’m going to give you everything that you need. I’m going to make you feel so good. You won’t be able to think about anyone else but me. Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” he managed. “I need it, Kacchan, please. Kacchan, alpha, please, please, give it to me!”

“There it is,” Izuku could hear the smirk in his voice. Katsuki removed his fingers, ignoring the way he was whining. Before Izuku could even inhale, he thrust in, seating himself in deep. Izuku moaned, feeling his body melt.