Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Izuku had thought about his first pregnancy, he expected to be in a loving relationship. One where they worked together to raise a healthy baby. The dynamic would be full of love, trust, and commitment that was needed to help a child through life. So when he showed his positive pregnancy test to the alpha he'd been with, he didn't expect the man to abandon him.

In truth, the red flags were all over the place before the sudden disappearance. The man never wanted to talk about becoming mates, or anything that would link them longer than a knot during their cycles. But the alpha was the first person at Izuku's door once a heat or rut hit. His friends tried to warn him in their own unique ways. His mother treated the man kindly, but Izuku knew she was wary of him. Ignoring his own instincts, Izuku excitedly shared the news with all the people he loved. He called doctors and made lists of everything their baby would need.

Three months into the pregnancy, after working a double at the library, Izuku came home to an empty apartment. His alpha’s clothes were gone. Their television was missing. The money Izuku had been putting away for the baby shower had disappeared from the cookie jar. Six frantic calls to the alpha’s phone never connected, the automotive message informing Izuku the number wasn’t in service anymore. Realizing he’d been abandoned, the painful shock forced Izuku into a drop.

Luckily, the people he loved cared for him far more than the alpha ever had. When Izuku went from panicked texting to sudden silence, his support group rushed into action. He didn’t remember the incident, his brain shutting down during his drop. Shoto and Iida’s scent spoiled whenever they spoke about finding Izuku curled on the floor, clutching his stomach. From what they said, no matter what they did, Izuku stayed unresponsive. 

After hearing the phone’s haunting message, the next thing he remembered was a familiar basil scent washing over him.

“You're a good omega,” his mother cooed, petting his hair and pressing his ear over her steady heartbeat. “You're going to be the best mom to your baby, okay? Come back to me, my special boy.”

Slowly, to his friend’s relief, he pulled out of the horribly cold space in his mind. And even though it hurt to breathe, Izuku couldn’t wallow in self-pity. He had a baby growing inside him, completely dependent on Izuku to push forward. If he had let his heartbreak overcome him, the baby wouldn’t have survived. Even though it felt like swallowing glass the first month after the sudden abandonment, Izuku dragged himself out of bed every morning. 

It was too painful to be in the apartment. He couldn't stay there for another moment, knowing being alone with the ghosts of their relationship could drop him again. Instead, he spent the weekend at his mother's while his friends packed up things he'd need during the move. In moments of weakness, Izuku would find himself looking at his ex-boyfriend’s social media, wincing each time he saw he’d been blocked. Ochaco said it was for the best. It took him two months to agree.

Despite the alpha's horrible reaction, Izuku never once questioned what he’d do with his pregnancy. Even if the father didn’t want their child, Izuku did. His mother raised him alone, and he had a childhood full of love and care. Izuku would make sure his baby never knew a day without hugs, kisses, and pure affection. From the moment the alpha walked out of Izuku’s life, the baby became his, and his alone. No father was needed.

In fact, he had something better than a jerk that (upon reflection) would have only made raising the baby harder. Izuku had a village, one that lifted him up instead of cutting him down at the knees.

Shoto, a friend from the mentioned support, had always been... well, rich. Everyone knew it, and Shoto enjoyed reminding them if the situation called for it. So when the man gifted 'baby Midoriya' a house, Izuku nearly had a heart attack.

“You have to at least let me make payments for it,” Izuku said after Shoto dropped the information mid-tour. 

Shoto blinked before glancing around the living room. “Okay. It's a bowl of soba a week.” 

“Shoto, no!” 

Despite his complaints, his friends made him agree to accept the home through grateful tears. The house was stunning, as if his friends had tailor-picked it for him. Izuku felt safe in his new location. It sat ten minutes from his mother's home, and only fifteen from his job at the library.

But after everyone helped him move in, and the welcome party was over, Izuku realized one factor he hadn’t noticed. The home was well over double the size of his apartment, with half the people living in it. It would be great for potty dance parties and blanket forts, but for the moment, the house swallowed him. He tried to fill the space as the baby grew inside him with noise of every kind. Ochaco sent him playlists of her favorite music. Iida collected 'informative' YouTube videos regarding pregnancy. Shoto stopped by whenever he could, and his mother called multiple times a week to see if he needed her to drop something off. 

But he was the one who found his favorite audible distraction; Dynamight.

It was while he was working on painting the baby's room that he stumbled over the interesting podcaster. Most wouldn't think that Izuku's choice of white noise was a man who swore every other minute, refusing to sugarcoat any of his opinions. Dynamight's voice reeked of alpha nature, strong and booming. But as Izuku gently stenciled the tiny flowers and birds over the soft yellow walls, he also picked up on Dynamight's positive aspects. 

He was intelligent and didn't treat the omegas on his show any differently from the alphas or betas. Dynamight had a blunt compassion toward the world. The amount of fundraisers he did for omegas running from domestic violence, or sports for children in low-economic schools, proved he wasn’t all bark. Even if he served people an enormous heap of humble pie, the teardowns came with a helping hand afterward. Dynamight felt like an antihero in his own comic. For a nerd like Izuku, it was the highest honor. 

But someone (other than his inner omega) really liked Dynamight's low voice.

“Okay, okay, hold on.” Izuku rubbed his hand over his stomach before he flipped his phone, quickly clicking into the familiar podcast. As if irritated by the lack of sound, little kicks against Izuku’s bladder made him wince.

“Welcome back, extras.” The greeting that had become a part of all of Izuku's evenings had an instant effect. Like magic, the fussy baby inside him settled, like she did every time Izuku put Dynamight on. 

Knowing his baby was so reactive to a mere alpha voice poured heat into Izuku’s cheeks. It wasn’t like Dynamight even knew who he was. The podcaster was famous, Izuku being one of thousands to tune in to the alpha’s passionate broadcast. But as the months went by, and his stomach grew, nothing settled his baby more than Dynamight complaining about something.

Dynamight was even there the day his water finally broke. From driving to the hospital, to right before his final push, the podcast was on. It was an unheard of set-up, but it helped keep him and the baby calm between contractions. The doctors gave him headphones to fully immerse himself in Dynamight’s voice as he brought his daughter into the world.

Eri, his blessing, arrived in great health. The little omega was beautiful, her soft eyes and chubby cheeks the only things she seemed to get from him. Even if her white hair and red gaze reminded him of the ghost from his past, Izuku still loved her without hesitation. He knew, from the second the nurse put her in his arms, that Eri was his. His heart, his soul, his life.

Being a single parent to a newborn was... hectic. His friends did whatever they could; Ochaco made bottles each time she came over. Despite Izuku’s protests, Shoto went on grocery shopping runs every Saturday. He got a laugh from Iida's first attempt to change Eri's diaper. His mother was his saving grace in more ways than he could ever count.

Though he loved every strand of hair on her head, Eri wasn’t a good sleeper. Dynamight was the only cheat code to get her to pass out. Eri held Izuku's finger in her cradle while little lashes flutter shut to shouts of capitalism and the positive rise of omegas in sports. Izuku even recorded some of Dynamight’s shows for their bus rides to his job. When his mother stopped by after work (so he could drag himself upstairs to shower and nap), she told Izuku Eri also got that from him.

“Just a bit of karma,” she said, kissing his temple before rocking the fussy baby.

Aizawa, the head librarian, had a soft spot for Eri. Though bringing a baby to a library seemed like a train-wreck waiting to happen, the grump only huffed before telling Izuku to keep her in the back space directly behind the main desk. His boss kept bringing in new pacifiers and toys to ‘distract her’, though Izuku caught his softer smile whenever Eri cooed up at him. Like magic, Eri stole the hearts of every person who came across her.

But at six months, Eri decided she'd waited long enough for fate to step in. 

“Darling, I don't know what you want,” Izuku said, walking around the house while rocking Eri. Despite the soothing movements, and the two am hour, Eri refused to stop wailing. She was so miserable. He knew Eri started teething, and the doctor warned there would be some painful nights for both of them. Teething rings and massaging her gums didn't help. She spit out the pacifiers, and chilled washcloths got thrown away the second he touched them to her cheeks.

He was lost.

Needing a final Hail Mary, Izuku did the one thing that normally knocked her out; he took her onto the late-night bus. Eri loved driving, but it normally made her sleepy once the excitement wore off. So he bundled his sweet baby up and dragged his weary body to the bus station. The bus was (thankfully) empty; nobody but the driver would have to listen to his crying baby. Izuku got Eri her favorite toy Shoto bought her (an angry stuffed chihuahua), and sat at the back of the bus.

Despite his prayers, Eri didn't seem willing to let the bus soothe her.

“It's okay,” he whispered while bumping her gently. But Eri's blotchy cheeks and sad cries made Izuku's eyes well up. 

He was tired. Physically, from the lack of sleep. Mentally, from trying to be a good omega and raise his baby. Emotionally, from the loneliness of it all. Eri screamed again in her pain as she tossed her toy. Izuku buried his head on the top of Eri's as the bus came to another stop, the same way it had for the past thirty minutes. The late hour meant nobody had gotten on before, so he didn't bother looking up, trying to purr gently for his distraught baby.

He hadn't asked for this. To be raising a baby without a steady partner to hold him up. Izuku was thankful for his friends, loved his mother and the undying support she gave him. But even if he was trying to be strong for Eri, his heart ached. Why couldn't he have someone to hold him—

“Hey.” The voice that fell over him made Izuku wince, his biggest fear bubbling up. Someone had finally boarded the bus, and was going to complain about Izuku and the terrible parenting of his wailing baby. They would kick him off, report him to the Department of Child and Family, take Eri away—“Did you drop this?”

“Huh?” Izuku looked up, blinking to adjust to the lighting.

There, like some sort of sick joke, was an actual god holding Eri's chihuahua. He was stunning. Beautiful golden hair, alluring red eyes. A body that really might have made Izuku drool. But he brought something that was even more precious to Izuku; silence. Sure enough, Eri was spellbound as well, mouth open mid-cry but eyes wide and fixated on the stranger's little scowl. 

“Saw this creepy-looking thing on the ground, so I figured it's yours,” the man said. Eri squirmed in Izuku’s arms, a noise coming out. It was not a cry, but a coo, almost a purr.

“Oh.” Izuku, running on fumes and desperation, gasped. “It’s your voice—please keep talking to me.” 

“Hah?” The man looked confused, probably because Izuku was in tears again. 

“You-you sound like Dynamight. Oh, he's a podcaster—my baby loves him—and she's just not sleeping—oh my God, I’m just pouring all my problems onto you, I'm so sor—"

“Dynamight, huh?” The perfect man looked down at Eri, who was embarrassing Izuku by reaching her little hand up toward him. No baby should be that comfortable with a stranger, especially an alpha. Eri looked like she wanted the man to hold her when he smirked and bent down.

“Eri, be polite,” Izuku mumbled, though seeing his baby so happy made it impossible to put any force behind the words.

“Nah, she’s fine. Squirt's got good taste,” the man said. Eri giggled and relaxed in Izuku's arms. Then, red eyes found Izuku's, arching a brow. “You look like death rolled you over with a plow. When's the last time you slept?”

Izuku felt his cheeks heat at the alpha's focus. “I'm... not sure.”

The alpha scoffed the way Dynamight did on his podcast. Izuku shouldn't have felt his knees go weak. When the bus started moving, the man sighed and plopped down next to Izuku, thighs brushing from their proximity.

The stranger scowled. “Where the hell is your alpha? It's his pup, too.”

“Oh, uh, no... no alpha.” He tried to ignore his shame over the truth; he was damaged goods. “No mate, either. He didn't... well, it's just me and Eri.” 

“Tch.” The man leaned closer, scrunching his nose while watching Eri's fluttering lashes close. “Your sperm donor's brain is broken.”

“Y-you can't say that to a baby,” Izuku said, though the cocky head tilt from the alpha proved he didn't regret it.

“Says the pretty omega listening to Dynamight with his pup.”

Izuku pretended he didn't hear the 'pretty', despite his flushed cheeks. “That's... different.”

“I promise it ain't.” There was something telling in his eyes, but he turned his focus back to Eri. “Looks like she's about to knock out.” 

“Really?” Sure enough, when he looked, Eri's thumb was near her mouth, proving she was ready to sleep. Izuku almost cried (again). “Thank God.”

“Should be thanking me.”

 Izuku brushed his fingers along Eri's cheek before turning, the alpha watching him with an interest he didn't deserve. Izuku knew he was a mess; baby spittle in his hair, mushed carrots on his shirt. Red-rimmed eyes, dark bags. Probably smelled terrible—

“That alpha messed you up.” Izuku blinked, making the stranger narrow his gaze. “You're doing this shit alone; of course you're a little messy. Being a parent, a good parent, doesn't make you less attractive. Actually, it's damn cute. So stop being hard on yourself. Got it, Freckles?”

Izuku was too emotional in the moment, because the kind words made his eyes water again. Hormones, late nights, and sexy alphas did not mix. “That's... that's sweet, Mr. uh—" 

“Katsuki.” A firm hand lifted, brushing fingers through Izuku’s hair to… pull out a cereal puff.

Izuku wanted to throw himself under the bus. “K-Katsuki, right. I'm... I'm Izuku. You didn't ask, but just in case you... I don't know. This is baby brain, I'm normally so much smarter on a good night of sleep—”

“Prove it.” Katsuki's grin was dangerous to Izuku’s weak heart. “Sunday. At dinner.”

For a moment, Izuku's mouth hung open, sure he'd fallen asleep on the bus. Because there was no way the alpha, who looked like he came straight out of a magazine, would see him like that. 

“Um, you don't have to.”

“Think that's my line.” The bus stopped, Katsuki slow to stand from the seat.

“Of course I'd want to!” Izuku answered quickly. Katsuki humming before reaching in his back pocket. Smoothly, he slipped out a card to hand to Izuku.

“If you wanna, give me a call. Bring my favorite fan, too.” He made a point to glance at the dozing baby before back at Izuku. “Go sleep.”

It wasn’t a command, but Izuku wanted to listen as if it was. “I—I will.”

Katsuki gave him a once-over, like he was wearing Gucci instead of oversized sweatpants and a two-day-old shirt, before he turned and exited the bus. Izuku pretended he didn't watch the powerful gait, but he was only human. After Katsuki left, he slowly looked at the card, wondering if he was a fancy lawyer. Or maybe he really was a model. But when he saw the name above the very familiar podcast channel, Izuku froze. Because he and Eri just got asked out to dinner by Katsuki Bakugo.

Also known as Dynamight.

~**~

“Darling,” Izuku said to his daughter, who kicked a bare foot against his face. “Please let me dress you; we're already late.”

He was supposed to be on a date with Katsuki, an alpha that was a literal dream. Maybe he should have faked being sick. Izuku wanted to believe that it would go fine, and all of the fantasies he'd had about the night would come true. That Katsuki could somehow find him cute. Or, more importantly, that his daughter was just a benefit to getting to date Izuku. But he wasn’t stupid; he knew how alphas thought.

Just look at the situation with him and his mother; she was the perfect omega. A kind demeanor, soft-spoken voice. In her younger years, everyone said she was a showstopper. But once she gave birth to Izuku, and didn't abandon him, no alpha wanted to go near her. Izuku hated he was the reason his mother had been so lonely most of her life, though she'd been out dating now that he was grown. 

He expected the same life for himself when he had Eri. Not that he regretted her. Now, he knew why his mother said he was her 'best decision ever'. But to think that any alpha, let alone one like Katsuki, wanted him and everything that came with him? It was a lot to trust. 

“He's not cruel enough to prank your Mama in front of you, right?” Izuku asked Eri, grabbing her toes and gently wiggling her feet until she squealed in happiness. She was the perfect baby.

And he felt like he... sorta knew Katsuki from his podcast. He was always going on about treating omegas as equals. But the important part was action, and he put his money where his mouth was. Katsuki supported several charities with the same belief. But what if Izuku just saw what he wanted to? It could all be an act.

“Oh, baby girl.” Izuku blew a raspberry onto the round belly, then buried his nose into her warm skin as she giggled. “I hope this doesn't go horribly. If I embarrass myself, I don't know if I can listen to him anymore.”

Taking a slow breath, he finished getting her dressed. The walk to the bus stop was chilly, so he made sure Eri was fully protected from the night air. His best leggings were a little thin, and the sweater Ochaco swore brought out his eyes didn't cover past his knees. 

Pain is beauty, he thought while shivering. 

While they waited for the bus, Katsuki texted him. The fact they'd been talking daily was still crazy to Izuku. His heart skipped every morning he woke up to a message from the podcaster. He wasn’t sure if Katsuki would find it creepy or endearing. Now, seeing the message with a picture of the restaurant and address, Izuku felt the intense urge to run away.

Because it looked so… nice. Katsuki was treating him like an actual date. And it wasn’t that he thought Katsuki was a jerk or anything. Really, he’d been nothing but sweet in their text conversations. But the restaurant looked stunning, not somewhere a person brought a single omega with his baby. He expected something basic, where they served french fries with every meal. It would still be an amazing night out for Izuku. But this was—

There was even a guy at the door. Someone who looked like he was meant to keep the vagrants and 'non-desirables' out of the location. Izuku almost backed out. But one look at Eri's blinking gaze from the baby car-seat made him push forward.

“Um… hi.” He waited for the sneer. Some judgement. The host’s trained smile when seeing someone not a part of their normal clientele. 

But the blond man looked up from whatever seating chart he had and gave a grin that felt real. “Oh, hey there! How are you doing?”

The question threw Izuku off guard, blinking before he caught himself. “I'm doing okay.”

“Aw, that's great to hear.” The man peeked over his post at Eri, eyes lighting up as he gave a wave with both hands. “Hi there, cutie! You ready to get some yummy food with your pretty mom?”

Eri made little noises toward the friendly host, too young to understand why Izuku felt so lost. Had he fallen asleep on the bus? Was the whole thing just a dream? 

Once the man was done entertaining Eri, he looked back to Izuku and laughed. “Sorry, I'm trying to conceive with my mate, so I'm in baby fever mode.”

“N-No, that's fine.” Izuku tugged the hem of his sweater and gave a hesitant smile. “Eri loves people, the louder the better. I'm here to meet someone, but I don't know if he used Katsuki, or Bakugo—”

“Oh, you're Izuku!” The man knowing him was another surprise. “I should've guessed, with the freckles.”

“You... know Katsuki?” Izuku asked, and the man nodded with pride. 

“He got me this job! And introduced me to my mate. Well, not on purpose. It's his best friend.” The host opened the front door, leading Izuku inside. “I'm Denki. I'm guessing you've never been to this place, huh?”

Izuku shook his head. “No, I don't really go out much. Single omega and all.”

“Yeah, I totally get it. That's why I love working here.” 

Before he could ask what he meant, they stepped into the main room of the establishment. It was just as stunning as the front, but not in the way Izuku expected. There were so many children in the restaurant. Despite its elegant design, with high-end art and beautiful furniture, it didn’t give the same judgmental feeling as other high-priced places. Some of the 'tables' were on the floor, next to play-mats and cozy chairs meant for babies. Others were full height, with built-in toys in the booths.

“This is...amazing.” Izuku turned to Denki, who seemed used to the awed reaction. “What is this place?” 

“The brainchild of an alpha designer and an omega developmental psychologist.” Denki gave a grin. “Otherwise known as Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugo. Sound familiar?”

“Katsuki's parents own this place?” 

“Yeah! They're awesome. After Katsuki started doing more events, he realized there weren't any places in the city that were kid-friendly and affordable for single parents to feel human. Guess he talked to his parents, and they made this.”

Izuku really couldn't understand Katsuki's single status. Sure, he had a mouth, and he was a bit brash. If he had an opinion, he would cut down whoever he needed to in order to get his point across. But how did anyone who talked to the man for over three minutes not fall totally in love?

“Hey, speak of the devil!” 

Denki's cheerful tone brought him back, Izuku's excitement and anxiety spiralling. Katsuki weaved through the people as he talked on his phone. Dressed to the nines, Katsuki looked like he’d taken the word ‘date’ seriously, as well. Izuku’s stomach fluttered at the sight, watching the well-groomed man move with a purpose. Red eyes stuck on his watch, like he was waiting for something.

Oh, Izuku thought, cheeks going warm at his realization. Is it... me?

“Stud muffin!” Denki called out, and Izuku almost laughed at how quickly Katsuki whipped his head up with a scowl.

“Dunce Face, I said knock that shit off—” but his insult stopped when Katsuki's eyes switched to him, Izuku hesitantly waving with his free hand.

“Um, hi.”

“Hey, Nerd.” Like a magnet, Katsuki hung up the call he was on and crossed the space between them. Izuku's toes curled in his boots at Katsuki’s full attention. “Sorry, I had to take a call with my manager about some guests we're having next week.”

“Oh, it's okay! Denki kept me company.”

“See, told you letting me be host was a good idea,” Denki said, grinning wide when Katsuki rolled his eyes.

“Yeah yeah, you're doing a great job standing in here.” 

“Oh, shoot. Gotta go back to my post.” Denki waved to Izuku. “Have fun! But not too much fun. Unless Eri wants a sibling—”

“Pikachu, go!” Katsuki's sharp bark made Denki squeak and scurry away. Izuku had a much different reaction to the dark tone. One he wasn’t sure was normal, flushing at the hint of warmth between his legs. If Katsuki noticed, he didn't show it, rubbing his forehead. “I regret ever letting Shitty Hair hook up with that guy. Damn idiots.”

“He's nice,” Izuku said, and smiled when Katsuki almost pouted. “He said this is your parent's place. Something you... helped create?”

“I just tossed out the idea. The hag and my old man went crazy with it.”

“Well, I think it’s amazing.” 

At Izuku's compliment, he saw Katsuki preen. “Whatever. Come on; let’s get the squirt out of that thing.” 

Katsuki let Izuku walk around the place, picking where he wanted them to sit. After too much deliberation, he chose one of the floor tables in the restaurant's corner. Eri loved the softness of the support seat, little hands clapping. 

“Ma!”

Izuku knew she was still too young to say real words. But his daughter was smart, and used specific noises to get the attention of people. 

Wanting to encourage her attempts to speak, Izuku cooed and leaned closer, tapping Eri's nose. “Hi, Darling. Ready for some food?”

“Is she on anything solid yet?” Katsuki asked.

His question caught Izuku off guard. “Oh, um... once a day, she'll eat something mashed up.” 

Which was another reason he never went out to fancy establishments. Places like that didn't enjoy the ambiance being disrupted by Izuku hammering their meals into a mushy paste. Eri made it worse when she only ate half of it, wearing the rest like the newest fashion. While Izuku tried to skirt the balance between allowing her creative freedom and manners, he liked seeing his baby happy. Clothes could be washed, faces cleaned. But the memories she would have of his smile and praise would last forever.

Katsuki didn't blink at his clarification. “Yeah, dad's got an infant menu.”

“Seriously?” He didn't mean to be so blunt, and his face flushed at Katsuki's arched brow. “Sorry, I just—all of this is a lot. I was sure we'd be at some diner with frozen food or a posh place that I couldn't breathe in. But you're so perfect, and I'm a mess, yet here we are—”

“So the rambling thing isn't just when you're tired.” Katsuki's comment was a little mean, but in a way that made Izuku laugh through his dumb anxiety.

Wanting to be a part of the conversation, Eri shouted “Ka!”

Without missing a beat, Katsuki nodded at her. “Yup, Munchkin. Ka.”

Really, it shouldn't have been so hot. Katsuki was babbling back at Eri, the way anyone with a lick of child experience would. Except it was on a date, one Katsuki planned all around Izuku and Eri’s needs. He couldn’t help but feel smitten.

Red eyes glanced back at Izuku, arching a brow. “So, instant yapper, or overtired again?”

“That's my secret, Kacchan,” Izuku answered, letting his nerd shine through. “I'm always tired.”

“Did you just use an Avenger quote on me?” Then Katsuki picked up on the other change. “Kacchan? What the hell.”

“Eri seems to like it,” Izuku said, poking her cheek as he asked. “Do you like Kacchan, darling?”

“Ka...?” Eri’s mouth puckered, turning her head toward Katsuki. “Ka.”

Izuku saw the instant the big, bad alpha caved over the baby omega's happy giggle. “That's playing dirty, Nerd.” 

“No, bringing me on the perfect date and expecting me not to swoon for you is playing dirty,” Izuku answered, maybe a little too honest.

“That's the point, idiot.”

“Huh?” The blunt reply threw Izuku off.

 Katsuki rolled his eyes, leaning over to snag a menu to place between Izuku and Eri. “First dates need to be good enough for a second one. And everyone knows nobody gets weird stories about webbed feet or third belly buttons until the fourth date.”

“I don't have either of those,” Izuku said, breathless. Katsuki was already planning more dates? Floored, his mouth dropped. “Just a beauty mark on my butt.”

Katsuki gave him a once-over, like he'd somehow confirm the claim through his leggings. “Fourth date, damn omega.”

“It's nice you have a code.” Izuku leaned his head to the side, exposing the slope of his neck. “Kacchan's a good alpha.” 

“What the hell.” Katsuki glared at the smooth skin like it offended him before glancing away. The red on his ears made Izuku purr with excitement. He'd never felt so... desired before.

“Ma!” Eri's fussy tone snapped him from his moment of self-confidence. 

“Oh, sorry.” Izuku wiggled his fingers at Eri to get her pout to switch to a smile. “Kacchan and Mama were being so mean, not including you for thirty seconds. Let's get you something to eat, okay?”

And after that, the night was amazing. Katsuki asked about Eri's allergies. They talked about how his father's job had given him 'way too much' information about children despite not having one. In turn, Izuku spoke about Eri's milestones and her favorite type of 'mush'. Though Katsuki claimed he wasn’t around kids a lot, his instincts with Eri were scarily good. He picked up on things after seeing Izuku do it once. Katsuki even changed his tone and certain words for items if Izuku used a different term. 'Ka' always got answered with a silly nickname, but they were never mean.

But he also paid attention to Izuku. The alpha nudged him to eat when he got caught up feeding Eri or rambling about whatever new subject they talked about. It was strange to be taken care of in a way none of his past partners had before. Strange, so nice. In fact, he enjoyed the new dynamic so much, he never wanted the date to end. 

But sadly, it had to.

Eri's sleepy eyes and small noises of distress were enough for Izuku's omega to demand they leave. He never got to see the bill. Izuku wasn’t sure they even brought one over. Katsuki helped put Eri back into the car-seat carrier and walked Izuku outside.

“Let me drive you home,” Katsuki asked, no demand in his tone.

Izuku only agreed when the alpha mentioned his parent’s restaurant keeping extra car-seat bases in the restaurant. Like the bus, the little drive home knocked Eri out in seconds. And when Katsuki pulled in front of his house, he gave a low whistle after his impressed look.

“Nice place.”

“Yeah, I was fortunate that a friend helped me out.”

He didn't know how to explain the situation with Shoto, and he was still too hurt from his ex-boyfriend to say why he had to move. So instead, he waited politely as Katsuki moved around the car and opened his door. Izuku rocked Eri in his arms, letting Katsuki carry the empty car seat into the house. 

“Thank you, Kacchan. This was...” He refused to cry, hormones and emotions be damned. “Really nice.”

Katsuki put the car seat by the doorway he stood in, shrugging. “Not a big deal. Anyone who can tell me the difference between Infinity War and Infinity Gauntlet deserves the best.” 

His nerdiness being complimented felt so new. Before, when he would let his knowledge of the franchise show, his ex would roll his eyes or turn the television up. His old comic books had been shoved into a closet, only pulled out when the alpha was at work. Whenever he asked for a movie date, he was given the specific rule of ‘no superheros’, complaining about Izuku’s ‘immature’ excitement. Throughout their conversation over dinner, between feeding Eri and gushing about the restaurant, Izuku and Katsuki shared their knowledge about Marvel in a way that made Izuku want to talk with him all night.

Except Katsuki stepped back, like he was going to... leave? “If you're still awake by the time I get home, you’re gonna get an earful.” 

“Oh, okay.” Izuku chewed his lip and nodded. “But you'll text me when you get home? Just to make sure you get there safely.” 

“Yeah, I’ll check in,” Katsuki replied, nudging his cheek with his curled knuckle before moving away. “But I’m not your pup, ya little worrywart. I can take care of myself.”

Izuku tried to argue that wasn’t why he wanted the check-in, but when Katsuki turned toward the door, his omega whined. Without permission, his mouth quickly released a chirp he hadn't done for any alpha. Not even his ex. It was a quick noise, but it stopped Katsuki in his place, quick to glance back with a scowl.

“Um.” Flushed but unable to deny his impulse, Izuku hiked Eri’s sleeping frame a little higher in his hold. “Please wait.” 

When Katsuki nodded, Izuku quickly rushed away. He moved into his room, putting Eri into her crib. After double-checking she was still asleep, he kissed her forehead and snuck out. Izuku reminded himself he wasn’t a bad mom. Wanting one minute to be an omega over a mother was normal. His mom told him that all the time, but it was hard to put the belief into action without feeling shame.

So when he returned to the living room and saw Katsuki hadn't left, Izuku didn't take time to think about his next action. He rushed across the rug, grabbing Katsuki's cheeks. Not letting his date’s surprised look stop him, he popped up onto his toes, kissing the mouth that brought him joy long before Izuku ever saw him.

And like the date, it was amazing. Katsuki didn't grab him like a possession, didn't take over the kiss or force himself into Izuku's needy mouth. Even when Izuku huffed and took his own fill of the smoky taste, Katsuki only tilted his head and loosened his jaw for better access. The alpha skimmed his waist, thumbs brushing his hip bones through Izuku’s sweater and leggings. The mental timer of one minute chimed in his head, and Izuku lingered just a moment longer before pulling away. He took in a slow breath, a little light-headed from the sensation buzzing in his lips. 

Katsuki, to Izuku's pleasant credit, looked just as awestruck by their connection. He kept his voice low, as if afraid of waking Eri. “What was that for?” 

“Think of it as a thank you for everything tonight,” Izuku whispered, letting their noses brush before he stepped back. He almost whimpered when strong fingers trailed off his hips before he coughed to hide the noise. “Drive safe, Kacchan.”

“Always do, Nerd.” And then, with a final look, Katsuki left.

Izuku rushed to the window, almost regretting letting the alpha go to his car. He let himself linger, then went back to check on Eri. He found her happily sleeping in her crib. For a moment, he watched her twitching lashes, head lying against the arm he rested on the crib. She was his entire world, the one a certain alpha treated like his own. The thought made his heart skip.

“Oh, Darling,” Izuku whispered, running the back of his finger against her soft cheek. “I think we really like Kacchan.”

And when she only cooed in her sleep, Izuku hoped he wasn’t making a mistake in letting another alpha in.

He knew he wouldn't survive Katsuki breaking his heart.

~**~

Izuku wanted to trust Katsuki. In two months, they had been on ten dates, Katsuki kissing Izuku after each one. Eri adored him. Izuku did, as well. Probably too much. But Izuku never called him his 'boyfriend'. His old demons wouldn't let him.

“He's really great,” Izuku said to Ochaco when she visited, smiling while watching his friend play with Eri on the floor. Eri's stranger anxiety had sprouted up in the past few weeks, which Izuku expected. But seeing her recognize the other omega made his heart a little lighter.

“He sounds it.” Ochaco played peek-a-boo with Eri, who squealed and sloppily clap[ed each time Ochaco appeared from her hands. “When do I get to meet this superstar of an alpha?”

“Um.” Izuku disliked the anxiety swelling in his stomach. “I wanted to wait in case... well, just in case.”

“Izuku.” He knew his best friend would pick up on what he really meant, Ochaco frowning up at his perched spot on the sofa. “Isn't Katsuki the one who keeps asking you on dates?”

He chewed his lip, nodding. “Well, yes. Kacchan's big on planning events for Eri and I. He's very creative.”

“And he's good with our little angel, right?” Ochaco's voice kept her baby talk edge, pretending to tickle Eri's belly.

“The best.” Izuku's face warmed at the memories of Katsuki and Eri over the months. How the alpha accepted all the highs and lows of a baby without batting an eye.

“So why are you comparing him to your ex?” 

And that was something that Izuku didn't know how to explain. How could he tell people that no matter how hard he tried, how great Katsuki was, he still feared the dream would end? What if it crashed, like it had with his ex-partner?

“Kacchan's not like him,” Izuku said instead, keeping his eyes on Eri's chubby cheeks and bright smile. “He's not the problem.”

“You aren't either.” Ochaco softened her gaze toward him. “You've never been. So don't push Katsuki away because your ex made you feel like you were.”

Izuku let her words rattle around in his brain long after she was gone. While he was feeding Eri, bathing her, and getting his heart snuggled in her pajamas, he tried to believe Ochaco. Because if he really wasn’t worthy of love, why did Eri look at him like he hung the stars above? And then there was Katsuki, who treated him like something special. Not broken, not tossed aside. He obviously knew someone (before him) didn't feel Izuku was worth staying with. That never stopped him from treating both Eri and Izuku like they were Katsuki's first pick to be around.

On their next date, Izuku decided to take the reins by offering a home-cooked dinner at his house. He wasn’t a master at cooking, but living on his own did teach him some skills. What omega didn't want to show off to his potential alpha? (Just thinking of the title made him flush)

Izuku took his time making sure everything was perfect. He put more effort into his mother's handmade sauce than he ever had before, checking several times to make sure the pasta was cooked al dente. He chopped up a salad, cooked homemade bread, and set the dinner table. Katsuki arrived while he was adding the dressing to the salad, scoffing at Eri happily gumming a loose noodle in her high chair. 

“Hey, Squirt.” Katsuki always greeted Eri first, tapping her nose to make her giggle. He wondered if Katsuki realized the touch left his scent on her.

A heartbeat later, Katsuki moved behind Izuku. Casually, he rested his hand on Izuku's hip while nuzzling the back of his ear. “What are you up to, Nerd?” 

The nickname dragged out his blush, unsure why it made him want to purr. “Just making dinner. It's nothing special, I know, but—”

“I just had my brain melted by a podcast with a knothead who thinks betas shouldn't be a partner for omegas if an alpha's available,” Katsuki cut him off gently, arms sliding around Izuku's waist while leaning against him. “You could feed me McDonald's and I'd call you Gordon Ramsay.”

Izuku finished dressing the salad before turning around in Kacchan's hold, his own arms feeling right when resting on the broad shoulders. “That sounds awful. Wanna vent while watching Eri destroy all my hard work trying to feed herself?”

“That's my favorite way to end a shitty night.”

Dinner went well, Izuku thought. In fact, he’d say it might have been one of their best dates yet. Katsuki was a delightful dinner partner, finding the perfect balance of bringing up his own topics and goading Izuku to spill about his week. Eri always got included, even if her input was copying their noises and half-baked words.

Sometimes, Izuku simply watched how graceful Katsuki was. Alphas were always presented as bulky, overpowering. Part of that was society’s expectations, but some presented themselves as such with pride. Katsuki, despite his physique and powerful demeanor, carried himself with control and smooth movements. His lack of an oppressive aura, while silently showing his casual strength, made Izuku feel safe.

As Izuku wiped Eri's messy face and cleaned off the highchair from her meal, Katsuki took it upon himself to wash the dishes.

“You don't have to—” Izuku started.

Katsuki sent him a look that dared him to continue. “Keep your focus on cleaning the gremlin, Nerd.”

After cleaning everything up, Izuku didn't want the night to end yet. It was still pretty early, Eri showed no sign of fatigue, and Katsuki didn't seem in any rush to go home. Looking for an excuse, Izuku blurted out the first thing that came to mind. 

“Eri ran out of yogurt melts today.”

Katsuki blinked, looking at the baby. He carried her like an expert in the cradle of his elbow, head resting on his bicep. “Yeah? You running your Mama's pockets for yogurt melts, Munchkin?”

Eri answered by trying to grab Katsuki's nose, giggling. She was so happy in his care, like he’d been there since birth. Then again, if Izuku thought about the dozens of podcasts he listened to before meeting Katsuki, she was kind of right.

After bending down to let the chubby fingers bump his face, Katsuki glanced over at Izuku and scoffed. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get those ugly red shoes on so we can restock her supply.”

“You make Eri sound like a Cartel king,” Izuku said, smiling as he complied.

The store wasn't a long walk from his house, Izuku pushing Eri in the carriage while he chatted with Katsuki. It was a pleasant night; crisp enough to make the tip of his nose red from the dropped temperature. He had slipped Eri’s head in a cute hat to protect her from the wind. But he didn't notice the chill when Katsuki made him feel so warm during their stroll.

“What aisle, Nerd?”

Izuku tried not to let the domesticity of shopping together affect him, but his omega purred at the thought. “They should be with the other dairy stuff.” 

“Does she have a favorite flavor?” Katsuki asked with an arm around Izuku's waist. He did it without hesitation, as if it was second nature while moving through the store.

“I think she prefers banana vanilla, but really she'll eat any of them.”

“Yeah, sounds like the little vacuum.” Katsuki scrunched his nose toward Eri, who kept her focus on a toy hanging off the carriage.

So distracted by the soft moment, he almost missed his name being called. “Izuku?”

The voice he hadn’t heard in almost two years slammed into him like a truck. Ripped away from his current comfort, Izuku had to stop moving, needing to lean on the carriage to keep his knees from giving out. He didn't think he could breathe without wanting to throw up. No matter what he wished for, the floor wouldn't swallow him whole. He had to live in the current nightmare flooding him. Izuku felt Katsuki's hand squeeze his hip, the silent confusion mixed with worry. But Izuku couldn't meet his eyes when turning to face the worst part of his past.

His ex-partner, Eri's...

“Hi,” Izuku said, trying to force a friendly tone despite how his heart ached. Taking in the man he once planned to share his world with, Eri's world with, felt so sickening now. Izuku thought he loved this alpha. Now, feeling nothing but disgust and shame, he knew better. 

But even with a clearer head, a heaviness hung off Izuku’s limbs. The hint of a drop made him struggle to breathe, though he forced his plastered smile when his ex glanced at Katsuki and the carriage. When seeing Eri, he blinked. Izuku tensed at his focus on their baby, knowing he couldn’t see her hair from the hat. Would he realize she was—

“Wow, you... sure got busy after our... situation, huh?”

“Situation?” Katsuki asked. Izuku wished he were alone for the train-wreck. Even with his best efforts, the distress of his scent seeped out. He prayed that only Katsuki was close enough to notice.

“Oh, yeah.” His ex laughed like he didn't abandon Izuku. “We had a slip-up.”

Hearing how his ex talked about Eri as a regret made everything warm from the evening with Katsuki die. Darkness crept into the corner of his eyes, the numbness of his fingers warning he was starting to drop. 

He fell mute, giving Katsuki time to growl out. “What do you mean?”

Then, a sucker punch hit him when the alpha confirmed what Izuku had guessed seconds before. “Don't worry, it was before your kid. I just didn't think he'd get pregnant so fast after getting rid of ours.” 

Everything went cold, like he was dunked in ice water. The man was so detached, he didn't recognize his own baby? But then Izuku thought about it, looking at Eri like he was in a fog. From how his baby stared at her biological alpha in fear, lacking any recognition of his scent or aura, she didn't know who he was. He was just a stranger. One that never wanted to be more than that.

Izuku knew he was on the edge of collapsing, but falling into his basic instincts meant he had to protect his baby. If Izuku dropped here, it would leave Eri alone. He promised he'd protect Eri from anything that could hurt her, including the horrible alpha he once wanted to belong to. Fighting against his drop, Izuku bit his inner cheek, pain helping clear out his brain while he leaned his unsteady body against Katsuki.

“Kacchan,” he forced out, a shaky hand tugging on his sleeve. “Eri's tired. We should… w-we need to—”

Katsuki stepped up like a hero. Izuku didn’t fight when Katsuki moved in front of him, quickly catching him against his back before hiking him into a piggyback.

“I've got you, sweetheart.” Then Katsuki looked at his ex, grin almost a sneer. “Gotta take care of the best things that walked into my life.” 

“Oh, uh… right.” The ex seemed thrown off by the comment, looking at Izuku and the carriage with a different stare than before. Like maybe he wanted what Katsuki bragged about. Because the selfish alpha could only see Izuku and Eri’s value when another alpha showed them off. And if that was true, Izuku would never let his ex know who Eri's alpha was.

“Thanks, by the way.” Despite Katsuki’s casual tone, Izuku could feel how tense Katsuki was under him. Like he was two seconds from snapping. “For being the biggest dumbass in letting Izuku go. I couldn't be here if you were smart. Enjoy whatever shitty life you picked instead, Fuckface.” 

Izuku should have protested the comment, but his omega melted into the warm back and soothing words. Katsuki's scent and voice battled back his drop. He buried his face in Katsuki's neck, pathetic enough to nuzzle his gland. It wasn’t his to mark, but in his foggy mind, he needed to at least scent it. If Katsuki cared about Izuku rubbing his redolence over him, he didn't show it. Instead, he turned his head to brush a kiss on his temple as they moved. “Let's get you out of here, okay? The yogurt melts can wait until tomorrow. Munchkin's getting fussy cause his Mama isn't feeling good.”

The mention of Eri forced Izuku's head up. Katsuki held him under one thigh, the other hand pushing the carriage out of the store. Eri squirmed in her blankets, hat disheveled and face blotchy. Seeing her obvious signs of distress, Izuku felt like a terrible mom.

“Darling,” he crooned, tears in his eyes. “I'm so sorry, Darling.”

Katsuki growled. “Don't apologize.”

“But I hurt—”

“You make her the happiest baby I've ever come across,” Katsuki said, refusing to let Izuku talk without his point being made. “She's loved, pampered, and has never wanted for anything. That fucking asshole doesn't get to take that away from you. You got that, omega?”

The use of his title proved Katsuki was running on his instincts, Izuku's semi-drop and Eri's distress pulling his alpha to the forefront. He wanted to protect them, like he was their alpha, from the man that nearly cost Izuku his baby in the first place. Katsuki was too good for him.

“Thank you,” Izuku whispered, burying his tears into the collar of Katsuki's sweatshirt as the alpha gave his 'orders' for the night.

“You're gonna get in the house, put some stupid pajamas on, and let me cuddle the fuck out of you and Munchkin till your drop's completely gone.”

Too weak to think about how perfect that sounded, Izuku only sobbed. “Yes, Alpha.” 

If Katsuki hated the title, he didn't say a word. Like promised, the night went exactly as stated. Izuku, curled up on Katsuki's lap, had soft fingers run through his hair while Eri slept between them. The moment felt so domestic, Izuku cried again for another reason. It was everything he thought he'd have with his ex years ago. But that wasn’t why Katsuki quietly kissed silent tears off his face.

The reason Izuku cried was because he realized he was happy it didn't work out. The more he thought about where he was now, the more thankful he became. Katsuki's powerful fingers gently stroked the baby hairs on top of Eri's head. His other hand rested around Izuku, keeping him against Katsuki’s warm side. Izuku knew, no matter how hard he tried, none of his nights would end so softly if he’d continued to endure his past relationship. That alpha had never wanted to love Izuku. He just enjoyed their sex. But Katsuki...

“My ex didn’t stay around long enough to see Eri born. So he doesn't know Eri's—” Izuku couldn't say 'his', because Eri had never belonged to that deserter. “He probably assumed she's... yours.”

Katsuki pressed a kiss to his temple. “Let him. Then he can't come back and fuck either of you up.”

“You're okay with that?” Izuku asked hesitantly.

Katsuki tilted his head, eyes full of honesty. “I'm fine with him, your friends, hell, the entire world thinking you and Eri are mine.”

Hearing him say her name, Izuku's eyes welled up again. “Thank you. For the market. For walking me home, cuddling me, and—thank you for staying.”

“Because that's such a burden, Nerd.” Katsuki scoffed, pressing a slow kiss to his lips before he mumbled his reply against Izuku's shaky mouth. “Thanks for letting me be here.”

Maybe Izuku didn't need to call him boyfriend, after all. 

'Mate' felt better in his heart, anyway.

~**~

“I said no, ya old hag.” 

Izuku, coming from putting Eri down for her nap, paused when hearing Katsuki talking with someone. Katsuki was distracted with cooking, a phone wedged between his shoulder and ear. He didn't mean to spy, but...

Whatever the person on the phone said made Katsuki roll his eyes. Izuku wasn't sure how he was supposed to show he was there without interrupting the conversation.

“Casual my ass. Nothing with you and the idiots is casual. You're like vultures, and they don't need that stress.”

Izuku chewed his lip, knowing he and Eri were the 'they' Katsuki was talking about. Four months of dating made Izuku accept some things weren’t a fluke. Mainly, Katsuki wasn’t just looking for a 'fun time' or 'something casual'. Katsuki made his intentions for Izuku and Eri perfectly clear with his silent actions. After the grocery store incident, Izuku opened up about what happened with his ex. How happy he'd been, the drop that nearly killed him and Eri. The grief he had to process while also being pregnant. Katsuki held him throughout the ordeal and listened, only speaking to insult the other alpha.

From there, Katsuki picked up on some of Izuku's smaller tells. His hesitance to ask for favors, the avoidance of sandalwood (his ex's scent). How he wavered between guilt and pride about raising Eri as a single omega. Katsuki did everything right, but Izuku felt imbalanced. What had he done to repay Katsuki's kindness? 

Katsuki understood Izuku's struggle to accept his body post-pregnancy. He hadn't pushed for more than heavy make-outs on the couch before Eri's whines post-nap ended their alone time. Katsuki was an omegan dream.

Izuku watched silently as Katsuki growled at something on the phone, and he picked up on the burnt edge of his irritation. “I ain't making them come, and that's final. Now go harass dad.”

Katsuki ended the call, and Izuku winced with how hard he slammed the phone onto the counter. The alpha sighed and dropped his head between his shoulders, like he was carrying everything on his back. Hating that he added more stress onto the alpha, Izuku slowly moved into the kitchen. 

“Kacchan?”

“Shit.” Muttering the swear under his breath, Katsuki pulled his head up with a scowl. “You spying on me, Pretty Nerd?”

Izuku wasn't 'pretty' the way most omegas were. He enjoyed working out. Though he was going through a phase with his body, he recognized he could match most alphas and betas at the gym. And maybe he showed his insecurity more than he thought, since Katsuki kept adding it in his nicknames. 

With tickled-pink cheeks, Izuku moved around the island, happy Katsuki lifted one arm without asking so he could bury into his side. He had always been a cuddler, and Katsuki's warm body and slowly easing scent felt like a safe space. 

“I didn't mean to,” Izuku admitted, snuggling closer.

“Yeah, thought so.” There was no anger under the lips pressed to his forehead. Then Katsuki moved his free arm to stir the food he was cooking. “How much did you hear?”

“Um, I think your mom was talking about a special event?” He swallowed. “And maybe... she asked for Eri and I to come?”

“So all the parts you don't gotta worry yourself with.” 

Izuku could have left it at that, because Katsuki would never push him for more. But his curiosity, and the tender thumb brushing his hip absentmindedly, parted his lips. “What was the event?”

“It’s Shitty Hair's birthday next week.”

“Wait, your best friend?” Izuku was proud he picked up on the little names Katsuki gave his friends. “That's Denki's mate. Of course you have to go to his birthday!”

“I know that.” Katsuki didn't look up from the meal. “But just cause I'm forced to go don't mean you gotta.”

“You... you don't want us to?” Izuku asked, almost caught off guard at how quickly red eyes snapped to his in surprise.

“What the hell kind of assumption is that?”

“You told your mom we weren't going!”

“Because I know the little gremlin's still working on meeting new people.”

It was those comments, where Katsuki put Eri's safety and care first, that made Izuku's omega purr. 

“She's doing better,” Izuku assured, and a moment of courage made him curl one hand around Katsuki's neck. He pulled the curious alpha down to show his appreciation with a kiss. After getting his fill, Izuku leaned back, knocking their foreheads together. “We could probably come for a little bit. Unless you're not sure about us meeting your friends, then we don't have to—”

“Oi.” Strong fingers tugged his cheek. “You're no secret. I wanna show you off.”

Relaxing under the affirmation he didn't realize he was craving, Izuku leaned into the touch, lashes fluttering shut. “Then tell your mom we'll stop by for cake, okay?”

“Whatever you want, Nerd.”

~**~

It felt like a blink of an eye between their kitchen conversation and the party. Izuku stared at the large banquet hall, realizing he never asked just how big the event would be. The cooler air of October didn’t give him time to prepare mentally for the surprise, wanting to get Eri inside. 

He barely got to text 'here' to Katsuki before he walked into the party. When he had parties with friends and family, it was normally in a backyard with plastic tablecloths and paper plates. Now, he was grateful he let Ochaco dress him. While he picked the cutest fall dress for Eri, he almost came to the event in stretched-out jeans and a sweatshirt. It was hard to find things he felt good in currently, but his friends complimented and encouraged him through texts all the way to the party.

The length of the cable-knit sweater was enough to hide what he was still working to firm up. According to Ochaco, the pretty forest green complimented his skin. He prayed Katsuki would be the first person he bumped into when he followed the hostess's directions down the hall to the banquet room.

And though it wasn’t Katsuki who caught him outside the archway, the face was still familiar. “Hey, there you are!”

“Oh, Denki.” Izuku smiled. “Hi.”

“I'm so happy you made it; I've been blabbing about you to Ejirou for weeks.” Denki bent down to wave at Eri, who was too busy tugging at her headpiece to notice. “Hey there, cutie. Don't you look adorable in your party dress?”

Finally, Eri looked up, blinking before she giggled.

Denki's excitement at her acknowledgement eased some of Izuku's panic. “Oh my gosh, she's the most beautiful baby ever! Everyone's going to eat her up.” 

“Ah, thank you.” He looked into the open doorway, wincing at the large group of people. “I didn't know it'd be so... busy.”

“My mate's a social butterfly, and Katsuki's mom loves a good party. Plus, she always says Ejirou's her second son, and is the only reason Katsuki made it out of high school without killing someone.”

“I didn't know they'd been friends that long,” Izuku said, fighting a frown. The more Izuku thought about it, the more he realized there was... a lot about Katsuki he didn't know. Sure, basic life came up in talks, and he was proud of the name-game he'd memorized. But for things beyond the surface level, nothing about Katsuki came to mind.

He tried to shake off the feeling when Denki moved behind him. Gentle in his touch on Izuku's shoulders, he pushed him and the carriage inside. “Has Eri started walking? Or said her first word?”

“Oh, um, not yet. She likes to repeat sounds Kacchan and I make, but—”

“Kacchan?”

At Denki's confusion, Izuku felt a sudden insecurity he hadn't since using the name months ago. “I mean Katsuki. Sorry, that's just... easier for Eri.” 

That wasn’t why he used it, but he was unsure if Katsuki would want his friends to know about Izuku's secret name for him.

Denki accepted it easily, nodding before he pointed to a group. “Let me introduce you to everyone! Katsuki went with his father for something his mom ordered, so we only get a little time before he steals you away.”

“He's not here?” He tried to ignore his rising anxiety.

Before Denki could answer, a cheerful voice filled the air. “Oh, Denki! Is that who I think it is?” 

Izuku turned to see a beautiful woman waving with both hands. Her pink hair was styled to match an outfit that proved she knew what fashion best showed off her perfect frame.

“Yup!” Denki stopped them by the group that quickly turned to face Izuku. The sudden attention made his stomach suck in, unsure if the sweater covered the leftover pregnancy pudge. “Everyone, meet Izuku and his baby girl, Eri.”

Everyone gawked like he was someone famous.

“Yup, that's Katsuki's type for sure.” A tall man with long black hair sent a lazy grin Izuku's way. “He's got a thing for cute omegas.”

“I'm telling him you're flirting with his man, Hanta.” The girl bumped Izuku’s hip with hers before walking forward, hand out. “Hi! I'm Mina.”

“I-Izuku,” he answered, then felt stupid when he remembered Denki already introduced him. 

Still, she smiled brightly and accepted his hand, shaking it before looking at Eri. “Oh, wow. Now I see why Blasty is always talking about you two. You’re both cute enough to eat right up!”

All the praise and crowding made his mind tangle a bit, and he couldn't help but move forward to collect Eri into his arms. He was a terrible mom, holding her to calm his nerves. 

But she settled against him perfectly and babbled. “Ma!”

“Hi, Darling,” he answered, rocking her.

Though Katsuki was worried about Eri's struggle to adjust to the party's crowd, Izuku forgot he also hadn't been in public places like this in years. His pregnancy depression made him isolate from everyone but his support group. In the last ten months, he'd only added Eri and Katsuki. Now, there was loud music. Strangers talked and moved around them. The scents of everyone clashed like cymbals, overwhelming his sensitive nose. But he needed to make a good impression. If they hated him, Katsuki might be disappointed. What if it was too much, and Katsuki left him?

“Hey.” A guy with bright red hair (who must have been Kirishima) spoke. “Let's find a place for Izuku to sit.” 

He said it casually, but there was a demand under the friendly tone. Sure enough, the others stepped back to let the alpha lead Izuku to a quieter corner of the banquet room.

“That better?” The softness of Kirishima’s voice differed from what he used seconds before, pulling out a seat for Izuku. The others still lingered, but kept more distance.

“It's perfect,” he admitted. “Thanks.”

“Well, I gotta take care of my bro's special people.”

“I'm sure Kacc—” He hesitated on the name, but the encouraging look from the alpha made him push forward. “Kacchan thinks of all of you as special, too.”

“I mean, we are pretty cool,” Hanta said, Mina rolling her eyes before laughing.

“Not like Izuku. He's special to Katsuki.”

Hearing them speak about him so casually made his mind whirl. Moving his leg to bounce Eri, he asked. “Has Kacchan... talked about me?”

“Only every single—”

“If you finish that, I'll light your hair on fire, Rocks for Brains.” 

Katsuki's voice cut through the air with a warning rumble beneath it.

“Ka! Kac-an!” Eri squealed out, getting closer to his name. The fact she got so happy over Katsuki's voice made Izuku melt.

Sure enough, the alpha appeared, pushing through the others to kneel by the chair. “Hey, Squirt. Like the dress. You keeping your pretty Mama company?”

“Kacchan...” He flushed at how easily the alpha complimented him in front of the group, who giggled and made teasing coos behind them.

Katsuki flipped them off before turning back to Izuku, a smirk growing at something on Izuku's face. “Miss me, Freckles?”

His lower lip trembled.

“I did,” he whispered, unsure why he was feeling so emotional. It was pathetic, leaning on someone that had only been in his life for four months. He didn't know Katsuki well enough to feel so attached. Izuku shouldn't have wanted to leap into his lap and prove Katsuki still felt the same. But who wouldn't fall for the gorgeous red eyes lighting up with pride over Izuku's admission? 

“Good.” Katsuki’s reply came while he stood up, lifting both Izuku and Eri into the air. Eri squealed, enjoying the sudden 'ride'. 

But Izuku panicked. “Hey! Where are—”

“Relax. I’m just getting comfortable.”

'Comfortable' for Katsuki was a journey. First, he walked through a very interested group (that followed them). Then he slipped past a blond woman who, from her shout of 'brat', must have been Katsuki’s mother. He continued through other nosy guests to plop them down onto the softest-looking booth in the place. Katsuki finished his trip by placing Izuku and Eri in his lap.

“You know,” Mina started, her smile matching her teasing words. “Last time I checked, Izuku's got perfectly functioning legs, knothead.”

“I'm told you've got a brain, and I don't see you using it, either,” Katsuki snapped back, though Mina's smile only grew wider at his scoff.

“Are you gonna let us get to know your two omegas, or are we supposed to just watch you flirt like an animal documentary?” Hanta asked, Denki taking a seat at the table across from them.

Izuku's head whirled at the claiming rhetoric, but Katsuki only shrugged. “It ain’t to me. We’re doing whatever he wants.”

When Izuku looked at him, Katsuki met his gaze with a head tilt, waiting for an answer. Would Katsuki really ignore his friends and stay with him all night if Izuku was too overwhelmed? The thought helped settle his previous fear of Katsuki ditching him for not making a good first impression.

“I want to get to know them,” Izuku said, nodding to emphasize his point. “If they're important to you, then I hope they'll be important to Eri and I, too.”

“You ain't just shoving shit down to try and appease me?” Katsuki asked, brow raised like he read Izuku's earlier thoughts.

“No.” It was an honest answer, because Izuku hoped he and Eri would join Katsuki's world the same way he had slipped into theirs. Izuku turned to the group, his smile genuine. “I’d really like to know all about you and Kacchan. Maybe you could share some stories with me?”

“Of course!” Kirishima's grin was infectious and warm. “I'll tell you about the time Katsuki lit the auditorium on fire while he was in charge of the lights at our high school play—”

“Do you wanna die on your birthday?!”

“What about the time he ripped his shirt mid-bench press—”

Mina's comment caused more laughter and threats, but Izuku didn't mind the noise anymore. He glanced down at Eri, who was starry-eyed while staring up at Katsuki's ranting face. It was amazing how much happiness she got from him being around.

Then again, watching Katsuki’s fingers tickle Eri’s belly even as he argued with Denki, Izuku felt the same.

~**~

The moment Eri gave her first little cry, Izuku accepted being her mother without hesitation. He didn't think of himself outside of his new title, focusing on her feeling loved. Rarely did he remember he was an omega with his own needs.

“A date?” Izuku frowned at his mother's question, distracted by wiping Eri's attempted lunch off her face. “Of course Kacchan's taken me on a date. Last week, he found an indoor park for infants. Eri loves going down the slide on Kacchan's lap—”

“Oh, sweetie, no. An adult date.”

“Mom.” Unsure why the implication flushed him, Izuku turned to her in a panic. “That's not—we shouldn't talk about that in front of Eri!”

“I meant a date without Eri,” she said, smile soft but eyes teasing. “Where you and Katsuki can be two adults only focused on each other.”

Izuku froze at the suggestion. “But... but Kacchan likes Eri.”

“I have no doubt he does, Zuku. Any alpha who brings a pup that's not biologically his to every date for five months adores that child as his own.” His omega enjoyed hearing that, but it was more conflicted at her next comment. “But this isn't about Eri. This is about you getting to live a life outside of being a mom.”

“That's...” he looked back to Eri, a surge of insecurity bubbling under his skin.

Of course, his mother picked up on it. “What's wrong?”

He stayed silent, but he was too aware of himself not to realize why he was struggling to answer. His shoulders slouched, hands tugging on the long sweatshirt. It was his favorite one, never worrying about exposing his glaring changes since giving birth to Eri. Izuku knew he was mostly back to where he was two years ago. And yet...

His mother scanned his face before scooting closer. “How about you and Katsuki plan a dinner out, and I'll watch Eri at my house? If you get too anxious, or something happens with her, swing by afterward and scoop her up. But if you and your alpha want to have a night alone, you should be able to.”

“He's not my alpha,” Izuku corrected, even if his omega whined at the rejection. Katsuki was amazing with Eri, and made Izuku's heart melt every time they kissed. Still, Izuku couldn't push something so official on Katsuki in such a short amount of time. “But I… I guess we can try.”

There was nobody he trusted more with Eri than his mother, because he knew firsthand how amazing of a caretaker she was. And when Izuku offered his mother's idea to Katsuki, the alpha pushed through his pleasant surprise to agree. 

“But if you want to check on Munchkin after, I don't care.”

They picked the following Wednesday strategically. Izuku's shift at the library was in the afternoon the following day, and Katsuki's podcast didn't film on Thursdays. The trade-off was that it ran a little later on Wednesdays, which gave Izuku time to drop off Eri and get ready for their… date. Then Katsuki would swing by Izuku's house, pick him up to go somewhere they'd never think to bring an infant, and see where the night went. The fact his mother's home was on the route between Izuku's and the restaurant didn't go unnoticed by Izuku.

Kacchan really was amazing.

But as the days trickled down, Izuku's anxiety and self-doubt grew. Not about his mother, or Eri's ability to manage for one night without him. It was about what would happen if he and Katsuki ended up taking their dynamic to the next step. Without Eri, there was no excuse to hide behind. It was partly why, after dropping his heart off with his mother, Izuku stood in his room surrounded by clothes and his own distressed scent. 

“Do I even fit in that?” Izuku stared at his once favorite outfit, nose scrunching before tossing it to the side. “Not the way I should.”

The nasty voice in his head that sounded like his ex popped up when he tried on his next outfit. Each time a piece of clothing slipped off him, another part of his body caught his attention. Every flash of skin reminded him of his motherly changes. He couldn't stop staring at all of his stretch marks. If he was honest with himself, some of them were from before Eri's birth. Hormones and pushing himself beyond his 'omega' figure made his thighs carry lighter lines. Creams and care through the years helped them fade until he got pregnant. Now, deep maroon scars covered him.

“It's fine,” he whispered to himself, even when his eyes went blurry while staring in the unkind mirror. Bare except for his underwear, Izuku couldn't stop seeing everything distorted and glaringly wrong with his body. His stomach, his hips, his thighs, all ruined by motherhood. Is that why his ex left when he discovered Izuku had a baby inside him? Did he know about the damage he'd do to his skin? As if the clusters of freckles weren't already so distracting—

He wasn’t sure when he started hyperventilating, shaking and whimpering through panicked tears.

“I can't do this.” He knew there was something wrong with his thinking, a sliver of logic pushing through with a plea for him to calm down. But he couldn't handle another rejection by an alpha that he was falling for. If his ex didn't want his body in his prime, why would Katsuki desire him now? Eri hid everything wrong with Izuku from Katsuki. His adorable daughter was his shield, distracting everyone with her sweet smile.

Now, if they went out without Eri, it would end one of two ways. Either Katsuki realized he was boring without Eri, or they would end up in bed. And if they did, Katsuki would see...

Izuku barely dragged himself into the clothes Ochaco bought for 'post-baby dating', praying he was semi-presentable for when he canceled his date. He didn't look at the outfit in the mirror, not wanting to see himself. Right as he moved down the stairs, the doorbell rang. With a slow breath to calm his protesting omega, Izuku pulled open the door and hoped his smile would hide his racing thoughts and trembling fingers.

“Hi, Kacchan.” 

“Hey, you ready to get—” It was barely a heartbeat before Katsuki paused mid-introduction, falling eerily quiet.

Insecure at the intensity, Izuku wrapped an arm around his stomach, stepping back like he was in danger. He instantly regretted picking the tight outfit, silently cursing Ochaco for convincing him the cut of the clothes flattered his awkward curves—

“Were you crying before I got here?” Katsuki asked, frown taking over his lips.

Izuku's hand moved to his face, checking to see if any tears were left. He thought he’d hidden his puffy eyes under the light dusting of makeup. “I...”

“You smell distressed.” It was another unexpected observation Izuku didn't notice. “Is something wrong with Eri?”

At Katsuki's instant protective tone, and the use of her name, the intensity of Izuku’s mental spiral revealed itself. 

“No, she's fine. I'm...” He tensed, forgetting to breathe. All of his hard work was ruined when he teared up again. “I'm... I'm so sorry, Alpha.”

“For what?” Katsuki asked. Izuku pressed his palms to his eyes when arms collected him into the other's chest. Katsuki ran soothing fingers through his hair, but the touch only made him want to cry harder. Why was Katsuki so nice to someone so broken? “Talk to me, Pretty Omega.”

“That's the problem,” he admitted, because trying to hide anything from the one source of comfort in his chaotic mind felt worse than death. “I'm not pretty enough for you. Not with... Kacchan, everything's so ugly under my clothes.”

For a moment, Katsuki went tense. “Says who?”

“Me,” he blabbered, sobbing when hooking his arms around Kacchan's neck. “Every time I see myself in the mirror, I'm so scared you'll look and... and regret all of this.”

“Jesus, don't—you nearly gave me a damn heart attack, Nerd.” Katsuki bumped his forehead against Izuku's temple. Then, Katsuki lifted him, carrying him with far too much ease. “I've got you.”

And, for Izuku, it was so easy to trust in the alpha. The soothing scent from Katsuki draped over him like a blanket. But even without it, Izuku knew he would have listened to anything the man holding him said. 

It was only when he settled on Katsuki's lap in the bed (after kicking off their shoes) that some of his mind cleared. “Wait, no. I-I'm ruining our dinner reservation—”

“How long have you been thinking like this?” Katsuki cupped his cheek to silence him. “About your body?”

“A... while.”

The nuzzle behind his ear proved his honesty was welcomed. Despite feeling awful over leaving such a bitter mark on their first date without Eri, he purred at the affection. Izuku melted into Katsuki's other thumb rubbing his hip.

“You think I somehow forgot my pretty omega's a mama?”

The possessive title made his heart soar, hope finally tearing away at his anxiety. “Well, I mean... Kacchan, you're beautiful. Any omega would feel a little insecure with an alpha as perfect as you. And, the stretch marks are still dark from everything, which isn't… enticing.”

“How about you let me choose what I find sexy, yeah?” Katsuki kept the tone light despite the serious moment. Izuku was thankful for his casual approach when nipping his ear. “Besides, you're not the only one with some battle-wounds.”

“What?” The comment threw Izuku off guard.

Katsuki glanced away, but didn't explain with words. Instead, he grabbed ‌Izuku's hand, showing no fear when sliding it under the black shirt he wore for the date. Izuku's sputter of embarrassment (or want from the amazing abs) suddenly stopped when he felt the raised skin on Katsuki's chest.

“Got into a car accident when I was sixteen,” Katsuki said, Izuku no longer needing his guidance to move his palm over the marred spot. Concern filling his chest, Izuku turned without thought, straddling Katsuki's lap. Waiting for Katsuki to give a nod of permission, Izuku hiked up the shirt, eyes taking in the huge scar.

“Oh, Kacchan...” It was an old wound, for sure. And it wasn’t alone. While the one in the center of his chest was huge, there were smaller bursts on his shoulder and the side of his torso. They looked like a night sky sparkling over Katsuki's beautiful skin. Even now, he was simply stunning.

“My heart stopped from the impact.” Katsuki's quiet tone almost made Izuku pull his hands back. But the warm palms against his pressed the touch harder to his wounds, red eyes connecting with his. “Got skewered by three pieces of metal. I should have died.”

The thought terrified Izuku. Katsuki was being vulnerable, sharing such an intimate moment of himself with Izuku. He revealed an uncomfortable memory simply to make Izuku feel better. A stable omega might have held themselves together and let Katsuki wine and dine them. They’d never make him crack himself open to prove himself to Izuku's mean brain.

But because of the deep moment, it gave Izuku a chance to reciprocate. Slowly, Izuku switched the position of their hands, grabbing Katsuki's and placing them on the hem of his rucked-up sweater. Katsuki frowned, even as the touch tightened on the fabric.

“Oi, you don't gotta show—”

“I want to,” he answered, reassuring the alpha. And as scary as it was, he wasn’t lying. Katsuki scanned his face quietly before finally following the silent command. The soft clothing lifted, Izuku sucking in a shaky breath. Katsuki didn’t press any further, tilting his head with a silent question. Izuku responded by sliding his thumbs under the waistband of his leggings, tugging them down. The motion left his stomach and thigh’s stretch-marks exposed, briefs covering anything too intimate. Izuku tried to stay steady in his decision, even as his fingers trembled in the fabric. 

But Katsuki only crooned like Izuku offered something special, broad hands squeezing his torso in appreciation. “Look at you, sitting so pretty on me. What kind of an idiot wouldn't want you?”

“Kacchan, don't tease.” 

“You ain't seen teasing, Freckles.” Red eyes devoured him.

Izuku shivered again, but not from fear or insecurity. There was too much honesty in the bright gaze on him, proving Katsuki really thought he was... something to keep. “You don't find them distracting?”

“They're very distracting.” Katsuki smirked. “Wanna put my mouth all over them.”

Flushing red at the blunt comment that clashed with his anxiety, Izuku finally broke under the tension. With a whimper, he crumpled onto Katsuki's chest to hide himself again.

Katsuki didn't complain, simply leaning back on the headboard and hugging him closer. “Need a minute?” 

“Yes, please.”

“Take your time.” Izuku's eyes fluttered shut when a kiss swiped his temple. “The reservation's in an hour. Even if we miss it, the restaurant's gonna be there next week.”

Izuku heard the underlying message loud and clear.

I'm not going anywhere.

And Izuku actually believed him. 

They eventually made it to dinner, one without mashed food and messy fingers filling up the entire conversation. Katsuki explained the car accident and how he was still close with the paramedics that saved his life. Izuku hung off every word, entranced by the alpha across the table.

But when Katsuki casually reached out to grab his hand while complaining about 'Side Bangs' and 'Denim Head' refusing to come on his podcast, Izuku realized something, too. Maybe he wasn’t the only one falling too fast. 

And maybe… he could be more than Eri's Mama, after all.

~**~

With Eri's first birthday a month away, Izuku wanted everything to be perfect. He had so much to plan; the venue, the invitations, the food, then gifts—

So distracted by his planning, he didn't notice the signs until it was too late. Izuku did everything he could to keep his baby in good health. They went to the doctors, made sure she was eating a good balance of food. He bundled her up in cold weather, washed her hands, and thought he did everything right. But she still fell ill, which broke Izuku's heart.

“Babies get sick, sweetie,” his mother said over the phone. Izuku barely heard her from Eri's unpleasant wailing. She had been miserable all morning, Izuku thankful her sickness started on his day off.

“I just don't know how to make her feel better.” He felt like an awful caretaker.

His mother disagreed. “Babies need to get sick in order to build up their immune systems. If Eri doesn't have any exposure, her body will be more vulnerable in the future. You're a good omega, a good mama.”

And he knew she was right, but he still felt terrible all day. When Katsuki reached out, he told him about the situation. The end result was canceling their plans for dinner that night. Of course, Katsuki took it well, asking if Izuku needed anything from the store. Izuku didn't want to risk Katsuki getting sick, so he had things delivered. Dedicating his attention to taking care of Eri meant keeping the baby with him at all times, so he missed his own signs. A scratchy throat, increased temperature, and weary body were ignored.

But after staying up all night with Eri, he caught two hours of sleep before he woke up... sick.

“No,” he groaned out, eyelids heavy as he struggled to push out of the bed. His body felt like a train smashed into it, and he could barely breathe through the stuffiness. But even if he felt dizzy, the sound of Eri's crying meant he couldn't simply lay there. She needed her mama. His phone's ping made him lift his head, the light of the screen hurting his eyes. But seeing Katsuki's name over the text soothed a smidge of his discomfort, his omega wanting to drown in the alpha's scent.

Except asking Katsuki to come over while they were both sick was selfish.

Is it? His mind challenged, once being kind over cruel in its argumentative self. To ask your alpha to take care of you and your pup?

“He's… not my...” Except denying it when he was already feeling terrible didn't sit well with him. Izuku whined before hitting the call button.

Katsuki answered on the first ring. “Someone's being lazy today.”

“Sorry.” His voice sounded like he put his throat through a woodchipper, and he sniffled right after to keep his nose from running. “Eri kept me up late.”

Slowly, he pushed out of bed to collect Eri from the crib. Once she was secure, Izuku put Katsuki on speakerphone. He knew that the only time she stopped her wailing yesterday was when he was on the phone with Katsuki. Even now, nearly a year after coming out of the womb, Eri still adored Katsuki's voice the most.

Like mama, like pup.

“You sound like shit.” Despite his words, Katsuki's tone stayed soft. “Did you get sick, too?”

“Yeah.” His lips wobbled when he collected the whimpering baby into his care, trying to rock her despite the ache in his arms. “I'm... Kacchan, it’s okay to say no, but—”

“What do you need?”

For a second he hesitated. Sure, they've been talking for half a year, and Katsuki made it clear he wanted to be there for Izuku and Eri. This wasn't his ex. Not some alpha looking for a fun time. Katsuki had seen Izuku at his worst, kissed his scars, and held him when he fell apart.

Closing his eyes, Izuku took a leap of faith and prayed he was right. “I can't take care of Eri if I can barely keep my eyes open. I need someone to watch her so I can shower and sleep, just for a bit.”

Luckily, Katsuki didn't miss a beat. “I'll be over in an hour.”

He almost cried from relief, but kept composed when Eri whined and buried her face into his chest. “Thank you.”

“Don't thank me for basic boyfriend shit.” The title sent a wave of happiness down his spine. He had stopped thinking about what they were months ago, but now...

“None of my past boyfriends would do this,” Izuku admitted, sickness making him too vulnerable to hide the truth. 

“Then none of them deserved you, and they sure as hell didn't deserve a chance to be in Eri's life.”

“No,” Izuku whispered, gazing at his fussy baby. “Not like you.” 

There was a pause. When Katsuki's voice came back, it sounded possessive enough to break through Izuku's foggy brain and curl his toes. 

“Then let me do my job and take care of you and the pup, Pretty Omega.”

He wasn’t right now, but when Katsuki called him pretty, he felt it.

Izuku purred through his congested chest. “Yes, Alpha.” 

He almost whined when they ended the call, because losing the connection to Katsuki's voice and comforting words reminded him of all his ailments. And from how Eri suddenly started wailing again, she was the same. The hour between the call and Katsuki showing up, Izuku tried to be proactive. He changed Eri, got her some doctor-approved medicine, and struggled half-way through feeding her before his energy finally gave out.

Katsuki found him half-lying on top of the table and sighed. “Nerd.”

“Hi, Kacchan.” He knew a proper omega would get up to greet someone coming into his home. Izuku couldn’t get his heavy head to lift, so he simply simmered in the strong, spicy scent that broke through the stuffiness of his nose. 

“What happened to letting me take care of you?”

“Just wanted to...help a bit,” he murmured, shivering when steady fingers slipped through his tangled hair. 

“You did great for a wannabe zombie.” There was humor under the insult, and Izuku melted at the praise. “What a good mama Eri has.”

“Wanna be good,” he whispered.

Katsuki hummed, sliding a hand down to gently squeeze his nape. It was a soft pressure that turned Izuku's bones to water. Normally, having someone touch the sensitive spot on an omega's neck was dangerous, as it made them pliant to whoever held it. But Katsuki made him feel safe. He was helpless to the purr that was strong enough to vibrate the table he rested his chest on. His eyes opened slowly when Katsuki turned his focus to Eri. 

“Hey, Squirt. You still cosplaying as a snot monster?” 

Eri, teary-eyed and miserable, still cooed at her favorite alpha. “Ka-han.”

“Close, Munchkin.”

“She's gonna say your name before mine,” Izuku said, knowing she was probably days from finally speaking full words. She was close, mouthing them without a voice. He tried not to fret, reading in several books that she was perfectly healthy.

“That's because you say it all the time.”

Katsuki didn't mean it in a dirty way, but Izuku's brain was too busy fighting off bacteria and fever to stop his mouth. “I don't do that when she's in the room.”

The thumb stroking his neck froze, and it was only then his DayQuil-fueled mind caught onto his dirty confession.

“Oh, my God.” Izuku tried to curl away from the touch, face flushed beyond his fever. “No, that—please just let me die on the table.”

“Nice try, but I ain't letting you get out of it that easily.” The smug tone in Katsuki's voice shouldn't have made Izuku's thighs clench in pleasure. Eri's loud sneeze saved him any more embarrassment, and Katsuki gave him a final squeeze over his sweaty nape before sliding away. “Go take a bath, not a shower. I don't trust you standing that long. I'll leave you clothes to change into, then you'll come back to bed. Got it?”

Izuku nodded, dragging himself slowly from his spot on the table. By the time he was back on his feet, Eri was collected into Katsuki's arms. The alpha didn’t care about her mucus and food-covered face pressing into the spot over his heart. She nuzzled him like he was her biological alpha. The sight squeezed Izuku's heart, cursing fate for not letting him find Katsuki before stumbling into his previous ex. But he would never trade Eri for the world, and he didn't think Katsuki would, either. Did they need the biology to match if the connection was still there?

“Get going,” Kacchan ordered Izuku, nudging his ankle with his boot before rubbing Eri's back with his larger hand. “I've got her, okay? Not gonna let anything happen while you're gone.”

“Thank you again,” Izuku said, unsure how to explain how important the moment was for him.

Izuku found his way to the bathroom, letting the tub fill with soapy water before he sunk into his homemade heaven. His weary bones and stuffy chest cheered at the sensation, and he almost cried when realizing it had been years since he'd pampered himself. The steam and the peppermint essential oil he popped into the water helped with the phlegm. He was happy Katsuki was distracted with Eri, missing everything Izuku coughed out. But the clearing out and full scrubdown of his body, face, and hair helped him feel a little less dead when he got out.

When he opened the door, he found the mentioned clothing left for him to change into. What caught him off guard was that they were not his, but... Katsuki's. The plaid pants and oversized shirt were covered in his spicy scent, but it was the implication that mattered more here. An alpha offering clothing to an omega he was courting had implications. Mainly that Katsuki considered Izuku his. And Katsuki had slipped up before, mainly when his alpha took over. In those moments of instinct, Katsuki had called Eri and Izuku 'his'. Izuku had never held that against him or looked too far into it.

But this was all Katsuki. Izuku didn't think twice about accepting the offer, burying himself in the fabric. He blamed the sickness on pulling the collar up to his nose, inhaling the potent scent without shame. Once he had his fill, Izuku wandered down the hall to his room, stopping in the doorway.

Katsuki was on his bed, Eri cradled in his lap. His powerful fingers held a gentleness that was almost contradictory when they wiped the red nose with baby Kleenex. When Eri fussed at the motion, Katsuki chuckled, voice a low rumble as he spoke to Izuku's heart.

“You're gonna have to wait to shove your chubby fingers in your cake.”

Eri whimpered a bit when he wiped down her face, but didn't burst into full tears. Like always, she was too enamored watching Katsuki's mouth move. Izuku didn't know why the sight left him more breathless than the congestion in his chest. He stayed silent, clutching the wood panel while watching.

“And we're going to let the nerd put you in some silly dress, because that makes him happy.” Katsuki nodded when Eri babbled back. “We'll open your presents, take pictures, and kick butt at busting apart the pinata. I know you feel like garbage, but we're gonna get through this.”

Eri's eyes looked like they wanted to stay open, but Katsuki's scent and voice were better than any nursery song or bedtime story. Little lashes fluttered shut, and Katsuki scoffed as he rocked her.

“Finally. Jesus, your mama's a damn superhero, doing this shit on his own every day.”

Hearing someone like Katsuki call him a hero... something in his brain snapped, and his thoughts went hazy. Why was he standing so far away when a perfect, fertile alpha was waiting for him? Izuku moved, ignoring his alpha's head snapping up to fumble his way onto the bed. 

“Oi—”

Izuku cuddled his alpha's side, wrapping arms around his torso and burying into his alpha's shoulder. Everything felt so floaty now, which was strange with his aches and sickness. Somehow, nothing hurt anymore.

He couldn't help but purr. “I don't want to do this alone anymore, Alpha.”

“Do what?” There was a nudge against Izuku's head, asking him to look up. Izuku only buried deeper, curling closer. Something rattled in his head, but Izuku only wanted to focus on his perfect alpha lying in his nest.

“Raise Eri alone. Wanna do it with you. Want you, mate.”

The only noise after Izuku’s reply was Eri's nasally breathing.

But lying on his alpha's chest meant he felt the sudden uptick of heartbeat from the alpha. “Words, Izuku. I ain't assuming shit about something like this.”

He complied. “I want Alpha to court me officially. Be my alpha. Be my mate.”

His alpha took a slow breath, large enough to move Izuku and Eri on his chest. Like Izuku's words were a punch he didn't expect. If it was a good surprise or a terrible dread, Izuku wasn't sure. 

“Look at me.” He didn't want to, but his alpha asked, so Izuku lifted his head.

The red gaze stared at him with a serious gleam that winced when Izuku purred. “Yes, Alpha?”

“Shit.” It wasn’t a rejection, but it didn't feel like acceptance, either. “We're gonna talk about this. We will, I promise. But not tonight. This... it's not the right time for you.”

He wanted to protest, to demand an answer. Why would any of that matter when he felt so good right now? Didn't the alpha feel the same for him as Izuku did his alpha? What was wrong with him, that no alpha ever wanted to actually be his mate—

A sharp bite on his nose jolted him.

“Stop overthinking.” his alpha scowled. “Your scent's souring, and it'll wake up the squirt. And whatever's going on in your brain, it's not right. But we're not having this conversation right now, okay?”

“Okay.” But he didn't like the answer, even if he trusted his alpha.

His alpha scanned his face, nodding before kissing his forehead. “Come lay down and sleep. I'll wake you up when you and Munchkin need to eat.”

“Thanks,” Izuku answered, snuggling against him and closing his eyes.

He tried to pretend it was his sickness that made him feel rejected.

~**~

“Happy birthday, Darling,” Izuku whispered the morning of Eri's party, smiling when pretty red eyes stared back in excitement. He tried to forget how similar they were to a certain alpha who was coming to help him and friends set up her party. 

After what Izuku called the 'sick brain' incident, Izuku wasn't avoiding Katsuki. He wasn't! But if he was, he had a reason. Mainly, the fact he threw himself at the alpha, losing all sense of rhyme or reason. And in response to his outward affection, he was... put on ice.

Katsuki handled the lewd presentation like a gentleman. He kissed Izuku's forehead, lulled him to sleep, and continued to care for the two sick omegas until their fevers broke. He didn't bring it up, but Izuku did sort of make himself scarce for the next two weeks, so...

His friends were quite open about their feelings regarding Izuku's tactical plan.

“Are you still being avoidant?” Ochaco asked when stepping into the house with the balloons. 

Izuku whined, knowing without asking what she meant. “Kacchan's coming over to help, isn't that a good start?”

“Considering you've barely seen your boyfriend in the first two weeks of December, it may not balance.” Shoto's accidental accusation dug deep into Izuku's guilt. 

“We've been busy because of the end of the year,” Izuku said, lying through his teeth. Katsuki had called, texted...

And Izuku was too scared to talk about what the rejection meant for them. Except he wasn’t even sure what happened those two days. His brain was a little blurry, which he wanted to blame on the sickness. But it also felt like he was missing something. Something Kacchan wasn't telling him.

“Communication is key to a healthy relationship,” Iida said like a school PSA, bringing the cake to the counter. Izuku took a peek, relieved to see it had come out perfectly. A hand on his shoulder made him look up to his taller friend. “This Katsuki fellow... seems good for you.”

“He is,” Izuku admitted, knowing that from how sweet Katsuki was while Izuku was so out of it. 

He babied both himself and Eri, cooked them food, made sure they got their medication. Eri recovered faster than Izuku, and Katsuki juggled her and Izuku's needy selves perfectly. He tried to think about why he was so clingy while recovering from his sickness. It was mortifying how he fell back on his omega's instincts, calling Katsuki 'Alpha' and needing to cuddle into his side. He let Katsuki feed him, bathe him, mark him everywhere but his scent gland.

Izuku had been sick with partners before, but he barely told them about it. He preferred to handle it on his own. Or maybe he never trusted them to take care of him like he knew Katsuki would. Except it felt more like a... a random heat. Thankfully, his body didn’t follow suit, but the symptoms were there. 

Before he could get lost in his confusing thoughts, his mother appeared like spring. “Are we ready to celebrate my special girl's day?”

“Hi, mom,” Izuku said, accepting her cheek kiss and normal maternal scenting. “Maybe you'll have a better shot at getting Eri in her dress.”

“Aw, is she giving her Mama a hard time?” 

“I think she's mad at me for not bringing Kacchan around,” he admitted, noticing how grumpy she had been over the past weeks. Eri wasn’t sleeping as well, refused food, and cried for long periods. Izuku would normally cave, putting on Katsuki's podcast to settle her.

“She's not the only one,” his mother teased, and he knew his mother had been waiting to meet the alpha. All of his friends had been trying to be patient, but with his recent roadblock, they were eager to 'help' get him and Katsuki back on track. 

“He's coming today.”

“Of course he is; I doubt that alpha would ever miss Eri's big day.” And the fact his mother and friends seemed so sure of the statement really showed how deep he'd weaved Katsuki into his and Eri's life.

That simple thought finally broke him. “Guys, did… did I mess this all up?”

The room fell silent for only a moment before his mother clapped her hands, turning to his friends with a smile. “Could you three set up the tables outside and put the party food out? Guests should be here in the next hour, and I have to help Izuku get our princess in her dress.”

“Of course.” Polite as ever, Iida bowed, leading the others from the kitchen.

On their way out, each left their pack scents on Izuku. Iida's oakmoss stayed traditional, only brushing their wrists. Ochaco rubbed their cheeks together, leaving her mochi scent in the omega exchange. Shoto, uncaring of societal boundaries (as he never had formal pack scenting before their friendship), leaned forward to bump foreheads. It was nothing intimate, not the way Katsuki lingered while staring into his eyes. But Shoto's pine brought him a familiar comfort between them.

Once they departed, Izuku turned to his mother, unsure why his legs felt weak. “Kacchan will be here soon, and I'm a mess. I can't figure out what to put Eri in, her pink or yellow dress. And I haven't thought of her hair yet. Not that it matters, since she's upset with me.”

“Izuku,” she said, but he shook his head, rejecting her comfort.

“And she should be. I've been so distracted with my feelings, I'm not putting her first. A good mom wouldn't let an alpha in this fast, and yet here I am, throwing myself at the first kind alpha who smiles at me—”

“Oh, sweetie.” She collected him into her arms, and he had to bend down to bury his face into the comforting scent of her hair. She rubbed his back like she did when he was a child, sobbing after falling off the slide. He kind of wanted to cut his knee so he would have a reason to cry.

“I just don't know why I lost control like that,” he confessed, and maybe he should have been ashamed, sharing the truth with his mother. But she had been his rock, his guidance, his hero since he was a baby. She always had the answers. “Why did my omega go feral and beg him to mate with me?”

“I wasn't there, so I can't give you what you're really looking for. The only one who can is Katsuki, if you're willing to let yourself be vulnerable with him.” She cradled his head, leaning back to smile at him. “And the fact he's coming today means he's willing to still try.”

“What if he's just here for Eri?” Izuku winced at his fear. “He always checks in on her, but he hasn't pushed to see me again. What if he knows how attached she is, and feels guilty about not coming?”

“He loves Eri, that's obvious.” Then, she whispered. “And he loves you, too.”

“It's too soon,” Izuku denied, even as his omega purred in agreement. “It makes no sense.”

“Sweetie, your baby bonded to his voice from a podcast. He asked you to dinner after picking baby cereal out of your hair.” His mother laughed. “Love only has to make sense to those in it.”

He stared at her knowledgeable face, wishing he understood why she had so much faith in her mess of a son. But then the doorbell rang, and Izuku knew who it was without even looking.

His mother patted his cheek, tilting her head. “Do you need a moment? I can bring him out back.”

“No. I want to introduce him to you and the others first. Can you try to get Eri into one of the dresses I laid out? Maybe put a bow in her hair or something?” 

“I think I can dress her, give her mama time to talk to his alpha.”

“Mom, please don't say that in front of Kacchan—” But she was already collecting Eri, humming as she brought the squealing baby out of the room. He watched his two favorite omegas leave before he sighed, moving to enter the front door. Seeing Katsuki after two weeks made his entire body warm. He missed him far too much.

“Hi,” he said, wondering if his voice gave away his longing. He was sure his scent bloomed with a sweeter edge, and he hoped it hid the darker emotions lingering just under his joy. Katsuki looked relaxed, one hand in his pocket. The other held a red bag with sparkly silver paper.

“Long time no see,” Katsuki answered, but didn't make it sound accusatory. He held up the bag for Izuku to take. “Here, a gift for you and Munchkin.”

“Both of us?” He was not expecting presents for himself, but Katsuki always surprised him. “Kacchan, you didn't have to—”

“I don't do things unless I want to.”

Izuku's mind flashed from the sweet gesture to the pained look on the alpha's face when Izuku asked them to mate. Izuku hated how his stomach clenched, tainting Katsuki’s kindness. He didn't owe Izuku anything, especially a mating mark.

Trying to hide from the watchful eyes, Izuku quickly grabbed the bag, pulling it to his chest. “Thank you for coming today. I... I missed you.”

“Not my fault you're so busy.” Then, as casual as a cucumber, Katsuki stepped forward and kissed Izuku like nothing was different between them. Izuku melted into it, mouth almost vibrating away from the kiss because of his intense purr. It was embarrassing, probably, but Katsuki returned a pleased growl into the kiss. An arm locked behind Izuku’s back, pulling him flush against Katsuki. He really liked the man. No, not liked, but—

“Oh!” His mother's gasp made Izuku break away, though he couldn't pull back when the surrounding arm tightened, keeping him in place.

“M-Mom!” 

The older omega looked pleasantly surprised, smiling while hiking Eri (wearing a red and white dress over either of his picks) on her hip.

His heart, however, had wide eyes fixated on Katsuki, hands reaching out as she nearly toppled his mother. “Ka-han! Ka-han Ka-han!”

“Oi, don't knock your grandma over.” Katsuki pushed into the home, guiding Izuku with him so he could walk over. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Midoriya.”

“Oh, please call me Inko.” She let Katsuki steal Eri, who happily clung to him, nuzzling into his scent. His mom took a step back, as if wanting to see a bigger picture, then smiled. “I've heard enough stories about you to feel like you're already family. Welcome, Katsuki.”

“Mom, please...” But even as he tried to salvage his pride, Katsuki's hand sank down to wrap around his waist, making a silent proclamation to anyone watching. Katsuki was there for more than the happy girl he let press a raspberry to his jaw. He still wanted Izuku.

“Thanks for having me.” Katsuki glanced down at Izuku with an arched brow. “You gonna show me your nerd squad or what?”

“You don't even know them yet.”

“If they stuck with you this long, they're definitely nerds. Not as pretty, but...”

“Don't tease me.” But he silently preened.

When Katsuki walked into the backyard, with Izuku and Eri on either side of him, it was pretty clear to his friends who he was. Ochaco still played dumb, giving Izuku the chance to introduce him to the others. Iida was far too formal, though it was funny to see Katsuki thrown off by it. Shoto was his awkward version of friendliness, but when he mentioned it was his name on Izuku's house, Katsuki got a little stiff.

“Ah, I apologize.” Shoto clocked it instantly. “I had no intention of it being a romantic or intimate offering. I'd never interfere in your courting.”

It was a sensitive topic to brush against, and now Izuku was the one who tensed. But Katsuki didn't pull away or show signs of discomfort, as if forgetting he had rejected Izuku two weeks ago. The team worked together to get the party set up right before the other guests started arriving. Eri was overjoyed with her party. She loved the music, the presents, the games and all the attention. Izuku was thankful she was mostly over her fear of strangers, happily playing with young cousins and neighborhood children.

Katsuki's friends came, bringing far too many gifts and compliments. All of Izuku's fear of Eri hating him vanished when it was time for cake. As he walked out with the sweet dessert, everyone around them singing 'happy birthday', he crouched next to her and tapped her nose.

“Make a wish,” he said, then helped her blow out the candle to everyone's cheers. He nuzzled her flushed cheek, whispering. “Did you enjoy your party, darling? Did Mama get you everything you wanted?”

A sticky hand, already touching her cake, smacked his chin.

But then, he heard it. “Mama.”

Izuku jerked back, eyes wide as he stared at Eri. “What did you...”

Eri gazed up at him with her happy smile, eyes bright as she giggled and squealed again. “Mama!”

“Eri...” The yard fell quiet, and Izuku realized it was because his eyes were full of tears. 

Eri picked up on it too, tilting her head. “Mama?”

He couldn't breathe through his pure happiness.

“That's right,” he choked out, cupping her face. Izuku placed kisses over Eri while he sobbed worse than his mom (who was also a mess while hugging a confused Shoto) “I'm your mama, Darling. Your very, very proud mama.”

Eri wasn’t done with her miracles. “Mama...'nd... Kacchan?”

Izuku turned to the alpha in question, who must have taken a step back during the moment. Izuku realized how much he hated the distance between them, even for this.

Because it had been the three of them for months, and he didn't want his anxiety to ruin that. “Yes, Kacchan, too.”

He held out a hand to Katsuki, who didn't let him fear being rejected for long. Linking fingers together like they were made to intertwine, Katsuki lifted their hands over Izuku's head when stepping behind him, their arms wrapping around Izuku's stomach.

“Finally got it right, Munchkin.”

“Kacchan,” Eri said, like the one word carried an entire novel of knowledge.

Izuku laughed while wiping his eyes, leaning his head against Katsuki's cheek. “Guess I really do say it a lot, huh?”

“You better ramble that dumb nickname forever, Nerd.” Katsuki muttered by his ear.

The statement stuck with him for the cake cutting, present opening, and all of the fun the party had to offer. His friends mingled with Katsuki's. Ochaco fawned over Denki's barely there baby bump while Iida shook a sheepish Kirishima's hand in a loud congratulation. Izuku wanted to let his previous anxiety about the rejection melt away with the perfect day, but he found he couldn't. If Kacchan really wanted him and Eri forever, why didn't he accept Izuku's offer?

“Zuku,” his mother called. “We're out of juice packets.”

“I've got more!” He excused himself from Mina, moving inside to get the extras from his back room.

He nearly toppled over when an unexpected voice came from behind. “Need some help carrying them?”

“Kacchan!” He spun around, hand on his chest. “You need a bell around your neck.”

“Why, so you can try to hide for another two weeks?” It wasn’t as accusatory as Katsuki had a right to be, but Izuku still felt guilt curl in his chest.

He didn't want to lie, so he swallowed. “I'm sorry. I got in my head about what happened, and I didn't know how to face you.”

“Thought so.” Katsuki's grimace didn't make him feel better, until the alpha pressed a hand to his nape and took a route Izuku didn't expect. “I didn't realize how much I fucked up until I saw your faux heat.”

“How much you—my faux—Kacchan, what are you talking about?”

“After seeing how fast you dropped in the store, and hearing about your past drops, I knew you were sensitive to omega instincts.” Katsuki looked away, as if angry with his words. “The night of our first adult date confirmed everything for me. I should've known stuffing you in my scent and treating you like my mate would trigger a faux heat.”

“That's what happened?” Sure, his mind was hazy during the two days, only remembering parts of it. When sick, he was normally miserable, but spending it pampered by Katsuki had felt like a dream. And now that he thought about it, he had been buzzing with the same feeling as pre-heat.

“Sparkplug's the same.” Katsuki leaned his back against the doorway, keeping some distance between them. “That's why I knew the signs when I saw your eyes. Omegas with high emotional intelligence but low self-esteem tend to fall into faux heats if they're comfortable with an alpha.”

Izuku had heard of them in passing. The rare event was when an omega tricked themselves into a mental heat to appease the alpha they were with. Some used it during trauma for protection. Others times, if their omega was spoiled enough, it tried to find a mate by instinct. But he had never had one. Except, when he thought about how Katsuki treated him in comparison to the past alphas in his life, it was easy to see why his omega only used the tactic now. But that also made him realize something. Katsuki hadn't rejected him because of a lack of interest in being his mate.

“Wait, so you...” Izuku blinked slowly. “You think I asked you to mate me because of my faux heat?”

“That's the entire purpose of it.” Katsuki shrugged, but looked miserable. “Before Shitty Hair got the balls to bite him, Pikachu used to say the dumbest shit to me he didn't mean.”

Torn between embarrassment and joy, Izuku rushed forward, cupping Katsuki's face to make their gazes meet. “If I hadn't been under my omega's influence, if I... I asked you to court me sober...”

“I'd make you mine.” Katsuki didn't waver. “I haven't been hiding my intention.”

“I thought you didn't mean it when you called me your omega.” Izuku smiled so wide, he almost couldn't get the words out. “I couldn't get my hopes up, but when I saw you with Eri, I realized then how much I wanted you to be there every night.”

He couldn't stop himself from purring.

Katsuki grinned, leaning in his hands to nuzzle their noses together. “I love you, Freckles. Not gonna pretend I'm shy about it. Say it back, and I'll buy the whole damn house from Candy Cane for you as a courting gift.”

He almost choked at the claim. “Kacchan, don't do that!”

“Who's stopping me?” Katsuki held no shame in his growled answer, nipping Izuku's upper lip before smirking. It made his stomach heat. “I'll do whatever I want for my pretty omega and my pup. You got that?” 

The claim of himself felt amazing, but hearing Katsuki claim Eri...

“Yeah,” he said. Sliding his hands down and wrapping his arms around Katsuki's neck, he leaned up and whispered against warm lips. “I think I finally do, Alpha. Because I love you, too—”

Katsuki kissed him before he could finish the sentence, though Izuku didn't really mind. Their make-out wasn't long, paused when Kirishima and Hanta 'checked-in' on them. Katsuki growled against Izuku's bruised lips before chasing them into the yard with threats that nobody really believed. Izuku did come out with the juice, flushing at knowing stares from his friends.

“Someone was looking for you,” his mom said, bringing Eri over once he dropped the drinks.

“Mama!” She chanted like she'd been speaking for years, even if it was only two words.

“Hi, Darling,” he answered, collecting her to his chest and kissing her while she giggled. He peeked up, catching Katsuki yelling at his friends hiding behind Ochaco and Shoto, Iida trying to calm him down. “Hey, Eri.”

“Mama,” she answered instantly, making him smile. 

Izuku kept his voice soft, rocking her the way he once had on a lonely bus. “How would you feel having Kacchan around more?”

“Kacchan.” She beamed at the name.

“Yeah.” Kissing her forehead, Izuku smiled, catching red eyes watching. Even with a party between them, Izuku felt Katsuki's affection. Hiding his smile in Eri’s hair, he whispered. “Let’s keep him, okay?”

And when she giggled, Izuku knew Katsuki was her favorite gift of the day.

~**~

Izuku was in love with Katsuki. Anyone who spent time with them and their daughter (because Eri didn't know life without Katsuki) could see it. But his mating gland remained unbitten. Probably because they hadn't had sex yet. 

Most of the blame was on his shoulders. Katsuki had shown he was sexually interested, if the natural reaction of the alpha's body every morning wasn’t enough of a hint. And Izuku was so attracted to Katsuki, his body stayed constantly aroused around him, waiting. Ready. But there was a slight problem that kept their clothes on the nights Katsuki spent at his home (which, at that point, was every night). 

Izuku hadn't had sex since he had Eri. Actually, the last time he did sleep with someone was during her conception. It had been two years. Of course, he had explored the beauty of self-love, because pregnancy made his libido go wild. He was a little embarrassed how often he thought of Katsuki when his fingers slid between his thighs to dive deeper into his fantasy. But sex with a live, warm body was different.

He wanted his next (and hopefully his last) partner to be Katsuki. He thought he showed it with his needy kisses, grabby hands, and little noises he offered during their make-outs. But his scent gave away his anxiety, and at the first hint of nerves, Katsuki ended things.

“He's being really sweet,” Izuku said, wrapping his arms around a pillow and flopping on Ochaco's sofa. “But, I...”

“You want him to take over and ravish you?” Ochaco offered over her sip of wine, Izuku's cheeks flushing when he nodded. “He totally would do it if you asked him.”

“I can't! As soon as I start thinking about asking, I get nervous. Then Kacchan scents it and stops. It's a huge sign of respect, and I love that about him!”

“But it doesn't ease your omega need to be pinned and bitten during copulation.” Shoto really had no sense of shame.

“Can you not make me sound so desperate to have sex with Katsuki?” Izuku whined, reaching out to grab his own Sangria when Shoto only blinked at him. 

“But... aren't you?”

“Shoto!” He shouted, Ochaco spitting up her wine from her sudden burst of laughter. His friends were terrible.

Once she recovered, Ochaco scooted closer, petting him like his mom did when he was younger. “Well, if you can't say it... could you show it? Maybe make it so obvious the moment he walks in, he doesn't have time to be polite.”

And that sounded a lot easier for him. “But how?”

“I might have an idea or two.”

Ochaco's plan involved calling Iida, using him and Shoto to learn about alpha preferences (which really showed how strong their friendship was, letting her grill them over their deepest instincts). From there, his best friend helped him put the next embarrassing steps into action. His mother was overjoyed to have Eri spend the night (or nights, depending), and her knowing eyes made Izuku silently wonder how he still kept Katsuki in the dark. Once his package came, and he synced up with his mom about the sleepover, he set the plan into action.

“I'm going to miss you so much,” Izuku said to Eri, kissing her nose before nuzzling his against it at her giggle. “Are you going to be good for grandma?” 

“Yup.” Eri's vocabulary had grown over the two months after her birthday party, though sentences were still a bit of a struggle.

“Kacchan and I will call you tomorrow morning, okay? Maybe we'll get breakfast.” 

“Kacchan, eggs!” He smiled at her excitement, knowing Eri had fallen in love with Katsuki's cooking since he semi-moved in. 

“Of course, Darling.” With a final kiss, he handed her over to his mother.

Leaving Eri still felt like cutting off a limb, but it was good for both of them. Eri had to learn to trust others outside of Izuku, and he needed to have an identity beyond being her mama. So he focused on getting back home, and the two hours he had before Katsuki arrived.

He didn't remember the last time he put so much prep into his physical appearance. Izuku bathed with a coconut oil bath-bomb Ochaco swore by to soften his bumpy and stretched skin. He shaved his legs to make them silky smooth, trimmed his pubic hair to something more enticing. Once he was out of the water, it took a bit to dry and tame the curls he combed through with a volumizer. Then he drizzled a scent-enhancing oil along his wrists and the gland on his neck. 

He tried not to think of how forward the action was and prepared the next step; his outfit. Izuku left it last, because he knew he needed to psych himself up for it. Ochaco supported the simple design he picked, recognizing without words Izuku's struggles with his body. It was better with Katsuki's constant compliments, but this was different. He'd be mostly exposed. 

But as he slid the high-rise lace over his legs, up his hips, to rest above his waist, he felt... pretty. The panties covered his stomach's stretch-marks, but didn't hide his thighs. It was a sheer number that would show everything once Katsuki got close enough to really look. Still, as he turned in front of the mirror, and looked at his perky butt (the star of tonight's show), he wasn’t ashamed. 

Katsuki had seen his marks from childbirth. He never shied away from stroking Izuku's thighs as they cuddled, his stomach when he was half-asleep behind him. Katsuki loved him, inside and out. The same way Izuku kissed over Katsuki's chest scar when he was working out shirtless. How he traced the abdomen marks while they laid together, watching Eri's fish movie.

Their bodies showed the challenges they had faced. The stories of their lives. 

The reminder of this meant he didn't put pants on, but dived into Katsuki's wardrobe (really, that was the first sign Katsuki's basically moved in) to pull out his favorite skull shirt. 

It was such a contrast to the delicate lace hidden beneath. He couldn’t wait to see Katsuki's surprise. He gave himself a final look in the mirror before he heard what he'd been waiting for; the front door opening. 

“Oi, Freckles. Gremlin.” Katsuki's voice echoed in the home. Just hearing it made Izuku’s body warm in excitement. He felt like a teenager again, full of bubbling hormones.

Praying he wouldn't leak through the lace before Katsuki saw him, Izuku took a shaky breath and raised his voice. “In here, Kacchan!”

“What are you doing in our room?” 

He almost purred when hearing Katsuki calling it theirs. Like Katsuki already pictured it as his home. Then, the man of the hour appeared, pausing in the doorframe. Izuku wound his hands behind his back, knowing the movement raised the ratty t-shirt a little higher. The shift of his shoulders exposed the bottom of the dark lace.

“Waiting for you.” Izuku took a chance. “Alpha.”

Katsuki blinked slowly, the backpack he always brought to work dropping without care behind him. The open appreciation Katsuki gave him when dragging his eyes down Izuku's body made him shiver.

It felt like Katsuki was a starving wolf, Izuku his delicious lamb dinner. “Omega.”

The title made his breath hitch, sure his arousal seeped into his normally sweet scent. His body was ready to drop onto the floor and present like it was his first heat, but he swallowed down the urge and tried to save some face.

“Eri's at my mom's house,” he whispered. “It's just us.”

“Just us, huh?” The way Katsuki moved reeked of danger, but he kept his voice smooth. Like he didn't want to startle Izuku before jumping him. Izuku tried to keep his knees from buckling when Katsuki pressed his chest against Izuku's back. “Any reason you sent the Munchkin away?”

“Ah...” Lashes fluttering shut, Izuku didn't care how he looked when he tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck to the slow kiss Katsuki pressed against it. Large palms curled over the front of Izuku's thighs, making them part wider in their slow trek up the sensitive skin.

“Trying to ask me something, Nerd?” Even when Izuku offered himself like a five-course meal, Katsuki still fought off his own instincts and checked in his own way.

“I wanna,” he admitted, hands grabbing the back of Katsuki's to hike them up higher over his lacy hips. “But...”

“Your motor mouth finally met its match?” The tone was lower, with a rumble that proved Katsuki wanted to slip his fingers under the fabric. 

Izuku reached a shaky hand to Katsuki's cheek, turning their faces together to breathe his whine into the nearly steaming mouth. “I want... us.”

“Who's stopping you?” It felt like a reminder of their conversation during Eri's party, Katsuki nipping his lower lip. And really, he was right. Nobody stood between them and their final step except his anxiety. So he hooked their thumbs into his elastic waistband, tugging one side down.

“Take them off and-and prove who I belong to,” Izuku said with more command than an omega should hold. 

Katsuki grabbed his mouth with his own the same time he snagged Izuku's hips, lifting him. Kissing over his shoulder was awkward, but he refused to pull his lips from Katsuki. He wasn’t thrown on the bed like a bag of potatoes. His knees were gently pressing into the sheets with how slowly Katsuki put him down. The strength it took to lower him at that speed was thrilling, and Izuku's rim clenched when wondering how those muscles would be used inside him.

The shirt was pushed up to bunch by his shoulder blades while Katsuki laid over him, breaking their kiss so he could pepper more down Izuku's back. His hunger clashed with his adoration, meaning teeth skimmed the sensitive skin before licks of apology followed. Izuku couldn't think straight. The hands on his hips didn't stay still for long as Katsuki made his way down. Thumbs pushed the lace more into his skin as they parted his cheeks for his tongue to slide down. Even with the sheer fabric covering his hole, the heat of Katsuki's mouth made Izuku cry out in need.

He had already soaked the fabric with his arousal, knowing his slick covered each lick of the lace keeping them apart. His fingers dug into the sheets as he rocked back, needing to feel Katsuki without the barrier. For wearing next to nothing, Izuku had never felt so hot before. Thighs trembled with desire when Katsuki finally peeled off the fabric, letting the panties bunch at his knees before diving in for his prize. Years without attention from another made him so much more sensitive. He barely lasted two minutes under Katsuki before he came.

He swore he was in heat from how quickly his body recovered from the first orgasm, though Katsuki's patience finally ran out at the first scent of his pleasure. The two fingers inside him shot right through his sensitivity when teeth bit into his shoulder with a growl.

“Oh,” was the only word he got out before he melted into the sheets. Arching his chest into the mattress, Izuku fully presented himself for whatever Katsuki wanted to use him for. It was easy, letting go of everything, knowing the alpha touching him wouldn't walk away like the others. Tears formed, though he was not sure if it was from the sobering thought or the fingers curling into his prostate. It sent white-hot pleasure running through his blood. 

Izuku didn’t realize Katsuki shrugged off his clothes while he prepped Izuku with another finger, promising he'd need it. Their scents entwined in the air, and if Izuku closed his eyes, it was like they were already mates. He silently begged it would be how his-no, their- bedroom would always smell. There was no more restraint in Katsuki's touches, fucking into him hard enough to smack against the meat of his ass. It stung with the same pleasure as the teeth in his skin, but Izuku didn't want fingers or shoulder bites. He needed Katsuki's knot almost as badly as the fangs searing their mark into his scent gland.

He wanted Katsuki, now and forever. And he was really tired of asking for it.

Using all his strength, Izuku reared up. He flipped them so Katsuki was on his back with Izuku over him. Katsuki was naked, and Izuku didn't want anything in the way of his mating bite, so he yanked the skull shirt off. Bare skin melded together when Izuku climbed onto his new throne.

“I said I wanted us,” he almost growled, though it turned into a gasp when Katsuki narrowed his eyes and grabbed his hips. Showing off his strength, Katsuki lifted Izuku up and back until he brushed what both were craving. Katsuki's tip rubbed his wet rim, and Izuku reached back to guide it inside him without hesitation.

“Always whining for me,” Katsuki taunted, but Izuku knew the truth about how often Izuku bent Katsuki to his whims, despite being the 'weaker' gender. From the day they met on the bus, until now, Katsuki was always doing whatever he could to make his new family happy.

“Because I have the perfect alpha,” Izuku said, honest with his words while looking down at Katsuki's wider eyes. Smiling through his overwhelmed tears, Izuku finally pushed himself down, moaning at the sensation of their bodies connecting. It felt like coming home. Izuku should have expected the snarls under him after using Katsuki's title in a possessive way during their mating.

But he didn't prepare for the thrill of excitement when, mere seconds after his body relaxed and rocked on Katsuki's lap, he'd be flipped over and speared into the sheets. Everything went primal after that. To see Katsuki, the man who cuts Eri's apples into bunnies and massages Izuku's feet with soft touches, fully lose it was something ethereal. Knowing it was his motherly curves, his childbirth marks, his 'damaged goods' that caused this reaction—

Izuku felt amazing, even as his legs were bent nearly against his chest as Katsuki thrusted into him. Their mouths were uncoordinated in their kisses, but Izuku didn't care, crying nonsensical words into Katsuki's mouth between the roll of their hips. And yet still, he ached.

“Want it,” Izuku gasped out, hands clutching Katsuki's back and trying to press them even tighter together. Slick and sweat made them slippery. Izuku couldn't stop clawing for something to hold onto as he begged and purred in ways only his omega and Katsuki's alpha could understand.

When his climax rose again, and his panic for 'more' echoed in his head, he finally felt it. Katsuki's mouth pressed to his gland, tongue licking it twice before teeth barely brushed the sensitive skin. Even as his hips ruthlessly slammed into Izuku, Katsuki waited.

“Bite me,” Izuku said, a hand tugging his head down like he could force the bite himself. “Bite me, love me, be mine, Kacchan—”

The sudden rush of the bond piercing through his heart hit him without warning. Izuku was unsure if it was that or the orgasm that made him shudder and cry. Nothing felt real for a moment, Izuku lost in the seal of pleasure and wholeness that flooded him. Katsuki's hips weren't stopping, and he felt the pressure of the knot trying to push him. The growls against his scent gland were deadly to anyone but Izuku, who cooed at the sound. Fingers weaving through Katsuki's sweaty hair, he arched into the oversensitivity, legs parting wider to give his mate more room to work with. And that seemed to be enough, the slight shift finally forcing Katsuki's knot beyond the barrier and inside Izuku before Katsuki came.

Endorphins muted the discomfort of his body as Izuku sighed into the small hip thrusts, huffing from the intense sex. His head lolled back onto the pillow, shivering at the tongue still marking his bitten scent gland.

“It stuck, Kacchan,” he whispered, hoping to ease the alpha.

He giggled when Katsuki only grumbled out a growl, licking it again for good measure. No wonder he didn't let his alpha out too much; it was a literal dog, needing to mark its territory. Since that territory was him, Izuku didn't really mind. But he wanted to kiss his mate now.

“Come here,” he said, and then grunted when Katsuki flopped his weight onto him. Both moaned when the knot shifted inside Izuku, his body sparking with pleasure he wasn’t ready to encourage again (yet). Katsuki nuzzled along his jaw before finally kissing Izuku the way he wanted.

“You're so spoiled,” Katsuki muttered against his mouth afterwards, like he wasn’t 90% of the reason for that. 

“If you don't like it—”

“Shut up.” Izuku smiled when Katsuki bumped their foreheads together, glaring at him. “Where the hell did this sneaky plan come from, anyway?”

“Ochaco.” He held in his laugh at Katsuki's nose scrunch. “But really, I've... I've wanted you to bond with me for a while. It's just hard to ask for it, when the last time I thought...well, you know.” 

“Dumbest person I've ever met,” Katsuki said, and Izuku knew he meant it.

“Maybe,” he settled on, glancing at Katsuki's scent gland. “Um... before the endorphins run out, I should... if you want—”

Katsuki scoffed, pushing Izuku to his neck. “Hurry up, Nerd. Give me your forever.”

“Forever.” 

And with a tearful bite, Izuku claimed Katsuki as his mate.

Izuku didn't plan to be pregnant, or to be abandoned by the sire without warning.

Now, having Eri and Katsuki made him so grateful he was.