Chapter 35
Self Deprication
The entire house had become uncomfortable after Hizashi Midoriya’s last statement. It had been hard over the next couple of days for Katsuki not to tear into the man for his ignorant and outrageous comments. He wanted to fight the older alpha and prove that Izuku was safe here, safe with him and Hitoshi.
But that was Katauki’s ego talking. Hazashi hadn't told any lies about the situation at hand. Overhaul was still at large and the only reason Katsuki and Hitoshi were able to guard the omega so effectively was because they were still on medical leave.
What would happen when the two heroes returned to work? It wasn't like they could abandon their jobs. Sure they would still be able to hunt down Overhaul, but that would leave Izuku open and vulnerable in their absence. Something the blonde alpha was already struggling with the idea of.
It made sense for Izuku to get as far away from Overhaul as physically possible for his safety. And no matter how much that pissed Katsuki off, an oceans worth of distance and the protection of a power hungry country was probably the best place for Izuku to be for the time being. Villians in the States were far more territorial and heavily armed than in Japan. Their threat was felt worldwide to heroes and villains alike.
Katsuki paced back and forth in his room. His heart raced as his hands continued to sweat no matter how many times the alpha wiped them off onto his pants. He couldn't stop himself from spiraling. His thoughts consumed with how little control he had over the situation at hand. It had been days since that horrendous conversation in the kitchen happened, but its impact had not diminished at all.
Every time Katsuki saw Mr Midoryia his blood boiled.
He felt like a child all over again. Struggling to control his anger and wanting to blow something up to relieve the building stress, but there was nowhere he could do that safely without leaving his parents home. It was beyond infuriating and his therapist would not appreciate the regression in his use of calming techniques anyway.
“Kats?” Hitoshi grabbed the alpha's arm, his face full of concern.
Katsuki hadn’t heard the man enter the room, the sneaky bitch, so he huffed at the taller man to make it seemed he had been ignoring the other. He liked hated how his alpha eased at the gentle touch on his arm.
“I'm losing my fucking mind.” He mumbled to Hitoshi. He didn't need to explain why. Hitoshi was well aware of the blonde's thoughts about everything. They had spent every night talking; trying to find a way to change the path that was inevitable.
Katsuki’s shoulders sagged when his boyfriend pulled him into a tight embrace, his arms habitually wrapping around the taller alpha.
“I can't lose him again.” Katsuki whispered, his face pressed into Hitoshi’s neck. His hands fisted the back of Hitoshi’s shirt. “I just got him back.”
“I know.” Hitoshi whispered. The taller alpha raised his wrist to the blonde's neck, lightly scenting the gland there to help relieve some of the stress. It was a habit both alphas had started doing within the last 48 hours, one that only seemed to deepen their bond.
Katsuki sighed, focusing on the tingle of Hitoshi’s pheromone oils seeping into his skin. Moments later his lungs filled with new air that smelled of allspice. “That has to be a cheat code.” He quipped as he felt every live nerve in him settle. He couldn’t stop himself as he buried his nose further into the other man’s throat.
Hitoshi chuckled at his boyfriend. “Might as well use it then. Maybe we can find a few more.”
The two chuckled for a moment before the aboding atmosphere settled back over them. “We have to figure this out, Toshi.” Katsuki said, pulling back and staring at the front of the alpha’s shirt . “Why hasn't there been any sign of Overhaul? It's like he just disappeared.”
“It's beyond strange.” Hitoshi agreed, cupping the blonde’s cheek and dragged his thumb across the cheekbone.
After a moment of silence, the alpha moved them to sit on their bed, though kept an arm draped around the blonde’s waist. “The raid took out an entire income stream and a number of villains are behind bars. You would think that would have Overhaul making some kind of move in retaliation. It's been too quiet.”
The blonde grunted in acknowledgment. “Not one interrogation has produced leads. We are missing something. I can feel it.”
Hitoshi laid back on the bed, brain straining as he thought over everything. “We did lay that man flat on his ass though. Could take a bit for his ego to heal.”
“Toshi, this isn't the time for jokes.” Katsuki grumbled, though he still smirked. “Besides, Izuku did most of the work.”
“I know. It's just satisfying to know that we practically had an S rank at our mercy.” Hitoshi sighed and groaned, hands moving to ruffle his own hair. “There's no way Overhaul would wait this long to make a move.”
The room was quiet for a moment before the blonde layed down beside his boyfriend and spoke. “Do you think he would have teamed up with another group?”
Hitoshi looked over at his boyfriend. “Aizawa said the same thing when I last talked with him. We took one of his biggest ‘prizes’, stripped the warehouse and hacked into all the systems. We have a lot of information on both his experiments and operations. We also know Overhaul is obsessed with erasing quirks, so it must piss him off to lose Eri.”
“God this fucking sucks.” Katsuki groaned. “We're basically sitting ducks. Can't go after any possible leads, hell even investigating a hunch is off limits. We are stuck here until some white coats decide we are good enough for work.”
Hitoshi nodded, “My next appointment is in a few days. Blood work finally came back clear this morning and my arm has basically healed on its own.” He said, lifting his arm up to flex. It had healed nicely, only a few pale areas that would hopefully darken over time.
Katsuki tried to smile, tried to encourage his boyfriend, but the sting of his own health was hard to ignore.
“Get out there for the both of us and kick some ass.” He finally settled on. If Katsuki wasn’t able to go back to work, then at least they could divide and conquer. “Get a head start so when I am cleared we can take Overhaul down.”
Hitoshi smiled as he scooted closer to his boyfriend. The blonde closed his eyes when he felt a soft hand on his chest.
“I will Kats.” Hitoshi leaned close and kissed the blonde. “We got this. Eraser is protecting Eri. With you here, we can protect Izuku. We are still partners, so I expect you to keep me updated on everything happening here and to be throwing ideas my way.”
Katsuki snort was annoyingly cute as he rolled onto his side to face his boyfriend more. “Not a damn chance I'm staying out of this, Toshi. You'll be my eyes by proxi.”
Hitoshi shook his head in amusement. “You're not the boss of me, Kats.” He teased, knowing full well what that would do to the blonde.
Katsuki scooted closer into the other alpha’s side, hand gliding through his partner's loose strands before fisting the back of his head. Hitoshi smiled, his eyes closing as he relished in the tight grip.
“Careful, we wouldn't want the entire house to hear just how incharge of you I am.” The blonde growled, moving until he was towering over the other.
Hitoshi's smile grew, eyes slowly opening to look his partner right in the eye. “You're the one who got us caught last time, Kats.”
Katsuki cheeks flush pink as his eyes widened; caught off guard by the reminder of his Sire knocking on their door and demanding they quiet down. It was embarrassing and immediately killed the mood.
Hitoshi took advantage of the moment of silence from the blonde, sliding his fingers around Katsuki’s neck and under the fabric of his shirt. His touch was soft as he stretched the collar back until it was taunt against Katsuki's throat.
“We wouldn't want Izuku to hear us this time, now would we?” Hitoshi whispered, his words cunning and light on his tongue.
He watched as Katsuki seemed to go through multiple emotions at once. His eyes eventually narrowing and a sly grin taking over his frown.
“Oh?” He asked, voice tilted into a taunt. He lowered himself until he was able to whisper into Hitoshi’s ear, ignoring how his collar tightened around his throat. “Does my little fox want to imagine Izuku while we fuck?”
Now it was Hitoshi’s turn to blush, his hand relaxing and allowing the blonde more room from his collar. He blinked, trying to find the words to deny what the blonde was insinuating, but nothing came. His mouth was left open in shock, eyes wide as he listened for any cue of what his partner was thinking.
“Hmm.” The alpha above him mused. “Interesting. I know you two have been hanging out more. Becoming closer.”
Hitoshi gulped. It was true that Izuku and he had been hanging out a lot more. Whether it was playing board games, walking through the yard or watching some kind of tv show; they were more friends now than strangers. They had a lot of conversations, much of them on the topics of the future and what homework his therapist gave him. They talked about some deep things late at night while they sat close together on the couch. Much of it was about how Izuku was processing things. Hitoshi like the conversations they had about their childhood, the funny stories and happy memories.
Hitoshi closed his eyes in an attempt to hide from what the other was saying. But he couldn’t. He had become very close to the omega and hadn’t thought how that would look to his boyfriend.
“Kats-“
” Oh, baby fox.” Katsuki interrupted. “You have a little crush, don’t you?” The blonde taunted, lowering his hips until it pressed into Hitoshi’s.
Hitoshi gasped as he felt his boyfriend's cock press against him. ”I-I” His voice cracked.
Katsuki gave the man below him a peck on the lips. “It’s okay. I understand how anyone could be attracted to Izuku. He is a beautiful omega.”
Hitoshi paused, eyes opening to look into red eyes. “What are you saying, Kats?” He whispered.
The alpha smirked down at his boyfriend. “That you aren’t the only one here that has feelings for the little omega.”
Hitoshi’s eyes widened. “Really?” He asked, relief flooding through his veins. He had thought the blonde would have been angry with him, but now that he thought about it; now that he actually took a second to think back. It was obvious how much Katsuki liked Izuku.
”Of course.” He snapped, though there was no anger behind the words. “I’ve liked him since I was a brat, but hormones and my own idiocy didn’t handle that very well.” Katsuki scoffed. His lips moved along Hitoshi’s neck, gentle kisses and nips dragging along his throat down to his collarbone. “I’m sure you know how it was. ‘If an alpha is mean that means he likes you.’” Katsuki parroted in a high voice. “I heard so many dams say that, even Inko. Stupid now that I think about it, but I took that to heart.”
Hitoshi hummed, his head rolling to the side. His mind was already falling into that happy place whenever the blonde touched him.
“Izuku is special to me, Toshi.” Katsuki continued in a whisper, his teeth nipped harder at the juncture of Hitoshi’s neck and shoulder. “So treat him well or you will have to deal with me.”
Hitoshi blinked as the blonde pulled away, confused at what his boyfriend said. Those red eyes stared down at him with a heavy gaze, though the challenge was still obvious.
“I’m being serious. I won’t watch Izuku be unhappy ever again. He deserves the best, and only the most caring alpha available.” Katsuki stated, sliding off the other and standing at the side of the bed.
Hitoshi watched him; took in the determined look on Katsuki’s face as he kept eye contact. “I would never hurt Izuku.” Hitoshi finally declared. “But you would be there with me, for Izuku?“
“Of course.” Katsuki growled. “I’m following that man until the day I die and if I have the chance, long after. I fucked up too many times to not protect him now.”
“But?” Hitoshi whispered. He sensed that there was something else that the blonde wasn’t saying. It was weird.
Katsuki’s face slacked into sadness after a moment of staring down at his boyfriend. “I’m not the alpha that Izuku needs.” He sighed “I see how he looks at you Toshi.” He said. “Izuku opened up to you first, and the glances and stares he gives you all the time. He has a crush on you.”
Hitoshi’s eyes widened at the blonde’s words as Katsuki kept talking.
”I don’t blame him.” He smirked, but it didn’t reach those red eyes. “When Izuku is ready, love him and protect him with your life.”
Hitoshi nodded dumbly, sitting up as he tried to grab the blonde’s hand. “Kats, why does this sound like you are breaking up with me?” He whispered, gut twisting with dread.
The blonde shrugged. “I will choose Izuku’s happiness over my own, Toshi-“
”And what of mine, Kats?” Hitoshi said, his voice low. “Don’t I get a say in this? You can’t promise me to someone like we don’t already have something.”
Red eyes narrowed. “It’s simpler for the both of you if I step back. I’m not meant to be with Izuku, not in a romantic way.”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes, frustrated at the way his -boyfriend?- was talking. “So what? Are you going to follow Izuku around even if we have a relationship? Just be on the side lines despite your own feelings?”
The blonde took a step back. “My feelings don’t matter here-“
”But mine do.” Hitoshi took a step toward the blonde, closing the space between them and grabbing Katsuki’s cheeks gently. “If my feelings matter to you, then stop self sabotaging what we have. This is stupid, Kats.”
The taller alpha paused to take a breath, to really look at the blonde alpha. “If you don’t want to be with me, then say that. But if this is some weird guilt thing, then knock this shit off. Izuku isn’t in any place for anything you are suggesting.”
Katsuki looked to the side, his shoulder’s slumping.
“You are jumping way too far ahead.” Hitoshi continued, rubbing his fingers at the nape of the blonde’s neck. “And this is all for Izuku, right? Then why take that choice away from him?”
Katsuki looked back at the other, eyes wide. “Shit. That’s not-“
“I know.” Hitoshi leaned in and kissed the blonde softly. “You want the best for Izuku, but he needs to decide what that is. Not you, not me or anyone else’s.”
Katsuki nodded, “Fuck,” he whispered, leaning his head agaisnt Hitoshi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
”I forgive you.” Hitoshi whispered back as he kneaded the blonde's scalp. “But next time I need you to talk with me. Don’t make decisions without me, please.”
Katsuki nodded again. The two stood together, swaying gently in each other’s arms as the stressed atmosphere settled. Hitoshi inhaled the alpha’s ginger scent to calm his nerves. All of this had been out of left field, and something he would need to think about later by himself. His boyfriend seemed to be internalizing a lot of self -destructive thoughts.
The day was warm with a gentle breeze that allowed just enough relief from the glaring sun. Birds chirped happily in the tree as Izuku hummed happily to himself. He laid on the grass under the large blossom tree in the back of the Bakugou home, his Dam sitting behind him to play with his hair while he rested his head in her lap.
The two omegas were humming softly together. The tune that Inko had once sung to Izuku when he was young. The same one that he had taught Eri to help calm her nerves.
“So.” Inko started, a smile pulled at the corner of her lip. “What's it like to have a kitty cat?”
Izuku smiled wide in answer. “Nyon is perfect.” He declared with a soft laugh. “I love him and he isn't even mine. Though Hitoshi thinks that I would make a great owner.”
Inko laughed at her son's words while Izuku continued. “Nyon loves the hamper in my closet, he's always jumping into it and knocking it over.” Izuku chuckled. “He's the perfect cuddle buddy too. He slept with me all night and made biscuits this morning to wake me up.”
Inko nodded, thinking back to when Izuku was just a pup. “You have always loved cats. I remember you begging to get a kitten for Christmas one year.” She said, her smile wide as she glanced out over the grass. Her fingers continued to twirl, gently wrapping strands around.
“Is that the year you got me a stuffed animal cat? The one with green eyes and a puffy tail?” Izuku asked.
“Ya, that's the one. I think you were 4 at the time.” She chuckled. “It was your favorite. You would carry it around with your Almighty toy, and you couldn't go anywhere without them.”
“I remember being so scared when you had to sew one of the ears back on.” Izuku said.
Inko nodded, and laughed at the memory. Izuku was in tears when he brought Kitty to her, the ear in one hand and the stuffed animal in the other.
“That’s because someone wouldn't stop chewing the ears and tail.” She teased back while laughing a little harder. “Of course the poor thing would age fast. But I fixed it, didn’t I?”
Izuku nodded. “Ya, but you sewed the ear backwards, ma.” Izuku giggled. “How did that happen?”
“I didn't mean to.” Inko defended, hand coming up to her chest. “You were so worried if Kitty was going to be okay, I was rushing and didn't notice until I was done. And you didn't seem to notice anyway.”
The two laughed together at that because all the pup wanted was for his Kitty to make it through ‘surgery'.
The two calmed down, taking breaths of the fresh air and enjoying the happy feeling that spread around them. Gentle fingers scratched at Izuku’s scalp, his eyes closing as he enjoyed the feeling.
“Your hair is so long.” Inko said, her voice soft.
Izuku looked up at her as he replied. “Ya, I haven't cut it in a while. But I think I like it longer now that I can wash it regularly.”
Inko nodded, a forced smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. “Honey,” She said, though seemed to bite her tongue after a moment of thought.
Izuku knew what she wanted to ask, or at least what she wanted to ask about. They hadn't talked about what Izuku had been through. He could only imagine the sorrow his mother felt whenever she thought about it.
“You can ask, mom.” Izuku urged, trying his best to give his Dam an encouraging smile. “ If it's too much,. I'll let you know.”
Inko nodded, but still kept her mouth shut for a long while. She seemed deep in thought, her fingers pausing against Izuku's scalp as she drifted away from where they were.
“I’m worried.” She finally whispered, her voice barely holding back a wobble. Her green eyes focused back onto her pup as she continued. “I've been talking with one of the therapists provided by the Commission for families of kidnapped victims.”
Izuku furrowed his brow, sitting up and turning to look at the older woman. He wasn't expecting that to be what she would say and was curious to what his mother was thinking.
Inko sighed, shoulders slumping a little as she seemed to conclude something in her head. “They counseled me a lot of things, but mostly on how hard it would be for you to adjust and what might trigger you. I don't want to ever be the cause that brings you more pain because I want to return to where we were when you disappeared, but I don't want to treat you like a pup. That's not fair to you.
“I was warned that it could cause some strain if I put too many expectations on returning to the way things were. It's all been so much and I don't want to do the wrong thing, but I can't help but want to return to how life used to be-.”
Tears were pooling at the rims of emerald as Inko tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “But you're all grown up. You're not my little baby anymore, and I don't know how to go about that.” She whispered, a tear falling down her cheeks. “ It hurts, because for years you were still 14, and I don't know how to process all of this and do everything correctly.”
Izuku scooted closer to his Dam, hand grabbing hers and pulling them to his chest and squeezing them gently. Inko looked up at him, her eyes expressing so much that she couldn't say.
Izuku understood the weight that hovered over them, it had clouded them from the moment they woke up a few days ago. It had been awkward being around his Dam again, weird to have someone who knew him so well, but also knew nothing about him. Izuku hadn't known how to act or talk around his Dam and it seemed she had struggled with the same thing.
“Whatever happens.” Inko continued, taking a breath to calm her nerves. “I don't blame you or see you responsible for anything. I just want you to know that I am here for you in whatever way you need, and I'll do my best. I don't ever want you to feel bad or guilty during this process, because you are too important to me. If you need alone time, I'll give it to you and it won't hurt my feelings. I understand that you may need your space. Or if you need extra cuddles.”
Izuku closed his eyes as he cradled his mother's hand tight to him, emotion swarming behind his eyes.
“If you ever need to cry, scream or get your mind off anything, I am here no matter what, Izuku. Just ask and I will move mountains for you. You may be grown up, but I'm still your mom no matter what has happened.”
Izuku sniffled, his own eyes now cloudy as he nodded his head. “Thank you, mom!
“Of course, baby.” Inko assured, her hand resting on Izuku’s cheek before pulling him into a hug. “I'm here. You're safe.”
Word count: 3867
Lots of emotions for everyone. But things are starting to look up. 💜💚🧡
