Archive of Our Own ^beta

Izuku stares at the object resting on his now limp hands, eyes wide but completely unseeing.

The rather spacious bedroom is shrouded in silence, broken only by faint, rasping sounds. Noise that Izuku is distantly recognizing as his own breathing, becoming faster and faster the more seconds pass.

Holding his breath in an attempt to stave off a full-blown panic attack, Izuku closes his eyes, forcing himself to inhale and exhale deep, despite the prickles of anxiety that’s slowly and surely creeping from the back of his head.

Self-regulating, compartmentalizing, because he cannot afford a meltdown right now, not when he needs to think and process the information that is resting on his lap, quite literally.

There isn’t really anything that tipped off the figurative warning signs. Because everything is fine. His scent doesn’t give anything away, and his instincts aren't picking up anything different, although that might be because of the highly-concentrated suppressants he is on, which mutes his pheromones to the point that even he can't smell himself properly. Barring the usual criminal activity on the streets, there are no major casualties or life-threatening events occurring within the last few weeks, and the world is as calm and as peaceful as it can be.

It’s just that… One-for-All has all but forced him to become intimately attuned to the shifts and changes happening within his body. With such raw power at his disposal, he’s learned what his physical limits and baselines are, since his quirk affects his strength and stamina on a day-to-day basis depending on how much, how long, and how often he uses it.

And he… hasn’t met his benchmarks, for the past few days.

He feels more tired now, down for the count the moment he got home, despite only doing the usual city patrols. His heart rate is more elevated, even in his relaxed state. He finds himself becoming more short-tempered when on-duty, actually snapping at the police when they’re not doing as good of a job corralling the civilians away from the site of a villain attack.

That has Shouji (who is also on-call within the same area) looking at him in concern, and Izuku is so mortified he immediately apologizes multiple times afterwards. But the fact remains that normally, his patience would have been able to tolerate something so insignificant.

But the incident that has alarm bells shrilly blaring in Izuku’s head happened just a day ago, when Izuku became so dizzy using Float he had to emergency land on a nearby rooftop to empty out his stomach, filled with a not-so-heavy lunch just hours ago.

Luckily no one is nearby to see him fall, but it hammers in the fact that something is very, very wrong.

His first thought is that he is sick. Coming down with something, maybe a stomach bug, or a virus, since those illnesses are common during this time of the year. But the nausea hasn’t abated afterwards, just simmering quietly at the back of his throat, simply becoming lighter or worse depending on the time of day.

And all of it builds up to today’s early morning, with Izuku waking up feeling so terrible he rushes to the bathroom to puke his guts out, his distressed pheromones startling his mate awake, who was just about to start his early morning shift for work.

Naturally, Kacchan is worried, in his typical gruff, unspoken, irate way. Izuku had to pull out every Omegan appeasement trick in the book that he knows of to calm his already-halfway-feral mate down and out of the house in time for him to make his patrol on the other side of the city. He is definitely okay, just feeling under the weather, and his Alpha eventually left, but not before squinting suspiciously at Izuku, scenting him deeply, and extracting a promise to take a sick leave for the day with hourly text updates.

Which is just as well; after that rude awakening, Izuku isn’t up for active duty any time soon.

Once Izuku is confident that the blond is already well on his way to his hero agency, he also gets ready to bundle up for outside.

Because he already has a suspicion that has been brewing at the back of his mind, growing larger as the days passed.

Marriage is a non-question, a non-issue. As teenagers they learn brutally how easy it can be to lose their lives when they have pursued the path they have chosen, and it has taught them to never second guess, to never leave anything to chance before the opportunity slipped— or more commonly, snatched away before they even have the chance to try.

So the moment they’ve graduated and are able to secure a position as sidekicks in their respective agencies, they start arrangements with the intent of seeing it through as soon as feasibly possible. They are perfectly content to do it with just the legal papers and the government office— no fuss, no frills, just a private ceremony and perhaps a formal dinner after with their friends and family… but his dam’s eyes have started tearing up, lower lip wobbling when Izuku has shared that idea.

And Izuku knows instantly that what they want isn’t happening anymore.

Auntie Mitsuki—Mom now too, something that Izuku is still getting used to but has mostly adjusted to—has a more… visceral reaction to the news. It consists of her warmly assuring Izuku that no, dear, he hasn’t done anything wrong in the slightest, now come take a seat, Masaru is brewing tea, she’ll just have a good, long talk with Katsuki…

… before completely ripping into her son about being unfilial and inconsiderate and “I have already designed your kimonos for your temple wedding and tuxes for the reception Katsuki, and you will not deprive me of seeing you both in them!”

The bickering that ensues immediately is familiar. Soothing really, as Izuku’s now-mate starts snarling back, with Izuku on the living room couch being brought a cup by Uncle Masaru—Dad, despite Izuku’s protests that he should be the one serving them both. Even being a literal head and shoulders taller doesn’t stop Kacchan from looking like a petulant, spoiled child as he and his dam argue and holler and push and pull, so similar in their coloring and features that Izuku is hit with an unexpected, affectionate fondness at the sight.

He meets Dad’s eyes over their own teacups, and both share a mutually understanding, commiserating expression as their respective Alphas continue to verbally duke it out.

In the end, their dams’ wishes prevail, and they have a proper traditional claiming ceremony one cool, windy, autumn day. It is a picturesque moment of its time, red and orange leaves falling gently and delicately on the stone pathways that lead into the temple, families and close friends present. The ceremony is brief, but significant in its meaning, both of them decked to the nines in proper wedding kimono. Kacchan, almost inhumanly handsome in his predominantly black and gold montsuki, haori, and hakama, while Izuku dons the multiple layers of the very formal shiromuku and wataboshi, his blood red lips and the gold ceremonial fan the only splash of color against the white and silver ensemble.

The ship has long sailed if they expect Izuku to be the pure and virginal bride on his wedding day. But nevertheless, the contrast they presented side-by-side is striking, zoris lightly clapping against stone as they are led by the shrine priests and maidens into the pavilion under a large, red umbrella.

There is a sense of solemnity in the atmosphere. Importance and gravitas, the two of them sipping sake thrice and sinking their teeth into each other’s napes in front of the temple priest and the gods as their loved ones stand witness to their union.

And what follows is a more Western reception for the rest of their shared acquaintances, set in a luxurious, botanical garden in form-fitting, eye-catching, complimenting tuxedos. It’s a miracle that they manage to keep it as lowkey as it has been, but it’s a more laid back event despite the requested formal attire, a chance to relax and actually party than go through the rounds of meeting guests and make small talk while receiving wedding gifts and greetings.

The hero community takes care of its own, and it can only support two of its upcoming but already experienced newcomers wholeheartedly and without reservations. They know, more than anyone else, how fleeting and transient everything can be with the career they have chosen to be in, and small pockets of happiness such as a shared life with someone else should be cherished, celebrated.

It has been two years. Two years of laughing, crying, living, loving. There will always be ups and downs, it’s inevitable when you’re married to the human equivalent of a firecracker— but everything else is more than worth it. The pain, the hurt, the happiness, and joy.

Being Bakugou Katsuki’s mate—loving Kacchan—is an experience Izuku has never and will never regret doing until his dying breath.

But if his hunch is right, if what his gut is trilling right now becomes absolutely certain…

Then a lot of things are about to become completely different from now on.

His trip takes an hour at the most. Several glasses of water and multiple bathroom breaks later, here Izuku is, sitting cross-legged on their bed as he stares at the newest stick in his hands… and the other three boxes in front of him, with all of the used ones resting on top, showing the exact same result.

There’s no way around it. No denials, no excuses, no loopholes. Just simple, verified truth.

Because he, Midoriya Izuku, Deku, Omega, protege of All Might, Pro Hero and proud mate of fellow Pro Hero Dynamight, is…!

Izuku clamps down hard on his lips, the stick falling on top of the blankets as he resists the urge to scream at the top of his lungs. How did this even happen?! They have been extremely careful because of their secondary genders, and took every precaution to make sure that they will be safe, short of doing a permanent surgical procedure. U.A. makes sure to care for their Omega students on the hero track, and Izuku is sent to a specialist for a yearly injection after he presented during their first year. He has never missed a dose, even as an adult, knowing how imperative it is that he never lets his status as an Omega affect his future career as a Pro.

But apparently, not even military-grade contraceptives can be considered foolproof during a cycle, known to maximize the chances of conception to an almost-certainty…

… which he and Kacchan has synced on a month and a half ago.

Izuku presses a hand against his face, groaning, squashing the dread he can feel rising as viciously as he can. A part of him is already preening at the knowledge of his body being able to take his Alpha’s seed while they’re both on birth control, but short of not touching each other when Izuku’s heat or the blond’s rut comes up, there’s always that small chance of failure.

And furthermore, they’re mated. It’s basically coded in their biology to multiply and propagate when nature calls. They’re nearly not the saints they want themselves to be when the time comes, and instincts make it near-impossible to resist each other.

The thought of his perpetually angry blond has Izuku’s spine stiffening.

Because—oh. Oh, god.

What is he going to say to Kacchan?

They have… they have plans. A roadmap that they both have meticulously worked on and mutually agreed upon, because they have finally accomplished their childhood dreams together, with the intent of making it stay that way for a long, long time.

They’ve always intended to build their own family. But only later, much, much later, when Izuku has been firmly established in the system, once he has crawled up the rankings with his bare, bloodied hands, proving to all and sundry that he is a hero in name and spirit, saving lives and winning fights, secondary gender be damned. Both he and Kacchan refuse to raise their child in a world where they will fear for their safety and lives, so everyday is a tireless struggle to achieve that ultimate dream.

Even if, during some days, it feels more like a futile attempt than an actual step forward.

Then all of these confirmations, appearing on a small rectangular screen, which proceeds to throw an expediting wrench into the future they have visualized together, grinding everything else to a stuttering halt.

Izuku touches his abdomen, still flat and scarred, firm with muscle. But if he concentrates hard enough he can almost imagine the way it will distend ever so slightly, slowly becoming softer and more stretchy as it starts to cradle the new life slumbering within.

This is… them. A baby. Their child. A small bundle of cells at this point probably, but nonetheless, a perfect mix of him and Kacchan, having both of their best and worst characteristics stored in that compact little body. A whole person who has taken with them bits and pieces of what Izuku and Katsuki has to offer, but ultimately will be their own self in the future, separate and unique with their personal sets of ideas and beliefs.

Could they do it? Oh goodness, would they be able to raise a child properly? Give them everything they need and want, raise them in a loving, open home?

Would they be able to teach him or her how to be a good person? To do right by others, to assure them that their best would always be enough, that in the end, all he and Kacchan would want for their baby is happiness, whatever path they chose to walk on in life?

Can Izuku protect them until the end? Can Katsuki? There is a reason why Pro Heroes tried their damnedest to keep their families away from the spotlight, because it was a risk, it was dangerous. A villain could easily hold loved ones as collateral, as hostages, and if their child, god forbid, was in the clutches of someone who would hurt them to get back at their parents—

What is he going to do? What are they going to do?

It’s too soon. They’re not ready, they’re too young, they’re out there risking their lives every single day! Izuku loves being a hero, content with the belief that he is helping people and making the world a better place, but the moment their child is born, that will irrevocably change. What if they can’t prioritize their child over the common people? What if they do? What if there’s no balance to be had, that they’ll need to choose between their flesh and blood and the rest of the world? What happens then?

It hasn’t sunk in yet, as Izuku continues to stare at nothing in particular. He’s in disbelief. All these different tangents, colliding and ricocheting in his mind. How do people… deal with this? The uncertainty, the terror of not knowing, the sheer daunting task of waiting, preparing. Suddenly there are a million things he needs to do: search for a doctor, ask them a million questions, inform his agency post-haste, request for desk duty as soon as possible—

Izuku stops thinking at once, sitting up straight, because he can’t.

He can’t tell anyone. No one. Not his friends, not their parents, not even All Might. Just Kacchan, his mate, the person Izuku loves and adores the most in this green Earth, and Izuku doesn’t even know how he will react. Would he be angry? Happy? Dismayed? Ecstatic?

What if his Alpha doesn’t want the baby? What if he decides they can’t do this?

What if he asks Izuku to get rid of it?

Will he? Should he? Can he? Just like that, terminate something that’s half-Kacchan so easily, so quickly, and move on with their lives as if nothing monumental and life-changing even happened?

Izuku’s fingers tense over his middle.

… No.

No way. He can’t. He will never. Even as a child, Izuku has sworn to himself to always accept and keep safe anything the blond had deigned to give him, whether it be gifts or assistance or spite or injury. He can’t help it; Izuku has always been greedy for anything the other has, hoarding and keeping guard over the tiniest, most insignificant things as a way to close in on that distance his mate has ripped between them as kids.

So he will keep this child. No matter what, by hook or by crook, Izuku will carry their baby to term. Will raise them as best as he can, alone if he has to. He has practically grown up in a single-parent household, and his dam will be thrilled to have a grandchild to dote on now that Izuku is all big and independent and moving around this way and that. He knows the best person with the experience to help him out, and they will love and cherish the baby as best they can. Even if it means cutting out and crushing Izuku’s entire heart in the process.

He’s praying hard that it doesn’t come to that point, though.

He… he has to move. Do something, anything, or he’ll lose his mind thinking of the what-ifs and what-to-dos.

He has to wait. He has to plan. He has to tell Kacchan the moment he comes home. The remaining hours alone will be downright tortuous, but Izuku needs to keep his hands busy, to start… looking after himself, since— since…!

Izuku looks down on his stomach, his gaze softening.

He (almost certainly) has another person depending on him starting today.

“Please be kind to me,” he says out loud, patting under his bellybutton gently. It’s a bit silly, they don’t have any ears yet, but somehow, it feels like the start of something… new.

His Alpha will be home by dinner. That leaves him with the rest of the day to create some sort-of surprise announcement. It’s dreadfully short notice, but Izuku’s always worked best when he’s under pressure.

First, food. Because of his earlier nausea (classic morning sickness, how has he not noticed that glaring symptom?!), his appetite isn’t really present, but now it resurges with a vengeance. So a very late breakfast-almost-brunch, consuming as many nutrition-packed dishes as he can without feeling bloated. He’s not as good of a cook compared to his mate, but it’s necessary to fuel up constantly now, even if it takes Izuku a good while to decide what he is actually going to eat.

Which turns into him searching excessively on his phone, following multiple links to set up an appointment with an obstetrician that works exclusively with Pro Heroes without going through the usual workplace channels. Until it’s confirmed by a doctor, he’ll do his best to keep his situation quiet, and not alarm anyone else.

(But somehow, he knows it’s real, despite feeling like he’s still walking around in a dream. Izuku doesn’t know how to explain it; he just feels… different, now that he has experienced all the evidence with all of the signs pointing to one direction.)

Next, fixing up their apartment from top to bottom, because he and Kacchan are currently on different schedules and can only spare so much time to keep their home tidy and organized. His innate Omega eventually surfaces, instinctively making the first steps to set up the den and the nest in preparation for the offspring to come. Izuku is wiped from all the dusting and vacuuming, but his hands and feet can’t seem to stop walking room-to-room, checking and ascertaining every nook and cranny of their general cleanliness until he feels the primal part of his hindbrain settle down and purr in satisfaction.

Then comes the arrangements for the revelation itself. For this, Izuku goes to their shared office space, tackling the boxes they’ve stacked on one corner as storage for the various knickknacks they’ve gotten from their agencies. He and Kacchan are fairly popular for rookies, and it takes no time at all for their companies to send them samples and proofs of concept for their (future) official merchandise line. They have a copy of all potential products, from clothes to school supplies and accessories, and it takes a while for Izuku to find the specific one he needs, shifting things around and peeking inside multiple crates before he finally spies the scrap of black and bright orange peeking out from underneath a non-zip hoodie that’s inspired by the green, white and black of his own costume.

The Dynamight onesie is ridiculously tiny as Izuku holds it up with both hands. Taking its colors and design from the aforementioned hero costume, it’s a solid black, with a large, orange X crossing right in the middle.

And beside the smallest baby clothes he has ever seen in his life, there is also a pair of booties alongside the onesie, embroidered in the same style and color as the boots they are modeled after, all black with orange soles and the ittiest, bittiest dots to resemble the similarly orange, front-facing buttons.

Unbidden, tears spring up in Izuku’s eyes, fingers hesitantly going over the soft, breathable fabrics.

Gosh, their kid is going to look the cutest in Kacchan-inspired outfits.

Now, it’s only a matter of finding an empty, semi-large box, putting the clothes and the test sticks inside, and filling the rest of the space with some fancy, colored paper so he doesn’t instantly give the news away the moment the box is opened.

All the while, Izuku keeps his promise, updating his mate with the state of his health every few hours. With all of the chores done and still full just after lunchtime, Izuku listens to his body’s demands and decides to have a well-earned afternoon nap, crashing right on the sofa the moment he gets the chance. He sets the box on the side, near the couch arm, before falling on the cushions chest first.

But a flash of realization overtakes him, and he twists to his side, just in time to stop his front from taking most of the force as he lands on faux-leather and foam.

Stupid, Izuku mentally berates himself for the carelessness. He’s already carrying precious cargo, and while he’s not sure if the fetus will even be affected by his temporary lapse in judgement, over a month old and still tucked inside him and all, he has to be careful in his actions from now on.

Despite this, the spike of anxiety isn’t enough for him to keep his eyes open. After a final text to let his mate know that he’ll be resting up, it seems only a few seconds have passed from Izuku’s head resting on a throw pillow to him opening his eyes again, this time to a darkened living room, the sun just having set in the unseen horizon.

If he doesn’t already know that his flagging energy levels are a result of… well, his current condition, this would have cued him that something is out of place.

Izuku stands up, flips on the light switches, and like clockwork, his phone lights up with a notification.

still feeling like shit? omw, tell me what you want for dinner

Izuku knows he needs to give an answer, to keep his beloved from excessively worrying. And to properly eat dinner as well, because he’s starting to become hungry again and his tongue is itching for some heat in addition to the usual flavors.

A hand drifts to his stomach at the sudden impulse, unable to keep the wry, affectionate smile from blooming on his face.

Yep, this is Kacchan’s kid all right, if they’re making Izuku, of all people, crave spice in his diet.

In the end, he gives in to the baby’s demands, telling his mate to get something with some kick to it. Izuku knows the blond will find it an unusual request, but Izuku knows that the other will comply, nevertheless.

… Can he eat spices? What are his limitations when it comes to food? What ingredients should he avoid, in case it might be harmful to their child?

More things to ask his future obstetrician about.

And all at once, the bravado that’s filled him up that morning is replaced with sheer and utter horror.

He feels sick. He can’t do this. Izuku absolutely cannot do this. Shit, what is he thinking, packaging this entire thing like it’s something they’ve both been waiting for?! His Alpha is about to be home at any time now, completely oblivious to the crisis that’s going to permanently alter the course of their daily lives.

Izuku reaches for the box still on the side of the couch, and takes an agonizingly long time to decide what to do with it, torn over just chucking it somewhere where it can’t see the light of day and giving it over like he originally plans to do. This recent development is not strictly something they’ve been waiting for. In fact, it might just be the opposite.

But Izuku’s been running on a gut feeling the moment he has realized what’s happening, and something’s telling him that doing this can be a good way to break the unexpected news.

An attempt to soften the blow, for a more apt term.

The ensuing wait afterwards is the worst. Izuku can’t remain sitting, ansty about the silence as he fidgets and walks around the living room. He can’t be too stressed, it’s going to be bad for the baby, but Izuku, already a touch hysterical, thinks that perhaps their child will forgive their dam once they’re old enough to understand that while they’re not unwanted, they’re definitely… a blind curveball to the face, and the only thing Izuku can do is to roll with the punches as they are.

When he finally hears the front door beep as it’s unlocked, Izuku is halfway through the ‘get rid of it’ side of the swing, and he freezes, sitting on the edge of the sofa with the box by his side as his head whips towards the direction of the hallway.

“Deku? You there? I’m home.”

His jaw drops, but no sounds come out. Izuku hears the usual clatter and fuss, shoes dropping to the floor, the squeak of cabinets opening, the rustle of shopping bags as the door closes shut. He doesn’t move, palms colder than ice as blood rushes through his ears.

“Deku?” The worry in Kacchan’s voice is audible now as the blond comes nearer, a hint of blond spikes peeking through the doorway. Izuku’s heartbeat is pounding so quickly it physically twinges inside his chest, his face quickly draining of all its color. “I got the shit you want, you better eat it all. Are you awake? Where are you?”

His Alpha finally walks into the open space, laden with his purchases. Izuku apprehensively watches the blond go to the kitchen first, dropping the bags on the nearest countertop. “Did you go back to sleep? If this bug doesn’t blow over today we’ll go to the hospital and I don’t want your stubborn ass arguing against it—”

Then Kacchan halts in his tracks, head darting up as his senses finally register the total silence, the utter stillness of the room, and the scent of distress and despair that’s pumping out of Izuku in thick, assailing waves.

His head sharply turns, narrowed, crimson irises instantly alighting on Izuku’s form, and one clear look at his expression has Katsuki dropping everything he’s holding to rush towards Izuku, darting around the furniture to drop to one knee in front of him.

“Izu,” his Alpha starts in a calm voice but a set jaw, so unlike him that it betrays how grave the situation is. The blond takes hold of Izuku’s hands, now chilled and lightly trembling to the touch, the warmth of the Alpha’s fingers as they card through dark green curls offering the stability and comfort Izuku hasn’t realized he is desperately craving for.

“Breathe. Tell me what happened.” Brisk, direct, straight to the point, as if they’re in a briefing about a raid in a potential villain lair with all the expectancy of setting up battle stations. “Villain attack? Has something happened to our parents? The extras? All Might?”

Izuku quickly shakes his head at every option, mouth working and throat bobbing as he clutches his mate’s hand in turn, making sure to regulate his quirk as adrenaline floods through his muscles and bones. How does he say it? Where does he start? Now that Kacchan is in front of him, staring at him with such unease, the words fail to come, the mix of conflicting emotions almost overtaking him as they well up inside.

“I-It’s not—” Izuku’s voice cracks, blinking hard to clear his vision, which has misted over the delicately handsome face of the person he loves. He sees multiple thoughts flash through the Alpha’s face, expression darkening more and more with each worse case scenario he’s probably thinking of. “Kacchan, it’s not w-what you think—”

“For fuck’s sa— is it One-for-All then?” His mate demands, with only the slightest quaver as he asks the next question. “Are you dying? ‘Cause I swear to god, I’m kickin’ your ass if you’ve been hiding something that huge from me—!”

“Katsuki, I’m fine!” The sound of his first name is enough for the blond’s jaw to click shut, though the mutinously concerned look remains.

“And I’m not dying,” Izuku blurts quickly to get that out of the way, before the blond asks again. “Don’t worry, I’m not sick.” In the most technical sense of the word.

“Fuck you, who says I’m worried,” his mate instantly shoots back, though Izuku notices that Kacchan hasn’t stopped running his thumb over the back of Izuku’s hand, tracing the scars, both surface and deep, that have gathered and built up over time.

(Izuku will never forgive himself for that brief flicker of fear that crossed through his Alpha’s face, quickly replaced before attention can be drawn to it.)

And somehow, someway, that small, soothing gesture is enough. It allows Izuku to gather his composure, drawing the same courage and recklessness from within that allowed him, as a quirkless, hapless teenager, to become a hero to the man he married for the very first time.

“But it’s just as i-important.” He has to be honest, no matter how awful his Alpha’s reaction might become. Izuku can’t hide this forever, and doing so will force him to put his baby in deliberate risk.

So Izuku raises his head to look squarely into smoldering, wine-dark irises, taking a deep breath as the grip of his fingers tighten imperceptibly.

“T-There’s something you need to know. I— god, this is so hard to say, since I just found out t-today.” Izuku stops, tries to swallow through the parched feeling spreading at the back of his throat, at the burn searing at the corner of his eyes. “I’ve been trying my best to process it, but I don’t know where to begin. I’m—” he falters, “I’m scared that you’ll take it b-badly, when we still have so many things we both want to do—”

“Izuku.” The blond says, firm, but not unkind. It’s enough to make Izuku stop, because rarely does his mate sound so… serious. The tip of his thumb gently runs under Izuku’s eye, slowly gathering the building moisture along the way. “I’ve never been the best towards you. Don’t argue,” Kacchan adds sharply when Izuku opens his mouth to vehemently protest, “that’s the fuckin’ truth and I deserved all the shit I got for it.”

“But that's different,” Izuku still has to say, because truths are multifaceted too. “We were kids.”

“And I was still a dick to everyone else, especially you.” His Alpha bluntly points out. “I should have known better—I knew better, but I still let my useless pride get in the way ’cause I thought I was the absolute shit, and look what happened.” To us, is the sentiment that goes unsaid, despite being heard between them with perfect clarity. “But thank fuck I got my head outta my ass and I learned to grow a real pair. I fought tooth and nail for what I wanted, ’cause I know I needed to prove to the fuckin’ world that I deserve you, and I’ll be goddamned if I let myself become complacent.”

Air chokes in Izuku’s chest, stunned by the declaration. When it comes to the blond, actions certainly scream louder than words, though he has never shied away from using the latter as well when he wants to make himself and his intentions crystal clear. But when it comes to affection towards the people he cares for, Kacchan prefers a more… physical approach.

Like right now, as fingers continue to ghost over Izuku’s freckle-scattered cheek.

“Whatever you need to say, it’s gonna be fine. We can take it. We’ll kick ass together if we have to.” Fingertips pressed on Izuku’s skin, the absolute certainty in the blond’s tone bringing a surge of relief that loosens the knots screwed tight on Izuku’s shoulder blades. “But I’m also your Alpha. In the end, you chose me to be your mate.”

Resolve settles over his Alpha’s features, uncharacteristically quiet in its startling intensity.

“So take advantage of the fact that you already have me, dumbass.”

And with that heartfelt declaration, if indirect, Izuku’s gaze blurs, throat thickening as he is overcome by emotion.

Kacchan is right. They have been through worse, together and apart, in their continuing journey to have a better world to live in.

This development will be another one of those makes or breaks in their relationship. But they have been at the start of these bridges throughout different phases of their lives, and have decided to cross it at every time, coming out fine and unharmed on the other side.

Perhaps this bridge is one they can traverse side-by-side with a little one between them, with chubby hands and bright laughter gently encased within large hands and even larger hearts.

Words are still too hard right now. Izuku doesn’t think he can even vocalize the first syllable. But a slight twitch reminds Izuku of the package that is still conveniently by his side, closed up and prepped for this exact opportunity.

So before he loses his nerve, buoyed by Kacchan’s dependable steadiness and unshakable faith, Izuku untangles their hands, only for him to drag the box by his hip, setting it over his knees in front of them.

“Kacchan… here.” Izuku tries his best to remain collected, even as his hands wring themselves silly over his lap. “Open it.”

A blond eyebrow raises at him, quizzical. But Izuku says nothing, not able to trust himself to back out at the last second and throw the box away, even if he has already piqued the blond’s curiosity and will probably need to think of a decent excuse for it.

Still, the Alpha’s already lifting the top off, the decorative paper crinkling loudly as he pushed the stuffing aside to get to the real prize.

And Izuku sees the exact moment it snaps for his mate, what he is actually looking at, and has to remind himself to breathe, a hand instinctively coming up to protect his stomach as he carefully gauges Kacchan’s reaction.

For a solid minute, the blond doesn’t move. Doesn’t budge, doesn’t twitch, doesn’t even breathe as he keeps his spine ramrod straight, head bowed as he stares unflinchingly at the contents scattered at the bottom of the box.

“… You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.”

Izuku winces. That reaction is… not wholly unexpected. “Kacchan—”

“No, this is you pullin’ my leg,” the blond cuts him off, the shock rendering his tone completely flat. “Are you serious? This is— no.” A hand dips in to grasp and partially pull out the Dynamight onesie, wide eyes darting between the clothing and Izuku’s face in rapid succession. “No way.”

Izuku’s only response to that is to part the paper inside to get the nearest test stick, raising it up to the light so his Alpha can see the results. “I’ve been feeling off the past few days. And then this morning happened, so I took a guess.” He tries to explain, feeling for his mate and rather helpless that he can’t do anything to help out. “And I was right.”

The stick is snatched away from his already-slack grip, and Izuku watches his Alpha glance from one hand to another, taking all of the information in.

“This better be real, Deku,” the blond’s voice is hoarse when he finally speaks, huge, slightly unhinged irises pinning Izuku in place, “‘cause if this is a prank, I swear to all that’s holy—”

“I won’t joke about something like this! Would I be acting like this if it wasn’t?!” Izuku exclaims, panic and tension escaping him in one big rush as he musters back a glare that his mate will be absolutely proud of. “Goddamn it, I’ve taken three different tests and they all say the exact same thing!”

Two lines.

A plus sign.

A single word in English that he can understand.

So Izuku takes his mate’s hand, the one holding the stick, and lets it fall back inside the box in favor of guiding the blond’s large, broad palm to his middle. He firmly presses his mate’s hand under the shirt, to cover the warmed, still flat skin in a way that seems to connect his waist entirely from one end to another.

“Kacchan…” Izuku’s quavering voice is a gunshot against the stillness of the four walls surrounding them as his apprehensive green meets dumbfounded red.

“I’m pregnant.”

For a long time, neither of them react, the silence punctuated with their elevated breaths that’s in synchrony with their heartbeats. The word seems to hover in the air, the elephant in the room cheerfully wreaking havoc in the strange, suspended atmosphere that now surrounds them.

But it doesn’t take long for Kacchan to shake himself back to the present, a visible shudder running through his entire body as he makes a sound between a hack and a groan.

Izuku doesn’t blame his mate in the slightest as the blond rockets back to his feet, pacing back and forth as a hand messes up already unruly spiky locks even further. Izuku will be inclined to join him if he isn’t feeling exhausted already, both of the physical and emotional kind, simply watching the ensuing breakdown as he leans back against the cushions.

They’re through the hardest part at least, and while it’s not the best reaction, it’s also not the worst.

Izuku can work with ‘not worst’.

“How the hell did this—” The Alpha is muttering to himself, brain working rapid fire as he hastily connects the dots. Izuku would have found the sight amusing, endearing almost, with his mate starting to take a leaf out of his book and mimicking some of his tendencies. That only happens when mated pairs are very involved with one another. “Wait, wait, damn it, you don’t smell any different—”

“I’m on suppressants, remember?” Which he’ll probably wean himself off on as soon as possible with the obstetrician’s help, and by then, the changes in his body would hit him full force. He’ll smell like full, ripe, expecting Omega, and additionally, his instincts would be in total harmony with the rest of his body, aware of every little shift and difference within.

He feels strangely calm while the blond proceeds to spectacularly lose his mind in front of him. It helps that he’s gone through his own stages of eventual acceptance. “There was always the chance. And since our cycles synced up last month…”

An answering wheeze, as Izuku’s mate slowly sinks to the floor with the weight on his heels, clutching at his hair and moaning before dragging a palm down his face.

It’s an utterly disgraceful display for the blond if he’s in the presence of mind to notice it, but in the current situation, quite apt.

“No— we can’t be doin’ this, Deku.” The blond rounds to face him, one manic-looking eye peeking in-between his fingers. “It’s too soon, we haven’t even broken the Top 10! What happened to your plan of climbin’ up the rankings?!”

“I don’t know!” Izuku flails, feeling as lost as his mate sounds. “It’s not like I’ve experienced something like this before. And I’m not the only person involved in the baby making process, Kacchan!”

“A baby.” His mate is pale, faint, looking like he has just finished building the Lego set he has been working on for the longest time, only for someone else to tip it over and destroy the thing entirely. “An entire small person. We’re having a literal kid. Holy shit.”

Unable to take the sight anymore, Izuku puts the announcement box away and pats the empty space beside him on the couch, reaching out to grasp the Alpha’s wrist before he starts to walk around again.

“Kacchan, come here, sit down for a moment.” Kacchan’s going to wear (or explode, it’s always a 50-50 chance) a hole in the floorboards at this rate, and Izuku is starting to feel sick watching him weave to and fro. “Do you need me to get you anything? Water? Tea? I think we still have some beer in the fridge—”

“Stay right the fuck there, Deku. You think I’m gonna drink if the dam of my pup can’t get a whiff of something alcoholic right now? Piss off with that noise,” the blond snarls, despite complying with the insistent way Izuku’s tugging at his arm. Izuku hides a touched smile as he eases the blond onto the cushions. “Stop fussing, god. I’m not freaking out, okay?”

Izuku tactfully does not mention just who it is between them that’s acting irrationally right now. “I know, you’re just starting to make me feel dizzy.” He’s not even lying, he’s already a bit lightheaded, though it might be because of the lack of sustenance rather than him observing sharp, sudden, jarring movements. “And I’d rather not have a repeat of this morning.”

The reminder that Izuku is experiencing morning sickness just serves to make the blond groan again, the back of his head thumping back against the top of the couch. “That’s it, I’m never touchin’ you again,” he mutters, head tilted towards the overhead lights with an exasperated palm covering his eyes. “We’re sleeping in separate rooms from now on. I don’t give a shit, I’ll take the pain of sufferin’ my ruts alone if it means not goin’ through this bullshit a second time.”

“Can you even stay away that long?” Izuku asks, mostly rhetorical, and the glare Kacchan slants at him is half-hearted at best. “Kacchan, I think the stars simply… aligned. We took every precaution.” It’s not as comforting of an idea as Izuku would like it to be, but they’ve had a good track record so far. Their luck is bound to run out eventually. “It just happened. We couldn’t have known that the contraceptives weren’t going to be enough.”

“Doesn’t stop me from thinkin’ that we could’a done more.” A long, drawn out exhale, another muffled smack against foam and faux-leather as fingers dig into a clothed sternum, face still partially covered. “Fuuuuck. My chest hurts. Deku, I think you just gave me a heart attack.”

“I sure hope not,” Izuku muses with quiet humor, relieved that the blond has calmed down somewhat. He leans forward, rubbing his Alpha’s chest in an attempt to soothe him further. “I wouldn’t want our child to grow up without their Daddy.”

Several beats, as the word shimmers and distorts between them.

“Daddy.” His mate repeats, ragged and dragged out, as if he can’t believe that the word is coming out of his mouth. “Shit. I’m actually a sire. Fuckin’ hell, Deku. You really wanna keep it?”

“Them. He or she later, when we find out the gender.” Izuku corrects absentmindedly, before the rest of the thought sinks in.

He quickly looks at his Alpha, unsure for the first time since the start of this conversation.

“… Don’t you?”

“Doesn’t matter what I want,” Kacchan answers immediately, raising his head to meet Izuku’s eyes squarely. “I ain’t the one carryin’ the munchkin for the next few months. It’s your body that’s gonna go through hell, your career that’s gonna suffer the setback.”

The blond pauses. His next statement is weighted, with resounding finality.

“I’m just here for the ride, wherever you wanna go. Hell of a trip it’s gonna be, but like you said. Two to tango, and everythin’.”

But Izuku shakes his head, hand drifting to clutch at the blond’s own, lightly squeezing.

“I’m afraid I can’t accept that,” he says, grave and final. “Kacchan, we’re mates. This is our baby.” Izuku will never take that chance away from his Alpha, to make his decisions when it comes to being a parent. “So of course what you want matters to me too.”

A pregnant pause, as Kacchan quietens, seriously, honestly considering the path they have just been unceremoniously dumped on. Izuku waits, trying to be patient with his silence, despite the anxiety that is beginning to flood through his veins, oxygen seizing inside his lungs.

“Then…” The blond finally says, and Izuku isn’t able to hide his small jump at the sudden sound.

He lifts his head, to find his Alpha staring at him fully, steadily, with no hesitation.

“The ride I want has you and the munchkin in it. Together, all the way, ‘til the end of the road.” His hand moves, shifting so the blond holds Izuku, instead of the other way around.

“Think you can handle it, Deku?”

Izuku can’t speak. Can’t breathe, as clear liquid wells up in his eyes. All this time he’s been fretting, worrying, even praying, to not have his heart broken, to not have his hand forced in between the present and the future.

But he should have trusted Kacchan. His Alpha, who knows him more than anyone else, who sees Izuku’s fears and dread and hope and wants.

Izuku looks down at their fingers, always intertwined. At the strength his Alpha provides, at the assurance he freely and unhesitatingly offers.

And it is more than relief, to realize that your other half, the person you share the rest of your life with, also has the same wishes and desires as you do.

“We’ve always wanted to walk this way, didn’t we?” He whispers, completely overwhelmed as a small hiccup escapes him. His sight fogs up, and yet the sight of his mate remains as bright, as warm, and as clear as a cloudless sky on a sunny day.

Tenderness and affection surge, dragging him down and tearing him asunder.

And the wall finally crumbles.

“Kacchan…!” He throws himself forward, into his Alpha’s arms, sweet cool relief sweeping through his body. The force of it knocks them both over, dimly hearing the wind getting knocked out of his mate as they end up lengthwise on the couch.

“O-Oi! Idiot!” His Alpha barks, careful and terrifyingly gentle as he clutches at Izuku’s middle, to make sure their landing is as soft and as controlled as possible. “Watch where you’re throwin’ yourself, you’re carryin’ extra cargo!”

“But I’m so happy,” Izuku bawls, too far gone to be ashamed of his actions. They’re keeping the baby, they’re going to have a family. “Kacchan, t-thank you s-so much!”

The sheer intensity of the multitude of sensations makes him cry all the more harder. Elation and wonder leaks at the corner of his eyes as Izuku nuzzles at his mate’s neck, kisses his jaw, his cheeks, anywhere his lips can reach.

If anyone asks, he will completely blame it on the mood swings.

“Tch,” the blond clucks his tongue, but the edges of his reprimand have considerably dulled as his hands reach up to cradle Izuku’s head between his palms. “Stop wailin’ already, nerd. You’ll become dehydrated. ‘S gonna be bad for you and the munchkin.”

There’s care in the way the pads of large, long fingers trail across Izuku’s freckles, using the meat of his thumbs to remove the residual wetness on Izuku’s dampened cheeks. When Izuku kisses him again, it’s a proper one, tasting salt and liquid as their tongues curl and their legs twine, mixed with triumph and gratitude, awe and love.

Eventually they break apart, Izuku placated and pampered, hair and foreheads brushing as his body matches his Alpha’s deep, steady exhales.

“Crybaby,” Kacchan snorts, exasperated but fond, brushing green curls back as Izuku easily leans into warmer-than-normal touch. “You sure your quirk isn’t makin’ waterfalls outta your eyes?”

Izuku sniffles, trying and failing to stop the fresh wave of tears streaming down his face. He gives a watery smile, raising his head to meet amused, crimson orbs.

“If ever I pass on One-for-All it’ll be one of the new quirks the 10th user unlocks. Waterworks everywhere.” He jokes weakly, buoyed by happiness and sheer delight. His chin smooshes against the heel of the blond’s palm as he briefly rests his aching, swollen eyes.

“Kacchan… I can’t believe this is happening to us.” He murmurs.

“Fuckin’ tell me ‘bout it.” Fingers pluck affectionately at Izuku’s curls. “Figures somethin’ would bite us in the ass one’a these days. Shit, we gotta— we gotta plan.” A firmer tweak nudges Izuku’s gaze upwards, the wild, deranged glint of realization coming back in those bright, ruby-tinted eyes.

“We’ll need diapers. Clothes. Insurance. Motherfu— We gotta tell Ma and the Old Hag. The Old Man. All Might.” The Alpha appears to be more and more horrified at the prospect than Izuku is, who actually thinks their parents will take the news relatively well. They might actually be thrilled about it. “Oh god, our parents are gonna be unbearable.”

“After the first appointment,” Izuku negotiates quickly, fishing out his phone from where it’s now wedged between the sofa cushions to show his mate the details. “I already set one up. I’ll let my agency know after too. I just… want to make sure everything is fine before we tell anyone else.” He hesitates, but only for the briefest second. “Come with me?” He needs Kacchan to be there for the first time, to make sure that this is actually real and happening and not a vivid, mutual hallucination they’re both feeding each other.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.” The Alpha barks out a breathless laugh, less humor and more bewilderment and disbelief, allowing his head to sink back to the cushions. “Lemme know the time and I’ll arrange things ‘round. Some of the newbies can do with a few more hours of hand-on patrol experience.”

The sound of his stomach grumbling saved Izuku from commenting, but the visceral indication of his hunger seems to flip a switch in his mate’s head, becoming aggressively Alpha as he sternly tells Izuku to stay put while he rolls out from the Izuku-and-sofa sandwich and stalks to the kitchen to prepare dinner quickly.

The revelation hasn’t clicked for Kacchan yet. Not entirely. Izuku can see that. But he appreciates the attempt all the same, even if his mate is treating the situation like a typical hero mission with set stages and specific objectives needing to be cleared.

It’s only after dinner, when they’ve managed to get some food in them—Izuku clearing out two extra portions more than the usual and the party tray of mapo tofu scraped clean without Kacchan ever taking a bite—that the blond seems to ingest everything within the last few hours, head resting on Izuku’s lap while Izuku skimmed through the channels on the TV. His long legs dangle over the edge of the sofa, unusually contemplative as Izuku eventually settles on a nature documentary. The show eventually turns into white noise as Izuku focuses more on carding his fingers through surprisingly soft, bouncy, light-colored spikes, a nighttime ritual that they indulge in whenever their schedules line up once in a blue moon.

He raises his hand when his Alpha decides to turn to the side, tipping forward just enough so his forehead touches the skin underneath Izuku’s navel.

“I hope they take after you an’ Ma,” the blond mutters after a moment, and Izuku lets out a startled laugh, resuming his affectionate patting of his Alpha’s head.

“Why me and Mom? Kacchan, your family is great.” Not to mention physically pleasing to the eye, with a powerful, useful quirk within their bloodline. “Our baby can be born Quirkless, you know.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll teach our kid to take no shit from no one, quirk or none.” Kacchan continues to mumble. “I was a little shit. Complete brat through and through. If they’re gonna be anything like me, then the next fifteen years are gonna be a nightmare for me and a cakewalk for you.” One ruby-red eye slides sideways to glance up at him.

“Our kid’s gonna despise me and fuckin’ adore you, you know.”

“I’m not sure that’s true.” Izuku is honestly, secretly wishing that their baby would take more after his mate’s side of the family. Mostly because he doesn’t know if One-for-All, whether in its entirety or aspects of it, can even be inherited in this manner.

(No one from the Shimura family displayed any signs that can be attributed to Nana’s use of the quirk, so it remains to be seen.

He’ll have to ask his predecessors who managed to have children for the possibility.)

And as much as possible, he’d rather not pass on his Quirklessness and general… averageness to his child, if only to spare them any future pain and heartbreak for not being like everyone else.

“They’re going to be half me too, and I think there’s never been a moment in my life when I’ve never not loved you.”

The blond makes a truly disgusted face, and Izuku can’t help but giggle, sweeping his thumb over a sharp, pale cheekbone.

“Ugh. Miss me with the sap, Deku.” It doesn’t stop the blond, however, from nuzzling into Izuku’s stomach, inhaling sure and deep. It tickles, warm breath rustling through Izuku’s t-shirt to ghost over his bare flesh. A hand comes up to flatten a palm over Izuku’s stomach, over his clothes, an undeniably tender gesture.

“You there. Brat. You ain’t got no ears yet, prolly, but you better be good to your dam while you’re cookin’ inside, you hear me?” A few, light knocks. “He’s gonna have a hell of a time havin’ the two of us on his plate, so you better not add to it.”

Izuku is thoroughly charmed, chuckling as he tucks a strand of blond hair back a steadily flushing ear. “Don’t call our child a brat, Kacchan. I’m sure we’ll all get along well.”

“Famous last words there, Deku. You totally jinxed it now.” His Alpha deadpans, letting out an incredulous exhale while he tilts his head back enough to face Izuku completely.

“Just… goddamnit. This is insane.” There’s still a note of shock and disbelief in Kacchan’s tone. “Seriously. The hell do we do from now on?”

“We figure it out as we go along.” Because if there’s one thing Heroes have to be good at, it’s improvisation.

And to be honest, carefully constructed plans have never been their thing, since those tend to go up in smoke real quick.

So Izuku waits until he’s certain that he’s caught the entirety of the blond’s attention, before smiling down at him. It’s cautiously hopeful, tentatively apprehensive, but nevertheless, wholly optimistic about their future.

Because together, that can do just about anything they put their mind to.

“So don’t worry. We’re gonna be all right, Kacchan.”

His other hand moves, fingers sliding between the slots the blond has left, until they are fully clasped together, covering, protecting, embracing the smallest, newest member of their family.

“All three of us.”

It’s a promise.

For a long time, the blond searches Izuku’s face intently for an answer, the question understandable, but cannot be properly expressed through words.

But whatever Kacchan sees in the end is satisfactory enough, because a smile slowly breaks through his mate’s gorgeously handsome face.

A fiery, incandescent, teeth-bared grin that only appears when a particularly good challenge arrives, with all the confidence and expectancy of coming out on top.

“Damn straight, Izu. Our kid’s gonna be awesome.”

“… By the way.”

“Hm?”

“I just realized something.”

The slow curl of a smirk.

“I got you pregnant while we’re both on birth control.”

A thoughtful, lengthy pause.

“Goddamn, I’m good.”

Then, a scandalized gasp, immediately followed by the sound of a hand solidly smacking against bare skin.

“Kacchan!”

The howl of loud, unrestrained, gleeful laughter.