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It had been a difficult pregnancy from the get go.
They had worked it out not long after Izuku’s heat and three pregnancy tests and one doctor’s visit later confirmed it for them. With the physically demanding nature of hero work Izuku had been forced to step down from field work; his big brain had been put to use with the analysts instead.
Katsuki had told him all about how their omega had spent countless hours analysing and evaluating heroes – pro, training, cartoon, the lot – and their quirks and styles as they grew up, so Shoto didn’t doubt that Izuku would fit right in with the analyst team. But he could tell that the omega was restless and antsy not beating the pavement like he normally would, no matter how much he enjoyed working behind the scenes for a change.
There was also the terrifying frailty of Izuku’s bones. Shoto had seen the omega get knocked down and get back up, thanks either to adrenaline or the strength of his quirk, more times than he could count but the doctor had strongly advised Izuku not to use his quirk while he was pregnant. It was too explosive, too likely to harm the baby they were trying to protect, and if Izuku wasn’t giving it his complete attention he could shatter half of his skeleton in the blink of an eye.
It was true that they weren’t teenagers anymore; Izuku had so much more control over his quirk now. Endless trips to Recovery Girl seemed like a lifetime ago. Izuku had mastered his quirk, there was no doubt about it, but it was still too much to use while he was pregnant.
Just like that he had gone from the Symbol of Peace to an essentially quirk-less analyst.
Shoto had spent more time throughout the pregnancy than he cared to remember curled up with Katsuki; the pair of them trying to soothe their frustrated omega. This time was supposed to be one of the best in a relationship: their love had created something tangible and precious, and Izuku was carrying the pups beautifully.
But it was easy to see that he also felt stripped of his purpose being unable to protect his community like he had always wanted.
“Let us worry about that. It won’t be that difficult to pick up the slack you left for us, nerd.” Katsuki would tease.
“You have something worth protecting right here.” Shoto loved smoothing his hands over Izuku’s belly, especially as it grew rounder and rounder, and feeling the life beneath his palm. “You focus on that, and we’ll focus on whatever’s out there.”
***
Sickness had hit Izuku hard. Hard enough that it actually gave away his pregnancy before his size got the chance.
“Jeez, anyone would think Deku was pregnant.” Ashido had said one afternoon when Izuku had bolted for the bathroom for the third time since he arrived.
“More likely that they let Bakugo attempt to cook again!” Kirishima had laughed. Shoto hadn’t heard the rest of the conversation as he had followed Izuku to make sure he was alright, but when he came back most of the office came to congratulate him. It was considerably earlier than they would have liked anyone to know, but between Izuku’s hard to miss symptoms and Katsuki’s alpha pride he supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised that it hadn’t stayed a secret for long.
***
When Izuku reached 7 months pregnant he had to bite the bullet and start his maternity leave. Not because it was affecting his performance, but because he was unintentionally driving Shoto and Katsuki to distraction. Even if they were out on patrol their minds were pulled back to their omega in the office, pregnant and alone, and their patrol partners had to snap them out of it and remind them to pay attention to what was actually around them.
The team at the office threw Izuku a small leaving party on his last day, which had been more than enough to reduce the omega to tears. If Shoto had thought Izuku was easy to cry before it had had nothing on how quickly his emotions changed now he was pregnant.
He had spent most of the party sat on either Shoto or Katsuki’s lap, his head tucked under their chin and their arms around his bump, talking to their friends about how he was planning to spend his maternity leave.
“I’m going to get the house ready for their arrival, and try to perfect the recipe my mum gave me, and probably go into the city for baby stuff, and maybe binge the All Might cartoons again.” Izuku had laid it out so matter of factly, as if his alphas had no say in the matter, that for a moment Shoto was stunned.
“You can’t be doing all that!” Katsuki’s outrage appeared faster than Shoto’s shock disappeared.
“The doctor said I shouldn’t do more than I normally do!” Izuku had disagreed. “That’s way less than I normally do, so there’s no problem.”
“Yeah, but this is stuff you’ll be doing without your quirk. And how will you carry stuff back with you if you’re buying a ton of baby stuff?” Katsuki challenged.
“I’ve never used my quirk shopping or cleaning, have you?” Shoto could still remember the way Izuku had raised his eyebrows at Katsuki. “Just because I’ve lessened my work out doesn’t mean I’m completely useless. If I can carry this weight” Izuku held his swollen bump for emphasis. “Then I can carry a few bags.” Izuku had shot Katsuki with a look so firm he might as well have added so there.
“I don’t want you going out alone.” Shoto said when he had finally found his voice. “You can’t risk using your quirk; if you get ambushed or something happens and you want to help, you’ll need someone with you. You need to be safe if you’re going out.” It made Shoto’s blood pressure rise just thinking about it, but he knew there was no use in arguing with their omega.
“Of course. We all work shifts, I’m sure one of us will be free to help Deku with his shopping!” Uraraka offered cheerfully.
“Without question! None of us would allow Deku out unaccompanied in his condition.” Iida agreed.
“We can buy cute baby clothes!” Ashido squealed, and Shoto didn’t miss the smile that brought to Izuku’s face.
“And if it’s me, I can just make all of his shopping weightless! So we could even buy the heavy stuff!” Uraraka added.
“We don’t need any heavy stuff; all that shit is already in.” Katsuki had huffed, clearly put out at having lost this round with their mate.
He should have known better than trying to argue. Shoto had always known that Izuku Midoriya was an unmoveable force when he wanted to be.
“Don’t be a grump, Kacchan.” Izuku had shaken his head so fondly, even in the face of Katsuki’s grouchiness, that it didn’t take long for Katsuki’s mood to melt away. The other alpha was no longer the bundle of unending rage he had been when they had first met, but there were still times when his temper was quick to catch fire.
Lucky for them, Izuku was the master of cooling him back down.
***
There was no question that it felt incredibly surreal to go to work without Izuku. Both the alphas missed the bubbly presence of their omega on their commute into the city; Izuku was a morning person, the polar opposite of Katsuki who didn’t really come to life until at least 11.30, and would chatter the whole way to work.
Shoto didn’t really care either way about the time. He had grown up with a strict schedule that had no room for error, and had quickly learned to just deal with it. Endeavor had always trained him ruthlessly; in comparison his working hours felt liberating.
The commute seemed to take longer without Izuku’s bright voice filling their ears. Neither Shoto nor Katsuki were particularly chatty – especially not at that time of day – so neither of them tried to fill the space Izuku had left between them.
***
It didn’t take long for the three of them to fall into a new routine. When Shoto and Katsuki woke up at the normal time to train, Izuku would rise with them and make them breakfast and some lunch to take with them to work. They would eat breakfast together around the table, at which point it was clear Izuku was getting tired, and once they were all finished one of them would scoop their omega out of his seat and take him back to bed.
Neither of them left without saying goodbye, sharing soft kisses and hushed words and whispering goodbye against Izuku’s round stomach, and by the time they were getting off of the bed Izuku was usually already asleep again.
Shoto and Katsuki headed to work like always and fulfilled their duties as pro heroes, thankfully more clearheaded now that they knew their omega was at home, and normally would hear from Izuku around lunch time when he woke up again.
Katsuki especially seemed to relax after those phone calls. Shoto was sure Katsuki was struggling with leaving Izuku behind, so he made sure to keep an eye on his fellow alpha. Little touches there, quick kisses here, a grounding hand in his hair when Katsuki got stressed.
It wasn’t as effective as when Izuku did it, but Shoto could take care of the alpha in his own way too.
***
Now Deku was nearing the end of his pregnancy the agency had adjusted their shift pattern so that at least one of them could be at home with the omega. Deku had worked hard through a lot of his maternity leave: the house had never been cleaner or more organised, the last of the baby things they needed were in the nursery all neat and tidy, and he had even painted the nursery a soft yellow colour that Shoto and Kacchan both agreed looked cosy and warm.
But now Deku was too tired to do much of anything.
He was adamant not to completely fall out of his work out routine, but now it mostly consisted of single arm weights and walks around the neighbourhood on the arm of one of his alphas. Izuku had grown to deeply enjoy those walks; both of the alphas seemed so proud to walk with him, showing off their heavily pregnant mate, and their presence reassured Izuku that he was safe even without his own quirk in action.
He was always exhausted by the time they arrived back at their own front door, leaving it to whichever alpha he had that day to drag him into the shower and clean him up. He would have felt bad about it if it wasn’t for the fact he knew both the men enjoyed taking care of him. Mostly because they were both pretty vocal about it.
The struggle that came after the shower was always harder. Now that Deku was so close to his due date he was nesting like crazy; constantly finding things soaked with Kacchan and Shoto’s scent that he could add to his nest in their bed. Even inside the safety of his nest with one of his alphas with him Deku would miss the other alpha so deeply it almost hurt and he would end up a tearful mess before he managed to fall asleep again.
It also meant that he was even more affectionate with his boys than usual.
When they came back from working out in the morning? Prime time for neck nuzzling and kissing over their mating bites. Just out of the shower? Best time to rub up against them and smother them in his scent so everyone outside knew they were 100% claimed. They were helping him to clean up? Obviously the time for thank you kisses. Lazing together on the sofa watching movies? Time to burrow his face in their mating bites and smother them with kisses so they didn’t forget how damn much he loved them. Getting into bed for the night? Time to tangle the three of them all together until they were like a knot too tight to ever be undone.
Deku felt like his emotions had hit an unparalleled high. He had never felt his feelings as strongly as he did through the last term of his pregnancy. The days that Kacchan or Shoto came home with injuries – however big or minor – he would be beside himself as he patched them up. Sure: the agency always had a medic on sight and all heroes had basic first aid training, but none of them could patch up his alphas like he could.
It was undoubtedly a turbulent time for all of them, but there was an undeniable undercurrent of excitement about how soon their babies would be born.
***
Shoto was sat on the sofa with one hand holding the book he was reading and the other running languidly through Izuku’s messy green hair. Izuku had been working through false contractions for the last few weeks and now preferred to spend all of his free time resting, which suited Shoto down to the ground. He didn’t need to worry about his mate injuring himself or their unborn pups if they were taking it easy at home.
All he had to worry about was Katsuki, but they both knew well enough that the alpha could take good care of himself.
“I’m going to walk a little.” Izuku huffed and Shoto looked down at him, running his hand down from Izuku’s hair to trace his cheek gently.
“Are you sure?” He didn’t want the omega straining himself more than he had to. The twins had filled him out so heavily that Shoto was almost afraid the man would pop at any moment. Safe to say that walking was no longer one of Izuku’s favourite things to do.
“Yeah, I need to stretch.” Izuku nodded and looked up at him with those big green eyes that Shoto struggled to say no to. His omega seemed sure of himself, though, so he removed his hand from his face and helped Izuku sit up.
“Would you like some company?” Shoto offered.
“No, I’m not going out.” Izuku shook his head and pushed his hair out of his face. “I’m just going to walk inside a bit.” He dipped down as best he could to steal a quick kiss, which Shoto was more than willing to give, before straightening up and walking slowly out of the living room.
Between Shoto and Katsuki’s family money and the three of their combined earnings as pro heroes they had been able to afford a decent house pretty soon after graduating. It was big enough for the three of them, with the spare room now turned into a nursery, and a little bit of outside space.
He had a feeling that soon they would need a new place, because he desperately wanted their family to continue growing. He suspected Katsuki felt the same if the way he lavished attention upon their pregnant omega was anything to go on. Shoto couldn’t deny that he too had fallen under the spell of his alpha instincts – something he thought he had overcome a long time ago – since Izuku had got pregnant.
Despite all the stress, it had still been an incredible journey.
“Sho!” Izuku called from a few rooms away, immediately having all of his attention. “Can you bring my phone?” A quick look over the sofa and Shoto found the device, walking along the hall to find his mate.
“Here you go.” He handed it over to Izuku, and immediately noticed the tremor in his hand as he took it. Shoto was immediately on high alert, looking his omega over and checking the area around them, as Izuku put the phone to his ear.
He put the pieces together before Izuku’s phone call went through, and ran to get Izuku’s go bag. From the bedroom he could hear Izuku’s shaky voice and it only spurred him to go faster.
“Hey, Kacchan, I hope you’re alright at work. When you get this come and meet us at the hospital; it’s time.” Izuku sounded a little bit breathless, but Shoto knew the man had a high tolerance for pain. Just because he wasn’t screaming like a banshee didn’t mean he wasn’t in pain.
“I love you so much. See you soon.” Izuku hung up and looked over at Shoto, giving him a tearful smile.
“And I love you, Sho. Let’s get to the hospital.” Izuku walked slowly – painfully – over to him and Shoto picked him up without a second thought. He took Izuku out to the car and strapped him in before chucking the go bag in as well.
If he hadn’t been a pro hero making an emergency trip to the hospital he probably would have got a speeding ticket that morning.
***
Bakugo had had a shit day at work. It seemed like today was the day everyone decided to try their luck with their law. Bad luck for them that Katsuki Bakugo was the law, and he did not take kindly to people disrupting the peace. Especially not when it meant he hadn’t even got his damn lunch break, so not only was he pissed he was hangry.
“You still here, Bakugo? I thought you finished ages ago!” Kirishima stating the obvious did nothing to help his mood as Bakugo went to his locker. He turned his phone on first and let it power up as he got changed as fast as humanly possible. He just wanted to get home and see with his own two eyes that Deku was alright.
His phone flashing with four missed calls immediately sent his brain flying into worst case scenarios.
The first voicemail was from the nerd himself, his sweet voice hitching as he spoke, and when the message ended Bakugo was sure his head was going to explode.
The other three messages were from Todoroki, which was what really chilled Bakugo’s blood. Sho almost never made phone calls.
“We’re just at the hospital. They’ve taken him straight to maternity, so you can meet us up there. Hopefully we see you soon.” Okay, so the first message wasn’t too bad. Maybe they were all just informing him on where he would find his mates and Sho’s hands were too shaky to type.
“The first baby came very quickly; Izuku’s doing incredibly. His body keeps trying to use his quirk though, so the nurses are keeping a close eye on him as well as our little girl. Fuck, she’s so small. I can’t stop staring at her. Just, get here soon. Izuku really wants you here too.” The second message all but punched the breath out of Bakugo’s lungs. The first twin was a girl; he had a daughter! But Deku was struggling?
He didn’t even hear whatever Kirishima said as he slammed his locker shut and practically ran out the door, pressing play on the third message.
“The second baby is really taking their time. Izuku’s doing so well, though; you’ll be so proud of him. I know I am. He’s doing everything the doctors are telling him so hopefully it will speed up our slow coach. Oh, Izuku wants to talk to you! Hang on.” There was a rustling sound that accompanied what Bakugo assumed was Todoroki putting the phone against Deku’s ear. He could hear Sho murmuring praise and encouragement to their omega, and Bakugo tried not to be too upset that he was missing this moment.
But then Deku’s voice came through the phone.
“Kacchan, please, please hurry up. I don’t want you to miss both of them.” The sound of his omega so close to tears made Bakugo’s heart clench. “I need to see you. I need them to see you both; they need to know you’ll both be there!” Deku was gasping by the end and there was a frantic beeping in the background that terrified Bakugo more than any villain he had ever faced.
“He’s having another contraction. Get here as soon as you can.” That was Sho: straight to the point as always.
It took Bakugo maybe half a second to decide it would be faster to just use his quirk to get to the hospital.
It was an emergency, after all.
***
Bakugo was sweaty, hot, and frantic when he made it to the hospital entrance. He made doubly sure to deactivate his quirk before he went inside; the last thing he or anyone else needed was for him to go inside and immediately blow up all the flammable shit that was kept in a hospital.
He ran up the stairs, deeming the lift too slow for his urgency, and followed the signs. As soon as he was on the right floor he could scent his mates and he swore his feet didn’t even touch the floor as he ran towards their room.
He let himself in, and it felt like the whole world slowed to a stop when he finally saw his omega again. Deku was on all fours on the hospital bed and Sho was whispering away in his ear. The room reeked of omega distress and blood and it immediately set Bakugo’s teeth on edge.
He took his rightful place on Deku’s other side and scratched his fingers through the familiar green hair.
“Kacchan!” The omega all but sobbed his name. “You made it! I was so worried you wouldn’t make it, oh God, God, it’s so good to see you. Now you’re both here.” The tears were running freely down Deku’s freckled cheeks and he wished there was more he could do to help.
“Okay, Midoriya, one more big push.” The doctor instructed, and Bakugo looked over at Sho over Deku’s head. Sho nodded and threaded his hand into Deku’s hair.
“You can do this, Deku. What’s one push compared to every other crazy thing you’ve ever done, huh?” Bakugo wiped away the tears as best he could and watched the steely determination fill those eyes that he knew better than his own. Deku nodded determinedly, looking from him over to Sho, and screamed like he was going to war.
Minutes later a miniscule baby boy was being placed in Bakugo’s arms, and he had to sit down on Deku’s bed before his legs got the chance to give out from under him. Sho was sat on the other side of Deku with their daughter held safely in his arms, and his eyes were definitely wet.
“You did amazing, Deku.” Bakugo’s voice cracked as he looked from his son’s face to his omega, unsure what to do with all the things he was feeling. He was mostly concentrating on keeping quirk from flaring up; terrified of hurting their baby or blowing the whole damn room up. He suspected Sho was doing the same thing on the other side of the bed.
“You made it.” Deku mumbled from where he was slumped on the bed. He was shaking like a leaf and crying and Bakugo and Sho were immediately on the move. They helped Deku turn onto his back and lay down with him, placing both of their babies as tenderly as they could on his chest, and watched as Deku broke down into even more tears.
“They’re perfect.” Deku sobbed, trying not to jostle their new born twins too much. Their daughter had patchy red hair, whereas the little hair their son had was blonde. They both had the new born blue eyes, but Bakugo desperately hoped they got Deku’s big expressive eyes as green as the grass.
“Of course they are. They’re ours.” Bakugo was surprised by the alpha pride rolling off of Sho, but he understood it perfectly. They had lucked out with the perfect omega, and now they had two incredible children.
“Are you still happy with the top names?” Deku sniffed, clearly trying to pull himself together.
“It took you long enough to choose them; we’re definitely not changing our minds now.” Bakugo was only half joking.
“Welcome to the world, my sweet Arisu. And you, Achio, I’m glad you finally decided to come out.” Deku laughed tearfully, resting his hands on their tiny backs as they rose and fell with their minute breaths.
In that moment the world shifted for all three of them.
There was nothing they wouldn’t do to protect the family they had created.
***
The three of them were dozing together on the hospital bed when Shoto heard footsteps shuffling outside their door. When the door opened and he couldn’t immediately see anyone he knew who it must have been.
“It’s been a long time.” He whispered, not wanting to stir his mates or their resting babies. Izuku especially needed his rest.
“It certainly has. But I’ve been keeping my eye on you all.” The old lady murmured back as she made her way to the bed.
“Really?” Shoto was oddly touched by that.
“Of course. You kept me busy for long enough.” She tutted and colour rose to Shoto’s face. He didn’t have time to say anything, though, because at that moment Katsuki’s eyes fluttered open and he went stiff when he caught another scent in the room. When he found its source Shoto watched his eyes widen.
“Fucking hell, you’re still alive?” Katsuki whispered, and Shoto’s face got even hotter.
“I’m so sorry, Recovery Girl, it’s been a long day for Katsuki and-”
“He is not the first to say that, and he won’t be the last.” Recovery Girl held her hand up placatingly. “I got a message from an old friend saying that young Midoriya could use one more good healing.” Shoto looked over at Katsuki, who shrugged subtly, and they both looked down at their sleeping omega. Even in his sleep he was holding their children close to his heart.
At the extra weight of Recovery Girl on the edge of the bed Izuku’s eyes opened, immediately seeking out the threat to his children, and when he saw Recovery Girl his mouth fell open in shock.
“Am I hallucinating?” He seemed to be talking to himself, but everyone responded.
“No, she’s really here.” Shoto whispered.
“If you are, then so are me and Sho.” Katsuki muttered.
“I am not a hallucination. Our friend asked me to come.” Recovery Girl said briskly. At that Izuku smiled – so clearly he knew who she meant – and his eyes filled with fresh tears.
“This is one pain that I am happy to heal for you, Midoriya.” She told them with a small smile. At that, Izuku let out a shaky laugh before he closed his eyes and let her kiss his forehead.
“Thank you, Recovery Girl.” He whispered, opening his eyes again.
“Yes, thank you.” Shoto nodded, noticing the way Izuku melted further into the mattress. He couldn’t even imagine how exhausted his omega must be.
“It’s really fucking weird to see you again, but thanks for looking after our Deku.” Katsuki added before turning his head back to nuzzle into Izuku’s soft sweaty hair.
“One last time for old time’s sake.” Recovery Girl smiled and eased herself off the bed. “Make sure he gets lots of rest. And congratulations, boys.” She smiled at them again from the doorway and Shoto felt himself getting emotional all over again.
When he first knew Recovery Girl he was young and alone and raging at the world, and now she was here years later congratulating him on the birth of his children.
He was endlessly grateful for things UA had given him, but he owed all of his happiness to the family he had found for himself there. He would never stop thanking the universe for crossing his path with Katsuki’s and Izuku’s.