Work Text:
Izuku is…normal, like every other person out there, his creativity and wit being the only thing of remarkable quality—but what alpha will ever give a fuck about that? They wanted a pretty and poised omega, a model partner.
His heart was in a pocket watch, as was everyone else’s, but, because of his plainness, he’d never been able to give it to anyone. His omega cried at the thought of never hearing his alpha’s tick-tock, beating steadily as his own, providing warmth and comfort when they had to be apart.
In his teens, he always kept it at hand, thinking his life would be like those love stories where the love of your life storms in without warning and sweeps you away. He wanted to be understood, he wanted a soulmate.
Life, however, doesn’t work like that.
The years passed by. Highschool and college became a blur, and before he knew it, he was climbing the ladder of the designer world. Three days ago, was his most important show to date. Sure, his organization skills needed work, but when it came to his designs, he was flawless.
No one knew his face; he was the elusive, mysterious “Deku”. A gamble, for sure, but he knew that if he showed his flaws, the fashion world would spit him out. He needed to build a name for himself first, earn a following, and this whole act was achieving that. Everyone who was anyone had heard of the newcomer, Deku.
This show, nonetheless, would be the one to make or break his career.
Overall, he’d felt accomplished.
Reaching into his breast pocket to see the time while he ate a bedtime snack, his blood chilled.
It couldn’t be!
He frantically patted each and every pocket in his outfit.
Nothing.
His heart was missing.
He must’ve misplaced it somewhere in the city.
On a normal day, it would’ve been fine because he only frequented his house, his workshop, and his favorite coffee shop. On runway week…
It was impossible to know.
That night, Izuku cried himself to sleep and wondered if he’d ever be able to get his heart back.
⏱⏱⏱
On the other side of town, a tall blond sighed as he finished cleaning up a runway stage. Katsuki had just graduated and began his first job at Plus Ultra fashion—one of the most prestigious agencies in the world. He had hopes of meeting the mysterious designer, Deku, who’d inspired most of his designs, but no such luck.
Taking out the last trash bag, he noticed a shine of polished gold off the corner of his eye. Depositing the bag in the large bin, he went to check on the glimmer, and found a pocket watch.
Who’d be stupid enough to leave their heart lying around?
If he was anyone else, he’d have left it there. Taking another person’s heart like that was…frowned upon. But this watch was so unique, with its intricate lighting pattern over the cover and the bow with curves that resembled bunny ears, that he couldn’t help himself. His alpha beckoned him to keep it, and that in itself was rare. It was like the tic, tic, tic of the hands called to it.
Without giving it more thought, Katsuki smoothed over the case with his thumb and pocketed it.
It probably belonged to someone in his agency. He’d just keep an ear out and return it when the time came.
That night, in the cold quiet of his apartment, the new pocket watch ticked away, and his apartment felt a little less lonely. He furrowed his brow and took out his own, with its clouds and explosions. As a brat, he’d thought it was cool. As an adult…well, who wants another explosive alpha? No omega had ever enticed him either. Maybe this was just how it was meant to be.
Shaking his head, he figured the new addition must be messing with his mind. Since when does a Bakugou care about loneliness? What was important was success.
⏱⏱⏱
It turned out, he was a Bakugou that cared about loneliness.
The days went by and the owner of the watch never surfaced. He carried the heart day after day, and that foreign ticking became a source of comfort, a constant companion that beat along his.
Katsuki’s alpha whimpered at not meeting his mate and Katsuki felt his second nature weigh down on him like it never had before. His imagination followed right after. He began feeling connected to the owner, wondering if they were as warm as their heartbeat, if they loved fashion too, if they would want someone like him. He wondered if they were alpha, beta, or omega—not that he cared, but his alpha really wanted it to be a kind omega.
He was pulled back into the real world when his supervisor, Iida, handed him a packet. Deku— The Deku—had approved one of his designs and wanted to meet him and see a few samples. Without hesitating, he pocketed the watches and got to work, selecting only the best of his designs, including his most recent one that he’d based on the found watch, for his portfolio.
Upon arrival to the topmost floor, he paused. A faint, refreshing scent of sweet lemon and mint lingered in the halls. Iida cleared his throat and gestured to the workshop doors. No one was allowed here except the higher-ups and designers. His skin felt electrified with anticipation.
When he entered the room, he saw him: short, closely shaved sides and jade curls that fell to the side, emerald eyes with thick lashes, and freckled ivory skin.
The man stood and walked over to him with a curious expression.
This couldn’t be—
“Hello, my name is Izuku Midoriya, but you may know me as Deku. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the male omega chirped.
The lemon and mint scent became stronger and Katsuki lost all form of intelligent speech. “I’m Katsuki Bakugou. Here’s my stuff,” he said, handing over his portfolio.
Deku looked at him for a moment, and the blond wanted to die. He’d made a fool of himself in front of the only nice-smelling omega in the city, possibly risking his only chance at a career in the process. Deku was gorgeous and talented. Katsuki never stood a chance.
⏱⏱⏱
The silence became stifling as Izuku thumbed through the pages of designs, with only the ticking of watches to distract them. He couldn’t concentrate either way. The alpha had a nice scent and was incredibly attractive. How was Izuku supposed to work with him?!
He carefully studied each design. The cuts, the patterns, the overall aesthetic—it was all incredible! How was this guy still undiscovered? He'd agreed to do this for Iida, but he felt he should be thanking the stiff man.
Lifting his gaze to meet the crimson eyes, he went to give his feedback when he heard it—that tick tock that had plagued his existence for years overlapped by another, faster, beat.
Izuku chuckled incredulously. “Do you by any chance—this might seem strange—have a second watch?”
Katsuki looked at him with utter confusion until it dawned on him. “Yeah, I found one a few days ago.”
“Can I see it?”
Taking out both watches, he held them out.
The freckled man squeaked. “Oh, it’s—you found it,” he whispered.
And Katsuki couldn’t believe it. He’d found Deku’s watch?!
Gently, Izuku took his heart back, but not before caressing the other heart’s cover. “You have a beautiful heart, Katsuki.”
The blond felt his face heat up. “Um, thanks. I—uh—kind of got used to having yours around, ya know? I didn’t really expect to find its owner.”
Biting his bottom lip, Izuku smiled—the most ethereal smile Katsuki had ever seen—and said, “Maybe you’ll have a chance to win it back. Who knows?”
And right then and there, Katsuki vowed to do just that. “Keep your eyes on me, Deku. A Bakugou never fails.”