Archive of Our Own

Slamming the gossip sheet down on the table, Marquess Shota Aizawa fumed silently at the knowledge of being the focal point of that prying, tacky author and their so-called 'news bulletin'. He avoided society gatherings for this very reason, but could not very well deny the crown when they personally demanded his presence at the annual debutantes presentation before their Royal Highnesses. Though Shota was publicly wishing he had fled to the country, consequences be damned (a statement he'd repeated, vehemently, several times over while any servant was within earshot), in truth... the Marquess was in raptures having finally found his match!

Izuku; a rare diamond in the rough, an oasis amidst an endless desert! A more perfect Omega he had never found, and in all his one and thirty years the gentleman had indeed met his fair share of dithering Omegas and even Beta's who did not appeal to him in the slightest. It was not that the charming lad was a rare male Omega, nor the fact that he was Duke Yagi's one and only heir, set to inherit a great fortune on top of an already sizeable dowry, that made him Aizawa's ideal. Those two truths were reason enough for other suitors to pursue the radiant debutante, but it was Izuku's unique scent that first caught Aizawa's attention, and his sharp wit and amiable temperament that kept the Marquess returning for more.

For a handsome face may be sufficient for some, if all they desire is an empty bauble to parade around at fetes. And a sizeable fortune may be many suitors true ambition, ignoring their inner Alpha to follow a calling just as ancient as secondary genders: greed. But Marquess Aizawa did not lack fortune or beauty in his own life. No indeed, the only thing the stoic bachelor's life was in dearth of was intelligent company that soothed his nerves rather than grate on them; someone to grow old with.

After his first dance with Izuku, a quadrille, Shota had been delighted to discover the young man was far more witty than he first appeared. After his second dance, a cotillion, Shota learned Izuku had a hunger for knowledge coupled with a desire to aid those less fortunate than himself. A rare creature was Shota’s Omega. Then during their third dance, a waltz, as the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves watching the infamous Marquess willingly take to the floor once more, Shota caught a very faint whiff of libidinousness in Izuku’s scent. 

A risky thing to let out something so intimate in public but it was just subtle enough that no one but Shota could smell the change; not unless they too were dancing exceedingly close to the Omega. 

That moment sealed his fate; Shota’s inner Alpha was ready to claim the Omega as his right then and there on the dance floor before all of the ton and royal family. It was a good thing the Marquess had exceptional self control and was able to resist his baser urges. It would not do to tarnish Izuku’s unimpeachable reputation with such a scandalous display. 

The morning after the debutante ball, the Marquess Aizawa had called upon Izuku at Duke Yagi’s estate in Mayfair. The building itself was so expansive it could be mistaken for one of King Enji’s own palaces. Unsurprising, if the rumours of Duke Yagi’s wealth surpassing that of the Crown are to be believed. Shota didn’t care for such ostentatious displays of wealth and power, preferring to retreat to his cottage in the countryside and take solitude in the tranquility and privacy it offered. 

His own estate in town was small for a man of his status and wealth, tucked away in the unfashionable part of London. It was a marvellous deterrent for scheming mama’s and their social climbing pups. One look at the facade of his city townhouse sent most would-be callers scurrying away; others refused to even allow their carriages to traverse into that part of town for fear of being seen somewhere disreputable. 

When the Marquess had looked upon the lavish furnishings and intricate mouldings in every room of Duke Yagi's estate, he wondered if he ought to renovate his own home to make it more welcoming for Izuku, should the Omega agree to his offer of marriage and mate-bond, or perhaps move somewhere new entirely. But speaking with Izuku that morning in the parlour set Shota’s mind at ease; the Omega yearned to return to the country and was hoping to find a like-minded Alpha bond-mate who wished for the same. They spoke at length about the countryside, their favourite books, music, even politics; some other suitors came by to offer gifts and flowers in the hope of courting Izuku as well but none held the lad’s attention like the Marquess did. The Omega was, of course, exceedingly kind, never failing to thank the callers for their attentions but eventually he was drawn back into conversation with Shota, which pleased the man's inner Alpha no end.

After securing a promise to promenade together the next day, the Marquess reluctantly took his leave before rushing off to Hatchards on Piccadilly in search of a book Izuku had mentioned but Shota had not yet read. He devoted the rest of the day and evening to reading the entire novel before they met again, and so was able to discuss the book more thoroughly with the surprised yet delighted Omega the following morning. Then, when he’d exhausted all the contents of said book, Shota turned discussions onto interior design. It was not a subject that usually held his interest but if he was to prepare a suitable nesting space for Izuku, then he would glean what he could about the Omega’s preferences first. 

The Duke’s son blushed so deliciously at the turn of conversation but he answered all the same, confessing to having an affinity for the colour red and finding comfort in simple but soft cloth, like cotton. The lad had not always known the life of luxury he was surrounded by now, having only been recently acknowledged as Duke Yagi’s heir when the man could sire no other children. A fact that many members of the ton gossiped about behind the Omega’s back but would never bring up while out in good society. As far as they were concerned, the ‘sin’ of being born a bastard was forgiven the moment Izuku was set to inherit more riches than most of the beau monde combined. 

Izuku's breeding, position nor fortune mattered not to Shota. He had more than enough for them both to live comfortably the rest of their lives and hopefully, one day, raise numerous pups together as well; And his own reputation had a few black marks thanks to his disagreeable nature. The Marquess did not suffer fools and society had an over-abundance of those. He'd since learnt to bite his tongue or avoid company altogether to keep himself from insulting every dolt who dared flap their gums at him.

Tonight, the house of Baron Bakugo would host the first official ball of the season (that was not the debutante ball hosted by the palace). It was, according to some, a great honour to be the hosts of the first ball of a new season, though the Marquess couldn't fathom why anyone should desire such a burden. One unfashionable floral arrangement or poorly chosen canapé and the disdain of the entire ton would come down upon you. Usually, Shota would send his polite regrets and stay in the comfort of his cosy home but he could not risk it this evening. Izuku would be in attendance tonight, as would many other Alpha suitors who would pounce upon the opening the Marquess left if he gave in to his solitary tendencies.

Undoubtedly his appearance at a ball that was not at the palace would send tongues wagging and even risk featuring his name in one of those dreadful gossip rags again, but it would all be worth it in the end if Izuku agrees to his proposal tonight. But how to secure a moment alone with the Omega to ask? Some may be brave or foolhardy enough to get on bended knee in front of the entire world but Shota believed such a personal moment should be done proper, in private, without the pressure of watchful eyes swaying one's resolve. 

Taking extra pains to ensure his appearance would be pleasing to Izuku, the Marquess added a dash of colour to his typical obsidian attire with a sanguine ascot. Long raven locks that he was usually content to let fall about his face were carefully pulled back into a clean and (according to his valet) stylish bun. Burning a metaphorical hole in his jacket pocket was a velvet lined box containing the ring that had been passed down generation after generation of Aizawa's. If all went well, then it would be on Izuku's finger before the final dance of the evening.

The halls of Baron Bakugo were as opulent as Shota expected, though he had never darkened their door before now. Enormous chandeliers hung from the ballroom's ceiling and glittered in the candlelight. The lord of the house was a quiet spoken man for an Alpha, one the Marquess might spend more time with were it not for his brash wife, a former dressmaker now Baroness; an alliance that would have seen anyone else shunned by high society were it not for the Baroness' most famous and powerful patron, her Royal Majesty Queen Rei. The Bakugo's had one child together, a son, who by all accounts took after his mother in all except secondary gender. The future Baron had an explosive temper and lacked social graces more than Shota himself, which was a damning assessment indeed. Yet the Marquess found himself on the back foot the moment he stepped into the ballroom and saw the Baron's son Katsuki dancing with Izuku.

His inner Alpha writhed in jealousy just beneath the surface; Shota moved with the intent of cutting in, but was prevented from reaching his goal by none other than Duke Yagi himself.

"Lord Aizawa." The Duke's deep voice was both warm and intimidating, much like his stature.

"Your Grace." Shota bowed in greeting but found it hard to keep his eyes from flitting over to where Izuku was spinning gracefully on the dance floor.

"How delightful it is to see you at festivities outside of His Majesty's grounds!" Yagi clapped a large hand on Shota's shoulder, the older gentleman commanding his full attention, "Indeed, we have seen more of you this week than the last few years combined."

"Undeniably so."

"My son has spoken at great length about you..." Shota's heart raced, hope blossoming at the thought that Izuku had been discussing the Marquess with his father, "I must say, I'm surprised you have not yet called on me to seek permission for his hand."

Bugger it all! He had completely forgotten!

"Perhaps you are not as serious in your courtship as everyone believes?"

"I am!" Shota insisted, quietly but urgently, "Very serious."

"Good," The Duke smiled broadly, "There have been other offers made already but mostly fortune hunters or those looking for a grand title. You are one of the few I would gladly give my blessing to, Marquess Aizawa."

Shota was stunned, "Thank you, Your Grace. In truth, I did not think you would be willing to give your permission so swiftly after Izuku's debut."

"You forget, I have known you many years and your reputation even longer, Aizawa. Despite your open contempt for society and... how did you phrase it? Ah yes! It's vacuous vanities! You are a man of good character with no debts or vices to speak of. And a short courtship is nothing unusual when our secondary genders do most of the hard work on our behalf; our instincts rarely are mistaken. However, you should be made aware..." Yagi reached out and gracefully grabbed a flute of champagne off a tray as a footman walked by, "Izuku will not inherit the title of Duke, even as my son. But should there be an Alpha pup in the future, then the title and estate would go to them."

"It matters not, Your Grace. I would be content with the simple pleasure of Izuku's company every day for the rest of my life. I have never been one to care for titles or anything else to do with society, as you well know. I am more than able to provide for everything he will ever need, should your son choose me."

"As I thought. Well, I have said my piece and taken up enough of your evening. Now, dear boy, I encourage you to rescue my son from the ambitious claws of Katsuki Bakugo." The Duke dismissed him with a wink and waved him away.

Striding into the fray with a fresh dose of confidence, the Marquess bowed as he cut in, "May I have the honour of this dance?"

"The nerve-" Katsuki growled.

"Yes! You may!" Izuku readily took Shota's hand, looking quite relieved to be free of the belligerent blonde, "I am glad you made it."

Even with the attention of the ton heavily upon them, the Marquess was already blind to all but the bewitching eyes of the Omega in his arms the moment they began dancing.

"Did you doubt me?"

"Many were sceptical. Even the servants in father's estate were making wagers on whether I could tempt you enough to consider attending yet another ball so soon after the last one." The Omega blushed after realising what he'd said, "Not to say that I am or would ever be the sole reason you would be willing to attend tonight."

"But you are." Shota said bluntly, seeing no reason to play coy. "I never would have bothered opening the invitations to this season's parties were it not so I could be sure to be where you are at every available opportunity."

"Truly?" Izuku's sweet scent of vanilla grew stronger as he reacted to Shota's declaration.

"There is no one's company I desire more, no one's opinion I esteem higher, no one's scent that arrests my senses so..." Shota pulled Izuku in closer than what was considered proper and whispered, "No one I love like you, Izuku."

"I-I-Is this a proposal, my lord?" Izuku stammered.

"On the dance floor? Heaven forbid!"

"Oh..." The Omega sounded disappointed.

"Let us quit the ballroom and retreat to a much more suitable, and private, location for further discourse of this nature, yes?" Without waiting for a reply, Shota led Izuku off the dance floor, wide eyed stares and shocked whispers following the couple as they fled to a near-by empty room, a library, "Ahhh much better! Books are far superior company to people. Well... most people..."

"We should not be alone. It is not proper. Unmarked Omegas found alone with Alpha's or even Beta's are ruined," Izuku looked nervously around the room yet made no effort to leave, "My reputation is tarnished enough as it is, being born a bastard."

"I despise that word. Marking you like some criminal for a crime you did not commit. If there was any sin, it was your fathers. At least he has done you the decency of claiming you now. Although, it does not signify. Had I met you in the palace or market place, your scent would have pulled me in like a moth to the flame." Shota took Izuku's left hand in his, slowing tugging at the tips of his glove, slipping it off his fingers one by one before the whole silk glove was in his hand, "And your reputation will not diminish, for I have not brought you in here to ruin you, as tempting as that thought is."

The Omega flushed at that comment, scent sharpening; Shota had to hold his breath a moment to refocus.

"I wish... I wish to ask for your hand in marriage, Izuku." The boy's breath hitched and his grip tightened on Shota's hand, "I know you have the attention of the Crown Prince and many other suitors... You may not wish to tie yourself to one as old as I-"

"You are not old, Lord Aizawa." Izuku was suddenly cross with him for speaking ill about himself. "And I do not care a fig for any other suitor, Prince or otherwise! If you believe titles or fortune could sway my heart, then you have not been paying attention as well as I thought!"

"Then... you accept?" Shota asked, scarcely able to believe his good fortune.

"Of course I do!" Izuku's eyes welled with joyful tears, "I would have accepted you the very first night we met!"

Pulling the velvet box out of his jacket pocket, Shota opened it up and presented it to Izuku.

"It is stunning..." The Omega whispered.

Shota took the gold ring out from between its cushioning and gently slid it on Izuku's finger, where it would remain evermore. "The main gemstone is Tsavorite. Its appearance is much like an Emerald but is exceedingly rarer... much like you."

"I shall treasure it always." Izuku's voice was thick, eyes glittering.

"Shall we go tell your father the good news?" Shota offered his arm to his new fiancé and headed for the door.

"Yes. But first," Izuku pulled Shota to a stop, "Kiss me."

Without hesitation, Shota pulled the Omega into his arms and slanted his lips over Izuku's parted mouth. The kiss was soft and tender at first, but swiftly turned to passion and heat. Shota had read in countless volumes of poetry how love was likened to fire but he never imagined how faithful a description those words were until this moment. The very blood in his veins sang as he felt himself burn with it! How terribly tempting the thought was, to lift Izuku up, tear his silk breeches off and knot him against the oak bookshelves lining the walls. The vivid fantasy in his mind was enough to make his own pants uncomfortably tight.

It took every shred of willpower to break off the kiss before instincts could override his sanity and he takes even more liberties with Izuku. Even if they were betrothed now, it would still be scandalous to be discovered with his hands all over the unmarked Omega alone like this. As Shota pulled away, Izuku lifted up his left hand and cupped the gentleman's face lovingly before sliding it down and rubbing his wrist against Shota's scent gland, mixing their scents together; Vanilla and Cedarwood blended in harmony. Anyone who walked past them for the rest of the evening would know, without even seeing Izuku's hand, that they were paired. 

"We ought to... return to the festivities..." Shota's voice was rough and unsteady, his inner Alpha howling at him to forget the party or what civilised decorum called for and mark the willing Omega still trembling in his arms.

"Y-yes," Izuku blushed, pupils blown wide, "I should like to seek out my father first, if you would be so kind as to keep me upright. I fear the strength in my legs may fail me if you let go."

Hooking Izuku's left arm through his right, Shota quickly planted a chaste kiss on the Omega's hand, just above the engagement ring, and smiled adoringly, "Fear not, beloved, for I have no intention of ever letting you go from this day forward."

They left the library arm in arm, ignoring the blatant stares and whispers as they made their way across the ballroom to Duke Yagi. The Prime Alpha was already beaming at them before either one had uttered a word; it was clear to all in attendance what had just transpired, from the way the couple clung to one another and their joint scents wafting through the room. A boisterous laugh from Izuku's father was all it took for the music to cease and for every couple dancing to stop and turn their attention to him; the power of a Prime Alpha on display.

"Forgive the interruption, but I have a rather important announcement to make!" The Duke projected his voice so well that even those in adjoining rooms could undoubtedly hear him speak, "It is with great pleasure that I inform you my sweet boy, Izuku, is as of this very evening, engaged to be married!"

A roaring cheer broke out as people all around them clapped and clinked their glasses in honour of the news. The Baron's son stormed out in a huff; Shota wasn't sorry to see him go.

"To the Marquess Aizawa and his future Marchioness; may you be blessed with an abundance of pups!"

Nearly choking on air at the level of cheek in Duke Yagi's toast, Shota hid his shocked laughter by burying his face in Izuku's soft curls and inhaling his sweet scent. The rest of the evening passed by in a blur of congratulatory hand shakes and well wishes, and a couple more dances with his new fiancé. It was more difficult than Shota anticipated to say goodnight to Izuku at the end of the ball, even knowing they would see one another the following morning for the banns to be read and the wedding ceremony planning to begin thereafter. Sensing the Marquess' reluctance to part ways, Izuku produced a laced trimmed handkerchief from inside his sleeve. It was laden with the vanilla scent of his Omega, a token he could take with him and drink in at his leisure. One more fleeting kiss on the hand and a whispered promise of more tomorrow; the Marquess at long last bid goodnight, then bowed deeply before hopping inside his waiting carriage, where he spent the entirety of the journey breathing in the intoxicating aroma of Izuku's scented handkerchief. 

.。･:*:･･:*:･。.

Felicitations to the newly engaged Marquess Aizawa and Duke Yagi's son, Izuku!

And a special congratulations to the Marquess for winning this season's greatest prize in such an expeditious manner, before any other suitors could steal him away - like the Baron Bakugo's Alpha son, who had been seen dancing with the coveted Omega moments before the Marquess arrived and whisked him somewhere secluded. Where, I dare not say, but the couple returned to the fete, betrothed and scented. The joyful news, proclaimed by none other than Duke Yagi himself, made this ball one for the ages. Who would have ever believed just one week ago that the uncongenial Marquess Aizawa would find his mate and declare his intentions so swiftly? 

The wiles of an alluring Omega scent are potent indeed.

Look no further than the Royal Palace, if you beg of further evidence. Scandalous word is spreading like wildfire of the Omega who has caught King Enji's attention; yet another rare male Omega, whom the entire ton believed the Beta Prince Toya was courting. If the sordid rumours are true, how very tawdry to claim one's own son's potential mate, especially when one is already married.

Yet who would dare challenge an Alpha's claim on any Omega, over a mere Beta, much less defy His Majesty the King himself? Even scorned Prince Toya knows it is a battle he cannot win.

.。･:*:･･:*:･。.

"Darling, put those dreadful gossip sheets in the fire and come lie with me." Shota wrapped an arm around Izuku's bare chest from behind and left a trail of hot kisses along his spine.

"I shan't burn them! These rags, as you call them, contain precious records of our whirlwind courtship and early married life..." The Omega delicately placed the collection of papers back into a hat box and slid it out of reach, "How else will our future pups know what their parents were truly like before they were born?" 

"I can think of better ways for them to learn than that detritus, beloved."

"Astonishing that the author knew about Keigo and the King long before word spread of how Queen Rei had been secretly put aside. They must work in the palace or have a network of spies or-"

"Izuku..." Shota tried to cut his mate off, but he was like a dog with a bone when he got like this.

"Who do you think it is? I tried asking father but he-OOF!"

It was one thing to tolerate Izuku's rambling tangents in their nest but it was quite another to allow him to bring up his father-in-law, Duke Yagi, while they were in a brief moment of lucidity in the Omega's heat. Pulling Izuku backwards onto the plush cotton bedding, Shota kissed his husband until he was breathless and begging for more. Tracing a finger over the claiming bond-mark on Izuku's neck, he settled on top of his body, shuddering in delight when they embraced for the fourth time that day. The Marquess had gone his whole life without knowing the touch of another like this; now that he knew what it was to give himself over to his inner Alpha, he could never go back. 

"My Omega," He crooned, "How fitting it is your love brought an end to my lonely bachelor existence."

"Just as my life truly began the day I met you, Alpha."