Archive of Our Own ^beta

To think his life would end, just like this.

To think he wouldn’t even get a chance to be in the top five— or even the top fucking ten — before he was taken away. Maybe, if he was in the top ten, he wouldn’t have been so… willing, to take the chance and just die . There was nothing for him in this world.

His dreams, aspirations, the vision he had for himself— he’s achieved none of it. He’s barely broken into the top fifty of the hero popularity charts, he has no name for himself, and he’s surrounded by… mediocre, useless, people. They weren’t the people he pictured he would be surrounded by. They were supposed to be strong and powerful , like fucking Red Riot and Pinky. But they weren’t in his friend group. Hell, he wasn’t even acquainted with them.

UA… that was a dream, far long and gone. The person he wanted to be, the hero he wanted to be—

He would never come. He never had a fucking chance. All because he accepted fucking Deku’s pregnancy like a damn fool. He should have told the quirkless omega to abort the fucking child. As much as he loved his son, there were regrets. So many regrets. Every time he looked at Kazue’s freckled face and green eyes— the only sign that it was his child, was the spiky blonde hair. Unmistakable, really. And it's not like he had any reason to doubt that Deku. The timing was perfect.

They shared a heat and a rut. Birth control failed. Things happen, and now? He could only think that if he’d not made that mistake… he would be in a completely different position. He would be living in his dream penthouse, with a strong and beautiful omega with a powerful quirk. He’d be in the top fucking five— no, he’d be number one . That was his fucking dream! He would have been able to do it! Everyone knew that much— how his potential was fucking wasted .

Wasted. All. Because. Of. Fucking. Deku.

The Deku who stayed at home all day, comfortably taking care of their mistake. The Deku who wouldn’t be able to even buy three months of groceries for himself without Katsuki’s help. The Deku who held him the fuck back; who, if he’d just told to get an abortion, would be out of his life. And then, Katsuki wouldn’t be in the midst of death. Or maybe he still would be. At least he’d die satisfied with his life. Now, he was drowning in regret.

Regret after regret. Resentment. Anger. Bombarded with what-ifs— and that’s how his breath slowed, before ultimately stopping, carrying the flame of anguish with him.

Bakugo Katsuki. Hero Name: Ground Zero, Rank: 52, has been pronounced dead at 5:55 PM on May 25th, 20XX.

A steady beeping sound is what his ears adjusted to as he woke up. His consciousness was slow to come to the forefront of his mind, but there weren’t many sensations or sounds that he could make out just yet.

No, no— if anything, he shouldn’t be able to make out any sound. He was dead, wasn’t he? He was supposed to be dead. His blood was leaking out in fucking waves, and he knew had a horrid concussion. Then there were the wounds, and the fact that his arm was sawed off.

He shouldn’t be alive. Yet he was, and it was making his brain work overtime even before he was fully awake.

It took a few minutes for him to will his body into moving. Or, ’til his body finally decided to do something other than simply lay on the… whichever surface he was laying on. He felt sore all over, and he was most likely on some strong pain meds, because shit he couldn’t feel before? It was coming the fuck out. A hiss left his lips as he jerked his arm too much.

It was in a sling. 

And slowly, his eyes cracked open. The grime of having them shut for too long was apparent, and it took several blinks to see the environment he was in—

A hospital. Of course. It should have been obvious sooner. Where else would the beeping sound come from? But that really did mean that he was… alive. He was alive and well in a fucking world that he was so ready to leave from. He’d accepted his fucking fate— and now he was back here?! Even the divine couldn’t give him a break, could it? 

The heart monitor picked up in speed the more he thought about being stuck in this hell, still. Even though he was alive, his arm would probably take months to heal properly. He’d be in bed rest, and who knew where his rank would be when he was back on the field? Who knew if he would still have his job ? His agency boss was a stingy fuck who was looking for any chance to cut corners; including firing his own employees if they showed poor performance and brought the agency’s rank down.

He was fucked. His life was fucked .

And he would have to go back to his son and Deku — the fucker he spent his supposed-to-be dying breaths cursing out. He’d be back in their small home, listening to the sounds of his son screaming about not wanting to brush his teeth, back to Deku complaining about one thing or another, and— fuck .

The door to his hospital room opened, and when his vision wasn’t so tunnel-minded, he could see that the room was…

Really nicely furnished? It looked like a VIP suite— and he fucking knew his rank 52 salary couldn’t pay for something so first class. His bed was large and he could feel two comfortable, fluffed-up pillows supporting his body. The blanket draped over his legs was nothing like the standard, thin, hospital ‘blanket’. And the tray that someone placed beside him had the best fucking smelling hospital food he’d ever seen.

What in the hell was going on?

…Did his boss pay for all of this? No, that stingy fucker couldn’t have. So then who, or what , was the cause of all of this luxury treatment?

“Good evening! So glad to see our favorite hero up and awake! You sure do heal well, Ground Zero,” the nurse organizing his food said with a bright smile.

…Their what hero? Favorite? He didn't have the fucking recognition for that label, and he wasn’t nearly in the hospital enough to be favored by the staff. He was even more confused with the nurse’s statement. 

“Uh, I guess,” he said dumbly. How would he even begin to assess the situation? He couldn’t just ask if he was in an alternate world— could he? The nurse was beaming at him like she saw him on a daily basis, so maybe she wasn’t the right person to ask the question . 

“So, I will be checking your arm as you have your breakfast— unless you’d like someone to come in here to feed you?” She asked. He held back a growl. She was most likely just doing her stupid job by asking. She wasn’t insinuating that he couldn’t eat the fucking food himself. He didn't respond verbally, though he reached his non-injured arm out to take hold of a fork and began to dig into the pancakes.

Heavenly .

A single bite had him almost placated. He continued to eat slowly as she checked his vitals, how his arm was healing, and did a few tests on his nerves. The process took a little more than ten minutes. He took several gulps of water on the tray— and, fuck, he probably should have done that way earlier. He didn't realize how dry his throat had been. The water helped to clear the remaining fuzz in his brain, too, so he could finally ask something.

“Hey, nurse,” he grunted. Her eyes quickly snapped to his, the same overly bright smile on her face.

“Yes, Ground Zero? Shall I fluff up your pillow for you? Would you like to stay an additional night? More pancakes?”

The questions irritated him. Why the hell was she so hospitable when this wasn’t even being paid on his dime? Or, it better not be. He really didn't have the funds. 

“No, I just have a question. What day is it?”

“Oh! It is 6:20 PM,” she answered.

“…Date?”

“May 25th. Would you like the year as well?”

She wasn’t being sarcastic. He nodded hesitantly.

“20XX.”

That was the day he got appended by the villain. He knew it was sometime around 5:15 PM that the attack was announced in his earpiece, so he would have lost consciousness around… 5:40, or so. 

No, even later, probably. 5:55? Fuck, he didn't know— but he did know that it mattered here. The date and the year matched, so the time must, too.

Maybe— maybe it really was a fucking… alternate world. The thought scared him as much as it excited him. Because, shit, if this is the sort of suite he got in the hospital, how fucking loaded was he? 

Or did he have some sort of fucking sponsor?!

Regardless, those were more questions that would be better answered when he was out of the hospital. He didn't want to stay here any longer than needed, and he was starting to understand why the nurse was so overly… friendly. The hospital was probably getting paid a shit ton of money to take care of him, and the longer he stayed, the more they’d get.

In his world, the very thought of staying at the hospital overnight made him glare at the idea. It wasn’t going to fucking happen. Hospital stays were expensive as shit, and rank 52 salaries couldn’t pay for it. So he tried to avoid getting into situations that would land him in a hospital bed—

But this worlds' Katsuki apparently didn't have that worry. No, the nurses loved him. The doctors must love his money, too. Asking them would mean questioning; questioning would mean staying even longer for tests, and he might not even be out ’til the end of tomorrow if they had any say in it.

“Okay,” he tested the give of his arm in the sling. It still ached a bit, but he’d be fine to move it just a little bit. He tossed his legs over the hospital bed and stood up, cracking his joints and getting the circulation back in his body. Fuck it felt like he’s been laying down for ages. “Shit, how long was I here for?”

“A day! A summary of your health statement has been posted onto your medical records which you can find in the hospital app, along with the bill for today. On behalf of the hospital staff, we hope you’ve enjoyed your stay!” She bowed to him before leaving the room.

Okay. If there’s anything that would keep him from coming back to this place, it's the overly happy, friendly, hospitable tone of perhaps the entire hospital staff. Fuck, they were so eager to please— a part of him fucking loved it. He was their favorite hero.

…He was their favorite hero.

Holy shit. Could that mean that he’s… 

No, he couldn’t get ahead of himself. There's no way— he knew he was fucking amazing. He would have done plus ultra in everything if he was given the right opportunity, so maybe it was possible. But to be number one? It was a dream that he thought was dead . It was here, though, most likely, and he was fucking living in it. Shit, that was amazing.

A shit-eating grin was on his face as he picked up an outfit neatly folded at the foot of his bed. A style that he hadn’t worn since having the kid with Deku stared right back at him. 

Gods, he couldn’t believe he was really here. This was really him . He wouldn’t be able to fucking take it if he was in a cruel coma, about to wake into his shitty reality anytime soon. But he could feel it— this was reality. This was the reality that should have been, and he would make the fucking most of it. The world he’s in must mean that Deku wasn’t in the picture, because, lets be real, he would have been able to accomplish all of this if it hadn’t been for the nerd holding him back. 

So, he readied himself, to see what sort of world awaited him outside the hospital building.

He’s learned a couple of things, most of which he had a gut feeling about. 

Number one on that list… he’s the number one fucking pro hero. The news shocked him, and made an actual, genuine smile stay on his face for an entire week, of which members at his agency— yeah, you heard that right! He had his own fucking agency at twenty-five years old— looked at him strangely. He didn't give a fuck, though, he was too elated . This! This, is what he’s wanted for so long. The future he aimed for, the title he knew he would one day have; it was all here .

It was a little disorienting at first, having these new memories overlap with the ones from his original world. But he supposed that this was his world now. He was living, breathing, given a second chance here. He couldn’t feel too disheartened by the fact that these accomplishments weren’t really… his , but all of those worries went away as soon as the images flooded into his head. His muscles felt the weight of these new memories, too, and when he tested out his explosions, he saw bursts and sparks that he’d only dreamed of being able to accomplish. The training at UA really brought out his greatest potential, like he knew it would. He’d been a fool to pass that up for a mediocre high school, just so he could take care of Deku and his son. 

Speaking of— he’d yet to find the little fucker. He wasn’t actively looking, but it was odd that Deku wasn’t anywhere in the city. For the past three months, he’d been on patrol enough to see every part of the city. He even went back to Musutafu to visit his parents, much to their… astonishment, actually.

He wondered if the previous Katsuki of this world didn't visit his parents much.

There was also the matter of his friends — or rather, acquaintances, it seemed. While he knew that he wouldn’t be the type to befriend people in high school, with his sights set on being a hero and whatnot, he couldn’t help but think that his behavior toward them was… horrid, to say the least. Isn’t that what he would have actually done, though? Maybe he felt that way because it was essentially like seeing an outsider interact with people.

The few things that he could accept about this version of himself, though, was the immense power; the speed, the new abilities, because he could feel it in every explosion. He could feel it in every fight against villains, he could see it in the awed eyes of his fans. He fucking had fans . That revelation would never leave his mind. He was in billboard ads, magazines, and commercials, of which he did a couple since waking up in this new world. 

There was so much that transpired, but he had the general gist of things.

In this world, he was king. He was number one. Deku wasn’t in his way. There was no Kazue. In their place was a beautiful omega named Camie with a badass quirk. They shared a penthouse, went to events together, and everything else a power couple did. 

…Even if there wasn’t the comfort of being able to talk to her freely. They minded their own business for the most part, and only got together for the cameras— or for sex. 

It was an adjustment, but nothing that Ground Zero, the number one pro hero, couldn’t handle. 

Though it was about fucking time his suit was due for an upgrade. It was cooler than the one he had before, but it could be made better. Whoever did the designs and specs was brilliant , he wasn’t going to lie, but there were improvements to the gauntlets he was picturing, and he’d make sure the changes were implemented.

He went to the support department on a sunny Friday afternoon. The clouds were parted sweetly, the wind was generous, and he enjoyed seeing his hard-working employees doing their duties. He wished he could have spoken to them more, but pro-hero duties kept him busy, and— they didn't make it any easier. The memories were still a little blurry in regard to certain things. It frustrated him every time he’d stop in front of someone to ask about something, and then they would just… freeze up, tremble for a second or two, before shrieking an apology with a promise to do better and running away.

What the fuck did he do ? Why were his employees so fucking scared of him?

Tch. Stupid memories. He’d best them and figure everything the fuck out before the four-month mark, just watch him. 

The support department was on the third floor, taking up the entire area. It made sense, given the type of analysis and work the team had to do. He might not be that well-versed in everything that goes on behind the scenes, but he had great respect for the people who worked on the hero costumes.

The elevator doors slid open and he stepped out to find the members of the support department working in their respective specializations. A few members highlighted stuff on blueprints, some tinkering away with prototypes from the looks of it, and others in front of a quirk-proof screen, testing the durability of costumes. 

The entire thing was impressive . 

When he passed by a table though, like every other time, they all froze, staring at him as if awaiting for his judgment. He knew it should be… normal, at this point, but he couldn’t help but raise a curious eyebrow. They were even more terrified than the others; one of them spoke up in stutters.

It— it reminded him of Deku .

Shit, why was that nerd occupying his thoughts even now ? 

There was even a familiar scent surrounding him. Beyond the scent patched covering everyone's necks, the sterile smell of the working environment, and the muted tones of beta workers, there was something that called out to him. It pulled him in the direction of an office, separate from the other workers, and his hind brain was dead-set on reaching its destination— quite obviously beckoning him to whatever was there.

That was, before someone timidly stepped in front of him with a panicked look on their face.

“M-Mister G-Ground Zero s-sir, in that office…”

“In that office, what?” He grunted as nicely as he could, not wanting to scare the employee further. Still, they gulped and stuttered over their words. He was able to make it out;

“I-is the worker you s-said you never w-wanted t-t-to s-see.”

Someone he didn't want to see?

A memory sharply entered the forefront of his mind. He had no control over the hand that flew up to press against his temple as a flash of something blinded him. It was…

The worker. An omega. Didnt want to hire an omega worker. Useless . Would only hinder everyone else. The hero safety commission said he was the best quirk analyst in the country. Would be good for the agency. He relented.

Keep him out of my sight while he’s here .

The light went away. His temple slowly started to throb less until the pain diminished completely. His eyes opened to see everyone staring at him, equal parents curious and concerned. Just as fast their gazes moved away, necks tilting in submission to show their apology. While he wouldn’t have cared regardless, after connecting the dots, he knew what the familiar scent was.

“…Deku?”

Deku. Deku was here, in his agency, working in the support department behind a partition separating him from the other workers. He didnt have anything against omegas. Fuck, his… fiancé here was an omega. Was that how the other Katsuki always felt about omegas? Why did Camie just go along with that? Why did anyone accept him when he was like that?!

Were they so enamored by his title at number one?

…Something told him that wasn’t it.

But, fuck, he was still stunted by the fact that Deku was here. The person he hadn’t seen in months since he died in his original world. The person who his must have spent minutes strongly resenting and placing the blame on for the crushed dreams. If that Deku was here—

A squeak brought him out of his turmoil. He looked around him once again, seeing the betas around him, and the one in front of him, had taken a few steps back and covered their neck glands.

Oh, fuck, of course. His scent patches wouldn’t do shit to hide his scent if he was this…

What? What was it that he felt with this revelation? Did he want to fucking confront Deku? Or should he do what this beta employee was implying and steer clear of the nerd altogether? It seemed that even in this world, Katsuki still detested Deku. That much was obvious since the beginning, since he couldn’t even find the small omega. However, it was a different thought altogether that Katsuki hated the thought of hiring an omega as an employee. 

No, no— he’d seen other omega heroes in his agency, right? He didn't take the time to look into everyone's files, which probably would have been useful in this predicament. Fuck, he was going to have to do some serious evaluation— because these memories? They hadn’t hit him yet, and it was something he’d need to look into. Hopefully without the painful throbbing in his temple. 

“Um, sir? D-do you want to s-see D-Deku?”

As a matter of fact, he did want to see Deku. What did the nerd look like in this world? Still as scrawny as the one he came from? Did he still have unkempt, shaggy hair that he never bothered to style into a nice cut, saying it was because Kazue would just get his hair dirty again?

What was he even doing here, anyway? He wouldn’t discriminate against someone's secondary gender, but hiring someone that was fucking quirkless? That was everything he was against. The beta said it was the hero commission who urged him to do so, but even so, Deku couldn’t be as good as they said he was.

It must have been some mistake. There was no way the shit nerd would be able to accomplish so much. He wouldn’t even have gotten into a high school with how dumb he was— but enough stalling. He was going to enter that office and he’d be demanding answers.

He stepped around the employee in front of him and took the last few steps to the office door. While the walls were made of glass, hardly anything could be seen through, and now that he was actually looking closely, he could see a little whiteboard that displayed Deku’s full name and his position in the department.

…Senior support department quirk analyst. Huh. Nerds a senior in this world. Whatever. He fucking bets his last dime on Deku still being a scrawny spineless nuisance who made more work for other people than they actually got done.

He heard everyone yelp as the door was pushed open, and for a second he thought a new memory would flash through his head. He instinctively held his palm to his forehead, but it wasn’t that— it was just the light coming from within the room. They were fluorescent, just a bit brighter than the lighting outside, and there was a mess in the entirety. He didn't know half of what was strewn about, nor if most of it was fucking important, but Deku was so engrossed with work that he didn't notice him enter the room.

He shut the door behind him. Another thing of familiarity filled his ears— the fucking mumbling. Chattering about measurements, tools, and people he had to work on costumes for. The words were tumbling out a mile a minute and Katsuki could only roll his eyes at how similar it was to his worlds’ Deku. Even though this was a different world, you really couldn’t get the annoying aspects of Deku out of him, could you? It’s like they were a package deal with the shit nerd. 

But now that he was here… what the hell should he even say? 

“What a nice surprise for you to finally visit me, Ground Zero,” Deku said. Katsuki’s brows raised in shock. There was no indication of fear like there was from everybody else, and he couldn’t smell a whiff of that emotion, either— the sterile scent in the room was much stronger than the environment outside. “So, what can I help you with today? You usually just drop your suit off here with demands.”

What the hell…

“Just came to see what you fuckin do all day in this shitty office, that’s all,” he answered gruffly. Deku’s head lifted from where he was concentrated on a blueprint. Katsuki felt all breath leave his lungs, similar to the sensation of being on death's door— but not , at the same time. He took a sharp inhale when green eyes narrowed to fucking analyze him, like he was a mystery that needed to be solved. His hackles raised at the implication, but before he could say anything, another flash of light blinded him.

His head throbbed, even more painfully. He could hardly feel any other sensation as new memories came flooding in.

“Listen, Deku, you’re lucky the commission even regards you so highly. But when you’re in my agency you are to stay in this fucking office, got it?”

“Oh yes, Ground Zero. It's not like I long to see your face every day, anyway.”

An explosion aimed at the ceiling. Wide green eyes, parted lips. They narrowed; a cold gaze, turning around and walking away. Harsh breaths trying to cool down, but they can't. Another explosion at his desk. Spitting at a worker, “come and fucking clean this up.”

The trolling dulled once more. Fuck, if this was how the memories would come in from now on, he had to find a better way to reduce the pain. It took a full thirty seconds for the pain to dissipate this time around— and that was two new painful memories in a day. Fuck.

…But it answered so many of his previous questions.

He was a fucking asshole in this world. A huge one— everyone was fucking afraid of him. They weren’t in awe of his power; they were in fear of what he could fucking do. Why the hell didn't the safety commission do anything about his behavior? They should’ve revoked his license for invoking fear in his employees and displaying misconduct. The fact that they didn't—

“Hey, Ground Zero. You’re kind of seriously stinking up the place,” Deku said, scrunching his nose. 

A new emotion stabbed his heart, something that he thought he wouldn’t feel again. Especially towards Deku, of all people. It’d been months since he last saw the green omega, and that was in his own world. So he shouldn’t be thinking that Deku was— that he was cute , when he scrunched his nose like that.

Yet the fact of the matter was that Katsuki did think he was cute. Even back then, when he still resented the little fucker, a deep part of him knew that Deku was adorable. How wouldn’t he be? He had green, doe eyes, framed by long dark green lashes. Full pouty lips that used to captivate Katsuki before he completely stopped taking care of himself and didn't bother to apply chapstick. Freckles filled the majority of his face in ways that made him lose control himself and enter a rut , jumpstarting Izuku’s heat— until they had sex and gave birth to their pup.

Fuck, their pup. His heart panged. Was the little tike really not here, in this world? How could he feel so fucking shitty knowing that, now, of all times, when it’d not been on his mind for so long? Did seeing Deku again trigger that?

No, that was a dumb question. He— fuck — he wasn’t an idiot. He could lie to himself all he wanted to, but his alpha was hurting . It knew he abandoned his pup, his family , just so he could enjoy his life here. It was… part of the reason why he wanted to find Deku. He wanted to see what the nerd was up to, just so he could tell his fucking alpha to rest. Maybe it would have calmed down, knowing its omega was safe and doing well.

But now that it's seen Deku right in front of it, there was no way that it would ever calm down from here on out.

Omega! Omega is here! Go, go to them! It commanded to him, excited out of its mind. He could feel the thing panting and wagging its tail from the joy of seeing its omega again. 

Your omega, too, his alpha insisted, and he snorted out loud. There was no way that Deku would ever be his omega. His alpha may have accepted the shit nerd, but he, himself? Not in any lifetime. 

He may have heard his alpha snarl something similar to you’re gonna regret that , but he didn't care. He’d seen enough out of Deku. He was still just a lame nerd who made a name for himself here. Maybe through underhanded methods— it didn't fucking matter. As long as he could get adjustments to his costume done by anyone in the department.

“Who do I go to for costume adjustments? I have ideas for improvements,” he asked, not even bothering to say anything to Deku’s statement. It’d do no good to stand here just chatting . He had actual hero work to do. Number one pro hero work, which required more work than Deku would ever be able to do. 

He respected everyone else in the department— he really, really did. But a core part of him wouldn’t be able to accept Deku’s importance, and for damn good reason. 

“Oh, adjustments, huh?” The quirkless annoyance hummed, rubbing his hands on his white lab coat. He stepped around his desk to approach Katsuki.

…Fuck. Shit. What the fuck? It wasn’t so obvious with the lab coat on, but now that the nerd wasn’t hunched over his desk, Katsuki could see a metric ton of muscle. He was absolutely stacked in the biceps, and from the sliver of his coat that revealed an undershirt, he could perceive that there was a good set of abs, too.

And his hips were just as wide as Izuku’s from his original world— maybe even a bit wider. His thighs were thicker; they looked like they had more muscle, yet an obvious layer of plush fat on the outside. He was… fuck, he was looking for far too long. He cleared his throat, staying still as Deku observed his costume. He reached a hand out to prod at Katsuki’s gauntlets, before pausing and letting the limb drop to his side. A long breath escaped his lips.

“Alright, I’ll look at it. Also, you’re not in a talking mood today, huh?”

“…Dont know what the fuck there is to talk about,” he grunted, shifting his feet to feel less awkward . This wasn’t his usual space. And what the hell did Deku say? That he’d look into it? “You do the adjustments here?”

“Of course I do. HSC wouldn’t recommend me if I wasn’t capable of making a few basic adjustments,” he scoffed. 

“Where did you even graduate from?” He had to know.

Deku already began working on something. “Curious, are we? Shiketsu’s support course. I have my credentials from interning at an agency in America and then for Endeavor.”

“In America?” Katsuki was fucking stunned. “Why’d you come back?”

“Hmm. Reasons,” he shrugged. Katsuki huffed. Little shit wanted to keep his secrets, huh? Fine. He didn't give a fuck; he just needed the improvements implemented ASAP. He slammed a folded piece of paper with instructions on it for the improvements. Deku glanced at them before waving his hand dismissively. “I don’t usually need those, but I’ll check at the end of adjustments to add anything I’ve missed.”

“What do you fucking mean you don’t usually check them?” 

“You’ve never been so interested in how I do your orders, Ground Zero,” Izuku hummed. His face flushed. Fuck, that memory hadn’t filled itself in yet. It’s information that would have been useful to know before he opened his fucking mouth. 

“Well, I’m interested now,” he covered the slip of his tongue. Fuck, was that too weird to say? Izuku’s face didn't change from its impassiveness as he continued to work. 

“You don’t have to be. I've got it from here,” he said before sitting down on a swivel chair. “Anything else you need, Ground Zero?”

Yeah. Why the fuck wasn’t he being called by that stupid nickname— Kacchan ? Did every fucker here address him as Ground Zero? He thought the nerd would want to feel some sort of specialness with the nickname he bestowed in their childhood.

Fuck. He needed to learn more about the him from this world. Although, if he was in this body… should he have wondered what happened to the actual Bakugo Katsuki of this world? He’d been so quick to accept this as his new reality that he ghosted over a couple of important aspects, of who he really was. Whose body was he inhabiting? 

“No,” he answered in a gruff town. “…I’ll come back later to grab my costume.”

“I can have someone drop it off at your office.”

His alpha protested against the thought of not being able to see its omega again, and to be… honest, he supposed, he wanted to stop by Deku’s office again. More often. Just to check if he was actually the one doing the work. 

“I said I’ll come back later, you shitty nerd,” he stated more firmly. Izuku paused in his scribbling, scrunching his nose again.

“Whatever. Do what you want.”

For the weirdest of reasons, Katsuki felt accomplished. His alpha also wasn’t yowling anymore about staying close to Deku, so all in all, it was an… okay day, he guessed.

There wasn’t really a method to obtaining new memories to fill in the gaps, of his interactions with people in this new world. At first, bits and pieces flitted in, covering a majority of the important things— stuff that he thought was important, at least. But it turned out that those were all just… shallow portions of a larger picture. 

And then there was also the fact that he was starting to remember things from his past life— his past world. Things that had to do with Deku, and their pup. His alpha was more and more insistent about finding the both of them. It was fucking absurd, to go seek out people that he wanted to be rid of. 

Did he really want to be rid of them, though?

His alpha certainly didn't fucking want that. And now that he was paying more attention his surroundings instead of basking in the joy that he was the number one hero, he could tell that… yeah, even the citizens weren’t enamored by him. Perhaps the children, yes, but many of the older ones gave him a nervous smile before quickly walking away. He wanted to reach out to them, ask them what the fuck they were so afraid of. He had an explosive personality normally, sure, but surely he wouldn’t hurt anyone, would he?

He’d like to think not, but from the memory that flashed in his head in Deku’s office… 

He was a fucking asshole in his original world, but he’d never lay a fucking hand on Deku’s sweet freckled body— on anyone's body. He was gruff with people, reserved and kept to himself, especially with the comments on his wasted potential, but he knew when to reign in his temper. He knew that he couldn’t be that way around the… dam of his pup, his pup, his boss, and various other people, really.

But it seemed like this worlds' Katsuki didn't have those restrictions. He was a fucking asshole to everyone, and he was getting that the HSC only kept him around because he was the strongest hero. When he said he’d become a hero stronger than All Might , this wasn’t what he had in mind. His memories showed that he did meet the man at a certain point, albeit a skinnier… weaker version of him. What his own consciousness felt from that vision was a deep sadness and uncertainty— that his favorite hero had gone through so much pain to be reduced to a shell of his previous form.

This worlds' Katsuki didn't share the same thoughts. He… looked at All Might and thought the man was a weak fuck who only failed because he wasn’t strong enough. He looked at All Might and wanted to be someone so strong that no one got in his way—

And that’s exactly what he got. He wondered if that Katsuki was just okay with how things turned out to be.

He feared that it was the goal all along.

After two days of continued hero work and appending a villain who was more annoying than anything, really, he shed his costume off of his body and draped it over the large leather couch in his office. He set his gauntlets down safely in a corner before deflating on his chair.

Fuck. He loved the work, but he’d been working every single day since showing up in this damn world. He took shifts as they came; sometimes he just wanted a distraction and stayed out, patrolling, longer than he really needed to. But the streets were mostly safe, so there was fuck all to do unless a villain stopped by.

His eyes shut and he blew a slow breath out of his nose. 

He didn't know what it was, but his brain had a… response, of sorts, whenever he had to breathe in a way that wasn’t normal . Given that he knew the sensation of taking his last breath and almost dying, it placed a fear in him that he could take his last breath again at any moment— and maybe he wouldn’t be lucky enough to get transported to a different world the second time. So he tried to maintain his breathing; stay conscious about each flow of air in, and out. 

That was about as long as he could stall the inevitable for, though.

There was more to say, and more memories to piece together, but it’d been two days since his introduction to this world’s Deku and his alpha was getting restless again.

Go to omega, now ! You promised them you’d be there.

“Fuck, I didn't promise them,” he huffed back to his alpha. “And it's not a big deal anyway. Im not fucking dying to see shitty Deku.”

Omega is not shitty! His alpha argued— like he didn't see that retaliation coming. He rolled his eyes at how persistent it was to tell him that Deku was anything but a shitty nerd. Even if he was good at his job as a quirk analyst, what difference did it make? He was just doing his damn job, properly in this world, unlike in the one that Katsuki came from. He couldn’t even be a good dam or mate properly— and it's a damn good thing they weren’t officially mated, or else he would have to live with Deku’s complaining about the smallest things, all day, everyday. 

Don’t call me that in front of him!

He’s not doing so well in school, do you think you could check in with him a bit?

Kacchan. Katsuma hasn’t been watching out with his quirk and I think he could use some help!

Kacchan.

Kacchan—

Kacchan.

This, that, and the third. After a long day of hero work he’d like to be able to rest in his small home with his pup relaxed beside him, and with Deku serving him dinner. Though he couldn’t even ask for that much, there was always something in the way of that sense of peace.

Fuck, just thinking about it was making his blood boil again.

Stop! His alpha growled. Stop getting mad at our mate. He’s doing his best!

Maybe the one in his original world, but as far as he knew, the Deku in this world didn't even have a kid. He was just a nerd cooped up in his messy office working on the costume that he had to check up on.

Fuck . Why’d he say he’d do that? Was it too late to ask someone to drop it off in his office?

God, never mind— he’d rather not deal with scared employees right now. He just had to go and talk to Deku. He was the number one fucking pro hero, damn it, the idea of speaking to the green omega shouldn’t make his throat dry up. 

His hands tingled with energy that he had only felt once before— when he shared his cycle with Deku ten years ago. 

He wasn’t scared. He wasn’t . It didn't mean shit. 

The elevator doors slid open on the third floor. He didn't know if it helped that whenever someone saw him step inside the elevator, they immediately bowed to him before running out. Well, it did fucking help at all, because he felt like an asshole, all because of actions he had no recollection of doing. And he wasn’t stalling the meeting with Deku, fuck you very much.

…The door to the nerds' office was only a foot away, and unlike last time, all of the support department employees stayed focused on their work, instead of casting him curious glances. He took a deep breath, being mindful of his heartbeat, and pushed the door open.

Once again his eyes were flooded with a blinding white light. It couldn’t be that much different from the lighting outside, but then his eyes focused on a fucking plasma saw in Deku’s hands. It was a hundred times brighter in the office now, and he was fucking sure that there were a lot of safety protocols that the nerd was totally disregarding. 

He cleared his throat to get the quirkless omega to finally acknowledge his presence, growing impatient and a little annoyed at the fact that he was never addressed right away. Sure, his Deku could get engrossed with… whatever he’d be hyper-fixated on at a certain moment, but he still had eyes that shone brightly when Katsuki was around.

Now— like the last time he was in the office— when Deku acknowledged him, his eyes were impassive. He wasn’t scared like the other workers, so he was unsure if that flicker of fear in Deku’s eyes, from his memory, was something he just… imagined. Deku turned the plasma saw off and set it on his desk gently. He took his gloves off and shoved them in his pocket before finally addressing Katsuki.

“I came here for updates,” Katsuki said, stating the fucking obvious. “If you have any, I mean.”

“Of course,” Deku nodded, pulling something that looked very much like a finished product from under his desk. Katsuki’s eyes widened.

“Holy shit. You did that in just two fucking days?”

“How is this a surprise? My usual work is done within this time,” Deku rolled his eyes. Katsuki bristled at the eye-roll, but he was also immensely… comforted, from the familiarity of such a response. The green omega did always have a certain bite to him, that Katsuki figured had just dwindled over the years, and turned into something that was fucking annoying .

…But it wasn’t really annoying. He fucking— shit — he missed that sort of bite. The banter, the whining, and everything else. His head felt heavy with the realization that he, what, missed Deku? That he wanted Deku to look at him with stars in his eyes, instead of the dull green that he was becoming so used to? That he wanted to fucking know if their pup was okay?

Shit, did they even have a pup together in this world? He knew nothing of it. 

His alpha whimpered; his heart panged. He didn't know what to make of it. He didn't want a life with a quirkless mate or a pup, he’s told himself this a million times over. The consequences of his former actions were ingrained so deep into his mind that he took every single word to heart.

The words of those who saw something in him .

Was it this reality that they saw for him? The reality where he was, what seemed to be, an abusive asshole who used his strength to embed fear into everyone? To stand at the top, hold the number one pro hero title, and live lavishly in a high-rise penthouse with an omega he didn't have any respect for?

That's not the fucking future he wanted.

There had to be some differentiating point, though. Somewhere his path drifted, and turned into this one. If these were the two realities that could have been as a result of a single decision, then…

He took an audible gulp, face heating when Deku stepped just a bit too close to take measurements of his arm. His luscious green curls tickled under his nose, making his mouth quirk up in an involuntary smile. He didn't want to be weird— fuck, he didn't. But his alpha was fucking panting, urging him to take a whiff of Izuku. 

So he did.

And it was the most heavenly scent he’d ever been around. The scent patches did nothing to cover up Izuku’s natural scent— the shampoo that he’d used to wash his hair with. It was the exact same . Katsuki was convinced that this really was his Deku. This was just…

The Deku that would have been, had a few factors gone different in their past. He became this tyrant hero whom everyone essentially bowed down to in the face of, and Deku became a senior quirk analyst at his agency, despite this worlds’ Katsuki being starkly against it. The green-haired omega overcame all the odds in the hero and quirk analyst world—

He wasn’t dumb. He’d overseen the rules set in place for anyone becoming an analyst. For their own personal safety, they needed to have a quirk that could get them out of a bind. That Deku was still able to become a senior analyst spoke a lot about his character and his strength. 

And Katsuki was beginning to realize that his strength wasn’t just limited to this world.

On his second, totally not weird, sniff of Izuku, he found a scent that made his limbs go lax. His alpha notably calmed down, too, when the smell of their pup filtered through his nose. It was hidden underneath Izuku’s natural scent, and the slight tones covered with his scent patch, but he would fucking know the smell of his pup from anywhere. It was a mixture of both of them— more so Izuku, but his own scent was still there. And it was lovely and calming and the calmest he’d ever been since appearing in this new reality.

Too bad the calmness didn't last for long. A memory slammed into his head, nearly feeling like it cracked his cranium. He let out a hiss as the words and images processed.

At first, static, loudly crackling in his ear like an old school television. And then a smaller flash— much like a screen turning on. He didn't know what this was supposed to mimic, but it was god fucking awful.

BZZZZZTTT… bzzt bzz— 

Words that he recalled Izuku saying ten years ago, said in a distorted voice covered with more static. 

“I’m pregnant. The protection… it didn't work.”

An outsider's point of view,

A deep scowl on his 15-year-old self’s face. Eyes flickering down to Izuku’s stomach.

No…

“Fucking get rid of it, then. I’m not letting some accidental pup get in the way of my hero career. You should have fucking thought about this before telling me.”

Tears, so many tears, cascading down Izuku’s face .

His head throbbed. He didn't want to hear anymore— he didn't want to see any more of the pain on Izuku’s face. He refused to see the look of disgust on fifteen-year-old Katsuki’s face. 

But the memory wouldn’t stop playing. 

“Stop with the shitty waterworks! I'm not gonna change my fucking mind about being a hero or that pup. I’ll give you money for an abortion but that’s it.”

Hands stuffed into his pockets, he turned to walk away. Izuku’s hand grasped onto his. More stuttered begging,

“Wh-what? I can't just abort o-our p-pup!”

“You can, and you will,” he growled. “Or I’ll fucking do it for you. I have no problem with that.”

A manic grin followed by laughter. 

He felt sick. How could he say any of that? Was this who he’d really be if he didn't accept the pup? Were the only two options for him to… accept his pup, or to be an absolute, manic asshole? 

The next image made him sick . 

Explosions popped in his hands. He turned around, set on popping one off against Izuku’s womb.

A screech; Izuku quickly turned around. He ran, ran, ran. Katsuki stared at his rapidly retreating back, bright explosions still going off. One last thing yelled,

“You better fucking abort that baby! I’m serious, Deku!”

No response.

The throbbing took even longer to dull down this time. He hated that. He wanted the pain to continue— to go on for even longer. He fucking deserved it, if this was the bastard he was going to be as a result of not wanting his pup. Maybe it was the years surrounded by the comfort of Katsuma and Izuku that turned him into someone soft and understanding, for the most part.

The Katsuki of this world…

He could hardly recognize that man. He couldn’t accept that man as himself. It wasn’t him!

…Was it?

He groaned, thumping the heel of his palm on his temple. He was scared to open his eyes and see the expression Deku must be staring at him with. Impassiveness? Concern? It was most likely the former, as, if that was how the Katsuki of this world behaved towards Deku, then he would hate himself, too. 

“Kacc— Ground Zero.”

He grumbled some incoherent response, taking measured breaths. Izuku wasn’t close to him anymore. He couldn’t find comfort in his omega’s familiar, homey scent. He tried to go based on memory, and it sort of worked. His eyes opened slowly—

The green orbs that looked back at him; they were filled with a mix of emotions. Dark green brows tilted down at the end in worry, his eyes sparkled with unhidden curiosity. He was trying to figure out Katsuki again. And for once, the blonde was okay with it.

Because he couldn’t figure himself out, either. 

At last, Izuku’s lips pursed into a thin line. Katsuki’s eyes were shameless, paying attention to the movement of the omega’s mouth as he did so. He couldn’t control the urge to press his thumb against the soft appendage, and if Izuku was still an overly analytical nerd, Katsuki could bet that he still had the habit of biting and licking his lips often. 

Fuck, he wanted to feel that.

The urge to do so should be a fucking concern, but he couldn’t deny his attraction to Izuku any longer—

Not after seeing the absolute pain in his green eyes when Katsuki rejected him and their unborn pup. The sight would haunt him for years to come, and he could only think to himself that if he could go back in time , he would choose the reality where he accepted Izuku and the pup. Where he raised their beautiful son together and was, at the very least, a well-respected hero. Where people weren’t afraid of him like they were here, and he still had his fucking morals in the other world. 

He didn't care for being the number one hero. It was only glitz and glamor, money and a penthouse, a bed that was never warm, a mindset that he wanted to strangle himself for, an overly inflated ego and a hero commission that didn't care to knock him down a peg.

It was terrified green orbs that knew Katsuki could hurt him, but he wouldn’t fucking dare— not now, not ever. He just…

He was a fucking dumbass. His last words to Izuku of the other world weren’t the kindest, and even if he wasn’t physically abusive, he wasn’t exactly the most caring mate and sire, either. He did the bare minimum by providing them with a house and food in his resentment. He played with his son sometimes, but mostly he was focused with hero work.

Fuck, he was an emotionally constipated dumbass asshole in both worlds. And he was fucking dead in the other one, where he just so easily accepted that he’d be leaving the world— and leaving his mate and son to fend for themselves.

But…

He stepped closer to Deku, who was chewing his lower lip now, most likely stuck in thought.

But maybe, he had the chance to mend things in this world. He could fix this worlds’ Katsuki’s fuck ups— repair his relationship with Izuku and…

Their pup, which he wasn’t even sure about being in the picture, here. 

“You know, we don’t usually speak to each other at all, but having you in my office and not speaking is kind of… a concern,” Deku admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Right, I just, um—“

The stuttering that he used to get so annoyed at Deku for was coming to bite him in the ass, and all he could so was stand there like an idiot , feeling his face heat up at the embarrassment of it all, as Deku once again pinned him with a dissecting stare. 

“The adjustments,” he choked out, finally. Izuku smiled, and the sight of it was just so reassuring and a complete 180 from the vision he had, that he felt the muscles in his back and shoulders just relax . 

It was so… amazingly beautiful, a small smile like that. 

The greenette gestured at the product on his desk and got to explaining new attributes to the costume; things he figured needed an upgrade, stuff that were due for maintenance, such as his gauntlets. He brought out those bad boys after covering everything on the suit.

“So I read over the design changes you wanted for your gauntlets,” Deku knocked his fingers on the outer shell of the gauntlet. Katsuki grimaced just a bit, automatically reaching out to get Deku’s fingers away from the explosive device. He knew firsthand how reactive those things were, and he was still scared that this was just a prototype.

But Deku was just fine. There were no explosions.

And he looked even dumber with his arms reached out to hold the omega. Deku didn't even notice the change in position, though, as he was still explaining the upgrades to his gauntlets, such as a new safety pin. He let out an inaudible breath before composing himself, moving back to stand with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

This wouldn’t do.

He couldn’t feel embarrassed every time he did something to get… closer to Izuku. He was hellbent on fixing things, and that meant putting his emotional constipation aside and fucking giving his all . He couldn’t be the number one hero properly— he wouldn’t accept the hero that he’s become in this world.

But he could damn well become the best mate and sire. He’d be number one at that. 

Step number one…

“And that’s all the changes to your costume,” Deku finished explaining. “This is the final product, too. Nice doing business with you, as always, even if this was a different experience,” he mused. “You can drop it off for a touch-up in a few months.”

Fuck that. He wasn’t going to wait a few months to see his damn mate again. Step one was to ask the nerd when he was free next. 

“Actually, I was thinking we could discuss a few more upgrades to my winter costume,” he lied. It was a good excuse as any. Deku hummed, turning back to check the availability on his calendar. 

And, what the hell, the nerd was booked practically every hour of every day— barring weekends. His workday ended at sixPM, from what Katsuki could tell. 

“I'm… free-ish. Just come in whenever and we can talk,” he said. 

“Can we meet up elsewhere?”

No, he wasn’t going to be embarrassed by the fact he sounded whiny . It was alright, because the question made Deku blink at him, almost astonished. The little green nerd paused for a moment and rechecked his schedule. The stare he cast upon it was strong enough to bore holes through the object. Finally, he sighed, and Katsuki’s hopes were absolutely crushed from the small sound. Of course he wouldn’t be free. Deku always had a busy schedule— and Katsuki could only imagine how busy Deku was in the other world, on a daily basis.

While he was out hero-ing… what was Izuku up to? He foolishly said that he stayed comfortably in their home to take care of their pup, but that wasn’t the case now that he could see the bigger picture. This world or the other, Deku gave a hundred percent to everything that he did, and it should have been obvious that he did so for their pup.

His alpha whined again, loudly, and he didn't have the mind to tell it to be quiet— because he felt like a shithead, too. 

I told you, his alpha said as it lay down, its posture so dejected . Our mate wouldn’t want us anymore…

Bullshit. He’d try as hard as he’d have to, and then try even harder . He would go plus ultra in courting his nerd properly and showing that he was a good fucking mate. 

“I don’t want to make any promises, but I have a small opening on Friday for three PM,” Deku then said, and all hope was restored for Katsuki. He could make a move soon . But before then, he would put his number one pro-hero salary to good fucking use, by buying a shit ton of courting gifts and leaving it by the nerds door. He didn't want to bother his omega as he was working on projects.

He grinned sharply. Izuku’s jade green orbs dimmed once again, to the impassiveness that they’ve been pinning Katsuki with for the majority of the time they’ve spent together. He wouldn’t admit that his hands became sweatier than usual at the total switch-up that came out of nowhere , but a single look wasn’t going to deter him. He had a fucking mission to do.

“I’ll be there, nerd,” he promised. 

“No promises.”

“Doesn’t matter. I'll still show up and bother ya.”

“Please don’t.” He turned back to his project and pulled his goggles back over his eyes. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return to work.”

“Fuck, yeah, sorry. I’ll leave you to it then.”

He noticed the momentary clench of Izuku’s hands which gripped onto the plasma saw, before they loosened only slightly. He gave a sharp nod to Katsuki, finishing their meeting. 

Just like the last time their encounter ended, he felt more accomplished than ever. And things would only get better from here on out—

He sure fucking hoped.

The next day was jam-packed with Katsuki dropping off gifts in front of Izuku’s office.

…Gifts that stayed unopened until the end of the day. He knew because there were security cameras on every department floor, and he wouldn’t admit to anyone that he spent the entirety of his free time staring at camera footage. Deku was in his office for the entire day, and only stepped out if he needed to use the bathroom. The fucking shithead even sidestepped his gifts in his rush to use the restroom before waltzing inside his office again.

When he left the office again at sixPM sharp, he looked at the gift boxes for three agonizingly long seconds, in which Katsuki thought fina-fucking-ly, he’s gonna open them!

He did not open them.

Instead, he startled at a phone notification, looked down at the device, and then began running like a headless chicken all the way to the elevator.

In the elevator he was just… tapping his legs nervously. A few times he looked up at the security cameras, like he knew he was being watched— and that’s when Katsuki finally decided to give up on watching the camera footage. He exited the security app and groaned long and frustrated, slamming his head against his desk.

How would he even present courting gifts to Deku like this if the greenette was just going to… avoid them? It may not be intentional, but it sure was tugging at his heartstrings in a painful way. His alpha was also crying at the fact that their omega wouldn’t acknowledge them!

But— but it was fine . This was just the first day of his official attempts, after all, and if he couldn’t handle a little rejection then what kind of devotion would that be? Okay, thinking that might make him sound like someone who couldn’t take no for an answer, but it wasn’t the same , okay? He just needed to try more! He wasn’t going to give up so early in the game.

Not until Deku verbally told him to stop his courting. Then he would… well, he would try to go through his days not feeling like an immense fuck-up and a terrible alpha, but that probably wouldn’t work out well for him. 

Nonetheless, he held onto hope like a grappling hook. 

And in no time, their fated meeting on a Friday afternoon came, with him standing directly in front of Izuku’s office. The other workers were getting used to his presence now. Some of them felt safe enough to smile timidly at him— which was progress. He’d take it over them trembling at just the sigh of him.

The door swung open and there he was . He looked so fucking good in his lab coat, but as he took the outer layer off and hung it up on a hook, Katsuki had to physically stop his jaw from popping open.

Wide hips that were covered by the coat before were now on full display, looking as soft and holdable as ever. His hands itched to place themselves on each side, pulling Deku close to him so he could nuzzle his nose into green curls once again. 

Though by the stress lines on Deku’s face, Katsuki knew that his urges would have to wait— or maybe they could be useful… scenting was a good way to get rid of stress and calm someone down! It especially works well with people who are mates . Which, um, may not be the case officially, but it will be soon. 

“Alright, I’ve only got a forty-minute window. Let's hurry,” Deku said, walking by him. He and his alpha lurched to keep pace with the green omega, briskly brushing by everyone in the department. For someone so short , he was hard to keep up with. He was nearly taking sharp breaths by the time they were in the elevator.

And he was the pro-hero. 

But with sharp breaths came the ability to really smell Deku again, within the confines of the elevator. He kept his distance of a few feet, but it was such a familiar scent that… it automatically filtered through his nostrils. A couple of deep breaths were all it took for him and his alpha to relax. Izuku didn't even look at him from the reflective steel enclosure of the elevator. 

“Hello to you too, Deku,” he huffed with zero irritation in his voice. 

“Hello,” Izuku greeted.

“How’s your day been so far?”

Light conversation wasn’t the method he wanted to jump into, but it’d have to fucking do if Izuku didn't want to accept the… heavy courting gifts. Alright, Katsuki was sort of glad that the nerd didn't open the gift bags. Giving him a scented blanket was too forward of a move—

Starting slowly with conversation would be a better tactic. 

Look, he was capable of anything he set his mind to, but he’d never courted someone before, okay? He didn't know what it was like to show his care for Izuku in that way, and his financial and mild moral support wasn’t nearly enough. So this would most likely turn out to be a trial-and-error type of thing, but hey, as long as he didn't fucking die again, he had all the time in this world, right?

“It’s been alright,” Deku answered with a shrug. “The days are always productive. I finished a good portion of the orders that came through.”

Katsuki was fucking impressed. 

“That's amazing, nerd. How come you do most of the orders in the department?” 

“I only create the final products of the costume,” he explained. The elevator doors slid open on the first floor and Katsuki stayed hooked on every word as Deku explained.

His alpha rumbled at hearing their omega's voice. He sounded so passionate about his work, it was all that Katsuki could do to not hold Deku from behind and urge him to speak more. He wanted to be around Izuku all the time. Fuck, that was probably too fucking much to admit this early on. 

“Anyway, the department finalizes blueprints for the costumes, then I check over them for errors— there aren’t many, really— and then I work on the final product, and it gets sent in for durability testing against quirks I think would be worth looking into.”

“Hm. What quirks are worth looking into for my costume?”

“ Lots of water-based quirks, essentially. You’re supposed to be doused in sweat, and water kind of washes the entire point away,” Deku snorted. “Also some sand-based quirks. They absorb your sweat.”

“Really? I didn't really think about how sand would affect my quirk,” his brows raised. It was true; he’d never considered the implications of going toe-to-toe with someone who had a sand-based quirk. How was that even tested against his costume? 

“If you’re wondering about how it's tested, we honestly just toss a bunch of sand grains at it,” Izuku said seriously. 

Katsuki was taken the fuck back. They just tossed sand at it? Like that was enough to test the durability of his costume— no, no way it was as simple as that.

“You’re shitting me, aren’t you? No way that’s true.”

“It’s true!” Deku pressed. “You can feel free to stop by anytime we have to test against sand quirks.”

…Was this a fucking… opening? To drop by whenever he wanted to? Without looking like a weirdo who probably had no business showing up in the support department so often?! Sign him the fuck up. 

“Hell yeah, nerd. I might stop by some more to see other quirks, too,” he said, all nonchalantly like he wasn’t pushing his luck with seeing the omega more. Deku paused in his steps, as if to consider. He and his alpha held their breath in hopes that Deku would say yes , instead of telling him to kindly fuck off.

Maybe it wouldn’t even be said kindly. Maybe Deku would just tell him to never see him again. It was so unlike the greenette to say something so mean— ‘specially if it was the case that he was terrified of this worlds’ Katsuki at a certain point. That fuckin’ blonde-haired bitch. How dare he make their omega afraid of him.

…How dare he make Izuku afraid of him in his original world.

“ You , well…” Deku trailed off as he turned to face Katsuki, looking him dead in the eye. It was that analytical stare once again, but this time, Katsuki wasn’t afraid to stare right back. He stood his ground. Could Deku see the adoration in his eyes? Were his feelings being communicated through this one look?

He didn't know. And Izuku wasn’t particularly clear about it, either, when he just hummed at the end and turned back around. What was it that the fucking nerd deduced from every one of his observant stares?

“So, is that a yes?” Katsuki asked, allowing himself to sound hopeful. They were back to walking out of the agency building. Deku nodded a few seconds later, and Katsuki could swear up and down that the tips of Deku’s ears were… pink.

His alpha had only purred a few times in his life— it mainly stopped happening when the comments from others started. He didn't give a fuck about any of those extras now. He only cared about Izuku , and knowing that Izuku blushed because of him filled his being with an unbridled type of joy

Thirty-three minutes left on the clock, he quickly took them to a coffee and pastry shop over on the next street. He knew the Deku in his world enjoyed sweets, so it was only safe to assume that it was the same for Deku over here.

He was right.

The greenette’s eyes sparkled in amazement— a stark contrast from how he usually addressed Katsuki— as he held the door open and gestured for Deku to step inside first. The omega thanked him, stepping inside and practically bouncing to the display shelf. He held back an amused snort. The little green nerd was so fucking cute .

“Whaddya want, Deku? Pastries and coffee are on me.”

His offer could be seen as just a friend treating another friend, but with the way Deku tensed… he knew that the nerd wouldn’t accept the pastry and drink. And he said as much,

“No, thank you,” he shook his head, his body still tense. “I can pay for my own stuff.”

“Oh, of course,” he quickly tried to amend, “I’m not saying you can't . I just wanted to, um, treat you.”

Shit, that didn't go over well, either.

“No, thanks again,” Izuku said stiffly. Katsuki had to stop himself from actively slamming his head against one of the shop walls as he followed behind Izuku, to state their orders to the barista. 

“Do you come here often?” 

“…Not really,” he answered after a small pause.

Katsuki’s head spun. What was the need to lie about coming to a pastry shop? He knew it was a lie— the nerd fiddled with his fingers whenever he was about to say something untruthful, or even just a half lie. It would do no help to help if he jumped to conclusions so quickly each time Izuku seemed closed off. He had every reason to be that way— Katsuki just had the patience of a fucking goldfish most times. And an overactive mind. 

“Hi!” The barista, a girl with light blonde hair and blue eyes, greeted them. “Been a while since I’ve seen you here, Izu. What can I get ya?”

…

“Um,” Izuku laughed nervously upon feeling the weight of Katsuki’s deadpan stare. The barista seemed to catch on a bit too late to her mistake. She cringed, looking at Izuku in apology. “I’ll just have a… caramel crepe and matcha tea, please.”

She put in his order, still having an apologetic grimace on her face.

“That’ll be on the house,” she cleared her throat.

“No, no! It's okay, here,” he passed over his debit card.

Katsuki huffed internally at how easily they were able to interact with each other— even if it was a bit awkward from the barista's exposing statement. Most people didn't catch on at all, though, so he was a little impressed. At least he could confirm that Deku wasn’t being honest with his answer—

But why ? Fuck, it was driving him crazy. He wanted to know more about Izuku, but how… how could he even begin to ask anything? Did he even have the right to dig deeper?

“And you— oh, shhhii— Ground Zero, sir?” She squeaked. Her eyes looked toward Deku nervously, as if to ask what is he doing here ?! The greenette only glanced away. 

This fucking asshole Katsuki. Was he even a dipshit towards baristas?! While he didn't care about the opinions of extras , he didn't feel okay with letting everyone stay afraid of him. They deserved to have a number one hero that they could look up to without feeling like they were part of some dictatorship. 

He was glad he didn't have anymore… memories flooded his mind, with images of how he treated other people, but he wasn’t going to hold his breath on that luck. He was still shell-shocked over how he threatened Izuku all those years ago.

“A macaroon box and an iced americano.”

He paused and added,

“Please.”

Both the barista and Deku were taken aback. He scowled at the nerd, though he was sure it looked the least bit unconvincing as there was the brightest of blushes on his cheeks. Deku cleared his throat, but Katsuki fucking knew he was just stifling a laugh.

Oh fuck no. He’d get back at the little nerd. 

“Yes, of course. Your total will be twelve dollars and twenty-eight cents.”

He handed his card over and their orders were handed to them within a few minutes, given they were the only customers in the shop. There weren’t any tables, though… 

“Ah, we could go eat at the park over there?” Deku pointed outside of the glass window, at the park which Katsuki found himself strolling through often. It was a better place to be— truthfully, anywhere was a better place to be, than at his high-rise penthouse with too many square feet for just two people who never talked to each other.

He hadn’t gone back there in a while, too. He couldn’t sleep in the same place as the blonde hero; not when his heart was dead-set on courting Izuku. 

“Alright, Deku. Lead the fucking way,” he grinned. The greenette flushed once again before turning around sharply and doing just that.

Accomplishment came with the taste of a sweet strawberry macaroon. And an iced americano, but that didn't really have much of a taste other than general fucking bitterness. No, his feelings towards Izuku were anything but bitter. He was drowning in sweetness, and by God even if it took years to woo his Deku, he’d do it all with a fucking grin on his face. 

Things after their first unofficial date got a little better… or worse, depending on how you looked at it. On the one hand, Deku wasn’t so wary of him anymore— for the most part. He opened himself up when talking about quirk analysis and costume upgrades, or when he found a pastry shop that he really liked.

…But that was really it.

He was still closed off on most aspects. Such as his life outside of work, his family members— he’d yet to hear anything being mentioned about Auntie Inko.

And both he and his alpha were being driven crazy, worrying about their pup. He could smell Katsuma, but he didn't know how to bring up with Deku, hey, how’s our little boy doing ? As far as he knows, this worlds' Katsuki had never shown an interest in Deku or the pup.

Maybe… maybe Izuku was trying to keep his pup safe by withholding the information from Katsuki.

The realization made him grit his teeth. If he could do it without raising Deku’s alarm, he’d hold the nerd so close and tell him that he’d never have to worry about any harm coming to their pup— from him or anyone else.

Aside from information on himself and their pup, Deku did not mention anything of his personal life, either. He didn't mention any friends— or a mate, for that matter. While it wasn’t likely that Deku wasn’t mated already, with the lack of a mating mark and all, he let out a breath of relief at the small indirect confirmation.

He asked about it one day in the support department, when the green-haired omega was overseeing a durability examination. Deku became so focused on making sure that costumes were up to par for the hero's safety that he forgot about everything else around him, and that usually included questions people threw at him— it was like his brain worked on autopilot. But Katsuki refused to take advantage of that fact. He wanted to know more about his little nerd, sure, but he wasn’t going to extract the information when he basically couldn’t consent. 

…Still, this question was necessary, okay? It would throw his plan off track if Deku really did have a mate waiting for him back at home. 

“So, nerd. Ya got a mate yet? Or a boyfriend, or something?”

“No, I don’t. The costume seems to be holding up well against fire quirks…”

“It does. What about an explosive quirk next?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

Yeah, he fucking helped around that department now. He spent most of his free time in there— got to know most of the employees, too. He felt great knowing that they all felt comfortable enough around him now to not bow down each time, but… it still happened in other places. He could make a public announcement with a formal apology to everyone— or maybe bring it up with PR and ask what he could do to change his reputation into someone who wasn’t a fucking tyrant. 

Regardless, if he wanted to show Deku that he was a changed person, and make the nerd less cautious of him, he’d need to boost his relationship with other people.

Starting with the cafe barista.

“Hi! Welcome to red-light-green-light cafe— oh, it's you!” She beamed at him.

“It's me,” he pointlessly confirmed. Alright, their relationship has been going well so far. After their initial interaction, she deemed him… safe enough to smile at, at least. Amazing progress, really. It took everyone else about a week to realize he wasn’t going to explode their faces off. “Here to pick up my usual.”

“Your order and Izu’s,” she nodded, putting the order into her register. “Is it going well?” She asked. He raised an eyebrow as he passed her his card.

“Is what going well?”

“Courting him of course.”

What .

“You can tell?!” 

What, was it fucking obvious to everyone besides Deku? Or was it obvious to him too, and he was just being oblivious about the damn thing?

“Calm down. You come in here every day for his order; what else am I supposed to think?” She snorted. 

He could only gape at her while she made the order. So— Deku knew, but… why didn't he mention anything of it? He didn't want to ask without overstepping, though he could only think of one way where he’d be guaranteed a direct answer.

He’s standing beside Deku during testing when the question pops out of his mouth.

“Do you know that I'm courting you?”

No response for a couple of seconds. Deku’s eyes remained trained on the quirk-proof glass and there was no sign of him acknowledging Katsuki’s question. His green orbs shined with the beam of the laser which was then tested on the costume. It was nerve-inducing; how much time had passed— how concentrated he was on the durability exam.

Katsuki was about to consider the question a lost cause, when,

“No,” Izuku said, so quietly that Katsuki almost missed it. “I don’t. And… if that’s true, then I’d like to kindly ask you to stop, Ground Zero.”

Katsuki’s heart shattered. Izuku said no more as the tests drove on.

—

It should have deterred him.

It should have been enough to make him think hey, you should stop. You’d only be making him uncomfortable from here on out. 

And it was a good warning to give himself. It was a good reason as any to lay off on the courting gifts, the food, the intrusive questions— but that didn't bar him from just being Izuku’s… friend.

Never mind.

The thought crushed both him and his alpha as he lay on his office couch that night, an arm thrown over the edge and the other draped over his eyes. He’d just finished his second round of frustrated and pained tears, and he could feel the third one coming on very soon.

He was a fucking fool for thinking that two simple weeks of sparse conversations with Izuku about quirks and buying him food would make the greenette even consider giving him a chance. What sort of entitled asshole did he sound like? The act was putting this worlds’ Katsuki to shame. 

He wasn’t kidding when he said he had zero experience in wooing someone. His and Deku’s instincts did all the talking when they had sex for the first time— that was all he had to put his faith into. And then when the pup came, he wanted to take responsibility. He wanted to be a part of his mate’s and his pups’ life, because his instincts strongly encouraged him to do so.

Then for the longest time he spent resenting his instincts— rejecting them, as well. When they told him to comfort his omega, or to scent his pup, he outright refused. He should’ve fucking listened to that damn alpha; he should’ve known that he would regret it. His instincts never fucking lied to him before.

I told you so, his alpha huffed, again. You made this bed and now you have to lay in it .

Fuck, he… he fucking knew that. He growled audibly. 

“What the hell am I supposed to do now, then? I can't just continue courting him, it would make him uncomfortable.”

Omega is still scared of us. 

“I know .”

Omega needs to know we won’t hurt him. 

“What the fuck? I can't just bring that up suddenly! I've been trying to show it through my actions.”

You idiot. He hasn’t even opened the gifts you gave him two weeks ago . 

“True… what’s your fucking point, though?”

You must tell him!

“Yeah? And how’s he gonna take that, huh?”

You have been nice and making conversation with everyone else— not with our omega. You only talk about words .

He would admit that his alpha was… mouthier than most others, but he was glad for that. He needed the fucking advice, it seemed. And the fucker brought up a good point. He was more engaging with everybody else, and the only thing that stopped him from asking personal questions to Izuku was his fear of rejection.

That… ended up happening, anyway. His alpha was right. He needed to be more direct about his intentions— and most importantly, the type of person that he was now.

“Fuck, I’ll try,” he grumbled, in the quiet of his office. 

  Ha. Good . 

The sun arose to thoughts of swaddling Izuku and their pup in his arms. He prepared himself a coffee using the in-office coffee machine and milled about until the clock hit sevenAM. His morning patrol shift began at eight… he could be a bit more productive about his day and go to the gym.

He did just so, and fuck , he should’ve hit this place up sooner. His penthouse had a gym in it, and he’d been neglecting his overall physical health too much the past week—

If he’d known the facilities would be this expensive, his workouts would have been done here, no doubt.

He was mid-rep when he heard the elevator ding, signaling that someone else had entered the gym. He paused, craning his head to look around the corner at the newcomer— but obviously that was impossible with a two-hundred pound bar in his hands. He placed the bar back on its rack and sat up slowly, working out the soreness in his arms with a few arm rotations, when finally he could see who entered the agency gym.

His breath caught in his throat.

Gods, did Deku frequent the gym here every morning? The guy looked like he had a couple more eye bags than usual this morning, though there was a gym bag on his shoulder and a coffee cup in his hand. Deku dropped his bag on the floor and placed his coffee cup on a ledge after taking a sip. And then a sight came which Katsuki wouldn’t be able to get out of his mind for the next few months , at the very least.

The greenette must feel comfortable with changing out in the open, assuming that no one else was around him. Katsuki felt the slightest bit bad, but all coherency from his mind drifted away. There was only the drop of his mouth as he stared at Deku pulling his shirt over his head.

There were more muscles and scars littering his body than Katsuki could have ever imagined. 

The sight was so foreign— the Deku from his world didnt have any scars, as far as he remembered, though when was the last time Katsuki saw him shirtless? 

A… good while, actually.

But Katsuki was correct in his previous assessment of this Izuku’s body; he was absolutely jacked , albeit in a lean sort of way. He still had a petite body frame, coated in a noticeable layer of fat— but through it all, there were built biceps, strong back muscles, and when he turned his body to face Katsuki… Gods, he wanted to put his tongue on those abs.

Unfortunately, that was when Deku took notice of him.

His eyebrows rose to his forehead, but he showed no other sign of shock, or even anger. He regarded Katsuki for several seconds in silence, before shaking his head and throwing on a workout tank top. 

“I usually do my workouts shirtless,” he said, walking over to a benchpress beside Katsuki. “But since you’re here…”

The blunt statement made him wilt noticeably. 

“Right… sorry for staring at you while you, you know.”

“Its all good,” he shrugged. Katsuki desperately tried not to stare at the ripple of Izuku’s core as he laid back on the bench. “I do have a hot body, so it makes sense.”

Oh, so he fucking knew . Katsuki averted his eyes and huffed.

“Yeah, well, that makes two of us, doesn’t it? But you’re not staring,” he muttered at the end.

“Who says Im not?”

“What?” 

He looked back at Deku, startled by the simple confession— and sure enough, their eyes connected. Deku’s didnt shift away.

God knows how long they spent, drowning in just the look of each other; at least, that’s what Katsuki felt was happening. His entire body was consumed with the urge to look, look , take in all that Izuku is, because this may be his only chance to do so.

And Izuku did the same. His hair billowed around the frame of his face, like a fluffy green halo. His emerald eyes flickered over the entirety of Katsuki’s face, down to his neck, his stare extra hot upon seeing the bob of Katsuki’s Adams apple. He trailed lower, lower, to the slight flex of the blonde’s abs.

Katsuki had never been a self conscious man before— not in terms of looks— but he sure fucking hoped that Izuku liked what he was seeing.

“I… I do,” Izuku said under his breath. Katsuki’s eyes widened. Shit, he fucking said— wait,

“ What ?” He was only capable of surprise, with everything that Izuku said. But the growing smile on Izuku’s face made him add something that was actually smart for once, “you serious? Youre, uh, staring at me…?”

“Mhm,” Izuku nodded. His hands moved to grasp onto the bar. “Hey, can you pile a few weights onto this and spot me?”

“What?”

Fuck, not that response again. His alpha snorted at him before telling him to fucking listen to Izuku. He rushed to comply, putting a few weights on that he thought Izuku could handle. 

“This enough for you?”

“Its perfect,” the greenette nodded.

“Okay, then I’ll just… yeah, I’ll spot you,” he cleared his throat. It was even fucking worse for his libido, staring down at Izuku from above his body. His chest and core strained with each rep; sweat built up at his forehead and around his clavicle.

He felt like he was being driven crazy. 

He had enough sense to catch himself when Izuku looked a bit strained, so he held onto the bar and assisted the omega in placing it back on the rack. Izuku took several deep breaths.

He appeared… unfocused for a while. Katsuki didnt know where the greenette could be staring at— somewhere on a far wall, maybe. The quiet was so unlike the nerd, who could mumble at incredible speeds whenever he had too many thoughts running around in his brain.

Was he thinking at all now? Or was his brain completely void of anything?

The eye bags below his eyes pointed to the latter.

At least until he spoke again.

“I meant what I said by I cant accept your courting,” he sat up slowly. His back faced Katsuki, so the blonde was entirely shut off from the greenette’s facial expression.

He internally chuckled humorlessly. Not like it mattered if he could see Izuku’s face or not. He rarely displayed what he was thinking. Regardless, he waited for Izuku to finish stating his thoughts. 

“I cant accept it…”

Katsuki’s eyebrow quirked. What the fuck was this torture tactic?

“I know you cant, nerd. You don’t have to fucking state it over and over,” he grumbled. He really didnt want to listen anymore if that was all Izuku had to say—

“But I cant deny my attraction to you. Nor my omegas insistence to be close to you.”

That made him falter. Izuku kept rolling.

“My omega has been… quiet. Ever since that day ten years ago.”

The blonde grimaced. But, fuck , now was a good time as any, wasn’t it? To apologize for the misdoings of this worlds Katsuki? And… and hopefully , this could be a chance for him to begin making amends; fix everything that he couldn’t in his previous world. He wanted to be fucking good to Izuku, like the omega deserved. He took a grounding breath.

“Izuku.”

The greenette hummed. They both knew it must have been way past the usual time to hop into their respective work spaces, and yes, this was a conversation that couldn’t have any better of a set up. 

“What happened all those years ago… I’m— I’m really fucking sorry, Izu.”

Izuku hummed again, this time in contemplation.

“I don’t think you are,” he sighed. “It wasn’t even you who said it to me.”

“What are you talking about?” Katsuki blinked.

Oh. Oh shit, fuck. He knew Izuku was the most analytical fucker out there, but to have realized something as odd as this is—

“There are a lot of quirks in this world,” he started to explain. “Whose to say that there isn’t one which could send you to another world? A parallel world?”

“I… assumed it was because of a quirk,” Katsuki admitted. “But really, I thought I was just being given a second chance.”

“At what?”

Well, shit, this was the conversation they were having now. Not entirely how he wanted to go about his morning, but it was around the same field as apologizing for his mistakes.

He just… fuck . He didnt make the same mistakes as this worlds’ Katsuki! He wasn’t the one who threatened Izuku, but he sure as fuck wanted to apologize for the shit he said back in his world. This Izuku didnt know about any of those cruel words, though. 

When he looked back up, he saw Izuku staring at him again, questioning. Katsuki sighed and took a seat on the bench across from the greenette’s. 

“At being the number one hero.”

Izuku’s brows raised to his hairline. 

“You weren’t in your world?”

“No, actually. I was uh, rank fifty-two when I died and woke up here,” he shrugged. The thought didn't hurt him so much anymore, even admitting it out loud. The tarnished dreams were but a nonexistent hole in his heart— a hole that only had room for Izuku in it now.

It always had room for Izuku in it. He was just a fucking idiot who didn't have his priorities straight. 

“Rank fifty-two, huh,” Izuku repeated. “Since I can assume this is a parallel world… what’s the event that caused this shift?”

The event.

“I took responsibility of our pup.”

That’s all it took for Izuku’s eyes to harden again. The blonde closed his eyes. Fuck , the reaction made sense. Omega’s were extremely over-protective of their pups, and Izuku still held in his mind the pain that came from being threatened to abort their pup. He was an absolute fool for thinking any mention of their pup— or the incident— would go well. 

“Izuku,” he gasped when the greenette stood up in haste. “I’m… I’m not the one who said those things to you, but fuck , I understand what you must be feeling. I wasn’t the best to my worlds’ Izuku, either,” he admitted, his heart clenching with the pain and the regret for making Izuku feel like he wasn’t loved. “But I don’t want to fuck up again here. Maybe I was given this second chance to make things right with you.”

“…Do you know? What he did?”

Katsuki’s hands, which lifted to grasp onto Izuku’s arms though barely stopped from doing so, fell back onto his lap.

“I— I have small flashes of memories, of my interactions with people here. Going to UA and getting to be number one—“

“Your dream,” Izuku smiled wryly. 

“A misguided one,” Katsuki insisted, “and even then… seeing the results of what came out of being this public figure— I’d rather be someone who hardly made the top fifty.”

“Would you, now?” Izuku asked, though he sounded sarcastic, and just the slightest bit disbelieving. “How nice of you to have this revelation awfully late, in another world, no less.”

“In my… awful defense, I’ll be fucking honest, there was pressure from everyone,” Katsuki huffed out. Just remembering their stupid words, and how they got to him, made his hands tingle. He wanted to tell them to shut up , they didn't know what the fuck they were saying. Izuku was the best thing to happen to him, and how dare they embed into his brain otherwise ? “There were words that got to me, and I feel really fucking bad about giving in. But I’ve had a chance to see both realities,” he said seriously. Izuku rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, I get that. But still, this isn’t your reality. If anything, you’re reaping the consequences of his actions,” Izuku spat. “He wouldn’t have acknowledged them anyway.”

“So I will,” Katsuki leaned his body forward, getting as much into Izuku’s space as possible without perturbing the omega.

Izuku’s stance didn't shift; his eyes were still locked onto Katsuki’s, analyzing, dissecting. Katsuki was okay with it. Let him see what it is he needed to see, to know that the blonde was being honest. That he would give his all into being a better person, both in his place, and in place of the other Katsuki. “I’m serious about this, Izu. Please… please allow me to make this right in both our steads. I want to mend my relationship with others here. I want to be a better mate for you .”

“We’re not mates,” Izuku interjected quickly. “I know that you and Izuku in your world weren’t mates either. You have no mating mark.”

“Then can't this be a fuckin chance for us to complete the bond that should have been?” He pleaded. He knew he looked pathetic, covered in a layer of explosive sweat that could set off at any moment, with eyes that were just begging for an opportunity. But he’d get on his knees. He’d get on them if Izuku fucking asked for him to beg harder. 

The greenette took a slow breath. Katsuki’s heart felt like it was beating slower than usual, like he could hear the thumping loudly in his ears. More sweat built up on his palms— he needed a fucking shower, asap, if he didn't want to set the whole building on fire.

“I fucking swear on the name of all my quirk analysis’, Bakugo Katsuki,” Izuku narrowed his eyes at the blonde. They flashed threateningly, but Katsuki could only gulp at how hot it was.

He was a fucking mess. 

“If you make me regret giving you this chance, even for a second, I’ll explode all of Japan.”

Katsuki had no doubt that his omega could. But there were only two thoughts in his mind which came after Izuku’s approval…

Fuck. Yes.

A wide grin overtook his face.

“You won’t fucking regret it, nerd.”

He didn’t expect there to be such a natural shift in their dynamic after that conversation, but against all odds, there was . Later on in the day, he received an email from Deku asking him to oversee the upgrades to one of their hero’s costumes. He fucking jumped at the opportunity, patrol be damned. There were more than enough capable heroes at his agency to take care of his patrol route. So he assigned it to a random top-twenty hero and went down to the support department, rushing out of the elevator as soon as the doors slid open.

Izuku was in his office, like always . The employees there smiled at him and gave a couple of waves, asking how his day was.

He told them it was fucking splendid.

It got even better when he opened the door to Izuku’s office, and while this place was originally meant to separate the omega from the rest of the employees, Katsuki couldn’t help but feel that this was nice. They were in their own little bubble, every time they were in here together. Underneath the sterile scent of his office environment was his obvious natural scent that Katsuki just couldn’t get enough of.

His body proved as much, when he took a deep breath and almost collapsed from how lax he became. Izuku snorted at the reaction before facing his blueprints again.

“Hello again to you too, Ground Zero.”

No, no. That won’t do. 

“Isn’t there any other name you can call me?” He asked genuinely, leaning back on the wall. “I know Ground Zero is my hero name and all, but I want to feel… closer.”

Kacchan. He wanted to be called Kacchan. 

“We haven’t gotten there yet,” Izuku said simply. “You nor your counterpart are getting off scot-free, mister, remember?”

“Fuck, you’re right. I've just been puttin’ my all into this the past two weeks, but I have to be more patient, huh?”

He wanted to press his lips against Izuku’s right this instant , though they both knew that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Patience— patience would bring progress.

“I hear you, Ground Zero,” Izuku sighed. “But truth be told, I haven’t been waiting ten years for this. I’ve been doing… relatively well with my life, given this job.”

“Relatively well?” His curiosity piqued. “Whaddya mean? I thought this senior analyst position would’a paid real fucking well?”

“You’d think so, right?” Izuku snorted. “Unfortunately, given my status as a quirkless omega…”

“Wait,” Katsuki’s eyes widened, terrified of where this was headed, “did Ground Zero cause that?”

“It was his other condition to let me work here,” Izuku nodded. He crossed something out on the blueprints with a red marker. “One, separate me from the other department employees— no issue with that one, really. I work better in a controlled environment.”

Izuku laughed lightly. Katsuki didn't. 

“And the second one was to not pay me much.”

Katsuki pursed his lips.

“Then what was your incentive to work here?”

Izuku sighed, coming around his desk to stand at the front of it. He leaned back, his eyes shut for several seconds.

The sight of green lashes resting over the curve of Izuku’s cheeks was absolutely mesmerizing. But he had enough mind to keep his eyes focused onto what the omega was saying.

His eyes fluttered open to look deeply into Katsuki’s. 

“The commission wouldn’t let me work anywhere else. They said… my services were needed here, to make sure you stayed the number one hero.”

“What the absolute hell? That's such bullshit!”

“It's true.”

“Never said it wasn’t. Knowing how those fuckers let Katsuki stay number one for so long…”

“Oh, hah . There's so much you really don’t know yet,” Izuku smiled, and he really did seem amused— and the slightest bit entertained. Katsuki was glad the greenette could find a light-heartedness in the situation, but his mind reeled with how much he still didn't know. When would he find the answers? 

“Is there any way to obtain those memories without having fucking to feel them?” He thumped the back of his head against the wall. “I mean, I could ask you since we’re in communication and all… but everyone else…”

“Right,” Izuku nodded. His lips tilted into a small frown. “I don’t know everyone personally, I will admit. I stay in my office most of the day and complete dropped-off orders. But, I could try to get you in contact with a few people?”

“Even if you did, what’s the likeliness that they’ll even want to talk to me?” Katsuki mimicked Izuku’s frown. “I'm a menace, here, and I really don’t want to drop the quirk-mishap thing on everyone.”

“Speaking of; I’m going to start looking into that!”

Just as quickly, the smile returned to Izuku’s face. Ah, it was only a matter of time ’til the nerd began to tinker around with the quirks. A clock beeped on the wall behind Izuku’s desk, signaling the start of a new hour. Officially, their break hour. Could this day get any better?

“Hm, as it is our scheduled lunch times…” He trailed off, staring at Izuku hopefully. The greenette raised an eyebrow to urge Katsuki to continue. He would happily oblige. “Would you like to, I don’t know, join me on a fucking date or something?”

“Charming,” Izuku suppressed a giggle behind his palm. Nonetheless, Katsuki let out a breath of relief as Izuku shed his lab coat and hung it over his chair. He tilted his head toward the door and gave Katsuki a light smile. “Let's go, shall we?”

Let's fucking shall.

“There's a great barbecue steak restaurant I know about right around here,” he jumped to say. He’d fucking wine and dine the fuck out of his soon-to-be mate— on company time, if he’d have to. Izuku seemed reluctant about the idea, though.

“I don’t think I can pay for that with my senior support department quirk analyst salary,” he said, and Katsuki sputtered indignantly.

“And what makes you think I’d let you pay for yer own fuckin’ food, hah?”

What kind of alpha would he be if he let his omega pay for his own food? He was supposed to provide for his omega—

A dull throb in his brain. A memory from the deep recesses of his mind sprang forward and blinded him for several seconds.

Wet freckled cheeks. Unbelieving green eyes. Harsh, demeaning words.

“You complain a lot for a quirkless dropout, y’know that?” A chuckle. “You can hardly pay for your own groceries, and yet…”

Slammed doors. Muffled sobs. Katsuma, Katsuma asking what’s wrong. 

Back in the present, he knew his eyes were tearing up. But how could they not? He would forever be stuck in the past, haunted by his memories— his actions, words, towards the person he swore to protect. The face that stared back at him was so similar, he might as well have said the same things to this Izuku. He knew, though, that this Izuku had gone through something much worse. 

Izuku stayed silent for a few seconds. Katsuki struggled to keep his balance and had to lean back on the wall again.

“…I know you feel bad for the way you treated me, in your world,” Izuku said hesitantly. “But while we are the same person, you don’t have to feel obliged to… provide for me. Ive been able to do that for myself for years.”

And for our son , Katsuki filled in, in his head. 

“It’s not out of obligation,” he tried to defend, but it didn't sound believable, even to his own ears. “It’s just that I— fuck , I need to fix things with you and I’m not going to lie and say it isn’t for my peace of mind, too. The way that I fucking acted towards you in my world…”

Izuku sighed through his nose.

“I understand that you want your own peace of mind as well, but if that is the reason you’d like to mend things with me, then this might not work out.”

“It’s really not just that, seriously,” Katsuki huffed. “You are my mate! And regardless of which world I’m in, it’s my job to take care of you.”

“It really isn’t,” Izuku narrowed his eyes at him. “I've been taking care of things just fine, thank you.”

“But you shouldn’t have to,” he nearly whined. “It was his job to fucking take care of you and he botched that. And I— I know that I’m drawn to you, in the same way your omega is drawn to me,” he gulped. It’s essentially the same way his alpha’s been feeling for so long. “So now that I’m here…”

He hoped, he honest to God hoped , that Izuku could recognize his intentions. They weren’t purely selfish. He wanted to give his love and devotion and care to Izuku, no matter which world they were in. Because the Katsuki of every world was supposed to love Izuku— it was in his fucking nature to. Parallel dimensions, reincarnations, whatever the fuck it was; his heart would yearn for the greenette. 

He just wasn’t the best with words, and he wished despite that flaw, Izuku could see what he felt. 

The ice in the omega’s eyes thawed. Only then did Katsuki notice that his breaths were coming out shallow. He tried to place a hand over his lungs to control his breathing— he couldn’t fucking die this soon, or he’d spend every second in his grave screaming about it. 

“Okay,” Izuku agreed. The clock continued to tick. It’d been five minutes since they decided to go out for lunch, but again, Katsuki was more than okay with wooing Izuku on company time. “Let's go to barbecue.”

“Can I…?”

He rolled his eyes.

“Yes, you can pay. Just this once! Next time we’re going somewhere that I like,” Izuku stuck out his tongue. Katsuki’s heart was just about ready to lurch out of his chest.

Next time .

His alpha was absolutely shaking with joy, and honestly, he couldn’t stop the pep in his step, either.

Several people in the department gave him encouraging looks as he passed by them, and honestly, he felt lighter knowing that there were people supporting him here. Even if they were afraid of him before, he didn't feel as alone in this world anymore.

Months were spent in his luxury penthouse thinking he had everything he could’ve ever desired. Nights spent on a cold king-sized bed, commercial videos, photoshoots, and awards that had no deeper meaning other than people bowing down to him; seeing him as a time bomb that would explode any second if they didn't listen to him.

But he knew there was something bigger here— something that was connected to his rejection of Izuku and their pup. What happened after that? Did he really just go to UA, do all of this crazy training and internships with some dude named Shoto Todoroki, and break into the pro-hero world? Just like that? 

“Don't think about it too hard,” Izuku whispered to him when they were in the elevator. “I think that you have these memories fill in whenever there is a trigger word.”

“There had to have been a lot of those words, though,” Katsuki groaned in frustration. “I just feel helpless knowing that a lot of this junk is just fucking missing. Maybe if I knew the details, I could talk to everyone I’ve wronged.”

“ He’s wronged, Bakugo,” Izuku said sternly. “That man is not you.”

“But you are like my worlds’ Izuku,” 

“Maybe more than you are similar to this worlds’ Bakugo,” Izuku agreed, “but we both went our separate ways here. I had the chance to do stuff on my own, as did you. I assume that we were together in the other world?”

Katsuki wilted.

“We were— sort of. We lived in the same house, but we didn't label ourselves as partners or boyfriends, and we didn't… mate.”

“Right.”

The elevator doors slid open on the first floor. 

“I’m just trying to figure out why he turned out the way that he did,” Katsuki admitted. “It can't just be because we separated, right?”

Izuku shrugged.

“Who knows. It could be. What if his— your— dreams were so tainted that you lost sight of being a true hero? You know, like who we’ve always admired?”

“All Might,” Katsuki nodded. He held the door open for Izuku; the greenette thanked him before moving on ahead. “I don’t know. I always figured that I’d be a hero stronger than him, but not in this sense. I don’t want to scare civilians and rule over them with an iron fist. I just wanted to win the battles and save the day.”

It was a bright dream. He just couldn't believe that it went so… wrong. 

“Maybe it was my fault,” Izuku said under his breath. And, fuck that , Katsuki wasn’t going to let the nerd think it was his fucking fault. 

“Don't you dare say that,” he scowled without thinking. Izuku flinched— slightly, but still noticeable enough to make Katsuki feel fucking awful. His face softened immediately, and more the nth time since reconnecting with the greenette, he felt the need to reach out, even to just grasp onto Izuku’s hand. He wanted to lace their fingers together and give Izuku a reassuring squeeze that he wasn’t the same fucking asshole that he was. That he’d never be the ungrateful fucker who was so ready to leave his life behind in his previous world.

He wanted to spend all of his time with the little nerd, so he couldn't do anything that would make Izuku think otherwise.

“‘M sorry,” he mumbled sincerely. “Didn't mean to scare you by doing that. I just don’t want you to ever think you’re at fault.”

A light blush permeated Izuku’s cheeks as he mulled over Katsuki’s statement. In the end, he gave another one of his small smiles, that indicated everything was okay— for now. He accepted Katsuki’s apology. It filled the blonde with more hope than he probably had any right to feel, but he would take anything that Izuku gave him.

“So… barbecue place?”

“Oh, right. C’mon, this way. Gonna dine the fuck out of you, just watch.”

“Mhm, can't wait.”

He didn't wait long to fix the issue with Izuku’s salary. As he was in the process of doing so, he came across a lot of information that he would’ve found, had he thought to search for them on the obvious place— his work computer. There was the base information on all of the public heroes who worked at the company. Then there was a password-locked portion which showed the unground heroes, which included a girl named Hagakure from his class at UA. 

It didn't list their salaries next to their profile— for that, he had to open a much simpler work page meant for finances. There he found what each hero in his agency was being paid. And the amount was ridiculously high for the top heroes who worked for him. There was number eight, who clocked in at three hundred thousand a year. Number six, who earned eight hundred thousand a year just from base pay— and this was discounting mercy royalties and public recognition. 

And although it shouldn’t have surprised him, it was shocking to see all the zeroes in his salary. The hero commission paid him well, for a hero that threatened the majority of people to get his fucking way.

Two million a year, huh. 

Yeah, top-ten heroes lived the fucking life. A life that he realized wasn’t worth living; not without Izuku in it.

He called the safety commission the first chance he got after taking down a villain. The number of attacks were steadily increasing since his appearance in this world… he wondered if it was too big of a concern to look into yet.

He’ll have to do it soon.

“Hello, you’re speaking to the Hero Safety Commission. My name is Lydia, how can I help you today?”

“Hi, this is Bakugo Katsuki.”

“…Ah, okay. Hang on. I’ll redirect you to my supervisor.”

His brows furrowed. Fuck, was this lady afraid of him too? Did he threaten a fucking customer service worker at the HSC? 

“What? No, it's okay. You don’t fucking have to do that—“

“Sorry for the wait Ground Zero, sir. My supervisor will be with you shortly.”

“I said it's not fucking necessary!”

He heard a click on the line and groaned. This would take forever if people kept transferring him, but hopefully this would be the only time.

“This is the executive manager of HR at HSC. How can I assist you today?”

“Hey, what’s up, this is Bakugo Katsuki—“

“Oh! Mister Ground Zero, sir, hold on a moment! I will transfer you to someone—“

“Hold the fuck on,” he growled into the line. He didn't want to be mean to them, but he didn't want to sit on the phone all day dealing with transfers every time he mentioned his name. The executive manager yelped before stuttering an apology. Katsuki sighed. “Look, I’m just calling to see if I can update someone's salary in my agency.”

“Huh?”

They seemed a bit surprised.

“A salary change… of course, I can help with that! If I may confirm who you say you are, though…”

What the fuck? Those other fuckers were quick to transfer him after just hearing his name, and this fucker wants to confirm who he is? He took a deep breath to calm the vein throbbing in his forehead. 

“Right, of course. What do you need?”

“Where do we keep it?”

…What? The question sounded too suspicious for fucking comfort. He didn't know the answer the where ‘it’ was, but whoever’s on the other end of the line did. He raised an eyebrow to nobody in particular. 

“Before I disclose that, I need to make sure that you’re who you say you are, asshole. What kind of show do you think I'm fucking running here?” He growled.

There, that sounded menacing enough, right? He could be a fucking asshole, and it was a good diversion tactic as any. Let's just hope the fucker took the bait.

He heard a huff from the person.

“Guess I don’t need to ask anymore. Let's just get this over with; I don’t need any more stress ‘cus of you.”

Oh, so this person wasn’t terrified of Katsuki, was he? It should be a breath of fresh air, but it really was too suspicious— what did these two people have going on between them? An affair? A conspiracy? A threat to the fucking nation?

Considering it was someone from the Hero Safety Commission— the people who essentially decided if a hero could even be a hero— and Ground Zero himself; the bastard who held the number one title— there had to be some sort of underhanded work in play. But where did he even begin to dig for that, if it was considered top-secret information?

“Right,” he answered, “I’d like to change the salary of Midoriya Izuku.”

For a single beat, they were silent. He wasn’t getting worried, fuck you for thinking so. But he hadn’t even thought of how such a request could be out of bounds for the Katsuki of this world; someone who supposedly despised omegas. And now, what, he wants to change their salary?

“Okay,” they sighed, “not gonna question it. How much?”

Fucking joy.

“Five hundred.”

“As much as I’d… like to do that for you sir, that would be below minimum wage—“

“Not five fucking hundred like just five hundred. I meant five hundred thousand, dumbass.”

He could not believe that he’d have to make such a thing clear. Was Katsuki really conspiring with a fucking idiot? The person on the line sputtered.

“What? Ground Zero, senior analysts in the richest city in Japan don’t even make that much!”

“I don’t give a shit how much they make,” he rolled his eyes, “just raise his salary as soon as you can.”

Another pause, a sigh, and then some tapping on a keyboard. 

“Okay. By the end of this month he should be paid an amount which will close the gap between his current salary and the increased one—“

“Yeah, yeah, I don’t care for the specifics,” he snorted. It was a relief, though, that Izuku’s pay would change in such a short amount of time. He knew Izuku would bent over backwards to provide for himself and their pup, but from now on he’d only be living the best life with the best salary. Sure, he could’ve shot for a higher amount, but that would draw too much suspicion— he was already taking a gamble with five hundred thousand dollars. 

“Alright. Will that be all for today?”

“Yeah. Thanks for your help or whatever.”

“…Where is it?”

Fuck. His heartbeat stuttered, thumping against his chest in fear of getting caught . Where were the memories when he fucking needed them?! His fingers gripped onto the arm rest of his chair as he tried to answer as confidently as possible,

“Who the fuck do you think you are, huh?! Keep asking me where it is and I’ll blow your fucking face off.”

“…Right. Well then, good talking to you, Ground Zero. Please feel free to rate our service using the automated—“

He cut the line off and tossed his work phone into the trash bin. No one's body was supposed to shake so much from a simple phone call with customer service. He went into this with the intent to simply increase Izuku’s salary and had a fucking federal investigation done on him. He thought he only had to worry about Katsuki’s acquaintances from UA, but the blonde was also involved with a fucking government agency?

Holy shit.

Was this even something that he could tell Izuku about? He didn't want to spring up such a thing, especially in the middle of their courting.

No, he absolutely couldn’t. He had to keep his mind focused on wooing his nerd; government conspiracy be damned. Someone else could deal with that mess, but him? He had a date to plan for tomorrow. And more gifts to buy— were scented blankets still too soon to hand over? He’s sure he packed one into the gift bags from a few weeks ago…

Izuku wasn’t in his office when Katsuki sought him out next.

The idea of the greenette not being in his office during work hours was a little… odd. And unnerving, to be quite honest. He had a good idea of Izuku’s schedule and habits around the support department, but he wasn’t in that area , either. No one else knew where he was, and fuck, he was breaking into a cold sweat just imagining what sort of danger Izuku could possibly be in.

Nothing he couldn’t get the omega out of, obviously, but still . That was his mate in danger! He had every right to be freaking out over the fact that Izuku was basically missing . 

“Oh boy, I can smell your panic through your scent patches.”

Izuku’s voice was like a beacon of light— ah, no, it was more like the entire sun — in the midst of Katsuki’s spiral into a panic-induced depression. He knew he looked like a drunk idiot straight after his nose took the greatest whiff of Izuku’s scent to date, but fortunately, Izuku hadn’t seen his face just yet. Although, he couldn’t forget to ask,

“Where’ve you been?”

He needed to get that out of the way before giving into his nature and getting up close and personal with Izuku’s scent. 

The omega brushed by him, their contact lasting for no longer than a second, and yet it made his alpha tremble with pleasure. Fuck that forest scent was addicting, he couldn’t get enough of it. 

He went cross-eyed when something was thrust under his nose. A… cupcake? 

“The pastry shop just restocked my favorite cupcakes! Since it is getting closer to the fall season they always give these along with any purchase of coffee,” he explained, taking a bite of the cupcake. 

A bit of frosting stuck to the top of his lip. Katsuki gulped— fuck, how could Izuku think it was a good idea to eat a vanilla-frosted cupcake in front of him? While making satisfied humming and moaning noises, like it's the best thing he’d ever eaten? Even worse, Katsuki wasn’t even the one who bought the sweet treat for his nerd! 

He could stop by the shop later to grab a second cupcake for Izuku, though, now that he knew what the greenette liked to eat. He didn't— he… didn't really pay attention to the sweets or food items that his worlds’ Izuku liked. But he was sure that the omega there had a sweet tooth, too. 

With all of his attention being on Izuku now, he wouldn’t miss a single thing that could help him in his courting— and even after that, he would continue to shower Izuku with everything he liked. Cupcakes, clothes, scarves, luxury nesting items; fuck, anything he asked for, he’d fucking get. He just wished that Izuku would ask him for something soon, so that he could show he was a good alpha who could provide for his omega.

Izuku finished eating the rest of his cupcake before throwing the wrapper out. Katsuki grew appropriately nervous when the omega just kept casting him a few glances, biting his lower lip in contemplation. His nervousness morphed to surprise when Izuku presented another cupcake. 

“You really like those cupcakes, huh nerd?” He couldn’t help but snort fondly. Izuku pouted— the frosting was still on his lip. If he could just…

Without thinking too hard about it, he reached out his thumb to press onto Izuku’s cupid bow. While Izuku froze, Katsuki could tell it wasn’t from discomfort. He watched with inquisitive green eyes as Katsuki pressed his thumb down gently, and swiped it to the right. His eyes widened in understanding.

“Ah…” He breathed out when Katsuki pulled his finger away. Feeling as though he still had to justify himself, he showed the frosting on his thumb to the greenette and cleared his throat in a flustered cough.

“Had some frosting on your mouth,” he muttered. 

Izuku swiped a tissue paper out of its box, handing it to Katsuki. The blonde’s face flushed, the redness more prominent as Izuku gave him a small smile. 

“Thank you,” he said. 

“Hah, of course,” Katsuki wiped his thumb off with the tissue before discarding it in the rubbish bin.

Speaking of things tossed into rubbish bins; he had something to ask Izuku to accompany him with. Of course, he was more than capable of buying himself a good phone… but this was a good date idea for cute green nerds, right? 

“Did you need me for anything?” Izuku asked with a tilt of his head. Katsuki straightened his posture, able to take the reigns from here. His plan was just a tad thrown off since Izuku wasn’t in the office first, but the chain of events was… pleasant. His alpha was fucking ecstatic he got to touch Izuku’s lips . 

“As a matter of fact, I do. I, um, accidentally exploded my work phone.”

“Oh no,” Izuku gasped. “Did something happen?”

“Yeah, the phone got blown to smithereens—“

“Not to the phone ,” Izuku rolled his eyes, and suddenly Katsuki felt as stupid as the from the HSC, “I meant to you. I know the other Katsuki was always one second away from detonating, but you haven’t been extremely volatile since you got here. I mean, my colleagues feel pretty safe with you,” he gestured to everyone outside of his office door, which remained open.

They got a front-row seat to all of his pining.

Izuku did have a good point, though… could he just backtrack and say he tossed it in a trash can? Nah. It didn't matter . 

“The reason isn’t important,” he shrugged, “I just felt like it.”

Izuku's eyebrows furrowed— fuck, that wasn’t the best explanation. That's exactly what this worlds’ Katsuki would say, in fact. 

“Shit, I mean,” he hastened to fix, “I didn't just feel like it. It’s just that…”

“Be honest with me, Katsuki,” the greenette said seriously. Katsuki’s resolve to keep anything hidden from Izuku shattered upon seeing something vulnerable in his eyes— it’s the first time he’s ever shown that emotion since they saw each other. But he had to keep this from Izuku. It wasn’t fucking worth plaguing both of their minds with. 

He couldn’t even hold onto that much when Izuku mumbled, “Please , Katsuki.”

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I didn't explode my phone.”

Izuku blinked.

“Why would you lie about that?” 

“Because, the actual reason could be a lot fucking worse,” he growled, running a hand through his hair from the stress of the situation. Throwing it out into the open, it would do no good to anyone for him to compartmentalize what he figured was going on. Though he swore not to get involved, nor care about any extras from now on, solely wanting to focus on Izuku and their pup— there may not even be an Izuku and their pup if he didn't look into the matter with the HSC. 

“What's the reason, Katsuki?” Izuku asked.

“I'm not certain of it yet,” he admitted first, “but I think this worlds’ Katsuki may have been involved with the Hero Safety Commission in some way. Other than working under them; he may have something to do with one of their higher-ups.”

“Like, they're working together to achieve some higher goal?” 

“Yeah, that,” he sighed. 

“And what does this have to do with your work phone?”

“I don’t want that weirdo contacting me again. He asked a security question.”

Izuku grabbed a notepad and pen. Katsuki had to smile, knowing that his eyes were much more affectionate than the severity of their conversation really called for. Here they were, talking about a possible threat to the nation, and he was still so enamored by how adorable Izuku looked when he was focused. His mind couldn’t fully commit to solving the issue— hopefully that wouldn’t be a huge problem.

“What was the question?” The greenette prompted. 

“It was a guy in upper management. Asked if I knew where they hid it ,” he said with quotation marks. Izuku pursed his lips, writing the information down.

“Sounds suspicious. Did you check in his computer?”

“Tried. It’s got some type of security wall that needs me to put a thumbprint on a connected scanner,” he clicked his tongue. “But the thing is, my thumbprint isn’t working.”

“It's not your thumbprint?”

“Seems not. So I’m wondering…”

“We should go to your office and see if there’s anything there,” Izuku said, slamming the pen and notepad down on his desk. The loud noise startled Katsuki.

“You’re fired the fuck up,” he snorted. “It's fine. I’ll look into it on my own— I don’t really want you worrying about something like this.”

“But Im an analyst,” Izuku pressed. “I know you’re smart, but maybe you could use my experience.”

“I'm not using you for anything, nerd,” he blew out a huff. He didn't want to lie to his Izuku, but he didn't want to get the omega involved in this mess, either. He needed to stay safe ; continue his nine to six job with a pay that was a hundred times better than his previous salary. He needed to take care of their pup until Katsuki redeemed himself to both his mate and their son. 

He just hoped the brat could consider letting him back into their life. 

What he didn't expect in that moment, however, was for Izuku to begin whining .

“ Please , Katsuki? It's gotten so boring in here! All I do every day is look at blueprints and do testing on costumes, and yeah it can be fun, but it's not all I’m good for, you know?” He sniffled. “There's just so much more I can do with my expertise.”

He was baffled. His heart tugged at the forlorn expression on Izuku’s face— like he really was tired of living every day in the same routine. The greenette continued,

“And I know I’m supposed to have this stability in my life for the sake of…”

Their pup .

“But I just want to be helpful with this. And you can consider it as a, uh,” he bit his lower lip, “a… courting gift.”

His heart ceased to function for a few seconds– he should have died, with that much time in between beats. But when it started pumping again; when he could feel the organ thumping against his chest, his hands were trembling and there was no point in containing the full grin that overtook his face. An incredulous, absolutely overjoyed laugh choked out of him. Izuku responded to it with a shy smile, his hands clasped behind his back.

There was naught he could do but take a few steps forward and bend his neck down, pressing his forehead to Izuku’s and weaving one of his hands through dark green curls. 

“Izuku,” he mumbled. “I can’t– Thank you. Thank you so much, Izuku.”

“Yeah,” ‘Zuku whispered back to him, tilting his chin up to rub their noses together, gently. 

Closing the centimeters of space between them, finally , Bakugo brushed their lips together in a chaste kiss. And the rest– the rest was history.