Chapter Text
“You are nineteen now, it is time for you to pick an alpha to rule beside you.” Katsuki rolled his eyes at his mother’s words.
“My answer has been the same since I was a child, mother.” He spit the word mother almost contemptuously from his mouth, making her flinch.
“Katsuki–”
“I know, I know. I have to pick someone of royal blood. I assume you are planning a ball or something to parade me in front of.”
“Don’t say it like that!” She huffed. “But yes. I have invited the Todoroki heirs, The Shigaraki’s, I even found a female alpha, Ochakko of the Uraraka line.” His mother sent him a sly look at that.
“Ew no. I definitely don’t want a female alpha.” He didn’t bother to respond to his mother’s offended squawking, he just made his way outside to the stables. A ride would take his mind off the upcoming ball. He didn't even look up as he entered. “Deku! Tack my horse!” He barked out.
“As you wish, your majesty.” That brought him to a stop, looking up at the green haired alpha, hoping the hurt didn’t show on his face. It must have, because Deku continued. “Your mother was by yesterday. Apparently she is not happy with the informal way we address each other now that you must entertain alpha proposals.”
“Fuck that. I’ll call you whatever the fuck I want.” He couldn’t decipher the look that came across Deku’s face. “And you’re my–” best friend, alpha, mate, those were the words that flashed through Katsuki’s mind. He couldn’t say that, despite the longing in his heart. “Servant. You call me whatever the fuck you want to.” He was rewarded with a blinding smile.
“As you wish Kacchan!” Izuku finished tacking up his horse. Katsuki went to pull himself up into the saddle, but Deku dropped to one knee, offering his other as a stepstool.
“A really good servant would have gotten on his hands and knees.”
“I never claimed to be anything of the sort.” Fighting the smile that wanted to break across his face the omega stepped up, the alpha’s hand grasping his leg to steady him. He wasn’t even touching bare skin, but the omega felt it like a brand through his clothing. “Do you want company or would you prefer to ride alone?”
It was another thing Katsuki appreciated about his childhood friend, he never tried to force his presence. “I think I would like some time alone.” He said as he finished pulling himself into the saddle. “Do me a favor and go talk to some servants. Find out any rumors you can about these visiting alphas. Mother didn’t tell me when they were coming.”
“She knew giving you too much warning would not be a good idea, so I won’t let you down.” Deku smiled at him again and Katsuki was tempted to reach down and cup his cheek. But that was not appropriate. He reached out and pinched the alpha’s face instead.
“Stop smiling like an idiot and do what I say!” He urged his horse out of the stables, his face turning red. Even over the thundering of the hooves he could hear Izuku yell at him.
“As you wish!”
When they were children, their relationship was not so complicated. Inko was a lady in waiting to the queen and they had gotten pregnant at the same time. Katsuki and Izuku had been raised together, the assumption having been that Katsuki would be an alpha, and Izuku one of those rare male omegas. Despite Inko’s refusal to name her son’s father they had been the best of friends. Until they presented. Katsuki had been deliriously angry at being an omega, but over time Izuku’s calmness and kind nature calmed him down. Until they turned eleven and Katsuki had went to his mother and proudly declared his plans to take Deku–Izuku– as his alpha. The queen was not happy and the only reason the poor alpha bastard had not been banished was because he was a child, and Inko’s at that. Katsuki had been forced to push him away, the queen making him a stable boy. Despite the drop in status, and quarters Izuku never faltered in his devotion to Katsuki. No matter how mean the omega was, or rude, Izuku would just smile at him and answer his demands with a calm ‘as you wish’. Even without the alpha knowing his true reason for his demotion Katsuki imagined it as a way for him to secretly say ‘I love you’,
Pulling his horse to a stop he hopped off, and lay in the grass considering the alphas his mother had invited. There were probably more than she told him knowing her. At least she was giving him a semblance of a choice.
“I did not think I would get this lucky so quickly!” The unfamiliar voice shocked him and he was on his feet in seconds. Something was wrong, the two people in front of him were on large horses, he should have heard them approach. He looked at the woman who spoke. Large brown eyes, short brown hair, and a wide smile. Her scent revealed her as an alpha, but it was weird he only smelled her after she had spoken. Her dress was fancy, and she sat on her stead in side saddle with a sword strapped in easy access to her. The crest on the hilt marked her as someone from the Uraraka family. The other person was a smaller male, omega from the scent. He had bright gold eyes, blond hair with a black stripe. He was dressed far more cheaply than the woman. Hanging from the horn of the saddle was a cage. Inside was a curiously colored red frog jumping almost desperately like it was trying to tell him something. “You are as pretty as the rumors said!”
“You must be one of the alphas my mother invited. Fuck off. I’m not marrying any of you.” Her smile widened.
“You must think a lot of yourself. I would not think of marrying you either. I’ve heard you are vain as a peacock and mean as a goose. You don’t deserve the life you live when others do not get the same.”
“Ocha–”
“Hush!” She told the omega beside her. He looked torn, almost apologetic. “Don’t worry prince Katsuki, my brother will take good care of your family.”
Before he could make sense of what she was saying she raised her hand and blew something off her palm. Gold dust surrounded him, getting into his eyes and his mouth, choking him. He tried to cough, but he couldn’t as his body fell toward the ground. No. He wasn’t falling! He was shrinking. By the time he had caught his breath he was looking up into his own face.
“I thought you were going to turn him into a goose?” The bastard wearing his face said.
“Goose, swan, what’s the difference really. Both angry bastards, one is just prettier than the other.”
“Fuck you, you fucking bitch change me back right now!” He screamed flapping his wings.
“Sorry bro they can’t understand you. Not in animal form. It probably just sounds like honks or something to them.” He knew the weird ass frog looked strange!
“What do we do with him?” The imposter asked, stepping closer.
“Run! Once they cage you you won't be able to break free!” The frog yelled at him again. But he was Katsuki fucking Bakugou and he would not go down without a fight. He lunged for the imposter’s face, using his beak and instinctively flying, going for the assholes eyes. It startled him enough that he fell backwards falling off his horse.
“Denki!” The witch screamed rushing at the omega. While she was distracted he took the cage into his beak and flapping trying to get some altitude. He could hear the frog screaming but he was too busy dodging the flashes of glittery light the bitch was shooting at him to worry about it. His saving grace was the woods nearby. He had spent his childhood playing in them, his teen years learning to hunt. He knew every nook and cranny, hiding in a tree he used to climb as they searched for him. He knew his white wings would draw their attention but he prayed as they got closer that they didn’t notice him, both him and the frog holding their breath as the couple drew closer. For a brief second he thought they had been spotted, the imposter’s eyes locking on their hiding place.
“Let’s just go Ocha. He’s a swan! What harm could he do?”
“After the fit you pitched about keeping Kirishima I am surprised you are willing to let him go.”
“He’ll starve to death in the cage unless he convinces the prince to bring him back. Either the prince is cruel and lets him die, or he returns to us.” The frog–Kirishima apparently– gasped in shock beside him.
“Surprisingly pragmatic of you brother. Let's get to the castle and meet our new family.” The witch turned, heading the way they came. Katsuki held his breath as Denki turned back one last time, staring directly at the branch they were on. The imposter made a hand gesture, like he was reaching out and pulling, and the door on the little cage popped open before he rushed after his sister.