Chapter Text
Everything happens so fast that Izuku barely has time to think that today is probably going to suck.
Because really, how else was he supposed to explain the fact that a simple trip to the mall with his husband to buy baby clothes somehow ended with him getting hit by a terrified civilian’s quirk?
And fine, it would’ve been one thing if it had been harmless. But no.
He felt every cell in his body twist and compress, like something was pulling him apart in every direction at once. Instinctively, he grabbed his stomach, terrified something might happen to the baby.
But just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
And now he was standing in front of his… husband?
Except something was wrong.
The first thing he noticed was the shocked look on Katsuki’s face. The second was the sweet scent reaching his senses.
Katsuki stared at him in disbelief. “What the fuck?”
Honestly, the same question was spinning around in Izuku’s head too. Especially when he realized he couldn’t smell the familiar scent he’d known for years.
The man who looked exactly like Katsuki shifted into a fighting stance.
“Who the hell are you?! And what did you do to Izuku Midoriya?!”
Every instinct inside Izuku rebelled at that.
Even if he’d lost One For All, he’d still been the number four hero before going on maternity leave. He wasn’t going to let anyone threaten him or his child.
Even if that person was Kacchan.
One hand instinctively covered his stomach as he shifted carefully into a defensive stance, tracking Katsuki’s movements.
“I’m not sure what happened either,” he said cautiously, “but I am Izuku.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, though he didn’t attack. “Yeah? And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“It’s true.”
Katsuki barked out a harsh laugh. “You know why your lie sounds so fucking ridiculous? Because he’s an alpha, and you’re standing there pregnant as hell. So drop the disguise already. This is just pathetic.”
…Oh.
Well, that explained a lot.
Izuku finally understood why this version of Kacchan’s scent had felt so strange.
Omega.
Even if it was hard to tell. He was still broad-shouldered and carried himself aggressively, even if he was shorter than Izuku’s Kacchan.
Izuku bit his lip as the realization fully hit him.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding…”
Katsuki smiled sarcastically, but unlike the smile Izuku knew, this one had no warmth in it at all.
“Oh yeah? And what misunderstanding would that be?”
“I really am Izuku Midoriya,” he admitted awkwardly. “Just… not your Izuku.”
Katsuki snorted. “What, so now you’re saying you came from some other dimension like a shitty comic book?”
Yeah.
That was definitely Kacchan.
Even if in this universe their secondary genders were reversed.
“Well… that’s actually pretty much exactly what happened,” Izuku admitted. “I got hit by a civilian’s quirk, and I think it swapped me with your Izuku…”
Kacchan looked at him suspiciously. “Then tell me something only that loser would know.”
Izuku rolled his eyes. “Our memories could be different. That’s not how this works…”
A low growl reached him, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
“I don’t give a fuck,” Katsuki snapped. “If you can’t prove anything, then why the hell should I believe this bullshit?!”
Izuku exhaled tiredly.
Honestly, right now he could only wish good luck to the alpha Izuku from this universe, who was probably stuck trying to calm down an enraged alpha that had just watched his pregnant mate disappear right in front of him.
“If time works the same between our worlds,” Izuku said carefully, “then you still regret not taking my hand at the river.”
Silence fell between them.
The two omegas stared at each other — one now noticeably less aggressive, the other increasingly exhausted.
Kacchan looked completely stunned. “You’re fucking serious… I-Izuku?”
Izuku just nodded, finally feeling some of the tension leave his body. Seriously. He took maternity leave specifically not to end up in situations like this.
Katsuki’s eyes slowly dropped to his stomach.
“Y-You’re really an omega…?”
“…Yeah.”
“And who’s the father?”
The absurdity of the question made Izuku laugh before he could stop himself.
“Well, who do you think?” he said between laughs. “If I’m the omega in my world and your Izuku the alpha here?”
Kacchan’s eyes widened in horror.
“I’M THE FATHER??”
Izuku shrugged helplessly. “Well, not you you. But my Kacchan is.” His expression softened slightly. “Honestly, I’m more worried about your Izuku right now…”
“And why exactly should I be worried about him?” Katsuki asked.
Izuku blinked at him in disbelief before cautiously stepping closer now that he wasn’t actively trying to attack him anymore.
“…Why wouldn’t you be worried about him?”
Kacchan snorted, giving him another once-over.
“You’re small as hell, but with One For All you can probably handle yourself even pregnant. If he’s losing his mind because of alpha instincts, that’s his own problem.”
Cold dread crawled down Izuku’s spine.
“…Wait,” he said carefully. “Your Izuku still has One For All? Even after the war?”
Katsuki frowned. “Yeah? Why wouldn’t he?”
And then Izuku watched, almost in slow motion, as his words finally started connecting in Kacchan’s brain.
“…No.”
Those sharp crimson eyes narrowed immediately, exactly like his Kacchan’s had the day he learned the truth.
“You can’t possibly be…”
“Quirkless?” Izuku finished quietly. “We all lost something during the war.”
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
Back then, giving One For All to Shigaraki had felt like the only possible choice. But now…
Now he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility that maybe the only reason he’d had to sacrifice everything was because he simply hadn’t been strong enough.
Kacchan suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.
“Then we need to get the fuck out of here,” he said immediately. “You’re still the publicly known OFA successor in this world. You’ve got way too many enemies.”
Izuku frowned. “I can take care of myself. I’m still a hero!”
Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Good for you. Still not risking it if something happens to you.”
Izuku stared at him suspiciously as he got dragged along.
He hated when people treated him differently just because he was pregnant and quirkless now. But at the same time… he understood why Kacchan was worried.
Kacchan had never looked down on him.
And Izuku could only hope this version of him was just paranoid too — not that he actually thought Izuku was weak.
Izuku barely remembered the drive back to their house. Kacchan probably broke at least five traffic laws on the way there.
What surprised him more was the fact that both the car and the house looked almost exactly the same as in his world. Even the inside was nearly identical — the same couch, the same blanket thrown over the armrest, the same little details.
Only the scent was different.
Izuku let out a quiet breath. The familiar surroundings helped calm the anxiety twisting in his chest. Hesitantly smiling, he sat down at the table while Kacchan muttered something under his breath about pregnant people needing to eat properly.
Some habits really did die hard.
Izuku quietly hummed to himself until a hot plate was suddenly placed right in front of him. Steam still rose from the food, and it smelled honestly amazing.
“Eat.”
Izuku smiled softly. “Thanks.”
He started eating slowly before Kacchan suddenly spoke again.
“How long?”
Izuku blinked. “How long what?”
“How long have you been quirkless?” Katsuki forced out.
Izuku hummed thoughtfully.
“Since around second year, I think. There were still some embers left after that, but they only lasted a few months.”
The only response he got was a strained, almost painful whine.
“But it wasn’t your fault,” Izuku said immediately. “It was my own decision.”
Kacchan gave him a humorless smile.
“Of course it wasn’t my fault,” he muttered bitterly. “All you fucking Izukus are the same. Always putting everyone else before yourselves.”
Then his expression hardened slightly.
“Tell me something honestly. Did I treat you like shit too? Like I did with my Izuku?”
Izuku pressed his lips together, already understanding where this conversation was heading.
“We had our issues,” he admitted carefully. “And yeah, when we were kids you really were an asshole.” He sighed softly. “If you’re asking whether you bullied me in middle school? The answer is yes.”
Kacchan visibly tensed.
“Do I still blame you for it? No. Would I ever let someone treat my child the way I was treated? Never in my life. Would I have wanted someone to protect me like that back then?” He smiled faintly. “Of course.”
Katsuki stared at him silently.
“But I was grateful to you too.”
The omega looked at him like he’d lost his mind.
“Because you never treated me differently just because I was an omega guy,” Izuku explained quietly. “You looked at me like an equal. And honestly… that’s part of what pushed me forward toward my dream.”
His smile softened.
“The way we fought, argued, challenged each other… it shaped both of us into who we became.”
Izuku shook his head gently.
“And I don’t regret that.”
Then his expression turned more serious.
“I’m pretty sure my Kacchan does hate himself over the past.” He looked directly at him. “But I’m not going to let you hate yourself for it either. Because that’s our past. Mine and his. And Kacchan grew up. He proved he changed. He’s done so much just to make me happy.”
Izuku’s expression softened slightly. “So stop beating yourself up over it.”
The tips of the blond’s ears turned pink, and he immediately looked away. “Oh my god, just shut up and eat already.”
Izuku shrugged. “You asked.”
“And now I’m telling you to eat.”
Izuku hummed under his breath. “Kacchan is bossy in every universe, huh…”
Kacchan abruptly stood up from the table. “I’m gonna go clean the fucking kitchen.”
The smaller man smiled to himself.
Seriously, Kacchan was easy to fluster no matter the universe.
Eventually, once he finished eating, Izuku slowly stood up and carried his plate to the kitchen.
Kacchan had mostly calmed down by then and was wiping down the counter. He glanced at the plate and nodded toward the sink.
“Leave it there. I’ll wash it later.”
“You don’t have to, I can wash it myself.”
“Shut up, you’re a fucking guest.”
Izuku raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want to make more work for you.”
Katsuki let out an exhausted sigh before snatching the plate right out of his hands.
“Jesus Christ, you’re fucking impossible.”
Izuku giggled quietly as he watched Kacchan aggressively shove the plate into the sink.
“Thanks for taking care of me, Kacchan,” he said softly. “Even though you didn’t have to.”
Kacchan shot him a look.
“And why the hell wouldn’t I have to?”
Izuku shrugged lightly.
“Even if we’re dating different versions of each other, we still don’t actually owe each other anything.”
Kacchan made a low sound in his throat.
“What, because we’re alternate universe versions or whatever? So technically we could’ve just told each other to fuck off?” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid, nerd. You’re in my world, you’re pregnant, and even if that doesn’t make you weak or helpless, I know damn well how badly it fucks with omegas when they’re suddenly separated from their home and their partner.”
He crossed his arms, glaring like Izuku had personally offended him.
“I’m not gonna let you collapse somewhere and cry your eyes out. I’m Kacchan Bakugo in every fucking universe.”
Izuku couldn’t help himself.
He could practically feel his eyes widening with admiration.
Because really — Kacchan was Kacchan no matter what. It didn’t matter the universe, their secondary genders, or any other difference. Somehow, Katsuki Bakugo always stayed completely and undeniably himself.
Izuku smiled so openly it almost hurt, then threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around him.
The blond froze for a second before one hand settled carefully against his back.
“Idiot,” Kacchan grumbled immediately. “You’re fucking pregnant, quit throwing yourself around like that.”
Izuku giggled softly and tilted his head up.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “For everything. For helping me. For not turning away from me.”
Katsuki muttered something under his breath. “Yeah, yeah, whatever, nerd.”
Then something strange started twisting inside Izuku’s body.
At first he thought maybe the food just hadn’t settled right, but with every passing second the pain grew sharper. He winced hard enough to immediately alarm Kacchan.
“I think…” Izuku breathed unevenly, “I think I’m going home.”
Then he smiled weakly.
“And… sorry again for interrupting your day with your Izuku.”
The blond clicked his tongue. “Quit apologizing already, dumbass.”
Kacchan rubbed slow circles against his back while the pain kept building and building until suddenly—
—it stopped.
The warmth of Kacchan’s hands disappeared along with it.
Slowly opening his eyes, Izuku realized he was inside the agency. And standing right in front of him was a terrified Kacchan.
His Kacchan.
His scent, his posture, the way he looked at him — every single thing screamed home.
Without thinking, Izuku immediately threw himself at him.
Katsuki barely had enough time to catch his husband before wrapping both arms around him as tightly as possible.
Izuku kept mumbling against him, purring with relief. God, he hadn’t realized how much he missed him. Omega Kacchan really had taken care of him well, because Izuku honestly hadn’t felt lonely until the second he finally came home.
Kacchan held him impossibly close, breathing in his scent over and over again, and maybe — maybe — he cried a little too.
But nobody would ever prove that.
Because he was never letting anyone separate them again.