Chapter Text
“Stupid alpha,” Katsuki grumbled loudly, shoving aside the heavy leather flap that covered the entrance to their temporary bedroom. He heard, and got a small sense of satisfaction from, the sound of Izuku running into and then fighting off the weight of the flap. He’d been right on Katsuki’s heels, because of course he had, and as far as Katsuki was concerned, he deserved to get smacked in the face for being so eager. Storming forward into his nest, he spun around and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring for all he was worth in Izuku’s direction.
“Stupid alpha,” he spat again before flopping down cross-legged in the very back of his nest. He pointedly took up as much room as he could, his instincts not wanting to share his nest. He was already miffed at having to move it from his room into this stupid tent. His scent was thick around them, pungent and sour from his moodiness and growing rapidly stronger. The temporary shelter was small, and there was room only for Katsuki’s nest and a small table with a bowl of water, a single floating candle, and a cloth folded and set off to one side.
Izuku stood just outside the edge of the nest, looking awkwardly large the harder he tried to make himself small. “Why are you just standing there?” Katsuki demanded after what felt like the longest span of silence had stretched out entirely too long between them. “If you don’t want me, it’s too fuckin’ late now.” Katsuki’s chin tucked in closer to his chest, and his scent turned rotten as the idea of being rejected began to feel very much like what was happening.
Izuku began waving his hands, face contorting into a tense, forced smile. “N-no! That’s not it at all! I... you didn’t invite me in so... I was waiting.”
Katsuki raised a brow. “Waiting,” he repeated incredulously and scoffed as he looked away. “Waiting for an invitation so you can fuck me, great. I got the polite fucking alpha.”
“Yes, waiting,” Izuku insisted, not backing down from Katsuki’s dismissive insults and pointed jabs. “Your nest is special to you and where I come from, you don’t invade an omega’s nest unless you want a face full of claws.”
“Hmph.” Katsuki flexed his hands, feeling the tips of said claws push into his bicep a little. He didn’t want to admit how much he liked having his nest respected like that, especially by an alpha who had all rights to enter, and it left him momentarily stunned. Katsuki had always taken pride in his nesting. Other omegas in his lessons had always commented that his nests looked the coziest. The thought of having some lunkheaded alpha oaf messing it all up after he’d worked so hard had always put him off. Any Barbarian alpha worth their salt would have invaded the moment they were alone. But Izuku had automatically waited. That had to count for something, didn’t it?
Katsuki’s shoulders relaxed a little, easing down as he exhaled some of his defensiveness out through his nose in a loud huff. “Fine, " he said, tone still sharp. “You can’t stand there all night.”
“If you told me to, I would.”
It was the plain, matter-of-fact way that Izuku had said it, without a doubt in the world, that lured Katsuki’s gaze back to the alpha. He studied the other man, eyes squinted, and lips pursed, looking for a sign that Izuku was full of shit. The alpha stood under the scrutiny, quietly waiting out Katsuki’s bristly reaction. His emerald gaze was unwavering.
“You just want to make me say it,” Katsuki accused. It was the last of his defenses, and his voice was noticeably softer, missing the edge of anger. To his surprise, Izuku smiled, and a blush spread rapidly across his freckled cheeks.
And then, looking directly back into his eyes, somehow both shy and bold all at the same time, Izuku answered, “Yeah. I really would like to hear you say it.”
Katsuki began to feel off-balance. This alpha didn’t react the way he was supposed to, didn’t say the things Katsuki expected, and it was starting to get to him. He felt too warm, almost embarrassed, and he sputtered a little as he tried to come up with a quick retort. His sharp tongue had never failed him before and, somehow, the quiet reassurance of this strangely polite alpha seemed to cut through that and leave him floundering for words.
Gathering his determination, Katsuki let out another long-suffering sigh and rolled his eyes, doing his best to look thoroughly annoyed. Annoyed was better than flustered. “Fine, then. It’s okay if you wanna come in my nest, alpha.”
“Izuku.”
“Hah?”
“Instead of alpha.”
Okay, Katsuki wasn’t buying the act any longer. “All alphas like that big-daddy bullshit. Don’t pretend to be some prudish gentleman.”
Izuku chuckled, and for some reason Katsuki didn’t understand, his blush rose once more. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” he countered. “But seeing as how we’re still getting to know each other, I thought maybe my actual name might be better.”
Katsuki could barely believe his ears. Throwing his hands up in frustration, he felt his impatience boil and explode all in one breath. What kind of alpha... “Get in the fucking nest,” he shouted.
Izuku giggled -- giggled! -- as he scampered forward the two steps it took for him to enter the perimeter of Katsuki’s nest. Katsuki was too focused on not choking him and completely unaware of the fact that the sourness in his own scent had faded away and began to have a hint of warm cinnamon instead. And joining it, the smell of sun-warm sweetgrass from the alpha. Without the sourness to remind him constantly of his own unhappiness, Katsuki couldn’t help but begin to relax, even as Izuku settled down next to him. Silence began to stretch out between them again, and before it could begin to feel awkward and uncomfortable, Katsuki broke it by demanding some answers.
“What do you know about this anyway?” he asked, pointing to the orange slashes painted on the crest of his cheekbones. It wasn’t like the barbarians to be very open with their customs to outsiders. And if Katsuki could just explain some of it away, maybe it wouldn’t feel like such a demand from the future, foreboding and unavoidable.
Izuku’s eyes sparkled in the extremely dim light as he squirmed in a little closer, clearly eager to share what he knew. “Not much, actually. Your leader, All Might... He taught me a few things each time we met. Mostly signs for animals and what each animal represents.” He reached up, intending to touch the marks himself, but Katsuki moved away at the last second. Izuku’s smile faded, just for a moment, but even in those half seconds Katsuki could sense the loss of it. Izuku tucked his hand away. The room felt a degree colder.
The alpha cleared his throat softly before he carried on. “L-like those. Bear claws. Not usually found on an omega. He told me that’s what made you special.” Izuku smiled again, just a small curl of his mouth that refused to shine as bright as all the others. Katsuki couldn’t help but notice the difference.
Stupid alpha...
“He said the bear represented strength and protection,” Izuku continued. “When I said I thought that described omegas perfectly, he said – Well. It was probably just talk.”
“What did he say?” The way Izuku suddenly tried to shrug the topic off made Katsuki suspicious. Even the alpha’s scent had changed, turning into something not quite as warm and inviting as before. If his scent before had been happiness, this was no doubt a dark cloud that lingered, heavy with the threat of rain.
“He said that was what made me special. I didn’t really understand at the time, but I think I get it now, meeting you.”
“Ugh.” Katsuki sighed. Well, that had backfired. And hard. He’d wanted an escape. Instead, his chest felt too small for the fluttery beating of his heart, and he couldn’t bring himself to keep staring back into those big green eyes. He looked away, choosing instead to stare at the tent wall, arms wrapped protectively around himself. He could just make out the shape of their shadows against it. Izuku was larger than him, and Katsuki had a hard time picking out his own shadow. He felt engulfed.
“We don’t have to,” the alpha blurted.
Katsuki squinted at the wall, refusing to be baited into eye contact. “Don’t have to what,” he asked, suspicion thick in his low voice. Like he didn’t already know. Alphas only wanted one thing.
“We don’t have to...you know. Complete the act.”
“Complete...” Katsuki curled his lip in distaste as he forgot his determination moments ago and whirled around to pin wide eyes on his new King. He leaned away from Izuku as if he suddenly found his presence intolerable. “Seriously, you can’t even say fuck? You talk so damn proper. Makes me feel antsy.” Katsuki shivered as if trying to rid himself of the feeling by shaking it off. “And, uh, yeah. We do. Otherwise you reject me and all that stuff out there means nothing.” He waved a hand in a vague manner towards the entrance.
Izuku shifted his weight, his tone turning thoughtful. “The first time is very serious to your tribe, huh?”
“For omegas. Alphas? Not so much,” Katsuki answered with a shrug.
“I see.” The graveness of Izuku’s simple answer made it clear he really did understand, at least as much as he was able. Omegas had no choice but to be pure, while alphas led a much more forgiving lifestyle. If an omega played around romantically, they were considered tainted. Alphas, when doing the exact same thing, were simply practicing for later. It was a double standard that existed in more places than it did not. Both were scolded for behaving carelessly, but only omegas had to worry their mistakes might alter their entire future.
“We’re kept separate," Katsuki began to explain. “At fourteen, viable omegas are kept in a separate camp, usually in classes or minding the young ones. The alphas go off and learn to hunt and fight with their elders. They come back in the evening, all worked up and aggressive. Sometimes at night, they creep over and lure as many omegas as they can into sneaking off with them. You ever been bombarded by alpha stink in six different directions? It’s disgusting.” Just the memory made Katsuki’s nose scrunch.
“I’m sorry. It doesn’t sound very fair.”
Katsuki shrugged. He wasn’t sure why he was talking so much. Maybe it was just taking up time to put off the inevitable. Maybe he was responding to Izuku’s soft kindness by letting out a few pent-up frustrations. Whatever the reason, his mouth just seemed to run on its own.
“This shitty alpha,” he continued, glaring off beyond Izuku’s shoulder into the past. “He snuck by the elders and just... Just grabbed my friend up and tried to drag him away. Like she was a fuckin’ cock sleeve and nothing else. We got her back, and she was fine but... The alpha just got told to go back to bed. Not to do it again. My friend got grilled for the rest of the night on whether or not she’d been penetrated. Even if it was just a finger .”
“That’s horrible....” Izuku’s answer was barely above a whisper.
Katsuki went quiet, squinting to see Izuku’s face in the dark. After a few moments, he decided the alpha’s reaction was genuine. “Yeah, well. What do you do? Your people, I mean. You just let them run around and fuck each other all day?”
“No, of course not. We...” Izuku hesitated, a brief pause that almost went unnoticed. “Omegas in Musutafu are more self-reliant,” he explained, taking it slow as if thinking out each word before he said it. “We don’t separate young ones because they are each expected to control their base desires. Anyone who forces themselves or their influence on anyone else is committing a crime. In my country, that alpha would have been punished.”
Katsuki didn’t answer for a long time, and he looked into the candle’s flame without really seeing the brightness of it. “That’s good,” he finally decided. “I’ve been studying your laws, you know? The elders insisted I learn as much as I could so I don’t offend anyone.” The silent roll of his eyes made it quite clear how much he didn’t want to have to care about that particular detail. “It’s shitty and controlling, telling everyone what they can and can’t do about every little thing, but... they’re not all terrible. Some of them even make sense.” When Katsuki finally looked back to Izuku, he was met with a wide smile that immediately made him look away again. His sweet scent flared protectively, cinnamon hints becoming something more spiced.
“Your blush is cute,” Izuku said quietly, edging his knees just a bit closer to him, and Katsuki immediately wanted to curl up and die.
“I’m not blushing,” he snapped back, though he knew good and well the evidence was, quite literally, all over his face.
Izuku covered his mouth with his hand, trying to stifle a soft giggle and failing miserably. His effort only earned him a shove to his shoulder.
Instead of soothing his anger, the realization at how little his shove had actually moved the big lunk only managed to piss him off more. Growling, he climbed up onto his knees and grabbed Izuku’s neck in a tight headlock, wrestling him down towards the floor. “I said I’m not blushing!”
Izuku’s attempt at a laugh was cut off when Katsuki tightened the hold, wrenching hard and yanking back to really cut off the alpha’s airflow. He watched with a growing sense of satisfaction as realization and then light panic set in on Izuku’s face. Izuku reached up, tapping on Katsuki’s arm rapidly, signaling that he was submitting. Katsuki released the hold, and Izuku stared in shock, rubbing his throat and panting heavily. Katsuki puffed his chest out proudly, feeling as if he’d won some great battle.
Until he was tackled.
“Oof!” He grunted, the wind forced out of him as Izuku’s broad, freckled shoulder shoved into his gut and followed through, driving him back and down into the soft wall of his nest. A real sense of fear tore through Katsuki’s stomach, and he almost gagged. He’d done it. He’d gone too far and now--
Izuku’s lips smashed into his own in a hard kiss that was as much a show of force as it was of affection. The message was rough but, to Katsuki, it was crystal clear. He couldn’t just bully Izuku away. Especially not if the dumb alpha actually liked it. And this alpha definitely liked it. The smell of sunshine and grass was strong and enveloped Katsuki’s senses, warming parts of him that he’d kept cold for a long time. The way his body responded on its own, hands grabbing onto Izuku’s thick biceps and legs falling open to allow their bodies close, honestly scared him. He wanted to say stop, wait, just a few seconds- but the words refused to form. His breath hitched, and he tore his lips away. Izuku was not put off for even a moment. His mouth dropped lower, lips dragging down around the curve of the omega’s ear to his throat. Katsuki’s eyes rolled back, and the moan Izuku’s teeth drew from him was wanton and permissive. His scent peaked in sweetness, the slow spread of warm caramel.
It was all happening so fast. Too fast. But even as his mind reeled and panicked, his body was eager for more. He felt hot and breathless, as if he’d been run down from a distance. And that smell... Katsuki wanted to be buried in that warm sunny meadow, wanted the alpha closer, and his knees drew up, thighs spreading wider. He was getting scent drunk, and it made him less combative than he might have been otherwise.
“Fuck,” Katsuki gasped out, almost a plea for a moment to think. His claws raked down Izuku’s back hard, and the alpha’s answering growl ran through his body like slow thunder. He could feel the thick erection against his thigh, and, curious, he shifted just so, pressing into it more firmly. Izuku sucked in a sharp breath, and his head jerked up. Katsuki didn’t give him a second to speak.
“Shut up. Just... don’t talk.”
Izuku’s mouth snapped closed, obeying without a moment’s hesitation. Katsuki couldn’t help but feel a little tingle of excitement. He’d never had that kind of sway over anyone, and though he’d often been told that good omegas were the true rulers of a household, he’d never believed it. Everything he’d ever seen said the exact opposite. But the alpha’s blissed-out gaze was a silent plea, eager but patient. He was waiting for Katsuki. And he had said he would wait all night...
Katsuki groaned softly as his mind and body struggled. He was still nervous, but all the warmth in his body had gathered and was starting to pulse between his thighs. He could feel the way his slick had made a sizable damp spot, and he couldn’t stop himself from rolling his hips, eyes drifting closed at the way his clit was just barely rubbed against the leg between his own. Above him, Izuku’s breathing grew rougher, lips parting on a shaky exhale. He was clearly struggling, but he remained a good boy, and he stayed quiet just like he’d been told.
Katsuki let his eyes drift closed, falling into a quick, steady rhythm. Izuku dropped down, arms braced on either side of the omega's head, and the deeper angle pushed his trapped cock against Katsuki’s cunt, drawing a low moan from both of them. Katsuki gripped at Izuku’s shirt, hanging on for all he was worth. The warmth he felt was building up, and the tingle became a throb, body held so tight that he trembled. But it wasn’t enough. He knew it wouldn’t be enough. With a frustrated groan, he forced his eyes open again, glaring up into wet emeralds.
“Stupid alpha. Making me do all the work. Move.”
“S-sorry! I thought-- You-- I-- Sorry.”
Katsuki groaned in frustration, eyes rolling. “I said move, not talk.”
“Yes! Sorry. I-- I did it again. Sorry. I can’t stop saying it. I don’t know why, oh god, I’m ruining the whole moment.” Izuku’s words got faster the longer he talked until he was just babbling nonsense. Fed up, Katsuki used the alpha’s shoulders to pull himself up, teeth latching onto Izuku’s throat. His fangs were small and not as sharp, but they were still very much a threat should Katsuki want to bite hard enough. The sharp nip of his bite made Izuku gasp, and it put an abrupt end to his babbling. Katsuki let himself drop down on his back once more.
“C’mon, alpha,” he goaded, piling a little goading on top of the demanding bite. “You really want me? Huh? Then stop fucking around and prove it.”
Above him, Izuku’s face went serious, and he gave a sharp nod. His eyes were more focused instead of darting around nervously, and Katsuki could smell a difference in him, his scent deepening into warm birch wood, rich and gentle. His omega responded, and he relaxed down into his nest with a self-satisfied smirk. He didn’t want a demanding alpha, but he didn’t want a weak pushover, either. Izuku seemed to walk that thin line just right. After all, Katsuki had gotten just the reaction he’d wanted.
Izuku lowered himself down and caught Katsuki’s lips in a confident kiss. He was less forceful this time, pressed firm but not hard, and his tongue pushed deep, rubbing and curling. Katsuki’s hand slid up into his thick curls just in time, giving him something to grip when Izuku began to grind back against him. He bucked hard, shoving his knees a little under Katsuki’s hips to get the perfect angle. Katsuki moaned into the kiss. Izuku’s hard-on rubbed with delicious friction once more, and with the two of them moving in tandem, it was much better. But it was the forcefulness, the rough demand in Izuku’s thrust that really got his heart racing.
Breathless, Katsuki pulled from the kiss with a gasp, tossing his head to one side. He said Izuku’s name softly, but this time he didn’t want to slow down. Not at all. He was soaked and the tease of Izuku against him, promising more to come, had him throbbing with want. He wanted it inside...
Katsuki felt Izuku move down but was totally unprepared for the warm lips wrapping around one nipple. His head snapped back, and he cried out, yanking a bit too hard on Izuku’s hair. If the alpha cared, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he opened his mouth and circled the tip of his tongue around the hardened nub before catching it between his teeth and tugging gently.
Katsuki was a mess. Each long suckle, teasing flick of the tongue, or scrape of teeth sent little zaps through his veins, the sensations collecting between his thighs. He wrapped his legs around Izuku, pulling him in, growing desperate for Izuku to take over and finish him off.
Izuku shifted, resting his weight to one side, and Katsuki felt the opposite hand rest against his ribs, then begin a slow trail down. He whined impatiently. It felt like hours before those fingers were on the crest of his hip, then down and just under his navel. The skin there trembled under the feathery touch and echoed in Katsuki’s shaky sigh.
“You’re so amazing,” Izuku breathed, shy and reverent. “Those sounds... the way you smell. I can barely think.”
Katsuki lifted his head, and the two looked at each other for a moment before the omega said between breaths, “Yeah? Stupid alpha. You should focus on what you’re good at.”
See? He was still in control. Surely, he hadn’t just been teetering on the edge of begging for it...
Izuku grinned and dove at Katsuki’s waist with eager hands. He made quick work of the belt and lacing and, within seconds, he was sliding his hand between Katsuki’s thighs, leading the way with two thick fingers. Katsuki couldn’t breathe. Izuku’s fingers slid easily down between his lips, ghosting around his clit. So, so goddamn close. Before he could stop himself, Katsuki let out a long, desperate whimper.
“What was that, omega?” Izuku’s fingers curled in, pads pressing firm against a spot that made Katsuki see stars.
Katsuki barely caught sight of the smirk on his stupid face as his eyes rolled back. He couldn’t speak and couldn’t think well enough to come up with a retort, even if he could have. Izuku’s fingers were sure, not at all the touch of that shy, stuttering buffoon he’d been earlier. He rubbed in a slow, tight circle, riding out the bucking of Katsuki’s hips with little effort. It was only moments before Katsuki felt his thighs begin to tremble. He knew his orgasm was moments away and, even expecting it the way he did, it was impossible to delay.
“AH! Izu— zuku!” His back bowed, head dropping back and baring his throat wide in submission. Izuku could have bitten him right then if he’d wanted. Instead, the alpha smiled triumphantly, and with all the smugness of a King, pushed those two fingers deep inside. Katsuki keened, legs spreading wide as he pushed up against them, ensuring Izuku went as deep as he could. At the last second, he slapped a hand over his own mouth, muffling his moans as his inner walls clenched and his orgasm took over.
He’d touched himself before, of course. Even played around with a fellow omega or two. He knew what it felt like to cum. It had never been this intense. He didn’t understand. And, frankly, he really didn’t care. All he knew was the tremors rolling deep inside that left his entire body quivering and felt so good he never wanted it to stop. If anything, he wanted more.
Lucky for him, Izuku was not done. He began to move, fingers thrusting in deep, curling in a way that made Katsuki tense all over again. His mouth hung open, and his panting breaths grew fast and desperate. His hands slapped down and grabbed at the thick blankets, hanging on as Izuku blew his mind. His head tossed to one side. He was close to cumming again. Already. But a heavy pressure had begun to build up rapidly, feeling as if it were swelling just behind the intense pleasure from the place Izuku’s fingers pushed and curled.
Katsuki’s eyes snapped open, and he shoved at Izuku’s wide shoulders, trying to push him away in a panic. He knew that feeling, and it was not welcome right then. Izuku was unmoved and, to Katsuki’s horror, only began to thrust faster. The wet, sloppy sounds of Katsuki’s slick seemed entirely too loud. Besides, if he didn’t stop—!
“Stop, you idiot! I’m gonna pee,” he hissed, voice low with shame. What if someone overheard?!
“Go ahead,” Izuku answered immediately. “Piss all over me if you have to. You’re so close. Just one more time for me, omega, please.”
The back of Katsuki’s head dug hard into the blankets on the ground, body tight as a bowstring. He squeezed tight, trying so hard to hold back, but Izuku was relentless. Katsuki squirmed and whined, knees pressed together, all to no avail. It was going to happen. He couldn’t stop it, couldn’t stop the tidal wave that gushed suddenly from between his thighs. Katsuki cried out, embarrassed, but the emotion was lost quickly in the power of the orgasm that took his breath away. His mouth hung open, thighs shaking as he ground his hips into Izuku’s fingers and his pussy clenched hard, trying to milk the knot that was not there. Warm and viscous slick shot out of him in bursts, drenching Izuku up to his wrist. He’d never been so embarrassed in all his life. He was almost sobbing when his strength finally gave out, and he dropped onto the flat of his back with a weak, shaky moan.
Katsuki threw his forearm over his eyes, hiding away from the alpha’s starry-eyed gaze. He’d heard of squirting before, but he only half believed it was actually real. He’d never shared something so intimate with anyone else, and the gravity of how far they still had to go suddenly seemed impossible compared to what had just happened. He remained immobile as Izuku slid in next to him but didn’t resist the way the alpha snuggled in close. It was comforting, and the alpha’s scent relaxed him. His breathing began to even out.
”Katsuki is so amazing.” Izuku’s voice was one of pure reverence.
“You said that already,” Katsuki managed, feeling as if his words slurred together. His mouth was dry, tongue sticky. Next to him, Izuku chuckled quietly.
”Well, it’s still true.” Gingerly, Izuku slipped his arms around Katsuki’s waist and eased his big head in, nudging Katsuki’s arm out of the way. In a huff, Katsuki dropped it to the side and rolled his eyes as Izuku’s face bloomed with a bright smile. Such a stupid alpha... Katsuki didn’t resist when Izuku leaned in for a soft, slow kiss. He might have even turned into it, lips parting from the kiss to breathe but not pulling away. Izuku’s hand ran up his side to his chest, thumbing over one of his peaked nipples and drawing out a soft sound. He was so sensitive all over that even a quick touch had him squirming in place, and he could feel Izuku’s trapped length against his hip.
Curiously, and with a hint of caution, he slipped his arm down between them, pointedly ignoring the look of hopeful excitement that read like a book across Izuku’s face. He cupped his hand over the shape of it through Izuku’s clothes, squeezing and rubbing until he had the alpha breathing heavily. Abruptly, he drew away. “Your clothes are in the way,” he snapped in lieu of an actual request.
Nevertheless, the alpha hurried to obey, not bothered in the least by Katsuki’s sharp tongue. He sat up and quickly unbuttoned the green vest and white shirt underneath before shrugging out of both at once. He looked absolutely ridiculous sitting there with that dopey smile and a body that had been touched by the Gods. Katsuki huffed his annoyance, tearing his eyes away from those sculpted abs, and lofted a brow, glancing down at Izuku’s pants pointedly.
“Oh yeah.” Izuku snickered and leaned back so he could undo the line of buttons before attempting to wiggle out of them, realizing all too late that his clunky, garish ankle boots were in the way. He yanked those off and tossed them outside the nest. Katsuki liked to think he was a little less awkward as he tugged his tall fur-topped boots off and eased out of his pants. They were soaked in his slick and being rid of them felt much better, even if it meant he was naked. Maybe it wasn’t so ridiculous to dress omegas in light clothes after all... at least for one night.
Katsuki had barely set his clothes aside before he was being pushed back onto the blankets. “Eager?” He meant it to be mocking, but Izuku nodded, and his tongue swiped hungrily between his lips. It felt good, being wanted so much.
“Yeah. You smell so good. I can’t help it. I need to be close to you. Touch you.” He pushed his way in, nuzzling closer until his parted lips hovered right over the pheromones coming from just behind Katsuki’s ear. He breathed in deep and bit his lip as a shiver ran through his body in response. A soft rumble of contentment followed.
Katsuki couldn’t help but be a little surprised, though he hid it well. He knew an omega’s pheromones had a strong effect on alphas. He just didn't know it was quite so… all-encompassing. Izuku’s entire focus was Katsuki. Nothing else in the world mattered. It was a power he had been unaware of until tonight, and he was eager to flex that muscle and see just how strong it really was.
Izuku sat up and looked down at his hand, his fingers still shiny with slick. For the first time, Katsuki took notice of the burn scar that ran from his fingertips all the way up his arm. He couldn’t help but wince. Surviving a big burn like that was almost impossible, even with his tribe’s talented healers.
“Childhood accident,” Izuku explained without needing to be questioned. “It took me years to learn how to use my fingers again.” He paused. Grinned. “I think you’d agree, I’m pretty good with them now.”
Katsuki balled up a fist and punched his shoulder. Hard. Izuku laughed, even as he winced and rubbed the sore spot left behind.
“I might have deserved that,” he admitted, smile putting the very sunshine to shame.
“You definitely deserved that.”
“Can I make up for it with a kiss?” His eyebrows raised high, disappearing behind a curtain of messy green curls. Hopeful. Brain completely empty of every other thought.
Katsuki huffed and shoved at his shoulder. “No. And get off me already.”
Izuku’s face fell and, for a moment, Katsuki felt bad. However, it was only a quick flash because he knew what he had in store for the alpha. He barely let Izuku’s weight lift before he took over, shoving him down onto his back. Izuku looked less worried but still confused until Katsuki boldly grabbed his dick and swung a leg over.
“Oh, shit. Sorry. Don’t stop, please,” Izuku began to babble, looking up at Katsuki with desperate eyes. “N-not that you can’t. Just... Don’t tease, okay? It hurts.”
Glancing down between them, Katsuki could see where Izuku’s knot had begun to swell. He slid his hand lower, fingers tickling over the swollen flesh. Izuku sucked a breath between clenched teeth and exhaled a soft whimper. Katsuki smirked and did it again, licking his lips at the sight of that thick, ruddy cock jerking and leaking.
“Ngh, Kacchaaan,” Izuku whined, his eyes screwing shut. He dropped his head back, and his hips struggled not to thrust, leaving him a squirming, pitiful mess. His heavy breaths and soft gasps were like music to the omega’s ears, much to Izuku’s chagrin. “I’ll beg. Anything, just... please !”
And, oh, Katsuki liked that. His smirk widened into a toothy grin, and he finally looked up, vicious red eyes meeting weepy green.
“Please,” Izuku said again, voice soft. “I need it. Need you.”
Katsuki swallowed and took a moment to think, trying to move the lump that had suddenly grown too wide in his throat. How the hell had he ended up here? He wanted to give in, to lie back and spread his thighs, allowing Izuku between them. He wanted to feel the alpha inside, to know what a real knot felt like. The realization made him freeze. A cold fear began to creep up his spine, and worries crept in with it. His husband was clearly not a virgin. What if Katsuki wasn’t good? And how, exactly, was he supposed to be good at something he’d never even done before? It was a stupid, hopeless situation!
“Katsuki?”
The blonde pulled his hand back. Hesitated. If he wasn’t good enough…. If Izuku rejected him…
When red met green again, the vibrant fire was gone, and the omega could only hold the other man's gaze a moment before looking away. His eyes darted around, unconsciously looking for an escape.
”Katsuki? Are you okay? Hey.”
Izuku’s callused fingers slid up Katsuki’s cheek, cupping and guiding him until they were looking at each other. Izuku smiled and, when Katsuki did not, it faded quickly.
“You can talk to me, you know,” Izuku assured him.
“You don’t want to hear what I have to say,” Katsuki replied, only a little above a whisper.
Silence stretched between them for a few seconds, feeling to Katsuki as if it had been hours. Despite Izuku’s guidance, he looked down, refusing to meet the alpha’s gaze. He’d heard the stories of alphas that fed on fear. Drank it like cool water on a hot day before taking their omega, often violently. That didn’t seem like Izuku at all.
Katsuki realized he wasn’t scared of the alpha. It was the fear of his own possible shortcomings that was making his body forget to breathe. If he failed, his entire tribe paid the price. Izuku would have the right to drop the whole alliance. Everything both sides needed. Gone in a moment. Because one omega wasn’t up to snuff.
The pressure to be perfect was suffocating.
”I do.” Izuku’s hand moved to his shoulder. Gave him a little shake. “Really, I’m starting to worry. Should I call--“
”No!” Katsuki reached up, grabbing Izuku’s wrist in a too-tight grip. “N-no.” Softer the second time. He had to keep breathing. It was hard for some reason. “I’ll be okay. Let’s just…. Keep going.”
Izuku huffed, looking as if Katsuki had just suggested they go for a quick flight around the world. “I don’t think so. You’re shaking. Are you scared? Is this—“ Izuku’s eyes widened impossibly. “Is this your first time?”
Katsuki knew he shouldn’t have said anything! Mentally kicking himself, he took a deep breath. Forced it out. “Yeah,” he admitted, looking anywhere but at Izuku. “Yeah, okay? I’m not. I’m not like you. I don’t have ‘talented fingers’ or whatever. So just. Take what you want. Tell me what to do or something, but stop sitting there staring at me like some stupid alpha!”
Izuku sat up on his knees and shifted over, sitting next to the omega.
Katsuki felt cold and exposed without him there. He grabbed his discarded cape and covered up with it. The light fabric didn’t do much for warmth, but it was large enough he could hide most of himself away under it.
”I didn’t know,” Izuku continued. “I would have been less pushy. I should have given you time.”
Katsuki felt his lips pushing out in a pout and his brows were pulled into a tight crinkle. He was confused and angry and ashamed. And to make matters more confusing, a distant part of himself argued that maybe he didn’t want time. Maybe he wanted the alpha to push ahead, take charge, and lead him. He could barely figure out which direction was up. His head spun with so many things, and they all seemed to be pulling in different directions.
”Look.” Izuku cleared his throat. Began reaching for his clothes.
Katsuki felt the lump in his throat drop to the pit of his stomach. Here it came. The rejection that would make him a failure. He jumped when Izuku touched him but didn’t resist as the alpha slipped his hand against Katsuki’s and threaded their fingers together. When he looked up, it was into one of Izuku’s warm smiles. The kind that made his chest tight and fluttery. Katsuki quickly looked down again. This time to hide the blush he could feel burning across his face.
”We’ve got time,” Izuku said, voice gentle. “We have to make it to the cliffs and then get on the ship to home. So. Let’s get to know each other a little until then, okay? When we board the ship together, we can revisit this.”
Katsuki’s brows tightened. “You don’t want me?”
Izuku laughed, a short barking sound that he cleared his throat and quickly swallowed. “I, ah, I thought I was pretty clear about that.”
In spite of himself, Katsuki laughed. He felt his chest tighten again. Izuku was too much. An alpha who not only considered his omega’s feelings but also put him first? That was rare. And precious. The gravity of what was being done was not lost on him, and Katsuki felt choked up from the gratitude. “You’re a good alpha.”
He watched closely at the effect his words had. Izuku sat up straighter and his chest pushed out just so. He smiled, shyly, reaching up and rubbing the tip of his nose. It was endearing.
”Are you going to, um…. Be okay? You said it hurts.”
Izuku’s cheeks flushed deep, and he ducked his head with a soft chuckle. “It does. Does it ever… But I’ll be okay. What about you? I haven’t scared you off for good, have I?”
Katsuki shook his head. Tried a smile that only faltered a little. “Not yet.”
”Good.” Izuku squeezed his hand gently, then let him go. “Let’s sleep, huh? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been up since the sunrise, and I’m beat.”
Katsuki scoffed and looked away. “I was already preparing for a purification ritual by sunrise,” he countered.
“So you should be tired too!” Izuku slid down, lying on his side. He motioned for Katsuki to join him. With only a slight bit of hesitation, and still using his blanket as a cover, Katsuki also lay down but kept his distance. The two faced each other in the quiet. Izuku was the first to close his eyes, and Katsuki watched him as he snuggled down into the nest. He watched Izuku’s chest expand as he breathed deep, and a soft but deep purr rumbled in the alpha’s throat. It wasn’t long before his breathing evened out and his face softened with sleep.
Still, Katsuki waited. He didn’t make a move until he was sure. He listened for sounds outside and only after he was satisfied with the silence did he carefully sit up and creep silently out of the tent.