Chapter Text
“Katsuki! Stop squirming!”
“I can’t! You’re stabbing me in the eye!”
“I’m not stabbing you, you baby. It’s just eyeliner. Now look up. All the way. Yeah, good. Don’t move.”
“Mina, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Mina sighed and dropped the hand holding the kajal pencil in her lap. “Yes, Katsuki, I know what I’m doing,” she sighed, her tone impatient and pointed. “And if you had paid attention during lessons, you’d know too.”
Katsuki curled his lip in distaste. “Omega lessons are the same crap over and over. Be pretty. Be quiet. Be useless. Have babies . It’s fucking dumb!”
Mina gave a small shrug as she picked up her carving knife and scraped the kajal into a sharper point. “I guess. I like it. Anyway, it’s all beside the point now. By tonight, you’re going to be married.”
“Yeah, yeah, and the safety of the tribe depends on this arrangement, I know.” Katsuki rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of it all. Like getting all prettied up was really going to have anything to do with how his night was going to go. He doubted the guy would even notice before he was being groped and forced into bed. Katsuki did his best to ignore the sick lurch of his stomach at the thought. He didn’t want to allow his mind to linger there. He’d been sick once already.
“Fine, let’s finish.” Heaving a sigh, he looked up at the tent’s apex once more and did his best to keep from flinching as Mina continued lining his eyes in a thick ring of black. They were watering something fierce by the time she was done with the outline and began to smudge the line into a smoky ring with her finger. She dabbed at the corners with a cloth to blot away the lingering wetness, then leaned back to study her work.
“There. All done.” Looking very proud of herself, Mina held up a mirror for Katsuki to inspect her work. He had to admit, the makeup did look good on him. His red eyes were even more striking lined in black and the twin orange swipes at the crest of his cheekbones, meant to mimic claw marks, were quite flattering. It was shocking to see himself like this and he stared in silence longer than he meant to.
“Now, let's do something with that hair,” Mina announced, giving up on a thank you with a sigh.
Katsuki just frowned. He liked his unruly blonde hair like it was. Elders were always trying to get him to brush it down or grow it out longer but he'd managed to resist enough that they eventually gave up. Short and spiky was his look . He didn’t like the makeup and he definitely didn’t like the idea of taming his hair.
Seeing his expression sour, Mina sighed. “Not like that. I’m just going to use this new hair oil. It smells like flowers and-”
Katsuki tuned out as she rambled on and on about hair care. He wasn’t trying to be dismissive (this time) but, frankly, he had bigger things to be concerned about.
Their tribe was small but fierce. Known far and wide for their deadly warriors, even omegas like him were regarded with some amount of respect. But respect was nothing against a force like war. And the Kingdom of Endeavor was on the move, taking over small tribes one by one, giving them the option to join or be eradicated. Any resistance, even the smallest desire to preserve the history of what had been, was met with deadly force. Their goal was simple: annihilation. Only his barbarian tribe was skilled enough to have resisted this long. They had stood firm against Endeavor, single-handedly fighting off all attempts at a hostile takeover. But with the full force of Endeavor’s seemingly never-ending army bearing down on them, even the barbarians had no choice but to reach out for help. Help that would be found with the only other large settlement, led by a new, untested King named Izuku Midoriya, whose father had recently fallen in battle. Without a battle-proven leader, they were eager to accept the barbarian’s offer of an omega’s hand in marriage in exchange for the agreement to work together as one, solidifying their own Kingdom and bolstering their numbers in one easy move. Omegas were pretty rare, male omegas especially, which had put Katsuki at the forefront of the offerings when this King's preferences became known. Still, it wasn’t like he was the only male omega of acceptable age and there were certainly others much more suited to the omega role. But, for reasons that Katsuki would probably never understand, the Elders had selected him. Katsuki Bakugou.
By all accounts, it didn't make sense. He constantly butted heads with his mentors and was openly defiant. If it was just based on looks, he really didn't think he was the prettiest omega they had to offer, either. Mina, with her soft curves and sweet face, was a much better example of omega beauty. And there was that pretty boy omega with the blue eyes and blonde hair. He would have been a much better candidate. Katsuki was too muscular, too rebellious, and, frankly, just not a very good omega. He could cook, sure, but kids annoyed the crap out of him and he didn’t have the patience for sewing and crafting. Not to mention his foul, abrasive mouth. He refused to bow his head to any alpha. Elders frequently insisted he would never find a mate if he didn’t calm down and if they thought a sudden marriage was going to do the job, they were all going to be very disappointed.
“Stop brooding,” Mina said, flicking Katsuki on the nose to get his attention. “I can smell it on you.”
Jerking back with a sharp glare, Katsuki reluctantly accepted the offered hand mirror and examined himself. Smoky eyes and lightly stained lips reflected back at him, crowned by shiny blonde hair. Huh, maybe there was something to that hair oil after all... He barely recognized his reflection. “Wow.” He looked every bit the perfect omega, an image he never imagined seeing on himself. It almost felt as if all of this was happening to someone else. That couldn’t be him in the mirror.
“Yeah, wow!” Mina grinned widely, pleased with the outcome, even if it was obvious that Katsuki was not. She'd finally gotten the tomboy omega to submit to a little prettification and the outcome was stunning. Mina knew that Katsuki had never understood that he was just as beautiful as any other omega, as he didn’t believe that beauty and strength could coexist. But watching him stare at himself in the mirror, it was clear that, for once, he saw it too. “Alright, clothes time. Get up.”
“Those are not clothes,” Katsuki protested, though he did rise to his feet with only a small amount of reluctance. “It's a few strings and a loincloth.” An omega's acceptable wardrobe usually consisted of very little and even less for important ceremonies. They were to be admired and celebrated, the Elders claimed. It wasn’t objectification, they assured. Katsuki didn’t buy it for a second and he really didn’t want to walk down the aisle half-naked.
Mina laughed and made a dismissive gesture. “You're gonna look amazing in those strings, so hush. Why work so hard on that body if you're not going to show it off?” Katsuki fought not to scoff as she motioned for him to get moving. Currently, Katsuki was wearing his usual outfit, a simple pair of deep brown leather pants and heavy boots with a fur-topped orange cape and matching sleeves that went from his wrist to just above his elbow. Already far too much in some people’s eyes. Still, he gave in, and had reached up to release the tie of his cape when he was interrupted by the sound of someone entering.
The current omega mentor looked stressed as he ducked inside and regarded the two young omegas. “The King is almost ready,” he announced, frowning at the way Katsuki was dressed. “You're running late.”
The disappointment in his voice made Katsuki annoyed and he looked away with little more than a grunt.
“He got sick,” Mina offered, ignoring the glare Katsuki shot her way. “Nerves, you know?”
The mentor’s disappointment faded and he nodded with an understanding that surprised Katsuki into forgetting his protest about needing Mina to stand up for him.
“Well, skip the clothes,” Elder Aizawa said, making a hurrying motion with his hands. “You will just have to go as you are. The King is already on the way to the altar and we can't keep him waiting.” He reached over and patted Katsuki on his shoulder with a fatherly kind of fondness, though his expression remained unreadable. “Head up, Katsuki. You're representing our tribe. Nerves or not, you are the example that will stand for us all. Carry that with pride.”
Feeling his resolve strengthen, Katsuki gave a single nod and stood up a little straighter. The benefit of this marriage far outweighed his own reservations. If he refused, or worse, was refused... every single barbarian he’d ever known or cared about would be crushed under the might of Endeavor. Katsuki would have preferred to fight a real battle, but if this stupid ceremony and marriage was what it took to guarantee the safety of his people... he would do it. He thought of his mom, a loud and brash alpha, and his father, a meek and dependable omega. He was their only child, a real rarity among the tribe, and they’d doted on him his whole life by making sure he always had the best and rarely ever had to hear the word no. He would never even consider repaying their generous love and care with that kind of selfishness.
“Alright, I’m done. Let’s get this over with.”
Aizawa nodded and for an instant, Katsuki thought he saw a smile almost twitch on the mentor’s lips. “You will be happy to know that the Midoriyas have agreed to allow you a bodyguard of your choice to go with you. I assume--”
“Eijirou.”
“That’s what I thought. He’s already agreed and is ready to go.”
“So I’m the last to know,” Katsuki grumbled, not liking the feeling of having his choices so easily anticipated. Aizawa had always been that way and the two often butted heads because of it.
“We didn’t want to worry you with useless details.” Before Katsuki could protest his friend giving up his own life to guard his being called a useless detail, Aizawa motioned for him to hurry along and ushered him out of the tent, ignoring his grumblings.
Katsuki squinted against the sun as he ducked out of the tent. A clearing had been readied along the forest’s edge and the barbarians crowded in a circle, divided only by the length of a petal-strewn path that led to the center. At the start of the aisle, his mother waited in her finest leather and furs, standing tall and beaming pride. At her side, and just a step behind, his father was crying silently. He couldn’t smell their familiar scent past the blend of the crowd and a small part of him was disappointed. It would have provided some amount of comfort. Katsuki had to swallow to get his heart to stop squeezing in on itself. He couldn’t allow himself to be so emotionally open. He had a job to do.
Music rose moments after Katsuki stepped out of the tent, a soft harmony of wind and stringed instruments that he’d made fun of many times before. He never thought the sound would make him feel such dread. He still had not dared look at the altar. The King would be there, waiting. Closing his eyes, Katsuki took a moment to breathe out all the air trapped in his body.
He stepped forward, pausing in front of his parents briefly. He gave the low bow that was expected of him and the sound of his father’s choked sob almost made him break and run. When he stood upright, his mother gave a small, encouraging nod. There was pride there in her vibrant eyes but Katsuki didn’t miss the wetness that threatened to spill over. This was it. It wasn’t like they would never see each other again but they were going to be separated for a long time. They’d never been apart for more than a few months at a time. A surprising sadness joined his worry. Despite the excess of flowers, cheery music, and the smell of the waiting feast, none of this felt like it was supposed to. Katsuki had always scoffed at and belittled the omegas that gushed on and on about their eventual wedding day. It had seemed so silly and meek then, but now he felt regretful that his own wedding was never going to be more than a feeling of loss.
Before his thoughts got much darker, he turned away and began the slow walk up the aisle. People, a mix of his own and strangers from the King’s lands, strained to get a look. Voices went up all around and between the excited cries of “Look!” and “It’s starting!” Katsuki couldn’t help but hear the comments.
“Is... is that what he’s wearing?!”
“Ugh, leave it to Katsuki.”
“Their omegas sure look beefy.”
“He better not disappoint the King.”
“At least they cleaned him up a little...”
Katsuki wished he could be somewhere, anywhere else. At the very least that he could stop and yell back like he usually would. Stand up for himself a little. Fuck tradition, he’d show all these fucking assholes who he was and-- With a sigh, he forced himself to stop thinking along those lines. Just focus on what mattered now, like putting this walk of shame behind him. One foot in front of the other. Head up, Aizawa had said. You’re representing the whole tribe. Katsuki lifted his eyes from the ground.
A few yards away, the long altar was decorated with flowers and pretty displays of fur, jewelry, and pottery, all meant to be given as gifts to the newlyweds. Behind it stood their leader, an Elder who went by All Might. Despite once being an incredibly powerful alpha, age and bad health had wreaked havoc on his body, leaving him frail looking. Only his intense blue eyes still held the warning to not let looks fool you.
And in front of the altar stood...
Katsuki felt his brows tighten into a furrow, despite the way he tried so hard to keep his face expressionless. This had to be a mistake. There was no way that babyface was an alpha. Sure, he was well built, but he was also rather short for an alpha, and nothing about his bright, wide green eyes was even remotely threatening. He was stupidly cheerful and when he saw Katsuki look his way, he smiled widely and lifted a hand, wiggling his fingers in greeting.
What the fuck...?
Katsuki was glaring daggers before he could stop himself. More whispers and snide comments went up around him as people began to notice but this time they were easy to ignore. Did this guy, this Izuku , think this was some kind of joke?! Here Katsuki was, giving up his life and his freedom for the sake of his people and this curly-haired, shitty, broccoli-looking motherfucker was smiling ? Katsuki was affronted and just plain pissed off . His scent soured, and as he took his place next to his future husband, he felt a small sense of victory when the alpha’s smile wavered, fading slowly, and he soon turned away. Most omegas had likely always worked to keep their scents light and sweet around the King but Katsuki wasn’t the type to fake it.
Good , Katsuki thought petulantly. His scent was his scent and he wasn’t just some prize to be leered at as he was led to the slaughter. If this guy couldn’t understand why Katsuki wasn’t all smiles and finger wiggles back, he was dumber than he looked. Not that that would be hard.
For the first time since he’d been given the news, Katsuki grinned slightly. Insulting the King, even if it was just mentally, made him feel a little better.
Between them, All Might stepped forward and raised a hand into the air. The sound of the crowd around them faded into silence and All Might’s voice rang out strong in its place. “My fellow warriors,” he began, allowing his arm to fall back to his side. “We gather this day for a very important event. More than a simple marriage, more than a treaty for peace, more even than the joining of our two worlds.... Today, we gather to witness a new beginning. With the joining of this pair and their unfailing commitment to us all, we set out together to make a world where all can live and prosper.”
He paused for the crowd’s reaction, waiting for the mixture of stomping and shouting from the barbarians and more subdued clapping from the King’s people to fade once more before moving on. All Might turned to the King and fixed him with a hard stare, then turned the same look on Katsuki. “Let no false words nor empty promises be spoken here. For as long as our hearts are true and our wills strong, no force can deter us from victory!”
His fist thrust into the air, followed by more raucous applause. Even the King’s people seemed to be falling under the pull of All Might’s moving words. Katsuki was less moved. He’d spoken briefly with All Might a few hours before the ceremony about the future and the responsibilities he would soon bear. And while All MIght had been slightly apologetic, it went without saying that, at this point, it was all inevitable. Katsuki had always viewed their leader with an enormous amount of respect and awe but things had changed since he was chosen. He didn’t want to be bitter but it was hard to admire the man who put you up for sale.
The three of them waited as the cheering began to fade once more before All Might continued. He turned first to Katsuki and, despite himself, the blonde omega stood a little taller. Maybe a small part of him still wanted to impress. He’d never be able to do it with his ability in battle but he could have strength in other ways.
“Young Katsuki, of clan Bakugou... We have all watched you grow over the years, come to know and love you.”
Katsuki fought to keep his expression blank, even as his resentment grew with each passing word. He hadn’t doubted All Might’s sentiment up to this point but those words felt a little too showy to be genuine.
“Today, you stand before me a grown man and a ready omega. It is with a mix of pride and sadness that I be the one to pledge your hand to this man, Izuku Midoriya. King of his own lands, he has proven himself, both in battle and out, to be a brave and good man and a strong alpha. He will need a strong omega. You, Young Katsuki... I do truly believe you are that omega.”
All Might regarded Izuku next and as he went over the responsibilities of an alpha to protect and provide, Katsuki took the opportunity to actually study his husband-to-be. They appeared to be around the same age as far as Katsuki could tell. Izuku was about a head taller than him, short for an alpha but Katsuki was also tall for an omega, so he figured it evened out in the end. Wide, green eyes with matching hair that curled against freckled, tanned skin. Katsuki supposed the ride from his fancy castle all the way out to the middle of the Flat Lands had given the sun some time to deepen his tone. He wasn’t bad looking, if Katsuki was honest. Cute, almost. If you liked that insufferably happy look, at least. And he stared back at All Might with open awe and rapt attention, which Katsuki did appreciate.
Most outsiders viewed the barbarians as wild and uncivilized, a force that needed to be altered and tamed. So far, Izuku had made no demands that they change their ways or traditions and had made it known that they were welcome to stay put or join him on the journey back to his homeland of Musutafu. Katsuki had been surprised and a little intimidated by the amount of his people that were planning on moving. People had been packing and preparing to follow the King’s caravan back for days now. According to the rumor mill, it seemed that the general populace looked at it as a way to improve their current way of life, almost as if it were a step towards bettering themselves. Which only deepened the need for this marriage to work. If it had just been strangers, maybe Katsuki could have convinced himself he didn't really have to care. But people were putting their trust in him. He couldn’t let them down. Izuku had promised that all who came were welcome, but he didn’t want to think what might happen to those promises if the marriage didn’t work out. Katsuki wasn’t ready to trust the King to keep his word just yet.
After all, he didn’t know very much about the other man. Mostly that Izuku had proven himself a fierce warrior in his own right and that had earned him the respect of many, the barbarians included. Even if they weren’t following because of some romantic notion that the two very different peoples could live in harmony, Katsuki knew the job ahead of him was going to be massive. He wasn’t going to be the kind of overly submissive omega that sat by and simply allowed things to happen around them. He wanted to be involved, to ensure the happiness and prosperity of his people, and to truly give this merger a try. If Izuku had a problem with that, things were going to be very hard indeed.
Katsuki startled when All Might cleared his throat pointedly. “Katsuki... Izuku... Please turn to face one another and hold each other’s hand.”
Immediately, Izuku’s hand shot out, ready and eager and accompanied by a reassuring smile and a waft of sweet grass. Katsuki felt his stomach lurch as he reluctantly took the offered hand and allowed their fingers to intertwine. No going back now.
All Might lifted a length of braided cloth into the air. One orange strand to represent Katsuki, one green for Izuku, and a white strand for eternity to join the two, all woven together as a symbol of their union. Katsuki felt Izuku’s hand tighten in a gentle squeeze and he looked up into emerald eyes as All Might began to wrap it around their hands in the standard overhand knot, leaving it tied very loose.
Katsuki shot All Might with a quick, scathing look. Traditionally, the braid would remain around their wrists throughout the feast to follow until it naturally fell off, after which the pair would rush off to their home to mate and claim one another in private. Some couples lingered at their feasts for minutes, some for hours. It all depended on the tie of the knot.
Just what was All Might trying to say, anyway? Did he think Katsuki was plotting an escape and wanted to make sure Izuku could snatch him away as soon as possible? He couldn’t possibly think Katsuki was eager , could he? Or maybe he’d remembered how much Katsuki hated large crowds and was giving him the promise of a quick reprieve? Whatever it was, Katsuki felt a cold curl of distaste. Though he wanted to demand answers, it wasn’t his place to challenge, of all people, All Might. During his own wedding, no less.
“And so,” All Might continued, giving their joined hands a final pat, “we seal this marriage and these two souls together as one. Let the festivities... begin!”
A thunderous explosion of cheering and applause went up around them. Everyone seemed so excited. Katsuki chanced a look over at his new husband. He was smiling again and when their eyes met, the omega caught the scent of sweet grass once more, soft and welcoming. Stupid Alpha, scenting the air like that every time their eyes met. And that dorky smile. Against his will, Katsuki felt his resolve to be upset soften just a bit. It could have been much worse and if this alpha was as much of a pushover as he seemed so far, Katsuki would have no trouble ruling the roost. He’d always said he would prefer it that way. Maybe he ended up getting his wish.
It sure didn’t feel as satisfying as he’d thought it would.
He didn’t have much time to brood as they were almost immediately rushed off to their appointed place at the feast. As was tradition, they were sat in a plush spread of pillows and light blankets, meant to invite cuddles and tender moments between the new couple. Behind them, Katsuki’s parents and a few of his mentors sat together, ready to accept well-wishes and praise on a match well made. The sun was just beginning to make its descent into evening and torches were quickly lit against the approaching darkness. The sound of talk and merriment seemed to reach up to the sky as people crowded the long tables piled high with foods and sweets. The smell made Katsuki’s empty stomach gurgle loudly.
Beside him, Izuku chuckled softly. “Me too,” he said, resting his free hand against his own stomach in a show of sympathy.
Distantly, Katsuki noted it was the first thing they had said privately. He pressed his lips together and looked away, unsure as to why he felt shy about being hungry, of all things. At least he wouldn’t have to wait long to eat. Well-wishers were already lining up with their offerings, presents accompanied by little plates that held samples of their best food, or, for those who had no omega and no skill to cook, fresh fruits.
Izuku, at least, was eager to get started and waved over the first in line. Katsuki had expected an outsider to react with disinterest at best but Izuku was really putting himself out there. He took time to talk to each person, offering a greeting and a smile as time wore on and the procession began to become repetitive. He talked so much, he left both the guests and Katsuki without much to say once he was finished. Even close family members seemed to only have brief words of encouragement and hurried goodbyes left to offer. Katsuki couldn’t help but feel ignored even as he watched Izuku engage eagerly in their customs. So much for a doting alpha...
It wasn’t long before one set of faces blurred into the next for Katsuki and he was simply reacting rather than actually paying attention. He normally hated being the center of attention, especially in large crowds. In the past, they’d only led to comments about how he wasn’t a good enough Omega compared to everyone else. The constant failure to live up to expectations had left a bad taste in his mouth. But tonight was different. No one had any cross words or snide observations. Instead, he was lavished with praise and fawned over. It all felt forced and a little fake. At least the food offered was phenomenal. Even though Katsuki was carefully only eating a bite or two at a time of each dish, he was soon stuffed almost to discomfort.
Throughout the non-stop parade, Katsuki was especially careful to stay as close to Izuku as possible. He didn’t want to put any undue strain on the loose knot and he was hyper-aware of it as the night stretched on. Izuku was less careful and Katsuki had no choice but to scramble onto his knees a few times when bigger gifts were brought and required two hands. It gave the impression that he, too, was excited and Izuku had smiled over at him each time it happened, completely unaffected by Katsuki’s annoyed huffs in response. He managed to make it last deep into the night and, after what felt like hours, the last few people were making their offerings.
Despite how careful he’d been, with one word, it happened.
“Look!”
Katsuki felt as if he were stuck in some kind of thick goo, unable to move fast enough but forced to watch as Izuku raised his hand and pointed towards the woodline just past where the lights of the festivities could reach. He looked down in stone-still horror, watching as the sudden yank was too much for the tie and it slipped free, falling down to rest next to their hands. A heavy weight settled in Katsuki’s stomach and he continued to stare at the loose tie even as he distantly became aware of Izuku talking excitedly.
“That’s one of your tribe’s animals, isn’t it? You sorta worship them but not in the usual sense; it's more like a reverence, I suppose. A totem you put special significance in-- Oh, kinda like the paint on your cheeks and--”
“Shut up!” Time snapped into place and Katsuki could finally move again. He huffed, crossing his arms and looked anywhere but at Izuku and where his finger still pointed. “What would you even know about it anyway?!”
A hand dropped down onto his shoulder and Katsuki looked up to see Aizawa standing just behind him. “Hush. Do as he says.” Despite his stern command, Aizawa’s voice was strangely soft.
While his first instinct was to rebel immediately, it was then that Katsuki noticed the silence. The boisterous mix of conversation and song had stopped, replaced by a silence that felt large and important. Katsuki fixed his face into a scowl but he obeyed, eyes finally drifting out to where Izuku still pointed.
A large brown bear stood up on its hind legs, nose working as it sniffed the air, silently weighing the draw of the food smells against the danger of humans. At her feet, a cub waited, snuffling and pawing in the tall grass.
Katsuki felt his breath sucked from his lungs, stolen by the sight. Izuku had gotten his information almost too correct. The bear was an important symbol to his tribe, along with many other animals. What he couldn’t have known was that, specifically, the bear was his animal. On his name-day, he’d been blessed by the bear as his very own. He still had the little wooden totem he’d been gifted, the name ‘KATSUKI’ carved into the back by his mother’s hand, tucked safely away in the corner of his pillow.
“What a blessing,” Aizawa breathed, barely above a whisper.
In the distance, the mother bear dropped and sauntered back into the protection of the trees, her cub toddling along close behind. A few seconds of silence lingered before the first whispers began to spread among the crowd. All eyes turned back in, focusing on Izuku and Katsuki.
Katsuki couldn’t help but feel as if the bear had betrayed him somehow. He wanted this marriage to work, he truly did, but the idea of it being blessed was too much. He just wasn’t prepared to accept the message the mother bear brought.
“Oh, hey.” Izuku raised his freed hand, looking down at the untied knot with an amused smile. He looked back up at Katsuki, waiting, as if he expected the omega to smile back. The weight of dread that had settled in Katsuki’s gut earlier rolled uncomfortably.
It was time.