Archipelago

Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.

Warnings: Abuse, Violence, Trauma, Hurt/Comfort, Self Harm

Pairings: Midoriya x Bakugou

Plot: Midoriya runs from the only life he has ever known, seeking to begin a new life at the Archipelago.

Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics

Ch 01: Embark

Shimura watched the boy before her with an even, calm expression, tapping her fingertips against her cheek lightly before her fingers drifted towards her lips, thoughtful. "You know what this means if you proceed with this, Midoriya? I want you to be certain. I need to make sure you understand." She leaned forward in her chair, drawing closer to him as she spoke. "If you consent to this, there is no going back. It cannot be undone."

"I understand." The boy watched her intently, his grip on his hoodie tightening, nodding his head, his words concise. "I want this. Please."

Shimura searched his eyes, holding his steady gaze for a long moment before exhaling through her nose, nodding. "Alright. If you are sure." She tilted her head, one of her ears flicking slightly as she focused on the clock on the wall. "There isn't much time, but I will add you to the guest list. The flight leaves in one hour. You can't be late."

Midoriya inhaled sharply, jumping to his feet, his words rushed as he nodded, already starting towards the door. "Thank you Shimura-sama! This means everything to me. Thank you so much!" He shrugged into his boots as quickly as he could, reaching for the doorknob, one of his ears tilting back to focus on Shimura's voice, halting his movements as he listened to her words.

"If Bakugou finds you, I cannot protect you." Her tone was soft, every word careful. "He is your bonded. He has every right to seek you out and claim you, and command you under his will, until the bond is overwritten. You must be careful, Midoriya." She let out a soft sound, somewhere between a sigh and a slow release of breath. "An Alpha enraged...it is very dangerous. Especially for us."

"I'll be careful." He replied softly, glancing over his shoulder at her one last time. "Thank you. For everything you have done for me. I wouldn't have survived without you."

Shimura held his gaze, nodding and giving him a soft smile as he turned to go, the door clicking shut behind him. She sat in silence, staring at the door, thinking about what she needed to do. The ticking of the clock echoed in the small office, then she turned and reached for her phone, dialing the number that would give Midoriya access to what he wanted. She lifted the phone to her ear as it began to ring, closing her eyes and reclining back in her chair until she heard a voice on the other end.

"There is a last minute arrival on his way. An omega. If you can, find him a cabin to share with another omega, or a beta. It would mean a great deal to me, personally. As a favor."

The voice on the other end of the connection said a short response, then disconnected, Shimura dropping her phone to her lap and reaching up to run her fingers through her hair.

"Now it's up to you. Good luck, Midoriya."

He ran the entire way home. His small apartment was nearby, his bags already packed. He had prayed she would grant him access to safe harbor on the islands, had hoped with every fiber of his being he would be given a chance to start over. To begin a new life with someone who might care for him, cherish him, perhaps even love him, but if nothing else he hoped they might at least be kind.

He grabbed his carryon and backpack, his passport and ID cards already in hand, racing towards the door and leaving everything he once knew behind. He could barely breathe, his heart racing so fast time seemed to fly by in fast-forward. He barely remembered hailing a cab, or the ride to the airport. Making his way through the terminal was a blur, eventually finding the right gate and presenting his ID to claim his ticket, his bags quickly being taken from his hands and the flight attendants ushering him down a short ramp.

He reached out, gripping the railing of the small staircase leading up to the plane door, ascending into the cabin and finding his seat, buckling himself in with trembling fingers. He barely noticed the pretty girl sitting beside him, or the couple in the next aisle, the two girls chatting excitedly with one another as the doors closed and the captain's voice sounded overhead. The engines started, the plane began down the runway, and then his stomach was in his throat as they lifted off into the air. He inhaled sharply, reaching out automatically and grasping the hand of the girl sitting beside him, blushing and apologizing quickly as he pulled his hand away.

"I'm sorry!" He mumbled, embarrassed, his ears dipped back and his eyes averted. He expected her to be annoyed, but she giggled softly and reached for his hand again, squeezing reassuringly.

"It's alright, I get a little scared during small flights too! You can feel everything so much more in the smaller aircrafts than in the bigger commercial flights!"

He glanced over and met her eyes hesitantly, his ears lifting a bit. "Oh! Umm...I guess I don't really have anything to compare it to…"

She blinked over at him, surprised, then smiled wide and squeezed his hand tighter than before. "Really? This is your first flight? Wow, you're so lucky! This is really quite the treat, and you have the window seat too." She nodded towards the large oval portal at Midoriya's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "Look out at the view!"

Midoriya pulled his eyes from hers hesitantly and looked out of the window, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of the ocean stretching away from the mainland, nothing but brilliant blue as far as the eye could see. It faded into a golden horizon, sunlight dappling the waves cresting here and there on the rolling sea. In the far distance he could barely make out the chain of islands they were headed towards. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen something quite so beautiful. He smiled, the tension in his shoulders fading away, squeezing her fingers back lightly.

"Lucky…" He whispered, echoing her earlier words, turning back to look at her when she spoke again.

"You're an omega, right? Male omega are rare! I've never met one before!" She tilted her ears towards him, giving him a warm, welcoming expression. "My name is Uraraka! Let's be friends? Maybe we can share a cabin together on the island!"

Midoriya watched her with a slightly awed expression, but smiled and nodded, tilting his ears towards her as well. "Ah, alright? I mean...I would like that. Thank you, Uraraka." His eyes drifted down to their fingers, bright pink nail polish adorning her fingernails and accenting her pale skin. It was a vivid contrast to his darker, tanned skin and prominent freckles, sporadic clusters dappling his skin here and there in haphazard constellations. She wasn't wearing a ring, and as he glanced up to her neck, he couldn't make out a visible bondmark in the shadows of her auburn hair. "You're entering the retreat to…" He hesitated, trying to find the least embarrassing way to phrase what he wanted to ask, "...to find a mate?"

"Mmh!" She made a happy sound of affirmation, "My sister met her bondmate on the islands! I've waited for an invitation for years and I finally got one this summer! I'm so excited!" She pulled back her hand so she could cup her cheeks, hiding her pink flush with her fanned fingers. "I can't wait to see all the Alphas running around on the beach, playing volleyball, swimming, laying around in the sun!" She squealed and patted her cheeks, her blush growing even more pink as she fantasized. "I brought the cutest swimsuits and sundresses! I have the perfect outfit picked out for my first date!"

Midoriya watched her, smiling at her excitement, flicking one of his ears to the side as he nodded, his eyes drifting back towards the window. "It is rather exciting, isn't it?" His voice trailed off a bit at the end, his smile fading, swallowing thickly as he pushed down his growing anxiety. Of course. Dating. He had to find someone who would want to court him. Who would want to claim him. Someone willing to bond with him despite the mark already embedded into his neck. Someone who could nullify his bond with Bakugou and replace it with their own. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself and hugging tightly, digging his blunt nails into the fabric of his hoodie and closing his eyes, taking a deep breath.

He could do this. He had to do this.

It was the only way he would ever be safe. Be free.

He had to find someone who could protect him from Bakugou.

Thanks for reading! More to come!