***Warnings: Language, violent, battle scene, angst, humor, talk of arranged marriage and mpreg
Last night and the night before,
Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers knocking at my door
I want to go out, don't know if I can
I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker Man.
Chapter 7: Monsters In the Woods
Bakugo struggles to keep control of his beast as they race towards the monster. His beast is spooked by the monster and finally succeeds in tossing Bakugo off of it. Bakugo quickly gets up and draws his bow, aiming the arrow as he shoots at the monster. Running head-on, he keeps striking the monster with arrows, but they bounce off its skin. Tossing the bow to the ground, Bakugo takes out his sword and prepares to strike, aiming for the lower belly. The giant monster squeals and screeches as it folds into a rolling boulder of hard flesh. Bakugo wasn't expecting this, and with a growl, he leaps out of the way. It's Kirishima who meets the monster right after, using his large hammer to smack the rolling monster. Kirishima is knocked back after the blow, then realizes in horror that his hammer is broken.
'Nothing should be able to break Kiri's hammer!' Bakugo quickly draws up some flames to shoot at the monster, this time aiming for the exposed brain. It dodges the flames. 'Shit! What the fuck is this thing?'
"Out of the way!" Kaminari shouts to the others, calling his lightning power to vibrate the ground.
"MAKE A CRACK IN THE GROUND!" Bakugo shouts to Kaminari. 'If we can't strike it, then we should let it fall!'
Sero uses his straps to wrap around the monster and attempts to hold it in place while Kaminari prepares a stronger stream of bolts. Shoji aids Sero, turning most of his body to stone. It slows the monster down a bit. Kirishima and Bakugo dash towards the monster. Kirishima hardens his body and helps Shoji while Bakugo attempts to find a weak spot.
"HURRY UP YOU DUNCE HEAD!" Bakugo manages to shout out while viciously striking any spot he can.
The strange monster suddenly swells up its muscles, bursting out of Sero's straps. It grabs both Bakugo and Kirishima in its massive hands, throwing the pair off of it.
Shoji returns from stone and leaps out of the way just as Kaminari's lightning strikes the ground, whipping violently in a zig-zag pattern. It splits the ground open, but the monster broke out of its bindings and is able to avoid falling in the large crack. Kaminari's brain shuts off and he wobbles around, having gone stupid. Sero pulls Kaminari to safety with his straps. Bakugo is at a loss of what to do. He takes a quick glance upward to check on Deku. Deku was still in Tokoyami's talons, high above the fight.
Then, there's a sudden gust of wind and dozens of white tornados surround them. Bakugo instantly knows who this power belongs to and can't help but burst into flames with fury. It was the other Blood Lord, Inasa, who has no right to be in HIS territory. Inasa is using his powers to force the monster into a swirling whirlwind. It almost blows all of them away. Bakugo holds on to Kirishima's hardening body and Shoji holds Sero and Kaminari. No one thought about Izuku and Tokoyami in the sky.
Izuku had watched the whole brawl from the air with worry as each demon failed to stop the monster. He thought the monster was going to win, but then he sees an unfamiliar demon using some kind of wind power. The demon came out of nowhere, but his strong winds are lifting the monster. The wind, however, hits him and Tokoyami as well. He can feel Tokoyami struggling to flap against the strong winds. Suddenly, there's a demonic roar and a huge white tornado comes from the ground, swirling into the air. Izuku screams as the force of the wind send him flying through the air. He doesn't know how far. When he starts to fall, he fears he's going to die. The black trees become bigger as he falls closer. But Tokoyami manages to catch him, slowing Izuku's fall. They both crash to the ground but Tokoyami turned himself to stone to take the brunt of the fall.
Izuku rolls off of him, gasping for breath as he tries to calm himself. "W-What happened?"
"That was one of the four Blood Lords," Tokoyami says. "Chances are he didn't know we were in the air,"
"We need to get back to the others," Izuku says.
"The wind brought us far from Lord Bakugo's territory,"
"Are you able to fly with me?"
"I can have Dark Shadow hold you, but using him takes up a lot of my power,"
Izuku gulps and asks, "Should I wait here then? You can fly and get them, or I can just follow you?"
Tokoyami shakes his head. "It's much too dangerous for you to be in these woods. I shouldn't even be here." There's another screeching cry from one of those monsters close by. "Stand behind me! Quickly!"
Izuku does so, looking around for the monster. "We should fly off the ground at least!" Izuku suggests. "We can hide in a tree until Bakugo comes!"
Tokoyami decides to go with Izuku's idea, flying him up into a tree. Izuku is bigger than him, so he can't shield them both with his cloak. Instead, he calls Dark Shadow to conceal them. They can still see through Dark Shadow's form, but high up in the black trees, it would be near impossible for an animal, monster, or beast to see them. Tokoyami senses Izuku's fear as well as other emotions like helplessness and courage. Izuku wants to help but knows he's powerless.
"Just remain as quiet and still as you can," Tokoyami whispers to him.
Izuku's eyes dart all around the area as the monster's cries grow closer. He tries not to gasp when he sees a hulking black form emerge from the surrounding trees. But this monster is not alone. Two smaller monsters resembling it walks on all fours beside it. They didn't walk like normal four-legged animals, but like a human hunched forward. But Izuku didn't spend much time focusing on the monsters. Rather, his eyes are trained on the strange man carried by the largest monster. The sight and smell of the alpha male fill him with terror, though he cannot look away. The man is wearing all black and covered in severed clawed hands with one gripping his face. His hair is pale and shaggy with blue horns. His form lies limp and careless in the monster's hold. The man stops the monsters and they start to look around. Izuku glances at Tokoyami and judging by the fear in the other's eyes, this strange man is known.
"My, my...I thought for sure I sensed an omega around here," says the strange man in a raspy voice. "The unmistakable scent of an omega human,"
Izuku's eyes widen. Who is this man?
"I know you're here," the man chuckles awkwardly. "Where are you hiding little human?" He snaps his fingers and the two smaller monsters begin sniffing the ground like dogs.
Izuku carefully tugs on Tokoyami's cloak. He meets Tokoyami's eyes, silently asking what they should do. They both turn back to the monsters, finding only two and the man. The second smaller monster screams directly behind them, startling both Izuku and Tokoyami, even Dark Shadow. They're forced to lose their space on the tree and fall to the ground with Dark Shadow catching them this time. Izuku rolls onto his belly to get up but freezes when he sees the strange man and the monster staring at him. The man's red eyes peer through the knuckles of the clawed hand clutching his face. The eyes appear to be laughing at him, but Izuku can't see a mouth to know if there is a smile.
"Found you," Says the man.
"Tomura!" Tokoyami says the man's name and quickly uses his wings to shield Izuku, turning them to stone.
"Where's your blonde-haired boss-man?" Tomura mocks. "Two omegas out here all alone? He's gotten too lazy,"
'Tomura…' Izuku swears he's heard that name before. It's ringing a bell in his head.
"This human belongs to Lord Bakugo," Tokoyami tells him. "By your father's orders! You have no quarrel with us, so leave us be!"
Tomura chuckles weakly. "Fortunately for you, I am still gathering my strength from that long, long sleep. I will not bother with you. For now."
Izuku gasps when Tomura looks straight at him.
"Same green eyes," is all Tomura says before disappearing into thin air with all three monsters.
Tokoyami's wings return to normal and he helps Izuku up. "That was Lord Tomura...All For One's son and heir,"
"What he said right before he disappeared… 'same green eyes.' He looked at me when he said it, and his name is very familiar to me,"
"...he is a strange demon," Tokoyami tells him. "He says odd things. But we must get back to Lord Bakugo. I'm not sure what is going on,"
"IZUKUUUUUUU! TOKOYAMIIIIIIIII!" It was Kaminari's voice in the distance.
"OVER HERE!" Izuku shouts, suddenly wanting to be by Bakugo's side.
As the group came closer, Izuku can sense Bakugo. He releases his own omega scent on reflex. He smiles in relief when Bakugo charges through the trees and appears in front of them, enraged, and looking for a fight. They were all on alert yet relaxed when no monsters were around. Shoji runs to Tokoyami and embraces him. Izuku was foolish to hope that Bakugo would do the same thing, and he was right. Bakugo does, however, come over to look him up and down.
"Are you hurt at all?" Bakugo asks.
"A little sore from the fall, but otherwise I'm fine,"
"We heard those same monsters and followed the sound," Sero says. "Did you not see them?"
Tokoyami slips from Shoji's hold and explains to the others about Tomura and what they saw.
"Are you serious?" Kirishima asks.
"Yes. It was Tomura riding one of those strange monsters,"
"But why would the Master of All Evil awaken Tomura?" Kaminari asks, scratching his head.
An unfamiliar voice to Izuku answers, "We'll just have to ask Him ourselves!"
Izuku looks over Bakugo's shoulder to see the other Blood Lord, Inasa, joining them. He was a large demon, taller than Bakugo but shorter than Shoji. He has very short black hair that shapes his head with beige colored ram horns (which are bigger and wider than Bakugo's). He has a strong build, with a black tail and four brown wings. His face is both friendly and manic.
"No one asked you, windbag!" Bakugo growls at Inasa.
"And yet, if I hadn't had shown up, that monster would have beaten you!" Inasa counters.
Bakugo lets out a small roar. "I COULD HAVE DEFEATED IT IF YOU DIDN'T GET IN MY WAY! YOU NEARLY BLEW US ALL OUT OF THE TERRITORY!" Bakugo calms a bit when Izuku puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Is this him?" Inasa looks at Izuku. "The human omega that fell from the sky?"
Izuku nods, then nearly has a heart attack when Inasa slams his forehead into the ground with a deep bow.
"IT IS AN HONOR TO MEET YOU, HUMAN FROM THE SKY!"
"Uh…?"
"PLEASE CONSIDER ME A POSSIBLE ALPHA PRIME CANDIDATE FOR THE BIRTH OF A NEW SUCCESSOR!"
"Wha-?" Izuku was so confused. Not only that, but he was exhausted, frightened, and alarmed. Only a few days ago he was no one; an omega miner wanted only for pleasure by common alpha peasants, and now, this is the third Blood Lord to propose a courtship. He hopes he won't have to meet the fourth.
"Hey!" Bakugo moves to fully stand in front of Deku. "You're blowing a lot of wind out of your ass, Inasa! The human omega is mine! All For One said so, and you can fucking take it up with Him! And besides," Bakugo smirks. "Deku already has chosen ME to courtship!"
"Let the human speak for himself!" Inasa says.
Izuku yelps as Bakugo grabs him by the front of the shirt.
"Tell him!" Bakugo demands.
"I…" Izuku didn't know what to say. He knew what he wanted to say, but with the way Bakugo is threatening him, the other Blood Lord may look at it as Bakugo forcing him.
Sensing the growing tension, Tokoyami spreads his wings to get everyone's attention. "Blood Lord Inasa, the human omega, Izuku Midoriya, is promised to Blood Lord Bakugo. We have the written documents from All For One and the papers Master Iida wrote. There will be no other candidates for Izuku. Only Lord Bakugo."
Inasa crosses his arms. "Well, that's not fair! In my territory, omegas get the choice of what alpha they wish to have! Mirio's territory is the same!"
Bakugo releases Izuku and marches up to Inasa. "I'm only going to say this one more damn time! No other Blood Lord will have this omega! HE IS MINE! So you, Half and Half, and Mirio can just butt the fuck out!" He turns back to Izuku and grabs his wrist. "LET'S GO!"
Izuku looks back at Inasa as Bakugo drags him. The others follow, but Inasa remains behind. Izuku wonders if he should start to worry about the other Blood Lords? Shoto doesn't seem too threatening and he doesn't sense Shoto would attempt to do anything to him. But he doesn't know Blood Lord Inasa, and the alpha prime is unreadable, in both scent and emotions. As for the fourth Blood Lord, who must be the 'Mirio' that Inasa mentioned, he can't pass judgment. Since word is clearly getting around, Izuku can only assume the other Blood Lord will ask for permission to court him. Suddenly growing annoyed, Izuku stops and pulls his hand out of Bakugo's grasp.
"Stop using me as an omega commodity!" Izuku shouts at Bakugo.
"What the fuck, Deku?" Bakugo throws his hands out. "What are you talking about?"
Izuku, trying to hold back his angry tears, points in the direction of Inasa. "He asked me to tell you what I wanted! Shoto said the same thing! That I should have a choice! And frankly, my choice would be 'no' to all four Blood Lords!"
"Omega Hysteria," Bakugo states with a snort.
"It's not hysteria! There's something else going on here that I don't know about!" he turns to Tokoyami. "You heard Tomura say it too, Tokoyami! He told me, 'same green eyes!'" he turns back to Bakugo, now with angry tears. "And you smell so familiar," he says softly. "I know you're all keeping something from me! I want to know what it is!" He looks around at the others, but none will meet his eyes. He knows now that they are choosing not to tell him what they know. "Why won't any of you tell me what's going on?"
Everyone is silent, and then, Kirishima answers.
"Because we don't really know what's going on, either," He says to Izuku. "All we know is that we need you to help make both worlds a better place...for all of us."
Izuku looks to Bakugo. "Is that true?"
Bakugo never expecting Kirishima to come out with an answer like that, but it was a good one. He didn't let on that they know more about Deku's place here. Kirishima's answer can cover a lot of ground for them. For now.
"He's right," Bakugo says. "I have a lot of questions that need answering, so, let's get back to the castle before that Half and Half bastard sits in my throne!"
Izuku wanted to go to his chambers the moment they returned, not wanting to see or talk to any of them. He ignored Bakugo shouting at him and followed a kobold to his room. Izuku locks the door behind him then flops on the bed, burying his face in the pillow. What started out as a nice day turned into a horror fest followed by demons and their secrets. There's a reason why the Blood Lords want him; they all want to be the hero that saves their world to further build their egos and pride. Bakugo is the obvious choice, only because of how Izuku feels around him. It's Bakugo's scent that stirs feelings within Izuku; feelings he did not get when speaking to Shoto or meeting Inasa.
'But Bakugo is so...complicated,' Izuku thinks to himself. 'Shoto is calm and kind. That Inasa is to...manic. And the fourth Blood Lord...I doubt he'll be any different from the others.'
Thinking, muttering, and flopping on the bed, Izuku finally comes to a decision. There is no chance of leaving this place without marrying. He has no options of his own and, as a human, is mostly powerless to stop any Blood Lord from taking him if they want. All his thoughts circled back to Bakugo, and his decision is to marry the foul-mouthed alpha prime demon. The only reason; that familiar scent and, embarrassingly, how Bakugo makes him feel while...intimate. Marrying Bakugo will get the other Blood Lords off his back, which will eliminate the worry of omega abduction.
Before he decides to summon Bakugo, Izuku reads the terms and agreement paper that Iida had written up for him. If he is going to be an Omega Prince, or a Dom-Omega, or Omega Prime (whatever useless title) he would like to know what comes with it. The first peeve that struck him is that he is second only to Bakugo. He and Bakugo, as a mated and married pair, should be equals. He will have power and dominance over everyone in the castle unless his 'mate' declares otherwise. He will control and maintain the castle, following through with finances for managing festivals and feasts. He has full dominance over the punishment of criminals, kobolds, goblins, and trolls as well as the discipline of servants. Only his 'mate' can sign for the death sentence. He is allowed to have the intimate company of other omegas, but no betas or alphas. Izuku doesn't understand the currency number for his 'pay,' but it will no doubt be a lot more than what the mining industry was paying him.
Izuku lets out a sigh and signs his name to the paper, agreeing to its terms. It doesn't say anything about helping Bakugo make and plan battle strategies or train soldiers. He's marrying a warlord. But knowing Bakugo, battle, violence, and victory are his specialty, and he certainly wouldn't let a human omega give input. He sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair.
"Look at it this way, Izuku," he says in the mirror. "You have a better chance of finding out what they are hiding from you as head omega rather than a simple servant. You can do this!" He tells a kobold to fetch Bakugo for him.
Izuku sits in the large chair by the lit fireplace, his hands neatly folded in his lap. No doubt Bakugo will want to get married as soon as possible. Would Bakugo still want to consummate the marriage if he's not in heat yet? Izuku knows his cycles and his next one isn't for a while. However, alphas can force an omega into early heat, but that's only if the omega desires the alpha as well. While he does desire Bakugo, he's not sure he wants to be in heat and become pregnant just yet. He never really thought about having a child, figuring he would wait until he crossed the sea to the new world. Izuku remembers one alpha telling him that he's not getting any younger,' which continues to irk him whenever the memory pops up. Twenty years isn't old, and a person is only as old as they feel! He hears the door open and it's Bakugo, but the alpha is alone.
"Well? What do you want to say?" Bakugo asks.
Izuku stands up from the chair and says, "I've agreed to marry you,"
Bakugo's brows rise for a moment, then his surprised expression is replaced with a smug smirk. "So, you recognize that I am the right choice!"
"Only because I feel something between us that I didn't feel with the other Blood Lords," Izuku tells him. "And...you feel something too, right?"
"...it's your smell," Bakugo says. "I'm attracted to your omega scent because-"
"It's familiar," Izuku finishes for him. "There is something between us, Bakugo. May I call you by your name now?"
"Yes, but when in front of the public or formal events, it's 'My Mate.' Understand?"
"Yeah…"
Bakugo crosses his arms and asks, "Why are you pouting?"
"I'm not pouting?"
"You look like I just killed your new pet! What are you expecting, Deku? Wasn't it YOU who said that we can 'get to know each other' after we're married?"
Izuku presses his lips together and points out that it was Bakugo who said that, not him.
"Tsk! Well, whatever the case, you made your decision. Did you sign the term paper?"
"I did."
"Good. Then we'll marry soon and you'll give me an heir to become the successor."
Izuku frowns and asks, "Then what?"
"Then we regain our place in the world above."
"And then what?"
"And then life fucking goes on!" Bakugo sneers at him. "Again, what are you expecting from this? You'll have everything you need, Deku. A stable home, a full wallet, a castle, a territory, a number one alpha mate and a kid that will save the world. What more do you want?"
Izuku can feel his shoulders slump at Bakugo's words. The alpha just didn't get it. "Nothing," he says woefully.
"...take the rest of the day off to relax from what happened. I have a lot of work to do that doesn't pertain to a wedding. Iida and the others can help you plan for it. I'll send Tokoyami in to talk with you about any…omega questions you may have."
"Sure," Izuku says flatly, returning to his seat by the fire.
Bakugo stares at him for a moment, then leaves the room. He feels...almost guilty for the reaction from Deku. The human doesn't understand that there is so much on his mind that he can't really focus on 'making a relationship.' He has to find out what's going on with Tomura's sudden appearance and the arrival of those monsters. Deku probably thinks he's oblivious to the omega's feelings, but he's not. Deku is also suspicious of what their true plan is, and although Kirishima's answer helped, it wouldn't be enough. Deku will figure it out one way or another. All they can do is try to keep the truth hidden from him for as long as possible.
He makes a detour to Kirishima's room and kicks his way inside. "Hey! Kiri!"
"What?" Kirishima calls from the water closet. "Don't you ever knock?"
"Deku agreed to marry me!"
"Congratulations."
"But he's depressed and mopey. Get him a gift, something omegas like, and put my name on it,"
"...you should ask him what he likes. Just because he's an omega doesn't mean all omegas like the same things!"
Bakugo grinds his teeth.
"What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you picture Izuku?" Kirishima asks him.
Bakugo had a snappy answer to shoot back at Kirishima, but he did have an idea the moment the other alpha asked to picture Deku. The color white.
"Bakugo?"
"White dragon pelt," Bakugo blurts out.
Kirishima emerges from the water closet. "White dragon pelt? Bakugo...that's like...that's like a small fortune!"
"I want him wearing one," Bakugo demands. "Send Sero out to purchase one. I don't have time to hunt the thing myself. Maybe he'll want a crown too. He has no horns- so get one made with horns like mine, but smaller."
"Bakugo, I think you should ask Izuku WHAT he would like as a gift. He'll probably say 'no' but you shouldn't give a gift you think someone should like rather than what they do like."
"Hey, I'm fucking trying here!" Bakugo growls at his friend. "I'm offering him a gift, and that's what I want to give him! See that it happens! Get out of my sight!"
"...but this is my room?" Kirishima grins.
"SHUT UP! I KNEW THAT!"
Kirishima flinches with a chuckle as Bakugo slams his door.
The next day, Tokoyami visits Izuku, bringing him some stew and a bottle of wine along with a large book. Izuku had barely slept, both from nerves and nightmares from the previous day with the brain monsters...and that man with all the clawed hands. He thanked Tokoyami for the stew and wine, then asked what the book was for.
"This is a history of our realm," Tokoyami tells him. "I thought you would like something to read that can help you further understand our kind,"
Izuku takes the book from him. "Wow. It's heavy. But Yami...can I read this? Aren't they in your language? I mean, I can look at the pictures,"
"Open it," Tokoyami tells him.
Izuku opens the cover, looking at the strange letters and suddenly, he can read them! "Wait...I understand this! How is that possible?"
"You've been in our world long enough to adapt to the basic elements of it,"
"So...I can read demon?"
"Demon?" Tokoyami is amused and finds himself smiling at Izuku. "That's almost an insult to gargoyles,"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
"I'm teasing. It's not 'demon,' it's Abyssal. This is the language we all speak. The moment we met you, you could understand our language and us yours. Don't worry about the fine details of it. You will find this book helpful. Oh, and congratulations on your engagement to Lord Bakugo,"
"Thank you,"
Tokoyami has so much he wants to tell Izuku but he can't. Last night, he fretted over his own books trying to figure out a way to help Izuku. He had summoned for Kirishima to join him because he's the only other one who shares in the concern for Izuku's welfare. Kirishima worries about Izuku carrying and bearing a half breed child from a demon. Tokoyami had realized something a while ago that he neglected to tell the others, but he decided to tell Kirishima. He told the alpha that, as a human, Izuku is not immortal. While they themselves can die, their manners of death do not come from disease or old age. Kirishima almost lost it then, telling Tokoyami that they have to let Izuku know at least this much of the truth.
'There has to be something we can do for him!' Kirishima says, pacing the floor of Tokoyami's room.
'That is one decision we're going to have to let Izuku make because...he may not want to live forever. Not everyone does,'
'But what about the baby, then? It will be a half blood- will it be more human or more demon? Will it suffer like a human or a demon?'
'I wish I had an answer to your questions...they are the same ones I have. I'm more concerned with the takeover of the worlds. As far as Izuku knows, he is baring the successor to bring peace to the worlds,' he looks at Kirishima. 'We know that is not the truth,'
'Kaminari mentioned something about seeing All For One dethroned after the takeover,'
'I don't know about that. However, I'm starting to think that Izuku is the successor, not the child he will bear,'
Kirishima's eyes widen. 'What makes you think that?'
'What Tomura said, 'Same green eyes'. When Lord Bakugo saw Izuku dressed in white, he went into a fit. The wailing guided Izuku to Lord Bakugo's room. Lord Bakugo said he saw something ghostly behind Izuku before blacking out,'
'Hey...it's funny you say that! When I found him the other time after a fit, he was in the prophecy room! Do you think…?'
'If I were to make an educated guess based on my findings and analyzing...I would say, and do NOT let this leave the room, but Izuku may be the successor reborn...and Lord Bakugo the alpha lover turned demon.'
'No, that's wrong,' Kirishima says. 'Bakugo has always been here, just like the rest of us! No, All For One made Bakugo. We know this! Bakugo just wants to be the hero, and he can achieve that by marrying and mounting Izuku. Bakugo was always a strong, powerful demon! He was never a weak human! It has to be a coincidence that this is happening to Bakugo. Or he plays some roll in the old story. Maybe he turned the alpha human demon,'
'And how could he do that if you say All For One created Bakugo?'
'Well, maybe not created him...but definitely had a part in making him! Bakugo might just be a demon reborn after that big battle in the past. We don't know,'
'That's true...,' They would have talked more, but Shoji had returned and wasn't thrilled to find another alpha in the room, even if they were all friends.
"Tokoyami?"
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?" Izuku asks. "You zoned out for a minute,"
Tokoyami clears his throat. "I...I was just lost in thought. I apologize. Do enjoy the book,"
They were joined by Sero who came in holding two boxes and a big smile. "Knock, knock!"
"Oh, Sero. Good morning," Izuku smiles at him.
"Someone has some gifts from their soon-to-be husband!"
Izuku frowns at the boxes, fearing what could be in them. What kind of gifts do demon alphas give? And is this Bakugo's way of courting? Or maybe even...apologizing? Izuku takes the boxes from Sero and opens them.
TBC
