Ten Years after high school

Shoto's P.O.V.

"And there you have it folks, your number one hero does it again! Shoto Todoroki, the pride and joy of Japan. Thank you so much for keeping us safe!"

"Absolutely, as always it is my pleasure." I bowed to the reporter and smiled a fake smile for the cameras. They allowed me to leave, and I made one more check with the police to make sure the villain I had just apprehended was properly secured. When I was adequately satisfied, I decided to take a walk back to the agency, the long way through the city. The quiet way. I'm not the flashiest hero, but people always want to talk to me. It's still not my forte but I've gotten better with the media. Even still I much prefer one on one encounters with my fans rather than big spectacles, I think they may prefer it too.

As I walked down the street, taking a few back roads when I noticed a peculiar pelt of red hair. He's changed a lot, long red dreads, big broad shoulders, he's grown to be just a few inches shorter than me. I haven't seen him in years. "Red Riot?" I said as I approached him. He stopped and turned to me, a huge smile on his face. Oh… wow.

"Todoroki? Man! Dude! It's been years! You're so secretive and never hang out after missions or do joint operations. But like man! It's really good to see you!" Kirishima said pulling me into a hug. It was sort of awkward because well… he was heavily pregnant.

"It's nice to see you was well." I felt my eyes pander down to his baby bump once more. I don't remember him getting married, but I suppose I am not one for keeping up with old classmates in the media. I vaguely remember him being part of a pack or… I just can't remember. I've lost touch with nearly everyone from my past.

"How have you been? Gosh, number one now? It must feel great." I spend all my time dedicated to my hero work. It's all I feel… okay doing.

"It's been a dream come true." My pre-rehearsed reply. "And you?" I looked down at his large belly, he must be close to his 9th month, ready to give birth any day now.

"Oh… yeah. I'm getting huge huh? Only seven months, everyone says it's good luck. My freakin alpha loves it. The whole fat with his pups thing ya know?" I was very confused. His alpha? Like I said I thought he was in a pack. Maybe with Sero and Ashido or something, but I didn't know there was an alpha involved. "We had a hard time getting pregnant, been trying for almost a year now, maybe longer. He and I both have some fertility challenges. When we finally gave up that's when we got this little miracle. Now that I'm this far along, well it's been a blessing." He went on to say.

"Your alpha, I didn't know you were married." I said as I noticed the ring on his finger.

"Yeah, I mean we eloped and it's his second marriage and all, so we've sort of kept it out of the media. But he claimed me the moment he found out I was pregnant, well properly claimed me, then we went down to the courthouse the next day." He laughed, showing me his mark on his neck and rubbing his belly fondly. I was so confused.

"Who is your alpha?" I finally outright asked.

"Oh, umm… it's Bakugo." I felt like ice water had been poured down my back.

"Oh." Izuku and Katsuki got married a few weeks after graduation. It was a very large spectacle. I didn't attend, but it was the talk of the town for months. They debuted as a team; I suspect it was to shelter Izuku from getting paid an omega rate. They were doing very well for some time, even ahead of me in the charts until I started my own rise. Then… they just sort of dropped off the planet. I'm not sure what exactly happened. Both went on a break or something. I could look it up now, Dynamite can't be ranked less than 30th, and Deku… I couldn't tell you honestly.

"They got divorced. It uh… actually blew up pretty bad after Katsumi's 3rd birthday party. Uhm, but we're still a pack. He lives next door with his mom and mostly takes care of Katsumi, but he's been working real hard to get back in shape again and get recertified and licensed."

"Oh." I felt like that was all I could say. Katsumi? He… has a daughter. I had no idea. I suddenly felt embarrassed. I haven't kept up with anyone for… ten years?

"Sorry to uh bring that all up like that. It's hard when, you know, my husband comes up and all."

Snap out of it Shoto. "Well I'm happy for you. Is this your first?"

"Yeah, I'm a little nervous, it's been sort of a rough pregnancy. I can't even quirk up cause we're scared I could crush her."

"Here, let me walk you to where you were going." I said as we started to walk, taking his bags for him. "Nejire had a difficult pregnancy with our son, she could give you some tips if you were interested. Quirk use and pregnancy is hard." I confirmed.

"Oh yeah! I bet she would know! I would love to talk to her about how to come back to hero work after a pregnancy. Our society makes it so hard. You know Inasa hasn't come back either after having Tenya's son, an agency won't sign him." I didn't know that either. There's been murmur about an omega lock out, but I thought it was just sidekicks, heroes that couldn't make the cut anyway. But for Gail Force not to be able to come back… maybe this is more serious than I thought. Although Hado always just comes back whenever she's ready, it's never been a big deal. It's in her contract. Maybe that's why I didn't notice a lock out before…

"That is very unfortunate." I realized as I opened Red Riot's car door for him.

"Hey, we're having a baby shower next weekend, you should come, and bring your family. It'll be a good time." He said as I helped him into the car, and he handed me an invitation from the passenger's seat.

"Oh, well thank you, yes, Nejire would very much enjoy that."

He smiled a blinding smile, before waiving. "I'm glad I saw you Sho, I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with you."

"And I, you. We'll see you soon." I said closing the car door for him. Wow, that was… a lot of information to process. Kirishima and Bakugo? Married? I can't say I'm shocked, but… I thought… well I don't know what I thought. It had me reeling as to where Deku fit into all of this. Instead of pondering it further, I pushed my thoughts away and made my way back to the agency. The agency I am now head of.

I took over Endeavor Corp a few months ago. My father having suffered a career ending injury. It's mostly pushing paperwork, but being the number one hero now, well I do get to get out when needed. I dealt with all I had to for the day and retired home. I live in the penthouse apartment of the Endeavor Corp building. It's just easier, closer to the action, always on call, always there when needed. I work a lot, maybe that's why I'm the number one hero. Or really my father and my publicist just paved my career that way…

I was about to pour a finger of whiskey, do some research, order some cold soba and settle down for the evening when I heard a key enter my door. "Daddy! Daddy!" My eldest daughter, Shouko, burst through the door nearly tackling me. "Quirk training was amazing today, Grandpa said he's never been so proud!" I looked up and caught eyes with my mate.

"You forgot it's Sunday." I blinked a few times.

"I suppose I did." I said taking the pizza out of her hands.

"I saw the news earlier, nice take down by the way. I figured you'd forget to cook but forgetting about us entirely?" She said in a very annoyed tone, pushing Koiru's stroller inside. My son, Shoma, entered after her, looking down sadly.

"Hi son." I said meekly.

"Hello father." He said equally meek, not looking at me and going inside. He and I sort of have a turbulent relationship.

"Is he alright?" I asked Nejire as I helped her with the highchair. He always looks near tears but today seemed particularly bad.

"Another day without a quirk, how do you think he is?" My son is quirkless and well… I'm not really sure how to handle it. I'm not sure any of us do.

"And Endeavor?"

"Shouko is the golden child, Shoma doesn't even exist. God I hope Koiru gets the combination he's looking for." She said serving each of my children. Shouko inherited my fire and ice along with my eyes, Nejire's good looks, and a much greater willingness to follow the path of my father. No sign of Nejire's waves however. Shoma, the child who most resembles me, only inheriting Nejire's eyes, is almost 6 years old and there is no indication of a quirk coming anytime soon. Koiru's only two and a half, but it way she spins around and likes the cold, well I guess we'll see.

"How was your week Shoma?" I asked as I got each of my children some water and napkins.

"The bitch bulled him again. Gave him a swirly in the bathroom!"

"Shouko, we don't talk about anyone like that." Nejire scolded.

"What? Everyone hates her! I feel bad for Shoma, he has to deal with her in class all day long, I only have to deal with her an hour a day at advanced quirk training after school."

I looked at Nejire who rolled her eyes and ate her pizza. Obviously, I wasn't exactly clued into the children's drama except for the very basics. But wow, I'm really having a clueless day today. "She got her quirk at 4 and her overbearing parents think a 6-year-old belongs with the 10 year olds because she's so great." My once bubbly mate said. Now she's an over worked mother of three with barely any time for her own hero work. It's made her resent me, and my father even more. He's the one who has demanded each time she's to take off from her career to give me more children. At least she doesn't seem to have the same trouble coming back from a pregnancy as I've now heard that other omega heroes have.

"I'm sure Mirio has some great advice for getting past bullies." I commented. That's all I could give them. I really didn't know otherwise.

"Smile and don't let it bother you." Shoma finally said, just staring at his pizza. His half red, half periwinkle hair hung in his face.

"Same thing he always says. TamTam says hi though, he misses you around the house." Shouko said through a mouthful of pizza. Mirio and Tamaki live with Nejire and my family. They raise my children more than I do. Every now and then I have to go over there, satisfy the media that we are a happy family, but we couldn't be further from it. On the outside we look like a pack, they all bare my mark, even Mirio as he lost his alpha status in an accident long ago, but really they are a pack and I'm the lone alpha who is nothing more than a breeder. Nejire brings the children over on Sundays for dinner, so they at least know their sire's scent, but really, she'd rather not be around me otherwise. Bringing the kids to see me is more of a chore than something she enjoys. And as much as I want to love my children, I'm afraid I'm a very good father. My pack mates are much better at raising them and tending to their needs. It's much better for everyone if I just stay out of Hado's way. She's much more fond of women and I, men. Although my claim is on her neck, she is free to do as she pleases, so long as she has my children when ever my father asks. That's just how it works.

"You need to come by the house again before the media start getting suspicious." My wife said not looking at me, eating her pizza.

"Once I explained that this condo is just here so I can be close to work, I think they've backed off. The house is your domain, I'd hate to have my scent there throw off the way you live." I dismissed. I just… hate going there. It makes me feel so guilty. I've been fortunate to be able to provide Nejire and my children with everything they've ever wanted or needed, but… I've taken Nejire's life away from her. The least I can do is stay out of her hair.

"They came out with these cool claim suppressants now. So the claim doesn't hurt when your with another. I think mom should try it."

I looked at my eldest daughter with surprise.

"Shouko." My wife reprimanded.

"What? It's not like it's a secret." My daughter gawked.

I eyed at my son who was slowly chewing his pizza. For only a six-year-old he is highly perceptive. "Mom and dad don't love each other." He muttered.

"No sweety, that's not true. Your father and I love each other very much."

"We simply don't partake in a romantic relationship with one another." I added. Nejire looked at me like she had just looked at my daughter. It was the truth. And it's not as though they are unaware.

My son gave my eldest daughter a questioning look. "They love each other, just not in the same way Lemillion loves Sun Eater." She explained. She too, is very intelligent for her age.

"You're right Ko, I love your father, he's given me a good life and you three. I know it's hard not seeing your parents love each other the way your pack parents do, but this works for us." My wife further explained. "Just remember, no one can know our relationship is the way that it is." Both of my children nodded, that coaching ever present in their minds.

"I just want dad to be happy. You never smile." I… what?

"She has a point. I can't even remember that last time you-"

"How's your school work going Shoma? Any drawings I can place on my fridge?" And that was the end of that conversation. My personal happiness. It's… it's just not important. After dinner the two eldest set out in my living room to do their homework, leaving Nejire and I to clean up, talk, and feed my youngest.

"Claim suppressants? She's ten, how would she even know about those?"

"If you wanted them, I know they're probably pretty pricey but I can certainly-"

"I already have them. Momo gave them to me back when we were dating. And yeah, they're super expensive, but nothing the number one hero's payroll can't handle." She chuckled until an awkward silence hung over us.

"I saw Red Riot today."

"Oh yeah? He's gotten big, hasn't he? Probably carrying an alpha the way he's showing."

"You knew?"

"Omega talk."

"And you know who his alpha is?"

"I do."

I took in a breath. Well okay then. "I got invited to his baby shower. He said to bring my family, and I would like to do that." I said, walking on thin ice as I showed her the invitation.

"Shoto… I don't think… that's… for so many reasons not a good idea."

"If I can forgive, maybe the other alpha can as well."

"That's not… you don't understand. There's so much." She let out a breath as she looked me in the eyes. "Maybe. I've never seen you actually want to socialize before."

I shrugged, pouring that finger of whiskey I had been wanting. "Wine? You can spend the night here. You haven't done that in a while and the kids would enjoy it. I was just gifted a nice bottle of red you may like."

"Sho…" She suddenly got sad. I knew that face well.

"You're pregnant."

"You have got to be the most prolific alpha on the planet." She said going in her purse and pulling out a pregnancy test. It was positive. We've only had sex four times throughout the years, each resulting in a pregnancy. "All I have to do is blink around you and I get pregnant." She chuckled, although all I could feel was her pain. There goes her moving up in the rankings.

"Apologies. Are you… at least…"

"Happy? I mean… yeah. We make some really stinkin cute babies together. But Sho… I don't want to have any more kids after this. My career… I'm almost thirty and female heroes especially omega don't usually last much longer than that. I want to break the top 50 before I'm forced to retire. And four kids under 10 will be a lot."

"We've talked about an implant." A device that would prevent heats and pregnancy.

"With the way your father monitors my medical records? You need to talk to him." I swallowed. He's forced Nejire to come to me, unhindered and in heat, with every child we've had. I'm not sure he believes four is enough.

"Okay."

"Are you just saying okay or are you serious this time?" I've been… a coward when it comes to my father. That is a well-known fact.

"I'm not sure." I said taking my whiskey and heading over to the couch to be with my children. This is not the life I wanted. Neither is it the one Nejire desires. But standing up to my father… well I haven't had the appetite for that in quite some time.

Izuku's P.O.V.

"It looks stupid."

"Katsumi."

"What? It does! Who wears pigtails anymore?"

"I'm not having this discussion with you, now go finish getting ready for school." She rolled her eyes. "Now Katsumi." Stomping her foot and letting out a huff she went back upstairs. Pulling out the braids I just did as she walked. I'll never win with that girl.

"She needs to check that attitude." Mom said, looking up from the breakfast table.

"As all of her progress reports have clearly stated." I said, sitting down and having another cup of coffee with my mother.

"I mean she is Katsuki's child…" Mom muttered.

"With a quirk twice a powerful as his and no reason not to use it." I muttered into my cup. A female alpha with an attitude problem. The plus ultra version of my ex. Speaking of which.

"Nerd, I'm gonna take the squirt to school on my way to work, where is she?" Kacchan said, coming in the house, big boots stomping mud everywhere. I don't even care anymore and he sure as hell doesn't. We're barely cordial to each other at this point. Honestly if it wasn't for Katsumi we wouldn't speak.

"She's just getting ready." I said, not even wanting to look at him. We had a bad divorce, a very bad one. But now we have to raise a child and unlike our marriage when Kirishima was at least encouraging him to try, now he doesn't care at all. Only cares about his new mate and their new baby. Whatever.

"Well tell her to hurry up, if I'm late one more time I'll get fired." Oh yeah, the number 34 hero can't hold down a job. Every agency hates him. Wonder why? He's really lucky he's an alpha and hiring alphas is the preferred thing to do. It's a wonder he keeps getting hired and fired and I can't even get an interview.

"She knows what time to leave Kacchan." I muttered as he angerly stomped over to me. He wafted an angry alpha scent, which I ignored.

"Look Kirishima wants to come over here later today. Pregnancy talk and some other bullshit. He wanted me to ask."

"Eijiro is always welcome here." You, however, are not.

"Daddy!"

"Pipsqueak!" Katsumi created an explosion with her feet and launched herself onto her father's back.

"I beat the fuck out of Two Tone in quirk training yesterday. I swear she was gonna cry."

"That's my girl."

"Kacchan."

"What? That rich bitch has it coming. My girl is in the advanced class, beating up on all the ten-year-olds like a pro."

"We really should have a talk about her bullying Shoma."

"Who?"

"Yeah, real funny Kacchan." He smiled and winked, taking our daughter to school.

"Did he get another tattoo?" Mom questioned.

"Probably." I said getting up and cleaning the mud out of the hallway. Kacchan… I can't even say he's changed because he hasn't. I was just too blinded by lust to see it. We got married really young. Too young. We had just debuted, had a seriously fast raise, headed straight for the top both of us. I think the fame got to him. It was everything he ever wanted. Except he was married and had started a pack. I guess he never got to be single and enjoy the limelight. Maybe that's my fault. But… I think he just crumbled under the pressure.

I wanted a baby and stability, slowly climb the hero ranks as we raised a family. He wanted to jet to the top and have all the perks that come with it. It didn't exactly go that way. If he was going to have his pack, I was going to have a baby. I was fired almost the instant I announced my pregnancy. He didn't want me to work after I had Katsumi, so I didn't. I wasn't exactly ready to come back as a hero right away anyways. I was dealing with my own stuff, I guess. Without me as his partner, his hero rankings plummeted, hard. People didn't exactly like the tough explosion hero without his lovable omega at his side. After a couple years I tried to come back but I was out of shape, and no one would hire me. It's still sort of that way. We both ended up slipping into a depression, blamed the other, realized we were just about the worst fit as a couple possible. Lust doesn't last. Love does. And there just wasn't enough love.

He's a great dad… I guess. He's always here for Katsumi at least. He and I just… can't stand each other. More he realized he always couldn't stand me, and I finally realized he wasn't worth my time. Five years of marriage, the best years of my life and my hero career wasted. I have a lot of regrets. I think that much is obvious. Although I love my daughter with all my heart, I wish we had waited to have her. Have my hero career first, then retire and become a parent. Discrimination isn't supposed to exist, but it does. It is really hard for an omega to be a hero after having a baby. The whole world thinks our only purpose is to care for those children. That even a 40-hour work week is much too long to be away from pups. And they're scared to put us on the pay roll because then they'd have to guarantee maternity leave should we get pregnant again, which is always the first question. I'd consider leaving the country, some place less discriminatory but well… I do have a family and that just isn't possible.

I started cleaning the house as my mom went to work. When I was about halfway done Kirishima knocked on the door. He was all big smiles and an even bigger belly. I was a little jealous, pregnancy does suit him well.

"Hey Eiji, come on in."

"Thanks! I brought you some katsudon for lunch, I hope you haven't eaten yet."

"Not yet, wow that smells great." I let him inside and he put the to go containers on the table. "Kacchan said you wanted to talk about some pregnancy stuff?"

"He never listens, does he? Well yeah we could talk about my swollen ankles until we're blue in the face, but I actually wanted to talk to you about the baby shower." Oh right… the baby shower. "Would you mind making that butter cake you always make for birthdays? It's delicious and I have a real craving for it. Maybe decorate it pink?"

"Of course, Eijiro, that's not a problem at all." And you could have called if that was all you needed, even if you do live right next door.

"You… will be there, right?" I felt my back stiffen. It's been talked about for months, but I haven't actually committed. Kacchan's starting a new life and a new family. Yeah, his claim is still on my neck and I'm technically still part of his pack but… our roles have changed. I was mate. The one with the ring and the claim on my main scent gland. Kirishima was pack, a secondary. Now our roles have reversed and I'm not sure I like it one bit. I love Kirishima, he's always taken good care of me and Katsumi, I'm just not all that comfortable with our newfound role reversal. I don't miss Kacchan one bit, just him ending up with my pack mate, confirming all my jealous fears, even though I don't blame Eijiro, I don't like it either.

I have to be close to Kacchan, even after the divorce. If I'm not near him, I get physically sick, my body starts shutting down. It's not fair, but his claim prevents me from truly leaving him, that and Katsumi. So now I'm stuck living next door to him, forever being part of his pack. I thought about getting the claim removed but it's just… too dangerous. And Kacchan made sure it was deep. I'll never fully be able to get him out of my life. I love Eijiro, he's the greatest den mate anyone could ask for, but with our current situation, showing up to that party as the begrudged ex-wife, pretending to be happy for the new couple, sort of the last thing I want to do.

"Umm…"

"Please Izuku. I want everyone to know that we're okay. That you're okay. Our friends have barely seen you at all since the divorce. You've thrown yourself into mothering and training, wouldn't it be nice to go to a party?" Not this party.

"Kiri."

"I ummm… I invited Todoroki yesterday. I saw him as I was walking to my car from the party store." Todoroki? I… it's been… years. I didn't want to let Kirishima know he suddenly had my full attention but well… he did.

"How is he?" I finally asked, getting over my shock.

"He's… really good. The number one hero, still has that heartthrob image, and I hear he's a great dad too. No, yeah, he's doing really good. Looks really good." I nodded. His life seems so perfect, it's hard not to keep track of what he's up to in the news. He has the three most adorable kids, he and Nejire seem like they can't get enough of each other. The most beautiful couple in the world, and he has the whole big three as his pack. His life seems to have worked out perfectly for him. I'm glad he's happy.

"And you said… you said you invited him to the party?"

"Is that okay? I mean I doubt he'd show up to a silly little baby shower for someone he kinda knew in high school, being the number one hero and all, but I just thought I'd ask." He probably won't show up. Kirishima's right he's probably way too busy.

"No, I'm glad you did, but you know Katsumi and his son have… well their issues." I'm pretty sure Shoma Todoroki is quirkless. It's not in the news or anything, but just being the room mom every now and then and seeing how he acts… he reminds me a lot of myself. A small, quirkless, omega. It doesn't help that it seems to be written in their DNA how Bakugo's, especially alpha Baguko's, treat the quirkless.

"Maybe this could be the perfect opportunity to… talk it out?" I've never seen Shoto around that expensive prep school at all, probably much too busy, and when Nejire is there, she's usually being hounded by paparazzi. Usually, Tamaki or Mirio take the children to school and seeing as it's my child that's causing the problems, well, I don't exactly want to talk about it with them. If they came, maybe this would be a good time to talk about it. Although I'm not sure what I would say. Sorry my daughter is a bully? She inherited it from he father? Seems like all she got from me was her green eyes and love of heroes.

"You don't think attitude problems are hereditary? Do you?"

"If they are, Kirikat is doomed." Eijiro chuckled, rubbing his belly. Kirishima and I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for the baby shower. It was nice to bond with my pack mate, helped me get over what was going on in my life at the moment. I'm trying my best to move forward. That being said a ghost from my past kept invading my thoughts. Is it weird that I'm a little nervous to see Shoto again? I mean, I know he probably won't come, but what if he does? Am I ready to see him again after all these years? I know he's married and happy, but I kind of wanted to show that I'm happy too. But honestly, I'm anything but. I don't want him to see that. See that I'm a chubby divorced omega with no career options and he's a successful hero at the top of the charts with the most beautiful wife and family in the world. I suddenly felt very self-conscious. I put my hand to my claim. How did life turn out this way?