*This chapter is a bit longer than the first one- Shoto and Dabi are introduced in this one and they have a bit of a lengthy scene.
***Warnings: Language, Bakugo's insults, dialogue-heavy, mpreg, humor
***Please read on and enjoy!
Chapter 2: Hero of the People
The grip around his neck tightened as the alpha squeezed harder as if trying to snap his neck. Izuku wrapped his hands around the man's wrists, twisting and tugging in an attempt to free himself. The alpha is strong, but Izuku is not known in the town as a weak or frail omega. Since the alpha was already hurt, he didn't want to cause more damage, but he wanted to breathe again! The man's face wasn't wounded, so Izuku made his right hand into a fist and punched the alpha under the chin. A wave of relief and air hit his lungs once the hand was gone and the man had fallen back against the wall. If the bed hadn't been against the wall, he would have fallen off the other side and possibly damaged the set bones.
"I'm sorry!" Izuku says the moment he can, rubbing at his sore, aching neck. "I didn't mean to hit you!"
"B-Bastard," the man says, glaring those hard red eyes at him. "You hit me again and I'll snap not just your neck, but your limbs as well! And I'll do the limbs first!"
Izuku 'eeped' and took a small step back from the man, just in case he attempted to attack again. However, the alpha seemed to notice the splits on both his arm and leg.
"You were shipwrecked," Izuku tells him. "I found you washed up on the shore and brought you to my home and fixed your wounds. It must have been a terrible shipwreck."
"What shipwreck isn't terrible, you dumb omega?" He sneers.
Izuku clears his throat. "You could say 'thank you',"
"Someone else would have found me," he says.
"Not likely," Izuku says. "You would have frozen to death if I hadn't had found you when I did,"
"Where's my uniform?!" The man realized that he was naked as well.
"I have it hanging to dry by the fire," Izuku says, pointing to it by the hearth. The alpha only mumbles something angrily under his breath. "Um...what's your name? My name is Izuku Midoriya, and I'm a fisherman and farmhand here on the island. What are you doing?"
"Getting out of this shithole,"
"But your ankle-" Izuku tries to stop him but the alpha shoves him away.
"Stand aside, bastard! I'm getting on the next boat of this damned place!"
Izuku squared his jaw, feeling frustrated at the alpha's stubborn pride. His words will not work against this man, so he would have to try another tactic- let the alpha find out for himself.
"Fine. If you can make it from my house to the docks, then you can leave." Izuku watches the alpha struggle to stand and balance. It's natural for an omega to want to care for an alpha in need, but someone like this alpha has to learn the hard way.
Bakugo clenched his teeth so tight that he could taste the metallic sting of blood from his gums. The pain in his ankle wouldn't let him move quickly, and even the smallest amount of pressure he put on it, he saw stars. With his arm in a sling, he was finding it difficult to balance, but he refused to give the omega the satisfaction of being right. Bakugo would crawl on his belly and pull himself along the ground with one good hand if he needed to, for he was not going to stay in this place.
But when he got to the door and opened it, his stomach sank to his feet and his mouth went dry. The asshole omega lived on top of a HILL with the ocean far away. The path led through the town as well. In his condition, it would likely take two or three days to drag himself, unless someone could give him a ride there. He's an officer of the law, of the king; he deserves full service from the peasants.
"Well? Are you still going to go? If so, take your clothes,"
Bakugo turns to the omega named Izuku with a sneer, not caring that he was naked. "So, I can't walk it, but that doesn't mean I can't get there! Hop to it, peasant! Get a wagon and pull me to the docks! Now!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Izuku says.
"Why the hell not?"
Izuku couldn't let the officer know that this town was strictly full of revolutionists that wanted to do him great harm if they caught him. But what could he say to hide that?
"Our ships suffered damage from the storm and we usually don't set sail far from the island. And there hasn't been another royal ship since our last tribute. We don't know when another will take port,"
"Fuck!" he shouted. "Then where is your magistrate? I know they live better than you! Call them here and I'll stay with them until another ship sailing to the kingdom comes!"
Izuku bites his bottom lip. "Um...you see...our magistrate leader doesn't like anyone. He's not loyal to the crown or to the people- he's only out for himself."
"We pay the asshole well enough that he doesn't have a choice! Call him here and I'll rip him a new one! I hate those who don't do the job they are assigned!"
"Listen...for reasons I cannot say right now...it's not safe for you to be here at all,"
Red eyes narrow. "Why not?"
"The people here...are not friendly to those who serve the crown. They might use you for ransom or worse...you're safe here with me until you can walk on your own and use your arm." Izuku smiles and points to the bed. "You look exhausted, so come back and rest."
He hated to admit it, but the omega is right; he was exhausted and ragged. Aside from the pain, his limbs felt heavy and despite being naked in front of an open door in the winter, he felt hot. Bakugo knew it was the start of a fever and if left untreated, it can cause death. He'd rather be alive. So, sucking it up, he turned back towards the bed, refusing Izuku's help. He sat heavily onto the bed and let out a deep breath he didn't know he had been holding. The omega attempted to help him again by lifting his broken ankle but one snarl and Izuku backed off. Of course, it would have been easy with the omega helping but he didn't need help! He's a top-ranking officer, a prodigy, an undefeatable soldier of the crown. But he's currently sweating his balls off.
"Lay down," says Izuku. "I can tell you have a fever. You should have never gotten up, and I shouldn't have let you."
"I don't need your sympathy or your help," Bakugo tells him.
"You don't have a choice," Izuku countered, pulling the blanket up onto the man. "I'll get a bowl of cool water and make you some herbal tea, it will help."
Bakugo slapped his free hand over his face. "I don't want your shit fish water anywhere near my skin!"
Izuku strangely found the alpha's insults to be humorous. "Don't worry, it's from the town well." He prepares a bowl of water and places the kettle over the fire. He pulls a stool up to the bed with the bowl in his lap. The alpha's eyes were closed and Izuku said that he is using the wet cloth now, so there wouldn't be an attack. As he placed the cloth over the man's forehead, the alpha tells Izuku his name.
"Katsuki Bakugo, Supreme Rank Royal Officer and Captain of the Guard."
"That's two big titles," Izuku says with a little smile. "I knew you were an important person, Katsuki, with all those medals on your uniform."
"Bakugo. I only go by my surname,"
"Okay...Bakugo."
Bakugo opens his eyes and tilts his head in the direction of his drying uniform. "I'm sure I lost some in the ocean. Go get it for me. I want to see it." He remains laying down with the cloth on his head as Izuku brings it over to him. Bakugo slides his arm from under the blanket to take it but is unable to hold it properly. The omega takes it from him and holds it out.
"I would love to know what each medal means," Izuku says, and from what he can gather from Bakugo, the alpha is a braggart as well as prideful. He'd love to explain all his victories.
Bakugo, pleased to share his achievements, says the name of each one he points to, and luckily, they were all still there. "These three are my completed ranks as an officer and soldier. White is the highest rank and greatest honor. This one is the King's Medallion, symbolizing that I am recognized by the king as a worthy member of his realm. This one is for the second chair of the Royal Council. This one is Hero of the People, this is Fencing Champion, three times over, Horseback Riding Champion, Wrestling Champion, Scholar- top of my class, Pack Leader, Kennel Keeper, Hunting Champion, and Archery Champion."
Izuku just stares at Bakugo with a surprised expression of awe. Bakugo isn't lying, the medals don't lie. Izuku had never felt so small and insignificant. He could only wish to be anywhere near as talented as Bakugo.
"May I ask some questions about your medals?"
"Whatever."
"The Hero of the People one...how did you earn that?"
"That was my first medal, awarded to me by the king when I was only thirteen springs. A bear had stumbled into our village...everyone was afraid of it, but I wasn't. I took a pitchfork and fought it until it ran out of the village and back to the woods. The king heard of my heroic deed and gave me that medal."
Izuku pictured Bakugo as a young boy fighting off a large bear and smiled. "You were the only one brave enough to stand up to a bear, and you were only thirteen? That's amazing! Did the officer ranks come after that?"
Bakugo nods. "That deed gave me the step up I needed to become more than just a damned farm boy. I went from shoveling shit to shoveling gold. I'm the richest officer with the most medals." He smirks.
"So, you have a big home? And a pack?" Izuku points to the Pack Leader medal. "I didn't think people still ran in packs."
"In the royal city they do," Bakugo says. "But it has to be official and granted by the king. Once I...mate and marry, I can start building a pack to uphold my name and honor. I have people of all different ranks already begging to be in my pack,"
Izuku touches the Hero of the People medal. "Do you have a mate back home?"
Bakugo was silent for a long moment, then simply said, "No."
It wasn't entirely a lie because he had not signed the engagement contract with Enji Todoroki that would seal his marriage to Shoto. He didn't love Shoto, but he didn't dislike the omega, either. Not entirely. Shoto is an omega of the powerful Todoroki family, the only omega child of Enji born with both features of his parents. Shoto carries the purest of the Todoroki bloodline, so he can't be with just any alpha. Bakugo only started to court Shoto once he achieved Supreme Rank. as means to gain even greater wealth, status, and power. He can't be the king, but he could belong to the Todoroki family; the family next to and closest to the royal family.
Shoto is ALMOST his equal in many things, from academics to certain sports. Fortunately, because he is an omega, his father, Enji Todoroki, keeps him from doing anything that could get him hurt and lose his value. Bakugo thought they would have a strict political marriage where all they had to do was make a kid or two and show up for social gatherings; other than that, they would live completely separate lives. And yet, that's not what Shoto had in mind for them. Shot pushed his father, Enji, to quicken the marriage and that's what made Bakugo panic. Well, that was part of the reason. He realized, on the spot, that he wasn't ready for marriage and commitment. He could only imagine the look on Shoto's face when he learned that he had left.
Realizing this, Bakugo knew that, even though he wants to go back, he can't avoid the wrath of Enji Todoroki and Shoto's disappointed expression. But having to stay here? In a fishing town? In a dinky little shit cabin that smells of fish, dirt, and musk? 'Fuck my life,'
"Oh, I think you missed one," Izuku says, pointing to a smaller medal that had snagged behind another.
Bakugo looks at it and says, "That's for shutting down a Rebellion house."
Izuku felt his blood run cold at the mention of the Rebellion house. They were called 'Safehouses' on their end. Izuku had almost forgotten that Bakugo was their enemy. "What's a Rebellion house?" He plays dumb.
"Oh, right, you losers are out here on this island. You probably wouldn't have heard yet. It's where a bunch of loudmouth crybabies go to bitch and moan about how they want to overthrow the sovereign and nobles. They hide like rats, but I found one," he smirks in satisfaction. "And I had each one arrested."
Izuku was glad the uniform jacket was covering his hands because his fists were clenched while listening to Bakugo brag about arresting innocent people. "Now I think I recall something about the Rebellion. It doesn't sound like they are doing any harm." He couldn't stop himself from saying SOMETHING.
"A group of them attacked a nobleman's carriage on the road and killed both him and his mate while robbing them blind. It was to 'send a message."
Izuku hadn't heard about that in his meetings with the other members, but then again, it's not often they hear news from the mainland. Part of him didn't want to believe Bakugo and yet he doubts the alpha is lying. He knows there is going to be violence just not so soon. If he had been there, he would have stopped it.
'A Hero of the People,' he says to himself. 'That is what I want to be; a Hero of the People! Just like Bakugo!'
"Hey, dummy! My cloth is dry!"
"Oh! Yes, let me fix that!" Izuku quickly brings the uniform back to dry and then freshens the cloth with water. He heard Bakugo sigh softly as the coolness of the cloth touched his flesh. Then the kettle whistles on the fire. "Time for that herbal tea!"
Bakugo grumbled. "I hate tea."
"We love tea here," Izuku says while placing the herbal leaves in a mug and filling it with hot water. "It's our favorite drink. Some of our biggest exports and tribute are tea leaf varieties."
"Forget the tea and fetch me wine," Bakugo commands, his eyes still closed.
"Oh, I don't have any wine. Only the magistrates have wine. But I have some ale left in the barrel?"
Bakugo opens one eye to narrow it at Izuku as he walks over with the mug. "Ale? That's for riffraff and chumps like you. You might as well drink warm piss, they both taste the same and one is free."
Izuku had the sudden urge to dump the tea onto Bakugo but he didn't. "This tea has medical properties, so it will help with your fever. Please, take a few sips?"
Bakugo gave up and lifted himself with his good arm to carefully sip the hot tea. It had flavor but still tasted mainly of hot water. The tip of his tongue tingled with the second sip, and by the third, he had taken a larger sip. The stupid, happy look on the omega's face gave him a tiny thrill. He hated the feeling. With one more large sip, Bakugo laid himself back down and Izuku placed the cloth on his forehead again.
"It's best if you rest now," Izuku tells him. "Rest is the best thing for you at this point. I'll wake you up for dinner."
"Fine." Bakugo says, then adds, "I discovered a new fish."
Izuku cocks his head, slightly confused. "Huh?"
"Yeah. It's called a Deku Fish."
"A Deku Fish?" It took Izuku a moment to catch on to what Bakugo meant and he was hurt. He hadn't been called 'Deku' since he was a child being bullied by the other boys. And Bakugo only added 'fish' because he smells like one. Izuku didn't smell it on himself, but then again, everyone here lives and works with fish, so they don't tend to smell it on each other. "That was uncalled for, Bakugo."
"Tough."
Izuku decided to fight fire with kindness. He has a nickname for Bakugo as well, and if the alpha insists on insulting him, then he won't stop saying the nickname.
"Then I will call you 'Kacchan'."
Bakugo glares at him, prepared to counter with something but he's too exhausted from the fever. He closes his eyes and turns his head away. "Don't wake me up for anything or I'll kill you."
"...understood. Rest well, Kacchan." He rolled his eyes when Bakugo gave him the middle finger.
~*~ Back at the Kingdom~*~
Shoto paces the floor of his chambers in his nightclothes, anxiously awaiting word of where Bakugo went and where he is now. He had sent out many spies and paid a number of informants to find out whatever little detail they could. So far, all he has to go on is that Bakugo was seen boarding a ship. But why?
'You know why,' Shoto's conscience whispered to him. 'You got attached to him, and that frightened him off. That wasn't part of the deal.'
Shoto turns to the window and looks out over their land and towards the sea. Bakugo will have to come back once he clears his head, won't he? That's one of the questions that raced through Shoto's head, keeping him awake at night. He leaves the window to pour himself another glass of wine, taking a heavy gulp. 'I want him back,' Shoto tells himself.
Then, there is a sudden draft of cold air that fills the room, blowing out all his candles and lanterns, and almost the fire. His chambers became dark save for the hearth, and, gripping the goblet tight, turned in the direction of the chill. It's his estranged eldest brother, Dabi, the Blue Fire Sorcerer.
"Still can't sleep, baby brother?" Dabi's smooth, almost mocking voice wasn't as cold as the air around them. "Should I tell you a story like I used to do when you were a child?"
"Don't you have a mate to bother?" Shoto countered. "You shouldn't even be here. If father were to know you are here-"
"Like I care what he thinks," Dabi sneers.
"Why are you really here, Touya?" He used Dabi's birth name.
Dabi seats himself on one of the sofas, throwing his arms along the back and crossing his legs. "I have word about that bastard, Bakugo. But, if you'd rather not hear it-"
"Tell me," Shoto demands.
"Your friend, the Dark Mage, the one who wears that hooded cloak that looks like a raven's head- I can never recall his name."
"His name is Tokoyami,"
"Right. I'll take a cup of wine first before I continue," Dabi smirks, snapping his fingers at his brother.
Shoto regretfully pours one for Dabi and brings it to him then sits on the same sofa. "Did he have a vision?"
Dabi swirls the wine in his cup then takes a sip. "He did, but it was so distressing to him that he asked me to tell you instead. He doesn't want your feelings hurt."
Shoto squares his shoulders and takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "Tell me what happened. What did Tokoyami see?"
"There was a violent storm that destroyed the ship Bakugo had taken," Dabi starts. "Everyone died, except for Bakugo. He made it to shore and was picked up by a fisherman...an omega fisherman."
Shoto flinched at the word 'omega' but then asked, "So, he was shipwrecked on a fishing island?"
Dabi nodded. "Whether he is alive or not, Tokoyami couldn't say. It's possible the omega fisherman saved his life, or buried him."
Shoto didn't want to let his brother see the look of sadness and horror that crossed his face at the news of Bakugo's defeat and possible death. He got up and returned to the fire, trying to keep his breathing steady. "Tokoyami...doesn't know if he is alive or dead?"
"Nope." He says and gets up to go and stand behind his youngest brother. "There is much we can do now until we find out more, like which fishing island he made it to." he places a hand on Shoto's shoulder. "Have some hope, little brother."
"I will visit Tokoyami tomorrow and see if there is anything else he can find out for me. Thank you for your information, brother."
"Hey...there's something else you should know as well, but keep it from our wonderful daddy." He added the last words with a sneer.
Shoto looks over his shoulder. "What is it?"
"I'm a father,"
Shoto's eyes widened. "A father? You mean...General Hawks…?"
Dabi nodded again. "The child was born yesterday. An omega,"
Shoto, while delighted to be an uncle, knows the social dangers that come with this delivery. He didn't even know General Hawks, Keigo, was pregnant. But Keigo's sudden, long absence made sense now. If he didn't know, then no one else other than Dabi knew. "You should tell father about this," Shoto offers. "He has always been fond of Keigo and may welcome the union."
"He won't because of me," Dabi reminds him. "While Todoroki blood runs through my veins, Keigo's origins are 'unclean'."
"You don't honestly believe that, do you?"
"Of course not!" Dabi hissed. "I hate the fact that a person like Bakugo, loud and foul-mouthed, born in a tiny town, could gain Enji's respect and trust enough to let him agree to marry you. Keigo raised himself from the streets and gutters."
"There's no reason to be angry with me about that," Shoto says. "Father has no issues with Keigo's past, but he does have the issue with you. How long do you and Keigo plan to keep this from the world? Father will found out and he'll wonder who the alpha father is,"
"I'm going to let Keigo handle all that." A silence fell between them for a moment and then Dabi asked, "So, what are you going to do in the meantime? You know Enji will push you off on that Insasa guy if Bakugo doesn't return."
"...I'd be fine with that."
"You're full of it," Dabi scorned. "Admit it, you fell for Bakugo, that's why you can barely sleep or concentrate on anything. Bakugo was expecting a political marriage, and by pushing the marriage, you pushed him away."
Shoto shoved past Dabi. "Leave my presence." He demanded. "Go home to your mate and infant son. Leave me be!"
Dabi follows Shoto to the sofa. "There's something else you should know,"
"I don't know if I can handle anything more tonight," Shoto says while running a nervous hand through his hair.
"There's more danger out there than just the Rebellion. Another growing group of misfits and other things...strange things. From what we've gathered, this man, their leader, an alpha named Tomura, wants to see the fall of every last noble, peasant, and person. For what reason, I'm not sure yet, but I plan to join his cause as a spy. The thing is, I need somewhere safe for my son to stay, and someone to watch over my mate and keep him from following me."
Shoto finished his wine in one gulp. "I know what you are asking. All right. Bring my nephew and General Hawks here. We'll make up a story about the boy's birth."
"Let Keigo work his magic with words and charm," Dabi offers. "Thanks for doing this for me, Shoto."
"No problem."
"...you're worried about Bakugo being with another omega, aren't you?"
"I don't believe he's dead," Shoto says. "I just have a feeling...but...it should be me caring for Bakugo, not another."
Dabi chuckles and ruffles Shoto's hair. "Don't worry, little brother. Bakugo has so much to gain by marrying you, not some low born fisherman. He might fuck around with the omega; you know he's not a virgin alpha. He's slept around a bit, even with your friend, Tokoyami. But it's YOU who he will come back to,"
"...I want him to come to me because he wants to be with me...not just what I can give him." Shoto clenches the goblet hard in his hand. "I wish I were an alpha, or at least a beta. But once I marry Bakugo, we'll have power over the Royal Council and we'll change all the old ways of thinking and bring about the future."
Dabi smiles at his brother. "You handle that part of the world. I'll tackle the outside threats. We look forward to the new world you will bring."
With that, Dabi disappears and Shoto is alone with his thoughts again.
'Where are you, Bakugo?'
"Bleh! I'm not eating that! Take it away!"
Izuku almost dropped the bowl of hot porridge onto Bakugo's blankets when the alpha swatted at him. "But it's fresh," Izuku says. "I made it fresh this morning just for you. It's important that you eat to keep your fever from returning!"
Bakugo puts his nose up once again at the porridge offered to him. "I don't eat peasant food! Find me something real to eat,"
"But Bakugo, we're a humble town," Izuku tells him. "We don't have the luxurious food that you're used to," he tries to reason with him. "I promise it will taste good. I'm a pretty good cook. Please, just give it a try?"
"TAKE IT AWAY!" Bakugo demands again, louder this time.
Izuku wanted to try the porridge again when the sound of horses outside distracted him. He goes to the window, pulling aside the curtain and gulps in fear when he sees Kai Chisaki and guards coming towards his home. They'll find Bakugo and take him away. Maybe he should let it happen? The alpha is so stubborn. NO! He needs to win over Bakugo's trust and respect to help their cause. He has to hide him, and the only place is the cellar...where he keeps barrels of fish.
"What are you looking at, Deku Fish?" Bakugo follows the omega with his eyes. Deku picks up a pan from the small kitchen area and comes over to him. "What do you plan to do with that? WHat?! HEY! WAIT! DON'T-!"
*KLONK!*
"I'm so sorry!" Izuku squeaked after knocking Bakugo out with the frying pan. It was strangely satisfying, but he doesn't have time to think. Gathering the alpha as carefully and as quickly as he can, he throws open the cellar door with his foot and jumps down. He places Bakugo down on the dirt floor covered with old hay, apologizing again, and takes a handkerchief from his pocket. He gags Bakugo. "You just need to stay quiet for a little bit!"
There's harsh knocking at his door.
"Izuku Midoriya, open up!" It was Kai Chisaki's demanding voice.
TBC
