***Warnings: Language, mention of harassments, angst, drama, jealousy, suspense, mention of multiple partners (Bakugo), humor, Izuku-angst
***Please read on and enjoy! Comments, kudos, and emails are greatly appreciated! It let's me know I'm doing a good job! ^_^
Chapter 6: Hidden Secrets
Quietly entering the house, Izuku tip-toes along the floor not wanting to awaken Bakugo. He was aware of what boards creak, so he easily avoided them. The sun was almost up over the horizon and Izuku pictured what it would be like if he and Bakugo were to watch the sunrise together. Somehow, Izuku didn't think that such a romantic moment would be something that would interest Bakugo. And, what sort of omega is Bakugo attracted to, Izuku wondered, as he makes his way to the bed. Now that he smells better, maybe Bakugo will be more inclined to open up to him with fewer insults and more friendly conversation.
Gazing down at the strong alpha form, Izuku let his eyes study each exposed muscle of Bakugo's chest and shoulders. The amount of omega desire he feels from just looking at an alpha spooked him. He almost wanted to wake Bakugo up and beg the alpha to take him, but even he knew that was unlike him, and doubted Bakugo would accept a pushy omega. Bakugo is an alpha who likes control, that much is obvious. So, he should try a more delicate approach to win even a smidgen of Bakugo's affection.
Tossing some logs into the wood stove, Izuku, still naked from the bath, returns to the bed. He pauses a moment to gaze at Bakugo's sleeping face, feeling his own flush with excitement and desire. He tells himself to keep calm and to regain control of his emotions as he gets into bed and under the covers with Bakugo. To his relief, Bakugo doesn't wake up to the added weight in the bed, giving Izuku a moment to settle against the alpha.
Izuku tucks his head under Bakugo's chin and rests his arm along the alpha's chest. Bakugo's warmth and alpha scent has Izuku instantly relaxed and content. He smiles softly as he takes in all of Bakugo. He even lets out a small sigh. So, this is what it's like for an omega to lay beside an alpha, Izuku thought. But his smile turned to a frown when he saw the scars on his arms. He had scars on most parts of his body due to a life of hard labor living in a fishing town. Bakugo has scars too, but they are noble scars that came from valiant deeds of bravery and battle. His were from chopping wood, carrying baskets of fish and vegetables, hauling up rough roped nets filled with fish, helping his neighbors, and so on.
'Bakugo wouldn't see me as a prized and treasured omega,' Izuku sorrowfully thought to himself. 'He's a favorite among the king and is probably used to omega noblemen and women…who are flawless and attractive…'
"What are you doing in my bed?"
Bakugo's voice cut through his thoughts. "B-but this is my bed?"
"And why are you naked?"
Izuku smiled softly and replied, "I washed myself this morning to smell better for you."
Bakugo did take notice, then, that Deku did smell less like fish and dirt. "I could use a wash, too,"
"I can get you some water," Izuku offers. "We're a little low, so I'll have to go to the well to get some more."
"You still didn't answer my first question,"
"Oh…" Izuku blushed and hid his heated face in Bakugo's neck. "I was just...um...being an omega, I guess. Plus it's not comfortable to keep sleeping on the floor. But if I'm bothering you," Izuku sits up. "Then I'll go and get dressed."
Bakugo let his eyes travel down the length of Deku's back to the curve of his tailbone. He's strong for an omega, which probably is a turn-off to potential alphas from wanting to court him. Shoto has a lean muscular build from basic training and fencing. If Shoto wasn't a Todoroki, then he would probably have the same issue as Deku. Bakugo didn't care either way, though. It's obvious to him that an alpha who bases their attraction for omegas on frailty and slimness are afraid of a challenge. Omegas built like Deku and Shoto could hold their own for a while against an alpha. A true alpha, such as himself, would embrace a challenging omega, not run from them.
"Hey, Deku,"
"Yeah?"
"You need to stop this whole courtship thing," He knows the words he is going to say will hurt Deku, but the omega has to hear them. "You're jumping at the first alpha you have under your roof simply because I'm here. I don't want you looking into this as a possible relationship. You live here in this place, alone, with barely any friends and no other courting alphas. Your omega instincts are making you feel desperate, and you're not that type of person. So, don't expect or hope anything to come of this,"
Izuku felt his blood run cold while his bottom lip started to tremble trying to hold back the tears. He can't tell if he's upset by Bakugo's rejection or Bakugo's truth. Bakugo is right about everything, Izuku tells himself. He should be earning Bakugo's trust to get him on their side for the Revolution and he's seemed to lose sight of that trying to gain the alpha's affections. Was he just lonely and seeking alpha attention because he can? Yes. But at the same time, part of him wants to have those feelings returned and he IS attracted to Bakugo. Is it just omega lust and instinct? Even so, Bakugo simply doesn't want him.
'Just like all the other alphas…' Izuku blinks back tears and gets out of bed to dress.
"Where are you going?"
Izuku wouldn't look at Bakugo as he answered. "I'm going into town for a bit. I forgot...I have some things to do there."
"What about breakfast? I'm hungry,"
"There's some leftover stew, just heat it up."
Bakugo was a little surprised by Deku's refusal to serve him breakfast. So, the words he said did strike the omega. "Fine. I'll start feeding myself from now on," he was surprised again when Deku didn't answer and just left the house. 'Shitty Deku'.
Taking the walking stick, Bakugo forces himself out of bed and hobbles to the hearth. Instead of starting a second fire, Bakugo used the already burning wood stove instead. He carried the bot to the stove and placed it on top to heat then proceeded to exercise his muscles by moving around. Oh, how he missed his big, soft bed at the Todoroki home.
He looks through Deku's books for a bit but gets bored. With nothing else to do, he thought he should know more about Deku. The omega could be part of the Revolution; he seems like the type, and Bakugo wouldn't be surprised if he was correct. Yet that means he will have to keep it a secret and then have Deku arrested for treason to the crown. His eyebrow twitched at what a terrible, horrible asshole he would be to arrest Deku after the omega had saved and nursed him. Deku would be put on trial and hanged. That's only IF Deku was part of the Revolution. He was jumping to conclusions.
Bakugo tenses when he hears footsteps coming up the path to the house, like someone kicking dirt with their shoes. Was it those guards coming back, he wondered. No, they are too quiet, he reasoned. Then, he hears the humming of a little girl. Looking towards the door, Bakugo watches as a white flower peeks out from under the door. Curious, he tries to make it to the window as quickly as he can in hopes to spot the child. By the time he reached the window, the little girl was already halfway down the path, skipping, with a basket of white flowers. Bakugo picks it up and studies the flower, realizing it's nothing more than a blossom from a random weed. Shrugging his shoulders, he tosses it on the table for Deku to find and checks on the stew.
"Ugh, this stuff stinks!" Dramatically turning away from the smell, his walking stick slipped and he lost balance. Avoiding the stove, he had to fall to the floor or risk getting burned. "Shit!" He cursed while searching for something to hold onto.
He couldn't get enough balance on the walking stick to put his full weight on it, so he would have to find something else. The nearest piece of heavy furniture is the bed. Bakugo grumbles as he pulls himself along the floor towards the bed. He was left a little winded when he reached it, panting softly. But as he was getting ready to lift himself up, he noticed a piece of cloth tucked away under the bed boards. It wasn't shredded bedding but looks as if it was hidden there. Curious, he reaches under to grab it with his good hand. On the cloth is a painted picture of a shark and a clam.
Bakugo's eyes widened for a moment, and then he smirked because he knew exactly what this was; Deku Fish IS involved in the Revolution. Bakugo knows that they all use secret messages, codes, and pictures like the one in his hand. There is a small chance that he could be wrong, but it's unlikely. Deku is too smart and outspoken to sit back quietly and do as told.
After pulling himself up onto the bed, then getting back on his feet with the walking stick, he pocketed the piece of cloth. He couldn't wait to confront Deku with his little discovery. However, Bakugo did find it odd that Deku didn't immediately turn him over to the Revolutionaries here on the island. To have a high ranking officer as a prisoner would be an ace in the hole for them. Could Deku have other plans for him? Is that why Deku's trying to get him to mate? Is Deku trying to earn a place in high society in exchange for nursing and saving him from possible death?
"That stupid Deku Fish has an agenda of his own…and I'm going to find out what it is," he looks at the random white flower on the table and smirked. "I bet that is a secret message as well,"
Hands in his pockets and shoulders slumped along with his head, Izuku aimlessly walked through the town. He had nowhere to go and nothing to do but he just had to get away from Bakugo, if anything to clear his head. He didn't want to show any weakness to Bakugo. He's been insulted, teased, and bullied many times before, but Bakugo's words were the harshest he's ever experienced. Maybe it wasn't just loneliness but actual full-hearted attraction to Bakugo. If Bakugo asked him to be his omega mate, Izuku knew what his immediate answer would be; yes! But Bakugo doesn't feel that way about it at all.
'I have to stop trying to win Bakugo's love and win his trust. We need him to help strengthen the Revolution. I need to focus on THAT and not my own feelings. There's so many people who are counting on us to help them and I can't be selfish thinking only of myself. I want to be a Hero of the People, just like Kacchan, and a hero can never be selfish!'
He hadn't watched where he was walking and unfortunately crossed paths with Kai and some guards. By the time he noticed it was them, it was already too late. Izuku nods his head in greeting in Kai's direction as they pass and he hoped that's all it would be, until Kai's voice stopped him.
"Since I have you here, Izuku Midoriya, there's a question I need to ask you,"
Izuku swallows a bit. "What is it, sir?"
"Two of my guards came to me, scared out of their wits, saying that they saw the Black Rock Ghost in the window of your home,"
Izuku manages to chuckle as he remembers how scared they were of Bakugo covered in flour. "There's no such thing as ghosts," he says. "I know they were scared of something, but I assure you it wasn't a ghost."
"Don't patronize me. I know there's no such thing as ghosts," Kai snapped. "However, those guards were not acting, nor were they drunk, nor were they trying to play a prank. Something has spooked them, and it came from your house."
"Maybe they saw a reflection of the moon on the glass, or something like that," Izuku offered.
"Hm. First you take the canvas of the king's ship, and now you have strange things happening in your house. Since when have you become a person of interest, Little Fishy?"
Izuku hated that nickname and he would also hate himself for what he is about to say. "Maybe you should tell your guards not to stalk someone's house after their shifts. Your two guards came to my house, unprovoked, in the evening, to harrass me and possibly….do more,"
Kai rolled his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself,"
Izuku clenched his fists in his pockets. "There's nothing in my house. I just want to be left alone! I'm not causing anyone any trouble! There's no reason why guards should be coming to my door at all different hours of the day and night!"
"Don't forget who you are talking to, peasant!" Kai snaps at him.
"I...I'm sorry, sir,"
"I will have a talk with those guards about what you said," Kai tells him. "I am...still a man of the people. I do not condone that type of behavior from my soldiers, if it's true."
Izuku wanted to roll his eyes but didn't because it would only infuriate Kai. As if the guards would confess to the harassment in the first place. "Thank you, sir."
"As for this...ghost," Kai brushes away a bit of lint from his sleeve. "Get some white sage and light it in your house to keep the spirit away. At least do that so I don't have to hear the two guards complain that I didn't stand up for them."
'Stand up for them for what?' Izuku wanted to ask, frustrated, but kept silent. 'They were in the wrong!'
"Yes, sir."
"Are you certain everything is alright?" Kai suddenly asked, his voice flat and uncaring.
"What do you mean?"
"You look like you've been crying. Your eyes are red,"
Izuku had been crying along the way but he didn't think it was hard enough to leave evidence. But maybe he should use this to his advantage, to keep Kai from acting suspicious of him.
"I'm just feeling lonely, that's all," Izuku answered, which was, technically, true. "Sometimes it gets to me. It's hard to be an omega,"
"It's pathetic to be an omega," Kai countered coldly. "I would have killed myself years ago if I presented as one."
Izuku had so much to say but he held his tongue because it wouldn't do him any good. Less is more.
"Oh, one more thing," Kai stops Izuku from leaving. "Have you noticed any peculiar activity recently?"
"Peculiar?" Izuku repeated.
"As in, groups of the villagers getting together? People sneaking off late in the night? People acting odd?"
'Oh no, could he be on to us?' Izuku wondered. Still, Izuku had planned a false excuse ahead of time should this type of issue ever arise. "It's the tributes and taxes, sir," Izuku says. "They are getting higher every quarter and...and I think people are getting desperate. Working at all times of the night. That's the only thing I could think of, if people are acting odd. Many of us are worried about our futures and families."
"If they are starting to hide surplus or extra income, then they will need to be fined," Kai said. "All portions and proceeds go to the crown."
"I know, sir," Izuku covered up for the Revolution but feared he may have caused some unnecessary trouble for the others.
"That's nothing new, though," Kai says. "Everyone does it. It's just a matter of finding them and proving it," he turns away from Izuku. "Be on your way, omega."
Izuku hurried away from Kai, wanting to put a solid distance between them before he slammed his fist down in frustration on a barrel in an alley. Why was everyone always looking down on him? He is used to Kai's insults, but Bakugo's harsh rejection is still the worst. If only he was of noble blood or married to an alpha of high rank like Bakugo. If he were married to Bakugo, that would put him way above Kai in rank and status. Then, he could watch with a smug expression as Kai would be forced to bend the knee to him and respect him! But that's nothing more than a hopeful daydream.
Sighing, he shoves his hands back in his pockets and continues walking, turning from the town and heading to the farms. Maybe someone has some work they need help with or completed. Izuku hears the sound of children laughing and sees three of them running down the road, chasing a ball.
"Izuku! Izuku!" Shouts the little girl. "Come play with us!"
"Yeah! Come play ball with us!" Says one of the little boys.
Izuku adored children and would always make time to play with them. "Sure! I'll play with you for a little bit,"
While bouncing the ball back and forth, Izuku suddenly got the odd feeling that he was being watched. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on edge. Is it Kai? Is it the guards?
'I should keep moving,'
"He's a cute one," Keigo says from his spot on Tokoyami's throne-like chair while watching the omega in the mirror with Shoto. He bounces the baby on his knee. "Green eyes are pretty rare,"
"He doesn't really look like a normal omega," Shoto says.
"Neither do you," Keigo counters. "And the same goes for me."
Shoto crosses his arms while watching the omega play with the children. "All the more reason for me to worry about him stealing Bakugo."
"Whoa, slow down there," Keigo laughs. "Jealousy doesn't become you,"
"Hm."
"And just how do you figure that?"
"You just said it," Shoto pointed out. "We're not average omegas, and Bakugo is attracted to omegas like us. This one is similar to us," He feels Kirishima nudging the back of his leg and reaches a hand down to pet the red fur. "I'm still surprised he left Kiri behind."
"Pardon the interruption," Tokoyami appears with Shoji and Shinso behind him. "Shinso has come with some information on the omega,"
Shoto tilts his head slightly. "You, Shinso? I didn't think you were involving yourself in this matter?"
"Is that a problem?" Shinso asks.
Shoto shakes his head. "No. I'm sorry if that came off as harsh. What did you find?"
Shinso looks at the mirror displaying the omega. "His name is Izuku Midoriya and he lives on Nabu Island. He lives alone and is not mated, nor does he have any family. His biggest tributes are fish and root vegetables. He's never missed taxes or tributes."
"So, he's a desperate, lonely omega living on a fishing island," Keigo says, switching the boy to his other knee. "I wouldn't worry, Shoto. Let Bakugo have his fun, if that even happens, and then you can bring him home. Bakugo doesn't want desperate omegas."
"I'm going to set sail for Nabu Island tomorrow on a private ship," Shoto says, ignoring Keigo. "How long is it to the island?"
"If the winds are fair, then a little over a day," Shinso says. "One and a half days tops. It's a fairly small island. Allow me to go with you,"
Shoto looks mildly surprised. "Why?"
Shinso looks at the mirror image of Izuku again. "I just want to,"
"Ooooh, looks like your friend here has the wandering alpha eye," Keigo teased.
"The omega isn't coming back with us," Shoto says to Shinso, his voice firm. "He'll be a distraction for Bakugo. I want him to remain on the island."
Shinso looks over at Tokoyami and states, "You keep Tokoyami here. Why isn't he considered a distraction for Bakugo?"
"Leave me out of this," Tokoyami replied harshly.
"Tokoyami is my friend," Shoto tells him. "That was before I grew closer to Bakugo. Besides, there's been a rise of witch hunts and trials. Tokoyami is safer here."
Keigo smirks and says, "How about we brand Bakugo as a witch?"
Shoto glares at Keigo but doesn't retaliate. "If I were a crueler person, I would have this omega, Izuku Midoriya, accused of being a witch."
"He's nothing of the sort," Tokoyami adds. "I would sense it if he was,"
"I know," Shoto says.
Shoji places a large hand on Tokoyami's shoulder. "I can sense you're feeling exhausted. Let's stop with the mirror for now."
Shoto turned from the others to address Shinso again. "We're only taking Bakugo. If you don't think you can handle that, then stay here."
Shinso stares at Shoto for a moment, then says, "I don't know what you see in Bakugo, Lord Shoto, but I know for a fact that he is not treating that omega kindly. He doesn't treat you that well, either. If you weren't Enji Todoroki's son, he would probably treat you even worse."
"You don't know what you speak of, Shinso," Shoto counters. "I've seen a different side of Bakugo. If you want that omega, then you can move to that island."
"You're like two cats fighting and hissing at each other," Keigo chuckles.
Shoto looks down at Kirishima and asks, "Do you want to go see Bakugo?"
Kirishima gets up and barks loudly, jumping and circling with excitement at the mention of his master's name.
Izuku finally returned home just as the sun had started to set. He was feeling a little better after the walk and playing ball with the children. He was able to release some pent up anxiety by helping an elderly couple chop some food and they in turn gave him a loaf of bread. Now he can face Bakugo. Taking a deep breath, he goes inside and greets Bakugo, who is sitting on the bed.
"Sorry I took so long," Izuku tells him, holding out the bread. "Look! I got us some bread to go with the stew! It's still soft from this morning,"
"Good. I'm fucking dying for something other than stew. By the way, that flower was slipped under your door by some brat."
Izuku's eyes widened when he saw the little white flower. It's a message; one or more of their group have been caught or discovered. They decided on using the small white weed blossom as the message for danger since they were littered all along the island and children like to collect them; no one would suspect children delivering flowers. The children knew who to give the flowers to.
'This is bad,' Izuku says to himself. 'There's no doubt Kai will come here! He suspects me of so much already!'
"Hey, Deku Fish,"
Izuku turns to Bakugo and nearly yelps when he sees what the alpha is holding.
"So, do you have anything you want to tell me?"
TBC
