***Warnings: language, heavy smut (only in A03 Version) omega dynamics, angst, lots of drama.

***Please read and review! Thank you!


Chapter 8: Ocean and Spice

Izuku had never been in the magistrate's home before even all his years of living here. The place was much bigger than his house, able to fit at least three of them inside, and that's only on the bottom floor. There were four rooms, a parlor, a kitchen, an office, and a small library. Upstairs there are three rooms; two bedrooms and a washroom. The place was well furnished with fine furniture and it smelled like citrus and cloves. There were three servants; a cook, a housekeeper, and a groundskeeper. The whole house, as marvelous as it was, is way too much for just one person. Kai was living like a king while they all toiled in poor conditions.

Bakugo was carried up to the main bedroom while the town doctor is said to be on his way. Izuku helped him out of his uniform and into cleaner clothes, Kai's clothes. But while Izuku was folding Bakugo's uniform, the strong urge to sniff it for the alpha's scent had his face buried in the fabric. He loved Bakugo's scent and wanted it all over him, but he couldn't let the alpha see what he was doing with the uniform. Embarrassed, he quickly put it away and started to unpack some of his things.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Unpacking?" Izuku answered.

"In here? No, I don't think so," he scoffed. "You can use the other room. And I want a bath, so tell the housekeeper to get a hot one ready for me."

Izuku looks down at his satchel, then over at Bakugo. "But...I thought you would want me here to help you get up and down?"

"If I need you, I'll ring that bell," Bakugo points to the small bell on the end table.

"And it's pretty late already," Izuku looks at the clock that says ten. "Can't you wait to get a bath tomorrow? The doctor is even on his way at this late hour to look at you."

Bakugo sighed. "Ugh. Fine. But first thing in the morning, I want that hot bath."

When the doctor came and checked Bakugo's broken limbs, he helped to reset them. Bakugo's roar of pain and anger had him striking out at the doctor once or twice without the intent to really hit him. Izuku was able to calm him down. The doctor marveled at Izuku's skill of caring for the bones, stating that if it had gone untreated at first, Bakugo would never be able to use his ankle again. Bakugo was given some pain herbs to take, stronger than the ones in Izuku's garden, to mix with any liquid. Bakugo, of course, chose wine.

Afterward, Izuku helped Bakugo settle into the large bed and lower the lantern lights.

"Is there anything else you need?" He asks Bakugo.

"For you to stop talking and go away," he replied. "I have a major headache and just want to sleep."

Izuku nods to himself. "Alright. Rest well, Kacchan. And thank you again for doing this for us...you're a Hero of the People once again." But he was met with a soft snore. He smiles softly. 'He must be so exhausted.' "Goodnight." He whispers and leaves the room, softly closing the door.

His room was not like Bakugo's, it was small and plain, but he didn't need anything special. It had a bed, a chest of drawers, a water basin, a chair, and a small fireplace. The room was chilly, so he set to making a fire. Bakugo's hearth is bigger and warms the room. This small area would only be able to do so much.

The bed was soft and clean, even fluffy like a cloud. Izuku let himself roll around on it, basking in the softness and burying his face in the sheets. The room was still cold but he didn't care. The bed was the best thing right now and he might just sleep through Bakugo's bell. Bakugo would kill him if he ignored the calls.

However, Izuku found that he could not rest peacefully despite being in the new bed. His legs were restless and his lower region started to cramp. Izuku bites the sheet between his teeth because he knows what that heat and cramps mean; his omega body is preparing itself for a heat cycle. He tried to fight it but the need was driving him crazy. All he could think about was Bakugo and yet he couldn't force the alpha to mate with him. If he went into the bedroom begging, he doubts Bakugo would take him and then he would be crushed.

'Maybe,' he thought. 'I can keep it at bay with something of his?' So, Izuku tiptoed to Bakugo's bedroom, sneaked across the floor, and took the uniform top from the wardrobe. 'Got it!'

He hurried back to his room, jumping on the bed with Bakugo's uniform and scent. He keeps his moans low as he inhales deeply the scent of his alpha. Stripping naked, he lays the uniform upon him, imagining it is Bakugo stroking his skin. One of the medals brushed his nipple and he had to hold back the surprised gasp of pleasure it brought him. With that small shock he felt the warmth of his slick oozing from his slit and backside. He had made a terrible mistake! The uniform only intensified his need for Bakugo and did nothing to ease the pain of desire.

The bell rings. "Deku!"

Izuku's eyes flew wide. 'Oh no, not now! Please, not now!'

The bell rings again, harsher this time. "DEKU FISH!"

"I...I can't come...right now!" Izuku calls over to the room. "I'm...I'm...uh...sick!" His whole lower region was throbbing painfully with desire.

"And I don't care! Get in here now!" He rings the bell.

"I said I can't!"

"FINE! I'LL DO IT MYSELF!"

Izuku whined into the uniform fabric, rubbing his legs together and writhing on the bed in a helpless heap. All he wanted was Bakugo. And then, he realized that Bakugo couldn't move fast enough with his broken limbs. He can overpower Bakugo and just take what he needs. But, did he really want his first time to be forced onto an alpha who doesn't desire him? No, it wouldn't, and he whined in shame for even thinking such a thing. Maybe he can just walk into Bakugo's room and let the alpha instincts take over. But Bakugo is a strong alpha and may be able to fight off the urges.

He was so lost in his heat and thoughts of Bakugo that he didn't hear the alpha's cane coming to his door.

"HEY! DEKU FISH! WHAT ARE-!" Bakugo paused.

Izuku, surprised and embarrassed, quickly covered himself with the blanket. "B-Bakugo?!"

Bakugo could smell the air of Deku's room thick with slick and arousal; the omega was in heat. He swallows hard, hand gripping the cane as he fights the urge to act on instinct. Deku's smell…that scent of the ocean air…it's as if the aroma was encircling his brain, threatening to take control.

"You'd better…wash that uniform…after you're done," Bakugo says and turns away though he doesn't want to. He pictures Shoto and how he promised not to sleep with any other omegas because they were to be married. Shoto will no doubt hold up his end, but he's never felt this way for Shoto like he does for Deku.

"Kachaan," Izuku whines. "Please? I want you so bad…my body is aching! It's never been like this before," he strained to talk. "Please!"

"...I shouldn't." Bakugo says, his back still to Deku.

"Even if it's just pity!" Izuku cried. "No one will have me and Kai confessed he desires me! I don't want to end up forced to be with him! He may escape or get off!"

Bakugo's shoulders tensed and he grit his teeth at the mention of Kai from Deku. He couldn't allow Deku to be with that bastard, should it come to that, but he promised Shoto. Yet that smell…Deku's smell…Deku's moans…he was rock hard underneath his nightshirt. He can't deny instincts. There were sheepskins he saw in the room, he could just wear one, so when he knots and cums, nothing will get inside Deku. Deku wasn't coming with him to the kingdom, so Shoto technically doesn't have to know. Bakugo slams his fist against the doorframe.

'That's what an asshole would do,' he says to himself. 'But I…' that smell was driving him insane. 'Fuck. Shoto will just have to get over it.'

"Meet me in my room. I'll be wearing a sheepskin."

Izuku watches Bakugo leave and whimpers at the thought of a sheepskin for it will help to take the edge off of the heat but won't stop it completely. An omega needs the essence of an alpha after knotting. He understands why Bakugo wants to use one, and with the state he is in now, that will be better than nothing. And he can be with Bakugo! His first time will be by his choice with an alpha he desires. He gets up on wobbly legs and goes to Bakugo's room, inhaling the strong scent of alpha musk and arousal. Bakugo smells of spices; like warm spices in a hot drink on a chilly day that warms your entire body with just one sip. Izuku's lower belly filled with delight at the scent. Despite what Bakugo may think, the alpha wants him just as much.

Bakugo lifts his eyes from the floor when he senses Deku come inside the room. The omega was standing naked in the doorway, flushed from heat and bashfulness. Unlike Shoto, Deku's body had flaws; a few scars and bruises. His green bangs were sticking to his forehead, draping slightly over his lust filled eyes.

***Edited for FF. Read full smut scene on AO3***

"Kacchan…?"

"I knew we shouldn't have done this," he says with a growl. "And I marked you, too! This is a mess!"

"Um…it doesn't have to be," Izuku suggested. "Not every omega gets pregnant the first time…"

"Let's hope that's it," Bakugo sneered, wishing he were back at the Todoroki house to have one of Tokoyami's abortion potions.

"But…Bakugo," he reached out and takes his alpha's hand. "We bonded…you felt it, didn't you? I did,"

"Yeah…I felt it," he grumbled.

Izuku smiled. "Then…then that means it was fate. We were fated to be together."

Bakugo knows that, but there is the big, big, BIG issue of Shoto, the vow, and the marriage. Shoto is not his fated mate; Deku is his fated mate. But that means his chances of advancing his career through Shoto are gone now. He would have to choose between leaving Deku and going with Shoto, or staying with Deku and their possible child. He didn't really want children even though he knows he's expected to have them. He always assumed Shoto would take care of any matters with kids. What was he going to do?

"Kacchan? Whatever you're thinking…don't think about it tonight," Izuku tells him, his voice soft and stroking Bakugo's cheek. "Let it just be the two of us, okay? I'm so happy right now, I just want to lay with you. Just you and me, as alpha and omega."

"Just us, huh?" Bakugo scoffed but then laid down, welcoming Deku against him. 'This feels right,' Bakugo says to himself. 'I'm actually calm right now.'

"Kacchan…thank you. You're wonderful and amazing!"

"Don't tell me stuff I already know, Deku Fish." As he said that, Deku snuggled against him, and he allowed it! He didn't push Deku away. In fact, he wanted to be as close to the omega as possible, just like before during their mounting. 'I'll worry about all the other stuff tomorrow.'

They fell peacefully asleep in each others' arms.


Shoto woke up in bed for the third time that night with the same eerie feeling, as if something was not right. Kirishima was asleep on the floor beside his bed, snoring softly.

'This is driving me crazy,' he rubs his face with his hands. 'I need to talk to someone.' Tokoyami had left with the ship, so the only other person he has is Keigo.

Kirishima lifts his head when Shoto gets up, watching him put on a fluffy robe and slippers.

"Stay here," Shoto tells the large dog who sits up and whimpers. "Stay here and sleep, okay?" More whimpers and a raised paw. Shoto sighed. "Alright, just have the bed." He pats the mattress and Kirishima happily circles three times before jumping up to lay on it. "There, now stay." he smiled gently at the large dog and patted his furry head. Just before he left, he glanced back at Kirishima, whose head was under the covers and his tail end high in the air, wagging. 'I can't wait to have you living with me and Bakugo,'

Shoto took a lantern to make his way to Keigo's room. He passed a clock that read a little after three in the morning and he silently apologized to Keigo for having to wake him up. Reaching the other omega's door, he doesn't bother knocking but just enters. He calls Keigo's name to announce his presence. On the bed in the far center of the room is Keigo, still sleeping. Shoto continues to speak his name as he approaches the bed, noting that the baby was in it with him.

"Keigo? Keigo!"

Keigo jerked awake. "My chicken!" he said sleepily, having just come out of a dream about eating chicken. "What the- Shoto?" he looks at the pale omega holding a lantern in a nightshirt. "What are you doing here? It's like, not visiting time yet!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't sleep and I have no one else I can talk to,"

Keigo groaned "Can't it wait until morning?" The baby woke up as well and started to whine. "Ugh. He's hungry again, and you woke him up!"

"I'm sorry," Shoto says and doesn't speak again until Keigo is taking care of the infant. "May I confide in you?"

"Sure. I'm up now," he replied. "I can't promise I won't fall back to sleep, though, while you're talking."

"I have an uneasy feeling about Bakugo and that omega, Izuku Midoriya."

Keigo closed his eyes and replied, "Jealousy. It's natural to feel jealous."

"No, not just that," Shoto placed the lantern on the end table. "Bakugo ran away because he didn't want to get married so soon. That was my fault. I pushed to have it sooner because I want to be with him. My father agreed to it as well. If I hadn't pushed for the marriage so soon, Bakugo probably wouldn't have run off and encountered Izuku."

"Hey, nothing is your fault," Keigo reminds him. "It happened and it can't be changed, so there's no reason to harp on what you could or should have done. That won't solve anything but make you feel worse about yourself."

Shoto is silent for a moment, then asks, "What do I do if…if Bakugo comes back with Izuku? What if they were…together?"

Keigo felt sympathy for those sorrowful, mismatched eyes begging for an answer. "Okay, there are a few ways this can go," he starts, sitting up with the baby now in his lap. "Obviously, dump Bakugo. You know how I feel about him and he broke Yami's heart, and he's doing it again with you. There's a good chance that Bakugo will dump Izuku; the omega has nothing to offer like you do."

"I want to be more than just a means of convenience for Bakugo," Shoto says, even though he knows that part of his want for marrying Bakugo is convenience too. "I don't want to give him up to anyone."

"Well, you have the power to banish Izuku from Bakugo's side or even have him killed, if you want. But you risk Bakugo's anger and hatred should have fallen for Izuku. We don't know anything like that yet, by the way. Then again, it's not unheard of for an alpha to have more than one omega lover. You can be the wife and Izuku can be the mistress." He smiles at the terms. "Royal and noble marriages do well when the omegas to the same alpha learn to live together and cooperate."

"...I don't know if I can do that," Shoto replied. "I don't want to share him. Is that selfish of me?"

"You clearly are in love with him, and that's clouding your judgment. I would dump him."

"What if Izuku comes here and he's…pregnant?"

Keigo thinks for a moment. "Well, that all depends on Bakugo's feelings. He may just dump Izuku and the kid. It's not like that kid will be the first bastard born in the world. Izuku has nothing to his name and basically has no legal standing, so he can easily be pushed aside and forgotten."

Shoto looks down at his slippers. "There's too much of that…it's something that Bakugo and I plan to make better when we're married, but-"

"But when it's you, it's different," Keigo stated and chuckled. "You're already viewing Izuku as a threat when you know little to nothing about him, or if Bakugo even slept with him other than a 'feeling' you keep having. You can't go by feeling, Shoto. You're not bonded to Bakugo."

"Then what would you do?" He asks Keigo. "If my brother returned from his mission with a new pregnant omega to bring into your home, what would you do?"

"Hmm. Honestly, I would not let the omega and kid live under MY roof with MY alpha and OUR son. However, it's not entirely the omega's fault; the alpha has a role in it, too. The omega shouldn't be blamed for all of it. So, I would have him support the other omega and child, but that's all. It's whomever the bond is with,"

'The bond.' He wants that with Bakugo, but what if he bonded with Izuku?

"Shoto, what would your mother do?" Keigo asks him. "Think about that; if you were your mother right now, how would she handle it?"

Shoto thought for a moment, then said, "She would welcome the other omega into her house and keep the peace between them and accept other children."

Keigo smiled. "How does that sound to you?"

Shoto stands up from the bed and replies, "But I'm not my mother."


Three days passed and there was no sign that Deku was pregnant, which was a relief to Bakugo, at least for now. There was still time for them to know. After their first mating, they had done it twice more and once again this morning. It was relatively peaceful with just the two of them having wine, tea, and better quality food. The only time he wasn't filled with anxiety is when he helped to hold a meeting with the revolutionaries. The others showed their respect to Deku and the omega spoke very well with only motivation and smiles. Bakugo noted that these people were not like the revolutionaries in the royal city at all. Small towns and villages like this one do not have all the magnificent features and quality of living, such as in the royal city. The things that they want are small potatoes compared to the city. In a way, it was sort of, well, humble. Bakugo found it a nice change from the activity of the royal city.

And then, one afternoon, as Deku was wrapping his splint, the maidservant comes to them and says that a Royal Navy ship had taken port. At the window, Bakugo saw the royal flag flying atop the main mast. Shoto had come for him.

"Kacchan, what are you going to do?" Izuku asks, worried to hear the answer.

"...I'm not sure yet. Let's go down to the docks, and I'll decide then."

When they arrived, both on horseback, Bakugo saw everyone but Shoto. There was Shinso, Tokoyami, and Shoji. Deku asked if he knows them, and Bakugo nodded.

"Hey! It's about time you found me!" Bakugo says, catching their attention.

Shinso approaches them but his gaze is on Izuku, who greets him with a wave and a friendly smile. Next to him, Bakugo is frowning, as usual.

"Yes, we found you. It's time that you come back to the castle,"

Izuku turns to Bakugo, waiting for his answer.

"Maybe I don't want to go back yet," Bakugo countered.

"You should come back," Shinso wouldn't regret what he said next. "Your mate is awaiting your return."

Izuku felt the air around him become colder and his heart nearly dropped to his stomach. Slowly, he turned to look at Bakugo, his bottom lip trembling and his eyes moist with tears.

"Mate? You have…a mate?"

Bakugo said nothing.

TBC

***There will be more with Kai, Tomura, and Dabi in the next chapter.***