***Warnings: Language, fighting, slave nature
Chapter 2: Bloody Message
The two meet in a head-on collision, a tangle of fists and buzzing wings. Bakugo must have underestimated Izuku's attack because somehow the honey bee got a hold of his arm and flipped him over. Bakugo slams to the floor with a cry of pain but quickly gets back to his feet in time to avoid a flying punch from Izuku. Bakugo grabs Izuku by the elbow, yanks him off balance, and lands the omega a blow to the back of the head. Usually, that will stun an opponent, and it did, but for a short moment. Izuku recovers, eyes wild and teeth clenched tight as he comes at Bakugo again.
Surprised by Izuku's quick recovery time, Bakugo unleashes his full alpha power, which gains him an extra boost of strength and speed. The fight is over in an instant. He slams his fist into the omega's stomach, then his chin, and finally kicks Izuku away with enough force that the honey bee crashes into the wall. He watches with dark delight as the omega falls to his knees, then collapses onto the floor.
"You left yourself open," Bakugo pants out. "The wound from my stinger may have healed, but it is still tender." Flying over to Izuku, Bakugo presses his foot to the omega's head, grinding it into the floor. He smirks as Izuku twitches and writhes. "The great omega warrior of this hive has lost, and starting tomorrow; you will crawl and kneel by my side." Bakugo takes the shackles and places them on Izuku's ankles once again. "That venom still has you paralyzed. An alpha Vespa's venom can fester in the body for days," He circles Izuku's twitching form. "It's not just used to incapacitate our enemies, but to stun unwilling omegas, too. It's an ancient tactic of mating victory, one that I am more than entitled to, but consider yourself lucky I don't believe in that."
"This…isn't over," Izuku says as he lifts himself onto his hands and knees. "Make me your slave if you want. Try to break my will and bend it to your own, but I won't let you!" He lifts his eyes to glare at Bakugo.
"Whatever," He steps over Izuku but lets his foot 'accidentally' tap the other in the temple. "All Might is holding you for a reason, and I don't believe it's simply for your skills or the," he scoffs. "Kindness of your heart. There's another reason he's holding on to a rare omega like you, and I'm going to find out what it is."
"You're a monster and a bully," Izuku says through clenched teeth as he manages to stand up. The ache from the venom is not as intense, but its sting still slows his movements. "All Might is working to keep all of us safe…it has nothing to do with the omega part of me, or whatever else your twisted mind may be thinking!"
"Let's agree to disagree. But get some rest, warrior omega, because tomorrow I won't go easy on you. You're my captive and now my slave. You'd best think about your current position instead of being insubordinate to me."
Izuku watches the door to his room close and lock. He should just break it down. All Might would understand why he had to destroy a piece of the hive. But if he did that, what good will it do? It will only increase Bakugo's anger further, which will result in greater punishment. Izuku's not afraid of standing up for himself and face whatever punishment the hornet might have in store. It's more the fear of losing control of his situation. To win back this hive, he cannot let himself end up in the lowest part of the colony- the holding combs. If he ends up in there, then Izuku will have no chance of escaping to find All Might or develop a plan to win back the hive. So, what is he to do?
Flopping on the bed with a loud groan of frustration and pain, Izuku thinks over Bakugo's words about his place at All Might's side. He's never worried about his rare ability because All Might never speaks of it, nor made it a big deal like Bakugo is doing. His omega body shouldn't matter. Yes, his ability is an abnormality, and if his life went down a different path, it's possible he may have ended up a breeder for a villain. If not a villain, then an alpha like Bakugo.
'Damn, everything hurts,' He thinks to himself. The spot from Bakugo's sting still aches and it is warm to the touch. He would have stood a better chance of fighting Bakugo this second time if his body was not recovering from the first fight. 'Before I attempt anything drastic, I should wait for my body to rid itself of this venom. All I can do now is sleep it off until Bakugo comes to get me tomorrow.'
From warrior to slave; yes, it is a shameful and unforgiving punishment. Among the Vespa society, especially with warriors, one should kill themselves and die with honor if they are defeated rather than become a slave. Izuku never liked that unwritten rule, and neither did All Might. It's better to be alive to change things rather than let it all end. He'll have to endure rumors, whispers, and taunting for a little while, but in time, he will bring the honor back to himself, then all of this will be a thing of the past. That is if he can regain control of the hive.
As he lay in his bed, aching and exhausted, Izuku ponders his situation, looking at the choices available to him from every angle. The first and obvious one is to follow every command Bakugo gives him, earn the alpha's trust, and then begin to look for a weak spot to strike. The second is to offer himself to the alpha, playing on the primal instincts and inflated ego of his captor. Izuku's known a few omegas who used sex and pregnancy to obtain their desired result. It would be the quickest and easiest way for an omega to take control of their lives by living through their alpha's power. However, Izuku finds two flaws with this idea. One, he doesn't want to be with Bakugo and two, Bakugo doesn't seem the type of alpha to fall for such a ploy.
Another option, which may be the best one so far, is to try and appeal to Bakugo 's better nature by offering support. There is a reason behind Bakugo's sudden take-over of this hive. Vespas are not at war with each other like the villainous Insectoids of the Wastelands. While transferring of hives do happen, rarely is it done with military force. An alpha like Bakugo has the strength and power to build his own hive so why take over another? Izuku noticed that Bakugo mentioned All Might a lot, and he is led to wonder if the alpha doesn't have some vengeance against the Hero of the Valley. A lot of male alphas retain jealousy for All Might, and Bakugo may be one of them. If his hunch is correct, then his best bet is to talk Bakugo away from revenge. Giving in entirely to Bakugo is not going to happen, so Izuku has to work around it.
'But how?'
The only conclusion he can come to is to wait and see what tomorrow brings before attempting to find a solution. All Might told him years ago, in basic training, that it is important to know your enemy and to keep them close to you. Can he do that, though? Can he keep his enemy close? Should he give up his body to Bakugo if the alpha eventually asks for it? If only All Might comes back from the battlefield, then everything will go back to the way it was. He smiles at the thought of his Chief Alpha, mentor, friend, and trainer. The image helps to clear his mind so he can let his brain and body rest. All Might says to smile through any situation, no matter how scary or painful it is. That is what Izuku will do tomorrow! He will smile through his slavery!
Izuku lost his smile halfway through the morning of his first time as a slave. Bakugo put a leather collar around Izuku's neck with a thin chain linked to the back of it. He has to sit beside Bakugo on the floor while the fake chief sits in All Might's throne. Izuku sneaks death glares at Bakugo's smug, lounging form as the alpha proudly sips mead from All Might's favorite cup. The alpha didn't seem to want to do anything other than drink, eat, and watch his hornet warriors wrestle in the middle of the grand hall. To Izuku, it seems that thugs have taken over his hive, not Vespa warriors. Though the fighting skills of Bakugo's hornets speak differently. A tug at his collar has him turning his attention to Bakugo.
"My feet are tired," He smirks and tugs the omega in front of him. "Hands and knees, honey bee! You're my new footrest!"
Izuku is appalled when Bakugo's heels dig into his back as he is commanded to remain in this position. Izuku would not allow himself to be treated like a piece of furniture! He is a warrior! A fighter!
"Get your dirty feet off me," He says through grit teeth, his fists clenching under the weight of his trembling body.
"What did you say? Last time I checked, furniture doesn't talk," Bakugo says.
Glaring his eyes at Bakugo, Izuku bucks the alpha's legs off of him and jumps to his feet. "I said, 'get your dirty feet off me'!" When he repeats the words in a shout, the hall falls silent. Izuku understands he's made a mistake by taking swift action like this. But he didn't stop there. He takes advantage of Bakugo's stunned expression to knock All Might's cup from the alpha's hands to bounce and clank on the dais. "AND GET OFF THAT CHAIR!" Izuku throws a punch at Bakugo, hitting the alpha across the jaw with such force that the chair topples back and off the dais, landing with a crash.
A mass gasp echoes in the hive's grand hall.
Izuku slowly lowers his fist to his side. What had he done? His body trembled and his wings buzzed softly behind him. His antennas twitch as they pick up the signal of a furious alpha, and it's easy to tell who the signal is coming from. Izuku takes a step back, his eyes wide and lower lip trembling, as the sound of a single, loud buzz comes from Bakugo. First one, then two, and finally, the alpha hornet is buzzing in the air, body clenched with rage and those thick antennas lowered straight back against blonde hair. Bakugo is in attack formation. Izuku knows he's in trouble, and his punishment is going to be severe. The sheer look of fury and bloodlust is all there in Bakugo's eyes and crazed, manic grin.
"Now you're in trouble, you little shit!"
Izuku's initial reaction is to fly away, and he attempts to, but the shackles weigh him down. Not that he would get far to begin with for Kirishima has flown into the air to stop him, spear pointing straight at Izuku. To avoid the tip of the weapons, Izuku comes to a halt, but Bakugo is right behind him. There is a sharp shooting pain in the back of his head, and Izuku lets out a cry while spiraling back to the floor. He crashes in the center where the Hornets had previously been wrestling. His vision's clouded with dots of multicolored sparkles, all of them twinkling. There is a sudden weight on his back that forces him to spit up from the pressure. Izuku grits his teeth when the same weight presses down hard on his lower back. Bakugo's hand pushes his cheek to the floor, holding it there. Izuku is still trying to get his vision to clear.
"You want to play rough, little larva?" Bakugo hisses in Izuku's ear, and Izuku can feel the hairs of the mandibles tickling. "I think I've been pretty damn decent to your sorry failure ass! But that fucking stunt you just pulled, in front of all my hornets, fucking pisses me off!"
"I…don't apologize for it!" Izuku grits out. The truth is he does want to apologize, but his pride will not allow it. He has had bullies in the past, and Izuku's learned how to stand up to them. Bakugo is a bully that needs a taste of his own medicine! "I'll do it again! I'll embarrass you in front of your warriors!" The weight of Bakugo's hand lifts off him.
"Is that so? Well, if you want to punish yourself further, that's fine with me!" Bakugo hisses again in a whisper. "It is YOU how will continue to be the only embarrassment here!"
Izuku hears the rip and tearing off his clothes as Bakugo tears the fabric from his body. He gasps in utter horror as he finds himself completely naked in the middle of the room with everyone looking at him. The air fills with the taunting laughter of the hornet warriors. Izuku looks around at them through his bangs, seeing some of them whispering with smirks on their faces or making lude gestures towards him.
"Stand up and fight me now, little larva," Bakugo stands before him, looking down at the trembling omega who is trying to curl up and hide within himself. "Come on! Stand up and face me!" Bakugo shouts at the omega again. "Where's that spark now, huh?" He continues to mock Izuku until it is clear the omega is not going to retaliate. "That's what I thought!"
Bakugo takes the chain and yanks Izuku up from the floor. The omega stumbles and falls trying to shield his body from the crowd. Bakugo didn't care, so he dragged Izuku back over to the dais. The laughter from his Hornets are pissing him off, and with shouted command, they all fall silent. Bakugo scoffs with annoyance and pulls the omega up the dais stairs. He returns to the throne, reeling the omega to force the other between his feet.
"Sit there and shut up," Bakugo commands of him. He snaps his fingers for service, ordering an omega honey bee to fetch him more mead. "Try another mistake like that again, and I will hang your naked body from the top of the hive where everyone can point and gawk at you. Got it? If you want your clothes again, then you'd better apologize now- beg for my forgiveness." Izuku shakes his head. "Suit yourself. Everything is your fault, you know. You've brought this punishment on yourself. If you only do what I say and keep your mouth shut and don't piss me off, then I wouldn't have to waste my time with punishments. It's fairly simple."
Izuku refused to answer, but he also didn't lash out or attempt anything either for the rest of the time in the grand hall. He barely paid attention to anything around him until he hears Bakugo order Kirishima to escort Izuku to his room. Izuku eagerly followed behind Kirishima when the red-headed hornet leads him out of the grand hall. He keeps his head down, embarrassed by his nakedness. In theory, he understands that it isn't a big deal; but it is a big deal to him. It was his choice to take up the life of a fighter than the role of a bearer.
"Hey, sorry for what you went through back there," Kirishima says. "If I had anything to cover you up with, I would. Bakugo can be a little extreme sometimes, but he's actually not a bad bug. His attitude is worse than his sting, I know," Kirishima laughs. "But don't be too quick to pass judgment on him."
"He's a bully," Izuku says. "How can you be friends with an Insectoid like him?"
Kirishima grins his sharp teeth at Izuku. "Yeah, he's a pain in the ass, but once you get to know him and you earn his respect, he's only half mean to you."
Izuku frowns quizzically. "He may as well have a double stinger,"
"I know, right?"
"Oh, Kirishima, I think you've made a mistake. This is All Might's room."
"Bakugo's room now," Kirishima corrects him. "And this is where I'm supposed to take you."
Izuku's eyes widen to a saucer green. "W-what? You must have heard wrong! Please, take me to my room! This is not my room!"
"No can do," Kirishima answers, opening the door and pulling a struggling, naked Izuku inside. "Bakugo wants you in this room. He's given his orders, and a true warrior listens to his alpha chief."
"Please…I don't want to be in this room! This is All Might's room! All Might is my true alpha!"
"I thought you said you aren't All Might's mate?" Kirishima removes the leash from Izuku's collar.
"I'm not! He's…he's my role model! I look up to him! He's like my adoptive father! There is no one I respect and adore more than All Might! We are not mates! But this is HIS room! It does not belong to Bakugo!"
Kirishima scratches the spot between his antenna. "I don't really have anything to say to that. I'm just following my alpha's orders. You're going to have to take that up with Bakugo."
"Why does he want me here?" Izuku asks. "If I annoy him so much, then why am I here?"
Kirishima shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. But you might as well put something on while you're waiting for him to come back.
Izuku remembers he is naked and turns away from Kirishima.
"I don't think you've eaten. I'll see to it that something is brought up to you." Kirishima says as he exits the room and closes the door.
Izuku rushes over to the door and pulls at the knob only to find it locked. He curses under his breath. He really should do something about his nakedness now that he has the chance. That damned alpha should be ashamed of himself for stripping him like that in front of everyone! Izuku goes to All Might's wardrobe but finds nothing to wear that will fit him. In the end, he must compromise. Taking a white undershirt and ties from various robes, he makes the shirt into a long tunic. Izuku ties the waist and pushes his wings through the sleeves to keep the fabric from slipping off his shoulders. He sighs in relief. He is wearing clothes again.
But does it really matter now? Everyone has seen his naked body. Should he walk around mostly naked like the Hornets? No. He wouldn't do that. Bakugo only stripped him naked to keep control. The alpha must have figured that he will not attempt anything while naked. And Bakugo was right. What does the alpha want with him, though? Should he give in and let the alpha mount him? Why else would Bakugo wish to keep him here?
Izuku looks at the bed, clenching his fists. That is All Might's bed, and Bakugo has no right sleeping in it. If the mounting is forced, he will try to make it happen anywhere but All Might's bed. How disgraceful and shameful it will be to let that happen in this room at all.
"I need to take control of this situation somehow," He says, looking at his clenched fist. "Fighting is out of the question, at least for now. I will have to strike when Bakugo least expects it." He doesn't like the idea of doing something as dishonorable as an underhanded dirty act to achieve control. "What would All Might do in this situation?"
"Ha! It was so funny! Your feet went right up over your head!" Kaminari laughs.
Bakugo, tapping his finger on the table angrily, narrows his eyes at the other hornet. If he didn't need Kaminari's lightning stinger, Bakugo would have killed the hornet ages ago. Both Kirishima and Kaminari are dimwitted (they say differently) but their unique powers when it comes to their stingers is useful in battle. Bakugo had to fight Kirishima to get the gamma's loyalty, and Kaminari just followed behind. Now he's stuck with these two. Once they live out their usefulness, he'll dump them.
"Yes, I was there, remember?" Bakugo sneers. "I'm done talking about that asshole's stupid little stunt! He's lucky I didn't rip his damn wings off!"
"Even you aren't that cruel," Kirishima says. "You've already cut some of his antennae off."
"And I'll cut the other if he doesn't stop pissing me off! Enough of that green-haired larva. What of the hive? Any word from the Queen?"
"It's been reported," Kirishima answers. "We should hear back shortly. Though I doubt we'll have anything to worry about. Worst case is we are forced to leave."
Bakugo gives a nod. "What about the Wastelands? Any movements?"
"No, nothing yet," Kaminari says, rocking back on his chair. "We have our scouts out patrolling as well as asking the fireflies for any updates."
Bakugo ponders for a moment, wondering why the Wasteland inhabitants have been quiet recently. Come to think of it; there hasn't been much word on the war. The firefly Insectoids have one duty in this war, and that is to send messages amongst themselves to relay to others. Since fireflies have a unique language with their lights, they're perfect for secret communications. So, why have they been quiet?
"Hey, have either of you noticed that there's not as much action from the Wastelands?" He looks to them. "Why do you think that is?"
Kirishima taps his chin in thought, and Kaminari shrugs his shoulders.
"I wonder if something has happened," Bakugo suggests. "One of you, fly to the Valley and check to see if they have heard anything from the Wastelands."
"What do you think may be wrong?" Kaminari asks.
"Many things," Bakugo answers. "I'm wondering if the Centipede King is laying low and planning something."
Kirishima clamps his fist in his open palm. "Now that I think about it, no one has heard from All Might or his army!"
Bakugo knows that Kirishima is right, which means it may be the reason why the Centipede King is quiet. He tugs on his antennas in frustration. 'This isn't good,' He tells himself. 'Hopefully, my intuition is wrong!' "Kirishima, fly to the Wastelands, see if you notice anything out of the ordinary,"
"Yes, sir!"
"Kaminari, you go to the Valley. Talk with the Butterfly Prince and see what's going on there. If there is trouble within the Valley and the Canopies, I want to know about it!"
Kaminari salutes him with a smirk. "Yes, sir!"
"Hurry up and go! Stay focused on your missions!" Bakugo leaves them to their assignments and flies to his chambers. Kirishima returned the key to him after Izuku was locked inside. Bakugo doesn't announce himself as he unlocks and opens the door to the room. His entrance startles the omega who is sitting on the rug in the center of the floor, eating an apple. "What are you doing there?" He asks.
"This is All Might's chamber," Izuku answers. "I do not belong in here without his permission, and you shouldn't be in here either."
Bakugo smirks with dark amusement. "You really look up to him, don't you?"
"He's helped to mold me into the honey bee warrior I am today, regardless of how you see me."
"I think you're wasting your life slaving away for All Might. You're a rare omega and should be mated off to someone of power." Green eyes narrow at him.
"You mean to someone like you?"
Bakugo scoffs. "I didn't say that you did."
"If you have no plans to force me into mounting, then why am I in this room with you?"
"What is it with you and mounting?" Bakugo says back to him. "To me, it sounds like secretly want to be mounted with the way you keep talking about it. I have many alphas here who would mount you with the snap of my fingers, but that won't happen. Besides, I have too much on my mind right now to worry about getting off on an omega," He says. "And you're my slave. Your job is to serve me, and you can't do that if you're holed up in your room, right? Tell me, how do you serve All Might? What do you do for him?"
Izuku stands up from the floor. "I help him in whatever way he needs," He answers. "All Might trusts me. I'm his Second in Command. He doesn't treat me like a servant or a slave."
Bakugo prepares to answer with a snarky comment when the door bursts open to reveal Kirishima, panting heavily, and looking frazzled. "What the fuck, Kirishima?"
"Bakugo! I was…I was just getting ready to leave when one of our scouts came back! He's in terrible shape, and he has a message! He says it's from the Centipede King…and All Might."
"Addressed to me?" Bakugo asks.
"No," Kirishima looks at Izuku. "It's to you."
Izuku's eyes widen. "From All Might? Something must have happened!"
Bakugo sneers, gritting his teeth at Izuku. "There's nothing that scout has to say to you that he can't say to me!"
"I'm not going to stay back here and wait for you to tell me what's happening!" Izuku shouts at him. "The message is for me, not you!"
"I'm the chief of this hive!"
"Bakugo, I think Izuku should hear it too," Kirishima suggests. "There has to be a reason why both the Centipede King and All Might have this message for Izuku."
Bakugo takes a moment to consider it, then gives a nod to Izuku. "Alright, but just this once!"
"Thank you," Izuku says, following after Bakugo. They forgot to put the chain leash on him. The pair can fly faster than him right now, and he shouts at the two Hornets to wait up. The shackles continue to weigh him down. Kirishima turns back and takes his, pulling Izuku through the air with him. They are back in the grand hall where hornets and honey bees gather around a beaten and bloodied hornet.
"Stand aside!" Bakugo shouts the command. "I want everyone to clear out but my two gammas and the omega! NOW!"
Izuku watches as the crowd of Vespas disperse until he and the other three are alone with the wounded scout. Izuku then turns to the hornet on the floor, looking at the slew of cuts, bites, and holes that cover the stripped body. The bleeding holes are symmetrical, perfectly aligned down the hornet's sides. Those holes are the result of something very sharp, and Izuku would bet his life that the Centipede King made them.
"What's happened to you?" Bakugo asks the hornet scout.
"I…I was shot from the sky…flying over the Wastelands," The hornet answers. "They got me with an arrow…it was tipped with venom. I fell from the sky right into their group."
"Who was in that group?" Bakugo asks. "Any generals?"
"Y-Yes…but only one. A spider Insectoid…calls himself a Huntsman Spider…and it was his venom on the arrow. And then…I saw HIM," The hornet begins to tremble. "The Centipede King!"
Izuku falls to the floor beside the hornet, attempting to soothe the panicking alpha. "Shh…you're safe now. Take time to gather your thoughts," Izuku looks over at Kaminari. "Please get this hornet medical attention."
"Oh, right," Kaminari opens his wings to fly, but Bakugo's voice stops him.
"I'm the chief, and I give the orders!" Bakugo shouts. "Kaminari, go get the medic!"
Izuku wanted to lash out at Bakugo but chooses to save his energy to help keep the wounded hornet calm. "It's alright now," He reminds the hornet. "When you're ready, tell us what you know."
The hornet alpha thanks Izuku, takes a few breathes, then looks up at Bakugo. "I don't know how it happened or when…but All Might has been captured,"
Bakugo swallows hard, and Izuku feels his heart start to race.
"I…I saw him, too," The hornet says. "When they took me to their lair. I couldn't see where it was! They blindfolded me! I…I tried to keep quiet about who I was and who I fly with, but they tortured me and…and I'm so sorry, chief alpha! I told them about you and this hive! I couldn't take the venom anymore!"
"Whatever. What is the message?" Bakugo demands.
"I am Izuku," Izuku tells the hornet. "The message is for me, but tell both of us."
"You're Izuku?" The hornet gives him a sad look. "All Might spoke of you. The Centipede King wants to meet you, and you are to come alone, without an army, or he'll kill the Hero of the Valley! All Might agreed with him and said that he begs you to come. There may even be talks of peace if you go!"
Izuku can't help but look at Bakugo. "How could All Might have been captured?"
"I don't know," Bakugo answers then looks to Kirishima. "After he is fixed up, take him to the holding comb."
"Why are you locking him up? Is it punishment for talking?" Izuku stands to face Bakugo, his brows furrowing. "Anyone will confess to anything under torture! You cannot punish him for that!"
Bakugo glares. "You're such an idiot!" He grasps Izuku's arm and ushers the omega away from the hornet. "Think about it, shithead!" He says in a hissed whisper. "It's not safe to trust this hornet after where he's just come from! I have no reason not to believe what he is saying, but he may also be a spy now. Maybe not, but we can't take any chances right now. I had my suspicions that something has happened to All Might. The Valley has been much to quiet, and the Wastelands had not been attacking. This must be why."
"If that's the case, then I have to save All Might! Please, Bakugo, you must let me go! I need to save him! I'll do anything you want. Anything you ask of me. Just please…please let me save him!"
Bakugo wants to save All Might as well. Rescuing the Hero of the Valley will ensure a place by All Might's side, and hopefully becomes All Might's successor! "Not yet," Bakugo says. "We need to make sure that what we've heard is true."
"You said that you believe him,"
"I do, but it will be safer to hear it from someone else. The fireflies should be aware of this, as should that butterfly bastard. I was sending Kaminari to the Valley anyway to speak with the prince. Hopefully, that bastard can confirm this."
Izuku furrows his brows again. "His name is Shouto, and he would have sent word to me if he knew about All Might's capture."
"He may be receiving the message now, as we just did," Bakugo points out. "The Valley needs to know about this, whether it turns out to be rumor or not."
Izuku nods. "That's true. Shouto and I are friends, so please don't call him names."
Bakugo wasn't even thinking about that. His antennas twitch as he thinks about the information they've received. "Why would All Might send just for you and no one else?" Bakugo asks out loud. "It doesn't make sense,"
Izuku squares his shoulders, buzzing his wings in aggravation. "I hate how you think so little of me!"
"There are other alphas that All Might knows; alphas just like him with his skill and age level. Why would he send for you and not for one of them? This has nothing to do with your fighting skills, larva," He says. "I'm starting to think that All Might did not really send for you and you alone. I think those may be the Centipede King's words, not All Might's."
"But the hornet scout would have told us if All Might said something different."
Bakugo buzzed his wings. "You're not thinking clearly, idiot. You're more concerned with saving All Might than strategizing the situation! That hornet may only have limited knowledge of what the Centipede King and All Might discussed behind closed doors."
Izuku clenches his fist, thinking about All Might locked away in a dark, damp hole somewhere in the Wastelands. "We need to save him. This world needs the Hero of the Valley!"
"And I fucking agree with you!" Bakugo says. "One day, I'm going to surpass All Might and then I will become the Hero of the Valley! I can't do that if he is captured or dead!"
Izuku gasps. "That's it! That's why you took over this hive and why you're so concerned with me being a cherry bee! You're trying to impress All Might! Well, you're going about it the wrong way, Bakugo! You're the idiot here!"
"Shut your face, larva!" Bakugo snaps at him. "I bet I know what the Centipede King wants you for,"
Izuku narrows his eyes at the alpha. "What?"
"Think about it really, really hard," Bakugo flicks the center of Izuku's forehead. "I don't think All Might sent that message. It was the Centipede King. All Might wouldn't give you up that easily, and if he cares so much about you, he will not put you in that kind of danger. So, have you figured it out yet?"
Izuku stares at him for a long moment; then the realization strikes him like a bolt of lightning.
TBC