Swarm

by Tenkku

Full Summary Inside. Omega Izuku Midoriya, Second in Command to Chief All Might's army, is left to defend Brambleberry Hive. He never expects a swarm of vicious hornets, led by alpha Katsuki Bakugo, to take over the hive. Bakugo takes his place as Chief Alpha, making Izuku his prisoner and slave. But a shared threat will force them to work together and hate can turn to love. AU.

3. Decisions Are Made

***Warnings: Language, fighting, light yaoi

Chapter 3: Decisions Are Made

Izuku knew that one day his rare omega body would be the cause of some type of trouble. He never gave much thought to his biology because it wasn't important. To Izuku, fighting alongside All Might is his only goal, which he has achieved. Even the notion of 'falling in love' like in the stories means nothing to him if he falls in love, great. If not, then it's not the end of the world. But this news of All Might's capture and Bakugo's reveal of the Centipede King's real mission has his heart drumming in his chest.

'My body in exchange for All Might's safety? No, that can't be. It would be foolish on the Centipede King's part. He won't give up All Might to obtain me- he'll want the both of us.'

"Hey, larva, I have an omega question for you," Bakugo snaps his fingers in Izuku's face to get the other's attention. "When you pop out a kid, is it a mix breed? Or does it take the form of you or the father?"

"My kind is rare, so I'm not entirely sure how to answer your question," Izuku says. "From records and rumors, it seems that cherry bees can produce a hybrid...so by joining a cherry bee omega with an alpha Insectoid...well, you can figure it out. I'm sure it's possible to have the child come out as one or the other as well. I know that the child will always be alpha. Again, that is going by records. It may have just been sheer luck."

"It's the hybrid they want then," Bakugo says. "The Centipede King wants you as a breeding omega."

Izuku shakes his head. "I will never allow that to happen! I'll save All Might some other way!"

"You mean I'LL rescue All Might," Bakugo corrects him. "I deserve his respect and title of All Might's successor, not you!"

Izuku wants to fight back and defend himself, but right now his pride is not an issue. All Might as a prisoner is the issue. Izuku will need an alpha hornet like Bakugo and his army, so it is best to focus on the situation rather than his feelings.

"How do you plan to save him?" Izuku asks. "The message was sent for me, not you. Do you think the Centipede King will see you without me? Are you going to fly into the Wastelands with your army? That head of yours is harder than a rock!"

Bakugo sneers at him. "Asshole! Don't you dare think you can just assume what my strategies are! Going there with an army will be counter-productive. The Wastelands is made up of thick trees and dense fog. The fog will make our wings damp, which will make it hard to fly. We Vespa's cannot attack head-on into the Wastelands! We need to drag those bastards out here. Or, better yet, I go by myself, and I take you with me." Bakugo strokes his chin and narrows his eyes as he begins to think of a plan.

"The idea of us two going together is a good one. I am willing to work with you, Bakugo, to save All Might."

Bakugo scoffs with a smirk, putting his hands on his hips. "Idiot larva! You forget you are still my slave and prisoner!"

"But we'll be traveling together! You can't do it on your own!"

"That's where you're wrong! I don't need anyone's help, never have and never will. I've thought of a way to get to the Centipede King with you in tow. I'll make you a bargaining chip!"

Izuku gives Bakugo a hard stare and says, "I'm assuming you plan to use me to win All Might back. All Might will never allow for me to be traded like some kind of rare treasure! He'll refuse his freedom if it means giving me away like that!"

"Fool. I wouldn't give you over to the Centipede King! I plan to use you as bait so I can get in an attack on that bastard! I'll be the one to take down the Centipede King! Then the world will see that I am worthy of the title 'Hero of the Valley'!"

"You're in this only for yourself," Izuku says. "As All Might would say, you are throwing away great potential."

"Don't tell me what All Might would say," Bakugo counters. "Before we make any decisions, I'm sending Kaminari to the Valley. Once I hear back from the butterfly bastard, I can strategize further. Kirishima will go to the fireflies. As of now, presenting you to the Centipede King is our best chance at getting into enemy territory."

Izuku turned away from him knowing that Bakugo is right.

"How far will you go to ensure All Might's safety?" Bakugo asks him. "Would you give yourself to the enemy to save him? Would you stake your chance in a fight? Or, what if All Might wants to use a union marriage to bring peace to the land?" Bakugo frowned as he just came to realize that himself. "Would you do it?"

Izuku crosses his arms, gripping his elbows as he tries to control his emotions. He can feel his antennas dropping to the sides of his head. He chews his bottom lip, knowing the answer without a doubt in his mind, and it is that though which upsets him the most.

"If All Might asks it of me to ensure peace in the land...then yes, I will do it," he lowers his head. "I will do anything to save the Valley and the Canopies...just as All Might would. He never gives up, and I won't give up either."

Bakugo was silent for a moment, then asks, "What need can you possibly have to be so close to All Might if you do not plan or want to mate with him?"

"Shut up about that!" Izuku yells out. "It has nothing to do with that! If you're asking if I would rather have All Might then the Centipede King, then yes! But if not, then the answer is 'no'! I refuse to keep repeating myself to you! It's something an alpha like you will NEVER understand!" He sharply turns his head to glare at Bakugo over his shoulder with unshed tears in his eyes. "You care only about yourself, and that is what makes you the weakest Vespa in the Canopies! You will never, EVER, become the next Hero of the Valley because you don't understand what it means to be a hero!"

Bakugo clenches his fists at his sides. He's heard those words before many, many times; and those who have said them end up with a broken jaw, or missing teeth. While he wants to do that to Izuku, he can't. All he can do is repress his anger because he needs the stupid omega for this plan to work, and he needs Izuku in one piece. The Centipede King is looking to breed a strong hybrid, and chances are the alpha cares little about Izuku's appearance. It could still be an issue, though.

"I'm going to let that slide this time," Bakugo says, his voice low and dangerous. "But say something like that again to me, and I will show no mercy."

Izuku takes his chances and turns to face Bakugo. "You don't have what it takes to be a hero!" He says with a smirk, though behind that smirk he is quivering with fear. The rage and fury in those crimson eyes have the omega side of him cowering, but he can't show it. Izuku doesn't move when he watches Bakugo's mandibles fold out, and the stinger unfold. He braces himself for an attack, for a bite or a sting. Bakugo does attack, but it's not what Izuku expects. Bakugo pushes him to the floor and holds Izuku down, sitting on his chest with a hand around his throat, pressing the collar painfully into his collarbones. Izuku gasps for air, clawing at Bakugo's wrist as he tries to loosen the grip. He kicks and struggles, buzzing his wings and releasing his own mandibles to strike back. When he feels Bakugo's stinger between his thighs, he instantly freezes. Ceasing his struggle releases some of the pressure of Bakugo's hand on his throat.

"I fucking need your stupid ass in one damn piece, so be grateful I'm not crushing your throat while slamming your green curled head into this fucking floor! I haven't gotten to this position as a general and chief by being nice!" He squeezes Izuku's throat again, pressing his stinger harder against the omega's thighs. "Don't think I won't go easy on you because you're an omega. If I want to splatter your brains across this floor, then I will do it!" He can feel Izuku's body trembling beneath him. "Now listen here, you pitiful little larva! I'm only going to say this once, so listen closely,"

Izuku clenches his eyes shut as he feels Bakugo's full weight upon him. The alpha's breath and mandibles tickle his ear. He has no choice but to listen.

"If you become the Centipede King's omega queen, you will be the closest to him. Use your omega body and wiles to seduce the bastard into a lustful stupor, and when he is at his weakest and most vulnerable, you fucking strike! Stab the bastard. Slit his throat. Cut his dick off and feed it to him. You will have the power to do with him as you like, all because of how you were born, and that hidden slit between your legs. You use your omega power to get rid of the Centipede King, and I will free All Might and together he and I will destroy the Wastelands. That is, of course, assuming this is what the Centipede King wants you for."

Bakugo's antennas touch Izuku's by mistake, and a thrill of warm delight quickly rushes through him. The feel of it startles him to where he lifts himself from Izuku, releasing the omega from his hold. From the look on Izuku's face, the omega felt it too. Wide green eyes gaze at him with the same confusion as he has. Izuku still has his legs spread as they stare at each other. And to Bakugo's surprise, Izuku spreads them more. The omega has nothing on under the long shirt. Bakugo swallows hard at the sight of the omega. His wings move on their own, lifting him to levitate over Izuku's body before lowering himself back down upon the omega. Bakugo settles himself between Izuku's thighs, yet he doesn't feel an erection to match his own. His eyes widen, and he grins as he blocks Izuku's fist just in time before it met with his jaw.

"Oh, very clever, little larva! Perhaps there's a hidden whore inside of you that can pull this off,"

"Get off of me," Izuku warns him.

Bakugo does so. "I won't fall for that again, so don't try it."

Izuku rubs his throat. There will be bruising there for sure. "You're just like all other alphas…can't resist an omega's thighs."

Bakugo scoffs. "Rethink what you just said, for you're roping All Might into that stereotype as well." He smirks at the look of shock that washes over Izuku's face. In truth, Bakugo is annoyed with himself for falling for that in the first place. It's the result of whatever that strange feeling was when their antennas touched. "Never mind. I have to…go give orders. Stay here and shut up until I come back."

Once away from Izuku, Bakugo flies back to the grand hall, searching for Kaminari. He flies by Kirishima and stops to ask if the scout hornet has been detained. Kirishima answers yes, and that the scout insists that he is innocent of any crimes and suspicions. Bakugo orders Kirishima to find Kaminari and for both of them to travel to the Valley to meet with Prince Shouto.

"What if he won't see us?" Kirishima asks.

"He will. Let him know what's happened here, about All Might, and the message that came. Don't tell him I'm taking residence here, or he may retaliate. That is assuming he is friends with Izuku as the omega claims. We happen to be visiting, nothing more. That is what you tell the butterfly bastard if he asks."

"Right. So, you don't want me to scope out the Wastelands?"

"No. We know what's going on there. Once you've had your audience with the bastard butterfly, make sure you spread the word to the fireflies."

"Are we going to plan to save All Might together?" Kirishima asks. "Us and the Valley Insectoids?"

"I have a different plan for that," Bakugo says. "But I want to know more information before I decide to go through with my plan. So, get to flying! This is a mission, not a leisure flight!"

Izuku could not bring himself to sit on All Might's bed, so he remained at the small table eating dinner. He chews slowly as he ponders the Centipede King's intentions and Bakugo's plan. Playing the temptress will end up backfiring because Izuku doubts he can keep up the act. He's never seen the Centipede King, but Izuku's heard plenty about him, and that alpha is not a villain king for nothing. It's also said that he is frightening to look upon with many extra hands adorning his body. An alpha king of that status will not believe that a random omega is 'infatuated' with him. The Centipede King wants Izuku's body and the rarity that comes with it.

'All Might wants peace with the three lands…but would he offer me in a union marriage? Maybe it's all a lie that All Might is telling the Centipede King. Maybe he's trying to win the king's trust so he can seek freedom. All Might will always put others first before himself, and if that means playing into the enemy's hands, then he will do it. I may have to give in a little too. Of course, this means I have to work with Bakugo. I need him to take these chains off my ankles so I can fly. As it stands now, I cannot fight him. My goal is to save All Might first and then deal with Bakugo later. Even though he's a monstrous jerk, the alpha is very powerful and strong. He won't back down or give in, and that is a strength I will need." He rubs his neck. 'I'm going to have to withhold my revenge on Bakugo, for now, to work beside him. I'll do as he instructed; get close, get him vulnerable, and then strike! After I save All Might.'

Content with his decision and finishing up his meal, Izuku takes one of the blankets and goes to lay on the sofa. There have been many times when he's slept on this sofa as a young child whenever he became frightened or scared. He would come to All Might's room (when the alpha was there) and wake him up. All Might always welcomed him and smiled each time telling Izuku that there is nothing to be afraid of because he was here. Izuku wishes that All Might was here right now to say to him that everything is going to be okay. He has failed All Might, and the only way to redeem himself is to bring the Hero of the Valley home.

Izuku rolls over into the sofa, putting his back to the door and finally lets his tears fall into the cushions. The tears exhausted him into sleep.

~One Day Later~

"Chief Bakugo! Master Kirishima and Kaminari have returned!"

Bakugo looks up from his barbells. "Do they look pleased with themselves?" He asks the hornet.

"They do, sir!"

Bakugo smirks and drops the barbells to the floor, flying from the room and to All Might's. He's decided to keep Izuku locked in that room to keep him out of trouble until the two returned. Now that they are back, it's only fair that he involves Izuku since the omega will end up part of the plan. Izuku is sitting on the sofa, reading a book. The omega looks up at him when he enters. Bakugo tells him Kirishima and Kaminari are back. Izuku follows dutifully behind him without a word as they enter the grand hall. Bakugo takes his seat on the dais and waits to see if Izuku will comply or fight back. The omega folds his legs and sits beside the chair without a word or even a dirty look. Good. He's learning, Bakugo thought.

"All's good, chief!" Kaminari flashes Bakugo a thumbs up. "We spoke with Prince Shouto, and he is aware of the situation now!"

"I figured he would be. What did he have to add?" Bakugo asks.

"Nothing in particular," Kirishima says. "Prince Shouto said he noticed the Wastelands were quiet as well."

"He did say one thing of interest, though," Kaminari smirks when Kirishima starts to frantically wave his arms in an attempt to get him not to say the next words. Kaminari couldn't help it. "He said he is ready to work alongside Izuku to save All Might, and he did wonder why Izuku did not come himself, visitors or not."

Bakugo frowns deeply and lets his gaze wander to the omega beside him. Izuku gives him a sideways glance as well with the hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. 'Smug little bastard,' Bakugo thinks to himself. 'I've got to get this plan moving before I have the whole fucking Valley flying at me.'

"Don't listen to what he said," Kirishima pushes himself in front of Kaminari. "Prince Shouto said he is going to strengthen the perimeters of the Valley. He's also going to send envoys to the Centipede King to assess the situation with All Might, and the fireflies will pass the message on to us."

"We have our own firefly connection, too!" Kaminari adds. "Once they find the right information, our firefly will let us know."

Kirishima shoved Kaminari, whispering something to him, and then flies up to Bakugo. "Alpha, can we have a word in private?"

Bakugo raises a brow. "Did something happen with dumb-dumb down there?" He asks, referring to Kaminari.

"No. It won't take long. But it's something we need to discuss," he tilts his head. "Just over there."

"Fine," Bakugo flies alongside Kirishima to the far end of the grand hall where they are alone but can still see Izuku and Kaminari. "What is it? It had better be good."

"It's about Izuku," Kirishima says. "Shouto is good friends with Izuku. I picked up on that. He only saw us because we pressed on about Izuku having a message for him. But to be honest, I think Shouto is a little suspicious of us. He kept mentioning Izuku, and why he wasn't with us for this. If Shouto finds out that Izuku is your prisoner, he's going to retaliate."

Bakugo hisses through his teeth as he tries to remain calm. "I can't trust you knuckleheads to do anything right that isn't fighting!"

"Hey, we did the best we could," Kirishima counters. "But I think you'd best smooth things over with Izuku, make him not a slave, and return him to his status as Second in Command of Brambleberry Hive."

"I refuse," Bakugo says. "I've already conducted a plan for Izuku, and it doesn't involve anyone but the two of us."

Kirishima looks confused. "Why don't I know about this plan?"

"Because I haven't told you yet," he says. "I wanted to learn more about the situation, but it seems like the butterfly bastard knows as much as we do. Once we confirm that All Might is truly captured, then I'm going to save him. I'm certain the Centipede King wants Izuku because of his unique breeding ability," he saw Kirishima's questioning look, but he said he'd explain that later. "Izuku and I will go, and if the 'peace talk' is true, then we will barter Izuku for the role of 'queen.' Izuku will take down the Centipede King, All Might and I will destroy the Wastelands, and I become the next Hero of the Valley!"

"You can't barter Izuku like that!" Kirishima says. "Handing him over to the Centipede King? There has to be a better way!"

"Lower your voice, idiot! I spoke of this to Izuku, and he agrees with it,"

Kirishima runs a hand through his hair. "I still don't agree with that, Bakugo. There has to be another way to achieve this without forcing Izuku into a marriage for breeding."

"If that is what Izuku is wanted for," Bakugo reminds him. "All Might and the Centipede King are requesting Izuku, so I will 'escort' him there. Maybe things will be different. Maybe a fight will break out. Who knows?"

Kirishima growls at him. "All of this somehow circles back to you at becoming the next Hero of the Valley!"

"Which will make you Second in Command to the Hero of the Valley," Bakugo points out. "Don't get smart with me, Kirishima! I am your alpha, and it's your duty as my second always to back me up! Izuku can take care of himself. When we prepare to leave, I'm putting you in charge of Brambleberry Hive."

"but shouldn't I go with you?" Kirishima asks.

"No. I need you here. Let Kaminari know what we're planning, but try to keep him from accidentally blabbing it out!"

"Okay, but Bakugo, I have an idea, or a suggestion, I guess,"

Bakugo can always tell when Kirishima is nervous about something with how his antennas and wing twitch. "What is it?" He asks with a sigh.

"Why don't you marry Izuku?"

Bakugo blinks his eyes but says nothing.

"No, just listen to me! You both can save All Might and if you're already married to Izuku, that gives you an honorable step-up to the role of the next Hero of the Valley! Don't make an enemy of Izuku, make him an ally!"

"I'm going to forget that you even mentioned something so stupid! I don't plan ever to marry or sire brats, and Izuku doesn't want to do that either. And there is a huge hole in your suggestion! All Might may be training Izuku to be the next Hero of the Valley! Izuku will not step down and let ME take over! He'll challenge me, not that I wouldn't win, but I refuse to do it through something stupid like marriage!"

"You're the stupid one here, Bakugo! An omega can't be the Hero of the Valley! I must always be an alpha!"

"That doesn't mean anything," Bakugo counters. "Whoever is superior and chosen by the previous Hero of the Valley earns that title! In the past, it has always been alphas. But All Might has a different perspective on things, which is what Izuku feeds off of. If All Might has no plans to make Izuku his mate, then he plans to make Izuku his successor."

"Then just challenge Izuku when that happens," Kirishima says.

"What is your deal with this whole marriage thing?" Bakugo asks with annoyance. "What do you care about who Izuku marries?"

"I just don't think it's an alpha thing to do! The Centipede King is a monstrous villain, and you want to hand an omega over to him just like that? Even I don't think All Might will let that happen!"

Bakugo scoffs. "We won't know until we find out. All Might is getting up in age so his strategies may be changing and he's moving away from fighting."

"Hey, what about this. What if Shouto Todoroki wants to marry Izuku? Then you really have no chance!" Kirishima smirks at him.

"Pfft. There's a reason why the Hero of the Valley is always a Vespa and not a Papilo."

"Ugh. Right, right. Vespa's sting and Papilo's don't."

"Exactly. So, I'm not worried about that bastard butterfly. The prince may be the strongest warrior in the Valley, but my stinger will find his throat so fucking fast he won't know what hit him! I'm not concerned with the 'handsome prince' of the valley. Having him keep watch over the ground level of the Wastelands allows me more time to achieve my goal."

"Are you planning to take over the Valley too?"

"Fuck no. That shitty place has nothing over the Canopies!" Bakugo will never leave the Canopies. The Valley is pretty to look at, with its vast green pastures and meadows littered with flowers, but it is a weak environment. It rains too often, unlike the Canopies, which always has a steady heated temperature and lots of sun. True warriors reside in the Canopies, looking out and down at the world from branches. "They can keep the Valley. I will have the Canopies." Although the Canopies and the Wastelands count as part of the Valley, all three function independently.

Kirishima groans. "You're really impossible sometimes."

"If you're done here, then can we get on with the day?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Izuku watched the pair of hornets from afar, noting how they interreacted, almost as if they disagree with one another. Izuku assumes it has to do with Shouto, and the thought of his friend in the Valley has him smiling. He knew Shouto would have picked up on the suspicion of his absence. Shouto may or may not send someone to check up on things here, and when that Insectoid sees what is going on, Shouto will help him put a stop to it. It depends on how well Kirishima and Kaminari made the situation believable. And then, Izuku remembers that the Queen holds full reign over the Canopies. No Papilo from the Valley is allowed to attack or target the Canopies. The same rule applies to the Canopies. The Queen must be aware of what Bakugo has done. However, he's certain the Queen does not know the whole truth. He can have someone rush to tell the Queen what has happened, or he hopes someone has done so already. Whatever the case, all Izuku can do is to wait. For now.

Two Day Later

Word finally came to Brambleberry about the issue with the Wastelands.

Izuku's eager to hear about the situation with All Might, hoping that the news they receive from the envoy will be better than the scouts'. He was surprised that Bakugo had them meet the Valley envoy in the center of the grand hall rather than on the dais or in the office, and with both Kaminari and Kirishima by his side. When they heard the envoy would be arriving, Bakugo ordered to have the collar and shackles taken off. Izuku knows why. Bakugo doesn't want the envoy to fly back to Shouto and tell the butterfly prince that he is in chains. Bakugo's no fool, and over the last two days, Izuku's come to accept the way things are. Although he dislikes the hornet for everything that he has done, something changed between them when their antennas touched that night. Bakugo is still cruel to him, but the physical attacks have stopped. Izuku also had a lot of time to think while remaining locked in All Might's room and decided to play along with Bakugo, for now, until they save All Might. All Might will have the final say in Bakugo's punishment if the chief alpha even decides to punish Bakugo. Bakugo clearly admires All Might in the same way as he, though the hornet is simply jealous of the notion that All Might likes Izuku more. For now, he will lay low and help Bakugo save All Might. It all depends on the news from the envoy.

The envoy is a stag beetle Insectoid; the strongest race of the Papilos and the perfect choice to send to the Wastelands. The envoy only addresses Izuku.

"Second in Command Izuku Midoriya," the envoy bows. "I come with a message from the Wastelands."

"You may speak to both of us," Izuku tells the envoy. He glances at Bakugo to see that the hornet is surprised by his words.

"Very well. I fear to tell you that yes, it is true that All Might has been captured,"

Izuku swallows hard.

"The Centipede King keeps him in a holding cell beside his throne. I have seen this for myself. No Wasteland Insectoid attacked us or attempted to. I believe they feel that they hold all the power since they have the Hero of the Valley."

"What are the terms?" Bakugo asks, placing a hand on his hip.

"The obvious is they want us to surrender, which we will not do," says the envoy. "Even if they kill All Might, it will not stop the fighting. We will just hit back twice as hard. But, we still want to keep the Hero of the Valley with us. The other option is a type of peace, which may or may not concern young Izuku here."

"What exactly are these peace terms?" Bakugo asks.

"That Izuku is to marry into the League of Villains,"

"Wait, what's the League of Villains?" Kirishima asks. "Is this something new?"

"I've certainly never heard of it," Kaminari adds.

The envoy proceeds to explain. "We have reason to believe that the Centipede King is not the true ruler of the Wastelands. We believe it is another, hiding in the shadows, and working through the Centipede King. The League of Villains is the court of the Centipede King, yet they all report to the mystery leader. We think that All Might may know who this 'secret villain' is, but with him as a prisoner, he cannot tell us."

Bakugo crosses his arms over his chest. "What does this have to do with Izuku marrying the Centipede King?"

"He won't be marrying the Centipede King but another high ranking member of that court. It turns out that the Centipede King is not an alpha, but a gamma. Izuku will be marrying the Second in Command, an alpha known only as Dabi. We do not know the full details yet. I still have to speak to the Queen. If she agrees with these terms, then young Izuku will have to marry."

Izuku looks down at the floor, feeling his eyes well with tears. He knows him; the Huntsman Spider Dabi, an Arachnoid. He's seen Dabi only once during a battle, and Izuku will never forget the sight of him. Izuku's heard more stories about the huntsman spider, and none of them are for the faint of heart.

"Young Izuku, do not fret, for All Might has a plan," The envoy flashes him a smile. "I couldn't speak long to him, but he said that only you could pull this off. You see, you will be our ear on the inside! All Might knows you will find a way to take down the League of Villains from the inside, find where the hidden leader is, and save not just All Might, but the Valley as well! I know it is much to ask of you, but one small sacrifice of marriage to save the world? It is not a high price to pay. So, will you do it, young Izuku? All Might and the rest of the world is counting on you."

Kirishima suddenly steps in. "What's to happen if he says no?"

"Something may happen to All Might." Answers the envoy. "It's a chance we cannot take."

"I'll do it," Izuku says, clenching his fists at his sides. "But, I have terms as well!" He lifts his teary, angry eyes to look at Bakugo. "I get to bring my OWN court!"

TBC