Warnings: Language

Chapter 4: Izuku's Court

"Say what you want, but I'm going through with it," Izuku says to Bakugo, his arms crossed over his chest. He and Bakugo argued for the rest of the day and into the night, and it doesn't seem as if the heated conversation will end soon.

"I refuse to be a servant to you!" Bakugo says for the hundredth time. Ever since the envoy brought word of the marriage, Izuku has been on edge and combative.

"As I've said a thousand times, we can't show any kind of force that may give us away!" Izuku says, wanting to shove his stringer straight through Bakugo's throat so he won't have to hear the alphas frustrating voice. "You want this hive so bad, then stay here and let me handle things my way! I will save All Might!"

"And you have no choice, pollen-sucking bastard! I'm making myself a part of your court!"

"You're only in it for glory," Izuku spat out. "I don't want you anywhere near me to screw this up with your damned pride and short temper! I will take Kirishima and Kaminari with me. I can trust them to act accordingly."

"Like hell, you will. They are my Hornets! They listen only to me," Bakugo counters. "And the final decision comes from the Queen, not you."

"I'm through with this talk, Bakugo," Izuku says. "I can't listen to your voice any more tonight," he wants to plug his ears and wish the alpha away. His nerves shot, Izuku fears that he will viciously lash out at Bakugo, which will do him no good.

Izuku flies over to the sofa and lays upon it, giving his back to Bakugo. Surprisingly, the alpha is not saying anything, or yelling curse words, or insulting him. Bakugo is silent. Izuku wonders why. Maybe his words finally got through the hornet's thick skull? Hopefully. Then again, having Bakugo with him would be useful if the damned alpha wasn't such a hot head. He can't trust Bakugo not to blow everything by losing his temper or choosing to strut his pride in that obnoxious manner of his. If he could trust Bakugo to hold it together, then having the alpha hornet with him can help the situation.

Marriage. One of life's necessities that he has sworn off still managed to come his way. It's not even a marriage of choice but convenience. How did it all come to this? How did All Might manage to lose and get captured? Who is the mystery person behind this League of Villains? Worse yet, what if he becomes pregnant? That issue comes with its own troubles and risks. Not only will Izuku have the safety of All Might to worry about, but he will have to concern himself with the well-being of the unborn child. Unless he chooses to make the hard decision of removing the child, so he can see his mission all the way through without limits. It wouldn't be fair to the unborn child, but sometimes difficult decisions need to be made to assist with the situation at hand. Izuku hates himself for always thinking logically.

"Hey," Bakugo's voice starts from the other side of the room. "This is a shitty situation, don't get wrong,"

Izuku only stares at the fabric of the sofa.

"But if you take me with you as an escort or a bodyguard, we can find a way to speed up this rescue mission. You won't have to stay married for a long period of time with that alpha. The less you take with you, the easier it will be. That's what I think. It should be the two of us, and I guess one of your friends as a groom."

"I know who I want to bring with me," Izuku says from the sofa. "Tomorrow I will send word to them. I want two grooms to accompany me. I can't trust you, Bakugo. You'll ruin everything."

"Fuck you, pollen-sucker," He sneers at Izuku's back. "Say what you want, but I fucking know how to behave myself! I'm one of, if not the strongest, of the young Hornets in the Valley. My presence at the League of Villains will make them think twice before acting out against you or All Might. They can't expect you to arrive completely alone, so you'll be granted the right to a court. If not...then I'll have to figure out a way to get involved."

Izuku rolls over to glare tired eyes at Bakugo. "Please, can't you remain here and watch the hive? Why do you want to prove yourself so much? It's getting to the point of- forget it. It's not worth it." He returns his sight to the fabric. There is silence between them again, but then Bakugo starts to speak.

Changing the subject, Bakugo says, "Virginity is a stupid, meaningless virtue of having, Izuku," he starts. "Holding onto it means nothing. Once you're married to this Dabi guy, that's it. Going all these years ignoring it and viewing it as something special is a waste of time. After it's gone, you lose all value. So, why set yourself up for that? It's pointless. You weren't saving yourself for anyone."

"I don't care about that! I mean...I do, and I understand what you are saying. But it's my choice. I've always had my choice in what happens in life; All Might granted me that privilege. Now it's taken away from me. I chose to marry Dabi and save All Might and the Valley...but it is not what I want. I am honor bound to All Might. That's all I care about right now. I want to get All Might back, and if I have to give up a large part of myself to do that, then so be it."

"If you feel that strongly about the mission, then why the hell are you sulking on the sofa? Pull yourself together and start thinking of a plan!" When Izuku doesn't respond, Bakugo grumbles to himself and readies for bed. The omega is proving to be more stubborn by the day. As he lay in bed, staring at Izuku's back from across the room, he says, "I think only you and I should go." He changes the tone of his voice, which surprises him. He can sense the omega's distress in his antennas. "I know you want a court, but we don't know what kind of villains will be living with you, and it might endanger your friends if you bring them. We should work with very little so they have nothing to hold over us. What do you think?"

Izuku took a moment to answer. "You care about my opinion?"

"I figure I'll give you a break since you'll be doing all the dirty work. Literally."

Izuku sighs. "I suppose you're right. Fine. You and I will go," he says, giving in. "They probably won't let me have my own people anyway, for security and trust reasons."

"That's why you need me as your bodyguard. It's the only way I'll be able to get in without much suspicion."

"Fine. Now stop talking."

Bakugo almost countered with an insult, but then remembers Izuku saying that he doesn't know how to behave and that he can't control himself. Instead, he rolls over in the bed and grumbles into the pillow.

The next day, Bakugo was not expecting the sudden arrival of the butterfly prince. He'd been at breakfast, chugging down mead and candied fruits, when Kirishima alerted him of the unwanted visitor. Izuku had been eating at the table with Bakugo and beamed with excitement at the news. Now Bakugo stands impatiently, bored, and a bit irritated as he watches Izuku fondly great the bastard butterfly. Butterflies are Papilos and known for their unique coloring and patterns on their wings. What makes the prince stand out from other butterflies is his duel coloring, perfectly symmetrical, one wing blue and the other red. The patterning resembles flames of the opposite colors. Even the bastard's hair and eyes are mismatched like the wings.

'Half and Half bastard,' Bakugo thinks to himself.

"Shouto, it's so good to see you," Izuku says in greeting to his friend. "I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances."

Shouto glances over at Bakugo. "I've been made aware of the current issue, and your noble sacrifice as well," he lets his eyes wander around the grand hall. "General Bakugo certainly came with a lot of guests for a short visit."

"They are keeping company here for a while now that All Might is held prisoner," Izuku answers. "General Bakugo is going to come with me when I leave for the Wastelands."

"I see," Shouto looks at Bakugo for a moment then back to Izuku. "I would feel better if you have one of my court members accompany you there instead of him,"

"Stinging Vespas are better suited for the Wastelands regarding defense," Izuku says. "Besides, you're needed in the Valley for when Wasteland inhabitants begin to migrate. The Valley needs you to handle all the negotiations."

"What negotiations do you mean?" Bakugo jumps into the conversation. "Shouldn't I be aware of them as well? I'm accompanying Izuku, after all."

Izuku answers him before Shouto. "The Wastelands cannot take over the entire Valley, but as you are aware, they want rights to use the fertile lands,"

"Of course, we don't believe they will hold up their end of the terms," Shouto adds. "But until we can find their weak point and the true leader, we need to keep things…peaceful. We don't plan to hold up our end of the bargain either. Oh, Izuku, are you sure you want this alpha hornet to go with you? General Bakugo is honored for his victories and bravery, but not so much for his temper and character."

"Bite my stinger, you piece of Valley sludge!" Bakugo sneers at Shouto. "No one else is more eligible than me to go with him!"

Shouto looks to Izuku for clarification.

Izuku nods.

"Very well," Says Shouto. "As a prince, I'm set above you, General Bakugo, and I wish to speak to Izuku in private. So, if you don't mind, we will take our conversation elsewhere." Shouto holds up his hand to keep Bakugo from speaking. "You are a 'guest' after all, are you not? Guests abide by their hosts' wishes."

Bakugo realizes that Shouto doesn't believe he is a guest but is playing dumb on purpose. For what reason, Bakugo can't be sure, other than Shouto is good friends with Izuku. He gives them a nod and flies off to grumble in a comb while watching the two fly off. He doesn't fear that Izuku will tell what is really going on. Bakugo is curious to know what the two are going to talk about, though. Oddly, he can sense Izuku, and his antennas twitch in the omega's direction. Frowning, he waits until they are out of sight and then flies after them, following Izuku's scent trail. Shouto may be a prince, but even he must answer to the Hero of the Valley; a title only Bakugo will hold.

"Are you certain everything is alright?" Shouto asks Izuku once they are alone in Izuku's room.

"Yes,"

"I know Katsuki Bakugo, and he is no guest in this hive,"

"I'm not worried about Brambleberry right now. The hive is meaningless without All Might here. We must focus on the issue with the Wastelands and saving All Might. I can't worry myself with little matters like who is running Brambleberry. All Might will deal with this when he is free."

Shouto nods then reach out to touch Izuku's antenna. "What's happened? It's been cut." He feels the scab.

Izuku steps away from him. "Not important," he says quickly. "We need to talk about the proceedings. I know we're awaiting word from the Queen, which we both know will be 'yes.'"

"Most likely," Shouto answers. "Are you seriously thinking about taking Bakugo with you? I wouldn't trust him, Izuku. You're going to have no friends there, and you should at least have one. If I weren't a prince, I would accompany you."

"I thought about bringing a friend or two because I want my own court when there. But Bakugo made a clear point that we don't know what's going to happen once I'm there, and my friends may end up in danger. My goal is to destroy the League of Villains from the inside as Dabi's mate, and I shouldn't have anything that can be used against me or hold me back. That's why I've chosen to take Bakugo. He can fight and has shown he is smart. He's just…a short-tempered barbarian." Izuku feels a twitch of anger that is not his own in his antennas. Where did that come from?

"I see. So, if something happens to Bakugo while there, it won't mean anything to you."

Izuku shakes his head. "No. If I can help it, I don't want to see anyone hurt or suffering, even Bakugo. All Might would never stand for something like that, and nor would I." Maybe seeing Bakugo get a punch to the jaw once or twice while there will satisfy him. "If possible, I would prefer to go by myself."

"It's not safe for you to do that," Shouto's says. "You do need at least one from our side of the Valley. I have faith in you, so I will trust in your judgment to bring Bakugo. Now that I think about it, you may still want to rethink who you bring. Bakugo is an alpha the same as Dabi. Dabi may not approve of having another alpha so close. You'd be better off bringing a gamma, or even a beta."

"From what I've heard about Dabi, he will look at Bakugo as a challenge, and Bakugo will look at him in the same way. It might even work out in the end. Let Dabi and Bakugo size each other up while I sneak around and find out information."

"Bakugo's not trying to woo you himself, is he?"

Izuku let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, not at all!"

"Good, because you don't want Dabi seeing Bakugo as a threat to win your feelings."

"Shouto, it's not a marriage of choice or love. It's business, and I'm doing it to save All Might and the Valley. I don't quite know what Dabi's reasons are, other than the obvious…" he blushes softly. "With my…you know…unique breeding ability."

"Yes. Dabi may have a second agenda, and you must try to figure it out. I know this is going to be hard for you to hear and accept, but please listen to this advice, from alpha to omega,"

Izuku nods, listening. He knows Shouto would never steer him wrong.

"All Might has given you the confidence to stand up for yourself, to speak your mind and to fight. The Wastelands will not tolerate a head-strong omega. If you want to achieve anything, you're going to have to act, or rather be, the dutiful, soft-spoken, and subservient omega that is expected of you. If you fight them, they will grow suspicious, and you won't gain their trust."

"They might know the kind of omega I am already," Izuku points out. "What if they figure out it's an act?"

Shouto sighs softly. "I'm sure they know that you care deeply for All Might's safety, and perhaps Dabi will exploit you on purpose to see how far he can push before you break. In the end, you are a Vespa, a sky warrior with a stinger full of venom. But Dabi has venom as well. You must be careful not to do anything to force him to bite you, just like you cannot release your stinger under any circumstance. The time will come when you can seek revenge on the Wastelands. We just need to be patient."

Izuku nods again, looking down at the floor. "I know I have to be prepared for anything while I'm living there…I can admit this to you, Shouto. I'm scared of what may happen to All Might, and to the Valley…and of what I have to do there...what they expect of me. Sky Warrior or not, my body is still omega, and it does what an omega body is meant to do. That might…complicate things. And I'll have to make a hard decision."

"That 'decision' is why you were offered up in the first place. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I would look at it this way; if your body fails to do what it is supposed to, either by choice or nature, more than a few times, it will end badly for All Might. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"I do…and you're right, Shouto. I didn't think of it that way," a tiny part of him sparked with the hint of joy, but it fades quickly. He's fought so hard not to end up a 'breeder' and it now it appears that he will be. He can't compete against his views now.

"I know you're still a virgin, which will hold as noble status, but it might also work against you. Alphas enjoy being the first to mount an omega and they may become possessive because of it."

"What if I wasn't a virgin when I go?" Izuku asks.

"That would be a huge mistake, and you know that," Shouto says. "I don't want you to think I'm telling you all this to be cruel. I'm helping you as a friend by offering advice,"

"Oh, I know that Shouto," He smiles at him. "I could never doubt you. I'll consider everything you're telling me carefully."

Shouto nods. "That's good. With luck, you'll find out what we need to know soon so we can strike, and you won't have to endure the Wastelands any more. And, if you find that, after all this is over, that you do not want to raise 'it' because of obvious reasons…I will take it into my family's care."

"Thanks, Shouto. I appreciate it, but I'll worry about that when the time comes," he lets out a little chuckle. "One thing at a time."

"Let me commend you on your bravery and courage of self-sacrifice to help all of us. You will be a great successor to All Might."

"Omegas can't be the Hero of the Valley…" Izuku says in defeat.

"That was before All Might came," Shouto reminds him. "And All Might will make you his successor. I know it."

"You're a good friend, Shouto. I'm fortunate to have you," he smiles. "Are you going to be heading back to the Valley palace soon? Or would you like to stay for a while?"

"I should like to stay for the evening if you will have me?"

"Of course we will have you! I'll have a room set up, and we'll have dinner together with my guests."

Shouto raises a brow. "Guests? Just how many aside from Bakugo? I'm just curious,"

"Well, Bakugo, of course, and Kaminari and Kirishima. They are Bakugo's seconds, and I'll be leaving them in charge of the hive while Bakugo and I are away. You've met them already?"

"Oh, yes. The two gammas with the odd stingers. Are you certain you want those two running this place? No offense to your guests, but the pair doesn't seem to be…well, I don't think they pay attention to detail."

Izuku smiles fondly at Shouto. "Aw, that's not nice," then he chuckles. "I'm sure they'll be fine. They wouldn't be Bakugo's seconds if they were incapable of taking care of things. And I'm glad we spoke like this, Shouto. You've made me feel a little better about the situation. I appreciate your help."

"Think nothing of it."

Outside Izuku's door, Bakugo was listening, his antennas twitching at each word passed between the two.

"I appreciate your help," Bakugo mocks in Izuku's voice and rolls his eyes in disgust. He can't disagree with Shouto's advice and warnings to Izuku. Bakugo only wishes he had thought of them instead. At least Izuku's accepted that Bakugo is coming with him on this mission.

When he hears them coming, he quickly flies off and around the corner to hide. He peeks around, watching the two fly off side-by-side. Bakugo narrows his eyes. The bastard butterfly seems to care a little too much for Izuku as more than just a friend. Shouto may have his sights set on Izuku as well after how closely they were speaking. The prince must feel something for Izuku, or if not feelings; then he recognizes the social and political gain. Married to the Hero of the Valley has its perks. Perhaps even Shouto wishes to succeed All Might, but if that doesn't happen, then being married to the Hero of the Valley is the next closest thing.

What tipped Bakugo off to Shouto Todoroki's (possible) secret plan is the mention of taking care of whatever child, or children, Izuku has with Dabi. That promise right there is proof to Bakugo that the prince has something to gain from Izuku's friendship. No alpha, especially a prince, would accept another alpha's child as his own. To take on, or rather marry a widowed omega is taboo enough. Queens, princesses, princes, and generals are expected to mate and marry 'unsullied' omegas. Shouto can't marry Izuku without ruining his reputation as a prince unless Shouto will take Izuku and the child on as wards instead. That still gives Shouto a chance to be closest to the Hero of the Valley. Well, none of it will matter because Bakugo will be the next Hero of the Valley. Izuku and the butterfly bastard can do whatever they want. It will mean nothing to him.

Whatever the reason behind their friendship, Bakugo will have to observe Shouto in the butterfly's time here. Shouto can't be trusted.

Izuku bids 'goodnight' to Shouto after escorting the prince to a guest room. During dinner, Izuku thought that Bakugo and Shouto would argue, yet the two mostly ignored each other, which was fine. Izuku had been worried about their interactions. When he is certain Shouto is comfortable, he returns to Baku- All Might's room. Izuku is surprised to see Bakugo already asleep. It's still early in the evening.

The alpha has allowed him to keep the chains off. Izuku can take this chance to escape if he wanted to, but he has too much to lose. For now, it is best to stick with the plan to save All Might, even if marrying Dabi in the Wastelands gives him a knot in his stomach.

Taking his place on the sofa, Izuku thinks long and hard about Shouto's advice. He's decided to accept the role of subservient omega. It's going to be a challenge to keep up the act, but if he wants All Might safe, then he must see this through to the end. All Might would do the same for him.

Although Izuku wishes that he can remain single and focus only on the role of All Might's Second in Command, he accepts that all of his vows will change in the next few days. He didn't want to give himself to an alpha. Bakugo's theory about virginity being ridiculous makes sense, but to Izuku, it is something special that only he has that is worthy to give. Or in his case, his to keep. Omegas function differently from alphas, and though Izuku tries to ignore his biology, it's still there. Heat cycles, the desire to hold a child, the urge to find a mate and make a bond; he experiences all of them. Over time, he's figured out how to repress those emotions to keep himself from straying away from the path of the warrior. Everything he's tried to avoid is now forced upon him. If only he could have made his own choice in who he lays with first.

An image of Bakugo appears in his mind's eye.

Izuku gasps and shoots up from the sofa, feeling his face burn hot as he looks towards the bed, hoping he hasn't woken Bakugo. The hornet still sleeps. Izuku lets out a sigh of relief. Of all Insectoids, why did Bakugo's image come to him? The hornet broke into his hive, took over, put him in chains, and humiliated him a number of times. Bakugo has abused him. So why in the world did Bakugo appear while thinking about his first time? His face feels as if it will burn right off. There's something not right about wanting to let your captor bed you.

'Wait…when our antennas touched that time,' he reaches up to touch the tips. When two Insectoids care for each other, the use their antennas to transfer feelings and emotions. Izuku assumed the feeling was adrenaline from their fight. Bakugo is the type of alpha who gets excitement out of a challenge. 'It must be the stress of everything,' he reasons with himself. 'It's fogging my mind. I can't think clearly.'

As he lays down on the sofa, he faces the bed and Bakugo's sleeping form. The alpha's antennas twitch every now and again. Is Bakugo dreaming? Izuku's antennas twitch as well, almost in time with Bakugo's. At this moment, Izuku closes his eyes and imagines the form of an alpha, just the darkened shape of a male body. It has no distinctive physical features other than it is a Vespa. Izuku's dream-self wraps its arms around the form, touching their antennas together. It's a fact that once Insectoids find a bonded mate, their antennas will always know the other, even if one is blind. Izuku can only imagine what it feels likes, so he does that to comfort himself. The alpha form is hard and strong. Powerful. The shape feels familiar, but Izuku will not open his eyes. Not in his mind, and not in this world. Izuku knows that if he does, he will see the image of an alpha he doesn't want to see.

TBC