Summary: Shoto Todoroki is the first omega to participate in a breeding program that pairs humans with nagas. He must mate and marry the fierce naga general, Katsuki Bakugo. The program comes in the form of a peace treaty to end a decades-long war between the two races. But Shoto and Bakugo do not get along. Both are headstrong, and their pride gets in the way of their marriage. Shoto has one goal expected of him: to produce an heir for Bakugo, which would be the very first official half-breed recognized by both kingdoms. But neither one of them care for their marriage, and they doubt they will ever come to love each other. But when an outside force threatens their new world, both Shoto and Bakugo need to come together to face the enemy. Along the way, and with some help from their friends, they might just come to love and respect one another. They'll come to find that they aren't that much different. Will they become a power couple? Or will their marriage fall into shambles?
***Hello again, everyone! I'm back with a new story! It's been a pretty rough couple of months for me, but things are finally looking up!
***This is an alternate universe fantasy story with Naga Bakugo and Human Shoto. There will be naga-style sex as well as human/human sex. If the naga erotica bothers you, then you may want to skip the smut scenes. I will mark them in the chapter(s), so you can skip over them. This is an alpha/omega universe, so there will be mpreg, knotting (only on AO3), and heat cycles.
***This will be an angsty, drama-filled story with a happy ending!
***Warnings: Mentions of alpha/omega arranged marriage, depressed Shoto, arrogant Bakugo
***Please read on and enjoy! Comments and kudos are welcomed and greatly appreciated! Thank you all again!
" Then inch by inch, out of the grass,
rose up the head and spread hood of Nag, the big black cobra, "
-Rikki-Tikki-Tavi -Rudyard Kipling
Chapter 1: Mongoose
Shoto stared at his reflection in the water basin, noting the dark circles under his eyes with a furrowed brow. He had been dreading this day since first learning of it, and he's been sick to his stomach with nerves every day since. Tomorrow morning, he will travel to the Naga kingdom of Spreadhood, the land of the snake people. There he will marry one of the top generals, Katsuki Bakugo, and form a union between human and naga. His father was responsible for this arrangement, and as the youngest son and only omega, he was already destined to do his father's bidding. It would be a marriage of convenience, a contracted business union between their worlds. He was being handed over to the enemy as a form of a peace treaty.
He had no say in the matter when it was presented to him four months ago. Shoto blamed his misfortune on his physical traits; perfectly symmetrical coloring of hair and eyes. His left side was white with a doe-brown eye, while his right side was red with a teal eye. He took after his mother on the left and his father on the right. He was born a child blessed by the gods, destined to bring about great things, or so that's what was told. Shoto never felt any more enlightened or closer to a deity than anyone else.
' You are a child of the gods, ' His father's words echoed in his head. 'It is your duty to bring honor to our family and to our people. With the birth of an heir, a child born of both races will end this war. You will fulfill your duties as the omega heir of the Todoroki family! You will make us all proud! '
'I've been set up to lead a miserable life,' Shoto said to himself, finally turning away from his reflection. He didn't like looking at the scar on the right side of his face for any length of time. As his father would say, that scar is his only flaw on an otherwise perfect body. 'That's right; I'm the perfect little doll, a puppet whose strings are pulled by my father…' One highlight of his misfortune was that he would be away from his father and home. 'I hate it here,' he added.
Shoto held his hand over the water; it was not hot enough for a bath. He slipped on his pants, shoes, and fur cloak to step outside into the cold winter night. The moonlight glistened on the blankets of white, and smoke from everyone's fires made the air smell crisp and clean. Shoto had to wonder how well he would adapt to the massive change in climates once he arrived at Spreadhood. The Naga Kingdom was in a hot climate where it rained often, the days were hot, and the nights were cold. But there would be no snow there, and Shoto loved the snow. It's one of the best things about his home that he will greatly miss.
Returning to his room, Shoto tested the water in the basin again and found it to be the right temperature. He removed his clothing and proceeded to wash his body and hair. He has to be presentable when he enters the Spreadhood Kingdom. The Sultan's Grand Vizier sent two gifts to Shoto for him to wear upon arrival. The first gift was a white silk cloak with a gold linen backing and red trims. This was to protect him from the harsh heat and the hot rays of the sun until his body grew accustomed to the climate. The second was a gift of jewelry, white opals in teardrop shapes set in gold. One was a circlet, while the other was a necklace. Shoto has his own jewelry, but his were not as grand nor expensive; they were practical. Which, he reminded himself, is one of the many reasons he was in this situation. His people would greatly benefit from mining the ores and jewels in the mines of the Naga Kingdom. His life, body, and dreams were sacrificed for the greater good. If only he could feel pride knowing he was helping his kingdom.
'Maybe we'll get lost along the way, then I wouldn't have to go,' But he wouldn't get that lucky.
After his bath, he rubbed scented oil on his skin and got into bed, blowing out the candle and settling under the covers. He stayed awake for a while on his side, watching the flames dance in the hearth. Shoto thought about his betrothed, the naga warrior Katsuki Bakugo, considered the strongest and most violent of all the nagas. The nagas are a warring race; they like to fight. It shocked everyone in his home when a naga ambassador approached them with a peace treaty in exchange for 'breeding rights' with human omegas. He would be the first human omega to participate in this 'breeding program.' He and Bakugo would be the start of a 'new race' consisting of half-breeds. A strong human mixing with an equally strong naga will give birth to a new fierce race of warriors. Human greed and naga strength. It sounded like something out of a nightmare, but what else could he do? After all, he was only an omega, and it was his 'duty' to fulfill that role in all ways necessary. He rolled over to face the wall and gave his back to the fire.
Shoto had a hard time falling asleep. He kept tossing and turning, his furs suddenly itchy and his sheets uncomfortable. Shoto kept thinking about his future husband and forced mate, Katsuki Bakugo, and playing over all the stories he's heard about his betrothed. Katsuki Bakugo is an alpha warrior with great strength and an equally great temper. He was hard to work with, didn't like to take orders, and often caused trouble. He had taken on many human armies, sometimes all by himself. He was known to take his venom and spread it onto his sword so that the enemy could die in terrible pain. When he is in his naga form, his snake body is said to be a golden color so bright that it could blind an enemy with one glance. Shoto wasn't sure how true that last part was, but the other stories were confirmed. When Shoto asked his father why he would give up his youngest child to a barbarian like Katsuki Bakugo, he responded, ' I know you can handle yourself and him, ' whatever that meant. ' You don't have to bond with him ,' his father had added. ' You just need to give both races an heir, and your job will be complete.'
'I wonder how many human omegas like me will be forced to join this 'breeding program' with nagas. I suppose a new blended race will help the world, but why must it begin with me?' He slept fitfully until a servant came to wake him up. And so, his journey began.
"Master Bakugo! Your betrothed is arriving!"
Bakugo's stomach felt like it was filled with rocks and had just dropped to his lower belly. He had been dreading this day since he first heard of it. The Sultan signed some kind of treaty with the humans, and he was to be the first to experience it. Bakugo had protested at first, refusing to mate or marry an omega. But when the Sultan said that he would receive a pay raise and five legions of human soldiers, he agreed. All he had to do was sire some brats, and then he could go on living his life. If it weren't for this new treaty, he would have never chosen to get married.
He was to mate and marry the youngest and only omega child of the Todoroki Family. The Todorokis were a prominent and wealthy family whose head alpha, Enji Todoroki, owned half of the shipping ports in the human kingdom. Since the war between the races began over a decade ago, humans were cut off from the mines, and nagas couldn't access the trading ports. Humans lost wealth and materials, while nagas lost spices and trade. With this new 'program,' things would slowly return to how they once were, but the races would be mixed this time.
The Sultan made an effort to let Bakugo know that the omega he would be breeding with was very handsome, 'easy on the eyes,' so he didn't have to worry about someone ugly. It annoyed him to think that the Sultan believed him to be that fickle. But the Sultan was an alpha who surrounded himself with only beautiful males and females in his massive harem. Bakugo only cared about one thing: hoping Shoto Todoroki didn't annoy or bother him.
"Fine. Let's get this over with," Bakugo said with an aggravated sigh. He transformed his legs into his snake half and left his chambers to meet his new 'mate.'
The carriage pulls up to the courtyard's front gate with another trailing behind full of travel chests. Bakugo waited for the carriage door to open to finally see his new 'mate.' One of his footmen opened the door, and a tall man in a silk cloak stepped out.
Bakugo's gaze met Shoto's, noting the mismatched eyes and the ugly scar on the omega's right side. Shoto Todoroki was about his height (when Bakugo was standing on legs), and his skin was milky pale. Bakugo reminded himself that Shoto comes from the north, where there is often cold weather and lots of snow. The days were short, and the nights were long, hence the pale skin. Shoto was 'easy on the eyes,' to quote the Sultan. The opal circlet and necklace were lost against his white skin. Shoto wore a calm, almost exhausted expression on his face and looked just as much pleased as Bakugo did. Bakugo looked him up and down, and Shoto did the same. It was Shoto who broke the silence.
"Husband." Shoto greeted flatly with no emotion whatsoever. He took a moment to look at his new 'husband's' snake body. Bakugo's scales were honey-colored with a pale underbelly. His torso was that of a human, hardened with muscles, tribal tattoos, and scars. From the top of his head, a cobra's spread hood lay flat along his neck and shoulders. His eyes were red, and the black pupils were slits in naga form. His hair was a pale, untamed yellow, giving him a wild, dangerous appearance.
"Mate," Bakugo said back with the same amount of dull energy.
"Ah yes, you two are already getting along well!" Said the ambassador, who had accompanied Shoto's caravan once they crossed over into naga territory. "I will write the Sultan as soon as possible to let him know everything went well!"
They continued to stare at each other.
Bakugo gave him a scowl.
Shoto responded by arrogantly sticking his nose in the air.
"Well, Master Shoto, let's set you up in your new home!" Said the ambassador.
'You mean prison,' Shoto silently corrected him.
Shoto looked around at his chambers, which would now be his new home. The room was spacious enough, with high ceilings, an open balcony with four pillars, a four-post canopy bed with sheer gold curtains, rich red rugs, a massive hearth, a private bathing chamber, and a bookshelf filled with books. Shoto didn't expect someone like Bakugo to know that he liked books and loved to read. However, it was more likely that servants or the ambassador set all this up because they had to, unlike Bakugo, who likely didn't care. Shoto's chests and furniture were brought up to the room, and he gave orders on where things should go. Once everything was in place, his mind was forced back to thinking about his omega duties.
He and Bakugo would not mate until the wedding ceremony was complete. His heat was not due until a month from now, although if an omega is turned on enough by an alpha, it can trigger their heat cycle much sooner. Shoto doubted Bakugo could stir or awaken those desires within him. He's never had desires, nor has he felt them because he was always told that an omega's greatest gift was pleasing an alpha. Something must be wrong with him because he didn't care about pleasing an alpha. He would have to do it out of duty
'I don't understand how that makes any type of sense,' Shoto thought to himself. 'I am an omega, but I am also myself. Remembering my father's words, I should never speak out of turn when I'm not permitted, and I shouldn't indulge in politics or political debates. And yet… a brute like Katsuki Bakugo gets taken seriously simply because he is an alpha? That still does not make sense…but who am I to question the ways of the world?'
Shoto removed the silk cloak and sat on the bed, staring at the room. Any omega living in a home like this would be grateful and giddy, but he wasn't just any omega. He hated all of this, yet he couldn't go back home. Not that he really wanted to return to his father's house. He was simply passed off from the care of one alpha to another. Shoto wondered how different his life would have been if he had been born an alpha. Then he felt empty inside, and a wave of depression suddenly washed over him. He was surrounded by luxury, which should make anyone happy, but that's not what he felt. All these material goods were just items and nothing more. He didn't need all this to be happy. In actuality, he didn't know what would make him happy. His life had been planned out and prepared for him. Everything in his life was done for his 'happiness' and all in his 'best interests.' This is the kind of life that should make an omega happy.
'I don't want this, but then…what do I want? To fall in love? No. That will never happen, especially not with someone like Katsuki Bakugo. Freedom? Yes, but at what cost? An omega like me wouldn't be accepted into commoner society. A child, perhaps? A child of my own that I can rear? No. That's not it either,' his eyes widened when he came to the realization that his current life was turning out to be just like his mother's. 'History is repeating itself…I'm my mother, and Katsuki Bakugo is my father…will I have to produce multiple children like her? Will I suffer the same hardships as she did? Mother…'
He was distracted from his sad thoughts when he heard rainfall, yet the sun was out. He got up and went to the balcony, sticking his hand out to catch some of the drops.
'What a strange place this is, to rain while it's still sunny,' and just as quickly as the rain started, it ended. "I'll have to get used to this type of weather."
Shoto stepped out onto the balcony, feeling the humidity and tasting it in his mouth. Spreadhood was the complete opposite of his home. He already missed the snow and the lights in the north at night. Spreadhood was much more lush and green, though. Even in the summer, his home just had forests and meadows. His new 'husband' ruled over this province, and it stretched far to the base of the mountains. Soon his father will send workers and miners to mine the ores and jewels.
'I wish I felt grateful for my people to have ores again, but it's at the expense of my happiness,'
There was a knock at his door, and he figured it was his 'soon-to-be husband.' He called them in, and it turned out to be the ambassador. Shoto frowned when he saw the man, wondering why he had come and not Katsuki Bakugo. The ambassador held three rolled parchment papers in his right arm. The man greeted him cheerfully and ushered Shoto to sit at the table with him.
"Young Master Shoto, how are you liking your new chambers?"
"They're comfortable enough," Shoto replied, taking a seat. "Why are you here and not my husband?"
"Lord Bakugo is finishing up some work," he replied. "So, I'm to go over everything with you."
Shoto inwardly sighed.
"First, do you have any questions for me?" The ambassador asked.
"Yes, I do. Does Lord Bakugo have a harem?"
"Ah, a fine question! You'd be pleased to know that he does not have a harem, though he has the resources to have one if he wishes it. Omegas are always banging down his door for the chance to mate with him! See how lucky you are?"
'Oh, yes. How thrilling,' Shoto thought with sarcasm.
"You won't have to be jealous," the ambassador added. "Any other questions?"
"Yes. What exactly is my role here?"
"I will explain all that to you in this first document."
"Then I have no other questions; you may proceed."
"Very good! Now then, I have a few questions of my own that you will need to confirm. First, how old are you?"
"Twenty-three winters," Shoto replied.
"Same as Lord Bakugo. When was your last heat?"
"Two months ago. My next heat is due a month from now."
"Very good. And you are still a virgin, yes?"
Shoto glared at him but nodded.
"I meant no offense, Young Master! But you must undergo a procedure to ensure you are still innocent."
"I've already been through that before this marriage was made," Shoto said. He didn't want to repeat that 'examination'; it was humiliating.
"Ah, but that was quite a while ago, and things change. Your value as an omega increases when you're a virgin."
Shoto lowered his eyes briefly, then asked, "Does Lord Bakugo…care about something like that?"
"In truth, he does not," said the ambassador. "But this is more for the Sultan and for appearances in the nobility."
Shoto was already dreading the second examination. The ambassador continued, explaining in detail what would be expected of him. Shoto was pleased to know that he would not have to share a chamber with Bakugo (as he preferred to be called). However, a part of him felt deflated as the ambassador read about how far apart they would be as a married couple. In short, Bakugo doesn't want any trouble from him. They would play the roles of alpha and omega when necessary, as in public gatherings. Shoto's ultimate job was to produce an heir or heirs. He will also oversee the castle and household, control the servants, and entertain important guests when Bakugo doesn't want to. He has free range of the castle and the city, though he is not permitted to take any lovers or produce children out of wedlock.
"May I interrupt?" Shoto asked. "Why is it that I can't take a lover or lovers, but Bakugo is allowed?"
"Ha ha! Jealous already? Fear not, Young Master, for Lord Bakugo doesn't care about mating or romance. He's a general and a warrior through and through! He's competitive, he likes tournaments and games, and often hosts many here," he said. "You'll have to be present at all those gatherings."
Shoto's ears perked up when he heard the word 'competitive' and 'games.' "Does he compete in the games and tournaments?"
"He does,"
"Then I wish to compete as well," Shoto told him.
"I'm sure that won't be an issue. Now then, if you could just sign here,"
Shoto takes the quill and signs his name. He was curious to know more about the games and tournaments that Bakugo puts on. He wanted to ask, but the ambassador moved on with the next document, which was further explaining how their marriage would help both kingdoms. And the final one was the hardest one to stomach; if he cannot produce heirs or is barren, the marriage would be null and void, and he'd be sent home in disgrace. For an omega of his status to be barren would be a terrible blow to the proud Todoroki family, and his father would likely disown him. Shoto would have nowhere to go. And so, against his better judgment and feelings, he signed the final document.
If he weren't already depressed about his current situation, he would be now. His life will be an endless cycle of unhappiness, trapped by the chains of omega duties and rules. He was relieved when the ambassador left, and he could be alone with his thoughts. But he wouldn't be alone for long. Later that evening, he was to meet Bakugo for dinner. A few servants had come into his room to help him dress. He was bathed and dressed in traditional naga garb: a purple velvet vest, a purple silk sash around his waist, cream-colored harem pants, and simple brown sandals. He also wore the opal circlet and necklace. Oh, how he longed for his woolen tunics, fur cloaks, and beaded jewelry! A servant mentioned that he could wear one of his fur cloaks if he so wished since the evenings were often cold. Shoto agreed to wear the fur, and he chose the wolf pelt to wear on his shoulders. He felt a little better knowing he could wear something from his homeland.
Once fully dressed, Shoto let one of the servants guide him to the feasting room. When Shoto entered, he saw Bakugo in human form sitting at one end of the table. Bakugo turned to look at him when he entered but said nothing. Shoto bowed slightly to Bakugo and then sat at the opposite end of the table.
"Husband," Shoto said flatly in greeting.
"Mate," Bakugo replied with even less enthusiasm.
Their eyes met in a hard, silent stare, like a mongoose eyeing up a snake. A snake's eyes can hypnotize, but a mongoose isn't afraid.
TBC