When he woke up the next morning, one of the things Izuku could feel was how hot he was, sweat making him sticky and gross. His mouth felt like a desert and his head was fogged up with fluff. His abdomen was cramping something fierce and the wetness in his shorts was uncomfortable. He wasn't in full blown heat yet but it was coming, and it was early.
He couldn't understand why his heat was so early, it had never deviated away from his cycle in his life since he presented and it left him very puzzled. He definitely needed to book an appointment with his doctor. He didn't like it when his health changed: he already had to deal with all his past injuries and dealing with this was just too much.
There was a knock at his door that grabbed his attention and last night came rushing back into the forefront of his memory. Kacchan had told him last night that he would provide for him during his heat. His face flushed a bright pink and squeaked out in a small voice. "Come in…"
The door opened to reveal red eyes, looking cautious, before the blonde stepped in fully. "How ya hanging in there Deku?"
"Um-Uh, I'm okay, just…just uncomfortable…" He let his words die down, not willing to explain why he felt uncomfortable. That would be mortifying to say the least.
"Is there anything I can get you? I can run you a bath?" The Alpha looked somewhat uncomfortable and nervous and it made Izuku's chest ache.
This was probably not something his friend wanted to deal with, and he worried that it would drive a wedge between them. He looked away from the Alpha to hide the hurt on his face. "That's okay Kacchan, I think I'm just gonna try and sleep." He resigned himself to look after himself so that he wouldn't bother the blonde.
"Izuku." The call of his name pulled his attention back to the Alpha. The use of his real name was very rare with Katsuki after all. The look on his face had changed to one of determination. "I asked what can I get you, you need to eat breakfast nerd. Your heat will take a lot out of you and you need the carbs. A bath would also help with any cramps. So don't make me ask again. What can I do for you?"
The Alpha quirked a brow and Izuku blinked, shaking his head in shock.. "Um-Sorry Kacchan, a bath would actually be lovely, I can eat something after that." If Kacchan was going to be this determined to help him, then he didn't have any choice in the matter. It would also help him deal with this situation physically, but maybe not emotionally. Well, he couldn't have his cake and eat it.
Katsuki nodded. "Okay, I'll run the bath for you and then help you. Breakfast should be done soon." With that the Alpha turned and left the room.
Wait, help him? Help him how? Was Kacchan gonna help him bathe?!
He shook his head again, trying not to make the same wrong assumption he did yesterday. Kacchan probably meant that he would help him to the bathroom, not actually to bathe him.
He moved himself so that he sat at the edge of his bed. He might as well get up and get his nesting clothes ready for when he was done. He can't expect Katsuki to do everything. His face flushed at the thought, adding to the heat already emanating from his body. He really needed to stop allowing his mind to keep going down that road, he was going to have a heart attack.
A moment later the blonde walked back into his room. "Oi! What you doing up? I said I would help." He marched forward and stood in front of the Omega so suddenly that it caused him to fall back into his nest.
Izuku blinked in confusion. "I was just going to get my nesting clothes in the meantime, I didn't want to burden you."
"Tch! I'll decide for myself what burdens me or not." He stood with his hands on his hips, the look on his face daring the Omega to argue with his words. When he kept quiet the Alpha stepped back and indicated to the closet. "Which ones do you want, nerd?"
"The orange ones please, they're on the left shelf."
"You mean the ones that have my logo on?" Katsuki questioned with a brow lifted.
The greenette blushed. "They're the softest ones I have, your PR team really knows what they're doing."
"They also commission your merch." The look changed to suspicion.
"It's kind of weird to buy my own merch, Kacchan."
"Okay nerd, whatever you say." Katsuki opened the closet and searched for the nesting clothes. "I'm making miso soup, I know it will be easy on your stomach. Is there anything else that's easy for you?"
"Um, just that would be fine, I'm not very hungry, the cramps don't really allow me to have much of an appetite. I might be hungry later when the cramps aren't so bad." He fiddled with his fingers as he watched his hero partner pull out the items from his closet.
"Alright, I'm just gonna go put this in the bathroom and then come help you."
Before he made it out the door, Izuku smiled and shook his head as he spoke up. "You know, I can still walk Kacchan, I'm not useless."
Katsuki froze at those words just before he crossed the threshold. The words he spoke next, came out strained and low. "I don't think you're useless." And then he was gone again.
Izuku sat there in stunned silence. He said something before thinking about it again and now he felt as though he had messed things up. He knew he and Kacchan had worked things out since highschool, but that reaction just there proved that even though he had forgiven him, the blonde had yet to forgive himself.
He pulled one of his pillows out of his nest and squeezed it to his chest. He wasn't sure how he could show Kacchan that he didn't need to keep punishing himself. Words didn't work, he had already tried. What could he possibly do that he hadn't already?
He wasn't good with showing emotion with action, he used his words, but Kacchan was different. They were so opposite of each other yet they understood each other well. Sometimes they could speak without even using words or actions…
That's it! Communicate without using actions or words! That was the best way they understood themselves, it was how they best communicated. They had never communicated like this outside of a battlefield but he was sure he could try outside of that. He just needed an opening to do it.
He didn't take notice of the door opening and his mumbles spilling out through his lips. "Oi nerd! What you mumbling now?"
Izuku whipped his head up in a panic. Did Kacchan just hear what he said? "Kacchan…?"
The Alpha gave him a questioning look. "I asked what you mumbling? It better not be a plan to get out of bed before I come back. Too late now anyways."
Izuku shook his head with his cheeks burning in a light blush. "No Kacchan! I did as you said! Promise!"
Katsuki huffed. "You never do as I say, don't talk crap. Now come here." He stepped in front of Izuku's nest and leaned down with his arms reaching for him.
The blush on his face deepened, as he reached up and put his arms around the Alpha's neck. He could feel him stiffen under his hold, but it was only for a split second before the muscle shifted to pull him up into strong arms in a princess carry. "Thank you Kacchan…"
"Tch, don't mention it nerd, let's get you sorted." With that, he turned and made his way to the bathroom with Izuku. When he made his way inside, the steam was billowing from the bath water. "I just need you to test if the water is alright or not." He lowered the Omega to place him on the seat of the toilet next to the bath.
"Don't worry Kacchan, I'm sure it's perfect." He smiled up at the Alpha, his heart feeling warm at the gesture of being taken care of.
Katsuki looked as though he wanted to say something and then thought better of it. "Call me when you're done, don't take too long, foods gonna get cold."
"Will do!" The Omega chirped.
The blonde turned and walked out, closing the door behind him, leaving Izuku to his own devices. He took a deep breath of steamy air, dipping his fingers into the bathwater only to see that the water was the perfect temperature, just as he said it would be.
He undressed himself and got into the bath, the warm water soothing the cramps a bit. He sighed as he laid back, allowing the water to soothe him, his mind becoming calmer and allowing him to think further on his thoughts in the bathroom. The only thing he needed to figure out was how they seemed to communicate like that. They did it so naturally while fighting, either while training, facing a villain or just bickering, that he had no idea how to do it on command. Maybe he could ask Ochako? She said she has the same way of communicating with Tsu on the field. Hopefully she would have some answers for him.
But Kacchan said he needed to hurry up for food, so he sat forward and washed himself. Maybe he could ask Kacchan to make him a hot water bottle to help with the cramps. He did say that he wanted to help provide for him this time. The thought both brought a smile and a blush to his face. Kacchan actually wanted to help him, he couldn't believe it. Well, he guessed he could, to be truthful.
He frowned, thinking about when they made up back in highschool. Kacchan has helped him since then, more and more as each year went by, and he never asked: it was always Kacchan that offered. How come he never noticed before now? Was he really that dense?
He shook his head, drops of water flying with each movement. Maybe this was Kacchans way of making it up to him for the past, and it hurt a little bit. Did Kacchan only offer to help to make up for mistakes and not because he just wanted to help? He didn't want to be helped out of pity.
A scent brought him out of his thoughts. He looked to where the scent was coming from, the laundry hamper next to the door. It was Kacchan's shirt on the top that caught his attention. The smell of burnt sugar and cloves assaulting his nose. It made his mouth water and his skin itch. He wanted to pull it out and pull it close to his nose, sucking the scent into his lungs.
He stood up from the bath and stepped out, not paying attention to where he was putting his foot, so he missed the bath mat and stepped on the tiles. His foot slid out from under him and he fell to the floor in a flurry, screaming out.
"Izuku!" Suddenly the door was yanked open and there stood the blonde Alpha, the look of worry on his. "What happened!?"
Izuku looked up to Katsuki whilst he laid on the floor butt naked. "Uh…"
The Alpha's face was a flush of red that trailed down to his collar bones.
They stared at each other for a few uncomfortable seconds before Katsuki averted his eyes and cleared his throat. "What on earth are you doing?"
Izuku scrambled up to try and grab a towel and cover himself and hissed in pain. The next thing he knew the Alpha was next to him. "Where ya hurt?"
Temporarily forgetting his nudity, he fell back with his hand to his shin. "I think I hit my shin hard on the edge of the tub."
Katsuki reached atop the counter and pulled down a towel to wrap around the Omega. "Let's get you back to your room and check it out, you'll just have to get dried and dressed there then." He reached under Izuku and lifted him again into a princess carry, the two avoiding each other's gazes and missing the blushes sporting both their faces.
"Okay Kacchan." With that, Katsuki carried Izuku back to his room and set him down gently in his nest.
"Alright nerd, let's see."
Izuku pulled his leg up and saw a bruise already forming on his shin. It didn't look too bad, definitely not broken or anything bad like that. Yet Katsuki still leaned down on his haunches next to the nest and gently took his leg to inspect it. His face was in full concentration mode while Izuku's was still burning like a fire.
The Alpha gently trailed his fingers over the mark, sending shivers through the Omegas body. "It doesn't look broken and the skin isn't open, guess just a bad knock. Maybe going to bruise." He let out a breath, letting go of the leg and standing back up. "I'll get your nesting clothes and some painkillers, dry yourself in the meantime." Without a backwards glance, Katsuki turned and left.
Izuku let out a breath himself and slumped into his nest. Kacchan was so close to his naked form and he felt as though he was on fire with every skin to skin touch. The way he carried him was that of someone carrying fragile glass, being careful not to bump him. Where ever skin touched skin, an electric spark shot through him, making him shiver.
Kacchan was going to be the death of him and he wouldn't even know why. He needed to get his emotions and reactions under control, lest he chase the Alpha away forever.
He glanced at the door that Katsuki forgot to close and sighed. Well, the Alpha had seen him naked plenty of times before now from school and locker rooms at their agency, however this time seemed so much different than all those other times. It must be due to them being alone with each other instead of being around so many others this time.
He was busy drying himself while trying not to let the towel slip off of him when Katsuki returned with his clothes, a bottle of pills and a glass of water. He put the clothes down on the nest and the glass on his bedside table before turning the cap of the bottle open and pulling out two capsules. "Here, drink these, they should help with the pain, but they might make you drowsy."
Izuku took the capsules and tossed them in his mouth before reaching for the glass and gulped a few sips to help them down. "Thanks Kacchan." He put the glass down and looked at Katsuki.
"Alright, get dressed. Do you wanna eat here or in the dining room?"
"I think I'll eat here, it helps with the cramps to be in my nest."
"Sure, I'll go get the food." He turned and left again, forgetting the door again.
Izuku got dressed as quick as the pain and cramps would allow him, then threw the wet towel next to the door.
"Oi! Don't throw shit around nerd! You're gonna break something." He walked in while holding a tray laden with food. "Anyway, here's food, eat up then call me when you're done and I'll come fetch the dishes."
"You won't sit here with me?" The look on his face was distressed.
"And where am I supposed to sit and eat huh?"
"You can sit next to me." He patted the spot next to him in his nest.
Katsuki squinted at him. "You sure that's okay? That's your nest."
The Omega nodded. "It's okay with me, I feel better when I'm with someone while eating during my heat. I get anxious otherwise."
"Tch, fine. Take this and then I'll go fetch mine." He handed the tray to Izulu before leaving to get his own.
Izuku giggled. He was pretty sure his doorway would have tracks in the floor from the amount of times the Alpha had passed it today alone. He shook his head and looked at the tray on his lap, filled with all kinds of light foods: the Miso soup Kacchan spoke of, lightly grilled fish, steamed dumplings and a bread roll. It looked delicious.
He looked up when the Alpha came back and carefully sat down in the nest, careful not to disturb the structure before laying his own tray of food on his lap. "Dig in nerd, I'm sure it's already cold and I'm not heating it up, it's just gonna make the food rubbery and taste bland."
Izuku thanked him for the food and they quietly dug in. The flavors made the Omega start to purr while he ate with gusto. Kacchan always made the best food and he never thought he would ever be able to eat as much as he did now.
He wanted to cry because he was so happy. His best friend was here with him and looking after him, maybe not for the reasons he wanted him to, but it was more than anything he had ever hoped for.
When they were done eating, Katsuki took their trays away to go and clean. Izuku cuddled down into his nest and grabbed his pillow, cuddling it in his arms.
"Oi nerd, you good?" He looked up from his nest to the head of Katsuki's head that poked in his doorway.
"M'fine Kachan, the cramps are just being bothersome is all."
"We could watch a movie to try and distract you?"
Izuku smiled at the offer. "That would be amazing, but I don't want to leave my nest, I feel more comfortable here and my heat isn't so bad when I'm in it."
"Tch, then I'll just bring the laptop here, if you're okay with me being in your nest while we watch?" He averted his gaze and the tips of his ears were red. " Well you could always just watch on the laptop and I'll watch in the…"
The Omega interrupted him with a giggle. "That sounds perfect Kacchan."
"What? Watching by yourself?" The look on his face looked a little bit like an angry kicked puppy.
Izuku shook his head. "No, you can sit with me while we watch."
"Oh." Relief was stark on his face. "Huh. Well. I'll go get the laptop."
When he returned with the laptop, they both sat in the nest watching an All Might documentary on the bronze age. As time went by, Izuku felt himself start to drift off, his eyes closing against his will. He wanted to spend more time with Kacchan but his exhaustion said otherwise. He slowly drifted off and felt a blanket being pulled over him.
It was warm and cozy, the scent of his sweeter Honeysuckle and Cedar scent mixing with Burnt Sugar and Cloves. Without opening his eyes, he pulled his pillow closer to him, nuzzling his nose against it. Kacchan must have left but a moment ago with how strong his scent was near him. He started to purr lightly, enjoying the warmth emanating from his nest. "Kacchan…" He murmured against his pillow and then he felt his pillow get hard? Why was his pillow getting hard?
He pulled his head back and opened his eyes. It wasn't his pillow that he was holding, it was Katsuki's arm. His very hot and thick arm. The Alpha was looking at him with an unreadable expression and he felt his face heat up with embarrassment. "EEP!" He quickly let go of Katsuki's bicep and scrambled back, wincing in pain when his shin ached. "I..I'm sor..sorry Kacchan!"
The Alphas face turned away. "S'alright, no harm done nerd." He got up and slowly made his way to the doorway. "We slept most of the morning, it's afternoon already, I'll go make us some lunch." With that he was gone.
Izuku curled up on himself. Once again he messed up. First by saying the wrong thing and now clinging to the Alpha and crowding his personal space. He didn't even get a chance to rectify his first mess up and now he did it again. How was he ever going to fix things now? Kacchan had looked so uncomfortable, he had no doubt crossed a line that he never should have been crossed. He just hoped he hadn't completely ruined their friendship.
He pulled the blanket up over his head and quietly cried, covering his face with his hand, trying as hard as he could to suppress his wilted scent so as not to disturb the Alpha.
Ochako was right, living with Kacchan was just making this so much worse for him than he thought it would. He honestly thought it would help him get over the Alpha. Unfortunately it was doing the complete opposite, and it hurt so much worse than it did before. With those thoughts, he burrowed himself further into his nest, furiously wiping the tears from his eyes.
By the time Katsuki came back with lunch for them, he had managed to stop crying and got his scent to calm down.
"Izuku? What's wrong? Why do you smell like you've been crying?"
Izuku popped his head up from his blanket and gave an apologetic smile. "My cramps are kinda bad at the moment. Sorry for stinking up the place."
"Don't apologize for crap nerd, can't be helped." Katsuki huffed and sat down on the nest with their plates. "Sit up."
Izuku scooted out from under the covers and sat up, taking the plate of food from the Alpha. "Thanks Kacchan."
They sat in silence, eating the snacks provided by Katsuki, the tension in the room somewhat stifled until Izuku sniffled. That caught the Alpha's attention. "Cramps that bad?"
Izuku nodded, going along with it because not only was the cramps actually bad, but he didn't want Kacchan to know why he was crying. He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. "Yeah, they can be pretty bad sometimes."
"Is there anything that can be done to lessen the cramps that I can do?" The blonde put his plate aside and moved closer.
Izuku was pretty sure his face was going to melt off with the amount of blushing he had done today, because his immediate thought to help with the cramps were ones he should never even entertain with the Alpha. He mentally shook himself and tried to keep his mind out of the gutter. "Um, well a hot water bottle can help a bit…"
"Alright, I'm about done eating, how far are you? I can go make one for you." He stood up from the nest and picked up his plate.
"I'm full, you gave me a bit too much. Thank you Kacchan." He handed over the plate to the hand that wordlessly asked.
"I'll be back soon." He left Izuku to go and put the plates in the kitchen and make the hot water bottle.
By the time he had come back, Izuku was back under the blankets, cuddling his pillow like it was a life line. "Here ya go Deku, tell me if it's too hot."
Izuku reached out and accepted it, pulling it against his abdomen and the relief was instant. "It's perfect Kacchan, thank you."
The Alpha shifted from foot to foot, looking a little bit nervous. "Wanna continue watching from earlier? I can also leave if you want me to."
Izuku looked at the Alpha, his heart feeling warm due to his consideration. "I'd like to watch with you if that's okay. I feel better when someone is with me."
"Sure nerd." He grabbed the laptop from the floor next to the nest and got in once more, setting up the documentary from where they fell asleep. "So what do you think is better, bronze or silver?"
With that, they ended up having a debate on the different ages of All Might. The afternoon went by at a languid pace. The earlier tension had bled out from the room and all was calm and peaceful again, even if they were debating.