Chapter 4 - Who Would Want an Omega Like Me?

This was one of the worst days of his life. At least, it ranked in the top five worst days of Izuku Midoriya's life. He had never felt as humiliated as he did standing in front of his friends as his teacher spoke dispassionately about his sex and upcoming heat. It wasn't until the end, when he heard the kindness and sympathy he so desperately craved coming from his usually prickly teacher.

Only to have to pass by Kacchan on the way to his seat.

For the first time ever, he thinks, he didn't bother with taking notes. Izuku didn't hear Aizawa over the rushing sound in his ears. His heart was pounding so hard that blood was speeding through his veins and drowning out all other noise. He stared at his desk, not seeing the fake wood grain or the notebook shoved to the side. All he wanted to do was escape to his room, crawl under the covers, and never speak to another soul as long as he lived.

He could feel the looks and glances of his friends and classmates. Feel the stares as they burned through him. Izuku didn't want to contemplate what all of them thought. He didn't want to know at all. It was humiliating enough to have the staff talk about his heat in front of him. While he agreed that letting the class know was the right thing to do, it didn't mean it was easy for him to tell them (or have Aizawa tell them…he simply couldn't say the words to them).

Though the clock seemed to move backwards instead of ticking away at a steady pace, class did end and Izuku bolted from it as fast as he could. He couldn't bring himself to answer awkward questions or lobby pitying looks and phrases from his friends. Unfortunately, all his classes that day were classroom based, so he had to sit through hours more of this. Skipping wasn't an option, since he'd miss almost a full week when his heat hit, so he couldn't afford to lose class time just because of embarrassment. He entered each class late and ran out as soon as it was over.

Izuku usually took lunch at the cafeteria, but there was no way he could do that today. He hid out on the roof, tucked against the wall in a dark corner with his arms wrapped around his legs and ignoring his protesting, hungry stomach.

It wasn't as if he anticipated anyone offering their alpha services to him during his heat. He didn't expect anyone to offer. Maybe Tenya or Uraraka. They were his best friends. Tsu might do it. Maybe Todoroki. But, they would offer because they were friends, and kind, generous people.

What he anticipated was the questions. Maybe tomorrow he could answer them. Maybe. Not today. Not fresh on everyone's mind and burning their tongues with the desire to ask ask ask. He didn't want them to ask, because he didn't know how to answer. How could he explain his quirk? His non-omega type quirk? It's not as if he could tell All Might's secret. He was still, technically, a quirkless omega. He couldn't tell them it didn't develop naturally.

All Might had no answer, either. That was no help.

He was grateful that after lunch he had only two classes. He'd skip sparring with Kacchan. Not only did Recovery Girl recommend to Izuku that he relax on his training until after his heat, but there was no way he could face Kacchan right now. Or, ever. His omega whined at the thought of never seeing Kacchan again, but Izuku growled, changing the little keen to a rough rebuke. Kacchan had made it abundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with Izuku, alpha or omega.

No. After class he would run back to the dorms, grab whatever was handy in the fridge to eat, and then hide in his room for the rest of the day. Watch videos on his computer and try to forget the shitstorm that his life had turned into and drown out the sludge of thoughts in his head with whatever mindless crap he could find on the internet.

The knock on his door startled him and he dropped his ramen noodles on the front of his favorite hoodie. Dammit. He pawed at the stain with his napkin for a moment before giving up with a sigh. He shouldn't have tried eating in bed in the first place. At least Izuku hadn't spilled the food on his sheets, because his other sets were currently in the hamper. He should wash those tonight, he thought, then he remembered he didn't want to leave his room ever again.

The knock sounded again. He ignored it, turned down the sound on his phone, and slurped more noodles hoping whoever it was would go away.

They didn't and knocked a third time. With a little grumble, he plunked his bowl on his side table, slid out of bed, pulled the hoodie off over his head, and tossed it into the full hamper and smoothed out the t-shirt he wore underneath. He didn't want to answer the door, but apparently, whoever it was was determined to speak to him. Nosy classmates and their nosy questions. His phone had blown up with text notifications that he completely ignored and didn't read. He'd deal with it tomorrow.

On the other side, to his surprise, stood Kirishima. Izuku liked the friendly and outgoing young man. He especially admired Kiri's quirk and thought him a handsome and funny alpha, who was also kind. However, he didn't feel particularly close to Kiri, because Kiri was friends with Kacchan. 'Best friends', according to Kiri, 'someone I can tolerate without blasting to bits' according to Kacchan. Their closeness almost guaranteed that Izuku wouldn't have many chances to get to know Kiri and he worried about the things Kacchan might have told the redhead about him.

"He-hey Kirishima," Izuku stuttered.

"Midoriya!" Kiri said, giving him a big, toothy grin. "I mean, Izuku. Is it okay if I call you Izuku?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Izuku answered.

"Cool! You can call me Eijiro," he offered. "Or Eiji!" They stood staring at each other for a moment, Eijiro with a grin and Izuku wondering what the redhead could want. "So," Kirishima finally drawled, "about what Aizawa was telling us earlier."

Izuku flushed and looked down, clinging with one hand to his door handle for support. What could Eijiro want about that? Eijiro never seemed like a nosy type to Izuku. "Um, wh-what about it?"

"Aizawa said you were looking for a heat partner," Eijiro said easily, as if this weren't completely embarrassing. "I thought I'd let you know I was interested, if you wanted."

Izuku felt as if he were going to choke. Someone was interested? In helping him? Not one of the ones he thought might help him out of friendship obligation. A wonderful alpha as well. Someone he knew was highly sought after from omegas in the support and business sections of the school. "Oh," he said, knowingly vague.

"Hey, Izuku, look at me," Eijiro requested, and Izuku did, though his instincts screamed at him to slam the door and hide under his covers. Eiji lifted his hands, a sympathetic smile on his face. "If you don't want me, it's okay. No hard feelings or anything. You're a friend, and, honestly, really cute. I think it would be great to help you out and maybe get to know you better. Or, even bond. But, don't worry if you don't want to. I won't be offended or anything. I know it's a tough decision."

The omega in him cried at the kindness of the alpha. Izuku had known that Kiri was a good-hearted young man, but he had no idea that his empathy ran that deep. He smiled, a watery smile because of the tears gathering in his eyes. "Thanks, Kirishima…Eijiro. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I didn't think anyone would want to."

"Are you kidding?"

"No."

"I think you'll be surprised. Anyway, just let me know, okay?"

Izuku was surprised. Surprised at how easily Eijiro offered himself up. "I will. Thank you again. I never thought an amazing alpha like you would offer."

The compliment made Kirishima preen a little, a soft alpha croon that stirred up Izuku's heart. He seemed a little abashed by it, so he gave Izuku a little wave. "No problem," he answered. "Good luck."

Izuku watched him head down the hall toward the stairs for a moment before stepping back and closing his door. Turning, he leaned against the door and slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He couldn't believe it. An offer, just like that. From someone like Kirishima. A strong alpha in his own right, with an amazing quirk. Not only that, he was popular, funny, smart, and good-looking. This nearly perfect alpha wanted a chance to bond with a disgusting omega like him? It was too much for him to comprehend.

He had no idea how long he sat there, but he was startled out of his thoughts by another knock at the door. This time Uraraka's voice called out. "Deku? Are you in there?"

Izuku scrambled up and yanked open the door, thinking that Uraraka had come to offer her support as a friend to help him with his heat, but it wasn't only her. His friend group all waited outside – Uraraka, Tenya, Tsu, and Shoto. Without a word, he opened the door wider and stepped back.

In a minute, they were all seated on the floor in a circle next to Izuku's bed, the four looking at him as he folded in on himself. Tsu, who was always straightforward and to the point, broke the silence, "Why didn't you tell us?"

As he rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his palms, Izuku groaned. "I don't know. It never came up, I guess. I mean, why would it? Heroes are always alphas, so no one had reason to question me."

"But, we're your friends…" Uraraka tried to say.

"How do I bring it up in conversation?" Izuku interrupted. "At lunch? Man, this soba is great, and, by the way, I'm a defective omega?" Even he hated how bitter his voice sounded. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault and I don't mean to snap."

"I don't understand how it's possible," Tenya said in his clipped way, one hand came up to chop at the air. "Powerful quirks like yours only manifest in alphas."

"I know," Izuku sighed. He knew the reason, but he couldn't tell them. Not even his closest friends could know. It pained him to hide this, but he wouldn't betray All Might. "I can't explain it." That was an honest statement. He had an explanation, just not one he could share.

"I'm so sorry, Deku," Uraraka said kindly, leaning forward across the circle to pat his knee. "You know, we're all here to support you in any way we can. We're your friends."

"Exactly, ribbit," Tsu said. "And, if you need a heat partner, I would be happy to help."

The other three offered as well, as Izuku thought they might. "Thanks, you guys. I'll think about it."

"And, none of us will be mad if you don't choose us," Shoto said in his deadpan voice. "Our feelings won't be hurt. We just all want to be there for you."

Ugh, there went his crybaby omega. Tears filled his eyes again and he ducked his head as they fell. "You guys are the best. Thank you." It was all he could manage to say.

They let him cry in silence, but Izuku appreciated their presence. These four were the ones he considered himself to be closest to in their class. He really liked all of them, and to know that they felt the same way about him swamped his emotions. While he knew he was so emotional because of his impending heat, their offers filled his heart with warmth. At least he wouldn't have to face this alone.

"Have you had any other offers?" Tsu asked after Izuku had calmed down and wiped his eyes.

"Kirishima was here just before you guys stopped by," he replied.

"Oh?" Uraraka perked up. "He would be a good choice for you!"

"What about you?" He felt awkward talking about this to them.

Uraraka blushed a pretty shade of pink. "Oh, I mean, yeah. I would be happy if you chose me. We all would. But, it's good to have options."

"Would Kirishima perhaps want to form a bond?" Tenya asked.

"He mentioned it."

"A possible mating?" Shoto mused.

Izuku waved his hands in a slight panic. "No no no. You're getting way ahead of things!" he cried in a little squeal.

"No one else?" Uraraka asked.

"He's the only one!"

"Huh, I thought more people would, ribbit," Tsu said, pressing her finger against her chin. "A lot of people were talking about it."

"Oh, my god," Izuku groaned, dropping his face into his cupped hands.

"I'm surprised no one stopped by or texted you," Uraraka said.

"Text…" Izuku muttered, glancing at his phone on the nightstand. It was face down and he hadn't checked it since this morning. "Oh, I haven't looked at my phone all day. I got so many notifications, I turned it off."

Shoto reached to grab it from the nightstand and handed it over. Izuku hit the power button and waited a few minutes for it to power up. His friends watched him in an intense way that made him nervous. "It explains why you never responded to our texts," Shoto commented.

"Oh, wow," he said as his phone started pinging. He opened up his texting app and gasped. There were so many texts, including one from Kirishima. He thumbed that one open and it basically said what Kiri said to him in person. "Kirishima must have given up waiting for an answer," he murmured.

Uraraka chuckled and he looked up at her. "Told you. I knew you'd have a lot of offers."

"There are so many," he whispered, overcome as he scrolled through the messages. Everyone had offered. Almost everyone. He pressed his fingers over his mouth to force down a sob. "I thought everyone would be grossed out by me."

"No one is grossed out, Midoriya," Tenya said, his voice stern. When Izuku looked at him, the serious expression made him gasp. "You're a popular student in our class. Weren't you picked as class rep at the beginning of the year? Everyone looks up to you, so why would any of them think poorly of you over something you can't control?"

"But don't alphas think omegas who are, um, who are strong? Or stronger than them? Or un-omega-like gross? Unattractive? Who would want an omega like me?"

"Most of the class, apparently," Uraraka giggled. "Those are old fashioned ideas, Deku," she added.

"Yeah," Tsu said. "Maybe older people think that, but I don't think any of us do."

Izuku looked down at his phone again, scrolling through all the names of the texts he received. Seventeen offers from his classmates. There were even a few texts from other classes. Only two names were missing from his class. Mineta and Kacchan. Their absence didn't surprise him. Mineta obsessed over female omegas and betas. And Kacchan was, well, Kacchan. A Kacchan who hated him. The one name he wanted most on his list, the one name he'd pick over all the others with no hesitation, hadn't bothered to offer.

"So, you have your pick of alphas," Uraraka, who loved to gossip, clapped her hands together. "Are there any alphas you've had your eye on in class?"

He choked over the question, covering his mouth with his free hand. Damn his blush. He knew that all four would know the answer to the question would be 'yes'. His expression said what his mouth didn't. "Uh…"

"Oh my god! Who?" Uraraka pressed him.

"Ochako," Tsu said, putting a hand on Uraraka's arm. "Maybe Midoriya doesn't want to say. That is kind of personal, after all, ribbit."

"Oh!" Uraraka said, deflating. "Oh, I'm sorry Deku! You don't have to answer that!"

"Though, I feel like it will be answered when Midoriya chooses his alpha," Shoto mused. Izuku cursed Todoroki's lack of social awareness for saying something like that.

"No!" Izuku said. "I don't want you all to think that. I want to pick someone I'm comfortable with. Not necessarily someone I really like. I mean, how awkward would it be if it was someone I was worried about liking me or not."

"True," Tenya interjected. "They will see you at your most vulnerable, so it needs to be someone you trust completely. Besides, this heat won't be about sex, so you don't have to spend it with someone you want to mate with."

"Tenyaaaa!" Izuku whined, hiding his face again. The other three laughed as Tenya sputtered, asking what he said wrong.

Even though he was embarrassed, Izuku felt his heart lift. He was so grateful to his friends for helping to lift his mood, not just with their banter, but also with their heartfelt offers. For the first time since he woke up in Recovery Girl's room, he began to feel better about the whole stupid situation.