chapter 9
Pine & Gingerbread cookies
Izuku leaned back into the chair, his head rolling against the back of the hardwood. His head was spinning and he couldn’t seem to control the shattered shakes that traveled through him. He breathed in deeply until his lungs began to burn, trying to settle his body before letting out the heavy breath.
His arm ached and felt like it was encased in an inferno, each throb radiating with intense heat that demanded all his attention. His stomach was doing no better as it turned with every movement he did and it felt like he was underwater with how far away everything sounded. His eyes felt dry as more tears streamed down his face, their irritation forcing him to close them in a desperate attempt to release the feeling.
He hoped that this alpha was right in his assessment, praying to any god that would listen that things weren’t made worse. He didn’t want to experience this again, he was already so tired before the injury and now it felt like there was nothing left in him. He took another breath to help clear his head of the overwhelming cloud of pheromones that rushed into his system minutes earlier.
He didn’t mind the head rush, in fact he wanted it to last longer. It defiantly helped ease his muscles and the stress that was engulfing him had died down a bit. Despite that though, Izuku had a feeling that this meeting wasn’t over yet. He had sensed something off with the two alphas, they didn’t act like usual dealsmen from what he could tell.
Yet, Izuku hadn’t ever been around to see how these back room agreements went. His last ‘sponsor’ never came to meet him, only spoke with his master. Any and all deals concerning him were left to Chisaki, his only responsibility was to win every week. So this was all outside of what the omega considered the norm anyway.
Even with that logic, he could sense that these two acted a lot different than anyone in this usual realm of life. They were too considerate and kind in their language toward him, too focused on his answers and opinions. They were treating him how Hari used to before Chisaki intervened. This whole meeting was nothing like he expected, neither pushing him or taking any advantages. It was confusing, almost scary how the two seemed to behave as he had once thought alphas would.
“How are you feeling, Deku?” The purple haired alpha asked. He was still positioned next to Izuku, adjusting the makeshift sling with a gentle hand. His tone was soft, the undertone concerned as he quickly looked up to meet his gaze before back at what he was doing.
“Like I’m going to throw up.” Izuku stated. He didn’t really feel that sick. Incredibly bad? Yes, but nothing to result in vomit. He couldn’t help the need to get some space, to try and push the two away. The quick glances and stares the two were exchanging were making him uneasy, and this alpha was too close for comfort. There wasn’t really a reason for him to still be right next to him. The sling was tight and secure, what he was doing was just picky adjustments.
He mentally smiled as the alpha leaned back slightly before getting up to stand next to his partner. Izuku may be forced to stay isolated from anyone- that resulting in a lot of refused social interaction- but he knew that even an alpha didn’t want to be vomited on.
Izuku adjusted himself slightly, trying to sit up into a more appropriate posture in the seat so he could continue with whatever this meet up was. The omega looked at the two alphas, eyeing them with an air of causation as he realized that they never introduced who they were.
“Since you want to Sponsor me; the least you can do is tell me your names and who I will be working with.” His tone was sharp as he made eye contact with the two. Izuku mentally cursed himself as he realized his slip up. His evident disrespect for alphas was usually locked behind high walls, but it seemed they had cracked for a moment.
He redirected his gaze to the floor, taking a moment to calm himself. Just because they were acting weird didn’t mean that they weren’t powerful. He was in no position to act this way, he hoped that his tone would be brushed off and blamed on the pain that he was experiencing.
“Yes.” The shorter of the two answered. He made quick eye contact with the blond before turning back to the omega. Izuku watched the interaction, a red flag raising in his head as the two seemed to be talking within the silenced look. Immediately, he decided that these two couldn’t be trusted, too many things were outside the norm within these walls and none of them were coming from himself.
This was one too many for Izuku. His instincts screamed at him to back off and shield himself. These interactions were leading to something. Were the two trying to build trust so he would inevitably feel indebted to them. Chisaki had threaded to dispose of him, the omega assuming that would be through experimentation. Though, the longer he sat in this room, he couldn’t help growing suspicions that there was a plan that involved him…
He watched the alpha with purple hair motion to himself, “I am Shinso.” He introduced himself with a cool tone. He declined his head slightly in a show of politeness.
Izuku looked him up and down with a pointed look, not caring if the alpha noticed. His eyes roamed the manicured clothing, and noticed the faded scars that laced through his fingers and onto the palms. The alpha looked tired, his eyes were dark and the deep impressions of rings only enhanced the moody appearance. His hair was what Izuku thought didn’t match the alpha’s appearance. It was longer, possibly close to shoulder length and pulled back into a neat bun. The way each strand fell went against the natural pattern, giving more volume than what would casually happen for the style. Izuku wondered why the alpha decided on this style, Shinso didn't look like an alpha who cared for beauty standards or if his hair looked good.
Izuku nodded to show he heard, his eyes moving to the taller of the two that stood slightly behind Shinso. Izuku waited for the alpha to talk, he was more curious about the blond. He seemed to be more on edge and by the way he had acted so far was like an internal war was raging within him the entire time. His sharp red eyes barely made eye contact with him, unlike Shinso who seemed more than willing to look him in the eye. The alpha’s eyes were red, a deep color- not dark- but rather a vibrant red that seemed to swirl like dust in the air.
Shinso cleared his throat with a quiet hum as he turned to his partner. The blond shifted his gaze to the side of the room, his mouth opening slightly but nothing came out for a long second.
Izuku didn’t like the atmosphere that was settling over the room. He inspected the blond further, red lights still dinging in his head as the silence continued into another prolonged hesitation.
The blond’s hair, now that the omega actually took the time to look, seemed to have a rose tint to it. It was what Izuku would have described as a strawberry blond when he was younger. It was short on the sides and back, buzzed down and manicured with longer spiked strands on the top. It was jelled and swooped just slightly to one side in a flawless pattern.
Unlike Shinso, this alpha was large. His shoulders square with thick arms that seemed to be sculpted like a god’s, something every alpha desired. With just a jacket hanging open, Izuku could see his large pecs and evident abs that led to an evident v just above his pant line. The hint of gray boxers peeking up from the navy blue pants.
Izuku noticed, even with the jacket loose around his torso, that the alpha’s waist was small. Part of him was jealous at the hourglass shape that the alpha seemed to possess. He remembered his mother once complaining about her thin waist becoming wider and wished that she had her hourglass shape back.
He quickly pushed that thought away, hating how much he judged his own body to a body standard that was impossible for him to ever obtain. It had been years since he truly cared about his appearance, but it seemed that even at the lowest of social standing, the beauty standard was still an invisible expectation for an omega to hold. Even if the only person to compliment him now-a-days was Chisaki, and that was only near the alpha’s ruts.
As the Omega got lost in his visual exploration of the blond, he hadn’t noticed those red eyes watching him carefully. They watched him intensely, waiting for any hint of recognition to his identity. Part of the alpha wished and hoped that the omega would realize who he was.
Yet, he desperately didn’t want Izuku to know. He didn’t want the omega to find out that his childhood bully was in front of him. Was back in his life. What kinds of fear would surely course through his veins, the memories of what the alpha once said and did to him would hit like a whip.
No, Bakugo didn’t want the omega to know who he was until he was able to prove how much he had changed. Would fate be kind to him in this case, and help him hold this secret? He begged for it, desperately clung to a hope that wasn’t insured.
Bakugo ignored the tense gaze that his partner bored into him. He knew that Shinso wasn’t too happy with him, for not thinking of an alternate name to give. But Katsuki couldn’t do that, he didn’t want to lie to Izuku. It didn’t seem to be the wisest idea to gain the omega’s trust. He was already playing a losing game, he didn’t need to stack the odds further against him.
From what the alpha remembered of his childhood friend, it would be better this way. Even the hard truth and the potential risk would be a superior reality than the additional hurt and betrayal that Izuku would feel when he realized Bakugo’s identity.
Izuku closed his eyes for a moment, the pain in his arm easing slightly into a dull throb and slow, radiating heat as he finally found a position that the limb could relax in. He sighed, relieved that it had died down enough for him to handle. He took another breath, his mind now cleared enough to function properly despite how slowly the pheromones that saturated the air no longer affected him. He was grateful for the injury that allowed him to power through such instinctual responses. To give him an ability that no other omega was blessed to have.
Izuku stilled himself, taking the biggest breath he could in an attempt to sense the other’s scent again. As the scent of the alpha’s filling his nose and helped to ease the pain just slightly more, he couldn’t help but memorize them. He liked the mix, it reminded him of Christmas with his mother. Gingerbread baking as they decorated the pine tree that would sit in the tight corner of their small living room. The scents of his former home bring back an atmosphere of love, protection and comfort. Everything that represented the opposite of this dystopian reality that he lived.
He remembered how these memories usually had a small blond next to him. Another pup who was always at his home because his parents were always at work or on a trip. The happy laughs and excited squeals that filled the air as they strung popcorn on a string and then tried to throw their lines to the top branch of the tree.
He hated that these wonderful scents also melded with eventual pain. Pain from an alpha that was too young to control his pheromones, and too inexperienced to know how they would affect a subgender such as Izuku’s. The same little boy that he used to play with in his living room, who he felt safe and protected with. Who would randomly start to push him on the playground or throw insults in his face with the other kids behind him. The protector of his heart no longer provides anything besides fear and heartache.
Every punch from the blond was laced with ginger as it rolled off the alpha’s wrist. His anger permeated through the air from the scent glands on his wrist. Hot and spiced ginger hitting Izuku full force as the impact of the punch would make contact. That scent would envelope the omega as he stood up to the blond, pain coursing through his body while his instincts screamed for him to submit. His brain reacting against his will and becoming cloudy and slow. The burning pain that he felt as he defied the young alpha and stared back into his… red eyes.
Izuku's eyes snapped open. Wide green finally meeting the red that he hadn’t seen in years. Their stare continued as every emotion that Izuku had ever felt raced through him; surprise, embarrassment, fear, confusion, sadness and remorse all jumbled and combined into one. Anger!
Izuku stood up quickly, his rushed movements sending him into a slight dizziness, along with sharp pain shocking through his bones. But he pushed through it as he glared up at the alpha that was in front of him. His mind tumbled through everything that had happened since he walked through that door.
He couldn’t believe what this world had decided to throw back in his face; giving no breaks or lapses to relax. The gods seemed to hate him as they continued to toy with his life for their selfish amusement. Fate was hilarious wasn’t it.
Of course, the one person that hated him for more than just his gender but everything that he was, who had continually haunted him and reminded him of how low and useless he was, now stood before him with all the power once again. It looked like no matter how low he fell, he would never be out of reach from the one person that caused his greatest torment.
Izuku laughed lightly to himself. How poetic, the alpha that claimed that he would become a hero now stood before him as what he always proved to be. Nothing more than a sleazy underground thug that preyed upon the weak. Even the great Katsuki Bakugo couldn’t rise to his dreams and aspirations.
Izuku sneered at the blond that waited for him to speak, his gaze aprecensive and weary. All his attention still glued to the omega as he witnessed the other put the pieces of the puzzle together. Bakugo knew that he was being naive when hoping that Izuku wouldn’t realize who he was. The omega had always been smart, able to pull apart the alpha within seconds when they were younger- to his annoyance.Years of torment wouldn’t change that, it would only hone it in.
Izuku straightened his back, a sudden spurt of energy flowing over him as he considered his next actions. He wanted to destroy the alpha, yell and scream, or do anything to show his anger. He wanted the alpha to feel the same things that were forced upon him. Yet, he knew that wouldn’t leave as big of a mark as denying the alpha the satisfaction of his attention.
When Katsuki was young he hated being ignored, hated when Izuku would turn his back on him. The blond needed to have the last word, the highest step and biggest pride boost. And once upon a time, Izuku would have given it to him with little thought for himself. All the attention and love that he could, but it was never enough. Not from him at least. Izuku always gave the other what he wanted, hoping it would mend the tide that was tearing them apart.
Yet, as Izuku rose to a higher stature, broadened his chest and breathed an air of confidence; his younger self screamed for him to cave. To run into the alpha’s arms and like always hope that he would be accepted. That the blond would wipe his tears away again and hush him until he calmed down. Saying soothing words and providing comfort like when they were babies.
Izuku ignored every once of that, shoving the small child of his mind away and growling for him to stay in his place. The omega had no interest in doing any of that now. I wasn’t going to submit to another alpha that assumed that Izuku was his possession. He no longer cared of punishment, retaliation; the gods could damn him to hell for all he cared. He wasn’t going to roll over any longer, he was going to make this interaction hurt for the blond alpha. But he wasn’t going to fall as low as his abuser, no he wasn’t going to leave bruises and blood. He was going to do what he was good at, break him from the inside out.
Shinso watched as the omega turned all his attention toward him , hesitantly watching the silent scene that played before him. The omega purposefully turned his head away from the blond. The dramatic turn reflected clearly to his new found resolve.
His once shaking frame now settled into a cold and hard stare that was now directed toward him. The realization of what was happening shocked him as he waited, amazed that the omega thought so quickly of the perfect reaction to the sudden introduction. Shinso remembered clearly from high school how much Bakugo hated being pushed aside. He was always putting himself into the attention of everyone, never holding back but doing the opposite as loudly and aggravating as possible.
“Shinso,” Izuku’s voice was tight, but the tone was sharp as glass. The omega quickly reined in the emotions that seemed to push at the edges of his sanity. His cheeks puffed out slightly as he took a step forward, angling his body away from Bakugo.
Shinso was impressed, the omega wasn’t allowing any outward indication to his emotions as he kept his scent closed off. Pride for the other filled his chest until a passing thought caused it to halt and become replaced with concern. He didn’t doubt that the omega was smart and observant, but even him would have learned this strategy the hard way. Maybe a little faster than others, but non the less the years of abuse seemed to teach him how to protect himself.
It was obvious that one in the small man’s position would realize any hint of pheromones would be disrespectful and bring a rise out of neighboring alphas. Learning to reel them in and suppress them despite what he felt was an act of preservation. Yet, a sword had to sharp sides. That form of protection could also cut and be a form of attack. The lack of pheromones would be an irritating case to anyone that was around him. Especially an alpha who was trying to gauge where things were with him. Izuku was cutting off any form of communication with either of them, and that could prove to be a hefty blow.
“Thank you for the money that you have bet on me.” Izuku’s tone shifted to one of bitterness but oddly sweet as he talked to the purple haired alpha. The slight change reminded Shinso of a horror movie, when the killer found his prey and was taunting them. “But if you truly want to help me, then I would advise betting a bit less so the target on my back isn’t so big.”
The omega slowly walked toward the door, continuing to refuse any acknowledgement toward Bakugo, even as the alpha tried to speak to him. The blond reached out a hand, desperation clear in his voice. “Izuku-“
“You may believe my words are insulting and disrespectful considering our stations. But you will learn that I don’t give a shit any longer. I may be just an omega, and below any worth of humanity at this point.” The omega interrupted, giving no hint to even recognizing the alpha’s attempts toward him. “But I would rather die than not speak my mind. At least then I could finally be freed from this hell that keeps dragging me to deeper depths.”
Shinso couldn’t seem to get a handle on what was happening. It was like the omega was a completely different person, no fear or self preservation as he disrespected and humiliated the two alphas in almost any capacity he could. Deku surely didn’t care what the consequences for this would be, and he was willing to show that.
The purple haired hero was grateful for their meeting being private or he would have to take physical actions to reprimand the omega for show. That was the last thing he wanted to happen.
As the omega rested a hand on the door knob he paused for a moment, turned his head slightly to address the two that stood frozen in shock. The small hint of peach wafted through the air, obviously slipping through the tight hold the omega had, as becoming slightly sour.
“Thank you for your assistance with my arm. I am sure that my master will want to meet with you two to determine what alphas deem important in the prospects of my life. Good night, Alpha Shinso…” It seemed to be a struggle for him to continue.
The last bit of his energy faded as his green eyes watched the blond from the corner of his eye. Pain coursed through his chest, the feeling different from the one in his arm. This one was like getting stabbed directly in the heart as he noticed the hand extended out to him, frozen in the air.
He cooled his face, making sure to wipe it clean of any emotion. Why was he feeling this pain when this man hurt him over and over. He shouldn’t feel bad, he should be proud. His younger self deserved this.
“ and Alpha Bakugo.”
With that, Izuku left. His heart pounded as he made his way through the dark hall as quickly as possible. The adrenaline that had rushed through him gave a small high and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He couldn’t believe that he stood up to those alphas, especially one that he wished he could give back the same treatment. He knew that some kind of punishment was surely on its way, no omega was allowed to act like how he just did.
Yet, Izuku couldn’t care at the moment. He was giddy with pride for what he did, he truly felt like he had dominated Bakugo in the best of ways.
Sorry, not sorry?…
Word count: 3876
I read this chapter like 5 times and I still feel like it is shit. So if it is… sorry but honestly I can’t read it again without wanting to scrap the whole story and give up. So here is this amazing work of shit.My brain is over it!
I desperately hope the next chapter will prove to be better.
Anyway… I hope that you still enjoyed and don’t leave this story. I have so many plans and I’m excited for them to come to life. So stick around despite the harsh reality that happened above. Lol
I may, down the line, re edit this chapter. but that won’t be until the frustration I feel evaporates from my body.
