Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (03)
Hi everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
The next chapter will take me much longer to finish and post because I have to go back to uni đđ«.
Warning: cursing, blood
tags: aged-up characters ; Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; afab!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; eventually smut ; bisexual!Reader
02 <- 03 -> 04
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Taglist
Itâs fucking hurt. The warmth that had been spreading through your lower belly, enveloping your body, was shattered by a sharp pain pulsing in your head.
Disoriented, you struggled to grasp what was happening. One moment, you were lost in a fantasy of frosted berries, honey, and Todoroki, and the next, someone had slammed you against the wall. The look in his eyes made it clearâhe was ready to tear you apart.
It wouldnât be hard for him to do that, with those teeth. You had never noticed them looking so sharp before. On TV, Red Riot always came across as the friendliest hero, his wide grin and bright eyes inviting trust. He was always ready to lighten the mood with his jokes and loud laugh, the hero who went out of his way to help civilians with their everyday tasks. Everyone who met him had a soft spot for himâhe truly was a vision of strength and kindness.
But now, under the glare of his red eyes, his fists clenched tightly around your collar, none of that friendliness remained. His rage was palpable, you could feel it in the way his grip tightened with every passing second, the way his chest heaved with each furious breath.
He looked like he was on the verge of exploding, and you were the target of all that fury. His lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing those razor-sharp teeth. They werenât just sharp, they were brutal, lethal and merciless. Red Riot wasnât just ready to beat you upâhe looked like he wanted to rip you apart, piece by piece, until there was nothing left. The once-kind, soft-hearted hero was gone, replaced by a tsunami of anger and violence, ready to unleash it all on you.
You knew how bad this whole situation lookedâbeing caught with your hands on a claimed Omega (in heat) by one of his packmates was always a good enough reason for them to beat your ass. But this wasnât the case, was it? No, it wasnât, and you were ready to tell Red Riot so. So you tried to explain yourself quickly, to not give more time for his rage to boil over.
âRed Riot, I know it looks bad, but I swear, as a doctor, I wasâŠâ Your words hurriedly left your mouth, trying to defend yourself, but before you could finish your sentence, you felt his fist land straight into your face.
You were thrown to the ground. The pain from earlier was nothing compared to this. Blood spilled out of your nose and mouth, and you could swear you heard the sickening crack of your nose breaking under his blow. Now it really fucking hurt. Fat tears ran down your face, mixing with blood.
Red Riot didnât want any explanation, he asked for one, but he wasnât interested in hearing it. Fear crawled down your spine as sobs of pain and horror escaped your mouth, your vision spinning as you tried to look up at him, still uncertain of what just happened. Breaking your nose didnât calm him down, and by the way he clenched his fist, you knew he was ready to strike again.
You barely heard Todorokiâs frantic shout, calling for Red Riot, but you did notice the putrid smell of rotten berries, rotting mango, and the sharp sourness of passion fruit beneath the thick metallic scent of your own blood. For one second, your eyes flicked to Todoroki, but your attention was stolen by Red Riot. You saw his muscles harden, flesh turning into stone. It was as if the storm surrounding him had solidified, and you were trapped inside it, powerless, unable to escape. Fighting back seemed pointless in the moment, you didnât know if youâd even stay conscious if he hit you again.
But then, Todorokiâs second attempt at calling out for Red Eiot broke through the storm. His call cut through the tension like a knife and the angry heroâs focus shifted for an instant, his rage momentarily distracted.
âShoto, are you okay? Iâm so sorry I didnât comeââ His voice was thick with worry and panic.
You didnât wait to hear the rest. You scrambled to your feet and bolted out of the room, running for your life. Your legs propelled you forward, carrying you as fast as they could. You didnât know if Red Riot was following, and you were too terrified to look back and find out. Your vision blurred as you crashed into a medical cart outside an open room, sending its contents flying across the floor but you didnât care, you couldnât stop to apologize and put it back together. You couldnât stop at all. All you could do was run.
The hallways blurred past as you sprinted, your mind a panicked mess of fear and pain. The sharp sting of your broken nose, the blood dripping onto your clothes, the pounding in your skullâit all became a distant haze as you focused on one thing: escape. You didnât even know how you managed to find the locker room, but somehow, your trembling hands found yours locker and you grabbed your bag and car keys as fast as possible, ignoring the confused stares of the people nearby.
You sprinted toward the parking lot, and when you finally reached it, you were gasping for air, tears still streaming down your face. Your legs felt like jelly, but you kept moving, stumbling toward your car. You shoved the door open with urgency. Once inside, your hands were shaking so badly that starting the engine felt impossible. You twisted the key over and over, your heart pounding, until the car finally roared to life.
You slammed your foot on the gas and sped out of the parking lot, reckless, your mind spinning, with no care for speed limits. All that mattered was getting as far away from that place, from him, as possible.
Is this shorter than usual? I canât really tell. I think this chapter technically has more words than the last one, though. Anyway, I know Bakugo is usually the angry, "violent" guy in fics, but Iâve always thought Kirishima would beat someone into the ground if they ever took advantage of his partner. Plus, I always felt like fics were lacking people getting their asses beat.
So, I thought, letâs beat the readerâs ass!
I guess this is the end of the prologue. After this, weâre entering the ârealâ story, and weâll meet the rest of the pack (not right away, but you get the idea). Iâll also have more room to explore the reader's personality. So far, all weâve really seen is her being professional, confused, horny, and scared đ.
Do any of you even read these author notes? Itâs okay if Iâm just talking to myself here. I always like the sound of my voice (well, my writing here, but you get it).
Criticisms are always welcome !
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
02 <- 03 -> 04
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld
Found learning to belong a while ago and I've kept coming back to re-read it, I'm super happy you're still working on it! It's one I'm fine waiting for! I love beta reader and how you wrote them!
Thank you anon, this is the first time someone sent me a question like that !
I wish I could be more regular, but I have an habit of basically writing a whole chapter then I just have to rewrite it again and again until I feel ok about it. Now I just donât have time to do it bc of uni but Iâll guarantee you (and I am being fr), if I am dropping this fic Iâll announce it. But itâs not going to happen bc I really like it and you guys like it too, so no way I am leaving my first fic as an orphan.
With that being said, I am happy you like beta reader. No shade to any other fic writers bc I love them so much, but I feel like often the readers seem to blend into the same person and I am trying to make mine different. I want reader to feel like a real character, with a messy personality. Little spoiler but she isnât getting over Kirishima breaking her nose anytime soon đ, she is petty like that bc no way you are going to let a mf punch you in the face like that and one chapter later you tell him « itâs fine, you meant well ». She will hate his ass fr đ
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (06)
And we are back for another chapter !
Warning: cursing (maybe)
tags: aged-up characters ; Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; afab!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; eventually smut ; bisexual!Reader
05 <- 06 -> 07
Masterlist
Taglist
Todorokiâs heat had finally passed after three long days. Heâd spent them either with Kirishima buried deep inside him or wrapped in his muscular arms, their bodies entwined in moments of quiet warmth. It had been all too easy to lose himself in the haze of desire, letting the weight of everything else fade away in a blur of passion and closeness. But now, as the intense flush of heat left his system, his mind was painfully clear.
Embarrassment hit him hard. What was I thinking? He asked himself repeatedly, and almost felt lightheaded as he recalled the desperationâthe way heâd thrown himself at you like some lovesick teenager in his first heat. It was reckless and stupid. Worse yet, heâd let himself imagine all sorts of salacious fantasies involving you, Kirishima, and himself throughout his heat. It was utterly inappropriate. The clarity felt almost unbearable as shame surged through him, dense and stifling. If it were just about embarrassing himself, he could eventually deal with it. But the memories of that day went beyond the dizzy haze of horniness, beyond the scent of peaches and yours warm touch against his skin. He also remembered Kirishimaâs raw rage and the deep red of your blood covering your face and the hospital floor. Shame gnawed at him from within, leaving in its wake buds of guilt, which blossomed as images of you walking around with a crooked nose and split lips flooded his mind.
Thankfully, it had been Kirishima who picked him up from the hospital that day. The red-haired hero had been too considerate to press him on what had happened; his only priority was taking care of him. Yet, as Todoroki had laid beside Kirishima on the third and final night of his heat, he knew that by morning, heâd have to face the rest of the pack. And neither Katsuki nor Izuku would spare him the questions he dreaded.
Morning came too soon. By the time Todoroki left his room, Kirishima was already gone and it was still early, he knew no one had left for work yet. He rushed to the bathroom to shower, hoping the hot water might somehow calm his nerves or at least give him a moment to gather his thoughts. For the first time in his life, he almost wished his heat had lasted longerâanything to delay the inevitable, awkward conversation but no amount of scalding water could cleanse the mess of emotions swirling inside him. After a dozen of minutes, he resigned himself, finished his shower and got ready for the day.
The moment he emerged from the steamy bathroom, Izuku was waiting, worry pooling in his green eyes and his rough, scarred hand instinctively lifted to cup Todorokiâs face. His touch was warm and steady, grounding him and quieting the chaos within him. Despite the awkwardness of this whole situation, seeing Izuku made his heart flutter, and he smiled softly in his mateâs arms.
âShoto,â Izuku murmured, his voice filled with genuine concern. âIâm so sorry you had to go through that. I wanted to be there, but I was tied up at the agency and..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing in a fast ramble, "Just... if you need anything, Iâm here for you. Weâre all here for you. I already called your agency and told them youâll need a few more days off. Kirishima told us a little about what happened, and I swear, weâll track down that doctor. Weâll make sureââ
âHe doesnât need you babbling his damn ears off, Deku.â Katsukiâs voice cut through Izukuâs rambling. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his gaze locked on Todorokiânot unkind, but piercing.. âHe gets it. Heâs not helpless, you know.â
Izuku shot Katsuki a small frown but remained unfazed by his blunt interruption. Beneath the sharp words, Todoroki could sense Katsukiâs genuine concern. The familiar edge in Katsukiâs tone was oddly comforting, and he knew that Katsukiâs refusal to coddle him was just his way of showing respect and consideration.
As they moved to the dining table, where Kirishima was already eating breakfast, Todoroki took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves and took his seat around the table. Izuku quickly joined him, sitting beside him and reaching over to place a comforting hand on his knee. Todoroki felt a rush of gratitude for the quiet support, and even Katsuki, despite his sharp gaze, gave him space to speak without pushing him.
.
.
.
âSo... you were the one who threw yourself at her?â Izukuâs voice was hesitant, his doe eyes blinked and his brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to process Todorokiâs recounting of the events.
âYouâve gotta be kidding me,â Katsuki scoffed in disbelief.
Todorokiâs face flushed deeply with embarrassment, his cheeks burning so much that he thought he might actually burst into flames. This was a lot more mortifying than heâd imagined. Izuku had started off so supportive, leaning in to comfort him, but as Todoroki went on and explained the situation, he watched Izukuâs expression shift from understanding to confusion, and finally to what felt like... judgment. Slowly, Izuku had began to scoot away from him, casting side glances full of disapproval and making it impossible for Todoroki to meet his eyes. Katsuki was more disappointment than anything else. Unbelievable, he muttered to himself. To him, this was beyond stupidâsomething a too-hormonal high schooler might do and definitely something Todoroki shouldâve known better. But it was Kirishimaâs silence that unnerved Todoroki the most. The red haired kept his gaze down, uncharacteristically quiet, before abruptly standing up and storming toward the door.
âI need to go apologize!â Kirishimaâs voice was laced with urgency, tinged with panic, but Bakugo grabbed his arm and halted him.
âYou canât go back to that hospital, Eijirou,â Katsuki said firmly, tightening his grip. âWhat are you gonna do, knock on the door and ask for the doctor you beat up? Youâll only make things worse.â
âKacchanâs right. Sheâs probably scared right now, and sheâll run the other way if she sees you again,â Izuku added, stepping in front of Kirishima and blocking his ways like a barricade, while exchanging a look of silent agreement with Bakugo.
âBut I canât just stay here! I hurt herâbadly. She even tried to explain, but I wouldnât listen,â Kirishimaâs voice grew agitated. The vivid recollection of your tear-filled eyes and bloodied lips coiled within him, guilt tightening its grip on his chest. What kind of man hits an innocent woman? he thought, fists clenched as he struggled to free himself from his mates' hold.
âIâll go,â Todoroki interjected suddenly. His words startled the others and they turned to him, puzzled. âIt was my fault. I should apologize to her.â His voice was calm but resolute, slicing through the tension in the room and carrying a steadiness, calmness, that sought to soothe Kirishimaâs agitation and remorse. âIzukuâs right; you canât go there directly, Eijirou. Iâll go and apologize on behalf of both of us.â
"But I have to do it myself! I was the one who hit her. I should at least cover her medical bill!" Kirishima protested, spurred by a faint voice in the back of his mind reminding him how unmanlyâand even less heroicâhis actions had been.
âIâll tell her you want to apologize in person too. If sheâs okay with it, Iâll give her your number so she can reach out to you,â Todoroki assured him gently. It pained him to see Kirishima like this, especially knowing it was his fault. All he ever wanted was to see him smiling, radiant and untroubled, and judging by the looks on his other matesâ faces, it was clear they all shared the same feeling.
Kirishimaâs expression wavered, torn between making a run to the hospital or listening to his mates, but Katsuki ended his internal debate with a firm arm slung around Kirishimaâs shoulders, steering him toward the door.
âCome on, shitty head, weâre gonna be late. Itâs Shotoâs mess, heâll handle it,â Bakugo said, his voice losing its usual edge, and softened just enough to offer some reassurance to Kirishima.
Izuku lingered behind, casting Todoroki a final glance filled with quiet suspicion. Todoroki could almost see the gears of his mind turning, overthinking as always, but then Katsuki barked Izukuâs name from the doorway, urging him to hurry up. With a sigh, Izuku followed the red eyes pair and they all left for work, leaving Todoroki behind in their appartement.
Todoroki paced in circles around his apartment, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. He kept telling himself that he needed to apologize, but every time he neared the door, a wave of nerves yanked him back, making him turn and start another lap around his living room. He wasnât used to feeling this wayâunsteady, so... nervous as the weight inside him grew heavier, sinking like an anchor. Heâd never been one to feel so unsettledâhe was usually straightforward, never having trouble apologizing when it was needed. If he made a mistake, he fixed it; he owned up. But this felt different. Today, shame, guilt, and apprehension mingled within him in a discomfort he didnât fully understand.
âOkay, itâs just... an apology. Youâve done this before,â he muttered under his breath, trying to summon his usual calm. He had told his mates so confidently that he would do it, but look at him now. âJust go in there, say youâre sorry. Itâs not complicated.â Yet the words didnât settle him. Instead, they only seemed to make him more anxious. Why was facing you so daunting suddenly? He couldnât explain itâhe didnât understand it.
After what felt like ages, he forced himself to grab his keys and head out the door, before he could talk himself out of it again. But the nerves only grew worse when he settled into his car and sat behind the wheel. The flashes of three days ago replayed in his mind, flashes of him almost humping the backseat. They made him wince as he gripped the steering wheel tighter and started the car.
The hospital wasnât so far away from his apartment, a short 30-minutes drive, but he had to will himself to stay focused on the road. When he paused at a red light, he found himself wondering if your scent would be as intoxicating and bewitching as he remembered it to be and the thought made him groan as he banged his head on the steering wheel, mumbling to himself, Focus, Shoto.
As he drove past a flower shop, a quiet voice in his mind suggested he bring you something. He considered it for a moment, pondering on how appropriate it would be to bring flowers to someone he didnât know, especially someone who had been beat up because of him. Yeah, no, even he could tell it would be weird. But somehow, he found himself making a U-turn, parking his car in front of the flower shop, and stepping inside.
The floral scent enveloped him immediatelyâa soft, sweet fragrance that seemed to soothe the edges of his nerves. Before him laid a sea of vibrant and cool blooms stretched out in rows: roses blushed in shades of crimson and coral, delicate peonies, soft violets, cheerful tulips, and vivid anemones. The shop was beautiful, but he knew he had to leave fast when he realized he was searching for flowers that would complement the color of your eyes. He almost laughed at himself. Ridiculous, he mused, but there he was, his feet planted firmly on the ground, and a minute later, he was holding a bouquet of dahlias. With the flowers in hand, he made his way to the counter, quickly paid, and rushed back to his car, feeling the steady thrum of nervousness in his chest.
Finally, we got to see Izuku and Katsuki in this fic. It took us 6 chapters but we made it through!!
I hated writing this chapter, omg, it took me almost a whole week. You guys have no idea how many versions of this chapter exist đ. The length wasnât the issueâI tried to make it a bit longer than usual (not by much, though; Iâm usually around 1.5k words, but today I hit 1.9k). BUT omg, nothing really happened here. I think it was just a boring chapter (at least to write) đ.
Iâve always referred to the characters as Todoroki, Kirishima, Izuku, and Katsuki in my head. But itâs kind of weird how half of them go by their first name and the other half by their surname in the narration, right? Itâs also a bit confusing when I use both in the same chapter, so Iâve decided to stick with Izuku, Katsuki, Kirishima, and Todoroki for the narrator. The reader will use their first names once she meets them properly.
As always, criticisms are welcome.
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
05 <- 06 -> 07
My apologies if I forgot anyone in the taglist
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @bluepatrolbear ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ;
So here are the leftovers of the taglist, I havenât figured out any other solutions yet I âll do it this way for now (thank you to the person who told me about this solution, I know I said I didnât like it but I havenât found anything else)
Anyways:
@roxy776699 ; @mystic60 ; @reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (09)
Alright, merry Christmas everyone ! A bit late but still. I donât have anything to offer to you guys. I can activate my anonymous ask if you guys want to ask me questions about the fic, I wonât say anything thatâll spoil the story but if any of you have a question. Why not ?
Warning: cursing (?)
Tags: Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Pack! X fem!Reader ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; smut eventually ; fem!Reader ; afab!Reader
08 <- 09 -> 10
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Taglist
Izuku left his appartement troubled the day Todorokiâs "confessed" to them what really happened at the hospital. Heâd spent the morning buried in his work at the agency he shared with Katsuki, hoping patrols and incident reports would quiet the uneasiness settling inside him. But it lingered, clouding his thoughts.
It wasnât anger, not exactly. Or at least, not just anger. Frustration, maybe. A weight of uncertainty pressing on his chest, mixed with a bitter taste of jealousy he wasnât proud to admit. He understood. He did. He knew how overwhelming a bad heat could be for an omega, how it could strip away all logic, leaving them at the mercy of your instincts. Heâd been there himself, and heâd rather break every bones in his body than revisiting some of those awkward, clumsy high schoolâs memories. Though that knowledge didnât make it easier to imagine Todoroki in that vulnerable, desperate state, reaching out for a stranger. The thought twisted in his chest. It wasnât that Izuku doubted Todorokiâs love or loyalty. Absolutely not, years of shared struggles, laughters, near-death battles, and quiet mornings filled with kisses and affection had since long dispelled his old fears of being abandoned and not being enough for his pack. But imagining Todoroki like that, with someone else, left him haunted by the question: What if Kirishima hadnât come in time? It had clung to him all morning, feeding his uneasiness. Again, It wasnât about mistrust, he trusted Todoroki with his own life, it was about the helplessness of it all. He hated that his mate had gone through something so overwhelming and difficult, and he hadnât been there to help.
By the time lunch rolled around, the weight of his thoughts was too much to bear. Izuku found Katsuki in the breakroom, halfway through his usual homemade lunch.
âKacchan,â Izuku began hesitantly, sliding into the seat across from him and opening his own lunch box.
Katsuki paused mid-chew, his sharp crimson eyes narrowing recognizing the worried look in his mate green eyes . âWhat?â
Izuku poked at his food, his appetite nowhere to be found. âItâs about Shoto.â
That got Katsukiâs attention. He set his chopsticks down with a deliberate clink, leaning back in his chair with a sigh.
âWhat about him? You still hung up on the hospital thing?â
âIâm not âhung up,ââ Izuku said quickly, though the defensiveness in his voice betrayed him. âI just⊠I donât know how to feel about it. I canât stop thinking about it.â
âYouâre overthinking. As usual.â
âKacchan, Iâm serious. Please.â
Katsuki studied him for a moment, his sharp gaze softening just slightly. âAre you mad at him? You know he wouldnât have done that if his brain wasnât heat-fried, right?â
âNo, Iâm not mad at him. Maybe a little,â Izuku admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. âBut Iâm more mad at myself. This whole thing is just so⊠weird. And maybe if Iâd noticed he was going into an early heat, none of this wouldâve happened.â
Katsuki clicked his tongue, leaning forward. âYouâre not a damn mind reader. The half-and-half bastard didnât even know what was going on with himself. Yeah, it sucks, and I donât like it too, but you canât stop every little thing from going wrong before it happens.â
Izuku frowned, concern flickering across his face. âI know, but Iâm still really worried about him. Didnât he still look⊠off this morning? I canât shake the feeling that heâs not okay.â
âOf course, heâs not okay,â Katsuki snapped, though there was no real bite in his voice. âBut thatâs why we, youâve gotta talk to him instead of sitting here stewing in your own damn head like a dumbass. You wanna fix this? Go home and deal with it. No point in worrying all day about it, focus on what you can do now and do it.â
Izuku nodded in response.
âYouâre right. I justâthank you, Kacchan. Really.â
Katsuki rolled his eyes but didnât pull his hand away when Izuku reached out to give it a quick squeeze. âYeah, yeah. Donât get all sappy on me.â
He held Izukuâs hand for a moment before pulling free, grabbing his chopsticks again.
âNow shut up and eat,â Katsuki added. âI didnât bust my ass making lunch just for you to waste it.â
Izuku smiled, the tension in his chest easing just a little.
.
.
.
By the time Izuku got home that evening, the weight in his chest had eased, thanks to Katsukiâs words lingering in his mind. Tonight, it would just be him and TodorokiâKirishima and Bakugo were out on night patrol so they wouldnât be back before later in the night.
The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the heater. As Izuku stepped into the living room, he spotted Todoroki on the couch, sitting cross-legged with a bowl of peach slices perched on the armrest beside him. He looked up briefly when Izuku entered, his lips twitching into a faint smile. But it didnât reach his eyesâjust polite, and anything but genuine.
âHey,â Izuku greeted gently, as he studied Todorokiâs face. The jealousy and frustration that had gnawed at him earlier felt distant now, the only thing left from his emotional turmoil was concern for his mate.
âLong day?â he asked, moving closer.
Todoroki shrugged, picking up a peach slice from the bowl.
âNot really. Just tired.â
âTired how?â Izuku pressed, sitting beside him. âPost-heat tired, or⊠something else?â
There was a pause, just long enough for Izuku to notice the way Todorokiâs fingers tightened around the edge of the bowl.
âPost-heat tired,â he replied, but his voice was clipped and dismissive.
âYou went to the hospital to apologize, right? Did you see her?â
Todoroki stilled at the mention of the hospital. His whole body froze, and his gaze dropped to the floor. The air between them grew heavy, and the silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, making Izuku regret his words almost instantly.
âI went,â Todoroki murmured eventually, his voice so low Izuku almost didnât catch it. âBut she wasnât there.â
âWell⊠thatâs okay,â Izuku said carefully. âYou can try another time. Or maybe write her a letter to the directorâs hospital directly so he can arrange a meeting?â
Todoroki didnât respond, his posture unusually stiff. Normally, Todorokiâs silences were comfortable, but this one made Izuku worry even more as his green eyes flicked to the bowl of peaches, then back to his mate.
âPeaches ?â he said, trying poorly to lighten the mood.
âI bought them after going to the hospital,â Todoroki replied flatly, popping another slice into his mouth without meeting Izukuâs gaze.
Everything felt off. Even Todorokiâs scent was wrong. The usual freshness and sweetness of frozen berries and honey was tainted with something sharp and sour, a bitterness that made his nose itchy and worried his omega. His omega instincts screamed at him to do something, to reach out, to comfort his mate.
âShoto,â Izuku said softly. âIf somethingâs bothering you, you can tell me. You donât have to deal with it alone.â
Todorokiâs gaze flickered toward the window, his expression unreadable.
âIâm fine,â he said, but the words lacked conviction.
âYouâre not fine,â Izuku said, his voice steady but gentle. He gave Todorokiâs knee a light squeeze. âBut Iâm here, we are all here so whatever it is, weâll figure it out.â
Todorokiâs breath hitched, his shoulders stiffening. But for the first time tonight, his blue and grey eyes met Izukuâs.
âI just⊠what I did was wrong. It wasnât just the heat. I couldnât think straight and someone got hurt because of me.â
âShotoâŠâ Izukuâs chest tightened.
âIt doesnât matter if I wasnât myself,â Todoroki said bitterly, his voice barely above a whisper. âI still did it. I shouldâve been stronger. I donât even understand how I could just lose control like that. Itâs never happened before.â
âYouâre not immune to your instincts, no matter how much control over them you think you have.â
Todorokiâs jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to the floor.
âI hurt someone, Izuku. Thatâs not something I can just excuse because I was in heat.â
As he faced Todoroki, Izuku remembered Katsukiâs words from earlier that day, and found himself offering a similar piece of advice to his mate. The green and orange pair unknowingly working together to support their mate.
âIâm not saying it excuses anything. What you did was wrong, and you know that. But beating yourself up over it wonât fix anything. What will make a difference is taking actionâdoing what you're already trying to do: owning up to it and making it right. â
Slowly, Todoroki leaned forward, letting his forehead rest against Izukuâs shoulder, as if the weight of it all had finally pushed him down. Izuku didnât hesitate, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him even closer. Todoroki felt tense under his touch, and something told Izuku there was more than just guilt. Something deeper, but for now, he didnât push. He held him tighter, letting his mate feel the steady warmth of his presence.
âCan I have some peaches?â Izuku murmured after a moment, his second attempt at lightening the mood that night, but, as always, he never gave up.
Todoroki huffed softly, the sound almost like a laugh. âNo.â
Izuku smiled at the sound and tried to grab a slice of peach anyway, but Todoroki moved the bowl out of reach.
âWait, seriously?â
âIâm eating them all,â he said matter-of-factly, though the corners of his lips twitched upward, hinting at a playful smile.
âI didnât know you liked it so much.â
Todoroki shrugged. âI never cared for peach, but Iâve been craving them lately.â
Hey guys, I didnât update on Sunday like I planned, and I donât think Iâll manage a second update today either (sorry about that đ). In my defense, I did try, but I can be lazy sometimes and I didnât like the first version of this chapter. This chapter ended up shorter than I wanted, and I struggled writing it. Iâd love your thoughts on it, in fact I need it for this chapter (Izuku, the dialogue, characterization...). I am not happy about it but I donât think I can improve it anymore. I wonât make any promises I canât keep, but letâs hope the next chapter is longer. After the holidays, I should be free, so Chapter 10 will be out next week!
As always, criticisms are welcomed
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
08 <- 09 -> 10
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender r ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @bluepatrolbear ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ; @roxy776699 ; @kamy-thee-egg ; @talia-the-gemini ; @pikachuzhc ; @itsnotjustmyself-blog ; @roxy776699 ; @mystic60 ; @reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens
The rest of the taglist:
@reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens ; @mailem ; @aslos ; @thatone-gayweeb ; @eveylynnn ; @nervoussangel ; @inakyo ; @graythecoffeebean ; @ninabinna ; @3thr3al ; @barrythestrawberry041 ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @primary-022 ; @prettyprojectshq ; @bluepatrolbear ; @literallyjustmyself23 ; @p3n310p3 ; @slayerdiva ; @hw-shorty ; @quixoticcat ; @fluffypuffyfishyswishy ; @roxy776699
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (10)
So itâs been a while, huh? I think the beginning of the year crashed into me like a bulldozer, and I wasnât in the mood to write. Well, I did write, but everything looked like shit from the butt. But at last, I managed to push through it. I tried something different with the writing here, so I hope itâs better than my previous work. Enjoy!
Tags: Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Pack! X fem!Reader ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; smut eventually ; fem!Reader ; afab!Reader
09 <- 10 -> 11
Masterlist
Taglist
Izuku truly wished they could put this whole incident behind them and move on. He had hoped that once Todoroki sent an email to the hospital directorâa carefully worded, deeply sincere apology addressed to Doctor L/N and the hospital, sent the day after his failed attempt at apologizing in personâ would lift some of the weight off Todoroki and Kirishimaâs shoulders. That soon enough, things would settle, and the pack would be back to normal.
But from the moment Todoroki first told them what had happened, Izuku had a bad feeling. He knew that Todoroki going to the hospital alone to apologize was the right thing to do, but there had been something in Todorokiâs eyes, a sharp glint of excitement that didnât sit right with him. And when heâd returned home that night, heâd found him on the couch, motionless, his hand buried in a bowl of peach slices and his fingers sticky with juice. His expression vacant, and absent. Kirishima hadnât been the same either. If anything, after hearing about the failed apology attempt, he had gotten worse. Somehow, a single alpha, one Izuku had never even met, had managed to throw his entire pack into chaos.
Rationally, he knew it wasnât the doctorâs fault. If anyone was to blame, it was his mates. But the whole situation was so strange, so frustrating, that he couldnât help understand how the hell they had ended up here. Heâd tried to ask Todoroki about the alpha, about you, but all he got was a name, and something about the way Todoroki said it made him hesitate to press any further. When he turned to Kirishima, he got even less. The redhead had been too angry that day to remember much at all. All he recalled, a few days later, was an unfamiliar fruity scent mixed with Todorokiâs before he broke the door open.
Now, three days had passed, yet the air in their apartment only grew heavier. And TodorokiâTodoroki was hardly there at all, more shadow than man. He spent most of his days asleep, and when he was awake, he barely moved, barely spoke. Just sat there, eyes fixed on the wall with an hollow expression, as if he were somewhere far beyond their reach. He wasnât eating either, at least not enough. Heâd claimed to have no appetite. The only thing Todoroki had asked forâhad eaten without hesitationâwas peaches. Not just a few, but an almost absurd amount, day after day, like he was possessed. He would sit there, silent and distant, methodically working through bowl after bowl, as if peaches were the only thing tethering him to reality. And the strangest part? He never seemed satisfied. No matter how many he ate, it was never enough. Since when did Todoroki even like peaches this much? Izuku had no idea and he was getting weird out by the sheer amount of peachâs pits in their trash can.
Izuku had tried to get him to eat more, something other than just peaches. He tried a soft approach, casually suggesting he add something else to his plate, like rice or any protein, just to balance it out. But no matter how he went about it, Todoroki refused every time, just shaking his head and mumbling that he wasnât hungry. Kirishimaâs attempts werenât successful either, he had brought home soba from Todorokiâs favorite spot, but Todoroki only took a couple of bites before pushing the bowl away. Katsuki couldnât do any of the gentle approaches. He had yelled, scowled, and was a breath away from shoving food down Todorokiâs throat. But none of it worked. It was like trying to start a fire with wet woodâTodoroki just sat there, blank-eyed and distant, completely unreachable.
It was a mess. A complete, exhausting mess. And if Todoroki was worrying him to death, Kirishima wasnât far behind.
At least he was still functionalâhe still ate, still spoke, still went to workâbut there was something off. He was quieter, his usual warmth dulled at the edges. Kirishima was their glue, the one who lifted their spirits and held them together when things got rough, but ever since they failed to get through to the hospitalâfailed to contact youâhe hadnât been himself fully. The only response they had gotten to Todorokiâs email was a generic, automated reply, and that had done nothing but add to Kirishimaâs guilt.
Izuku sat on the couch, his laptop on the coffee table while he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his knee, his thoughts running in circles.
This wasnât the first time Todoroki had been reckless. Beneath that calm exterior, he could be just as stubborn as Katsuki and him, even rash. But this? The complete detachment, the disregard for his own well-being, the strange obsession with a single food ? It wasnât just a quiet withdrawal from his pack, It was like heâd stopped caring about himself completely. And thatâs worried Izuku to death. He felt sick and helpless, and powerless. Why is this happening? His thoughts spiraled, fast and frantic. Was there something we missed? Maybe heâs just really tired and it will all get sort out ? But this isnât like him. Heâs shutting everyone out. Izukuâs chest tightened. What if I canât fix this? What if itâs already too late? His mind kept racing, as it always did, with no answers, just more and more questions.
The coldness from their mate reminded him too much of their early high school days, when Todoroki had been a boy made of ice, all sharp edges and frozen shut doors. Izuku felt like the bond they shared had frayed, leaving him disconnected, adrift, as if though he was fading from their grasp.
The pieces didnât add up. Frankly, the more he thought about it, the stranger it became. How had a simple visit to the hospital turned into this? What exactly had happened in that room? Izuku couldnât shake the feeling that he was missing something. And when he felt like that, he did what he always didâhe investigated.
He started with the hospital itself, combing through their website, news articles, and patient reviews. Most of it was clean. No major scandals, no malpractice lawsuits, no patient complaints that werenât immediately resolved. Still unsatisfied, he called the hospital again, this time pushing harder for answers but all he got was a meeting with the director of the hospital tomorrow afternoon which was better than nothing.
After that call, something clicked. When Todoroki came back home, heâd been in heatâand Kirishima had stayed with him through it. But it had been early, too early. The pack tracked their cycles meticulously, they had to. If all of them ended up « indisposed » at the same time, and a high-profile villain struck, it would be a disaster.
This wasnât just odd. It was wrong, he thought. There has to be an explanation for this.
And so, he dove into research again, scouring medical papers, forums, even the more questionable corners of the internet. At first, all he found were the usual causesâstress, sudden hormonal shifts, pack mates, environmental factors. But none of those fit. None of them explained why Todorokiâs heat had hit him so randomly. And then, buried under layers of medical jargon and old case studies, he found it.
It was possible to induce a heat. Not naturally, not safely, but with the right mix of drugs, it could be done. Hospitals wouldnât do it legally, of course, but the medications required for it? They werenât rare. Every one of them could be found in any hospital.
Did someone do this to him? His heart hammered in his chest, just imagining this possibility. The thought alone made his hands tremble with anger. Alphas abusing omegas were not rare, and doctors abusing their patients were even less rare. It disgusted him to think Todoroki and Kirishima were beating themselves over this incident when the doctor was responsible after all. No, just potentially responsible. He couldnât know for sure but part of him was already certain that this was the explanation.
As Izuku scrolled through paper after paper on this drug, the apartment remained still allowing him to fully soak every information he could find online. The low hum of the heater was the only sound breaking the silence. It was just him and Todoroki tonight, though he hadnât seen his mate since morning.
But then, footsteps.
Todoroki stepped into the living room, his movements slow, mechanical. He didnât acknowledge Izuku, didnât even glance in his directionâjust crossed the space and sank onto the couch with a quiet, exhausted sigh. His posture was loose, almost boneless, but there was no real relaxation to itâjust the weight of someone running on empty.
Izukuâs fingers hovered over his laptop. He hadnât even realized how much time had passed, how deep heâd buried himself in his research. Outside the glow of his screen, the apartment was already dark, save for the dim light spilling from the his pc. It was late. Later than heâd thought and he probably start to make dinner for tonight.
Izuku still remained sited on the couch though, seeing Todoroki like thisâso emptyâonly made his anger burn hotter and made him stop his tracks. But he forced himself to swallow it down. He couldnât afford to lash out, not when he still wasnât sure. He had to wait for tomorrow, when heâll have the meeting with the director.
One way or another, he was going to get answers.
Izuku shut his laptop, fingers lingering over the lid. He didnât want anyone finding out about thisânot until he had proof. But before he could fully gather his thoughts, the sudden bang of the front door swinging open, followed by the unmistakable rasp of Katsukiâs voice, nearly sent him jumping to his feet.
âThe hell is it so damn dark in here?â Bakugo grumbled, irritated as he flicked on the lights.
Izuku blinked at the sudden brightness, squinting as his blond mate strode inside with Kirishima trailing closely behind.
âHey, I thought you guys had night patrol,â Izuku said, glancing toward the clock hanging on the wall. They werenât supposed to be home yet.
âWe did,â Bakugo responded as he tossed his keys onto the counter. âSomething came up, someone covered for me.â
Kirishima didnât say anything at first. He moved past Bakugo, arms crossing over his chest as he leaned against the back of the couch, his gaze flickering toward Todoroki. Checking on him.
âMy agency had an emergency downtown,â he finally said, voice lacking its usual warmth. âA villain attack turned into a rescue op. They needed extra hands for search and rescue. By the time we were done, they gave me my evening.â
Izuku hummed in acknowledgment, but his attention drifted to Katsuki, who hadnât moved from where he stood. His gaze was locked onto Todoroki, sharp, expectant.
Waiting
But Todoroki didnât react. Didnât look up. Didnât even acknowledge any of them too.
Just nothing
Bakugo grumbled something under his breath before heading into the kitchen with anger in each step.
I hope yâall enjoyed the chapter! Chapter 11 will be out soon, and weâll get a Bakugo POV soon too. I wanted to focus on the pack dynamics before the reader enters, and thereâll be more of that next chapter. I think itâs important to show the established coupleâs bond, so yeah weâll get a lot of it and even more after the reader come in the picture.
Doing a taglist is a too much work omg, no wonder most people donât do it nowadays. On one hand I like that it hard bc thatâs mean so many people want to keep up with my fics that I ended having to tag many people, on the other hand this lowkey discouraging me from posting bc I know I have to update the list every time đ
This is such a fake ass problem to have, I am self aware.
As always, criticisms are welcomed
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
09 <- 10 -> 11
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender r ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ; @roxy776699 ; @kamy-thee-egg ; @talia-the-gemini ; @pikachuzhc ; @itsnotjustmyself-blog ; @roxy776699 ; @mystic60 ; @reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens ; @mailem ; @aslos ; @thatone-gayweeb ; @eveylynnn ; @nervoussangel ; @inakyo ; @graythecoffeebean ; @ninabinna ; @3thr3al ; @barrythestrawberry041 ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @primary-022 ; @prettyprojectshq ; @bluepatrolbear ; @literallyjustmyself23 ; @p3n310p3 ; @slayerdiva ; @hw-shorty ; @quixoticcat ; @fluffypuffyfishyswishy
So I did lie đ
But again this was me on my first chapter post.
I need to find the fire, I used to have it at the beginning. I was writing every days. I had a job for 2 months and it fucked up my rythm đ
This is what capitalism does to people, it kills their fire
Alright, next chapter is coming out this weekend. I have a shit tons of work from uni and since I am moving out of the country this summer, I have to get all my thing in order.
But itâs coming, probably late night Sunday
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (10)
So itâs been a while, huh? I think the beginning of the year crashed into me like a bulldozer, and I wasnât in the mood to write. Well, I did write, but everything looked like shit from the butt. But at last, I managed to push through it. I tried something different with the writing here, so I hope itâs better than my previous work. Enjoy!
Tags: Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Pack! X fem!Reader ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; smut eventually ; fem!Reader ; afab!Reader
09 <- 10 -> 11
Masterlist
Taglist
Izuku truly wished they could put this whole incident behind them and move on. He had hoped that once Todoroki sent an email to the hospital directorâa carefully worded, deeply sincere apology addressed to Doctor L/N and the hospital, sent the day after his failed attempt at apologizing in personâ would lift some of the weight off Todoroki and Kirishimaâs shoulders. That soon enough, things would settle, and the pack would be back to normal.
But from the moment Todoroki first told them what had happened, Izuku had a bad feeling. He knew that Todoroki going to the hospital alone to apologize was the right thing to do, but there had been something in Todorokiâs eyes, a sharp glint of excitement that didnât sit right with him. And when heâd returned home that night, heâd found him on the couch, motionless, his hand buried in a bowl of peach slices and his fingers sticky with juice. His expression vacant, and absent. Kirishima hadnât been the same either. If anything, after hearing about the failed apology attempt, he had gotten worse. Somehow, a single alpha, one Izuku had never even met, had managed to throw his entire pack into chaos.
Rationally, he knew it wasnât the doctorâs fault. If anyone was to blame, it was his mates. But the whole situation was so strange, so frustrating, that he couldnât help understand how the hell they had ended up here. Heâd tried to ask Todoroki about the alpha, about you, but all he got was a name, and something about the way Todoroki said it made him hesitate to press any further. When he turned to Kirishima, he got even less. The redhead had been too angry that day to remember much at all. All he recalled, a few days later, was an unfamiliar fruity scent mixed with Todorokiâs before he broke the door open.
Now, three days had passed, yet the air in their apartment only grew heavier. And TodorokiâTodoroki was hardly there at all, more shadow than man. He spent most of his days asleep, and when he was awake, he barely moved, barely spoke. Just sat there, eyes fixed on the wall with an hollow expression, as if he were somewhere far beyond their reach. He wasnât eating either, at least not enough. Heâd claimed to have no appetite. The only thing Todoroki had asked forâhad eaten without hesitationâwas peaches. Not just a few, but an almost absurd amount, day after day, like he was possessed. He would sit there, silent and distant, methodically working through bowl after bowl, as if peaches were the only thing tethering him to reality. And the strangest part? He never seemed satisfied. No matter how many he ate, it was never enough. Since when did Todoroki even like peaches this much? Izuku had no idea and he was getting weird out by the sheer amount of peachâs pits in their trash can.
Izuku had tried to get him to eat more, something other than just peaches. He tried a soft approach, casually suggesting he add something else to his plate, like rice or any protein, just to balance it out. But no matter how he went about it, Todoroki refused every time, just shaking his head and mumbling that he wasnât hungry. Kirishimaâs attempts werenât successful either, he had brought home soba from Todorokiâs favorite spot, but Todoroki only took a couple of bites before pushing the bowl away. Katsuki couldnât do any of the gentle approaches. He had yelled, scowled, and was a breath away from shoving food down Todorokiâs throat. But none of it worked. It was like trying to start a fire with wet woodâTodoroki just sat there, blank-eyed and distant, completely unreachable.
It was a mess. A complete, exhausting mess. And if Todoroki was worrying him to death, Kirishima wasnât far behind.
At least he was still functionalâhe still ate, still spoke, still went to workâbut there was something off. He was quieter, his usual warmth dulled at the edges. Kirishima was their glue, the one who lifted their spirits and held them together when things got rough, but ever since they failed to get through to the hospitalâfailed to contact youâhe hadnât been himself fully. The only response they had gotten to Todorokiâs email was a generic, automated reply, and that had done nothing but add to Kirishimaâs guilt.
Izuku sat on the couch, his laptop on the coffee table while he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his knee, his thoughts running in circles.
This wasnât the first time Todoroki had been reckless. Beneath that calm exterior, he could be just as stubborn as Katsuki and him, even rash. But this? The complete detachment, the disregard for his own well-being, the strange obsession with a single food ? It wasnât just a quiet withdrawal from his pack, It was like heâd stopped caring about himself completely. And thatâs worried Izuku to death. He felt sick and helpless, and powerless. Why is this happening? His thoughts spiraled, fast and frantic. Was there something we missed? Maybe heâs just really tired and it will all get sort out ? But this isnât like him. Heâs shutting everyone out. Izukuâs chest tightened. What if I canât fix this? What if itâs already too late? His mind kept racing, as it always did, with no answers, just more and more questions.
The coldness from their mate reminded him too much of their early high school days, when Todoroki had been a boy made of ice, all sharp edges and frozen shut doors. Izuku felt like the bond they shared had frayed, leaving him disconnected, adrift, as if though he was fading from their grasp.
The pieces didnât add up. Frankly, the more he thought about it, the stranger it became. How had a simple visit to the hospital turned into this? What exactly had happened in that room? Izuku couldnât shake the feeling that he was missing something. And when he felt like that, he did what he always didâhe investigated.
He started with the hospital itself, combing through their website, news articles, and patient reviews. Most of it was clean. No major scandals, no malpractice lawsuits, no patient complaints that werenât immediately resolved. Still unsatisfied, he called the hospital again, this time pushing harder for answers but all he got was a meeting with the director of the hospital tomorrow afternoon which was better than nothing.
After that call, something clicked. When Todoroki came back home, heâd been in heatâand Kirishima had stayed with him through it. But it had been early, too early. The pack tracked their cycles meticulously, they had to. If all of them ended up « indisposed » at the same time, and a high-profile villain struck, it would be a disaster.
This wasnât just odd. It was wrong, he thought. There has to be an explanation for this.
And so, he dove into research again, scouring medical papers, forums, even the more questionable corners of the internet. At first, all he found were the usual causesâstress, sudden hormonal shifts, pack mates, environmental factors. But none of those fit. None of them explained why Todorokiâs heat had hit him so randomly. And then, buried under layers of medical jargon and old case studies, he found it.
It was possible to induce a heat. Not naturally, not safely, but with the right mix of drugs, it could be done. Hospitals wouldnât do it legally, of course, but the medications required for it? They werenât rare. Every one of them could be found in any hospital.
Did someone do this to him? His heart hammered in his chest, just imagining this possibility. The thought alone made his hands tremble with anger. Alphas abusing omegas were not rare, and doctors abusing their patients were even less rare. It disgusted him to think Todoroki and Kirishima were beating themselves over this incident when the doctor was responsible after all. No, just potentially responsible. He couldnât know for sure but part of him was already certain that this was the explanation.
As Izuku scrolled through paper after paper on this drug, the apartment remained still allowing him to fully soak every information he could find online. The low hum of the heater was the only sound breaking the silence. It was just him and Todoroki tonight, though he hadnât seen his mate since morning.
But then, footsteps.
Todoroki stepped into the living room, his movements slow, mechanical. He didnât acknowledge Izuku, didnât even glance in his directionâjust crossed the space and sank onto the couch with a quiet, exhausted sigh. His posture was loose, almost boneless, but there was no real relaxation to itâjust the weight of someone running on empty.
Izukuâs fingers hovered over his laptop. He hadnât even realized how much time had passed, how deep heâd buried himself in his research. Outside the glow of his screen, the apartment was already dark, save for the dim light spilling from the his pc. It was late. Later than heâd thought and he probably start to make dinner for tonight.
Izuku still remained sited on the couch though, seeing Todoroki like thisâso emptyâonly made his anger burn hotter and made him stop his tracks. But he forced himself to swallow it down. He couldnât afford to lash out, not when he still wasnât sure. He had to wait for tomorrow, when heâll have the meeting with the director.
One way or another, he was going to get answers.
Izuku shut his laptop, fingers lingering over the lid. He didnât want anyone finding out about thisânot until he had proof. But before he could fully gather his thoughts, the sudden bang of the front door swinging open, followed by the unmistakable rasp of Katsukiâs voice, nearly sent him jumping to his feet.
âThe hell is it so damn dark in here?â Bakugo grumbled, irritated as he flicked on the lights.
Izuku blinked at the sudden brightness, squinting as his blond mate strode inside with Kirishima trailing closely behind.
âHey, I thought you guys had night patrol,â Izuku said, glancing toward the clock hanging on the wall. They werenât supposed to be home yet.
âWe did,â Bakugo responded as he tossed his keys onto the counter. âSomething came up, someone covered for me.â
Kirishima didnât say anything at first. He moved past Bakugo, arms crossing over his chest as he leaned against the back of the couch, his gaze flickering toward Todoroki. Checking on him.
âMy agency had an emergency downtown,â he finally said, voice lacking its usual warmth. âA villain attack turned into a rescue op. They needed extra hands for search and rescue. By the time we were done, they gave me my evening.â
Izuku hummed in acknowledgment, but his attention drifted to Katsuki, who hadnât moved from where he stood. His gaze was locked onto Todoroki, sharp, expectant.
Waiting
But Todoroki didnât react. Didnât look up. Didnât even acknowledge any of them too.
Just nothing
Bakugo grumbled something under his breath before heading into the kitchen with anger in each step.
I hope yâall enjoyed the chapter! Chapter 11 will be out soon, and weâll get a Bakugo POV soon too. I wanted to focus on the pack dynamics before the reader enters, and thereâll be more of that next chapter. I think itâs important to show the established coupleâs bond, so yeah weâll get a lot of it and even more after the reader come in the picture.
Doing a taglist is a too much work omg, no wonder most people donât do it nowadays. On one hand I like that it hard bc thatâs mean so many people want to keep up with my fics that I ended having to tag many people, on the other hand this lowkey discouraging me from posting bc I know I have to update the list every time đ
This is such a fake ass problem to have, I am self aware.
As always, criticisms are welcomed
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
09 <- 10 -> 11
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender r ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ; @roxy776699 ; @kamy-thee-egg ; @talia-the-gemini ; @pikachuzhc ; @itsnotjustmyself-blog ; @roxy776699 ; @mystic60 ; @reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens ; @mailem ; @aslos ; @thatone-gayweeb ; @eveylynnn ; @nervoussangel ; @inakyo ; @graythecoffeebean ; @ninabinna ; @3thr3al ; @barrythestrawberry041 ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @primary-022 ; @prettyprojectshq ; @bluepatrolbear ; @literallyjustmyself23 ; @p3n310p3 ; @slayerdiva ; @hw-shorty ; @quixoticcat ; @fluffypuffyfishyswishy
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (01)
I didnât expect to drop the first chapter so fast. Thank you everyone who liked and/or commented on my previous post !! Hope yâall will like this one !!
Summary <- 01 -> 02
Masterlist
Taglist
Warning: I donât know anything about hospital or how they actually work, I tried to make it accurate as much as possible, cursing ?
tags: aged-up characters ; Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; afab!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; eventually smut
Also, reader is bisexual !
Working in a hospital was always exhausting. You never imagined yourself becoming a doctor; in fact, you never even dreamt of it. But with a healing quirk like yours, combined with the prestige and respect the profession brought, you felt pushed into it. It wasnât so bad, though. Being a beta, you had an edge here. In a place where emotions ran high and pheromones flooded the air, you stayed grounded. While alphas and omegas could be thrown into chaos by the scent and pheromones around them, you kept your cool. It was one of the few perks of being a beta in a high-stress environment like this.
Today felt no different from the others as you made your way down the sterile hallway, heading for your next patient. Just as you were about to enter their room, the sound of hurried footsteps caught your attention. A group of paramedics rushed past you, wheeling a stretcher with a patient barely visible under layers of blankets.
The moment they passed, the air shifted. The doctor in charge, a tall, sharp-eyed alpha, started barking orders at the nurses, his voice cutting through the usual calmness of the hospital. You could tell by the urgency that this wasnât just any patient. No, this had to be someone important. A pro-hero, maybe? It wouldnât be the first time one of them was brought in after a brutal fight. For a moment, curiosity sparked inside you, and you wondered who they were. But duty called. You pushed open the door to your patientâs room, the soft click of the handle snapping you back into focus. Your professional demeanor slid into place like a well-worn mask.
"Good morning! How are you feeling today?"
The patient shifted under the thin sheet, eyes half-closed.
"Better, I think... Still sore, though," they murmured.
You nodded, already making mental notes.
âThatâs to be expected. Letâs have a look at those vitals and see how you're doing.â
After finishing up with your patient, the day moved on with the usual requests and minor chaos of the hospital. It wasnât long before Asuna, the cute omega nurse, approached you again, her brown eyes wide as she asked
âPlease, Y/N, I really need to leave early today. I swear Iâll buy your lunch tomorrow.â
You couldnât help but wonder why people always came to you for favors. It wasnât like you had a particularly welcoming vibe, yet somehow, this was the third time she had asked you to cover her last round so she could head out early.
âY/N, I promise, itâs the last time.â
Her wide brown eyes locked onto yours, and you knew she had you. It wasnât the first time Asuna had asked for a favor, and you doubted it would be the last.
âAlright, Asuna, youâre a pain in the ass. This is the last time, though. I mean it,â you said, though your tone didnât carry much conviction.
Her smile brightened, and with a quick, âThank you, Doctor L/N!â she handed you her patient list and dashed off to the locker room.
You shook your head slightly, more amused than annoyed. People always seemed to assume you were an easy target for these things, but the truth was, you just didnât care enough to make a big deal out of it. Besides, it was easier to say yes and get on with your day than to fight over it. Since she was assigned to the hero wing, you made your way there, your steps steady and automatic. The hero wing wasnât all that different from the rest of the hospital, just quieter. The lighting was a bit softer, and the rooms offered a little more privacy, but beyond that, it was still a hospitalâwhite walls, the faint scent of disinfectant in the air, and the steady hum of medical equipment. You made your way down the familiar hallway, passing a few closed doors until you reached the patientâs room at the end.
After a brief knock on the door with no response, you entered the room, heading straight for the bed. Their room was larger than most, with enough space to accommodate any necessary equipment, but otherwise, it was like every other patient room. The sunlight filtered through thin blue curtains, casting a dull glow over the room. You checked the vitals on instinct, your eyes drifting to the patient, and then froze when you realized who you were looking at pro-hero Shoto Todoroki.
Seeing him up close was something else. One of Japanâs most famous heroes, practically a celebrity, and here he was, fast asleep in front of you. His hair rested against his shoulders, the unusual coloring drawing your attention in a way you couldnât quite explain. His features were sharp yet soft and refined, but it was the contrast in his appearance, much like an exotic bird, that caught your eye. There was something striking, captivating about the way he looked. He was just... pretty. There was no other way to describe it. Everything about him screamed "pretty boy." You were so captivated by the length of his lashes, thick and dark against his skin, that you didnât even notice when his eyes opened and met yours.
The two of you stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity. Youâd heard Shoto was on the quieter side, but this silence felt different, as if he were trying to figure out why a doctor had been watching him sleep. It was unprofessionalâcreepy, evenâand you had no valid excuse for why you were still staring. The awkwardness of the moment built until it was unbearable, and just as you opened your mouth to apologize, you noticed something shift in his gaze.
There was something more beneath it now, something charged. His cheeks flushed, the soft pink blossoming across his skin like a dahlia. The color spread gradually, delicate at first but quickly deepening into a rich, vibrant hue. His wide eyes, one blue and one gray, darkened as his pupils expanded, a hazy look settling in them. As if he was suddenly hyperaware of every breath you took. The heart monitorâs consistent beeping suddenly picked up pace, the rhythm escalating without warning.
Instinctively, you reached out, your hand barely grazing his shoulder. His entire body trembled at the touch. It was immediate, his body responding to even the slightest touch.
Then, in a small, broken voice, he whispered.
âAlpha... pleaseâŠâ
You almost laughed at the absurdity of it, the words so out of place that they felt like a joke. But before you could react, a scent hit you, so strong and unexpected that it threatened to short-circuit your brain.
Alright, I did the first one. As always, I like criticism and I find them really helpful so donât hesitate to tell me if something is weird or wrong about my writing !!
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers !
Summary <- 01 -> 02
Taglist
This whole firstname versus surname issue has been bothering me for a while. I was wondering what was holding me back from writing the next chapter, and I think I can't continue until I decide whether I want the narrator to address all the boys by their first names or surnames.
I can't decide, so I'm letting you all choose. ((Sorry for the false notification, everyone. I'll work on this week's chapter once I figure this out.))
I will change the whole fic accordingly to this poll, not now bc I feel lazy but eventually. ((Also I havenât updated the taglist yet, Iâll do it for the next chapter update))
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher r ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @bluepatrolbear ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ;
I am running late on this week chapter of Learning to Belong , I am so sorry !
Iâll tried to post it very late tonight or maybe tomorrow, if I get too tired. I promise this isnât the first sign of me deserting the story (I know how it feel when an fic author slowly disappears, and you are left high and dry). By the way, the polls ended up being split between two answers so I guess I wonât change anything for now and Iâll figure it out later (hopefully).
For the Izuku die hard (itâs me, I am talking about me) his chapter is coming just after this one ! I hope youâll like my version of Izuku bc I do take a bit more creative liberty with him than the other. But itâll be good, I promise.
Learning to belong ~ poly!MHA x fem!Reader (09)
Alright, merry Christmas everyone ! A bit late but still. I donât have anything to offer to you guys. I can activate my anonymous ask if you guys want to ask me questions about the fic, I wonât say anything thatâll spoil the story but if any of you have a question. Why not ?
Warning: cursing (?)
Tags: Pack! Izuku Midoriya X Bakugo Katsuki X Shoto Todoroki X Kirishima Eijirou ; Pack! X fem!Reader ; Omega!Izuku Midoriya ; Omega!Bakugo Katsuki ; Omega!Shoto Todoroki ; Omega!Kirishima Eijirou ; technically Beta!Reader ; modern Au ; post-UA ; Reader has a quirk ; non hero!Reader ; smut eventually ; fem!Reader ; afab!Reader
08 <- 09 -> 10
Masterlist
Taglist
Izuku left his appartement troubled the day Todorokiâs "confessed" to them what really happened at the hospital. Heâd spent the morning buried in his work at the agency he shared with Katsuki, hoping patrols and incident reports would quiet the uneasiness settling inside him. But it lingered, clouding his thoughts.
It wasnât anger, not exactly. Or at least, not just anger. Frustration, maybe. A weight of uncertainty pressing on his chest, mixed with a bitter taste of jealousy he wasnât proud to admit. He understood. He did. He knew how overwhelming a bad heat could be for an omega, how it could strip away all logic, leaving them at the mercy of your instincts. Heâd been there himself, and heâd rather break every bones in his body than revisiting some of those awkward, clumsy high schoolâs memories. Though that knowledge didnât make it easier to imagine Todoroki in that vulnerable, desperate state, reaching out for a stranger. The thought twisted in his chest. It wasnât that Izuku doubted Todorokiâs love or loyalty. Absolutely not, years of shared struggles, laughters, near-death battles, and quiet mornings filled with kisses and affection had since long dispelled his old fears of being abandoned and not being enough for his pack. But imagining Todoroki like that, with someone else, left him haunted by the question: What if Kirishima hadnât come in time? It had clung to him all morning, feeding his uneasiness. Again, It wasnât about mistrust, he trusted Todoroki with his own life, it was about the helplessness of it all. He hated that his mate had gone through something so overwhelming and difficult, and he hadnât been there to help.
By the time lunch rolled around, the weight of his thoughts was too much to bear. Izuku found Katsuki in the breakroom, halfway through his usual homemade lunch.
âKacchan,â Izuku began hesitantly, sliding into the seat across from him and opening his own lunch box.
Katsuki paused mid-chew, his sharp crimson eyes narrowing recognizing the worried look in his mate green eyes . âWhat?â
Izuku poked at his food, his appetite nowhere to be found. âItâs about Shoto.â
That got Katsukiâs attention. He set his chopsticks down with a deliberate clink, leaning back in his chair with a sigh.
âWhat about him? You still hung up on the hospital thing?â
âIâm not âhung up,ââ Izuku said quickly, though the defensiveness in his voice betrayed him. âI just⊠I donât know how to feel about it. I canât stop thinking about it.â
âYouâre overthinking. As usual.â
âKacchan, Iâm serious. Please.â
Katsuki studied him for a moment, his sharp gaze softening just slightly. âAre you mad at him? You know he wouldnât have done that if his brain wasnât heat-fried, right?â
âNo, Iâm not mad at him. Maybe a little,â Izuku admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. âBut Iâm more mad at myself. This whole thing is just so⊠weird. And maybe if Iâd noticed he was going into an early heat, none of this wouldâve happened.â
Katsuki clicked his tongue, leaning forward. âYouâre not a damn mind reader. The half-and-half bastard didnât even know what was going on with himself. Yeah, it sucks, and I donât like it too, but you canât stop every little thing from going wrong before it happens.â
Izuku frowned, concern flickering across his face. âI know, but Iâm still really worried about him. Didnât he still look⊠off this morning? I canât shake the feeling that heâs not okay.â
âOf course, heâs not okay,â Katsuki snapped, though there was no real bite in his voice. âBut thatâs why we, youâve gotta talk to him instead of sitting here stewing in your own damn head like a dumbass. You wanna fix this? Go home and deal with it. No point in worrying all day about it, focus on what you can do now and do it.â
Izuku nodded in response.
âYouâre right. I justâthank you, Kacchan. Really.â
Katsuki rolled his eyes but didnât pull his hand away when Izuku reached out to give it a quick squeeze. âYeah, yeah. Donât get all sappy on me.â
He held Izukuâs hand for a moment before pulling free, grabbing his chopsticks again.
âNow shut up and eat,â Katsuki added. âI didnât bust my ass making lunch just for you to waste it.â
Izuku smiled, the tension in his chest easing just a little.
.
.
.
By the time Izuku got home that evening, the weight in his chest had eased, thanks to Katsukiâs words lingering in his mind. Tonight, it would just be him and TodorokiâKirishima and Bakugo were out on night patrol so they wouldnât be back before later in the night.
The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the heater. As Izuku stepped into the living room, he spotted Todoroki on the couch, sitting cross-legged with a bowl of peach slices perched on the armrest beside him. He looked up briefly when Izuku entered, his lips twitching into a faint smile. But it didnât reach his eyesâjust polite, and anything but genuine.
âHey,â Izuku greeted gently, as he studied Todorokiâs face. The jealousy and frustration that had gnawed at him earlier felt distant now, the only thing left from his emotional turmoil was concern for his mate.
âLong day?â he asked, moving closer.
Todoroki shrugged, picking up a peach slice from the bowl.
âNot really. Just tired.â
âTired how?â Izuku pressed, sitting beside him. âPost-heat tired, or⊠something else?â
There was a pause, just long enough for Izuku to notice the way Todorokiâs fingers tightened around the edge of the bowl.
âPost-heat tired,â he replied, but his voice was clipped and dismissive.
âYou went to the hospital to apologize, right? Did you see her?â
Todoroki stilled at the mention of the hospital. His whole body froze, and his gaze dropped to the floor. The air between them grew heavy, and the silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, making Izuku regret his words almost instantly.
âI went,â Todoroki murmured eventually, his voice so low Izuku almost didnât catch it. âBut she wasnât there.â
âWell⊠thatâs okay,â Izuku said carefully. âYou can try another time. Or maybe write her a letter to the directorâs hospital directly so he can arrange a meeting?â
Todoroki didnât respond, his posture unusually stiff. Normally, Todorokiâs silences were comfortable, but this one made Izuku worry even more as his green eyes flicked to the bowl of peaches, then back to his mate.
âPeaches ?â he said, trying poorly to lighten the mood.
âI bought them after going to the hospital,â Todoroki replied flatly, popping another slice into his mouth without meeting Izukuâs gaze.
Everything felt off. Even Todorokiâs scent was wrong. The usual freshness and sweetness of frozen berries and honey was tainted with something sharp and sour, a bitterness that made his nose itchy and worried his omega. His omega instincts screamed at him to do something, to reach out, to comfort his mate.
âShoto,â Izuku said softly. âIf somethingâs bothering you, you can tell me. You donât have to deal with it alone.â
Todorokiâs gaze flickered toward the window, his expression unreadable.
âIâm fine,â he said, but the words lacked conviction.
âYouâre not fine,â Izuku said, his voice steady but gentle. He gave Todorokiâs knee a light squeeze. âBut Iâm here, we are all here so whatever it is, weâll figure it out.â
Todorokiâs breath hitched, his shoulders stiffening. But for the first time tonight, his blue and grey eyes met Izukuâs.
âI just⊠what I did was wrong. It wasnât just the heat. I couldnât think straight and someone got hurt because of me.â
âShotoâŠâ Izukuâs chest tightened.
âIt doesnât matter if I wasnât myself,â Todoroki said bitterly, his voice barely above a whisper. âI still did it. I shouldâve been stronger. I donât even understand how I could just lose control like that. Itâs never happened before.â
âYouâre not immune to your instincts, no matter how much control over them you think you have.â
Todorokiâs jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to the floor.
âI hurt someone, Izuku. Thatâs not something I can just excuse because I was in heat.â
As he faced Todoroki, Izuku remembered Katsukiâs words from earlier that day, and found himself offering a similar piece of advice to his mate. The green and orange pair unknowingly working together to support their mate.
âIâm not saying it excuses anything. What you did was wrong, and you know that. But beating yourself up over it wonât fix anything. What will make a difference is taking actionâdoing what you're already trying to do: owning up to it and making it right. â
Slowly, Todoroki leaned forward, letting his forehead rest against Izukuâs shoulder, as if the weight of it all had finally pushed him down. Izuku didnât hesitate, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him even closer. Todoroki felt tense under his touch, and something told Izuku there was more than just guilt. Something deeper, but for now, he didnât push. He held him tighter, letting his mate feel the steady warmth of his presence.
âCan I have some peaches?â Izuku murmured after a moment, his second attempt at lightening the mood that night, but, as always, he never gave up.
Todoroki huffed softly, the sound almost like a laugh. âNo.â
Izuku smiled at the sound and tried to grab a slice of peach anyway, but Todoroki moved the bowl out of reach.
âWait, seriously?â
âIâm eating them all,â he said matter-of-factly, though the corners of his lips twitched upward, hinting at a playful smile.
âI didnât know you liked it so much.â
Todoroki shrugged. âI never cared for peach, but Iâve been craving them lately.â
Hey guys, I didnât update on Sunday like I planned, and I donât think Iâll manage a second update today either (sorry about that đ). In my defense, I did try, but I can be lazy sometimes and I didnât like the first version of this chapter. This chapter ended up shorter than I wanted, and I struggled writing it. Iâd love your thoughts on it, in fact I need it for this chapter (Izuku, the dialogue, characterization...). I am not happy about it but I donât think I can improve it anymore. I wonât make any promises I canât keep, but letâs hope the next chapter is longer. After the holidays, I should be free, so Chapter 10 will be out next week!
As always, criticisms are welcomed
Big thank you to @cafekitsune who made the beautiful dividers
08 <- 09 -> 10
Taglist: @too-much-gacha ; @electronicexpertshark ; @poopopp ; @cjdjfhfhfufjfdj ; @kimi01985 ; @icycoldbeanieweanies ; @ghostlyworld ; @marsbars09 ; @queenondeezmatatas ; @imnotherw ; @bedheadloser ; @chrisbiniesluvrr ; @fsocs-blog ; @jadeddangel ; @qardasngan ; @omgeyeless-blog ; @goldenglow149 ; @andysteve1311 ; @pinkmelodies ; @hopefulb1ue ; @redkarmakai ; @zukusluvr ; @navezepol221 ; @candiiee ; @aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaq ; @mniya ; @randomhuman112 ; @mintvender r ; @deadendgrim ; @captainswanarcher ; @figbaby ; @midnight-nightmare ; @bluepatrolbear ; @talilosha ; @bawlangya ; @optimisticprime3 ; @purplescorpi0 ; @astrolovedy ; @desiree-lee ; @okaysxx ; @the-faceless-bride ; @thelameone101 ; @gethexxed ; @lowkeyhottho ; @bvirrious ; @heespretty ; @roxy776699 ; @kamy-thee-egg ; @talia-the-gemini ; @pikachuzhc ; @itsnotjustmyself-blog ; @roxy776699 ; @mystic60 ; @reallysparklychaos ; @sixxze ; @blurryperrtymoonlight ; @1poison-cat1 ; @allyfoxglove ; @mindsbloody ; @jkvolgs ; @haruaikawa ; @k3nmakyan ; @my-anime-garden ; @fto6 ; @hanniesroom ; @readeryn68 ; @queenofsimps001 ; @mai1em ; @demonzgutzz ; @sleepy-x-snake ; @xxang3|zz ; @decadentcrusadefun ; @shhhstar ; @n3ptOnee ; @nxcx|Ixsevens