Chapter Text
He hadn’t been prepared for love. But does the forest prepare for the wildfire, raging, all consuming and destructive? Wiping clean what came before. Leaving in it’s wake the groundwork for rebirth.
It was tradition.
Every year, when the leaves had long since turned shades of burnished gold and crisp crimson, The Harvest begins. The wild clan of the mountains comes down from their snowy peaks and wilderness to trade with the kingdom of Musutafu to the south. A tradition born from the tenuous peace fostered between the two peoples hundreds of years ago to end a long and disastrous war.
Now it’s a festival. The people of the Mountain Clan set up camp on the borders of the southern kingdom’s major cities to trade and celebrate. They come with their raw gems and gold, furs and meats selling and trading for the grains, livestock and supplies to survive their long harsh winters in the wilderness. They’d visit the border of each city, staying for several days. At each stop the city leaders, earls and dukes and even the king, would send gifts to the clan’s elders to show appreciation for the role they play in keeping the peace between Musutafu and the things that lurk further north than even the mountains.
Izuku was one such gift.
He trailed behind his handler, shivering as they passed by stalls and tents, where nobles were shopping and marveling. The green haired omega carried a small chest, ornately decorated, the girl next to him had an identical one. Three large dogs flanked them, one on either side of him and the other omega and one between them, chained to the cuffs on their wrists. Collars around the omegas necks showed they were owned but not mated, the fact that the collars were gold showed the status of their owner. Izuku and the girl were even dressed to match, short, thin, white tunics, gold chains around their waist and nothing more. Simple, but a clear show of wealth.
As they made their way through the camp Izuku stole a look at the girl beside him. He’d only met her earlier that morning when they’d been scrubbed down and cleaned up in order to look more presentable. She was pretty, soft and curvy, with a delicately floral scent. Her round cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her brown eyes looked terrified even if she was trying to hide it. He couldn’t help but wonder why an omega like her would be given away, why she wasn’t some noble’s mate. She was clearly well fed and well cared for unlike him who’d simply been a thief caught where he wasn’t supposed to be. He was skin and bones from living on the streets and while male omegas were rare, in the city of Aldera they were looked down upon, seen by their overly religious culture as abominations.
Izuku shifted restlessly as they waited their turn in the line outside the tent, his anxious movements earning him disapproving looks from the handler.
“What do you think they’re like?” She whispered softly, breaking the silence and catching him off guard.
“Oh, um, I’m not- well, I don’t know. I’ve never-“ he stumbled over his words until silenced by their handler who tugged harshly on his leash nearly causing him to trip. He wondered if it would be worse there than it was here. He didn’t know much about the mountain clan, only rumors that they were wild and savage and severe. They fought monsters and kept company with pirates. Their prince the most notorious among them, known for his violence and temper. He didn’t know how they treated omegas, but he couldn’t imagine it’d be any better than it had been in the city where people were more civilized.
The tent at the back of the camp was massive in comparison to others, adorned in furs and feathers and claws that had to belong to creatures much larger than any Izuku had ever seen. There was a line to get in, messengers and gift bearers from other nobles waiting to give their tributes.
“It’ll be okay,” he said softly, his voice scratchy and weak as they were finally led into the tent. She looked at him, anxiety and confusion painted on her pretty features. He wondered what she’d look like if she’d smile, if he’d ever find out. When the girl didn’t respond, just looked at him, he continued, “I’ll find a way, if it’s bad then, I- I’ll find you, we’ll run. I prom-“ his vow was cut short by an excited squeal near the front of the tent, drawing his attention away from the girl and it was then he took in their new surroundings.
It was certainly warmer inside the tent, but not enough to stop his shivering. There was a dais at the very back of the tent, well lit by torches. On it was a simple wooden throne, decorated with feathers, antlers, pelts and teeth. A strong blonde woman sat on the throne, leaning forward now, eyes drawn to Izuku. In fact all eyes were now on him, as he looked around. It unsettled him.
“Look at you!” a boy exclaimed, bounding off the dais and towards Izuku. Paying no mind to his disgruntled handler or the ominous dogs. “Are you seeing this!?” He called to someone over his shoulder excitedly as he crowded into Izuku’s space, soft hands brushing green curls off his cheeks, taking him in with something like giddy wonder. The green haired omega could easily smell him in this proximity and knew instantly the blond boy was an omega, like him. But he had come from the dais had he not? A position that would indicate some amount of power, could it be possible the Mountain Clan held omegas in higher regards that they did in Aldera? This boy was not only unchecked by any alpha but he was well groomed and well dressed. His slender neck was marked and on full display, his billowy shirt unbuttoned, revealing a long sliver of toned chest.
“You’re crowding him Denki, back off,” a deeper voice cut through, distinctly male, distinctly alpha. The blonde’s alpha? Izuku could feel his knees shaking, overwhelmed by the attention and confusion that came along with it.
“I’m sorry! It’s just that he's perfect!” The excitable omega called back, not taking his eyes off of Izuku. “What’s your name, little omega? How old are you? You’re a bit thin-“
“He looks like he’s going to fall over, give him space” the alpha responded and moved into Izuku’s line of sight, pushing the other omega away. He was big and bare chested even in the cold with a riot of red hair crowning his head, and blood red eyes to match.
Izuku felt the room spin. The red haired alpha was bickering with his handler, demanding the keys to the omegas bindings. The handler was offended, complaining about the lack of manners and protocol, he needed to announce the gifts from the Earl, it was most uncouth to be interrupted. The alpha took the boxes from Izuku and the girl beside him, passing them off to be placed at the base of the dais with all the other gifts and offerings ignoring the uppity handler with a “Yeah, yeah, yeah…”
“Don’t mind Denki,” the red alpha said to Izuku and the omega’s eyes hit the floor out of habit, “he’s just easily excitable. He’s gonna take you someplace a little more comfortable to get warmed up and get some food in you okay? You can take your friend too.” Izuku hadn’t realized he’d been gripping the brunette girl’s hand like a life line until the alpha looked between them. “You got a name?” The alpha asked, and reached carefully towards the hesitant omegas to remove their cuffs and then their collars.
Izuku nodded then and when the alpha didn’t respond he realized the other male was waiting for a response, “M-Midoriya Izuku,” he mumbled as he rubbed a hand across his bare throat. It was freeing in a way but also left him feeling oddly exposed, he’d been in a collar since he was 14.
Izuku dared a glance at him, the alpha beamed, showing off sharp teeth, which wasn’t as unsettling as it should have been. His scent, Izuku thought, warm and rich, it smelled like comfort and protection. “I’m Kirishima Eijirou and this ball of energy is Kaminari Denki,” the alpha, Kirishima, spoke kindly. “And who are you?”
“I’m- my name is Ururaka Ochako,” the girl said softly, but she was looking at Izuku when she spoke. He gave her a fragile smile and squeezed her hand again.
With introductions out of the way they quietly followed behind the chatty omega as he led them out of the large tent to one close by. Kaminari would go back and forth between explaining certain tents and telling them how cute they were and how lucky their clan was to have such cute omegas. Izuku was too bewildered by the fact that three omegas had been left to their own devices to wander or the fact that this omega seemed to have even a scrap of authority here.
“We don’t, um, need an alpha with us?” Izuku asked hesitantly, his own voice feeling strange in his mouth after being silent so long.
The other omega gave him an odd look, “No. What would we need an alpha for?” He asked as though the thought were absurd. Izuku just shook his head, this place was strange, not bad, not yet. But strange.
“Here we are!” Kaminari said, leading them into a smaller tent. It was warm and the ground was littered with plush blankets and soft pillows, the few others inside were mostly omega and a few betas.
A gasp from the other side of the tent, “Denki! Is that-!?” A girl was on them instantly, pink hair, pink, well, everything really, she didn’t look human, horns and black eyes unsettled him further, but she wasn’t threatening. Kaminari beamed at her, proud as he muttered a “yep” while patting Izuku on the shoulder. Their puzzling reactions to him kept hitching his anxiety up higher and higher. What did they want him for? Why were they so excited about it? What were they going to do to him?
The girl introduced herself to them as simply Mina as she grabbed Ururaka and Izuku by the hands, walking backwards to pull them towards a cozy corner with a small low table where she urged them all to sit.
“Midoriya was it?” She asked and he nodded, “Here, eat. You’re skin and bones. You too cutie,” she said to Ururaka with a wink.
“I-I’m sorry, what um, what exactly is going on?” Izuku asked as he picked at an odd fruit.
Mina cocked her head, eyes darting to Kaminari who shrugged.
“What do you mean hun?” Mina questioned with a soft voice.
Izuku glanced at Ururaka, staying close and nearly pressed right up against him. “I mean, what exactly happens to us now? Who do we belong to? What-“
“You don’t belong to anyone,” Kaminari interrupted. Mina was giving him an odd look and nodding.
“Right. I forget sometimes things are different down here,” she said too seriously for her pretty features. “What happens now is we feed you, cloth you and get you healthy. Eventually you’ll find a role or job you like, a way to contribute to the clan, But no one owns you, not anymore!” She tacked on a bright smile but Izuku was struggling to comprehend what she was saying. He was… free? This wasn’t a concept he could really wrap his head around.
“Well I’m sure Lady Bakugou will want to have a word with you specifically,” Kaminari added with a sly grin as he waved a finger at Izuku. He was still trying to comprehend what Mina was telling him and gave the blond a concerned look. He assumed the other boy meant the Alpha woman from the tent though he couldn’t fathom why she’d want to speak to him. She seemed to important, likely the clan head.
“Why me?” He asked with another small bite of a meat he wasn’t sure he recognized.
“Well, you’re male and omega. There’s- well- we’ve had our eye out for one for a long time. I’ll let her explain it though it’s not really my place.” Kaminari said and took a big drink from a wooden stein.
“But you’re a male omega,” Izuku replied and grabbed his own stein and almost choked on the warm spiced drink inside. Mina laughed and Kaminari patted him on the back.
“Careful now, that’s strong,” Mina told him with amusement.
“I’m not what our Lady is looking for,” Kaminari said, “she’s going to offer you a position. It’s a risky job but I’m sure it comes with extra perks too,” he added, winking at Mina. The two of them seeming very amused by their vagaries.
“Finish eating and get some rest,” Mina said, “you two look exhausted.”
Izuku looked at Ururaka who was quietly eating next to him and honestly he got it. He was feeling pretty numb and a little confused and uncomfortable at this point in time. “This is… a lot,” she said and he could see her shoulders sag with some relief.
Kaminari left them to head back to the main tent while Mina kept them company through their meal, chatting about some of the others in the tent. People watched, Izuku was still catching attention, but they didn’t move in and didn’t say anything. Mina asked them a bit about their background but treaded carefully. She seemed to put extra effort into opening Ururaka up. And eventually the other girl did seem to relax a little.
Soon enough their full bellies and the mulled cider found them yawning even though it was early. Mina threw one of the many fur blankets at them and told them to sleep. They pulled up blankets and the pillows they’d been sitting on and curled up. Ururaka stayed close, her eyes said she had something to say and her scent was still stressed.
“Can I um- is it alright if I move closer?” She finally asked after a while, pink cheeked and nervous. Izuku felt his own face flush. He couldn’t remember the last time he was held by someone he cared about. He nodded and lifted the fur blanket and she quickly scooted in wrapping her arms around his thin frame and burying her face in the crook of his neck. Relief flooded both of them. She was soft and warm and seemed so kind, it comforted him greatly. For the moment they were safe, fed, and warm. Sleep found them quickly.
Izuku woke to flickering fire light and a soft hand on his shoulder. Night had fallen yet the camp only seemed louder from when he fell asleep.
“Come with me,” Kaminari said in a hushed tone, some of the occupants of the tent were still sleeping despite the noise, including Ururaka.
Izuku groggily disentangled himself from his companion to stumble after the blonde omega with a fur pulled around his slim shoulders. “What’s going on?” He asked, voice scratchy with sleep.
“Our lady wants a word with you,” Kaminari told him with an energetic grin. “But alphas aren’t allowed in this tent.” Izuku screwed up his face in confusion but asked no further questions.
As they emerged from the tent the blonde woman from earlier was waiting, strong arms crossed and a pleased smirk on her face. “Walk with me little one,” she said, no room for arguments. Izuku followed obediently.
They walked in silence for a time, away from the bustling camp where northerners were celebrating and neared the edge of the woods. After some distance she stopped and turned to face him head on.
“Look, I’ll be straight with you kid, what I’m about to ask is a favor more than anything. Even if you refuse you’ll still come with us, still have your freedom, I won’t count it against you. Got it? But if you agree, I’ll give you damn near anything you ask because honestly, I’m desperate,” the alpha admitted, clearly exasperated.
“W-what do you want from me?” Izuku asked, curiosity and nervousness rising within him in equal parts.
The alpha sighed. “I want you to marry my son.”