Beside me, Tomura let out a sharp, indignant snort, his brows knitting together in annoyance. A faint flush colored his cheeks, but he quickly masked his discomfort, straightening his posture and adopting his usual air of seriousness.
"Mr. Compress will take you to the doctor. He'll patch you up in no time," he said softly, offering a reassuring gesture for Izuku to follow.
—
Shigiraki POV
Once Izuku disappeared from view, every trace of emotion vanished from my face as I turned to my subordinate. They let out a nervous laugh, curiosity dancing in their eyes. Their gaze lingered on the hallway where my omega had just left, unable to hide their interest. Irritation pricked at me, making my eye twitch sharply.
"Shiggy got a boyfriend, shiggy got a boyfriend." Toga teased, prancing around me.
"Enough."
"Isn't that kid—" I glared at him, and he cut himself off.
I released my pheromones in a powerful, commanding wave, my aura thick and heavy, saturating the air and pressing down upon everyone in the room. The force of it made each breath a struggle, drawing uneasy, shallow gasps from my subordinates. I let my gaze travel slowly across the room, locking eyes with each person and holding their stare for an uncomfortably long moment, making sure they felt every ounce of my authority.
"You will not speak of this incident to no one."
Toga scoffed, "And if—"
I grabbed him by the throat. I squeezed just enough to cut her airway.
The light-hearted banter in the room vanished in an instant, as if snuffed out by a chill wind.
'Why am I so angry?'
I had never unleashed this level of aggression before. My usual approach was methodical and composed, always relying on carefully calculated strategies, only ever allowing my temper to slip when plans veered unexpectedly off course. Now, though, something had shifted. The tension in the air was palpable, hanging thick and heavy over the group. Every trace of levity faded from my subordinates' faces as the seriousness of the moment settled over them like a storm cloud.
. . . . .
I awoke in the soft glow of morning, my gaze instinctively falling to the arms I had wrapped protectively around my mate. He breathed quietly against my chest, his body curled so delicately in my embrace that it was hard to believe he was the same formidable figure I'd seen on television. In sleep, he seemed impossibly small and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the ambitious, determined spirit that drew me to him in the first place. His kindness, his relentless drive, sometimes I wondered how I became so fortunate to be bound to someone so loving and extraordinary.
Yet, beneath that gentle exterior ran a deep current of hardship. People envied his position, coveting the spotlight he occupied, but they never saw the strain it placed on him. He never allowed himself a moment to savor his victories, always pressing forward toward the next ambitious goal, the next expectation.
My purpose is the right choice I need to make this world a fair place for people just like us.
Carefully, I reached out and brushed my fingers across his cheek, marveling at how soft and squishy his skin felt beneath my touch. The faintest trace of his scent hung in the air, sweet and light, making my nose tingle with quiet joy. A question nudged at the back of my mind: when would his heat begin? Actually, now I'm thinking about it, we've known each other for nearly a year, and he has not once gone through a cycle. He'd never spoken of it either. He simply continued with his routine, going to school each day without complaint or interruption.
I adiubly sighed and laid quietly, just waiting for him to open his eyes.
. . .
He woke up smiling lazily.
"Morning." He hugged me, snuggling into my chest.
"Good morning." Pulling closer, relishing in his scent.
Izuku's scent enveloped me in a delicate blend of honey and fresh lavender, warm and comforting yet gently intoxicating. The sweet floral notes lingered in the air, flooding my senses and wrapping around me like the softest blanket. Each breath I drew was infused with his essence, leaving me almost dizzy with the simple pleasure of how wonderful he smelled.
"What time is it?" He asked sleepily, rubbing his head against my chest.
"12."
He jolted. He was going to get up, then suddenly stopped, relaxing in my arms.
"Shouldn't you be panicking?" I joked.
"Not anymore." He curled back into my arms, looking me in the eyes.
"Why is that?" Curious about his reasons.
"I made a choice. Being a hero or you."
"Let me guess, you choose both." I smiled, rubbing his cheek.
"You." I froze for a split second.
"Me?" I said in disbelief.
My fiercely driven omega, whose spirit had chased a singular dream for over eleven years, chose to anchor himself by my side instead. He set aside that long-held aspiration, the one woven into the very fabric of his being, just to build a life with me.
"Of course you." He said with resolve.
Sometimes, I can't help but feel selfish. It aches to even attempt to grasp the enormity of my sweet omega's sacrifice. The thought of him letting go of a dream he's nurtured for eleven years is staggering, almost beyond my understanding.
"What happened to wanting to be a hero. That's your dream." I asked, grabbing his hand.
"I'm exhausted," he admitted, voice heavy with years of struggle.
"My whole life, I've been fighting for my independence, self-worth, and dignity. In a world shaped by alphas and their expectations, I've had to battle for every shred of ground. I'm tired of fighting on their terms. I want to decide how my story ends, not have it threatened or taken from me just because of my gender."
He rose from the bed, resolve sharpening his features. "I'm ready to let it all go. Society has stacked the odds against omegas like me, no matter how hard we push back. Sure, there have been omegan heroes, but their true identities only came to light after their deaths. I refuse to become just another hidden statistic."
I followed, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. "Are you sure? I just want you to be certain happy with what you choose."
A small, determined smile flickered onto his lips. "I'll still be a hero. Just not one with legal certification."
That reassurance made something in me ease. At least he wasn't giving up, just redefining what it meant to be a hero for himself.
"Then you have my support. All the way."
He smiled brightly.
"Also, I wanted to ask something."
"What is it?" He smiled, standing on his tiptoes, hugging me, burying his nose in my scent gland.
"Your cycle, when do you think your next heat will be?"
Izuku immediately stepped back, hand nervously scratching at his neck, eyes darting away. The awkward silence hung between us, only broken by his bashful reply.
"Alpha, can we talk about this later?" he murmured, cheeks blazing as he shot a sneaky glance my way.
"Izuku," I coaxed gently, offering a reassuring smile and inching closer but before I could say more, he bolted. I barely had time to blink before the chase began, his embarrassment turning him slippery and quick. I darted after him, a laugh bubbling up as he squealed when I finally caught him, his arms pinned in a gentle but inescapable hold.
"T-Tomura!" he yelped, eyes wide with surprise and face even redder.
I couldn't keep from laughing at how adorable he was when flustered.
"Why are you so shy about this?" I teased, keeping my arms firm around him as he squirmed uselessly, all whines and desperate wriggling. Leaning down, I nuzzled into his hair, breathing in his sweet scent.
"Izuku, come on, there's nothing to be embarrassed about," I reasoned softly, finally feeling him relax a little as he gave a resigned, breathless huff.
"I start soon," he mumbled, exhausted from the struggle.
"How soon?"
"Maybe… like six days? Give or take," he replied, his laugh sheepish and a bit nervous.
"Would you let me be with you during your heat?" I asked, tone earnest but gentle.
He hesitated, searching my face. "Tomura, are you sure? I thought you didn't want to get physical until I was of age."
I realized exactly how that sounded, heat rushing to my own cheeks. "No no no no, that's not what I meant! I just want to take care of you. Strictly PG, I promise."