Chapter Text
Katsuki’s job is never very pleasant — there is something seriously wrong with anyone who thinks war is pleasant — but this first deployment after bringing Deku home was particularly hard. The alpha missed his childhood friend dearly, and the gentle calm they shared in their home.
It’s not like they do much besides enjoy each other’s company and talk about inconsequential things. There are still many painful subjects that are hard to bring up, so they mostly talk about their memories together and what needs to be done around the house. Nonetheless, that’s more than enough for Katsuki to crave the time he and Deku spend together.
During his long nights alone in his tent, Katsuki thought back to those moments with the omega. He thought about how Deku would be fairing in the house all on his own, if he ventured to the town’s market, if he bought something nice for himself with the money Katsuki left. He even imagined finding Deku in brand new clothes of colorful silk that would make his eyes look even brighter.
And yet, he came back to find Deku in the same old raw cotton clothes and covered in dirt. A part of him was frustrated, and another was terribly amused.
But those thoughts quickly were swiped from his head as he began helping Deku with his quest of creating a better garden in their backyard. Once they got done with the pumpkin patch, Deku decided to grow some herbs. And, after that, he wanted cabbages.
Time and time again, Deku said that Katsuki didn’t need to help, that he doesn’t want to add to Katsuki’s work. But Katsuki isn’t the kind of alpha to sit around and watch an omega work himself ragged without doing anything. No matter how much he’d appreciate some rest days.
“Done. Finished. You got your damn cabbages. Are you happy now?” he says, sweat dripping down his brow.
“Yes! I’m very happy, Kacchan!” Deku says with a bright smile that indicates that he didn’t catch the sarcasm in Katsuki’s words. “Now for the eggplants!”
“Oh, hell no,” he groans. “We worked enough for one goddamn day.”
For a second, it looks like Izuku will protest but he quietly accepts and follows Katsuki back into the house.
“Alright… I’ll prepare some tea for Kacchan, then…”
“Can’t you fucking rest for a minute? Tea can wait. Just sit down,” he says, pulling Deku to sit by his side on their porch.
After working all day under the sun and sweating, their scents are bright and loud even in the open space. If it were anyone else, Katsuki would be complaining about it being disgusting, but Deku’s scent makes his mind calm and his muscles loose. The only thing keeping Katsuki from dozing off on a nap is the quiet mumbling that comes from his side.
“... the carrots and potatoes can go together, but not too close to the pumpkin patch…”
“For fuck’s sake, tell me you’re not planning on planting any more shit.”
“I-” Deku starts, but can’t finish since he surely won’t lie to Katsuki’s face.
“You don’t have to work so hard,” he says seriously, trying once and for all to drill that into the omega’s head. “I didn’t bring you here for that. I didn’t bring you here to clean, cook or tend the garden.”
“Then why did you bring me, Kacchan?” Izuku asks in a quiet, unsure voice.
At that question, Katsuki finds himself lost for words. Why did he choose Deku after all? He never thought about it, nor did he question his decision when he recognized Deku on that stage. He just couldn’t lose Deku again.
“Because it was you,” he confesses softly. “I couldn’t leave you there.”
Their eyes meet for a second, filled with uncertainty and questions. But Deku offers him a small smile and whispers, “Thank you, Kacchan. I’m glad to be here with you.”
That day, Katsuki insists he’ll be the one cooking and forces Deku to rest a little — under the omega’s protests. Nonetheless, he knows just talking won’t ever convince Deku he doesn’t expect him to act like a housekeeper. Katsuki needs to do the work and show they’re there on equal footing.
In the following weeks, he keeps his commitment, taking over every chore Deku insists on doing on his own. He fetches water, cleans the floors, and tends to the garden by the omega’s side. It’s a lot, way more than Katsuki would have bothered on his own — before Deku, he wouldn’t care about cooking for himself every day and he wouldn’t mind a bit of dust on his bookcases.
But since Deku is by his side, doing just as much as him, the chores become fun. They compete a lot, challenging each other to work faster, finish first. Every new task is a chance of making it a game, acting like kids all over again. Katsuki loves it.
So when the letter summoning him for work comes, it feels like a punch on the chest. Once again, he doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to leave their home, their work behind. But Katsuki has a duty and, with a heavy heart, he bids Deku goodbye and rides to his king’s war.
Deku has a sad smile and tears in his eyes as he waves Katsuki goodbye. The alpha needs to look away to not tear up himself.
***
While the days back home with Deku were filled with life, joy, and discovery; the days in the army are filled with death, sorrow, and repetitive pains.
Katsuki is sent to a small village on the border that his king wants to annex to their territory. It’s not the kind of work Katsuki likes to do. He isn’t really protecting the people in his country as much as he’s bullying people from neighboring nations.
But duty is duty. Katsuki does what he does best and, in a few weeks, their king has a brand new town to charge taxes from.
On his way back home, Katsuki passes by the capital to report to the king. Walking through the streets, he sees a small shop of calligraphy supplies. He doesn’t think twice. He enters the place and uses up a good chunk of the gold he just received as a reward to buy pencils, ink, and notebooks for Deku.
It’s an expensive gift. But just seeing the surprised look on the omegas face as he offers him the items makes it worth it. Katsuki gives Deku the parcel the moment he crosses the door and revels in the happy tears that they bring to the omega’s eyes.
“Kacchan…” Izuku whispers in disbelief. “Wha-... This is too much! These are expensive!”
Katsuki smiles and teases, “They’re well worth it if they keep you away from the garden. I want some days to rest, and not dig up mud.”
Izuku hugs the notebooks against his chest in a tight hug.
“I’ll do my best to do them justice!”
That little moment is worth more than all the weeks waging war in the name of their king. Too bad that every little moment like this just makes Katsuki not want to leave for work ever again.
***
Every time Kacchan comes back home, there are shadows in his eyes. It breaks Izuku’s heart to see it.
When he’s working around the house, Kacchan looks happy. He has a nice glint on his eyes, there’s a fire there that burns bright and warms everything around him. Izuku loves their moments together, loves seeing Kacchan in his most amazing self.
But when the king’s messenger comes carrying a letter, the light in his eyes turns off. He becomes quiet, reclusive. He spends more time in his room and he doesn’t rise to the challenges Izuku proposes to him.
Life is boring without Kacchan around to compete for who can carry more water buckets.
Izuku understands that the horrors Kacchan has to witness in his work as a general aren’t as easy to carry. He wishes Kacchan could just never get another letter summoning him for war in his life, but he knows better than that. This is Kacchan’s duty and a general can’t simply give up working for their king.
So all Izuku can do is work twice as hard making Kacchan’s home a welcoming and relaxing place when he comes back. That’s why when he sees the alpha entering their garden, he immediately rushes into action.
“Kacchan! You’re back! Welcome home!” he greets, trying to take the satchel the alpha carries on a shoulder to help him with it.
Kacchan barely throws the satchel to his other arm to not let Izuku take it. “I’m home, Deku,” he says tiredly. “How are things?”
“It’s great! The pumpkins are budding!” he answers excitedly. “I think tomorrow or the next day we’ll see some flowers!”
“I got home just in time, then,” Kacchan gives him a small teasing smile. “Couldn’t miss all this excitement. We should invite the neighbors.”
“You tease, but I’m sure you’ll like it when you see them,” he says, as they enter the house. “I’ll prepare some food and tea while you freshen up.”
“Thanks,” Kacchan whispers before continuing to his bedroom.
Quickly, Izuku puts a kettle on the stove and starts to prepare the food. He’s happy to attest he has enough to offer Kacchan a nice meal. One of the hard parts of not knowing when Kacchan will return is that he doesn’t have any indication of when he’ll need to cook for two and not just for himself.
The alpha comes back in clean clothes just as Izuku is finishing fluffing up the rice. Silently, Kacchan sits by their low table and Izuku serves him a nice portion of rice, an array of pickled vegetables, a cooked piece of fish, and some miso soup.
“Thank you. It looks great,” Kacchan says. “I've been eating garbage for too fucking long.”
“Aren’t the generals served good food?” Izuku asks, tilting his head.
“It varies a lot. If we’re fighting too far away from any town or village, it’s hard to get fresh ingredients.”
“That’s what happened this time?”
“Kind of… We were close to a small town, but the town was under the enemy’s control. We had to bring provisions from far. We only had dried fish and rice to eat for weeks.”
“Oh… That sounds boring…”
“It’s boring in the first day and fucking disgusting in the twenty that follow,” Kacchan says, pulling a face. “When we got control of the city, the first thing I did was order a bowl of noodles at some inn.”
Izuku giggles, “And you still complain about our garden after that. I’d think you’d develop some kind of attachment to veggies.”
Kacchan rolls his eyes, but agrees with him. “I suppose you’re right. I’m gonna hug your shitty eggplants when I have the time.”
“I’m sure they’ll feel very appreciated!” he says, laughing.
“While I was on the town, I bought more than noodles,” Kacchan says, pulling a package from under the table. “Here,” he offers it to Izuku.
Frowning, Izuku undoes the package and finds the most beautiful silk fabric inside. It’s colored a deep green with orange phoenixes embroidered on it. Gently and completely in awe, Izuku opens the fabric and sees it’s a yukata.
“The color reminded me of your eyes…” Kacchan whispers.
It’s the most beautiful and precious piece of clothing Izuku has ever laid eyes on. He feels like crying just from looking at it. And he instantly knows he’s not worthy of it.
“Kacchan, I- I can’t- You can’t-... This is too precious! It should be given to your prospect mate!” he says, pushing the yukata back to Katsuki’s hands.
Kacchan frowns and pushes the clothing back to Izuku. “Fuck that. I bought it for you.”
“But, if you find a mate-” ‘they won’t like to know you ever gifted me such an expensive item’ Izuku planned on saying, but Kacchan interrupts him with a commanding alpha voice.
“I bought this for you,” he states. “And I won’t accept any of these stupid excuses as a refusal to my gift. If you don’t want it, then don’t wear it, but it’s yours.”
Seeing it’s futile to argue with Kacchan when he’s so adamant, Izuku simply nods and says, “It’s beautiful, Kacchan. I’ll treasure it forever.”
Later, back in his room, Izuku stows the yukata in a big chest, making sure it’s protected. Though he still doesn’t feel worthy of such a gift, he’ll cherish it as he cherishes every moment he gets to spend with Kacchan. He knows the alpha will find a mate to shower with gifts one day and Izuku will be lucky to be around, taking care of the garden. And when that day comes, he’ll have the precious yukata and his calligraphy supplies to remember the days when Kacchan was only his.
***
Every day it gets harder to stay away from Deku. While away, sleeping on the cold floor of a flimsy tent, all Katsuki can dream of is the omega’s warmth — how his eyes seem to carry a light of their own and how his smile makes Katsuki forget even the worst of his nightmares.
He misses the omega’s scent around their house as addicts miss sake. When he can only smell the alphas and betas on his platoon, it feels like his lungs burn without air. The sweet minty scent that his brain identifies as home taunts him in his dreams and he wakes up almost believing Deku would be sleeping by his side.
There’s no denying anymore that Katsuki fell in love with Deku. Maybe he always has been in love with his childhood friend. He’s not sure. All that he knows is that every moment away from Deku feels like a burden too heavy for him to carry.
This time, Katsuki doesn’t even have the overwhelming confusion of battles to distract him from missing Deku. He’s just training new recruits, a boring work that leaves him with too much time to daydream of having Deku as his mate.
The only problem is that he doesn’t know if Deku is interested in being his mate.
Some moments, when it’s only the two of them enjoying each other’s company, Katsuki feels electricity in the air that makes him believe his feelings are reciprocated. Deku’s eyes always seem to shine brighter when they’re together; he always saves his most beautiful smiles to Katsuki.
But when Katsuki does anything that can be interpreted as courting, Izuku pulls away and rambles shit about ‘Kacchan finding a mate’. It pisses him off so much. He already found his chosen mate! How can Izuku not see it? Doesn’t he feel the attraction that drives Katsuki crazy?
Katsuki isn’t sure what’s going on between them, but he knows that he wants to be around Deku to figure it out.
After the long, lonely weeks Katsuki spent training the king’s recruits, he eagerly returned home. Katsuki barely took time to eat or sleep on his journey back, not wanting to waste any second away from Deku.
When he got home, he knew he looked worse for wear — dirty clothes, messy hair, unshaven stubble — but Deku didn’t comment on any of that.
“Welcome home, Kacchan!” he welcomes Katsuki warmly with the beautiful smile he had been thinking of nonstop. “Let me get your things.”
As usual, Deku tries to take his luggage, but Katsuki puts it far from his reach. He won’t allow Deku to do the hard work in his stead.
“I’m home, Deku.”
Saying these words make the stress of the journey bleed out of Katsuki’s body. He goes to his room to change into clean clothes and freshen up. When he comes back to find Deku in the kitchen, he already feels renewed.
“Everything fine here? You didn’t start feuds with any other chicken?” he teases as he approaches the omega, who waits for him.
“No, I didn’t have to. After we fortified the fence, no other pest showed up to peck on my garden,” Deku says in a resolute voice. “But I would if I had to! They don’t scare me!”
That makes Katsuki chuckle, as Deku leads him to sit down. “Nothing scares you. If the king knew the kind of omegas he has, he’d be taking you lot in the army.”
“There’s plenty that scares me…” Deku says, his back turned to Katsuki as he made tea.
“The chickens don’t. Nor the grasshoppers. That’s better than most of the recruits I was training,” he says playfully, but when Deku doesn’t promptly retort he looks back to see what the omega is doing.
He sees Deku quietly serving his tea, a kettle of water luckily already hot.
“Deku?”
“I get scared when you go for war,” the omega mumbles. “I don’t want Kacchan to get hurt.”
Katsuki clicks his tongue dismissively. “No extra could hurt me. I’m the best, remember? Besides, this time we weren’t even facing enemies. Just training recruits, as I said.”
Izuku puts the teacup in front of him gently. “And how was that?”
“Boring,” Katsuki groans. “The recruits are idiots. And we had to stay in barracks and sleep on the floor. My back is killing me.”
“Oh, I can help with that!” Deku exclaims, already kneeling by Katsuki’s back. “Mom used to have back troubles all the time from the position she worked on. I got pretty good at making it better!”
Before Katsuki can ask exactly how Deku plans to make it better, the omega’s hands are already on his shoulders. Soft, gentle hands start applying force to relax the knots in Katsuki’s muscles.
Instantly, Katsuki freezes, his back and shoulders painfully contracting even more than before. Deku is touching him!
“Kacchan, you’re really tense,” he mumbles. “No wonder you’re in pain.”
Katsuki just grunts. Of course he’s tense! Deku is touching his back and shoulders! They barely worked out their issues with Deku trying to refuse his courting gifts and now the omega’s hands are kneading his muscles! That’s totally inappropriate! Katsuki is a gentleman, he’d not expect this kind of gift until they were well into their courting.
But even Katsuki’s freak out isn’t strong enough to resist the power of Deku’s scent. The peppermint tea and honey smell envelops his whole being, making the alpha relax instinctively. It’s delicious and Katsuki wants to drown in it.
And if the scent wasn’t enough to make him pliable, whatever complaint he might have died on his tongue when Deku’s hands started working. The omega’s fingers dig deep into his muscles, unraveling every single knot there.
Deku’s hands start on his upper back, in the middle of his shoulder, and slowly make their way outward. They give support to Katsuki in a way that has him pushing back, just to feel their strength holding him. Then they go lower, pressuring Katsuki’s spine to massage away the days sleeping on the floor.
Each new pressure point that Deku works on gets Katsuki more relaxed. It’s amazing. The best thing he has ever felt. So no one can blame him when a deep purr starts rumbling inside his chest. Deku chuckles lightly, but, thankfully, doesn’t stop working.
This is what Katsuki has been needing — to stay close to Deku as they take care of each other. Right now, he’s receiving the omega’s attention, but later he’ll do his best to repay the thoughtfulness. Because that’s how mates should act, always doing the best for the other, making each other happy. Katsuki grew up seeing his parents live like that and that’s what he wants for his and Deku’s life as well.
Katsuki gets so lost in his thoughts and fantasies about being mated to Deku that, for a moment, he forgets himself, forgets their reality. And as Deku’s hands go back up to his shoulders and neck, he can’t help but gently grab Deku’s hand and plant a soft kiss on his inner wrist, right on top of his scent gland.
Instantly, Deku pulls his wrist back as if he was burned. Katsuki realizes what he has done — kissed Deku’s wrist! In his scent gland! An extremely intimate act reserved for mates only! — and turns around, an apology on his lips.
“I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I- I have no fucking excuses.”
“I-It’s al-alright,” Deku stutters, huge eyes looking at Katsuki in surprise and still holding his wrist against his chest. “I shu-shouldn’t-”
“You did nothing wrong,” Katsuki interrupts him. “I’m the one who shouldn’t have taken such liberties.”
“I- I-” Deku tries saying something but can’t seem to find the words. “Kacchan shouldn’t-... You- You need to find a mate and-”
“No...” Katsuki whispers, feeling his heart break to pieces.
His actions just confessed his feelings for Deku and all that the omega has to say to him is that he should find someone else. Katsuki can think of no worse way of being rejected.
“If you’re not happy with my advances, just fucking tell me and I’ll keep my distance,” he says, pain clear in his voice. “But don’t tell me to find someone else when all I can think about is you.”
Izuku shakes his head as if willing Katsuki’s words out of it. “No. Kacchan needs a good omega. One from a good family, who will give him lots of pups. You need to find someone else.”
“Someone else?” Katsuki barks in anger. “Would you have me going to the omega market again?”
“If that’s how Kacchan wants to find a good omega, than yes-”
“What?” he exclaims in disbelief. “No! Fuck no! I was just talking shit. I don’t want to go to that hellscape ever again!”
“Any omega there would be lucky to be chosen by Kacchan,” Izuku says in a monotone voice, looking away from the alpha. “There are some good mate prospects there.”
“Deku! Fucking stop this!” Katsuki demands, reaching for Izuku’s face to make their eyes meet. “Do you hate me so much?”
“I- I could never hate Kacchan…” Deku’s lips wobble and his eyes fill with tears. “Kacchan is the best.”
“Then why don’t you consider me as a mate?” Katsuki whispers, tears of his own filling his eyes.
“Because Kacchan deserves better,” Deku says in a hiccupy voice. “Needs to pick someone better.”
“But I chose you… I love you, Deku… Please don’t reject me like this,” he pleads.
“Kacchan…” Deku breaks up crying and, between tears, he whispers, “I love you too.”
That’s enough for Katsuki. In one swift move, he pulls the omega into his arms and hugs him tightly. Fuck courting or what’s appropriate, they need each other.
Gently, Katsuki sits them down on the tatami mat and puts Deku on his lap. He knows he must be pumping out calming pheromones to calm down the distressed omega and he slowly feels Deku relaxing in his hold.
And it’s also a totally instinctive act to start caressing Deku’s back and kissing his hair. Katsuki is finally giving in to his baser instincts and they tell him to cherish and protect Deku as much as he can. It’s what he has wanted to do since he set eyes on the omega in the market, and if Deku doesn’t push him away, he’ll do that for the rest of his life.
It takes some time cuddling, but finally, Deku’s hiccups and tears stop. Katsuki doesn’t release him from his hold yet, though.
“Feeling better?” he whispers.
Izuku nods against his chest and murmurs, “Kacchan smells good.”
“I think you smell good too,” he confesses.
“Does Kacchan really want me as a mate?” The question comes in a small, unsure voice.
“There’s nothing I want more in the world,” he says with certainty. “And just you. I don’t want a second omega or any shit like that, before you ask too.”
Izuku stays silent for a second, the gears in his head turning, then he asks, “And can I keep the garden?”
That makes Katsuki laugh out loud. Silly, beautiful omega. He could ask Katsuki for absolutely anything, even the damn moon in the sky, and that’s what he goes for.
“Yes, you can keep your damn garden. We can even buy more land from the neighbors if you want and make you the biggest garden in the country.”
Izuku giggles softly and raises his head to look Katsuki in the eye. “Thank you, Kacchan. I’ll be in your care, then.”
Katsuki’s heart feels so full that it might explode. So he releases the pressure the only way he can think off — pulling Deku for a deep kiss. The omega gasps in his mouth and Katsuki tastes him, devours him, pours every feeling that overwhelms his heart and senses into the kiss.
That night, ignoring every traditional courting step, Katsuki takes Izuku to his bedroom and they become bonded mates forever.
***
There might not have been any ceremony, but after bonding, Katsuki and Izuku started acting like newlyweds. Izuku absolutely loves every second of it. Not even in his wildest dreams did he ever hope to have a mate as amazing as Kacchan, someone who he loves so much and that loves him right back.
Though there’s still a lot of work to be done at the house and in the garden, they lay in bed together well into the morning, just being lazy and relaxed. During the day, they’re never far away from each other, using every second they can to do things together, from cooking to reading, and even bathing.
So it’s expected that when the summoning letter came, it broke both of their hearts.
Izuku openly cried when receiving the envelope from the king’s messenger. Kacchan became sullen and uncommunicative. At night, they held each other desperately, afraid of the distance that’ll separate them for who knows how long.
The next day, when Kacchan left, Izuku did his best to put on a strong front for his mate. He doesn’t want Kacchan worrying about him instead of worrying about himself while he’s off on duty.
But when the alpha is out of sight, he breaks down crying. It feels like someone has stolen a piece of his heart and ran away with it.
On the lonely nights, sleeping alone in the bed they’re supposed to share, Izuku hugs Katsuki’s pillow, clinging to every little scent the alpha left there. His only comfort is knowing that his nightgown has vanished from their bedroom on the day Kacchan left, meaning his mate is always sleeping with a bit of his scent as well.
For two months Kacchan stays away. Two torturous months of looking to the gate every time he hears the noise of horses. Two months of dreaming with his mate and waking up alone.
When Kacchan returns, Izuku hugs him as if the alpha could vanish from his hold if he wasn’t careful. They roll on the floor, scenting, kissing, and whispering about how much they missed each other. It’s a whirlwind of trying to get as close as possible and never feeling like it’s enough.
Later, wrapped only in each other, in the middle of their living room, Izuku sees the shadows back in Katsuki’s eyes.
“Was it hard?” he whispers, gently caressing the alpha’s cheek.
“Being away from you? It was hell,” Kacchan says with a sad smile.
“No… I mean, your work…”
Katsuki looks away, shame coming to his expression. “It’s hard… to even think about what I had to do…”
Izuku hugs Kacchan tightly, hiding the alpha’s face on his chest. “I wish Kacchan never had to go away again. I wish we could live in peace, just the two of us, away from the king’s dealings,” he confesses.
“The king would never let me find another job…” Kacchan sighs. “If I leave the army, they’ll take the estate and all our money.”
“Let them have it,” Izuku huffs. “I don’t need anything if I have Kacchan by my side.”
“We’d have to work on the field… Become farmers…”
Izuku chuckles, “Is this supposed to scare me? Have you seen our garden?”
Kacchan raises his head and looks deeply into Izuku’s eyes with a puzzled expression.
“Do you mean it? Would you live in poverty with me?”
“I’d live sleeping in the woods if it meant I could be with you, Kacchan,” Izuku says, not an ounce of doubt in his voice.
“Then let’s do it. Let’s run away. Just the two of us,” Katsuki proposes, finally some of the shadows clearing from his beautiful red eyes.
“Yes. Let’s run away, Kacchan,” Izuku says, smiling.
The next morning, they grabbed all their money and everything they could sell. They loaded up a carriage and left to the south. They sold what they had in a town on their way and only stopped when their king’s borders were too far away to even think about.
Katsuki and Izuku started a new life, in a tiny fishermen’s village, in a country neither of them had ever heard of. They bought a small cottage with plenty of open fields around so Izuku can plant his new garden. And Katsuki bought a boat and learned to fish.
It’s not an easy life but they can say without a doubt that they’re happier than ever before.