Archive of Our Own

The dorms are fucking gross. That's all Katsuki can think of as he walks into the common room. He feels practically intoxicated. It was nearing the middle of his third year, and he was fucking tired of all this mating bullshit. He presented as an omega pretty early on, much to his goddamn displeasure. He would almost gag at every try-hard alpha who'd come up to him during the school day, scent him with their gross-ass odors, and ask him out. He did actually get nauseous with this guy with a serious amount of gel in his hair that it looked greasy,  who smelled like day-old cooking oil and artificial lemon. He doesn't know how the hell that was possible, but it made him sick for an entire night. 

He honestly doesn't get it. His body aches. His head hurts like hell. It was getting annoying as hell. His omega was telling him he needed an alpha. But fuck it. He doesn't care about that bullshit. He just wished he wasn't in the middle of it all. He wished people would leave him the hell alone.

Ugh. Whatever. He needs to get out of this common room and go hide in his dorm until Eijiro gets back from Fat’s. He had promised him a surprise and kill him for being curious.

He could feel impatience stirring in his chest, quite literally pounding, and there was that annoying headache again. He swears he's getting them more than usual. Chills and all that shit. But every time he'd go to the doctor, they'd ask if he'd had time with his alpha recently, and he'd have to explain for the ten millionth time that no. He doesn't have one. Katsuki wanted to explode every stupid doctor who didn't investigate past that. Couldn't even prescribe him shit. 

He sighed as he adjusted his gym bag on his shoulder, seeing Sero and IcyHot on the sofa. He scrunched his nose in disgust when the overwhelming, mingling scent of spiced orange and peppermint filled his nostrils. They were cuddling like some saps, obviously scenting each other as Sero was wrapped up in some odd amalgamation of blankets.  

“Could you take this shit to your dorms? Smells gross as shit in here.” He complained.

Shoto raised his eyebrows, “I don't smell anything weird but you. Spicy.”

“Shut the hell up. Don't fucking smell me.” He rolled his eyes.

Sero smiled at him, clearly lost in bliss. “Kiri coming home soon?”

He shrugged, even though he knew the bastard was due in about 5 minutes. 

He made his way to the elevators with this info in mind, covering his nose as he went down the hallway to his dorm. He didn't even bother to flick on the light, his lamp still on from earlier this afternoon, and let himself flop on his bed. 

He immediately inhaled, the knot in his chest lessening in the familiar. He shamelessly let himself breathe in the scent of Eijiro's pillow, the smell of his shampoo drowning out the cloying scents of the common room. He let out his own scent, pine and cinnamon. It always reminded him of home. Of hikes with Eijiro. Early mornings with his mom. Afternoon talks with his old man.  

He took a hearty inhale again, hoping that Eijiro would take the hint of his open door and not even bother going to his dorm.

A couple of minutes after closing his eyes and exhaling, he heard the familiar shuffle of his best friend's footsteps.

“Hey, Kats!” Eijiro said brightly. “Oh shit, are you sleeping?”

He peeked one eye open, “No, come here, you idiot.”

Eijiro was standing by the door, duffle bag in hand and already changed out of his hero gear.

“Just got back from the gym?” Eijiro asked.

“Yeah.” He patted the space next to him on his bed, closing his eyes as he heard the thump of Eijiro's bag on his floor.

His body was immediately enveloped by Eijiro’s warmth, his arms wrapping around his body tightly.

“Rough day at the gym?” Eijiro asked. 

He nodded in response, turning so his nose was nuzzled in the space between Eijiro’s neck and shoulder. 

He inhaled deeply, and he felt Eijiro's fingers start to run through his hair.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Mm hmm.” He said, the pounding in his chest now nonexistent.

“You cold?”

“Mmm.” He said.

Eijiro chuckled, the rumble sending shivers down his spine.

“Get up for me?” Eijiro asked, and he complied, feeling Eijiro’s hoodie fall on his lap.

“Thanks.” He said, pulling it on without a second thought, putting the hood over his head.

“Hey! That's where that shirt went. Man, I thought I left it at my moms' place.” Eijiro said a little too loudly as he looked around his bed. 

“Mmm.” He complained as he lay back down.

“Not saying I need it back, man. Just glad to see it.” He laughed out.

“Go to sleep.” He said, wrapping his arms around Eijiro’s chest, his face back to being buried in Eijiro’s hair. 

His best friend started to rub his hands up and down his back. “You don't want your surprise?”

“Later, Eijiro.” He said, teeth clenched.

“Hey, Kats. Chill out. Relax, man. So tense.” Eijiro teased. 

Katsuki felt the storm in his chest calm even further, finding comfort in Eijiro's movements.

Dammit. If only Eijiro could be his alpha. His best friend hasn't even presented yet. 

His life would be so damn perfect.

⋆ ⭑ ⋆

“What the hell did you get me this for?” Katsuki asked, raising his eyebrows.

“I saw it on a kiosk during patrol! I thought you'd like it.” Eijiro explained. 

Katsuki ran his hands over the fabric of the hoodie Eijiro just gave him, made to look like All Might’s golden age hero costume. 

“You don't like it?” Eijiro frowned.

“I like it.” He said. 

“Thought you'd look cute in it, too. Wear it for me?” Eijiro said with a bright blush.

“Can you--” he started.

“I did for a bit on patrol!” Eijiro beamed, and sure enough, when he brought it up to his nose, it smelled like sweat and whatever he ate at Fat’s.

“Thanks. Had a rough day or whatever.”

Eijiro frowned, “It is that time of year.” He pouted then, “Anyone come up to you?”

Katsuki shook his head, “Nah. I think they know better. Idiots talk amongst themselves.”

A laugh left Eijiro’s lips, “You’re such an opposite from Denki. He loves the attention.”

He rolled his eyes. Of course, he fucking would.

“Are you hungry? Wanna go out? We can get some fast food. My treat?”

“Sure.” He said, “And thanks, Eiji.”

Eijiro rubbed their noses together with that stupid smile of his, “Of course. Put it on for me later, yeah?”

He snorted, “So fucking bossy.”

“Ha! Says you.”

God. He wants to kiss him so fucking bad. Wants to take him in his arms and kiss him until he can't breathe. 

They've always been close. Closer than close. Katsuki doesn't think anything would happen if he just--

“Ugh. I'm starving, man! Let's go eat!” Eijiro exclaimed as he pulled away.

He swallowed, his heart beating fast at what he was about to do. 

“Didn’t you eat at Fat’s?” 

“Yeah! But that was just a snack.”

He took off the hoodie he was wearing, putting it in the pile next to all the things he's compiled for his nest. Mostly Eijiro’s shirts. One or two from Dunce Face. A stupid plush fox that Mina gave him one birthday. A blanket from Sero’s room before it started smelling like Todoroki. 

He pulled on the one Eijiro gave him instead, and his best friend’s face immediately lit up.

“Cute! Just like I thought!” Eijiro grinned wide, coming forward to nuzzle his nose in his neck, inhaling. He felt the slight brush of his lips on his scent gland, and Katsuki felt his insides go crazy. 

“Mmm.” Eijiro hummed, bringing him closer and inhaling again. And now there were definite lips on his neck. Not puckering, not kissing, just the feel of Eijiro’s lips rubbing up and down the skin of his neck to his chin.

Eijiro started purring, and the rumble made his stomach flip. His pupils were slightly dilated, face flushed up to his ears. 

“Mine.” Eijiro whispered, nuzzling his nose down the collar of his hoodie, “So good.”

He shivered as he felt Eijiro’s palms sneak underneath the fabric, the feeling of skin on skin. 

“Ei…?” he mumbled out, confused. 

“Missed you. Wanna feel you.”  He felt Eijiro tugging at his clothes, almost like he wanted to rip off the damn hoodie he had just gotten him. 

Katsuki’s heart started beating faster, and a feeling inside him felt like whining. The ache to become closer clawed at his throat. He did the same, running his hands underneath Eijiro's t-shirt, and his best friend didn't sound like he was exactly purring anymore.

“Ouch! Eijiro?!” He hissed out, feeling sharp teeth pinch his ear. 

Eijiro seemed to snap out of it, gasping at his actions. His hands retreated from his back, and Katsuki immediately missed the warmth. 

“Oh crap! I'm so sorry. I don't--” he blushed even further. “Oh shit, man! Did that hurt? Are you bleeding?!” 

Eijiro started to mess with his ear, and he batted him away.

“Calm down, you moron. What the hell was that for?!”

Eijiro’s face lost all its color. “I--I don't know, man. It's like my body was moving before I could think.”

He sighed, “It's fine. Stop looking so torn up about it.” He brought Eijiro's arms back up around him.

“Food now?” He asked.

“Yeah. Just… stay close?”

Eijiro smiled, “Of course.”

⋆ ⭑ ⋆

Like Eijiro always did, he grabbed his hand as soon as they walked out of the dorms. It was the norm.

Ever since he broke down his walls their first year, it's like his body couldn’t function without him. His touch. His warmth. And maybe sometimes he’d scent Eijiro a little more than often. Maybe he found comfort in the fact that Eijiro was going around smelling like him even if he wasn’t claimed.

And maybe Eijiro hadn’t presented yet, but he found so much comfort in his natural scent. Maybe he couldn’t scent him back, but having Eijiro like this quelled the ache inside of him. 

“What did you wanna get?” He asked. He noticed Eijiro was a little lost in thought, so he gave their hands a hard jerk to grab his attention. 

“Mmm, I know I said fast food, but I feel like something warm. Up to go to that one ramen shop up the street?” 

“Isn’t it kind of pricey?” 

“Yeah! But I got paid from Fat’s the other day, so I feel like taking care of you today.” Eijiro admitted with a blush. 

Fatgum had put Eijiro on his payroll, and Eijiro had made the transition from “work study” to “sidekick” the summer before their third year. He was the first of their classmates to make the transition. 

“Alright.” He agreed. 

“How was your day? Besides the gym and all.”

He sighed, “I'm just getting tired of all this crap.”

“What crap?” Eijiro asked.

This was always kind of a sore subject for them, considering Eijiro hadn't presented yet. He knew it made him feel bad, even though no one in his life made him feel that way. But leave it to Eijiro to think something with his biology was his fault.

“Sometimes all the scents and bonds and mating can get overwhelming.”

“Yeah?” Eijiro asked.

He nodded, “I guess the kind of positive you have is that you don't have to deal with that.”

Eijiro frowned, “I guess. But I'm three years past when most people present. And even the doctors say there's nothing present in me. That I should feel, you know…all that uh…stuff. But I don't feel any of that.” 

“That's alright, Ei.”

“I was thinking maybe I'm a beta. Maybe that's why I don't feel anything.”

“That's alright, too. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I know. I just--” Eijiro sighs, “I just wanna know for sure. I don't know why all the tests and stuff…” he shook his head. “Anyways, what kind of ramen do you want this time? The usual?”

Well, that was a subject change if they ever needed one.

“Yeah, probably.”

“It's alright if you get extra meat and spice and stuff. I am!” 

He chuckled, “Okay.” He asked then, “Any reason in particular you're spoiling the shit out of me today?”

Eijiro shrugged, a habit they've picked up from each other that always annoyed his Ma like no other. “Two shruggers!” She'd always say when Eijiro was over.

“I don't know, honestly. My brain is just telling me to. My heart, too, I guess. Like I can't rest until you're taken care of.”

Katsuki laughs, “You're a weirdo, you know that?”

“Yeah, I know. But I'm your favorite weirdo, right?” Eijiro asked with a smirk.

“You can think that all you want.” He teased back, even though they both knew it was the truth. 

They eventually reached the shop, sitting on the small metal chairs by the counter. They ordered without preamble, Eijiro encouraging him to pile as much in his bowl as possible. Their food came steaming and quickly, and Eijiro, as always, ate like a starved man.

There was mostly just the sounds of slurps in the restaurant, faint music playing through a speaker in the kitchen, when Eijiro broke the silence.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?” Eijiro looked into his eyes sheepishly.

“What's up?” He asked, bringing his bowl to his lips.

“Do you ever wanna kiss me?”

Katsuki coughed on his broth, the spice burning his throat as he comprehended what Eijiro just said.

“What the hell kind of question is that?” He swallowed, bringing his glass of water to his mouth and taking a generous sip.

“I know. It's stupid. But I don't know, man. Maybe I am just being weird today, but I…I think I wanna kiss you.”

He raised his eyebrows, “Do you mean me? Or guys and shit?”

Eijiro shook his head, “You. I think guys are cute and all, but…that's just it. I've never wanted to kiss one, even though I know I prefer guys. But I…”

“You wanna kiss me?” He asked.

His best friend blushed, “Yeah. Like so much, it's kind of overwhelming. I feel--can I share a little too much information?”

“When don’t you?” He glared.

Eijiro’s forehead creased into little worry lines, “I’ve never really felt um…it before. But ah…When I think about wanting to kiss you, it feels different.”

Wait, what the fuck? Is Eijiro…

“Are you saying you want to--”

Eijiro shook his head rapidly, eyes wide, “No! No no! God, no! Not that you're not…” Eijiro groaned, thumping his head on the counter. “Forget about it.”

“No. Ei. Come on.” He grabbed Eijiro by the back of his hair, pulling him back up.

“Ow, man?” Eijiro said with a small laugh.

“Payback, asshole.” 

“Just…I know it's stupid. Especially with all this mate and bonding and stuff. And I know maybe I'll never present, and you'll have this super manly alpha one day, but…is it okay if I try kissing you? Just once? Maybe I'll stop acting so weird.”

He decided to tease him, just to break the tension. “So you dolled me up and fed me with ulterior motives?”

“No! No! I promise, man! Oh god…that is what this looks like, isn't it? Please forget I asked anything.” 

Eijiro was about to hide his face on the counter again, but he grabbed his chin before he could.

With every ounce of courage he could muster, he got close to his best friend’s face and planted a kiss on his cheek. Quick, chaste, but his heart beating out of his chest.

“Whoa,” Eijiro said, eyes wide and starry.

“Can you shut up now?”

His best friend visibly swallowed, “Can we…um…when we get to the dorms?”

“More?” He asked.

“Yeah, please? Like…please?”

He laughed, “You’re such a fucking dork.” Katsuki let go of his chin, moving his hand to give Eijiro’s nose a hard squeeze. “Eat your food, and I'll think about it.”

“Okay,” Eijiro said, and Katsuki felt his heart flutter when Eijiro placed his own kiss on his cheek. 

“Good shower?” Katsuki asked as Eijiro walked into his dorm. As fucking weird as it is, he loves the way Eijiro smells after his shower. And if he scented him a little more afterwards, that was his business alone. 

“Is it dumb that I’m hungry?”

Katsuki chuckled, “Aren’t you always?”

“Midnight snack later?” Eijiro asked with a smile. 

“You’re gonna make me cook for you?” He asked with raised eyebrows. 

“Please?” Eijiro said with that stupid pout of his. 

He decided to tease him, testing his luck, “Kinda thought you wanted to do something else?” 

His best friend’s eyes widened, color rushing to his cheeks. 

“You really want to?” Eijiro asked with a swallow. 

Katsuki shrugged, “Thought you wanted to.” 

A snort left his nose as Eijiro practically ran to his bed, and god fucking dammit did he smell so good. He wanted to bury himself in his hair and inhale until he got sick of him. Damn. He was for sure in a weird ass mood. 

“Eager, much?” He asked as he sat up. 

Eijiro pouted, the damn pouter, as he got into his bed. He got into his space, crawling over to him, his arms on either side of his torso. 

“Yeah, sorry. It's just…” Eijiro sighed and pouted again. “I just wanna kiss you so bad. Is that weird? I’ve never wanted to kiss anyone like I want to kiss you.” 

Katsuki was taken aback by his confession, and before he could respond, Eijiro spoke again. 

“This is gonna be a dumb question, but…” 

Katsuki shook his head, assuring him. 

“Is this what a crush is? I um…think I have a crush on you, man.” 

He exhaled, feeling all the ache he had for Eijiro come to the surface. The only way he felt he could answer was by pulling him close by his neck and pressing their lips together. 

“Woah,” Eijiro said, sounding breathless. 

“Wait. You think?” 

“I’ve never had a crush on anyone before, man.” 

Katsuki was confused by that. “Never?” 

“Denks told me that…um, my feelings aren’t normal for you.” 

He tossed him a look of disgust. “Why the fuck are you listening to Dunce Face?” 

“I was confused. By um…how much I want to kiss you.” Eijiro looked down with a blush. 

God fucking literal dammit. Why in the hell is he so cute? So fucking cute. Holy literal crap. 

He couldn’t think of anything else to do with these feelings but to take Eijiro’s face in his hands and squish it. 

“Oushhh, man.” Eijiro said, lips sticking out like a fish.

Katuski groaned, letting his heart take over as he kissed Eijiro’s nose.  

“Holy fucking shit, Eijiro.” 

“What?” Eijiro said, trying to wiggle away from his touch. 

“Holy fucking shit.” He said again, breaking out in laughter as he let go of Eijiro’s face. 

“What?!” Eijiro said again. “Why are you laughing? I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve and stuff!” 

He couldn’t help but kiss the shit out of Eijiro again, putting all his love and longing into it. All the years of being holy fucking crap in love with Eijiro that it was driving him crazy at this point. 

Eijiro pulled away again, “Katsuki…” Eijiro whined, giving him those damn puppy dog eyes. 

“You can’t tell me all that and not expect me to kiss the shit out of you.” 

“You don’t care that I’m not an alpha or whatever?” 

“No? The fuck? And even if you were, it wouldn’t change anything.” 

“Even if you want someone else one day?” 

He glared at him. Like that would ever fucking happen.

“Shut the hell up and let me kiss you, Eijiro.” 

He pulled Eijiro close again, but he pulled away. “Wait. This is a little too much for me, Kats.” 

He frowned, “Oh…shit. Sorr--”

“Don’t apologize! I’m just weird about that stuff.” 

He shook his head, “No, you’re not. Don’t let Dunce Face get in your head. If it's too much, then it's too much, Eijiro.” 

“Can we just cuddle? I feel kind of funny.” 

Fuck. Holy shit. How was Eijiro even real?

“Yeah, of course we can.” 

He rolled away from Eijiro, opening his arms for Eijiro to come into. 

“Thanks, Kats.” 

He hummed, “Come here.” 

He felt Eijiro exhale as he nuzzled into his neck. And even though Eijiro couldn’t smell it, he let out a bit of his scent. He could feel Eijiro’s heart beating fast, and he clicked his teeth. 

“You okay, Eiji?” 

“I’m okay. Sorry. My heart is just going crazy.”

“Okay if I kiss your cheek?” 

“Okay,” Eijiro said. 

Katsuki did just that, running his fingers through Eijiro’s hair. 

“Want me to play with your hair like last time? Braid it and shit?” 

“Yeah, please?” 

“Alright,” He said. 

They shifted so Eijiro’s head was on his lap, and he started to put little twists in his hair. He let out even more of his scent, feeling the overwhelming need to protect him. He bent down to kiss Eijiro’s head, and he felt Eijiro exhale. 

“Sure you’re okay?

“Feeling better. Thanks, Kats.” 

Something was poking him in his brain, the stupid part of him wanting to ache for an alpha, but he swallowed that down and let the feeling of caring for Eijiro drown out everything else. 

He loves Eijiro so much. He didn’t give a crap about anything else. 

Katsuki woke up with a groan, feeling his chest ache when there was a lack of warmth in his bed. 

He immediately grabbed his phone to text Eijiro.

He got a reply automatically: 

EIJIRO: Hey!! Sorry, Katsuki. I woke up feeling super funny still, so I went to Recovery Girl. 

KATSUKI: Everything okay???

EIJIRO: She says I have a fever. Did another one of those tests :/ said it'll take a few days for the results cause she doesn't have the fancy stuff the clinics have. 

KATSUKI: You feeling okay?

EIJIRO: I guess :/ I already know what the tests are gonna say. 

KATSUKI: You coming back already?

EIJIRO: Yes! :)

KATSUKI: Hurry.

He clicked his phone off, threw it on his bed, and sighed. 

He doesn't know why his chest already aches from being apart from Eijiro for who knows how many minutes. It always feels like a tether is snapped when they're apart. 

A sharp, lingering pain that doesn't go away until they're together again.

He knew he had to smell everything like Eijiro, so he brought his shirt to his nose and inhaled. Frustratingly, he could only smell himself. 

Katsuki exhaled again, putting an arm over his eyes and lying back. He was so dumb. So pathetic. He loved Eijiro so much it was almost hilarious.

It was a few minutes later when Eijiro came to his door. He didn't bother moving, keeping his eyes closed and breathing in and out.

“Hey, Kats.” Eijiro said, and he felt his weight dip the mattress.

He frowned, “Could've woken me up to go with you.”

Eijiro laughed, “I'm sorry. You just looked so peaceful. I couldn't.”

He felt Eijiro move his arm away from his eyes, and he was met with what he could only qualify as the most beautiful sight in the world.

His hair was halfway up, and he was wearing one of those dumb muscle shirts that were basically a piece of fabric with holes. And that goddamn smile. It was gonna be the end of him. He put his arms on either side of him, legs caging him in. 

“Can I make it up to you by getting you breakfast?” 

“No. Let me pay for shit this time.” He protested.

“Would that make you happy?” Eijiro asked.

Katsuki didn't answer; instead, he grabbed Eijiro’s face lightly and kissed his lips.

Eijiro hummed, kissing him again, again, again.

Katsuki reached for his neck, hugging him close.

“Sorry I left,” Eijiro said, kissing the crook of his neck. 

“Mmm.” He complained.

“Breakfast out or pick up and bring it back?”

“Out. You pick the place, I pay.”

Eijiro chuckled, coming up to kiss him again, “Okay.”

Eijiro crinkled his forehead then, moving his arms to his sides, “You sure you're okay doing this with me?”

“Stop with that bullshit, Ei. Of course I want you.”

He hates how insecure Eijiro could be sometimes. Even though it's gotten better over the years, it still hits in times like this. 

“But if you want an alpha one day--”

“Eijiro.” He interrupted.

He sighed, “It's just---I looked it up while I was waiting for Recovery Girl. What if you get sick because of me? Cause you don't have someone taking care of you.”

He shook his head, “I won't.”

“What if that's why you've been feeling sick?”

“Eijiro.” He said again, shaking his head. He started to let out a little of his scent. An instinct. An unbridled need to take care of him. “Stop being so selfless, asshole, and let me be selfish.”

“Selfish?” Eijiro said.

“I'm never letting you go again, you know that, right?” He said, pulling at Eijiro’s collar. 

Eijiro blushed, “Oh.” He smiled, “I don't mind that.”

“Good.” Katsuki gave him another kiss, pushing at his chest. “Go get your ass dressed and let's go for breakfast. And keep your stupid wallet here.”

Eijiro nodded, cheeks flushing again, “You got it.” 

⋆ ⭑ ⋆

“Can I hold your hand?” Eijiro asked as they walked out of the dorms.

“Since when do you ask me that shit?” He rolled his eyes.

He shrugged, “It's different now.” 

He raised his eyebrows, “Since we kissed and shit?”

“Yeah!” 

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” He laughed, intertwining their fingers. 

Eijiro felt like eating something warm again, so they were on their way to a shop that sold the best soup for breakfast. They had pretty good tea, too. It wasn't that much of a walk away, so they were gonna get there pretty quick. Which was good considering that the sky was looking cloudy and he was getting pretty cold. Though he couldn't mention that to Eijiro. The weirdo would take off his entire outfit down to his socks to keep him warm, considering he had something against clothes. 

They were a stride away from the shop when he felt a tickle on the back of his neck, and then his nose smelled something awful. Cough syrup and cleaning astringent was the only way he could describe it.

Ugh. Fuck. What did one of those assholes want now?

He decided to ignore it, Eijiro none the wiser as he swung their hands between them, scrolling on his phone.

The asshole took a step in front of them, and Katsuki sighed internally.

Katsuki wasn't afraid. Hell no, he fucking wasn't. He could take any of these alphas with their fake bravado, no doubt. 

But it was the fact that some of these nitwits couldn't take no for an answer. Some would follow him. Try to “court” him. It was so goddamn stupid. It wasn't even because he was him; it was because he was an omega and those pricks thought with their…pricks. 

“Hey there. Nice weather today.” 

Nice weather today? Fucking really? 

He rolled his eyes, “Yup.”

“So, you got an alpha? ‘Cause you know…it might be mating season. And you're exactly my type. You should be mine. Wanna be mine, pretty omega?”

He finally took a look at the guy. Smug. Hair in a buzz cut, untoned and blonde. A slit in his eyebrow. Artificially “cool”. He could literally smell his phony ass.

He scoffed, rolling his eyes again and shaking his head, ready to tug at Eijiro’s hand and walk away, but his best friend was…

…Was seriously fucking glaring at the asshole. An expression he had never seen out of the sweetness that was his best friend.

It shouldn't be surprising, however. Eijiro wasn't always rainbows and sunshine. When he got stubborn, he got stubborn. If people thought him being upset was scary? When Eijiro wouldn't talk, it was fucking terrifying. He’s known Eijiro like the back of his hand for three years. But this? This is an emotion he's never seen out of him.

He heard something low and rumbling coming from Eijiro’s chest, and he felt his skin hardening. 

“Ei? Ignore this perv. Let's--”

“What the fuck did you just say to him?” Eijiro spat out.

“Oh? This your omega?” The guy said with a slight laugh. 

Katsuki’s nose turned up in disgust; this dude was seriously letting out his gross ass scent like his weird pheromones helped with anything.

“Just back the fuck off,” Eijiro said, stepping forward.

“I didn't hear a no from him.”

“You didn't hear a yes, either.”

“Ei. Come on.”

“Yeah, Ei. Come on.” 

Before he could catch it, the asshole came forward and pushed at Eijiro’s shoulder. Well, tried. His best friend was a fucking tank. Instead, he stumbled backwards, falling on his back. 

“Ha. Weak ass. Let's go, Eijiro.”

But his best friend had some sort of tunnel vision because he wouldn't budge.

“Ei. Red. Let's go.”

Katsuki touched his arm, and he seemed to snap. 

The color from his face drained, and he looked at the guy on the floor. 

“Oh shit. Here.” Eijiro, the selfless bastard, held out his hand for the guy.

“Fuck off!” The guy shouted, slapping his hand away. 

He groaned in complaint, pulling a stunned Eijiro away and to a bench nearby.

“Ei. What the fuck?” He said, “You okay?”

“I--I…” Eijiro stuttered out, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. “I don't know what came over me.”

“You were pissed at that prick. It's fine.”

“I just--I felt so hot. So angry. I--I wanted to hit him for talking to you like that. It's--that's not like me.”

“You're fine, Eijiro. It's okay.”

“No. It's not. My head. My head was yelling at me.”

“It's not like he was a nice person. He was like a half-ass villain. A creep.”

“But still. When he said that you were…his?” Eijiro spat out the word, “I saw red. I'm--I'm not anything. I'm not an alpha. Who am I to be getting pissed about that?”

“Eijiro. You're not making any sense.”

“It doesn't make sense why I acted like that.”

“Telling an asshole to fuck off? I do that on the daily.” He laughed, reaching for Eijiro’s hand. 

Eijiro shook his head, “I'm sorry, Katsuki. But I got to go. I--I need. I'm sorry.” His best friend got up in a flash, and Katsuki felt a wave of hurt in his chest.

“Ei. What the fuck? Wait!” He said, but it was too late. Because the bastard ran. And Katsuki was too confused to follow. 

Eijiro…Eijiro was one stubborn bastard. So fucking stubborn that the silence between them was unbearable. His best friend was acting like he kicked a puppy in front of him, or rather, acting like a kicked puppy.

So that's why he was at his parents'. He couldn't stand the fact that Eijiro was ignoring him. So fuck it. He can ignore him too. His visit was a surprise to them, of course. His Ma had even asked where “ his funny little redhead” was. She knew Eijiro’s name, but she loved to rile him up by calling him dumb names like that. His old man was over the moon, immediately going to the store and buying him a bunch of shit. His Ma was planning to make him his favorite for dinner later. He was glad coming home was never a terrible idea.

Though, he was coming down with a headache. His chest was aching like he had a cough, even though he didn't. His limbs were sore like he had just run a mile. It was like he had just come out of a fight, but he's just been moving from his bed and the couch. 

He was sitting on said couch, snacking on some chips his dad had gotten him, when his Ma sat next to him with a smile. Which was scary in its own right. Maybe he spoke too damn soon.

“So, kid. Ya gonna tell me what's with the surprise visit? Aren't you supposed to be hanging with your precious redhead as usual?” She smiled, gently running her fingers through his hair.  

He inhaled. His house always brought a sense of comfort to him. His old man with his clove, and his ma with her jasmine. 

“Just felt like coming home.” He lied. She did not have to hear about his stupid drama.

“Oh, come on. If you're not doing something with Eijiro, you're bringing him over. What's up? You guys fighting?” 

He frowned, and his Ma smoothed the hair off his forehead to place a kiss there. She hummed, looking at him with a slight concern as she placed the back of her hand against his forehead. 

“We didn't even fucking fight. I wish we would've fought. The asshole is just ignoring me.” He said with a sigh.

“Did something happen to cause that? That kid is a sweetheart. He wouldn't just do that.”

Ugh. He guessed he could tell her.

But before he could, his Ma checked his forehead again, “Kid, you feeling okay?”

He shook his head, “No. I have a damn headache. My body feels so stupidly achy. Been getting headaches a fuckload.”

“Yeah? Have you gone to the doctor?” 

He nodded, “All they're saying is that I need time with my alpha.” He rolled his eyes.

His Ma hums again, a slight smile on her face, “So, what happened between you and Eijiro. You can tell me, kid. I won't judge.”

He raised his eyebrows, “You? Not judge?” He scoffed. 

“Oh shut it.” His mom opened her arms slightly, and he leaned into her. Her hands went back to running through his hair. She always said that it would calm him down as a kid, make him fall asleep right away. 

“We um…we kissed and shit. And Eijiro got on this bullshit of how he's not an alpha and how I shouldn't be with him.” He sighed, “Then some stupid phony alpha came up to me when we were out, and Eijiro said some shit to him and got super pissed, and the asshole fell on the ground when he tried to push Eijiro. He freaked afterwards. Like he had murdered the guy or something. Talking about some shit like how he wasn't being himself and didn't know what came over him. Now he's fucking ignoring me.”

Damn. He didn't expect to let it all out. His Ma was gonna make fun of him for sure.

“What do you mean ‘not an alpha’?” His Ma asked, holding him closer.

“Ei never gets results on those stupid tests. He thinks he's a beta because of that. Which I don't fucking care! Who cares about all that shit?”

His Ma laughed, “Katsuki. Eijiro is your alpha.”

“Huh? Didn't you just hear me? All this bullshit is because he's not an alpha.”

“He got angry at someone trying to court you, right?”

“Yeah, so?” “Court” was generous.

“And you feel sick and weird if you're not near him? Like right now?”

“Weird, yeah. But I've just been feeling sick.”

“And the doctors tell you to spend time with your alpha? Do you feel better when you're with Eijiro?”

“Yeah, but that's just because he's Ei.”

“Katsu. Did you know this is the first time you've smelt like yourself in a while?”

“What do you mean?” He asked, confused as shit.

“That's how I knew something was wrong. You don't smell like that terrible pine that Eijiro smells like.” 

“Ma. I smell like pine. What the hell are you talking about?”

“No. Your scent is cinnamon. Like your dad’s. Eijiro's scent is pine. A terrible one at that.” She stuck up her nose, “You both make the house smell like we just deep cleaned. You're scented like crazy when you come over without him.” She laughed.

“Eijiro…Ei is not an alpha. He told me so. The doctors fucking tell him so.”

“Well, the doctors are stupid, kid. Eijiro is your alpha. There's no denying it.”

“But we haven't…that whole bonding thing. We haven't done it.”

His Ma shook her head, “Being mated and bonded is more than that. It's not being able to live without each other. It's…I could tell from the moment you introduced us to him that he was yours. That you'd be shrugging together forever.” She smiled. 

Katsuki felt his chest tug, tears rimming in his eyes. Eijiro was his alpha? This entire fucking time?

“You're best friends, right?”

Katsuki nodded.

“Then, Katsu. That's more than enough. Okay?” It felt like the ache in his chest finally settled. He finally understood. All the confusion. All the loving Eijiro more than anything in the world. Hell, it didn't even matter to him that he was an alpha. He's loved Eijiro anyway. But the fact that they were so bonded? So intertwined with each other? Has it been this way since the beginning and they were too stupid to notice?

The tears started coming even faster, and his mom laughed warmly. 

“Don't get sappy on me now, kid.” She teased, wiping a tear that fell from his eyes, then kissed his forehead. “A lot to take in?”

He nodded again, and his Ma chuckled, pulling him in for a tight hug.

“Why don't you call him over? Talk. Tell him all I told you. If you want, I can explain it to him too.”

“He won't come over. He's stubborn.”

“If you call him, he will. Trust me. Eijiro loves you.” She kissed his forehead. “I love you too, alright?”

“Love you too, Ma. Thanks.”

She laughed again, getting up from the sofa and ruffling his hair. “I'll go start lunch.”

“I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Katsuki.” Eijiro said before he could even speak as he opened the door. He was pulled into a hug before he could even blink, and there it was. Pine. Undeniably filling the house and masking his parents’ scents. He wanted to laugh, but he didn't want to startle Eijiro. Especially because he was hugging his torso tightly, his head pressed against his chest, and he knew his best friend was about to cry.

“Eiji, come on. It's okay.” He said. 

Eijiro shook his head rapidly, “No. I'm so sorry, Katsuki. I thought what I was doing was right and I chickened out like I always do.” His voice cracked, and Katsuki wasn't gonna have that.

“Eiji.” He said again, kissing the top of his head. “Eiji. Hey. Let's get inside, yeah?”

Eijiro was crying now, so he pulled him into a proper hug. He squeezed him so damn tight it had to hurt. His best friend started to rock them, and he shushed him lightly. 

“We're okay. You're okay. Eiji. Let's go to the sofa, yeah? My Ma wants to talk to you.” 

Eijiro sniffed and looked up, “What?” 

He smiled, “Nothing scary, I promise. But she was telling me some shit earlier that made a lot of sense.”

Eijiro finally smiled back, “That doesn't make it any less scary.”

“Come on,” Katsuki said, leading him to the sofa and calling for his mom.

⋆ ⭑ ⋆

“Do you think she's right?” Eijiro asked in a whisper. They were now in his bedroom after a good lunch, lying on his bed.

“The hag is never wrong.” He said. “Don't tell her I said that.”

His best friend had his hands underneath his t-shirt, rubbing small circles on his skin, and he smiled as he inhaled.

“You're scenting me, you know.” He said.

“I am?” Eijiro asked, a crease in his brow. 

“Yeah.” 

“How do you know?” 

He shrugged, “It just happens, Eiji. An instinct and all that shit.”

“I don't know how I didn't realize.”

He sighed, kissing Eijiro’s nose, “Everyone in the damn world was telling you no. It's hard not to think otherwise.”

“Your mom knew.” He smiled. Eijiro smiled, and his stupid sappy heart flipped.

“Cause she knows everything.” He admits.

“I won't tell her you said that either.” 

Eijiro’s arms felt so warm around him. His hands so soft and gentle. He felt his lips press against his scent gland, and Katsuki exhaled. 

“What does this mean for us now?” Eijiro asked, lightly moving his lips around his neck. He could feel that rumble again, Eijiro’s purring loud and obvious. 

Katsuki closed his eyes, feeling his stomach jump, and tried to focus. But Eijiro was driving him crazy doing that.

He kissed up his jaw, his chin, the crook of his ear. He wanted to whine. Aching for more. But he knew too much too fast would probably scare Eijiro away. Even though Katsuki wanted to give him everything, this had to be at Eijiro’s pace. 

“It can mean whatever we want. Who cares about labels or whatever?” He did his best to say, shaky at that.

“You okay?” Eijiro said against his shoulder, kissing there.

“You're driving me crazy.” He admits.

“Oh. Sorry. I just like the way it feels to kiss you. Feels different.” He started kissing down his skin again, and Katsuki bit his lip. Did Eijiro even know how crazy he made him? How much Katsuki loved his lips on his? How much he ached to do just this?

“Tell me about it.” He said back.

“And um…I love you, Katsuki.” Eijiro said with a bright blush, but with such sureness in his eyes.

Katsuki felt his heart skip a thousand beats, and that damn sappy thing was gonna make him cry.

He regrettably pulled Eijiro’s lips away from his skin and kissed him hard. So damn hard he could hear his heart beating against his.

“I love you too, Ei.”

Eijiro took a second, then, seriously staring at him, “I gotta be honest, Kats. I like kissing. I think it feels amazing with you. But I don't think that…um.” Eijiro blushed, voice getting tight, “I don't think that I'll like to do everything that um…involves being bonded.”

“You're talking about…sex and shit?” He swallowed. Where in the hell was this coming from?

“Yeah. I think mostly the reason I didn't realize is that I…heats and stuff? I don't think I get those. Or would even know what one feels like.”

“Oh,” Katsuki said. 

Eijiro looked so nervous. So damn scared. Like something that insignificant to him would change anything about how much he loves him.

“Yeah…so. I understand if you don't want to do all this with me. I don't wanna hold you back.” Eijiro’s eyes widened in panic, then, “Don't get me wrong! I think you're so hot and gorgeous and I love you more than anything. But…yeah.”

He chuckled a little. Damn. Fucking selfless bastard.

“I already told you I'm never letting go of you again, you idiot. What makes you think this changes anything?”

Eijiro’s beautifully crimson eyes teared up then, and he let out a soft, heartbreaking, “Really?”

“Shit, Ei.” He said, moving so he could wipe his tears with the blanket between them. “Don't cry.”

“I just thought you wouldn't want me anymore. I wouldn't want me.” Eijiro said. And fuck if that wasn't the most idiotic thing in the world.

“All I want is you, you moron. I love you, Eijiro. Only you. All this damn time I was wanting you. Not some stupid run-of-the-mill alpha. You.” Katsuki felt a pang from exposing himself so much, but dammit, Eijiro needed to hear it.

“Maybe one day…um. I’m not sure, I mean I never had a crush until you…so.”

“You don't have to be sure or change your mind about anything.” He said.

“Okay,” Eijiro whispered, kissing him again. “I am sure about you, though.”

“Good,” Katsuki said, kissing him back. Again and again and again just because he damn well could. He loves Eijiro so much. 

“Do you know how all that biting stuff works?” Eijiro said suddenly. 

He laughed, “Biting stuff? What the fuck?”

“You know! The marks and all that!” 

He snorted- what a whiplash of a conversation.

“We can worry about that crap later, Ei.” He rolled his eyes. 

Right now. All he wanted was Eijiro. All he’s ever wanted was Eijiro. 

Fuck. For the rest of his life? All he wants is for his best friend to be his.