help me / bakudeku omegaverse /

part 9

The morning light bled softly through the tall windows of Izuku's room, golden rays warming the rich wooden floors. Katsuki stirred first, blinking groggily before realizing that a soft weight was curled into his side. Izuku's smaller frame was nestled against him, breaths even and warm against Katsuki's chest. He smiled faintly.He stayed there for a while, letting himself savor the rare peace, his arm wrapped protectively around the sleeping omega. But eventually, duty tugged at him. He groaned softly, pressing a reluctant kiss to Izuku's hair.The movement stirred Izuku awake."Mmm...?" he murmured, green eyes blinking open slowly."Mornin'," Katsuki mumbled, burying his face in Izuku's hair for another second. "Gotta get ready."Izuku nodded sleepily, still curled into his warmth. Katsuki untangled himself and stood, running a hand through his tousled blond hair. He dressed quickly in his uniform and rang the small silver bell near the desk.Moments later, a maid entered with a polite bow."Get some clothes ready for Izuku," Katsuki ordered.Izuku sat up quickly. "O-oh, y-you don't have to! The c-clothes I have are fine—""You're not wearing the same thing every day like you're still in the ring," Katsuki said gently, but firmly. "You deserve more."Izuku blinked, quieting. He didn't argue again.The maid returned a short while later with an outfit resembling Katsuki's royal garb—a tailored shirt with golden embroidery and deep forest green panels, matching trousers, and a light cloak with subtle sigils. It was regal, but not ostentatious.Izuku touched the fabric as if it might vanish. He changed with quiet awe and followed Katsuki down to breakfast.The morning meal was simple but elegant—bread, eggs, fruits, and warm tea. Izuku ate slowly, but with no complaints, and Katsuki noted with pride that he didn't have to coax him like before.Afterward, they made their way to Katsuki's office. Izuku blinked at the sheer volume of paper cluttering the space—stacked scrolls, leather-bound tomes, ink pots, and a ridiculous number of quills."This... is yours?" Izuku whispered.Katsuki snorted. "Yeah. Thrilling, isn't it?"Izuku didn't reply. He was too busy absorbing everything—the diagrams, the maps, the letters bearing wax seals.Katsuki sat at his desk and began tearing through the work: reading treaties, approving trade deals, rejecting unreasonable noble requests. Izuku sat quietly at first, watching. Eventually, he moved closer, seating himself in a small chair beside Katsuki.Though Izuku understood some of the documents, Katsuki worked with such speed and precision that it was hard to keep up. His eyes flicked across the page, scribbling decisions and notes faster than Izuku could read the headers.Still, Izuku stayed close. He liked the warmth of Katsuki beside him, the scratch of the quill, the soft rustling of paper. It felt safe. Purposeful.By midday, Katsuki pushed the papers aside with a groan."Break time. Let's hit the training yard."Izuku followed him to the castle's outdoor training area. The scent of dust and metal filled the air. Kirishima and Denki were already there, sparring with wooden swords."Yo, Katsuki!" Kirishima grinned. Then his eyes widened as he saw Izuku. "Wait—is that Izuku? Hey, man!"Denki waved cheerfully. "Hey, we remember you!"Izuku flinched a little and moved instinctively closer to Katsuki. He nodded politely but didn't smile.He remembered them. They were friendly enough—but they were alphas. Their presence made his instincts stir uneasily, though he fought to keep his demeanor calm.Katsuki noticed and rested a reassuring hand on his back."You okay?"Izuku nodded. "J-just... still getting used to everything."Katsuki stepped into the ring with Kirishima, drawing a blunt training sword.Izuku sat on a nearby bench, watching intently. As the sparring began, he noticed something others probably wouldn't.Katsuki's style was powerful but open. He wasted energy in wide, flashy movements. His footing was good, but his shoulder telegraphed his strikes. Kirishima knew his rhythm well and was able to anticipate more hits than Katsuki realized.Izuku said nothing. He simply observed.After hours passed and the sun dipped low in the sky, Katsuki and Izuku returned to the eastern quarters. They sat together in Izuku's room for dinner, a modest meal laid out on the small table.As they ate, Katsuki glanced at him. "So. Did you like today?"Izuku looked up, his eyes soft and glowing in the firelight. He smiled brightly."Yes. V-very much."Katsuki's lips curved in a rare, full smile.A pause settled between them.Izuku looked down at his empty plate, fidgeting slightly."C-can I say something? I-I don't mean to speak out of turn—""You never are," Katsuki interrupted. "Say whatever you want."Izuku hesitated. "W-when you were sparring earlier... y-you move your right shoulder before every overhead strike. I-it gives you away. A-and your stance is powerful, but you l-leave your left side open during footwork. A-also... your swing arcs are too wide, and they take more energy than they should."Katsuki blinked.Then barked a surprised laugh. "You noticed all that from watching one match?"Izuku flushed, looking down. "S-sorry... I-I didn't mean to offend—""No, dumbass," Katsuki said fondly. "That was awesome. No one else has called me on that."He leaned back, crossing his arms and looking at Izuku with new admiration."Thanks. You mind doing this again tomorrow? Watching me fight, giving feedback?"Izuku looked up, eyes wide. "Y-you want me to?""Hell yeah. You've got a good eye."Izuku's smile returned, bright and proud. "Then... I'd love to."They finished their meal and sat close again by the fire. Katsuki wrapped his arm around Izuku's waist in a comforting gesture, holding him as the flames crackled softly.When the time came, Katsuki stood reluctantly."Gotta go," he muttered. "But I'll see you in the morning."Izuku stood too and reached out, hugging him tightly.Katsuki embraced him back, resting his chin atop Izuku's curls.For a long moment, they just held each other.Then, slowly, Katsuki pulled away, his hand lingering on Izuku's cheek."Goodnight, Izuku.""Goodnight, Katsuki."And with a smile, Katsuki stepped into the hallway, closing the door gently behind him, leaving Izuku safe, warm, and already counting the hours until sunrise.

•••

A soft knocking stirred Izuku from sleep.He blinked groggily, rising from the heavy warmth of the blankets as the morning light spilled across the floor. The knock came again—gentle, but insistent. His heart raced for a moment. The rules in the trade ring were always unspoken but cruel. Anyone who answered too slow paid for it.He hesitated before managing a quiet, "C-come in."The door opened slowly, revealing Katsuki and a maid standing behind him. The maid held folded clothes over her arms."Morning," Katsuki said, his voice gentler than usual, still wearing the faintest hint of sleep. His hair was tousled, and his smile—a full, goofy grin—was bright. "Got something for you."Izuku sat up properly. "O-oh... g-good morning."The maid stepped forward, placing the clothes on a nearby stool. Today's set had the same elegant cut as the others but came in rich emerald and gold.Izuku looked down at his hands. "T-the outfit from yesterday is still clean... I-I don't need to waste these."Katsuki stepped forward and gently tilted Izuku's chin up. "They're not wasted. You get to feel good in what you wear. And these? They were made for you."Izuku flushed and nodded.After dressing and brushing his hair, he stepped out to find Katsuki waiting with a proud look on his face."Ready?""Y-yes.""Good. Because I have a surprise for you."Izuku blinked. "A surprise?"Katsuki grinned. "You'll see."They made their way to the dining hall. The morning routine was familiar now: warm bread, soft eggs, sweet fruit, and fresh tea. Izuku ate slowly but steadily, smiling softly as Katsuki complained about the dullness of political breakfasts.Once breakfast ended, Katsuki took him back to the office—but when Izuku stepped inside, he froze.There, in the corner near the tall windows, was a new space: a cozy reading nook with cushions, soft throws, and a freshly installed shelf full of books.Izuku's eyes widened. "I-Is this for me...?"Katsuki crossed his arms. "You said you like reading. Figured you could do it here instead of being stuck on the floor next to my desk."Izuku was still for a moment.Then, instead of rushing to the nook, he stepped up beside Katsuki and sat down in the small chair next to him, clutching one of the books from the shelf.Katsuki looked at him, surprised. "You sure? The nook's right there."Izuku smiled shyly. "I-it is... b-but I like sitting next to you."Katsuki's heart gave a quiet, painful flutter.