healing takes time (none of it is linear)

Chapter 15

Denki had invited Izuku over to his house to hang out while Hitoshi was out at work. 'An omega-only chill day,' he called it. Izuku had agreed because, honestly, it sounded nice, and his boyfriends had said it would be good for him. He knew he didn't need their permission, but a small part of him still wanted their approval before he did something, especially without them.

So Izuku was dropped off at Denki and Hitoshi's house around 10 a.m., right as the purple-haired alpha was leaving. Izuku tried not to be too tense when the alpha greeted him and told him and Denki to have a good day, but it was hard to keep the tenseness out of his shoulders as he nodded.

Denki smiled brightly once Hitoshi was driving away and waved Izuku in. "Glad you came over!" He said, closing the door behind Izuku, his smile never falling. "I thought it would be fun to hang out."

Izuku gave a timid smile in comparison to the blinding one Denki gave him. "Uh, yeah, thanks for having me." He was still cautious, realizing he hadn't been without his boyfriends since he was brought to them. One of them was always around or in the house with him. It was weird without them.

But he would be fine here with Denki. Right?

Denki led him into the house by the hand. He was clearly excited, and Izuku didn't want to ruin that with his unease, so he tried to relax. It was okay. The house was smaller than Eijiro, Katsuki and Shoto's, but that's to be expected, four people in one house compared to just two. The living room had piles of blankets and pillows that Denki said he brought out for their omega day.

"So, it's been a while since we've properly talked; how have you been? Eijiro said you had your heat last week," Denki said as he went into the kitchen and pulled out snacks.

Izuku shifted from foot to foot, standing awkwardly in the living room as he waited. "Oh, I'm ok. You know how it is spending heat alone..." he muttered, staring at the floor.

"You didn't spend it with your boyfriends?" Denki asked, looking back at Izuku. The other omega shook his head.

"I wanted to... just... I don't know." He bit his lip, feeling like he was being judged by Denki. Was it too late to get someone to pick him up? He tried not to think about that; he didn't want to be rude.

Denki shook his head. "Nah, dude, I get it. It's hard." He sat down on some of the blankets, placing the plate of food in his lap as he waved for Izuku to join him. "It can be hard even just being around someone during heat the first few times. And you got three someones."

Izuku curled up on the blankets and rested his chin on his knee. "That doesn't mean I don't want them there. I wanted to be with them, but I overthink everything." He had had extensive conversations with them, constantly reassured, but none of that felt like it was the truth.

Denki hummed and held out the plate of snacks he had gotten. "They understand. Trust me."

"But what if they don't and they think I hate them?" Izuku muttered, picking up one of the cookies but not eating it yet. "They say it's okay, but none of it feels okay."

"Have they done something to make you think they think you hate them?"

Izuku shook his head, chewing the inside of his cheek.

"Ok, then they don't think that. I know it's hard to believe, but I'm serious." He took out his phone and clicked on a few things before handing it over to Izuku. "Just look at this, maybe it'll help."

Izuku looked down and saw a chat between Denki and Eijiro. He felt like he shouldn't be reading it, but Denki had handed him the phone to read... it should be fine, right?

Eijiro: oh my god

Denki: what?

Eijiro: he's so cute.