The village to the East •KatsuDeku• (Omegaverse)

Chapter Six: Bargaining

Izuku's PoV:

I sat there in complete shock. I had... never seen an alpha cry before. Especially not because of me. 

I looked at him as he sat on the bed beside me, his head in his hands, shoulders trembling as he let his emotions out. His sobs shook him, each one echoing the pain he held back for so long.

I didn't know how to respond. My alpha would have hit me if I dared to show weakness, and now, seeing someone so strong break down left me frozen.

Almost without thinking, I crawled to him and wrapped my arms around him, half-expecting him to push me away. But instead, he pulled me close, his strong arms around me, kissing my forehead as if I was something precious.

I pressed my face into his chest, letting his warmth settle over me. I'd never been held like this before.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, voice barely above a whisper as tears slipped down my cheeks. "I was upset. I know it wasn't fair to expect you to protect me. I'm... I'm not deserving—"

He tightened his hold, his lips brushing my forehead. "That's not true. You are deserving, Izuku. Every omega is. I'm sorry I didn't protect you..."

He gently tangled his fingers through my curls, soothing me as we fell into a comfortable silence.

After a while, I finally spoke, my voice tentative. "Were you crying because I said I hate you...?"

He didn't answer, just stared at the wall with a distant look. Guilt curled in my stomach. It was a feeling I'd known too well, a familiar ache in the hollow of my chest. I didn't dare tell him, but... I loved him, even if that love came with a shadow of fear. He was everything I'd ever wanted in an alpha.

Even if my dreams of him were often nightmares—the kind that haunted me, where I'd wake up drenched in sweat. Visions of heaven falling on mankind, of destruction unleashed by the Final Trinity, and the terror that gripped my heart as I saw it play out over and over in my sleep. Soon, it wouldn't just be dreams. Soon, it would be real.

He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me back to the present.

"Hey, calm down... You're safe," he said, his voice a low, gentle rumble. And then, as he gave me a soft, rare smile, I pressed closer, craving the comfort his presence gave me.

After a deep breath, he spoke again. "I'm just... worried about the war." His body tensed, the muscles under my hands coiling as if readying for a blow. I felt his hands clench, his jaw tight.

I glanced up at him, resting my head against his chest. "Do you want to talk about it?" I murmured, tracing gentle circles against his back.

He nods and begins, "I'm worried, Izuku. I still don't know what the Athena Curse really is. I mean, I know the basics, but why did she curse the kingdom in the first place? And how are we supposed to face both the Dark Kingdom and MAGIC? If we lose Emerald as an ally... we're done for. What if they decide not to help us? And... what about you? If Dark attacks us, how am I supposed to protect you?" He trails off, looking down, then continues more softly, "You're my omega, but I don't even know if I can keep you safe."

He looks up and meets my eyes. "Actually, I want to know more about you, Izuku. I feel like I barely know who you really are." His voice is serious, but I'm not ready to talk about my past with him yet. So, I turn the topic around.

"Six hundred moons ago... Queen Athena..." I start.

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Queen Athena I's PoV:

When I first heard the prophecy, I thought it was just a story. But watching my kingdom fall apart proved it was true.