Work Text:
When Izuku was diagnosed as an omega at 8 years old via a hormonal blood test, he was ambivalent at first. So what if he was an omega, and a rare male one at that? It didn’t mean anything for him right now. His “presentation” (whatever that was) wouldn’t happen until he was in his mid-teens. He wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to be presenting. Was he going to have to get up on stage and give a speech about being an omega? He didn’t want to do that!
Well, whatever. Being an omega was the least of his concerns right now. He was ready to leave the doctor’s office and go home. Didn’t his mama remember that tonight was the premier of the new All Might and Crimson Riot crossover episode of Mighty Heroes?!
So, life went on. He didn’t bother to tell anyone because it wasn’t important.
But then, his best friend Katsuki’s test showed that he was going to be an alpha. And that changed everything! Cause if Izuku was an omega, and Kacchan was an alpha, then it was obvious. Izuku was gonna be Kacchan’s omega. And he had to be the best omega ever!
For the first time, Izuku was intently focused on what being an omega meant for him. Kacchan deserved the best, and the best was what he was gonna get!
To facilitate this, Izuku came to his mom a few days before his next sleepover with Kacchan.
“Mama, can you help me with something?” He shuffled his socked feet against the carpet nervously.
Inko set aside her magazine, focusing all her attention on her precious son. “Of course, Izuku. What do you need, sweetheart?”
“W-well,” he nervously stuttered out. “Umm… so. Can- can you teach me more about being an omega, Mama?”
“Oh sweetheart, of course! Now, you don’t need to know everything right now. There’s plenty of time to learn! How about we start with some simple stuff?”
Izuku nodded eagerly. “Of course, Mama! Can… can you teach me about nesting? I know we have our family nest. Are there different kinds?”
Inko blushed slightly. She was going to have to do her best to explain nests and keep it child appropriate. “Well, there are actually! Like you mentioned, we have our family nest. Family nests are common in most families unless the family is made up of all betas. Since betas don’t have the same type of instincts that alphas and omegas do, they don’t typically nest. But sometimes they do, and that’s okay too! But in families of alphas and omegas, families have a large nest meant for the whole family to share! It’s great for bonding and cuddling time.”
“Yeah, like last week when we cuddled in the nest and watched the movie after I got sick!” Izuku bounced up and down excitedly.
Smiling, Inko booped Izuku on the nose. “Exactly like that! So that’s one kind. When you get older, if you form a pack, you might have a pack nest. It’s basically the same as a family nest, but it will be open to anyone in the pack including their mates and children. Like an extended family!”
Nodding seriously, a finger propped on his chin, Izuku asked, “Okay, but what about nests just for mates?”
Inko took a deep breath. While this was a delicate situation, she would do her best to answer. “Well, when you get older and present, part of your instincts will demand that you make your own personal nest. This will be just for you. And when you take a mate, they will be included in that. But these personal nests are very private. Your instincts won’t typically allow anyone other than your chosen mate inside your nest, except for very special circumstances.”
“Oh. Okay Mama. So, how do I go about building a nest? Can you teach me how to build one?”
Inko tilted her head to the side in confusion. “Why do you want to build one now, sweetheart? We have our family one, and you won’t need your own nest for many years.”
Izuku clenched his fist in determination. “Because I gotta be the best at it, Mama! My nest’s gotta be the best for my future mate. Ka-My future mate deserves the best!”
Moved by his determination, Inko agreed. “Of course, sweetheart. But remember, the nest is for you before anyone else, okay? Your comfort in the nest is the most important. Then, as long as you are comfortable, you can take into consideration what your future mate might like. Understand?”
“Yes Mama!”
So, for the next couple of days Inko took the time to teach her child about nesting. Granted, a lot of it would come down to instincts after his presentation. But there were things that could still be taught. Different types of bases, nesting materials, and more, were discussed. She even took him to a nesting store and allowed him to pick out some new blankets from the family nesting section. He seemed especially drawn to a soft and fuzzy burnt orange blanket, cuddling it all the way home.
-
-
-
The night of his sleepover with Kacchan was here, and Izuku was about to buzz out of his skin with excitement. When Kacchan arrived with Auntie Micchan, Izuku was quick to drag him into his room after greeting his Auntie. Mitsuki and Inko gave each other a knowing grin before settling down for a cup of tea.
“Whoa, slow down Deku!” Katsuki dug his feet into the carpet, trying to slow down his green-haired friend.
Izuku threw open his bedroom door, dragged his friend inside, and hurriedly closed the door behind him. “Kacchan! Come on, come on, come on! I gotta show you!”
Katsuki tossed his overnight bag into the corner, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Show me what, you damn nerd?!”
Izuku scurried over to his bed. It was covered in various blankets, sheets, and pillows. Waving his arms towards the bed, he declared, “Ta-da!”
Katsuki just blinked. “Uhh… your dirty laundry?”
Izuku scoffed, stomping his foot. “No Kacchan!” Huffing, he looked back at his friend and mirrored his pose subconsciously. “Look, I know you’re gonna be an alpha. I heard Mama talking to Auntie Micchan.”
Katsuki nodded slowly, still not understanding. “Yeah, so fucking what?”
Izuku hung his head shyly. “Uhh, so you’re gonna be an alpha. And I- I’m gonna be an omega.”
“You’re what?!” Katsuki didn’t know this. “Why didn’t you tell me, ‘Zuku?!”
“Yeah, I found out last month. It wasn’t important then though! But it is now.”
Katsuki squinted his eyes. “Why wasn’t it important then, but it is now?”
Izuku unlatched his arms and began twiddling his fingers together. “Cause… cause… I’m gonna be y-your…” He delved off into a murmur too low for Katsuki to hear.
“Speak up damn it! I didn’t hear you.” Katsuki moved closer to his friend so he could hear him better.
Taking a deep breath, Izuku tried again. “Cause… I’m gonna be your ‘mega, Kacchan! You promised me that when we grew up, I could be your mate! And now wi-with you as an alpha, and me as an omega, I c-can be your mate when we get older!”
Katsuki just stared at him, mouth open in shock. Eventually, he shook himself out of it. “You… you remember that?!”
Izuku was offended. “Course I did, Kacchan! We pinky promised!”
“I mean… I guess!” Katsuki was flustered and didn’t know what to say. Secretly, he was pleased to hear that his ‘Zuku was gonna be an omega. But he couldn’t tell him that! “So what does your dirty laundry have to do with that?!”
“Kacchan, keep up!” Izuku pouted. “It’s not my dirty laundry! If I’m gonna be your omega, I gotta make us a nest!”
“N-n-nest?!” Katsuki screeched, a furious blush crossing his features. Then, another screech. “MY omega?! S-stupid nerd! Who says you’re gonna be my omega? Cause I deserve the best!”
“Well duh, Kacchan!! Kacchan’s gonna be the best alpha, so he deserves the best omega!” Izuku pouted, before pointing at his bed again. “So I’ve been practicing Kacchan! Mama is teaching me about being an omega, and I’ve been practicing making a nest. So what’s what all this is.” He reached down and pulled out his favorite new blanket. “I wanna practice making one with you though.” He waved the blanket at Katsuki enticingly.
Blushing, Katsuki reached out and took the blanket gently. “But… why?”
“Well, I know how to make one and I know what I like. But now I need’ta know what Kacchan likes! Kacchan deserves the best, most comfiest nest!”
Scoffing, Katsuki started digging through the blankets. “You’re damn right I do! Fine, if we’re gonna make a nest, we’re gonna make it right!” He started sorting out the blankets. Without looking at Izuku, but with a blush creeping up his neck, he continued, “And I guess you can be my omega… but not until later, dumb Deku! Got that?”
Izuku threw up his fist, nodding in excitement. “Of course, Kacchan!” He started helping sort out the stuff on the bed. “Now let’s make the best nest ever!”
Grinning, the two friends exchanged a fist bump. Then, they set to work. Friendly bickering could be heard as the two debated what blanket should go where, which pillows should be used, and various other childish debates. They only took a break for dinner, before returning to finish up.
Once the “nest” was finished, the two cuddled inside playing with Izuku’s collection of Mighty Heroes action figures.
Izuku could feel Kacchan peeking at him from the corner of his eye on occasion. “What is it, Kacchan?”
Katsuki huffed before turning to face Izuku fully. “What else have you learned about being an omega, ‘Zuku?”
Tapping a finger on his chin in thought, Izuku was quiet for a moment before replying, “Well, we mostly talked about nesting. Mama showed me different stuff at the nesting store! But she didn’t tell me everything. She said some stuff I would just know when I presented.” At this he diverted off into a grumble. “I don’t wanna do some stupid presentation in front of people, Kacchan! You know I don’t like talking in front of people.”
Katsuki was flabbergasted. Even he, at 8 years old, knew what it meant to present. (Okay, so he heard some older kids talking about it on the playground! Apparently when the nerd presented, he was gonna want to kiss his mate a lot. Katsuki thought kissing was boring, so he wasn’t looking forward to that!) But you know what… he wasn’t gonna say a word. If that’s what ‘Zuku thought presenting was, then he wouldn’t want to practice kissing. Gross!
Ignorant of his friend’s internal debate, Izuku continued on. “Umm, but we also talked about scenting and instincts and stuff.” He looked down at his wrists. Since he was still an unpresented pup, his scent glands were nearly invisible and only produced the milky pup scent that smelled faintly of his mother’s scent as well. “I know Mama scents me all the time, and it’s nice! Maybe we should practice scenting too?”
Katsuki blushed all the way to his ears. “S-stupid Deku! We can’t sc-scent yet! We don’t have our own!”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess you’re right, Kacchan.”
Izuku looked so sad at this prospect. After an internal battle, Katsuki growled out slightly and thrust his arm out. Izuku looked at him in confusion.
“Well?!” Katsuki looked at Izuku like he was waiting for something.
“I- I don’t understand, Kacchan.”
After letting out a sigh of disappointment, Katsuki wiggled his wrist at Izuku enticingly. “If you wanna be my omega, I guess we gotta practice scenting too, Dumb Deku! So I guess we can practice now.” He stated imperiously, face tilted away to hide the shy blush on his cheeks.
“Oh! Gosh, Kacchan! I-I-” Izuku was a stuttering mess, both exited by the prospect but also scared. What if he messed it up? Kacchan would never let him practice scenting again!
Apparently one hundred percent done with the conversation already, Katsuki simply reached over and grabbed Izuku’s hand, then gently rubbed their wrists together.
It felt… nice. Soothing. Both were sure that it would feel much different when they were older, but the feeling of comfort that they received meant that they obviously were doing something right!
Katsuki scratched at his cheek nervously. “I guess that wasn’t so damn bad. Uhh, I guess… we could do that again sometime.”
Izuku squealed in excitement, tackling his friend into a pile of pillows. Thus their night devolved into the playful wrestling of overexcited pups.
-
-
-
When Inko came to tell them it was bedtime, she found both boys passed out in what she determined to be a cross between a blanket fort and a family style nest.
Ahh, so this was why Izuku wanted to know how to build nests.
She smiled, walking over quietly to take some pictures to send to Mitsuki. The boys were surrounded by toys and a couple of comic books. The nest itself was rough, being built by two children. But she could see that they had put a lot of thought into it. Blankets were spread evenly. The sides were misshapen but holding up. And they had managed to hang a sheet over the bed by hooking them over Izuku’s bookshelves.
All in all, it looked very comfy and cozy. A perfect beginner’s nest.
She could see the last few minutes of an All Might movie playing on Izuku’s portable DVD player. Both boys were already dressed in their pajamas. They were cuddled up under Izuku’s new orange blanket, heads cushioned on two fluffy pillows. She could see Izuku’s right hand reaching out and Katsuki’s left hand clutching it tightly, fingers intertwined.
She sniffled a bit. It seems her baby boy had already picked his future mate. Now all they needed was time.
-
-
-
[End.]