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Part 6
Pre-heat is annoying; it's constant hunger and constant need to mess with his nest. He's redone it like seven times in three days and it never gets any better.
Katsuki feels like he's not very good at making nests. He knows it has something to do with the fact that as a child his mother never let him practice; omega children tend to start nest building very early on. There's also a belief - among betas, like say, Katsuki's parents - that nests are inherently sex related. Hence the not-being-allowed-to-build-a-nest thing.
It's stupid, is what it is.
They're not, though, a sex thing.
Nests are a place of safety and comfort and necessary for the proper development of the omega child; Katsuki is very bitter over the fact that he wasn't allowed to build any as a kid. The first real, awkwardly constructed heap he had was in U.A. away from his judgemental parent's eyes, hidden from everybody. He used to pack it away and hide it in his closed every morning.
Izuku had never anything negative to say, just kept insisting they were perfect, which didn't help at all, because Katsuki has never felt like they were perfect, or even good. He can't figure out what's wrong, what's missing, what's that thing that keeps screaming at him not good enough!
Katsuki's gone through a million and one different articles and tutorials and videos of omega's showing off their nests and sharing tips on how to make them comfy and pretty and whatever.
None of it helps. It still feels like something is off.
The thing is, he wants his nest to be filled with familiar scents; he wants to feel like he's surrounded by his loved ones. But at the same time he doesn't want them there. He wants soft, but not too soft. He wants to bury himself in the nest, but gets claustrophobic if there's too much stuff. He wants - he just wants something and it's driving him nuts not being able to figure out what it is.
"Suki?" Hitoshi pops his head into the bedroom where Katsuki's still messing with the nest. "You want tea?"
The omega glares at his alpha, irritated. "No, I don't want tea!" He huffs and slumps in the middle of the bed.
"Still not good?"
The alpha walks into the room and surveys the mess that Katsuki has made; he's torn the nest apart, most of the things - pillows and blankets and borrowed clothing items and plushies and whatnot - litter the floor.
"No!" Katsuki knows he sounds miserable; he is miserable - can't he do even this one thing right?
Hitoshi sits on the edge of the bed and pulls him gently into a hug. It makes him feel a little better; at least his alpha loves him still, even is he can't do this right.
"What triggers it?" Hitoshi asks softly, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Huh?"
"The need to redo it? What triggers it?" The alpha clarifies looking around the room; it's a hot mess.
"I don't know!" Frustration getting the better of him, Katsuki pushes the alpha off and crosses his arms like an angry child. "If I knew what was wrong I wouldn't be having this problem."
Hitoshi isn't easily fazed; he just smiles and shakes his head. "No, I meant, what is the first thing that you tear down? What is that one thing that screams wrong before you pull it out? Is it the same thing every time or does it differ?"
Katsuki pauses.
He sits there sulking, staring at all his nest supplies; he's never been good at asking for help, or receiving it. He's always been on his own, chosen to be on his own, too ashamed to ask even his friends for advice. All the articles, the turtorials, the videos, they say nest building is an ingrained instinct; that every omega instinctively knows what they should make their nest like.
The only thing he's ever instinctively known is that it's all wrong by the time he's done with it. Outside of pre-heats and heats themselves he usually doesn't bother this much. Just gives up and lives with the feeling of wrong.
But now Hitoshi's here; he wants, in a way he has never really wanted before, to make it absolutely perfect.
"I don't know." He finally says quietly. "It's just wrong all the time. All of it."
Katsuki curls up into a tight miserable ball and hides his face into his knees. The bed dips slightly as Hitoshi moves closer.
"Baby?" He whispers gently but Katsuki doesn't react. "Honey?"
The omega refuses to look up, doesn't think he can do that without crying.
"Suki," The nickname makes him feel very small and fragile. "Hey, I might not know anything about nest building." The alpha speaks softly, running a hand up and down Katsuki's back. "But I know you, and I know that you are very specific on the things you like."
Finally Katsuki peeks at him; Hitoshi has a soft look in his purple eyes.
"There you are." He says and places a kiss on his forehead.
"What do you mean specific?"
"I mean," The alpha murmurs against his forehead. "You have favourite colors, favourite textures and favourite shapes."
Katsuki can only stare at his alpha.
"You prefer fluffy over velvety." Picking up a pillow that's made entirely of faux fur, soft off-white in color, he holds it up. "Muted colors over bright." He picks another item, a blanket in light gray. "And I've never seen you choose anything but the smoothest of linens." He runs his hand across the bedsheets.
Katsuki looks at the hand, mesmerised; Hitoshi's paid this much attention?
"I see several things here that I wonder about why they're in your nest in the first place." There's a large throw blanket, bright blue and made from some wonderfully soft knitted material that the alpha picks up next; it was a housewarming gift from Tsunagu, it has emotional value.
"It was a gift." He protests weakly.
"I know, but it doesn't mean it fits in." Hitoshi is unbearably gentle as he wraps Katsuki in the blue blanket. "This is a nice blanket." He says and looks at Katsuki.
It is a nice blanket; Katsuki is very fond of it, even if the color is a little - oh.
Oh, he sees what Hitoshi means; he rubs the soft knitted material against his cheek. He loves this blanket, but he gets it.
"Maybe you're just trying too hard to follow what people who don't even know you are telling you?" The alpha says softly after a while. "You can talk to your friends, you know? You can ask them for help or advice, or ask them to just listen while you vent."
It's unreasonable, how much sense Hitoshi makes; Katsuki sort of hates it, but not really.
Katsuki leans against Hitoshi and sighs; he feels a little better now. There's still the bitter feeling of not being able to figure things out himself, but the reassurance of his alpha makes him feel less alone, less of a failure. It gives him hope, that he might be able to do this after all.
"I would like that tea." He says quietly and Hitoshi chuckles.
"Sure." He places one last kiss on his forehead and gets up. "I'll bring you a cup."
Katsuki sits for a moment after the alpha's disappeared into the kitchen and ponders. He feels a little calmer, a little better.
Picking up his phone he bites his lip; how to word this so that it doesn't sound completely insane?
I need advice.
He sends it in the group chat, because he can't be bothered to text them all separately; anxiety swirls in his stomach; he's never asked for help before.
About nests.
He adds for clarification.
What about nests?
Mina's the first to respond just as Hitoshi brings the tea and plate full of treats; Katsuki gives him a thankful smile and gets another kiss for his troubles.
How do I make them good?
He has no idea how to actually go about this; how to ask what he wants to ask. He still feels a little like he is the thing that is wrong. It's an awful feeling.
Like good how?
Mina's predictably confused and Katsuki tries again.
It feels wrong all the time. I can't make the feeling go away. I keep redoing and redoing the nest over and over again.
He feels a little embarrased writing it but he's too stubborn to give up now.
KONMARI!!!!
Denki has joined the chat.
What?
Katsuki has no idea what he's saying.
YES!!!
Mina however does by the looks of it.
Again, what?
Katsuki waits, looks at the little dancing dots as his friends both type in something.
Ooooold pre-quirk era technique!
Denki provides first.
Pick an item and ask it if it sparks joy. If no, toss it, if yes, keep it :) :)
Mina's explanation is slightly more helpful.
Sparks joy?
Doesn't mean it makes sense; Katsuki bites into a piece of an apple and stares at his stuff; all of it is important to him, it all makes him happy; that's why he's picked it all.
Pick each item individually, hold it and focus on how it makes you feel. If it makes you feel happy and safe and confortable, then it's a yes. If there's anything at all, even a little, about it that doesn't feel good or comfortable, it's a no.
Mina once again provides a more detailed answer.
Sniff it, rub it, roll it ;)
Denki on the other hand...
Thanks, I hate it.
>:3
XD
His friends are idiots; he loves them to death.
~
In the end he gets it right; he gets rid of almost half the stuff but the nest feels better. Sorting them out, first by what Hitoshi said about his likes, and then what Mina and Denki adviced, he gets to a nest that feels comfortable and lovely and even if it's not 100% perfect, it's enough; the heartbreakingly tender way Hitoshi inspects it at Katsuki's request makes the omega so happy, he lets the little things slide. For now. He'll get some new stuff later; he doesn't want to go out shopping in pre-heat.
Once the day his heat normally starts rolls in Katsuki is feeling good and confident.
Hitoshi - Hitoshi is definitely going into rut.
He's antsy and can't stay still and hovers over Katsuki constantly; the omega recognises the behavious easily from Izuku. He got like that too every time his rut was nearing; the memories don't make Katsuki nearly as anxious as he'd expected, for which he's immensely glad.
Hitoshi's also starving. Constantly. The amount of food Katsuki has prepared won't last if this keeps up. He ends up asking Tsunagu to send a rut basket just in case and the delivery arrives not even one hour after he's requested it; there's enough food for a small army, but as Katsuki has seen how much food Hitoshi's put away in the past twenty four hours he estimates it'll last them maybe two days.
The cuddling comes next.
Hitoshi seems unable to be physically apart from him more than a couple of minutes at a time. It's sweet and just a little bit annoying when Katsuki would like to go to the bathroom by himself. He gets scented - more like rubbed raw because Hitoshi's sporting a stubble even if he just shaved - countless times.
It's all good though, Katsuki is ready.
He's so ready, he's never been more ready in his life.
He's ready and happy and... really, really horny all of a sudden?
~
Katsuki misses the first text, and the second and the third. He doesn't hear the phone ring; he's turned it on silent. Hitoshi's phone buzzes too but it's forgotten on the sofa and neither notices.
~
The heat rolls in soft and nice, wave after wave of arousal. It's doesn't last for a long time, the peak lasting a little over twelwe hours before it breaks; like waves against the shore.
Hitoshi's rut syncs beautifully, he's only a few minutes behind, but completely on board from the second Katsuki let's him know it's time.
The alpha keeps Katsuki happy and sated; full and knotted and never once leaves him hanging. There's naps and cuddling and snacking; they're both absolute ravenous every time they take a break and the food disappears quickly.
Katsuki learns two important things; one, he loves getting knotted by his alpha during heats and two, he was an idiot for ever thinking he had anything to worry about.
Hitoshi is tender and attentive; letting him to take the lead and set the pace: not once trying to get Katsuki to do anything he's not comfortable with. Concent has always been a big deal with Hitoshi; his quirk alone makes it so. People judge so easily.
Katsuki is satisfied and happy and never wants it to end, ever.
~
The first morning after his heat breaks is calm and quiet; Katsuki is the first to wake, among the messy nest. Hitoshi's sleeping soundly, one arm tossed over Katsuki's waist, face buried in the omega's neck.
It's raining outside; the raindrops pattering against the windows a nice comfortable sound. Katsuki lays there for a long time just listening the sounds of his alpha sleeping peacefully and the rain falling.
He's never been so happy in his life. Never knew he could be this happy.
Hitoshi murmurs something, rubs his face a little against Katsuki's skin and settles, still in deep sleep. It makes the omega smile.
But, eventually his body tells him it time to get up; he has to go to the bathroom and he's suddenly craving something sweet; after burners are rolling in and his stomach grumbles.
Carefully as not to wake Hitoshi, he untangles himself from his grip and makes his way to the bathroom.
Hitoshi's up when Katsuki gets out; blinking sleepily at him from the nest; he looks adorable with his hair mussed.
"Hey." The alpha calls and yawns; he stretches and all the lovely lovebites scattered around his torso make Katsuki shiver with the memories.
"Hey." He smiles and crawls back into bed.
They cuddle for a while, the hunger forgotten until Katsuki's stomach starts making noices again.
"Breakfast." Hitoshi declares. "I have something planned." He pecks a kiss on Katsuki's lips and tosses the covers off. "You stay here, I'm cooking."
He disappears out of the bedroom so fast Katsuki can only stare after him. With a chuckle he lays back down and stretches again, luxuriating in the blissful sated feeling. His nest is really messy, so he spends quite some time straightening it up. Finally satisfied with it he props the pillows up and leans against them; there's a delicious scent of something sweet baking drifting through the air and his stomach lets him now it likes it.
It doesn't take that long before Hitoshi appears with a tray; he's made breakfast in bed for Katsuki a few times so far but it never stops being endearing.
"Here you go." The alpha declared proudly and props the tray in Katsuki's lap; the little foldable legs that keep it up fit perfectly on each side of Katsuki's legs.
"Waffles?" He asks curiously; they sort of look like waffles.
"Croffles." Hitoshi grins happily.
"Croffles?" Katsuki echoes; he's never heard of those.
"Hmm," Nodding the alpha carefully crawls on the bed; there's a huge serving of croffles and it's plenty enough for both of them. "Croissant and waffle combined. Basicly a croissant baked in a waffle iron. They're fantastic, just try."
Katsuki likes waffles and he likes croissants; the combination - covered in ice cream, berries and fruit, sprinkled with powdered sugar - looks and sounds divine.
They taste divine too, even if they are a little messy to eat; Katsuki doesn't mind, the bedsheets need changing anyways.
"That was amazing." He sighs, leaning against Hitoshi, licking the last of the ice cream from his spoon. "You have my permission to make this as often as you like."
Hitoshi laughs - a wonderful sound - and smacks a sweet and a little sticky kiss on Katsuki's cheeck, which makes the omega laugh too, happy and carefree.
End of part 6