Chapter Text
- Fumikage Tokoyami -
Fumikage stared down at the mark on his wrist in absolute awe. The crescent moon, surrounded by delicate little stars and swooping swirls were all a dark red, nearly black, and spanned his entire wrist and progressed to half way up his forearm.
It was the most beautiful soulmark he had ever seen.
His pale fingers trailed over it again and again, memorizing every line and taking in the way the color shifted in the light. He was sitting in the common area, which was probably the worst place to be examining his new mark, but the sunlight had caught it just right and there was no way he could pull his eyes away from it now.
“It’s beautiful.” A voice said and Fumikage immediately pulled his wrist against his chest and glared and whomever dared to trespass upon him in a private moment.
“Midoriya.” He breathed out a sigh of relief and forced himself to relax. The beta was one of his best friends, trustworthy and least likely of all the students to heckle him over the new mark painted across his skin. “I was just-”
“Happy Birthday.” Midoriya smiled and sat down in the chair across from the one Fumikage was curled up in, a black fleece blanket over his lap while a B-rated horror film played on the TV.
Green eyes flicked down to Fumikage’s wrist, which was still angled to keep the beta from being able to see the mark fully. “Do you know who it’s match belongs to, or are you just admiring the beauty of it?”
“I have no idea on whom the duplicate resides.” Fumikage replied.
“He does.” Dark Shadow disagreed, followed by a sneaky, overjoyed laugh that made Fumikage snap his beak in the direction of the purple spirit next to his head. “Snap at me all you like, I won’t lie on your behalf, Fumi.”
“Then remain silent .”
“Izuku is my friend too. You can’t hog him just because you’re being angsty.” Holes in the purple energy that worked as eyes turned to Fumikage and the pair stared at each other in silence, a silent battle of wills that not even Fumikage’s decreased blink reflex, could allow him to win.
“Yes, I know.” He sighed and turned to Midoriya who was hiding a smile behind a scarred hand, his eyes bright with amusement as they flicked back and forth between Fumikage and Dark Shadow.
“Why are you being angsty about it? Are you and your soulmate enemies? Are you friends?” The beta seemed far too enthused by this. He was nearly sitting on the end of his seat, knee bouncing up and down excitedly.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay. Cool. We won’t talk about it.” Midoriya raised his hands in surrender and settled back into the chair and with a small smile. “But if you change your mind, let me know. Is it okay if I watch this with you?” He pointed to the movie and Fumikage nodded in assent.
- Talk to him -
Dark Shadow’s voice drifted through his mind, echoing through his thoughts and making it impossible to concentrate on anything else. Not even his new inner omega could take over his mind so completely.
- No -
- He is familiar with complicated soulmate relationships. Do you not remember that he is in a pack of seven people? One of which is our teacher? Our teacher that rejected them? If anyone is going to understand, it’s him, Fumi.-
Dark Shadow may have had a small point. Very Small. Microscopic, even.
Midoriya may very well have experience with complicated soulmate bonds, but that did not mean that he had to talk to him about this. About the pain and heartache that Fumikage knew he was about to receive.
- You’re scared he’ll give you the same advice I did. -
That was insane. He was not scared. He wanted this to be private. He wanted to take time to fully consider his options.
- All the more reason to talk to him and see if he has another option you haven’t considered. So you can make the best decision for us. Fumi, it’s not just you in this bond. It’s me too. Please listen to what our friend has to say, for me? -
The damned spirit played dirty. He knew that Fumikage was weak to pleading.
“They’re older than me.” Fumikage said a few moments later, his eyes not leaving the television screen. “My soulmate is older than me. I don’t know if they’re mated to anyone else. I only know them.”
And that was what Fumikage was really scared of, wasn’t it? That his soulmate already had a pack? That they didn’t need a sixteen year old coming into their pack and ruining it all?
“Oh.” Midoriya squeaked and turned to face Fumikage with the same excited smile he always wore. “Well you don’t know until you ask.”
- Told you -
- Shut up -
“And if I ask and they tell me that they have a pack that is already complete? That another soulmate is not required or wanted?” Fumikage did not meet Midoriya’s eyes. Could not. While he could not cry, his eyes could get glassy and wet and make it very well known that he was overwhelmed with emotions. He would not let his friend see him like that.
Midoriya released a sigh that Fumikage had never heard from him before; gone was the excited hero and there was a realistic young man that knew the world didn’t always work the way we wanted it to.
“Then it fucking hurts.” Midoriya said softly and Fumikage felt his eyes widen and bulge as his head whipped around to face the beta.
Had he just cursed?
- He’s mated to Bakugou. -
Fair.
“It’ll suck, Tokoyami. You’ll cry and scream and probably need to punch something. But you’ve got friends that will always be here for you and we’ll let you vent and scream. We’ll train with you until your hands bleed. If you want, we might even be convinced to vandalize some property as payback for hurting our dear friend.” Midoriya smiled at him and Fumikage felt his head instinctually tilting to the side to better inspect him.
He had not expected such violence from the other student.
“But in reality, Tokoyami . People don’t usually reject their soulmates. It’s very rare. The only reason we all think it’s common is because it’s used as a plot device in movies and romance novels. Statistically speaking, it is very unlikely that your soulmate will reject you outright.”
“Where have you gotten these statistics?” Fumikage asked. “I would very much like your source.”
“We don’t need your source, Izuku. We trust you.” Dark Shadow sighed like Fumikage was the most socially inept person he had ever met. Which was completely uncalled for.
Midoriya smiled and pulled out his cellphone before leaning back in his seat and bending his knees to bring his feet up and underneath him. “Give me a sec.” He typed away at the screen for a few moments before a vibration from his pocket drew Fumikage’s attention.
Hesitantly, he extracted his own phone and noted the text from Midoriya that contained several links to journal archives.
“That’s just a little of what I found when I was first researching soulmate bonds.” Midoriya explained. “It might put your mind at ease to read a little of it. But I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s rare. Not to mean that some people don’t decide to postpone relationships or go their separate ways or even form two or three separate packs instead of one. But outright rejection? Super rare.”
“Thank you.” Fumikage whispered, his fingers already clicking on the links to bring up the articles into separate browser tabs. “This might help settle some of my fears.”
“Can I offer one other piece of advice? Just as a friend to another friend?” Midoriya asked and Fumikage nodded while slipping his phone away. “Hiding things? Keeping secrets? Lying? All of it is poison to relationships. Whoever your soulmate is, they’re obviously close to you and are obviously someone you care about very much. Trying to keep this important piece of information from them will do harm, not only to your friendship, but to any possibility of anything further.”
“Which is what I told you.” Dark Shadow said with a huff and a little nod of his head. His eyes widened and he turned to Fumikage like he couldn’t believe that he had said that. “That was supposed to be an inside thought.”
Midoriya, to his credit, just laughed, having become used to Dark Shadow’s slip ups here and there. It made life very difficult. Growing up, if Fumikage thought a girl was pretty? Or a boy? Dark Shadow would agree with him and verbalize it instead of keeping the conversation between the two of them.
Fumikage nodded in understanding, beak clacking together softly as he considered Midoriya’s words.
“Last question. Do I know them?” Midoriya asked and he couldn’t think of any good reason to keep the information from his friend who had just given him so much good advice.
“Of them, probably.”
“Oh, a hero then.” Midoriya said to himself with a little nod. “I won’t think too much about it and ruin your surprise, but I’m glad it’s a hero. No decent hero would break your heart.”
The beta unfurled his legs and nodded to Fumikage before giving him a little wave and a whispered promise of, “See ya later, Tokoyami and Dark Shadow.”
Fumikage returned the wave and sighed, eyes going glassy as he went back to watching his movie.
He really hoped Midoriya was right.
- Later That Night -
The view from the roof of the high rise Fumikage was perched on, was breathtaking. He was high above the bustling town, the lights from car headlights and apartment windows lighting up the night like stars. He was sitting on the edge of the building, not the least bit concerned by the height or the danger of falling.
- What if he doesn’t come? -
- Then we find him in his office and raise hell -
The thinly veiled anger from Dark Shadow made Fumikage chuckle. It was always a bit of a risk to be out at night, in the darkness without a direct light source to keep Dark Shadow under control. But recently, the spirit had been tame and agreeable, though occasional episodes of darkness and violence poked through their connection as a reminder that left unchecked, the spirit would be happy to unleash chaos on the world.
Up so high, the wind ruffling his feathers and blowing his cloak around him, made it difficult to pick up the soft crunch of boots on gravel until the footsteps were directly behind him. It was a familiar sound, something he had listened to countless times, the steady rhythm of the footfalls never failing to make his heart race in excitement.
- You love him -
- You love him -
- Yes. I’ve never kept that a secret. -
And it was true. Dark Shadow had been vocal about his attachment to the hero. Had waxed poetic about him for ages, despite Fumikage’s pleas for mercy. Dark Shadow had no need for sleep, but Fumikage certainly did. Something that was made incredibly difficult with the spirit whispering about blonde hair and golden eyes throughout the night.
“Little past your bedtime, isn’t it Tokoyami?” Hawks asked as he settled himself down next to Fumikage. He was so close their thighs brushed together and the simmering omega thoughts bubbled over, becoming a whirlwind of:
Alpha. Mate. Mine.
His scent attacked Fumikage’s nose. It captivated his mind and had him leaning toward the pine and honey scent like a starving man scenting food for the first time.
He knew that Hawks used chemical scent neutralizers; a medication that would dull a person’s sense of smell to nearly the same level as an unpresented teenager’s. It was uncommon for alphas to use them, since it was usually betas that become overwhelmed, but Fumikage had never asked about it other than to inquire about the tablets that Hawks washed down with every meal.
Fumikage wondered if his own scent would ever enrapture Hawks. He wondered if the hero could get even the barest whisper of it through the medication.
“You okay, kid?” Hawks asked softly, leaning his body in closer and Fumikage looked up to find concerned eyes and a wide smile directed down at him.
Hells, he was pretty.
- He was rated the sexiest male hero of the year, twice.-
-Shut up. -
-I know you didn’t buy the magazine with the photoshoot images, just for me. -
A distressed trill left him and his eyes widened as he blinked up at Hawks’ increasingly worried expression. Anyone else wouldn’t have realized what the sound meant. But Hawks was like him, a bird heteromorph that was prone to making his own non-human noises at inopportune times.
“It’s your birthday today. Right?” Hawks whispered, his eyes flicking over Fumikage’s face as though trying to figure out if something dramatic had changed. “Did something happen? Are you okay? What can I do for you to make it better?”
Good Alpha
The inner omega voice sounded so different from Dark Shadow. It was needier, hungrier, and sounded almost breathy in Fumikage’s brain.
Wonderful, he had multiple voices in his head. No reason to worry.
“I’m fine.” Fumikage finally answered. “I promise, I’m fine.”
“Physically.” Dark Shadow huffed and he snapped his head to the side to glare at the spirit. He had promised that Fumikage could explain and handle this conversation. He was the one in control here.
Dark Shadow did not make eye contact with Fumikage, instead, he shrank down and hid himself at the back of Fumikage’s neck like the cowardly creature of darkness he truly was.
“What does he mean?” Strong hands moved up to cup the sides of Fumikage’s face, smoothing over his feathers, over his head and down his neck as though trying to find something wrong, despite being told there were no wounds to discover. “Talk to me.” Hawks pleaded and his eyes were so wide and pleading, liquid gold irises staring directly into Fumikage’s soul, that he knew in an instant that there was no way he was ever going to be able to keep a secret from this man.
Instead of answering, he reached up with his right hand and gripped Hawks’ right wrist. The fingers in his feathers immediately released him and allowed Fumikage to bring their forearms out in front of them. The angle allowed for the streetlights to illuminate their skin and glint over the matching red markings.
It took Hawks a moment to realize what Fumikage was doing. He still had his eyes zeroed in on the omega’s face and it took a gentle nod of his head downward to get the hero’s attention where Fumikage wanted it.
He knew when Hawks realized what he was looking at. He felt the way the alpha tensed, how he breathed in and refused to let it out again.
- I won’t be able to handle it if he rejects me -
Dark Shadow didn’t respond, but there was a vaguely warm feeling that built behind his sternum, which he had come to recognize as Dark Shadow trying to comfort him.
“I’m so sorry.” Hawks whispered, his tone almost awed . Famikage jumped as soft fingers brushed over the mark, tracing along the delicate swirls and over the large moon. Every touch made a shiver of pleasure race down his spine, a similar sensation to when someone helped groom his feathers. It was wonderful.
The contrast between Hawks’ words and the sensation was enough to take his breath away.
“What do you mean by ‘sorry’?” Dark Shadow growled, bolting out from behind Fumikage’s neck and growing until the spirit was a giant head, nearly the size of a fully grown adult. “Are we not good enough for you? Are you rejecting us?”
A few months ago, the sight of Dark Shadow growing so large and being so obviously angry, would have frightened Fumikage. He would have been terrified of the spirit taking control of him and causing mayhem.
But now? Now he knew that they were a team. Neither would override the other.
Hawks however, looked terrified. Not necessarily at the massive spirit glaring down at him, though. His golden eyes widened and he whipped his head between Fumikage and Dark Shadow as his hands waved in front of himself frantically.
“No!” Hawks exclaimed. “Nothing like that. I’d never reject you. Never. I’m just sorry because I’m not a very good alpha. You both deserve so much better than me.”
“There is no one better than you.” Fumikage said softly, his hand reaching out for Hawks’ fingers. “You’re perfect.”
Hawks was brave and strong and handsome and kind and funny and flirty and smart and all of the things that Fumikage wanted in a mate. To him, the hero was perfect, no matter what the self-depreciating little laugh that Hawks huffed out, tried to imply.
“I’m so far from perfect, it’s laughable. Fumikage, I would never reject you. But I also wouldn’t hold you back from leaving once you realize how bad of a mate I really am.”
“You can’t know that.” Dark Shadow said softly, shrinking down to his more usual size. He moved forward and pressed his purple outline along Hawks’ side to comfort the hero, seeming to nuzzle into his shoulder.
“I do.” Hawks clutched at Fumikage’s hand, his grip bordering on painful as a look of pure anguish settled on his handsome face. He never wanted his alpha to feel like this. It hurt him to see it, made his insides ache and his eyes mist over.
He trilled softly and rubbed the side of his face against Hawk’s forehead, as close to a kiss as he could manage without lips.
“You’re a good mate.” He told him. “Who in their right mind would say otherwise?”
“My pack.” Hawks answered and Fumikage felt his mouth go dry in an instant. A pack? Okay. He knew this was a possibility. But Hawks had already said that he wouldn’t reject him. So this was good news right?
- A pack means more love. A larger family. A bigger flock -
Dark Shadow sounded endlessly pleased in Fumikage’s mind and he was in agreement. The only issue with Hawks having a pack would have been if he was rejected because of it. This was a great thing.
“You have a pack.” Fumikage breathed and could feel his body trembling excitedly as he met Hawks’ grief filled eyes.
“Not anymore.” Hawks whispered and the words were like fireworks exploding in the air around them. Loud, surprising, and breathtaking.
- Not anymore? -
“What do you mean?” That didn’t make sense. Who would reject Hawks? Perfect, beautiful, amazing, Hawks?
Tears seeped out of Hawks’ eyes, trailing down his cheeks as he let out the most heartbreaking, screeching sob that the omega had ever heard.
“I killed them, Fumikage. They were mine and I killed them.”
~Touya Todoroki - January 18th - 7 years ago~
Touya was sitting across the table from his best friend and to his side, was the most beautiful omega that Touya had ever seen, let alone been blessed enough to know. Turning sixteen had been exciting and nerve wracking all at once, but knowing who his soul mate was immediately upon waking up? Nothing would ever be better than that. There would never be a better feeling than looking down at his wrist and knowing in an instant that he was the luckiest man alive.
He could feel his cheeks aching as he smiled down at Hikari, taking in his fluffy white hair speckled through with strands of black and large yellow eyes that stared right back up at Touya like he was the center of his omega’s entire world.
“We’re mated.” Touya whispered, pulling his eyes away from his soulmate to look over at the golden gaze of his best friend. “That’s not going to make things weird between the three of us, right?”
The three of them had been inseparable since their first year here. They ate every meal together, studied together, even spent their breaks together. Touya didn’t want that to change now, not over something like this.
“Of course not.” Keigo told him gently with a wide, glittering smile that would never fail to make Touya’s heart flutter. “I’m happy for you both.”
“And we’ll still help you find your soulmate too.” Hikari promised with a wild nod of his head. “As soon as you feel comfortable showing us your mark we’ll start scouring the world for them.”
Touya didn’t miss the way that Keigo’s smile faltered and his eyes lost their shine for just a moment before he seemed to slide the mask right back on. He knew that his friend had a difficult relationship with soulmates. His parents had been a small pack of two betas and the toxic relationship they formed boiled over into an equally toxic home life for Keigo.
But once he found his own mate he’d realize what Touya had been taught his entire life. Soulmates were sacred and were to be treasured.
“Thanks Kari, when I’m ready, I’ll let you know.” Keigo presented both of them with another wide smile and turned his attention back to the lunch tray in front him. Touya looked down as well, but his attention was solely focused on the brand new mark on his forearm.
The dark red crescent moon surrounded by stars and artistic little swirls.
It was the most beautiful thing Touya had ever seen.